Копи царя Соломона
Before the Battle
HerewefoundInfadoossurroundedbyhisownregiment,theGreys,whichwasundoubtedlythefinestintheKukuanaarmy, andthesamethatwehadfirstseenattheoutlyingkraal. Thisregiment,nowthreethousandfivehundredstrong,wasbeingheldinreserve,andthemenwerelyingdownonthegrassincompanies,andwatchingtheking’sforcescreepoutofLooinlongant-likecolumns. Thereseemedtobenoendtothelengthofthesecolumns—threeinall,andeachofthemnumbering,aswejudged,atleastelevenortwelvethousandmen.
Assoonastheywereclearofthetowntheregimentsformedup. Thenonebodymarchedofftotheright,onetotheleft,andthethirdcameonslowlytowardsus.
"Ah,"saidInfadoos,"theyaregoingtoattackusonthreesidesatonce."
Thisseemedratherseriousnews,forourpositiononthetopofthemountain,whichmeasuredamileandahalfincircumference,beinganextendedone,itwasimportanttoustoconcentrateourcomparativelysmalldefendingforceasmuchaspossible. Butsinceitwasimpossibleforustodictateinwhatwayweshouldbeassailed,wehadtomakethebestofit, andaccordinglysentorderstothevariousregimentstopreparetoreceivetheseparateonslaughts.
