To the last, brother, so long as one is left to lead them, after thatI do not know Still they have only fangs to set against spears.Slaughterer, your plan is good. "Yet it would be ill if Umslopogaascame back no more to roll away that rock, for then I should be likeone in a graveas one who is placed in a grave being yet strong andquick." She shuddered as she thought of it, but presently started upand set her ear to the hole to listen, for from far down the mountainthere rose a mighty howling and a din of men. "See, I cannot so much asstir the stone from within." And she laughed a little, then ceasedfrom laughing and spoke again.
Now I am safe from the wolves," said Nada. Presently, as he wended, he heard a long, low howlfar away in the forest then he rejoiced, for he knew the callit wasthe call of Galazi, who had escaped the spears of the Slayers. Also he was mad with rage, and plotted in himself to destroythe Slayers of the king, every man of them but first he must learnwhat they would do. His heart was heavy, for he feared that Galazi wasno more. When Umslopogaas had shut the cave, he moved swiftly down themountain, and with him went certain of the wolves not all, for he hadnot summoned them. This is my word: that wefall upon the men of Dingaan twice, once in the glade of the forestwhither they will come presently, and, if we are beaten back, then wemust stand for the last time on the knees of the Witch in front of thecave where Nada is. But now, at the least, we will make a good end tothis fellowship, and the Grey People shall fight their fill, and theold Witch who sits aloft waiting for the world to die shall smile tosee that fight, if she never smiled before. May we one dayfind a land where there are no women, and war only, for in that landwe shall grow great. Perchance I did ill, Galazi, when first I hearkened to thewords of Zinita and suffered women to come between us.
Were it not for one in the cave above, who is helpless and tender, Iwould swear to you, Wolf, that if you fall, on your carcase I willdie and I do swear that, should you fall, while I live GroanMakershall be busy from year to year till every man of yonder impi is asyou are. Now, though he said little of it, I must tell you, my father, thatGalazi had made a great slaughter there in the neck of the donga.Afterwards I counted the slain, and they were many the nine men ofthe People of the Axe were hidden in them.
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