Some ten paces away stood the giant leaning on the axe he bore, which was not unlike to that with which woodmen fell big trees.  He was an evil man to see and at this, my first full sight of him, I likened him in my mind to Goliath whom David overthrew.  Huge he was and hairy, with deep-set, piercing eyes and a great hooked nose.  His face seemed thin and ancient also, when with a motion of the great head, he tossed his long locks back from about it, but his limbs were those of a Hercules and his movements full of a youthful vigour.  Moreover his aspect as a whole was that of a devil rather than of a man; indeed the sight of it sickened me.

“Let me shoot him,” I cried to Umslopogaas, for I had reloaded the rifle as I ran.

“Nay, Watcher-by-Night,” answered the Zulu without moving his head, “rifle has had its chance and failed.  Now let us see what axe can do.  If I cannot kill this man, I will be borne hence feet first who shall have made a long journey for nothing.”

Then the giant began to talk in a low, rumbling voice that reverberated from the slope of the little hill behind us.

“Who are you?” he asked, speaking in the same tongue that the Amahagger use, “who dare to come face to face with Rezu?  Black hound, do you not know that I cannot be slain who have lived a year for every week of your life’s days, and set my foot upon the necks of men by thousands.  Have you not seen the spear shatter and the iron balls melt upon my breast like rain-drops, and would you try to bring me down with that toy you carry?  My army is defeated—­I know it.  But what matters that when I can get me more?  Because the sacrifice was not completed and the white queen was not wed, therefore my army was defeated by the magic of Lulala, the White Witch who dwells in the tombs.  But I am not defeated who cannot be slain until I show my back, and then only by a certain axe which long ago has rusted into dust.”

Now of this long speech Umslopogaas understood nothing, so I answered for him, briefly enough, but to the point, for there flashed into my mind all Ayesha’s tale about an axe.

“A certain axe!” I cried.  “Aye, a certain axe!  Well, look at that which is held by the Black One, the captain who is named Slaughterer, the ancient axe whose title is Chieftainess, because if so she wills, she takes the lives of all.  Look at it well, Rezu, Giant and Wizard, and say whether it is not that which your forefather lost, that which is destined to bring you to your doom?”

Thus I spoke, very loudly that all might hear, slowly also, pausing between each word because I wished to give time for the light to strengthen, seeing as I did that the rays of the rising sun struck upon the face of the giant, whereas the eyes of Umslopogaas were less dazzled by it.

Rezu heard, and stared at the axe which Umslopogaas held aloft, causing it to quiver slightly by an imperceptible motion of his arm.  As he stared I saw his hideous face change, and that on it for the first time gathered a look of something resembling fear.  Also his followers behind him who were also studying the axe, began to murmur together.