Half across the space they ran, and halted suddenly, and, as they halted, the dead ashes of the fire flew up before their feet in a little cloud.
"By my head! look, these come armed before me!" said Dingaan, frowning, "and to do this is death.

Now say who is that man, great and fierce, who bears an axe aloft?
Did I not know him dead I should say it was the Black One, my brother, as he was in the days of the smiting of Zwide: so was his head set on his shoulders and so he was wont to look round, like a lion." "I think that is Bulalio the Slaughterer, chief of the People of the Axe, O King," I answered.
"And who is the other with him?
He is a great man also.

Never have I seen such a pair!" "I think that is Galazi the Wolf, he who is blood-brother to the Slaughterer, and his general," I said again.
Now after these two came the soldiers of the People of the Axe, armed with short sticks alone.

Four by four they came, all holding their heads low, and with black shields outstretched, and formed themselves into companies behind the Wolf-Brethren, till all were there.

Then, after them, the crowd of the Halakazi slaves were driven in,--women, boys, and maids, a great number--and they stood behind the ranks huddled together like frightened calves.
"A gallant sight, truly!" said Dingaan, as he looked upon the companies of black-plumed and shielded warriors.