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 call--it 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 shall be death for some. Still it is in my
mind, Slaughterer, that our brotherhood draws to an end, for the fate of
him who bears the Watcher, and which my father foretold, is upon me.
If so, farewell. While it lasted our friendship has been good, and its
ending shall be good. Moreover, it would have endured for many a year
to come had you not sought, Slaughterer, to make good better, and to
complete our joy of fellowship and war with the love of women. From that
source flow these ills, as a river from a spring; but so it was fated.
If I fall in this fray may you yet live on to fight in many another, and
at the last to die gloriously with axe aloft; and may you find a brisker
man and a better Watcher to serve you in your need. Should you fall and
I live on, I promise this: I will avenge you to the last and guard the
Lily whom you love, offering her comfort, but no more. Now the foe draws
on, they have travelled round about by the ford, for they dared not face
the torrent, and they cried to me that they are sworn to slay us or be
slain, as Dingaan, the king, commanded. So the fighting wi