登陆注册
5421800000084

第84章

Then Umslopogaas and Galazi made ready for the battle. They posted all the young men in the broken ground above the bottom of the slope, for these could best be spared to the spear, and Galazi the Wolf took command of them; but the veterans stayed upon the hillside, and with them Umslopogaas.

Now the Halakazi came on, and there were four full regiments of them.

The plain was black with them, the air was rent with their shoutings, and their spears flashed like lightnings. On the farther side of the slope they halted and sent a herald forward to demand what the People of the Axe would have from them. The Slaughterer answered that they would have three things: First, the head of their chief, whose place Galazi should fill henceforth; secondly, that fair maid whom men named the Lily; thirdly, a thousand head of cattle. If these demands were granted, then he would spare them, the Halakazi; if not, he would stamp them out and take all.

So the herald returned, and when he reached the ranks of the Halakazi he called aloud his answer. Then a great roar of laughter went up from the Halakazi regiments, a roar that shook the earth. The brow of Umslopogaas the Slaughterer burned red beneath the black when he heard it, and he shook Groan-Maker towards their host.

"Ye shall sing another song before this sun is set," he cried, and strode along the ranks speaking to this man and that by name, and lifting up their hearts with great words.

Now the Halakazi raised a shout, and charged to come at the young men led by Galazi the Wolf; but beyond the foot of the slope was peaty ground, and they came through it heavily, and as they came Galazi and the young men fell upon them and slew them; still, they could not hold them back for long, because of their great numbers, and presently the battle ranged all along the slope. But so well did Galazi handle the young men, and so fiercely did they fight beneath his eye, that before they could be killed or driven back all the force of the Halakazi was doing battle with them. Ay, and twice Galazi charged with such as he could gather, and twice he checked the Halakazi rush, throwing them into confusion, till at length company was mixed with company and regiment with regiment. But it might not endure, for now more than half the young men were down, and the rest were being pushed back up the hill, fighting madly.

But all this while Umslopogaas and the veterans sat in their ranks upon the brow of the slope and watched. "Those Swazi dogs have a fool for their general," quoth Umslopogaas. "He has no men left to fall back on, and Galazi has broken his array and mixed his regiments as milk and cream are mixed in a bowl. They are no longer an impi, they are a mob."Now the veterans moved restlessly on their haunches, pushing their legs out and drawing them in again. They glanced at the fray, they looked into each other's eyes and spoke a word here, a word there, "Well smitten, Galazi! Wow! that one is down! A brave lad! Ho! a good club is the Watcher! The fight draws near, my brother!" And ever as they spoke their faces grew fiercer and their fingers played with their spears.

At length a captain called aloud to Umslopogaas:--"Say, Slaughterer, is it not time to be up and doing? The grass is wet to sit on, and our limbs grow cramped.""Wait awhile," answered Umslopogaas. "Let them weary of their play.

Let them weary, I tell you."

As he spoke the Halakazi huddled themselves together, and with a rush drove back Galazi and those who were left of the young men. Yes, at last they were forced to flee, and after them came the Swazis, and in the forefront of the pursuit was their chief, ringed round with a circle of his bravest.

Umslopogaas saw it and bounded to his feet, roaring like a bull. "At them now, wolves!" he shouted.

Then the lines of warriors sprang up as a wave springs, and their crests were like foam upon the wave. As a wave that swells to break they rose suddenly, like a breaking wave they poured down the slope.

In front of them was the Slaughterer, holding Groan-Maker aloft, and oh! his feet were swift. So swift were his feet that, strive as they would, he outran them by the quarter of a spear's throw. Galazi heard the thunder of their rush; he looked round, and as he looked, lo! the Slaughterer swept past him, running like a buck. Then Galazi, too, bounded forward, and the Wolf-Brethren sped down the hill, the length of four spears between them.

The Halakazi also saw and heard, and strove to gather themselves together to meet the rush. In front of Umslopogaas was their chief, a tall man hedged about with assegais. Straight at the shield-hedge drove Umslopogaas, and a score of spears were lifted to greet him, a score of shields heaved into the air--this was a fence that none might pass alive. Yet would the Slaughterer pass it--not alone! See! he steadies his pace, he gathers himself together, and now he leaps! High into the air he leaps; his feet knock the heads of the warriors and rattle against the crowns of their shields. They smite upwards with the spear, but he has swept over them like a swooping bird. He has cleared them--he has lit--and now the shield-hedge guards two chiefs.

But not for long. Ou! Groan-Maker is aloft, he falls--and neither shield nor axe may stay his stroke, both are cleft through, and the Halakazi lack a leader.

The shield-ring wheels in upon itself. Fools! Galazi is upon you! What was that? Look, now! see how many bones are left unbroken in him whom the Watcher falls on full! What!--another down! Close up, shield-men--close up! Ai! are you fled?

Ah! the wave has fallen on the beach. Listen to its roaring--listen to the roaring of the shields! Stand, you men of the Halakazi--stand!

