nd those on the bank shouted that I was lost; but I rose
again, and in the end I won the farther shore.

"Now those on the bank mocked no more; they stood still wondering, and
I walked on till I came to the foot of the cliff. That cliff is hard to
climb, stranger; when you are strong upon your feet, I will show you the
path. Yet I found a way up it, and by midday I came to the forest. Here,
on the edge of the forest, I rested awhile, and ate a little food that I
had brought with me in the bag, for now I must gather up my strength to
meet the ghosts, if ghosts there were. Then I rose and plunged into the
forest. The trees were great that grow there, stranger, and their leaves
are so think that in certain places the light is as that of night when
the moon is young. Still, I wended on, often losing my path. But from
time to time between the tops of the trees I saw the figure of the grey
stone woman who sits on the top of Ghost Mountain, and shaped my course
towards her knees. My heart beat as I travelled through the forest in
dark and loneliness like that of the night, and ever I looked round
searching for the eyes of the Amatongo. But I saw no spirits, though at
times great spotted snakes crept from before my feet, and perhaps these
were the Amatongo. At times, also, I caught glimpses of some grey wolf
as he slunk from tree to tree watching me, and always high above my head
the wind sighed in the great boughs with a sound like the sighing of
women.

"Still, I went on, singing to myself as I went, that my heart might not
be faint with fear, and at length, towards the end of the second hour,
the trees grew fewer, the ground sloped upwards, and the light poured
down from the heavens again. But, stranger, you are weary, and the night
wears on; sleep now, and to-morrow I will end the tale. Say, first, how
are you named?"

"I am named Umslopogaas, son of Mopo," he answered, "and my tale shall
be told when yours is done; let us sleep!"

Now when Galazi heard this name he started and was troubled, but said
nothing. So they laid them down to sleep, and Galazi wrapped Umslopogaas
with the skins of bucks.

But Galazi the Wolf was so hardy that he lay on the bare ground and had
no covering. So they slept, and without the door of the cave the wolves
howled, scenting the blood of men.

CHAPTER XIII. GALAZI BECOMES KING OF THE WOLVES

On the morrow Umslopogaas awoke, and knew that strength was growing on
him fast. Still, all