Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды

           Already,thegarrisonshadbeenretiredfromthese,andIpassedthroughthemallinturn,unchallengedandunchecked,andcametothatbusyrampartwherethetwelvePriestsleftaliveworked,strippedtothewaist,atheavingdownthemurderousrocks.

           ForawhileIbusiedmyselfattheirside,stoppinganoccasionalfire-tubedartorarrowonmyshieldandpassingthemthetidings.Theattackwasgrowingfiercereveryminutenow.Theenemyhadpackedthepassbelowwell-nighfulloftheirdead,andourbatteringstoneshadlessdistancetofallandsocoulddolessexecution.Theypressedforwardmoreeagerlythaneverwiththeirscalingladders,anditwasplainthatsoontheywouldinevitablyputtheplacetothestorm.EvenduringtheshorttimeIwasthere,theirsling-stonesandmissilestooklifefromthreemoreofthetwelvewhostoodwithmeonthedefence.

           SoIgavethewordforonemorefuriousavalancheofrocktobepelteddown,andwhilstthefewlivingwerecrawlingoutfromthosekilledbythedischarge,andwhilstthenextbandofreinforcementscamescramblingupoverthebodies,Isentmynineremainingmenawayatarunupthesteepstairwayofthepath,andthenfollowedthemmyself.Eachofthegatesinturnwepassed,shuttingthemafterus,andbreakingthebarsandleverswithwhichtheyweremoved,andnottillwewerethroughthelastdidtheroarofshoutsfrombelowtellthatthebesiegershadfoundthegatetheybitagainstwasdeserted.