Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           Foralwaysinastormofthiskind,somedesperatefellowswillspitatdeathandgettohandgrips,orslingersandarchersslipintheirshot,orthethrowing-firegetshome,or(ashere)somenewfangledmachinelikePhorenice’sfire-tubes,makeoneinathousandoftheirwaveringdartsfindthelife;andso,thoughthegeneralattackingloseshishundreds,thedefendersalsoarenotwithouttheirdead.

           Theslaughter,asitturnedout,hadbeenprodigious.Asfastasthestormerscameup,thePriestswhoheldthelowestgateremainingtousraineddowngreatrocksuponthemtillthenarrowalleyofthestairwaspavedwiththeirwrithingdead.ButPhorenicestoodonaspuroftherockbelowthemurgingonthecharges,andwithaninsanevalourcompanyaftercompanymarcheduptohurlthemselveshopelesslyagainstthedefences.Theyhadnomachinestobatterthemassivegates,andtheirattackwasaspatheticallyuselessasthatofachildwhohammersagainstawallwithanorange;andmeanwhiletheterriblestonesfromabovemowedthemdownremorselessly.

           Companyaftercompanyofthetroopsmarchedintothisterribledeath-trap,andnotamanofallofthemevercameback.NorwasitPhorenice’spolicythattheyshoulddoso.Inherlustforthisfinalconquest,shewasmindedtopourouttroopstillshehadfilledupthepasseswiththeslain,sothatatlastshemightmarchontoalevelfightoverthebridgeoftheirpoorbodies.ItwasnopartofPhorenice’smoodevertocountthecost.