nada the lily-第26章

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skin　shone　like　the　copper　anklets　on　her　limbs。　She　walked　slowly

towards　the　reeds　where　he　lay　hidden。　Nor　did　she　top　at　the　brink　of

the　reeds；　she　entered　them　and　sat　herself　down　within　a　spear's

length　of　where　Umslopogaas　was　seated；　and　at　once　began　to　weep；

speaking　to　herself　as　she　wept。



〃Would　that　the　ghost…wolves　might　fall　on　him　and　all　that　is　his；〃

she　sobbed；　〃ay；　and　on　Masilo　also！　I　would　hound　them　on；　even　if　I

myself　must　next　know　their　fangs。　Better　to　die　by　the　teeth　of　the

wolves　than　to　be　sold　to　this　fat　pig　of　a　Masilo。　Oh！　if　I　must　wed

him；　I　will　give　him　a　knife　for　the　bride's　kiss。　Oh！　that　I　were　a

lady　of　the　ghost…wolves；　there　should　be　a　picking　of　bones　in　the

kraal　of　Jikiza　before　the　moon　grows　young　again。〃



Umslopogaas　heard；　and　of　a　sudden　reared　himself　up　before　the　maid；

and　he　was　great　and　wild　to　look　on；　and　the　she…wolf's　fangs　shone

upon　his　brow。



〃The　ghost…wolves　are　at　hand；　damsel；〃　he　said。　〃They　are　ever　at

hand　for　those　who　need　them。〃



Now　the　maid　saw　him　and　screamed　faintly；　then　grew　silent；　wondering

at　the　greatness　and　the　fierce　eyes　of　the　man　who　spoke　to　her。



〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked。　〃I　fear　you　not；　whoever　you　are。〃



