re 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 lineage--you who would do battle with the
Unconquered for the ancient axe."

Then Umslopogaas came forward, and he looked so fierce, though he was
but young, that the people laughed no more.

"What is my name and lineage to you, Jikiza?" he said. "Let it be, and
hasten to do me battle, as you must by the custom, for I am eager to
handle the Groan-Maker and to sit in your seat and settle this matter of
the cattle of Masilo the Pig. When I have killed you I will take a name
who now have none."

Now once more the people laughed, but Jikiza grew mad with wrath, and
sprang up gasping.

"What!" he said, "you dare to speak thus to me, you babe unweaned, to
me the Unconquered, the holder of the axe! Never did I think to live to
hear such talk from a long-legged pup. On to the cattle kraal, to the
cattle kraal, People of the Axe, that I may hew this braggart's head
from his shoulders. He would stand in my place, would he?--the place
that I and my fathers have held for four generations by virtue of the
axe. I tell you all, that presently I will stand upon his head, and then
we will settle the matter of Masilo."

"Babble not so fast, man," quoth Umslopogaas, "or if you must babble,
speak those words which you would say ere you bid the sun farewell."

Now, Jikiza choked with rage, and foam came from his lips so that he
could not speak, but the people found this sport--all except Masilo, who
looked askance at the stranger, tall and fierce, and Zinita, who looked
at Masilo, and with no love. So they moved down to the cattle kraal, and
Galazi, seeing it from afar, could keep away no longer, but drew near
and mingled with the crowd.

CHAPTER XVII. UMSLOPOGAAS BECOMES CHIEF OF THE PEOPLE OF TH