grief, but I called to them that I would come
again and be their king, and it seemed as though their brute hearts
understood my words. Then they all went, still howling, till presently I
was alone.

"And now, Umslopogaas, it is time to sleep; to-morrow night I will end
my tale."

CHAPTER XIV. THE WOLF-BRETHREN

Now, my father, on the morrow night, once again Umslopogaas and Galazi
the wolf sat by the fire in the mouth of their cave, as we sit to-night,
my father, and Galazi took up his tale.

"I passed on till I came to the river; it was still full, but the water
had run down a little, so that my feet found foothold. I waded into
the river, using the Watcher as a staff, and the stream reached to my
elbows, but no higher. Now one on the farther bank of the river saw that
which sat upon my shoulders, and saw also the wolf's skin on my head,
and ran to the kraal crying, 'Here comes one who walks the waters on the
back of a wolf.'

"So it came about that when I drew towards the kraal all the people of
the kraal were gathered together to meet me, except the old woman, who
could not walk so far. But when they saw me coming up the slope of the
hill, and when they knew what it was that sat upon my shoulders, they
were smitten with fear. Yet they did not run, because of their great
wonder, only they walked backward before me, clinging each to each and
saying nothing. I too came on silently, till at length I reached the
kraal, and before its gates sat the old woman basking in the sun of the
afternoon. Presently she looked up and cried:--

"'What ails you, people of my house, that you walk backwards like men
bewitched, and who is that tall and deathly man who comes toward you?'

"But still they drew on backward, saying no word, the little children
clinging to the women, the women clinging to the men, till they had
passed the old wife and ranged themselves behind her like a regiment of
soldiers. Then they halted against the fence of the kraal. But I came on
to the old woman, and lifted him who sat upon my shoulders, and placed
him on the ground before her, saying, 'Woman, here is your son; I have
snatched him with much toil from the jaws of the ghosts--and they are
many up yonder--all save one foot, which I could not find. Take him now
and bury him, for I weary of his fellowship.'

"She looked upon that which sat before her. She put out her withered
hand and drew the bandage from his sunken eyes. Then she screamed alo