nada the lily-第53章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



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　sayfor　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　menmost　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；　armedsome　with

spears；　some　with　clubsand　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　fencefrom　without　came　the　shouts　of　the

Slayerslo！　it　was　afire。　Nada　shrank　back　in　fear；　but　Umslopogaas

and　Galazi　dragged　her　on。　They　rushed　at　the　blazing　fence；　smiting

with　axe　and　club。　It　broke　before　them；　they　were　through　but　little

harmed。　Without　were　a　knot　of　the　Slayers；　standing　back　a　small

space　because　of　the　heat　of　the　flames。　The　Slayers　saw　them；　and

crying；　〃This　is　Bulalio；　kill　the　wizard！〃　sprang　towards　them　with

uplifted　spears。　Now　the　People　of　the　Axe　made　a　ring　round　Nada；　and

in　the　front　of　it　were　Umslopogaas　and　Galazi。　Then　they　rushed　on

and　met　those　of　the　Slayers　who　stood　before　them；　and　the　men　of

Dingaan　were　swept　away　and　scattered　by　Groan…Maker　and　the　Watcher；

as　dust　is　swept　of　a　wind；　as　grass　is　swept　by　a　sickle。



They　were　through　with　only　one　man　slain；　but　the　cry　went　up　that

the　chief　of　the　wizards　and　the　Lily；　his　wife；　had　fled。　Then；　as　it

was　these　whom　he　was　chiefly　charged　to　kill；　the　captain　called　off

the　impi　from　watching　for　the　dwellers　in　the　town；　and　started　in

pursuit　of　Umslopogaas。　Now；　at　this　time　nearly　a　hundred　men　of　the

People　of　the　Axe　had　been　killed　and　of　the　Slayers　some　fifty　men；

for；　having　been　awakened　by　the　crying　of　Galazi；　the　soldiers　of　the

axe　fought　bravely；　though　none　saw　where　his　brother　stood；　and　none

knew　whither　their　chief　had　fled　except　those　ten　who　went　with　the

brethren。



Meanwhile；　the　Wolf…Brethren　and　those　with　them　were　well　away；　and

it　had　been　easy　for　them　to　escape；　who　were　the　swiftest…footed　of

any　in　the　land。　But　the　pace　of　a　regiment　is　the　pace　of　its

slowest…footed　soldier；　and　Nada　could　not　run　with　the　Wolf…Brethren。

Yet　they　made　good　speed；　and　were　halfway　down　the　gorge　that　led　to

the　river　before　the　companies　of　Dingaan　poured　into　it。　Now　they

came　to　the　end　of　it；　and　the　foe　was　nearthis　end　of　the　gorge　is

narrow；　my　father；　like　the　neck　of　a　gourdthen　Galazi　stopped　and

spoke：



〃Halt！　ye　People　of　the　Axe；〃　he　said；　〃and　let　us　talk　awhile　with

these　who　follow　till　we　get　our　breath　again。　But　you；　my　brother；

pass　the　river　with　the　Lily　in　your　hand。　We　will　join　you　in　the

forest；　but　if　perchance　we　cannot　find　you；　you　know　what　must　be

done：　set　the　Lily　in　the　cave；　then　return　and　call　up　the　grey　impi。

Wow！　my　brother；　I　must　find　you　if　I　may；　for　if　these　men　of　Dingaan

have　a　mind　for　sport　there　shall　be　such　a　hunting　on　the　Ghost

Mountain　as　the　old　Witch　has　not　seen。　Go　now；　my　brother！〃



〃It　is　not　my　way　to　turn　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　sorrowI

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　joineday；　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；　none　know　of　this　place　except　Galazi；　myself

