〃Did I sleep or did I wake？ Nay； I cannot tell。 But I know this； that
of a sudden I seemed to look up and see。 I saw a lightperchance；
Umslopogaas； it was the light of the moon； shining upon him that sat
aloft at the end of the cave。 It was a red light； and he glowed in it
as glows a thing that is rotten。 I looked； or seemed to look； and then
I thought that the hanging jaw moved； and from it came a voice that
was harsh and hollow as of one who speaks from an empty belly； through
a withered throat。
〃'Hail； Galazi； child of Siguyana！' said the voice； 'Galazi the Wolf！
Say； what dost thou here in the Ghost Mountain； where the stone Witch
sits forever； waiting for the world to die？'
〃Then； Umslopogaas； I answered； or seemed to answer； and my voice；
too； sounded strange and hollow：
〃'Hail； Dead One； who sittest like a vulture on a rock！ I do this on
the Ghost Mountain。 I come to seek thy bones and bear them to thy
mother for burial。'
〃'Many and many a year have I sat aloft； Galazi；' answered the voice；
'watching the ghost…wolves leap and leap to drag me down； till the
rock grew smooth beneath the wearing of their feet。 So I sat seven
days and nights； being yet alive； the hungry wolves below； and hunger
gnawing at my heart。 So I have sat many and many a year； being dead in
the heart of the old stone Witch； watching the moon and the sun and
the stars； hearkening to the howls of the ghost…wolves as they ravened
beneath me； and learning the wisdom of the old witch who sits above in
everlasting stone。 Yet my mother was young and fair when I trod the
haunted forest and climbed the knees of stone。 How seems she now；
Galazi？'
〃'She is white and wrinkled and very aged；' I answered。 'They call her
mad； yet at her bidding I came to seek thee； Dead One； bearing the
Watcher that was thy father's and shall be mine。'
〃'It shall be thine； Galazi；' said the voice； 'for thou alone hast
dared the ghosts to me sleep and burial。 Hearken； thine also shall be
the wisdom of the old witch who sits aloft forever； frozen into
everlasting stonethine and one other's。 These are not wolves that
thou hast seen； that is no wolf which thou hast slain； nay； they are
ghostsevil ghosts of men who lived in ages gone； and who must now
live till they be slain by men。 And knowest thou how they lived；
Galazi； and what was the food they ate？ When the light comes again；
Galazi； climb to the breasts of the stone Witch； and look in the cleft
which is between her breasts。 There shalt thou see how these men
lived。 And now this doom is on them： they must wander gaunt and hungry
in the shape of wolves； haunting that Ghost Mountain where they once
fed； till they are led forth to die at the hands of men。 Because of
their devouring hunger they have leapt from year to year； striving to
reach my bones； and he whom thou hast slain was the king of them； and
she at his side was their queen。
〃'Now； Galazi the Wolf； this is the wisdom that I give thee： thou
shalt be king of the ghost…wolves； thou and another； whom a lion shall
bring thee。 Gird the black skin upon thy shoulders； and the wolves
shall follow thee； all the three hundred and sixty and three of them
that are left； and let him who shall be brought to thee gird on the
skin of grey。 Where ye twain lead them； there shall they raven；
bringing you victory till all are dead。 But know this； that there only
may they raven where in life they ravened； seeking for their food。
Yet； that was an ill gift thou tookest from my motherthe gift of the
Watcher； for though without the Watcher thou hadst never slain the
king of the ghost…wolves； yet； bearing the Watcher； thou shalt thyself
be slain。 Now； on the morrow carry me back to my mother； so that I may
sleep where the ghost…wolves leap no more。 I have spoken； Galazi。'
〃Now the Dead One's voice seemed to grow ever fainter and more hollow
as he spoke； till at the last I could scarcely hear his words； yet I
answered him； asking him this：
〃'Who is it； then； that the lion shall bring to me to rule with me
over the ghost…wolves； and how is he named？'
〃Then the Dead One spoke once more very faintly； yet in the silence of
the place I heard his words：
〃'He is named Umslopogaas the Slaughterer； son of Chaka； Lion of the
Zulu。〃
Now Umslopogaas started up from his place by the fire。
〃I am named Umslopogaas；〃 he said； 〃but the Slaughterer I am not
named； and I am the son of Mopo； and not the son of Chaka； Lion of the
