登陆注册
5421800000109

第109章

THE END OF THE PEOPLE, BLACK AND GREY

Galazi rushed through the town crying aloud, and behind him rose a stir of men. All slept and no sentinels were set, for Umslopogaas was so lost in his love for Lily that he forgot his wisdom, and thought no more of war or death or of the hate of Dingaan. Presently the Wolf came to the large new hut which Umslopogaas had caused to be built for Nada the Lily, and entered it, for there he knew that he should find his brother Bulalio. On the far side of the hut the two lay sleeping, and the head of Umslopogaas rested on the Lily's breast, and by his side gleamed the great axe Groan-Maker.

"Awake!" cried the Wolf.

Now Umslopogaas sprang to his feet grasping at his axe, but Nada threw her arms wide, murmuring; "Let me sleep on, sweet is sleep.""Sound shall ye sleep, anon!" gasped Galazi. "Swift, brother, bind on the wolf's hide, take shield! Swift, I say--for the Slayers of the king are at your gates!"Now Nada sprang up also, and they did his bidding like people in a dream; and, while they found their garments and a shield, Galazi took beer and drank it, and got his breath again. They stood without the hut. Now the heaven was grey, and east and west and north and south tongues of flame shot up against the sky, for the town had been fired by the Slayers.

Umslopogaas looked and his sense came back to him: he understood.

"Which way, brother?" he said.

"Through the fire and the impi to our Grey People on the mountain,"said Galazi. "There, if we can win it, we shall find succour.""What of my people in the kraal," asked Umslopogaas.

"They are not many, brother; the women and the children are gone. Ihave roused the men--most will escape. Hence, ere we burn!"Now they ran towards the fence, and as they went men joined them to the number of ten, half awakened, fear-stricken, armed--some with spears, some with clubs--and for the most part naked. They sped on together towards the fence of the town that was now but a ring of fire, Umslopogaas and Galazi in front, each holding the Lily by a hand. They neared the fence--from without came the shouts of the Slayers--lo! it was afire. Nada shrank back in fear, but Umslopogaas and Galazi dragged her on. They rushed at the blazing fence, smiting with axe and club. It broke before them, they were through but little harmed. Without were a knot of the Slayers, standing back a small space because of the heat of the flames. The Slayers saw them, and crying, "This is Bulalio, kill the wizard!" sprang towards them with uplifted spears. Now the People of the Axe made a ring round Nada, and in the front of it were Umslopogaas and Galazi. Then they rushed on and met those of the Slayers who stood before them, and the men of Dingaan were swept away and scattered by Groan-Maker and the Watcher, as dust is swept of a wind, as grass is swept by a sickle.

They were through with only one man slain, but the cry went up that the chief of the wizards and the Lily, his wife, had fled. Then, as it was these whom he was chiefly charged to kill, the captain called off the impi from watching for the dwellers in the town, and started in pursuit of Umslopogaas. Now, at this time nearly a hundred men of the People of the Axe had been killed and of the Slayers some fifty men, for, having been awakened by the crying of Galazi, the soldiers of the axe fought bravely, though none saw where his brother stood, and none knew whither their chief had fled except those ten who went with the brethren.

Meanwhile, the Wolf-Brethren and those with them were well away, and it had been easy for them to escape, who were the swiftest-footed of any in the land. But the pace of a regiment is the pace of its slowest-footed soldier, and Nada could not run with the Wolf-Brethren.

Yet they made good speed, and were halfway down the gorge that led to the river before the companies of Dingaan poured into it. Now they came to the end of it, and the foe was near--this end of the gorge is narrow, my father, like the neck of a gourd--then Galazi stopped and spoke:--"Halt! ye People of the Axe," he said, "and let us talk awhile with these who follow till we get our breath again. But you, my brother, pass the river with the Lily in your hand. We will join you in the forest; but if perchance we cannot find you, you know what must be done: set the Lily in the cave, then return and call up the grey impi.

