and run while others stand and fight," growled
Umslopogaas; "yet, because of Nada, it seems that I must."

"Oh! heed me not, my love," said Nada, "I have brought thee sorrow--I am
weary, let me die; kill me and save yourselves!"

For answer, Umslopogaas took her by the hand and fled towards the river;
but before he reached it he heard the sounds of the fray, the war-cry of
the Slayers as they poured upon the People of the Axe, the howl of his
brother, the Wolf, when the battle joined--ay, and the crash of the
Watcher as the blow went home.

"Well bitten, Wolf!" he said, stopping; "that one shall need no more;
oh! that I might"--but again he looked at Nada, and sped on.

Now they had leaped into the foaming river, and here it was well that
the Lily could swim, else both had been lost. But they won through and
passed forward to the mountain's flank. Here they walked on among the
trees till the forest was almost passed, and at length Umslopogaas heard
the howling of a wolf.

Then he must set Nada on his shoulders and carry her as once Galazi had
carried another, for it was death for any except the Wolf-Brethren to
walk on the Ghost Mountain when the wolves were awake.

Presently the wolves flocked around him, and leaped upon him in joy,
glaring with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his shoulders. Nada saw
them, and almost fell from her seat, fainting with fear, for they were
many and dreadful, and when they howled her blood turned to ice.

But Umslopogaas cheered her, telling her that these were his dogs with
whom he went out hunting, and with whom he should hunt presently. At
length they came to the knees of the Old Witch and the entrance to
the cave. It was empty except for a wolf or two, for Galazi abode here
seldom now; but when he was on the mountain would sleep in the forest,
which was nearer the kraal of his brother the Slaughterer.

"Here you must stay, sweet," said Umslopogaas when he had driven out the
wolves. "Here you must rest till this little matter of the Slayers is
finished. Would that we had brought food, but we had little time to seek
it! See, now I will show you the secret of the stone; thus far I will
push it, no farther. Now a touch only is needed to send it over the
socket and home; but then they must be two strong men who can pull it
back again. Therefore push it no farther except in the utmost need, lest
it remain where it fall, whether you will it or not. Have no fear, you
are safe here; non