Surely they are but a few. So! it is done! By the head of Chaka! they break--they are pushed back--now the wave of slaughter seethes along the sands--now the foe is swept like floating weed, and from all the line there comes a hissing like the hissing of thin waters. "S'gee!"says the hiss. "S'gee! S'gee!"

同类推荐
  • The Second Jungle Book

    The Second Jungle Book

    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。
  • 莲华面经

    莲华面经

    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。
  • 疡科心得集

    疡科心得集

    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。
  • 华严圣可禅师语录

    华严圣可禅师语录

    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。
  • On the Heavens

    On the Heavens

    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
  • 幽冥桃花

    幽冥桃花

    一株桃树,生在幽冥地府,八百年修炼在碧落黄泉化为人身,一世情结,留恋凡间,爱上一代帝王,化身渡劫的时候劫数太重,化身鬼魅,永生不得再留凡间,后来她留在孟婆桥上熬汤超度众生,后来阎王将她媚献,她桀骜一生不愿意委身他人,散尽毕生的修为,在碧落黄泉做了个摆渡人引人超度,后来天上的神仙说起来她,都啧啧称奇,一个地府的桃花精,能入得碧落黄泉,喝的黄泉水,吸得碧落气,不知是怎样一个奇女子……
  • 六扇门之剑指江湖

    六扇门之剑指江湖

    江湖踏浪,随风起,路逍遥!仗剑行,该杀伐,人生苦短,何人知天下正邪?恶人谷,烂骨头,千年不腐邪魔,岂能当道?六扇门,青阳王,借我三年寒暑,我可踏星逐月!......PS:小墨书友群185622350。
  • 终身验尸官

    终身验尸官

    他的吻是一种魔法。在两唇相触的那一瞬间里,不!只要你一想到两唇即将接触,身上便会涌出一道淫靡的电流。这股电流将刺激你全身所有的性感部位并传遍整个身躯,直到心脏兴奋到极致。无力、眩晕、难以言表的陶醉。没有他,自己便无法活在这个世上。然而……已经半个月没能打通他的手机了。即便接通了电话,传回的也总是留言电话录音。莫非他想抛弃我,抑或有了新的女人?裕子怀着悲凉的心境登上了公寓外面的楼梯。冬天已经一溜小跑地来到世上,北风呼啸,无情地吹打着她的双颊。他们早就有约在先,若未事先约好,则不可贸然登门造访。
  • 春日阳光

    春日阳光

    《春日阳光》由五辑121篇微型小说构成,是将独特的目光栽种在自己熟悉的土地上,并用勤奋的笔触潇洒游弋于其中。它既有对乡村生活的忆旧,又有对现代生活的感悟,既有对美好人生的歌咏和赞颂,又有对现代生活的反思。
  • 天鹅洲(全集)

    天鹅洲(全集)

    《天鹅洲》是续《故河口物语》后的一部小说。鹿女作为那群拓荒者的后代,源乘了她的父辈们的品质,继续奋战在那座村庄上。在天鹅洲开了米厂,酒厂,养猪厂,发展拥有中国农村现代一体化生产线。历尽了无论身体还是心理的艰辛与磨难。最终在此家大业大,辉煌腾达。它不仅是一座村庄的变迁史,更是一部中国农民的心理变迁史。
  • 向左,遇见花开

    向左,遇见花开

    你见过梨花吗?大片大片的梨花,簌簌如飞雪,那样极致的美丽,今生今世,四月只见过一回,那年她八岁。四月不知道,她在梨树下邂逅的那个翩翩少年就是莫家二公子莫云河,她同父异母的兄弟。命运翻云覆雨,六年后母亲受辱自尽,四月潜入莫家用一根蜡烛燃起大火,莫家顿成废墟,酿成滔天惨剧,而死者中就有莫云河……其实,真相远比设想来得更诡异。
  • 情感格言(当代教育丛书·现代名言妙语全集)

    情感格言(当代教育丛书·现代名言妙语全集)

    这些名言警句句句经典,字字珠玑,精辟睿智,闪耀着智慧的光芒和精神的力量,具有很强的鼓舞性、哲理性和启迪性。具有成功心理暗示和潜在力量开发的功能,不仅可以成为我们的座右铭,还能增进自律的能力。
  • 世界最具震撼性的战争故事(2)

    世界最具震撼性的战争故事(2)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。
  • 千魂之二次元魔神

    千魂之二次元魔神

    在这个混乱的年代,后天的魔神又何去何从?游荡万界、踏破苍穹、焚灭虚空、破碎命格。混沌魔神,何为魔?何为神?魔,毫无约束,随心所欲,不入三千大道。仙,不入五行,跳出轮回,大道三千。神,接受信仰,享受畏惧,掌控规则。人,善恶自身,一念成神,一念为魔。混沌魔神,一道之祖,无人领路,一者创道。
  • 校园爆笑旅程

    校园爆笑旅程

    初见倒霉的相撞,再此相见便成同学还是同桌!从此以后两人的爆笑之程立刻开启!两个逗比的相遇是月老的牵线还是丘比特射偏的剑呢?前方高能!