Wow! my brother, I must find you if I may, for if these men of Dingaan have a mind for sport there shall be such a hunting on the Ghost Mountain as the old Witch has not seen. Go now, my brother!""It is not my way to turn and run while others stand and fight,"growled Umslopogaas; "yet, because of Nada, it seems that I must.""Oh! heed me not, my love," said Nada, "I have brought thee sorrow--Iam weary, let me die; kill me and save yourselves!"For answer, Umslopogaas took her by the hand and fled towards the river; but before he reached it he heard the sounds of the fray, the war-cry of the Slayers as they poured upon the People of the Axe, the howl of his brother, the Wolf, when the battle joined--ay, and the crash of the Watcher as the blow went home.

"Well bitten, Wolf!" he said, stopping; "that one shall need no more;oh! that I might"--but again he looked at Nada, and sped on.

Now they had leaped into the foaming river, and here it was well that the Lily could swim, else both had been lost. But they won through and passed forward to the mountain's flank. Here they walked on among the trees till the forest was almost passed, and at length Umslopogaas heard the howling of a wolf.

Then he must set Nada on his shoulders and carry her as once Galazi had carried another, for it was death for any except the Wolf-Brethren to walk on the Ghost Mountain when the wolves were awake.

Presently the wolves flocked around him, and leaped upon him in joy, glaring with fierce eyes at her who sat upon his shoulders. Nada saw them, and almost fell from her seat, fainting with fear, for they were many and dreadful, and when they howled her blood turned to ice.

同类推荐
  • DAVID COPPERFIELD

    DAVID COPPERFIELD

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 马鸣菩萨传

    马鸣菩萨传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元始天尊说得道了身经

    元始天尊说得道了身经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 富国

    富国

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 荡之什

    荡之什

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 杀手狂妃十三岁

    杀手狂妃十三岁

    她,现代第一杀手代号“火狐”,一朝穿越附身在叶丞相家不受宠的三小姐身上,受尽嫡姐的凌辱和旁人的冷眼,一睁眼,原本懦弱的眼神已不在,而取代的是一双冰冷的毫无感情的眼神。他第一次见到她的时候就被她身上的杀气震慑住了,不知怎么的他的心好疼,心疼她这么小就有这么强的杀气,这是什么样的环境下才能练就出来的人,而且他发现她的杀气都是面对她的爹叶丞相还有大夫人所散发出来的,他们之间又发生了些什么。她第一次见他的时候就被他身上邪魅的气息所吸引了,虽然表面上没有表现出来,但是心里不得不承认眼前的男子是邪魅的,她前世是杀手,很少有人能激起她心中的波澜,他,到底是谁?当强者对上强者,且看他们如何颠覆天下!
  • 重生写手日常

    重生写手日常

    最后的意识里,温可盈想到她有四个遗憾:1、作为写手,她还没成神;2、作为女人,她还没和颜子孝结婚;3、作为女儿,她还没怎么尽孝;4、作为饲主,她还没弄明白丹田那团气的来历。好在她重生了,一切皆有可能。
  • 黑鞑事略

    黑鞑事略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 王爷腹黑:毒妃闹翻天

    王爷腹黑:毒妃闹翻天

    于薄笙重生到古代后,想着的就是,如何能够让自己快活的过着!所以对于嫁给一个傻子王爷,她还是很满意的,等这傻子死了,钱不都是她的,可是!怎么回事……这人和世人传闻的,差别也太大了点!管她掉进了哪个看不懂的圈子里,既然她的人,总要保护着不是,谁敢欺负一下,让你后悔在这个世上投胎!苍月墨,牧风国的九王爷,世人眼中的傻子王爷,一个地地道道的腹黑,在见到他媳妇后,他多年的心,骚动了!卖萌算什么?只要留得住娘子,他可男可女可人妖!
  • 随身空间之异世逍遥

    随身空间之异世逍遥

    莫小七正在郁闷的对着电脑里面的那个怪使劲使劲的用刀砍着。莫小七觉得今天特别特别的郁闷,为什么呢,因为今天她的同居人,林雅没来给她做饭吃,她莫小七又懒得做,就算她莫小七做的饭比五星级大酒店的还好吃,但是她就是懒。“小雅,我再给你十分钟,你再不回来给我做饭吃,你今天晚上就别想睡得安稳。哼哼,你该知道是什么后果的吧。”莫小七一脸阴笑的对着电话里说道。林雅在电话那边狠狠的打了个冷颤……
  • 赤雅

