They heard the sound and turned again, but
as they turned Groan-Maker pecked softly, and that man who had sworn
by the Lily was no more a man. Then Umslopogaas leaped forwards, and,
bounding on to the great rock, stood there like a buck against the sky.

"A Zulu rat is not so easily slain, O ye weasels!" he cried, as they
came at him from all sides at once with a roar. He smote to the right
and the left, and so swiftly that men could scarcely see the blows fall,
for he struck with Groan-Maker's beak. But though men scarcely saw the
blows, yet, my father, men fell beneath them. Now foes were all
around, leaping up at the Slaughterer as rushing water leaps to hide a
rock--everywhere shone spears, thrusting at him from this side and from
that. Those in front and to the side Groan-Maker served to stay, but one
wounded Umslopogaas in the neck, and another was lifted to pierce his
back when the strength of its holder was bowed to the dust--to the dust,
to become of the dust.

For now the Wolf was through the hole also, and the Watcher grew very
busy; he was so busy that soon the back of the Slaughterer had nothing
to fear--yet those had much to fear who stood behind his back. The pair
fought bravely, making a great slaughter, and presently, one by one,
plumed heads of the People of the Axe showed through the burrow and
strong arms mingled in the fray. Swiftly they came, leaping into battle
as otters leap to the water--now there were ten of them, now there were
twenty--and now the Halakazi broke and fled, since they did not bargain
for this. Then the rest of the Men of the Axe came through in peace, and
the evening grew towards the dark before all had passed the hole.

CHAPTER XXVI. THE FINDING OF NADA

Umslopogaas marshalled his companies.

"There is little light left," he said, "but it must serve us to start
these conies from their burrows. Come, my brother Galazi, you know where
the conies hide, take my place and lead us."

So Galazi led the impi. Turning a corner of the glen, he came with them
to a large open space that had a fountain in its midst, and this place
was full of thousands of cattle. Then he turned again to the left, and
brought them to the inner side of the mountain, where the cliff hung
over, and here was the mouth of a great cave. Now the cave was dark, but
by its door was stacked a pile of resinous wood to serve as torches.

"Here is that which will give us light," said Galazi, and one man of
ev