hese wizards shall wake warm; the signal
should be soon."

(1) A fabulous animal, reported by the Zulus to carry off human beings
in a hole in its back.

Then arose the sound of a great voice crying, "Awake, ye sleepers, the
foe is at your gates!"

CHAPTER XXXIII. THE END OF THE PEOPLE, BLACK AND GREY

Galazi rushed through the town crying aloud, and behind him rose a stir
of men. All slept and no sentinels were set, for Umslopogaas was so lost
in his love for Lily that he forgot his wisdom, and thought no more of
war or death or of the hate of Dingaan. Presently the Wolf came to the
large new hut which Umslopogaas had caused to be built for Nada the
Lily, and entered it, for there he knew that he should find his brother
Bulalio. On the far side of the hut the two lay sleeping, and the head
of Umslopogaas rested on the Lily's breast, and by his side gleamed the
great axe Groan-Maker.

"Awake!" cried the Wolf.

Now Umslopogaas sprang to his feet grasping at his axe, but Nada threw
her arms wide, murmuring; "Let me sleep on, sweet is sleep."

"Sound shall ye sleep, anon!" gasped Galazi. "Swift, brother, bind on
the wolf's hide, take shield! Swift, I say--for the Slayers of the king
are at your gates!"

Now Nada sprang up also, and they did his bidding like people in a
dream; and, while they found their garments and a shield, Galazi took
beer and drank it, and got his breath again. They stood without the hut.
Now the heaven was grey, and east and west and north and south tongues
of flame shot up against the sky, for the town had been fired by the
Slayers.

Umslopogaas looked and his sense came back to him: he understood. "Which
way, brother?" he said.

"Through the fire and the impi to our Grey People on the mountain," said
Galazi. "There, if we can win it, we shall find succour."

"What of my people in the kraal," asked Umslopogaas.

"They are not many, brother; the women and the children are gone. I have
roused the men--most will escape. Hence, ere we burn!"

Now they ran towards the fence, and as they went men joined them to the
number of ten, half awakened, fear-stricken, armed--some with spears,
some with clubs--and for the most part naked. They sped on together
towards the fence of the town that was now but a ring of fire,
Umslopogaas and Galazi in front, each holding the Lily by a hand. They
neared the fence--from without came the shouts of the Slayers--lo! it
was afire. Nada shrank back in