Zulu； you have dreamed a dream； Galazi； or； if it was no dream； then
the Dead One lied to you。〃
〃Perchance this was so； Umslopogaas；〃 answered Galazi the Wolf。
〃Perhaps I dreamed； of perhaps the Dead One lied； nevertheless； if he
lied in this matter； in other matters he did not lie； as you shall
hear。
〃After I had heard these words； or had dreamed that I heard them； I
slept indeed； and when I woke the forest beneath was like the clouds
of mist； but the grey light glinted upon the face of her who sits in
stone above。 Now I remembered the dream that I had dreamed； and I
would see if it were all a dream。 So I rose； and leaving the cave；
found a place where I might climb up to the breasts and head of the
stone Witch。 I climbed； and as I went the rays of the sun lit upon her
face； and I rejoiced to see them。 But； when I drew near； the likeness
to the face of a woman faded away； and I saw nothing before me but
rugged heaps of piled…up rock。 For this； Umslopogaas； is the way of
witches； be they of stone or fleshwhen you draw near to them they
change their shape。
〃Now I was on the breast of the mountain； and wandered to and for
awhile between the great heaps of stone。 At length I found； as it
were； a crack in the stone thrice as wide as a man can jump； and in
length half a spear's throw； and near this crack stood great stones
blackened by fire； and beneath them broken pots and a knife of flint。
I looked down into the crackit was very deep； and green with moss；
and tall ferns grew about in it； for the damp gathered there。 There
was nothing else。 I had dreamed a lying dream。 I turned to go； then
found another mind； and climbed down into the cleft； pushing aside the
ferns。 Beneath the ferns was moss； I scraped it away with the Watcher。
Presently the iron of the club struck on something that was yellow and
round like a stone； and from the yellow thing came a hollow sound。 I
lifted it； Umslopogaas； it was the skull of a child。
〃I dug deeper and scraped away more moss； till presently I saw。
Beneath the moss was nothing but the bones of menold bones that had
lain there many years； the little ones had rotted； the larger ones
remainedsome were yellow； some black； and others still white。 They
were not broken； as are those that hyenas and wolves have worried； yet
on some of them I could see the marks of teeth。 Then； Umslopogaas； I
went back to the cave； never looking behind me。
〃Now when I was come to the cave I did this： I skinned the she…wolf
also。 When I had finished the sun was up； and I knew that it was time
to go。 But I could not go alonehe who sat aloft in the cleft of the
cave must go with me。 I greatly feared to touch himthis Dead One；
who had spoken to me in a dream； yet I must do it。 So I brought stones
and piled them up till I could reach him； then I lifted him down； for
he was very light； being but skin and bones。 When he was down； I bound
the hides of the wolves about me； then leaving the leather bag； into
which he could not enter； I took the Dead One and placed him on my
shoulders as a man might carry a child； for his legs were fixed
somewhat apart； and holding him by the foot which was left on him； I
set out for the kraal。 Down the slope I went as swiftly as I could；
for now I knew the way； seeing and hearing nothing； except once； when
there came a rush of wings； and a great eagle swept down at that which
sat upon my shoulders。 I shouted； and the eagle flew away； then I
entered the dark of the forest。 Here I must walk softly； lest the head
of him I carried should strike against the boughs and be smitten from
him。
〃For awhile I went on thus； till I drew near to the heart of the
forest。 Then I heard a wolf howl on my right； and from the left came
answering howls； and these； again； were answered by others in front of
and behind me。 I walked on boldly； for I dared not stay； guiding
myself by the sun； which from time to time shone down on me redly
through the boughs of the great trees。 Now I could see forms grey and
black slinking near my path； sniffing at the air as they went； and now
I came to a little open place； and； behold！ all the wolves in the
world were gathered together there。 My heart melted； my legs trembled
beneath me。 On every side were the brutes； great and hungry。 And I
stood still； with club aloft； and slowly they crept up； muttering and
growling as they came； till they formed a deep circle round me。 Yet
they did no