Копи царя Соломона
Before the Battle
Indeed,fromourpointofvantageonthehillwecouldseetroopsmustering,andrunnersgoingforthfromLooineverydirection,doubtlesstosummonsoldierstotheking’sassistance. Wehadonoursideabouttwentythousandmen,composedofsevenofthebestregimentsinthecountry. Twala,soInfadoosandthechiefscalculated,hadatleastthirtytothirty-fivethousandonwhomhecouldrelyatpresentassembledinLoo, andtheythoughtthatbymiddayonthemorrowhewouldbeabletogatheranotherfivethousandormoretohisaid. Itwas,ofcourse,possiblethatsomeofhistroopswoulddesertandcomeovertous,butitwasnotacontingencywhichcouldbereckonedon. Meanwhile,itwasclearthatactivepreparationswerebeingmadebyTwalatosubdueus. Alreadystrongbodiesofarmedmenwerepatrollingroundandroundthefootofthehill,andtherewereothersignsalsoofcomingassault.
Infadoosandthechiefs,however,wereofopinionthatnoattackwouldtakeplacethatday,whichwouldbedevotedtopreparationandtotheremovalofeveryavailablemeansofthemoraleffectproduceduponthemindsofthesoldierybythesupposedmagicaldarkeningofthemoon. Theonslaughtwouldbeonthemorrow,theysaid,andtheyprovedtoberight.
Meanwhile,wesettoworktostrengthenthepositioninallwayspossible. Almosteverymanwasturnedout,andinthecourseoftheday,whichseemedfartooshort,muchwasdone.
