Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
"Nay,Macumazahn,"wastheanswer;"see,nowistheripemoment:letuspluckit."
Ashespokeafreshregimentrushedpasttheringuponthelittlemound,andwheelinground,attackeditfromthehitherside.
Then,liftinghisbattle-axe,Ignosigavethesignaltoadvance,and,screamingthewildKukuanawar-cry,theBuffaloeschargedhomewitharushliketherushofthesea.
Whatfollowedimmediatelyonthisitisoutofmypowertotell. AllIcanrememberisanirregularyetorderedadvance,thatseemedtoshaketheground; asuddenchangeoffrontandforminguponthepartoftheregimentagainstwhichthechargewasdirected; thenanawfulshock,adullroarofvoices,andacontinuousflashingofspears,seenthrougharedmistofblood.
WhenmymindclearedIfoundmyselfstandinginsidetheremnantoftheGreysnearthetopofthemound, andjustbehindnolessapersonthanSirHenryhimself. HowIgotthereIhadatthemomentnoidea, butSirHenryafterwardstoldmethatIwasborneupbythefirstfuriouschargeoftheBuffaloesalmosttohisfeet,andthenleft,astheyinturnwerepressedback. Thereonhedashedoutofthecircleanddraggedmeintoshelter.
Asforthefightthatfollowed,whocandescribeit? Againandagainthemultitudessurgedagainstourmomentarilylesseningcircle,andagainandagainwebeatthemback.
"Thestubbornspearmenstillmadegood
Thedarkimpenetrablewood,
Eachsteppingwherehiscomradestood
Theinstantthathefell,"
assomeoneorotherbeautifullysays.
