Копи царя Соломона
The Attack
Atthatinstant,too,amessengerarrivedtosaythattheleftattackhadbeenrepulsed; andIwasjustbeginningtocongratulatemyself,believingthattheaffairwasoverforthepresent,when,toourhorror, weperceivedourmenwhohadbeenengagedintherightdefencebeingdriventowardsusacrosstheplain,followedbyswarmsoftheenemy,whohadevidentlysucceededatthispoint.
Ignosi,whowasstandingbyme,tookinthesituationataglance,andissuedarapidorder.Instantlythereserveregimentaroundus,theGreys,extendeditself.
AgainIgnosigaveawordofcommand,whichwastakenupandrepeatedbythecaptains,andinanothersecond,tomyintensedisgust,Ifoundmyselfinvolvedinafuriousonslaughtupontheadvancingfoe. GettingasmuchasIcouldbehindIgnosi’shugeframe,Imadethebestofabadjob,andtoddledalongtobekilledasthoughIlikedit. Inaminuteortwo—wewereplungingthroughtheflyinggroupsofourmen,whoatoncebegantore-formbehindus,andthenIamsureIdonotknowwhathappened. AllIcanrememberisadreadfulrollingnoiseofthemeetingofshields,andthesuddenapparitionofahugeruffian,whoseeyesseemedliterallytobestartingoutofhishead,makingstraightatmewithabloodyspear. But—Isayitwithpride—Irose—orrathersank—totheoccasion.Itwasonebeforewhichmostpeoplewouldhavecollapsedonceandforall.
