Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
TheblowcutthroughTwala’sshieldandthroughthetoughchainarmourbehindit,gashinghimintheshoulder. WithayellofpainandfuryTwalareturnedtheblowwithinterest,and,suchwashisstrength,shorerightthroughtherhinoceros’hornhandleofhisantagonistsbattle-axe,strengthenedasitwaswithbandsofsteel,woundingCurtisintheface.
AcryofdismayrosefromtheBuffaloesasourhero’sbroadaxe-headfelltotheground; andTwala,againraisinghisweapon,flewathimwithashout. Ishutmyeyes. WhenIopenedthemagainitwastoseeSirHenry’sshieldlyingontheground,andSirHenryhimselfwithhisgreatarmstwinedroundTwala’smiddle. Toandfrotheyswung,huggingeachotherlikebears,strainingwithalltheirmightymusclesfordearlife,anddearerhonour. WithasupremeeffortTwalaswungtheEnglishmancleanoffhisfeet,anddowntheycametogether,rollingoverandoveronthelimepaving, TwalastrikingoutatCurtis’headwiththebattle-axe,andSirHenrytryingtodrivethetollahehaddrawnfromhisbeltthroughTwala’sarmour.
Itwasamightystruggle,andanawfulthingtosee.
"Gethisaxe!"yelledGood;andperhapsourchampionheardhim.
Atanyrate,droppingthetolla,hesnatchedattheaxe,whichwasfastenedtoTwala’swristbyastripofbuffalohide, andstillrollingoverandover,theyfoughtforitlikewildcats,drawingtheirbreathinheavygasps. Suddenlythehidestringburst,andthen,withagreateffort,SirHenryfreedhimself, theweaponremaininginhishand.
