"Indhlovu."
"Wow! There are fat pickings on the bones of the great one; but he is powerful. I hear his trumpeting."
"Haw! it is the voice of the unseen, mother. Indhlovu has fallen into the pit that was set for him. His power has gone."
Again the voices ceased, again the strange lights were dimmed; but the Hunter was ready, for he knew now they were quartering the cave in search of him. He had no fear, only a feeling of intense disgust, coupled with a determination to scare the lives out of these ghouls, if they ventured on an attack. By-and-by he beard faint rustlings, and then breathings; but it was impossible to see, and he sat perfectly still. Then the voices broke out again at another point.
"He is here, my sisters."
"Wow! We are hungry; let us eat. We are thirsty; let us drink."
"Sisters, terrible is the power in the arm of Indhlovu. He strikes, and lo! as a falling tree sweeps a passage through the forest, so would he sweep us away. Let him weaken; let hunger fasten on his vitals, and fear trouble his brain."
"We are wolves; we would tear him down in his strength, while his blood is red."
"Terrible is the trunk of Indhlovu, and terrible is the arm of Ngonyama. In his hand is a broad knife, and with one stroke will he split a head. Let the darkness hold him."
"We hunger, and he will go. The wizard will claim him for his own; the dark waters will drag him down. Give him to us."