kazi,
where I was born, and in that hill is the great cave."

Then they went on, and before the sun was high they came to the crest
of a rise, and heard the sound of horns on its farther side. They stood
upon the rise, and looked, and lo! yet far off, but running towards
them, was the whole impi of the Halakazi, and it was a great impi.

"They have gathered their strength indeed," said Galazi. "For every man
of ours there are three of these Swazis!"

The soldiers saw also, and the courage of some of them sank low. Then
Umslopogaas spoke to them:--

"Yonder are the Swazi dogs, my children; they are many and we are few.
Yet, shall it be told at home that we, men of the Zulu blood, were
hunted by a pack of Swazi dogs? Shall our women and children sing THAT
song in our ears, O Soldiers of the Axe?"

Now some cried "Never!" but some were silent; so Umslopogaas spoke
again:--

"Turn back all who will: there is yet time. Turn back all who will, but
ye who are men come forward with me. Or if ye will, go back all of
you, and leave Axe Groan-Maker and Club Watcher to see this matter out
alone."

Now there arose a mighty shout of "We will die together who have lived
together!"

"Do you swear it?" cried Umslopogaas, holding Groan-Maker on high.

"We swear it by the Axe," they answered.

Then Umslopogaas and Galazi made ready for the battle. They posted all
the young men in the broken ground above the bottom of the slope,
for these could best be spared to the spear, and Galazi the Wolf took
command of them; but the veterans stayed upon the hillside, and with
them Umslopogaas.

Now the Halakazi came on, and there were four full regiments of them.
The plain was black with them, the air was rent with their shoutings,
and their spears flashed like lightnings. On the farther side of the
slope they halted and sent a herald forward to demand what the People of
the Axe would have from them. The Slaughterer answered that they would
have three things: First, the head of their chief, whose place Galazi
should fill henceforth; secondly, that fair maid whom men named the
Lily; thirdly, a thousand head of cattle. If these demands were granted,
then he would spare them, the Halakazi; if not, he would stamp them out
and take all.

So the herald returned, and when he reached the ranks of the Halakazi he
called aloud his answer. Then a great roar of laughter went up from the
Halakazi regiments, a roar that shook the earth. The brow of