Копи царя Соломона
Before the Battle
AsforGoodandmyself,thearmourdidnotsuitusnearlysowell. Tobeginwith,Goodinsisteduponkeepingonhisnew-foundtrousers, andastout,shortgentlemanwithaneye-glass,andonehalfofhisfaceshaved,arrayedinamailshirt,carefullytuckedintoaveryseedypairofcorduroys,looksmoreremarkablethanimposing. Inmycase,thechainshirtbeingtoobigforme,Iputitonoverallmyclothes,whichcausedittobulgeinasomewhatungainlyfashion. Idiscardedmytrousers,however,retainingonlymyveldtschoons,havingdeterminedtogointobattlewithbarelegs,inordertobethelighterforrunning,incaseitbecamenecessarytoretirequickly. Themailcoat,aspear,ashield,thatIdidnotknowhowtouse,acoupleoftollas,arevolver,andahugeplume,whichIpinnedintothetopofmyshootinghat,inordertogiveabloodthirstyfinishtomyappearance,completedmymodestequipment. Inadditiontoallthesearticles,ofcoursewehadourrifles, butasammunitionwasscarce,andastheywouldbeuselessincaseofacharge,wearrangedthattheyshouldbecarriedbehindusbybearers.
Whenatlengthwehadequippedourselves,weswallowedsomefoodhastily,andthenstartedouttoseehowthingsweregoingon. Atonepointinthetable-landofthemountain,therewasalittlekoppieofbrownstone,whichservedthedoublepurposeofhead-quartersandofaconningtower.
