Копи царя Соломона
We Give a Sign
On,yeton,crepttheringofdarkness;itwasnowmorethanhalfacrosstheblood-redorb. Theairgrewthick,andstillmoredeeplytingedwithduskycrimson.On,yeton,tillwecouldscarcelyseethefiercefacesofthegroupbeforeus. Nosoundrosenowfromthespectators,andatlastGoodstoppedswearing.
"Themoonisdying—thewhitewizardshavekilledthemoon,"yelledtheprinceScraggaatlast."Weshallallperishinthedark," andanimatedbyfearorfury,orbyboth,heliftedhisspearanddroveitwithallhisforceatSirHenry’sbreast. Butheforgotthemailshirtsthatthekinghadgivenus,andwhichweworebeneathourclothing. Thesteelreboundedharmless,andbeforehecouldrepeattheblowCurtishadsnatchedthespearfromhishandandsentitstraightthroughhim.
Scraggadroppeddead.
Atthesight,anddrivenmadwithfearofthegatheringdarkness,andoftheunholyshadowwhich,astheybelieved,wasswallowingthemoon,thecompaniesofgirlsbrokeupinwildconfusion,andranscreechingforthegateways. Nordidthepanicstopthere. Thekinghimself,followedbyhisguards,someofthechiefs,andGagool,whohobbledawayafterthemwithmarvellousalacrity,fledforthehuts, sothatinanotherminuteweourselves,thewould-bevictimFoulata,Infadoos,andmostofthechiefswhohadinterviewedusonthepreviousnight,wereleftaloneuponthescene,togetherwiththedeadbodyofScragga,Twala’sson.
