Копи царя Соломона
Before the Battle
"Andbehold,Igiveyouthispromise,thatwhenIsitupontheseatofmyfathers,bloodshedshallceaseintheland. Nolongershallyecryforjusticetofindslaughter,nolongershallthewitch-finderhuntyououtsothatyemaybeslainwithoutacause. Nomanshalldiesavehewhooffendsagainstthelaws. The‘eatingup’ofyourkraalsshallcease; eachoneofyoushallsleepsecureinhisownhutandfearnaught,andjusticeshallwalkblindfoldthroughouttheland. Haveyechosen,chiefs,captains,soldiers,andpeople?"
"Wehavechosen,Oking,"camebacktheanswer.
"Itiswell.TurnyourheadsandseehowTwala’smessengersgoforthfromthegreattown,eastandwest,andnorthandsouth,togatheramightyarmytoslaymeandyou,andthesemyfriendsandprotectors. To-morrow,orperchancethenextday,hewillcomeagainstuswithallwhoarefaithfultohim. ThenIshallseethemanwhoisindeedmyman,themanwhofearsnottodieforhiscause; andItellyouthatheshallnotbeforgotteninthetimeofspoil. Ihavespoken,Ochiefs,captains,soldiers,andpeople. Nowgotoyourhutsandmakeyoureadyforwar."
Therewasapause,tillpresentlyoneofthechiefsliftedhishand,andoutrolledtheroyalsalute,"Koom."ItwasasignthatthesoldiersacceptedIgnosiastheirking. Thentheymarchedoffinbattalions.
Halfanhourafterwardsweheldacouncilofwar,atwhichallthecommandersofregimentswerepresent. Itwasevidenttousthatbeforeverylongweshouldbeattackedinoverwhelmingforce.