〃There　you　are　wrong；　damsel；　for　all　men　fear　me；　and　they　have　cause

to　fear。　I　am　one　of　the　Wolf…Brethren；　whose　names　have　been　told　of；

I　am　a　wizard　of　the　Ghost　Mountain。　Take　heed；　now；　lest　I　kill　you。

It　will　be　of　little　avail　to　call　upon　your　people；　for　my　feet　are

fleeter　than　theirs。〃



〃I　have　no　wish　to　call　upon　my　people；　Wolf…Man；〃　she　answered。　〃And

for　the　rest；　I　am　too　young　to　kill。〃



〃That　is　so；　maiden；〃　answered　Umslopogaas；　looking　at　her　beauty。

〃What　were　the　words　upon　your　lips　as　to　Jikiza　and　a　certain　Masilo？

Were　they　not　fierce　words；　such　as　my　heart　likes　well？〃



〃It　seems　that　you　heard　them；〃　answered　the　girl。　〃What　need　to　waste

breath　in　speaking　them　again？〃



〃No　need；　maiden。　Now　tell　me　your　story；　perhaps　I　may　find　a　way　to

help　you。〃



〃There　is　little　to　tell；〃　she　answered。　〃It　is　a　small　tale　and　a

common。　My　name　is　Zinita；　and　Jikiza　the　Unconquered　is　my　step…

father。　He　married　my　mother；　who　is　dead；　but　none　of　his　blood　is　in

me。　Now　he　would　give　me　in　marriage　to　a　certain　Masilo；　a　fat　man

and　an　old；　whom　I　hate；　because　Masilo　offers　many　cattle　for　me。〃



〃Is　there；　then；　another　whom　you　would　wed；　maiden？〃　asked

Umslopogaas。



〃There　is　none；〃　answered　Zinita；　looking　him　in　the　eyes。



〃And　is　there　no　path　by　which　you　may　escape　from　Masilo？〃



〃There　is　only　one　path；　Wolf…Manby　death。　If　I　die；　I　shall　escape；

if　Masilo　dies；　I　shall　escape；　but　to　little　end；　for　I　shall　be

given　to　another；　but　if　Jikiza　dies；　then　it　will　be　well。　What　of

that　wolf…people　of　yours；　are　they　not　hungry；　Wolf…Man？〃



〃I　cannot　bring　them　here；〃　answered　Umslopogaas。　〃Is　there　no　other

way？〃



〃There　is　another　way；〃　said　Zinita；　〃if　one　can　be　found　to　try　it。〃

And　again　she　looked　at　him　strangely；　causing　the　blood　to　beat

within　him。　〃Hearken！　do　you　not　know　how　our　people　are　governed？

They　are　governed　by　him　who　holds　the　axe　Groan…Maker。　He　that　can

win　the　axe　in　war　from　the　hand　of　him　who　holds　it；　shall　be　our

chief。　But　if　he　who　holds　the　axe　dies　unconquered；　then　his　son

takes　his　place　and　with　it　the　axe。　It　has　been　thus；　indeed；　for

four　generations；　since　he　who　held　Groan…Maker　has　always　been

unconquerable。　But　I　have　heard　that　the　great…grandfather　of　Jikiza

won　the　axe　from　him　who　held　it　in　his　day；　he　won　it　by　fraud。　For

when　the　axe　had　fallen　on　him　but　lightly；　he　fell　over；　feigning

death。　Then　the　owner　of　the　axe　laughed；　and　turned　to　walk　away。　But

the　forefather　of　Jikiza　sprang　up　behind　him　and　pierced　him　through

with　a　spear；　and　thus　he　became　chief　of　the　People　of　the　Axe。

Therefore；　it　is　the　custom　of　Jikiza　to　hew　off　the　heads　of　those

whom　he　kills　with　the　axe。〃



〃Does　he；　then；　slay　many？〃　asked　Umslopogaas。



〃Of　late　years；　few　indeed；〃　she　said；　〃for　none　dare　stand　against

himno；　not　with　all　to　win。　For；　holding　the　axe　Groan…Maker；　he　is

unconquerable；　and　to　fight　with　him　is　sure　death。　Fifty…and…one　have

tried　in　all；　and　before　the　hut　of　Jikiza　there　are　piled　fifty…and…

one　white　skulls。　And　know　this；　the　axe　must　be　won　in　fight；　if　it

is　stolen　or　found；　it　has　no　virtuenay；　it　brings　shame　and　death

to　him　who　holds　it。〃



〃How；　then；　may　a　man　give　battle　to　Jikiza？〃　he　asked　again。



〃Thus：　Once　in　every　year；　on　the　first　day　of　the　new　moon　of　the

summer　season；　Jikiza　holds　a　meeting　of　the　headmen。　Then　he　must

rise　and　challenge　all　or　any　to　come　forward　and　do　battle　with　him

to　win　the　axe　and　become　chief　in　his　place。　Now　if　one　comes

forward；　they　go　into　the　cattle　kraal；　and　there　the　matter　is　ended。

Afterwards；　when　the　head　is　hewn　from　his　foe；　Jikiza　goes　back　to

the　meeting　of　the　headmen；　and　they　talk　as　before。　All　are　free　to

come　to　the　meeting；　and　Jikiza　must　fight　with　them　if　they　wish　it；

whoever　they　be。〃



〃Perhaps　I　shall　be　there；〃　said　Umslopogaas。



〃After　this　meeting　at　the　new　moon；　I　am　to　be　given　in　marriage　to

Masilo；〃　said　the　maid。　〃But　should　one　conquer　Jikiza；　then　he　will

be　chief；　and　can　give　me　in　marriage　to　whom　he　will。〃



Now　Umslopogaas　understood　her　meaning；　and　knew　that　he　had　found

favour　in　her　sight；　and　the　thought　moved　him　a　little；　for　women

were　strange　to　him　as　yet。



〃If　perchance　I　should　be　there；〃　he　said；　〃and　if　perchance　I　should

win　the　iron　chieftainess；　the　axe　Groan…Maker；　and　rule　over　the

People　of　the　Axe；　you　should　not　live　far　from　the　shadow　of　the　axe

thenceforward；　maid　Zinita。〃



〃It　is　well；　Wolf…Man；　though　some　might　not　wish　to　dwell　in　that

shadow；　but　first　you　must　win　the　axe。　Many　have　tried；　and　all　have

failed。〃



〃Yet　one　must　succeed　at　last；〃　he　said；　〃and　so；　farewell！〃　and　he

leaped　into　the　torrent　of　the　river；　and　swam　it　with　great　strokes。