    赤雅

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你的深情,缱绻我的世界

    你的深情,缱绻我的世界

    十年前他是她的初恋,异地恋艰难最终分手。十年中她初心不改,心中仍保留着对他的眷恋以及他对她的伤害。如果再给她重来的机会,结果如何她不知道。十年后她想放手,却留恋那一份蜜糖,她想抓住,却害怕上边沾染的毒药。他们都不是当年的他们,感情是相互的,最后的结果或许已经没有过程那么重要。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 重生之毒妃当道

    重生之毒妃当道

    前世,她是杜家的庶女,一朝飞上枝头,成为集万千宠爱于一身的第一宠妃。谁知,这一切不过是一场天大的笑话,一朝重生,成相府嫡长孙女,却也三灾六难,处处受人算计。步步为营,她誓要活出个锦绣人生,将失去的一切都一一夺回,将害过她的人,都一一毁灭!
  • 你的未来可以预示

    你的未来可以预示

    人们一生追求的或是开心、快乐、自由、幸福,又或是物质、权利、成功、金钱。但是,你拥有金钱和物质,就拥有快乐、自由、激情、轻松吗?
  • 怡情绝恋

    怡情绝恋

    此文原名《花似雪》,是侠王胤祥的传奇爱情故事,喜欢的朋友请进来~第一卷怡然素心初相照第二卷诺言旖旎晓梦寒第三卷千回百转情意浓第四卷年过春回心依然——*————*————*————*————*————*————*——玉宇薰风,宝阶明月,翠丛万点晴雪。炼霜不就,散广寒霏屑。采珠蓓、绿萼露滋,嗔银艳、小莲冰洁。花痕在,纤指嫩痕,素英重结。枝头香未绝。还是过中秋,丹桂时节。醉乡冷境,怕翻成悄歇。玩芳味、春焙旋熏,贮农韵、水沈频爇。堪怜处,输与夜凉睡蝶。——*————*————*————*————*————*————*——“你看,这颗水滴,多像一滴眼泪。”“为什么是眼泪?难道它不能是别的什么?比如珍珠,比如水晶……”“那些东西都是无情的,只有眼泪,带着情。”“哦,是的,只有眼泪,是有情的,可是有情,又怎么有泪?”“伤情,绝情,不都会有泪吗?”“伤情,绝情,应是无情,无情,应无泪。”“哦,有情,又爱,有幸福,也会有泪,那是幸福的眼泪。”“茉儿,我会让你幸福,但不会让你有泪。”胤祥牵过她的手,把冰凉的指尖含在口中,那一丝冰凉顿时沁入心脾。——*————*————*————*————*————*————*——她是今世的天之骄女,文采斐然,商情卓绝。他是大清王朝的龙子,圣学渊源,风流倜傥。曾几何时,她从这个时空莫名的穿越,只为不老的诺言,还他一朝相守的美梦。曾几何时,他执意留在那个空间,不肯轮回,只为等待那一刻的花前月下。“不要来寻我,你只要好好的活着,便是给我最好的安慰。”他看着她哀伤的眼神,沙哑的说。“不,无论你是尊贵的贝勒,还是阶下囚,我都会跟着你。”“傻瓜……”他伸出手去,却握不住她冰凉的小手。“你到底是谁?为何这样伤我的心?”他痛苦的看着她,不敢面对这样的背叛。“我不是谁,我只是那个等在千年之外的一支孤魂……”长剑横过,鲜血如桃花绽放,她哀伤的倒下去,目光中依然是浓浓的爱意。……——*————*————*————*————*————*————*——酒阑娇惰抱琵琶,茉莉新堆两鬓鸦。消受香风在良夜,枕边俱是助情花。——*————*————*————*————*————*————*——广告区:推荐我自己的红楼V文《红楼惊梦之黛灵》给大家一个玄幻武侠版的林妹妹