Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Takingdueprecautionsagainsttreachery,wemarchedonintothetown. Allalongtheroadwaysstoodthousandsofdejectedwarriors, theirheadsdrooping,andtheirshieldsandspearsattheirfeet, who,headedbytheirofficers,salutedIgnosiaskingashepassed. Onwemarched,straighttoTwala’skraal. Whenwereachedthegreatspace,whereadayortwopreviouslywehadseenthereviewandthewitchhunt,wefounditdeserted. No,notquitedeserted,forthere,onthefurtherside,infrontofhishut,satTwalahimself,withbutoneattendant—Gagool.
Itwasamelancholysighttoseehimseated,hisbattle-axeandshieldbyhisside,hischinuponhismailedbreast,withbutoneoldcroneforcompanion, andnotwithstandinghiscrimesandmisdeeds,apangofcompassionshotthroughmeasIlookeduponTwalathus"fallenfromhishighestate." Notasoldierofallhisarmies,notacourtieroutofthehundredswhohadcringedroundhim,notevenasolitarywife,remainedtosharehisfateorhalvethebitternessofhisfall. Poorsavage! hewaslearningthelessonwhichFateteachestomostofuswholivelongenough,thattheeyesofmankindareblindtothediscredited,andthathewhoisdefencelessandfallenfindsfewfriendsandlittlemercy. Nor,indeed,inthiscasedidhedeserveany.
Filingthroughthekraalgate,wemarchedacrosstheopenspacetowheretheex-kingsat. Whenwithinaboutfiftyyardsofhimtheregimentwashalted,andaccompaniedonlybyasmallguardweadvancedtowardshim,Gagoolrevilingusbitterlyaswecame.
