zis, and in the
forefront of the pursuit was their chief, ringed round with a circle of
his bravest.

Umslopogaas saw it and bounded to his feet, roaring like a bull. "At
them now, wolves!" he shouted.

Then the lines of warriors sprang up as a wave springs, and their crests
were like foam upon the wave. As a wave that swells to break they rose
suddenly, like a breaking wave they poured down the slope. In front of
them was the Slaughterer, holding Groan-Maker aloft, and oh! his feet
were swift. So swift were his feet that, strive as they would, he outran
them by the quarter of a spear's throw. Galazi heard the thunder of
their rush; he looked round, and as he looked, lo! the Slaughterer swept
past him, running like a buck. Then Galazi, too, bounded forward, and
the Wolf-Brethren sped down the hill, the length of four spears between
them.

The Halakazi also saw and heard, and strove to gather themselves
together to meet the rush. In front of Umslopogaas was their chief, a
tall man hedged about with assegais. Straight at the shield-hedge drove
Umslopogaas, and a score of spears were lifted to greet him, a score
of shields heaved into the air--this was a fence that none might pass
alive. Yet would the Slaughterer pass it--not alone! See! he steadies
his pace, he gathers himself together, and now he leaps! High into
the air he leaps; his feet knock the heads of the warriors and rattle
against the crowns of their shields. They smite upwards with the spear,
but he has swept over them like a swooping bird. He has cleared them--he
has lit--and now the shield-hedge guards two chiefs. But not for long.
Ou! Groan-Maker is aloft, he falls--and neither shield nor axe may stay
his stroke, both are cleft through, and the Halakazi lack a leader.

The shield-ring wheels in upon itself. Fools! Galazi is upon you! What
was that? Look, now! see how many bones are left unbroken in him
whom the Watcher falls on full! What!--another down! Close up,
shield-men--close up! Ai! are you fled?

Ah! the wave has fallen on the beach. Listen to its roaring--listen
to the roaring of the shields! Stand, you men of the Halakazi--stand!
Surely they are but a few. So! it is done! By the head of Chaka! they
break--they are pushed back--now the wave of slaughter seethes along the
sands--now the foe is swept like floating weed, and from all the line
there comes a hissing like the hissing of thin waters. "S'gee!" says the
hiss. "S'gee! S'gee!"

There,