But when he saw
them he vanished suddenly.
"There is the place," said Galazi, "and the fox has gone to earth in
it."
Now they ran to the spot and saw a little hole in the rock, scarcely
bigger than an ant-bear's burrow, and through the hole came sounds and
some light.
"Now where is the hyena who will try a new burrow?" cried Umslopogaas.
"A hundred head of cattle to the man who wins through and clears the
way!"
Then two young men sprang forward who were flushed with victory and
desired nothing more than to make a great name and win cattle,
crying:--
"Here are hyenas, Bulalio."
"To earth, then!" said Umslopogaas, "and let him who wins through hold
the path awhile till others follow."
The two young men sprang at the hole, and he who reached it first went
down upon his hands and knees and crawled in, lying on his shield and
holding his spear before him. For a little while the light in the
burrow vanished, and they heard the sound of his crawling. Then came
the noise of blows, and once more light crept through the hole. The
man was dead.
"This one had a bad snake," said the second soldier; "his snake
deserted him. Let me see if mine is better."
So down he went on his hands and knees, and crawled as the first had
done, only he put his shield over his head. For awhile they heard him
crawling, then once more came the sound of blows echoing on the
ox-hide shield, and after the blows groans.
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