Now　the　maid　Zinita　watched　him　till　he　was　gone；　and　love　of　him

entered　into　her　hearta　love　that　was　fierce　and　jealous　and　strong。

But　as　he　wended　to　the　Ghost　Mountain　Umslopogaas　thought　rather　of

axe　Groan…Maker　than　of　Maid　Zinita；　for　ever；　at　the　bottom；

Umslopogaas　loved　war　more　than　women；　though　this　has　been　his　fate；

that　women　have　brought　sorrow　on　his　head。



Fifteen　days　must　pass　before　the　day　of　the　new　moon；　and　during　this

time　Umslopogaas　thought　much　and　said　little。　Still；　he　told　Galazi

something　of　the　tale；　and　that　he　was　determined　to　do　battle　with

Jikiza　the　Unconquered　for　the　axe　Groan…Maker。　Galazi　said　that　he

would　do　well　to　let　it　be；　and　that　it　was　better　to　stay　with　the

wolves　than　to　go　out　seeking　strange　weapons。　He　said　also　that　even

if　he　won　the　axe；　the　matter　might　not　stay　there；　for　he　must　take

the　girl　also；　and　his　heart　boded　no　good　of　women。　It　had　been　a

girl　who　poisoned　his　father　in　the　kraals　of　the　Halakazi。　To　all　of

which　Umslopogaas　answered　nothing；　for　his　heart　was　set　both　on　the

axe　and　the　girl；　but　more　on　the　first　than　the　last。



So　the　time　wore　on；　and　at　length　came　the　day　of　the　new　moon。　At

the　dawn　of　that　day　Umslopogaas　arose　and　clad　himself　in　a　moocha；

binding　the　she…wolf's　skin　round　his　middle　beneath　the　moocha。　In

his　hand　he　took　a　stout　fighting…shield；　which　he　had　made　of　buffalo

hide；　and　that　same　light　moon…shaped　axe　with　which　he　had　slain　the

captain　of　Chaka。



〃A　poor　weapon　with　which　to　kill　Jikiza　the　Unconquerable；〃　said

Galazi；　eyeing　it　askance。



〃It　shall　serve　my　turn；〃　answered　Umslopogaas。



Now　Umslopogaas　ate；　and　then　they　moved　together　slowly　down　the

mountain　and　crossed　the　river　by　a　ford；　for　he　wished　to　save　his

strength。　On　the　farther　side　of　the　river　Galazi　hid　himself　in　the

reeds；　because　his　face　was　known；　and　there　Umslopogaas　bade　him

farewell；　not　knowing　if　he　should　look　upon　him　again。　Afterwards　he

walked　up　to　the　Great　Place　of　Jikiza。　Now　when　he　reached　the　gates

of　the　kraal；　he　saw　that　many　people　were　streaming　through　them；　and

mingled　with　the　people。　Presently　they　came　to　the　open　space　in

front　of　the　huts　of　Jikiza；　and　there　the　headmen　were　gathered

together。　In　the　centre　of　them；　and　before　a　heap　of　the　skulls　of

men　which　were　piled　up　against　his　doorposts；　sat　Jikiza；　a　huge　man；

a　hairy　and　a　proud；　who　glared　about　him　rolling　his　eyes。　Fastened

to　his　arm　by　a　thong　of　leather　was　the　great　axe　Groan…Maker；　and

each　man　as　he　came　up　saluted　the　axe；　calling　it　〃Inkosikaas；〃　or

chieftainess；　but　he　did　not　salute　Jikiza。　Umslopogaas　sat　down　with

the　people　in　front　of　the　councillors；　and　few　took　any　notice　of

him；　except　Zinita；　who　moved　sullenly　to　and　fro　bearing　gourds　of

beer　to　the　councillors。　Near　to　Jikiza；　on　his　right　hand；　sat　a　fat

man　with　small　and　twinkling　eyes；　who　watched　the　maid　Zinita

greedily。



〃Yon　man；〃　thought　Umslopogaas；　〃is　Masilo。　The　better　for　blood…

letting　will　you　be；　Masilo。〃



Presently　Jikiza　spoke；　rolling　his　eyes：　〃This　is　the　matter　before

you；　councillors。　I　have　settled　it　in　my　mind　to　give　my　step…

daughter　Zinita　in　marriage　to　Masilo；　but　the　marriage　gift　is　not

yet　agreed　on。　I　demand　a　hundred　head　of　cattle　from　Masilo；　for　the

maid　is　fair　and　straight；　a　proper　maid；　and；　moreover；　my　daughter；

though　not　of　my　blood。　But　Masilo　offers　fifty　head　only；　therefore　I

ask　you　to　settle　it。〃



〃We　hear　you；　Lord　of　the　Axe；〃　answered　one　of　the　councillors；　〃but

first；　O　Unconquered；　you　must　on　this　day　of　the　year；　according　to

ancient　custom；　give　public　challenge　to　any　man　to　fight　you　for　the

Groan…Maker　and　for　your　place　as　chief　of　the　People　of　the　Axe。〃



〃This　is　a　wearisome　thing；〃　grumbled　Jikiza。　〃Can　I　never　have　done

in　it？　Fifty…and…three　have　I　slain　in　my　youth　without　a　wound；　and

now　for　many　years　I　have　challenged；　like　a　cock　on　a　dunghill；　and

none　crow　in　answer。〃



〃Ho；　now！　Is　there　any　man　who　will　come　forward　and　do　battle　with

me；　Jikiza；　for　the　great　axe　Groan…Maker？　To　him　who　can　win　it；　it

shall　be；　and　with　it　the　chieftainship　of　the　People　of　the　Axe。〃



Thus　he　spoke　very　fast；　as　a　man　gabbles　a　prayer　to　a　spirit　in　whom

he　has　little　faith；　then　turned　once　more　to　talk　of　the　cattle　of

Masilo　and　of　the　maid　Zinita。　But　suddenly　Umslopogaas　stood　up；

looking　at　him　over　the　top　of　his　war　shield；　and　crying；　〃Here　is

one；　O　Jikiza；　who　will　do　battle　with　you　for　the　axe　Groan…Maker　and

for　the　chieftainship　that　is　to　him　who　holds　the　axe。〃



Now；　all　the　people　laughed；　and　Jikiza　glared　at　him。



〃Come　forth　from　behind　that　big　shield　of　yours；〃　he　said。　〃Come　out

and　tell　me　your　name　and　lin