Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-06-30
az am named Wolf" said Galazi.

"Botter love the wild woods ana the
mountains breast than the kraals of
men and the kiss Of wives, Axbearer,"
answered Galazi. "Yet, because you
have shown yourself a warrior OF
might, and to taste again OF the joy Of
battle, will stand back to back with
you, Axbearer, and zee this matter
ended"
"a bargain, Wolf!r cried Uinslopo-
gans, and they walked side by side to
tho center Of the cattle kraal.
Then the pair took their stand back
to back in the center of the Eraal, and
people saw that Umslopogaas held the
Ok in 4 new fashion, its curved blade
being inward, toward his breast, and
the hollow point turned toward the foe.
The ten brethren gathered themselves
together, shaking their asscgais; i've OF
them stood before UInslopoSaas and five
before Galazi the Wolf.
Meanwhile an aged man drew near to
speak the word of onset. 1t was that
same man who had set out tho law to
Umslopogaas. He must give the signal
by throwing up spear, and when 1t
struck the ground, then the fight should
begin. The old man took tho spear and
threw it, but his hand was weak, and he
cast so clumsily that it fell among tho
sons Of Jikiza, who stood before I'm
slOpogaas, causing them to open up to
let it pass between them, and drawing
the eyes of all ten Of them to it. But
UmslopOgaas watched for the touching
Of the spear only, being careless where
it touched. As the point Of it kissed the
earth he said word, and 10. CMslopo-
gaas and Galazi sprang forward. While
the ten stood confused, the Wolf Breth-
rem were on tho1n. Groanmaker was up,
but as for no great stroke, He did but
peck, as q bird peclts with his bill, and
yet n man dropped dead. The Watcher
also was up, but he fell like n falling
, tree and WAS the death Of one. Through
the lines Of tho ten passed the Wolf
Brethren III the gaps that each had
made. Then they turned swiftly and
charged toward each other again. Again
Groanmal;er peclled, again the Watcher
Numbered, and 10! once more Umslopo-
gaas and Galazi stood back to back, I'M
hurt. But before them lay four men
dead.
The onslaught and the return were so
swift that those of the sons of Jikiza
VINO We're left stared at each other Won
dering. Then they knew that they were
but six, for four of them were dead.
With a shout of rage they rushed upon
the pair from both sides, but in either
case one was the most eager and out
stepped tho other two, and thus it came
about that time was given the Wolf
Brethren to strike at him alone before
his fellows were at his side. He who
came at Umslopogaas drove at him with
| his spear, but he was not to be caught
! thus, for he bent his middle sideways.
so that the spear only cut his skin, and
as he bent topped with the point of the
ak at tho head of the smiter, dealing
death on him.
"Yondcr Woodpecker has bill of
steel and he can use it WELL" said the
councillor to him who stood by him.
1 This is Il Slaughterer indeed" the
man answered, and the people heard the
/ names. Thenceforth they knew I'm
/ slopogaas as the Woodpecker, or as Buff
falo, or the Slaughtcrcr, and by no other
names. Now he who came at Galazi
the Wolf rushed on wildly, holding his
spear short. But Galazi was cunning in
war. He took one step forward to meet
/ him, then swinging the Watcher back
ward he let him fall at the full length
of arms and club. The child Of Jikiza
/ lifted his shield to catch the blow, but
/ the shield was to the Watcher what a
leaf is to the wind. Full on its hide the
huge club fell. The shield doubled up
| and he who bore it fell crushed to earth.
| Now for Il moment tho four who were
left of the SONS of JikiZa lowered around
the pair, feinting at them from afar,
but never coming within reach of AK or
club. One threw II spear indeed, and
though Umslopogaas leaped aside, and
as it sped toward him smOtc the haft in
two with the blade Of Groanmaker, yet
its head few on, wounding Galazi in the
flank. Then he who had thrown the
spear turned to fly, and tho others fol
lowed swiftly, for they dared to do bat
tie with these two no more.
1T seems that none are left for us to
kill, Galazi," said Umslopogaas, laugh
ing aloud. "Ah, that was cunning
fight! Ho. you sons Of the Unconquer-
ed, who run SO fast, stay your feet
:, give You peace. You shall live to sweep
! my huts, and to plow my field with the
other women Of my kraal. Now, coun-
, cilors, the fighting is done, so let us to
the chiefs hut, where Masilo waits us;
and he turned and went with Galazi.
When he reached the hut Umslopo-
gaas sat himself down in the place
where Jil;i2a had sat shat morning, and
the maid Zinita came to him with IL wet
cloth AMI washed the wound that the
spear had made. He thanked her. Then
she would havo washed Gal0zi's wound
also, and that was deeper, but Galazi
babe her to let him DO, roughly, as he
would have 10 woman meddling with
his wounds.
Thon Cmslopogaas spoke TO Masilo the
Pig, who sat before him with Il fright
encd face, saying: 1T seems, O Masilo
that you have sought this maid Xinita il
/ marriage and araiuSt her will DcrSeCut