The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-19

knot of the Slayers standing back
small space because of the heat of the
dre. The Slayers saw them, and cry
ing, ''This is Bulalioi Kill the wizard!"
sprang toward them with uplifted
spears. Now the People of the AK
made ring around NADIA, and in the
front of twere Umslopogaas and Galazi.
Then they rushed on and met those of
the Slayers who stood before them, and
We're through with but one man slain,
but the cry went up that the chief of the
wizards and the Lily, his wife, had fled.
Then the captain called off the Slayers
from watching for the jewellers in the
town and started in pursuit of Um-
slopogaas.
Meanwhile the Wolf Brethren and
those with them were we'll away, and
were half way down the gorge that led
to the river before the companies of the
Slayers poured into it. Now they came
TO the end of it and the foe was near.
Then Galazi stopped and spoke:
"Halt, ye People of the AK he said,
sand let US talk awhile with these who
follow till we find our breath again
But you, my brother, pass the river with
the Lily in your hand. We will join you
In the fygest, buff perchance we cannot
find you, you know what must be done.
Set the Lily in the cave, then return and
call up the gray impi. Go now, my
brother"
"lt is not my way to turn and run
while others stand and fight" growled
Umsiopogaas, 'yet because of NADIA it
seems that must"
''Oh, heed me not, my love-" said
NADIA. 81 have brought thee sorrow. |
am weary: let me die. Stay me and
save yourselves"
For answer Umslopogaas took her by
the hand and fed toward the river, yet
before he reached it he heard the sounds
Of the fray.
Now they had leaped into the foaming
river, and here it was we'll that the Lily
could swim, else had both been lost.
But they won through and passed on to
the mountain flank. Here they walked
on in the forest, till at length Umslopo-
gaas heard the bowling of wolf.
Then he must set NADIA on his shout
ders and carry her as once Galazi had
carried another, for it was death for any
to walk on the Ghost mountain save the
Wolf Brethren only.
Presently the wolves focked around
him and 1eaped upon him in joy, glaring
with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his
shoulders. NADIA saw them and we'll
nigh fell from her seat fainting with
fear, for they were many and dreadful,
and when they howled her blood turned
to ice.
But Umslopogaas cheered her, telling
her that these were his dogs with whom
he went a-hunting. At length they came
to the knees of the Old Witch and the
entrance Of the cave,
..Here you must bide, sweet" said
Umslopogaas when he had driven out
the wolves. "Here you must bide till
this little matter of the Slayers is fin
ished. See! Now will show you the
secret of the stone; thus far will push
It, and no farther. Now touch only
is needed to send it over the socket and
home-but then they must be two strong
men who can pull it back again. There
fore push it 10 farther. except in the Mt
most need, lest it remain where it fall
whether you will it or not. Have no
fear; here you are safe
Now Na1a wept, saying that she fear
ed to be left and that she should never
see him more, and her grief wrung his
heart. Nevertheless he kissed her and
went, closing the stone after him in that
fashion of which he had spoken. Wher
the stone was closed the cave was almost
dark, except only for a ray of light thai
entered by hole little larger than {
mans hand that, looked at from within
was on the right of the stone. NADIA sal
herself so that this ray of light strucl
full on her, for she loved light and with
out it she would pine as flowers do. Ant
rs she sat thus, suddenly the ray Wen
out and she heard noise as of som'
beast that smells at prey. She looked
and in thu gloom she saw the sharp nos
and grinning fangs of a wolf that wer
thrust toward her through the littl
hole.
She cried aloud in her fear and tn
she heard scratching without the ston
and saw the stone shake. Then sh
thought in her foolishness that the vol
knew how to open the stone and that h
would do this and devour her, for sh
had heard the tale that all these wolve
were the ghosts of evil men, having tn
understanding of men. So in her fea
and folly she seized the stone and dragge
on as Umslopogaas had shown her tn
way. 1t shook, it slipped over the socke
ledge and rolled home like q pebbl
down the mouth of gourd.
"Now l am safe from the wolves,
said NADIA. ''See, cannot SO much 8
stir the stone from within and still les
can they do so from without" and sh
laughed little.
When Umslopogaas had shut the cav
he moved swiftly down the mountai
and with him went certain of tt
wolves-not all, for he had not summon
Cd them. Presently he heard Ion,
low howl far away in the forest.
was the call Of Galazi, who had escape
the spears of the Slayers.
Swiftly he ran, calling in answer. e
won the place. There, seated on stor
resting himself, was Galazi, and aroun
him surged the numbers of the gray pc
pie. He seemed somewhat weary. The
were flesh wounds ON his great brea
and arms. the little shield was we'll ME