Копи царя Соломона
The Witch-Hunt
"Nay,mylord,theycamedowntousfromourforefathers. Weknownotwhomadethem,andtherearebutfewleft. Nonebutthoseofroyalbloodmaybecladinthem. Theyaremagiccoatsthroughwhichnospearcanpass, andthosewhowearthemarewell-nighsafeinthebattle. Thekingiswellpleasedormuchafraid,orhewouldnothavesentthesegarmentsofsteel. Clotheyourselvesinthemto-night,mylords."
Theremainderofthatdaywespentquietly,restingandtalkingoverthesituation,whichwassufficientlyexciting. Atlastthesunwentdown,thethousandwatchfiresglowedout,andthroughthedarknessweheardthetrampofmanyfeetandtheclashingofhundredsofspears,astheregimentspassedtotheirappointedplacestobereadyforthegreatdance. Thenthefullmoonshoneoutinsplendour, andaswestoodwatchingherrays,Infadoosarrived, cladinhiswardress,andaccompaniedbyaguardoftwentymentoescortustothedance. Asherecommended,wehadalreadydonnedtheshirtsofchainarmourwhichthekinghadsentus,puttingthemonunderourordinaryclothing, andfindingtooursurprisethattheywereneitherveryheavynoruncomfortable. Thesesteelshirts,whichevidentlyhadbeenmadeformenofaverylargestature,hungsomewhatlooselyuponGoodandmyself,butSirHenry’sfittedhismagnificentframelikeaglove. Thenstrappingourrevolversroundourwaists,andtakinginourhandsthebattle-axeswhichthekinghadsentwiththearmour,westarted.
