Копи царя Соломона
Before the Battle
Passingthroughthesewithoutaword,wegainedahutinthecentreoftheground, wherewewereastonishedtofindtwomenwaiting,ladenwithourfewgoodsandchattels,whichofcoursewehadbeenobligedtoleavebehindinourhastyflight.
"Isentforthem,"explainedInfadoos;"andalsoforthese,"andheliftedupGood’slong-losttrousers.
WithanexclamationofrapturousdelightGoodsprangatthem,andinstantlyproceededtoputthemon.
"Surelymylordwillnothidehisbeautifulwhitelegs!"exclaimedInfadoosregretfully.
ButGoodpersisted,andonceonlydidtheKukuanapeoplegetthechanceofseeinghisbeautifullegsagain. Goodisaverymodestman. Henceforwardtheyhadtosatisfytheiræstheticlongingswithhisonewhisker,histransparenteye,andhismovableteeth.
StillgazingwithfondremembranceatGood’strousers, Infadoosnextinformedusthathehadcommandedtheregimentstomustersosoonasthedaybroke,inordertoexplaintothemfullytheoriginandcircumstancesoftherebellionwhichwasdecidedonbythechiefs,andtointroducetothemtherightfulheirtothethrone,Ignosi.
Accordingly,whenthesunwasup,thetroops—inallsometwentythousandmen,andthefloweroftheKukuanaarmy—weremusteredonalargeopenspace,towhichwewent. Themenweredrawnupinthreesidesofadensesquare,andpresentedamagnificentspectacle. Wetookourstationontheopensideofthesquare,andwerespeedilysurroundedbyalltheprincipalchiefsandofficers.
