"Now if I must fight all these one by one, no time will be left to me this day to talk of the matter of Masilo and of the maid Zinita.
Hearken! What say you, sons of Jikiza the Conquered?
If I find one other to stand beside me in the fray, and all of you come on at once against us twain, ten against two, to slay us or be slain, will that be to your minds ?" The brethren consulted together, and held that so they should be in better case than if they went up one by one.
"So be it," they said, and the councillors assented.
Now, as he fled round and round, Umslopogaas had seen the face of Galazi, his brother, in the throng, and knew that he hungered to share the fight.

So he called aloud that he whom he should choose, and who would stand back to back with him in the fray, if victory were theirs, should be the first after him among the People of the Axe, and as he called, he walked slowly down the line scanning the faces of all, till he came to where Galazi stood leaning on the Watcher.
"Here is a great fellow who bears a great club," said Umslopogaas.

"How are you named, fellow ?" "I am named Wolf," answered Galazi.
"Say, now, Wolf, are you willing to stand back to back with me in this fray of two against ten?
If victory is ours, you shall be next to me amongst this people." "Better I love the wild woods and the mountain's breast than the kraals of men and the kiss of wives, Axebearer," answered Galazi.

"Yet, because you have shown yourself a warrior of might, and to taste again of the joy of battle, I will stand back to back with you, Axebearer, and see this matter ended." "A bargain, Wolf!" cried Umslopogaas.

And they walked side by side--a mighty pair!--till they came to the centre of the cattle kraal.