Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Thencameachange; theGreysceasedtogive; theystoodstillasarock,againstwhichthefuriouswavesofspearmenbrokeagainandagain,onlytorecoil. Presentlytheybegantomoveoncemore—forwardthistime; astheyhadnofirearmstherewasnosmoke,sowecouldseeitall. Anotherminuteandtheonslaughtgrewfainter.
"Ah,thesearemen,indeed;theywillconqueragain,"calledoutIgnosi,whowasgrindinghisteethwithexcitementatmyside."See,itisdone!"
Suddenly,likepuffsofsmokefromthemouthofacannon,theattackingregimentbrokeawayinflyinggroups,theirwhitehead-dressesstreamingbehindtheminthewind, andlefttheiropponentsvictors,indeed,but,alas!nomorearegiment. Ofthegallanttripleline,whichfortyminutesbeforehadgoneintoactionthreethousandstrong,thereremainedatmostsomesixhundredblood-spatteredmen; therestwereunderfoot. Andyettheycheeredandwavedtheirspearsintriumph, andthen,insteadoffallingbackuponusasweexpected,theyranforward,forahundredyardsorso,aftertheflyinggroupsoffoemen,tookpossessionofarisingknollofground,and,resumingtheirtripleformation,formedathreefoldringarounditsbase. Andthere,thanksbetoHeaven,standingonthetopofthemoundforaminute,IsawSirHenry,apparentlyunharmed,andwithhimouroldfriendInfadoos. ThenTwala’sregimentsrolleddownuponthedoomedband,andoncemorethebattleclosedin.
