Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Infadoos,whowasawaryoldgeneral, andknewtheabsoluteimportanceofkeepingupthespiritsofhismenontheeveofsuchadesperateencounter, employedthepauseinaddressinghisownregiment,theGreys,inpoeticallanguage: explainingtothemthehonourthattheywerereceivinginbeingputthusintheforefrontofthebattle,andinhavingthegreatwhitewarriorfromtheStarstofightwiththemintheirranks; andpromisinglargerewardsofcattleandpromotiontoallwhosurvivedintheeventofIgnosi’sarmsbeingsuccessful.
Ilookeddownthelonglinesofwavingblackplumesandsternfacesbeneaththem,andsighedtothinkthatwithinoneshorthourmost,ifnotall,ofthosemagnificentveteranwarriors,notamanofwhomwasunderfortyyearsofage,wouldbelaiddeadordyinginthedust. Itcouldnotbeotherwise;theywerebeingcondemned,withthatwiserecklessnessofhumanlifewhichmarksthegreatgeneral, andoftensaveshisforcesandattainshisends,tocertainslaughter,inordertogivetheircauseandtheremainderofthearmyachanceofsuccess. Theywereforedoomedtodie,andtheyknewthetruth. ItwastobetheirtasktoengageregimentafterregimentofTwala’sarmyonthenarrowstripofgreenbeneathus,tilltheywereexterminatedortillthewingsfoundafavourableopportunityfortheironslaught. Andyettheyneverhesitated,norcouldIdetectasignoffearuponthefaceofasinglewarrior.
