Втрачений континент: історія Атлантиди
8. The Preacher From The Mountains
Some,withtherulingpassionstillstronginthem,borebackplunder;onetrailedalongwithhimtheheadofthecaptainofthegate;andamongstthemtheydraggedouttwoofthewarderswhowerewounded,andwhomrevengehadurgedthemtotakeasprisoners.
Overthesetwolastahubbubnowarose,thatseemedlikelytoboiloverintoblows.Everyvoiceshoutedoutforthemwhathethoughtthemostrepulsivefate.Somewereforburning,someforskinning,someforimpaling,someforotherthings:myfleshcreptasIheardtheirravenousyells.Thosethathadbeentothetroubleofmakingthemcaptivewerestillbreathlessfromthefight,andwerereadilythrustaside;anditseemedtomethatthepoorwretcheswouldbehustledintodeathbeforeanydefinitefatewasagreedupon,whichallwouldpassassufficientlyterrific.NeverhadIseensuchadisorderlytumult,neversuchaleaderlessmob.But,asalwayshashappened,andalwayswill,thestrongermenbydintofloudervoicesandmorevigorousshouldersgottheirplansagreedtoatlast,andtheothersperforcehadtogiveway.
Abandofthemsetoffrunning,andpresentlyreturnedatsnails’pace,draggingwiththem(withmanysquealsfromungreasedwheels)oneofthosehugewarengineswithwhichbesiegersarewonttothrowgreatstonesandothermissilesintothecitiestheysitdownagainst.Theyranitupjustbeyondbowshotofthewalls,andclampeditfirmlydownwithstakesandropestotheearth.
