The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-08-16
CHAPTER XIV.
UMsboPoGAAs VENTURES OUT TO WIN
THE AK

Now many moons had gone by since
Umslopogaas became a king of the
wolves, and he was a man full grown;
a man fierce and tEll and keen: slayer
of men. fleet of foot and of valor une-
qualed, seeing by night as well as by
day. But he was not yet named the
Slaughterer. and not yet did he hold that
iron chieftaineSs, the AK Groanmaker.
Still this was foremost in his mind, to
win the ak. for no woman had entered
there, who when she enters drives out
all other deSire-eye, my father, even
that of good weapons. AT times, In
deed, Umslopogaas would lurk in the
reeds by the river looking at the kraal
of Jikiza the Unconquered, and would
watch the gates of his kraal, and once
as he lurked he saw a man, great and
broad and hairy, who bore upon his
shoulder shining ak HATED with the
horn of rhiDoceros. After that his
greed for this ak entered into Umslopo-
gaas till he spoke of little else.
Now it befell that as Umslopogaas
lurked one evening in the reeds, watch
ing the kraal of Jiziza, he saw a maiden
straight and fair, whose skin shone like
the copper anklets on her limbs She
walked slowly On toward the reeds, en-
tered them and sat herself down within
a spears length of where Ums}opogaas
hay hid and at once began TO weep.
speaking to herself as she wept.
Would that the ghost wolves might
fall on him and all that is his" she
sobbed; AYE. and ON Masilo also!
would hound them on, even if myself
must next know their fangs. Better
to die by the teeth Of the wolves than to
be sold to this fat pig of a Masilo Oh,
if must wed him l will give him a
knife for the BRIDES kissi Oh. that
were lady of the ghost wolvesr
Umslopogaas heard, and of a sudden
reared himself UP before the maid.
The ghost wolves are at hand. dam
sci" he said. They are ever at hand
for those who need them"
Now the maid saw him and screamed
family, then grew silent
WHO are your she asked. Il fear
you not, whoever you are!'
There you are wrong, damsel, for all
men fear me and they have cause to
fear 1 am one of the wolf brethren,
whose names have been told of. l am a
wizard of the Ghost mountain. Take
heed now, lest kill you. 1t will be of
little avail 20 call upon your people, for
my feet are fieeter than theirs.
Il have no wish TO call upon my peO-
pie, Wolf Man." she answered. And
for the rest, am too young to kill"
That Is SO, maiden answered I'm
slopogaas, looking at her beauty. What
were the words upon your lips as to
Jikiza and certain Masilo?'
lit seems that you heard them" an
swered the girl. What need 70 waste
breath III speaking them AGAIN.
No need usaiIiayL Nov. tell me your
story; perhaps I may find 3 way to help
you"
There is little to tell" she answered.
| at is a small tale and a common. My
name Is Zinita, and .Jikiza the Uncon-
/ uuered is my stepfather. Now he would
! give me IN marriage to a certain Masl!O.
/ q fat man and an old, whom 1 hate, be
/ cause Masilo offers many cattle for me. -
!. els there, then, another whom you
/ would wed, maideu:" asked UmslOpo-
/ gaas.
There IS none, answered Lilita, look
/ ing him IL his eyes.
| And Is there no path by which You
/ may escape from Masilo:'
/ There is oaly one path, Wolf Man
|sby death If l die shall escape; #
/ NIasilo dies l shall escape; but to little
/ end, for l shall be given TO another
| But if Jikiza dies, then it viii be we'll
! What Of that wolf people Of yours? Are
/ they not hungry. Wolf Mani"
B. Il may not bring them here" an
! swered .Umslopogaas. rs there no
! other way?'
There Is another way" said zinita,
IF one can he found 10 try it." and
| again she locked at him strangely, Caus-
/ ing the blood to beat within him.
( :"Hearlzeul do you not know how our PEG
I pie are governed? They are governed by
! him who holds the ak GroanmakeT.
! He that can win the AK in war from
| the hand of him who holds it, he shall
! be our chief. But if he who holds the
| ak dies unconquered, then his son takes
! his place, and with it the AK. 1t has
! been thus, indeed. for four generations;
| since he who held GrOanmalEer has al
! ways been a nconqueraDle. Bat have
heard this, that the great-grandfathe Of
/ 'Jikiza won the ak from him who held 1t
| IN his day; he won 1t by fraud, for
when the ak had fallen on him but
| lightly he fell over, feigning death
! Then the owner of the ak laughed and
! turned TO walk away. But the fore
father of Jilziza sprang up behind him
and pierced him through with spear,
and thus became chief of the People of
the AK. Therefore it is the custom of
! Jikiza to hew off the heads of those
whom be kills with the AK
| docs he. then, STAY many asked
| UmslOpogaas-
''Of late years few indeed, she said,
for none dare stand against him-no,
not with all TO win. For, holding the ak
Groanmaker, he is uncorquerable, and
to fight with him is sure death. Fifty
and one have tried in all. and before the
hut of Jikiza there are piled fifty and
one white skulls And know this, the
AK must be won in fight; if it is stolen or
| fOund If has no -Virt1ae-Ilay. 1t brings