shouldered and shallow flanked. His arms were long and not over big, but
the muscles stood out on them like knots in a rope; his legs were long
also, and very thick beneath the knee. His eye was like an eagle's, his
nose somewhat hooked, and he held his head a little forward, as a man
who searches continually for a hidden foe. He seemed to walk slowly, and
yet he came swiftly, but with a gliding movement like that of a wolf or
a lion, and always his fingers played round the horn handle of the axe
Groan-Maker. As for him who followed, he was great also, shorter than
Umslopogaas by the half of a head, but of a sturdier build. His eyes
were small, and twinkled unceasingly like little stars, and his look was
very wild, for now and again he grinned, showing his white teeth.

When I saw Umslopogaas, my father, my bowels melted within me, and I
longed to run to him and throw myself upon his neck. Yet I took council
with myself and did not--nay, I dropped the corner of the kaross I wrote
over my eyes, hiding my face lest he should know me. Presently he stood
before me, searching me out with his keen eyes, for I drew forward to
greet him.

"Greeting, Mouth of Dingaan!" he said in a loud voice. "You are a little
man to be the mouth of so big a chief."

"The mouth is a little member, even of the body of a great king, O Chief
Bulalio, ruler of the People of the Axe, wizard of the wolves that are
upon the Ghost Mountain, who aforetime was named Umslopogaas, son of
Mopo, son of Makedama."

Now when Umslopogaas heard these words he started like a child at a
rustling in the dark and stared hard at me.

"You are well instructed," he said.

"The ears of the king are large, if his mouth be small, O Chief
Bulalio," I answered, "and I, who am but the mouth, speak what the ears
have heard."

"How know you that I have dwelt with the wolves upon the Ghost Mountain,
O Mouth?" he asked.

"The eyes of the king see far, O Chief Bulalio. Thus last night they saw
a great chase and a merry. It seems that they saw a koodoo bull running
at speed, and after him countless wolves making their music, and with
the wolves two men clad in wolves' skins, such men as you, Bulalio, and
he with the club who follows you."

Now Umslopogaas lifted the axe Groan-Maker as though he would cut me
down, then let it fall again, while Galazi the Wolf glared at me with
wide-opened eyes.

"How know you that once I was named Umslopogaas, who have lost that name
t