and　the　wolves；　and　none　shall　find　it。　Now　I　must　be　going　to　find

Galazi；　if　he　still　lives；　if　not；　to　make　what　play　I　can　against　the

Slayers；　alone　with　the　wolves。〃



Now　Nada　wept；　saying　that　she　feared　to　be　left；　and　that　she　should

never　see　him　more；　and　her　grief　rung　his　heart。　Nevertheless；

Umslopogaas　kissed　her　and　went；　closing　the　stone　after　him　in　that

fashion　of　which　he　had　spoken。　When　the　stone　was　shut　the　cave　was

almost　dark；　except　for　a　ray　of　light　that　entered　by　a　hole　little

larger　than　a　man's　hand；　that；　looked　at　from　within；　was　on　the

right　of　the　stone。　Nada　sat　herself　so　that　this　ray　struck　full　on

her；　for　she　loved　light；　and　without　it　she　would　pine　as　flowers　do。

There　she　sat　and　thought　in　the　darksome　cave；　and　was　filled　with

fear　and　sorrow。　And　while　she　brooded　thus；　suddenly　the　ray　went

out；　and　she　heard　a　noise　as　of　some　beast　that　smells　at　prey。　She

looked；　and　in　the　gloom　she　saw　the　sharp　nose　and　grinning　fangs　of

a　wolf　that　were　thrust　towards　her　through　the　little　hole。



Nada　cried　aloud　in　fear；　and　the　fangs　were　snatched　back；　but

presently　she　heard　a　scratching　without　the　cave；　and　saw　the　stone

shake。　Then　she　thought　in　her　foolishness　that　the　wolf　knew　how　to

open　the　stone；　and　that　he　would　do　this；　and　devour　her；　for　she　had

heard　the　tale　that　all　these　wolves　were　the　ghosts　of　evil　men；

having　the　understanding　of　men。　So；　in　her　fear　and　folly；　she　seized

the　rock　and　dragged　on　it　as　Umslopogaas　had　shown　her　how　to　do。　It

shook；　it　slipped　over　the　socket　ledge；　and　rolled　home　like　a　pebble

down　the　mouth　of　a　gourd。



〃Now　I　am　safe　from　the　wolves；〃　said　Nada。　〃See；　I　cannot　so　much　as

stir　the　stone　from　within。〃　And　she　laughed　a　little；　then　ceased

from　laughing　and　spoke　again。　〃Yet　it　would　be　ill　if　Umslopogaas

came　back　no　more　to　roll　away　that　rock；　for　then　I　should　be　like

one　in　a　graveas　one　who　is　placed　in　a　grave　being　yet　strong　and

quick。〃　She　shuddered　as　she　thought　of　it；　but　presently　started　up

and　set　her　ear　to　the　hole　to　listen；　for　from　far　down　the　mountain

there　rose　a　mighty　howling　and　a　din　of　men。



When　Umslopogaas　had　shut　the　cave；　he　moved　swiftly　down　the

mountain；　and　with　him　went　certain　of　the　wolves；　not　all；　for　he　had

not　summoned　them。　His　heart　was　heavy；　for　he　feared　that　Galazi　was

no　more。　Also　he　was　mad　with　rage；　and　plotted　in　himself　to　destroy

the　Slayers　of　the　king；　every　man　of　them；　but　first　he　must　learn

what　they　would　do。　Presently；　as　he　wended；　he　heard　a　long；　low　howl

far　away　in　the　forest；　then　he　rejoiced；　for　he　knew　the　callit　was

the　call　of　Galazi；　who　had　escaped　the　spears　of　the　Slayers。



Swiftly　he　ran；　calling　in　answer。　He　won　the　place。　There；　seated　on

a　stone；　resting　himself；　was　Galazi；　and　round　him　surged　the　numbers

of　the　Grey　People。　Umslopogaas　came　to　him　and　looked　at　him；　for　he

seemed　somewhat　weary。　There　were　flesh　wounds　on　his　great　breast　and

arms；　the　little　shield　was　well…nigh　hewn　to　strips；　and　the　Watcher

showed　signs　of　war。



〃How　went　it；　brother？〃　asked　Umslopogaas。



〃Not　so　ill；　but　all　those　who　stood　with　me　in　the　way　are　dead；　and

with　them　a　few　of　the　foe。　I　alone　am　fled　like　a　coward。　They　came

on　us　thrice；　but　we　held　them　back　till　the　Lily　was　safe；　then；　all

our　men　being　down；　I　ran；　Umslopogaas；　and　swam　the　torrent；　for　I

was　minded　to　die　here　in　my　own　place。〃



Now；　though　he　said　little　of　it；　I　must　tell　you；　my　father；　that

Galazi　had　made　a　great　slaughter　there　in　the　neck　of　the　donga。

Afterwards　I　counted　the　slain；　and　they　were　many；　the　nine　men　of

the　People　of　the　Axe　were　hidden　in　them。



〃Perhaps　it　shall　be　the　Slayers　who　die；　brother。〃



〃Perhaps；　at　least；　there　sh