Потерянный континент: история Атлантиды
4. The Welcome Of Phorenice
Onebyonealltheshipsofeithersideweresunkorlaywithalltheirpeoplekilled,tillfinallyonlyDason’sgalleyandourown“Bear”wereleft.Forthemomentwewerebeingmastered.WehadascoreofmenremainingoutofallthosethatmannedthenavywhenitsailedfromYucatan,andtheenemyhadboardedusandmadethedecksofthe“Bear”thefieldofbattle.Buttheyhadbeenoverbusywiththethrowingfire,andpresently,asweragedatoneanother,thesmokeandtheflamefromthesturdyvesselherselfletusveryplainlyknowthatshewaspastsalvation.
ButTobwasnothingdaunted.“Theymaystayhereandfryiftheychoose,”heshoutedwithhisgreatboisterouslaugh,“butforourselvesthegalleyisgoodenoughnow.KeepaguardonDeucalion,andcomewithme,shipmates!”
“Tob!”ourfellowsshoutedintheirecstasyoffightingmadness,andItoocouldnotforbearsendingouta“Tob!”formybattle-cry.Itwasachangeformenottobeleader,butitwasaluxuryforoncetofightinthewakeofthisTob,despitehisuncouthnessofmienandplan.Therewasnostoppingthisnewrush,thoughprogressstillwasslow.Tobwithhisbloodyaxecuttheroadinfront,andweothers,withthelustofbattlefillingustothechin,ragedlikefuriesinhiswake.Gods!butitwasafight.
Tenofuswontothegalley,withtheflamesandthesmokefromthepoor“Bear”spurtingatourheels.Weturnedandstabbedmadlyatallwhotriedtofollow,andhackedthroughthegrapplesthatheldthevesselstotheirembrace.Thesea-swellsspurnedthe“Bear”away.
