Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Ignosiacknowledgedthismagnificentactofhomagebyliftinghisbattle-axe, andthentheGreysfiledoffinatriple-lineformation,eachlinecontainingaboutonethousandfightingmen,exclusiveofofficers. Whenthelastcompanieshadadvancedsomefivehundredyards,IgnosiputhimselfattheheadoftheBuffaloes,whichregimentwasdrawnupinasimilarthree-foldformation, andgavethewordtomarch,andoffwewent,I,needlesstosay,utteringthemostheartfeltprayersthatImightemergefromthatentertainmentwithawholeskin. ManyaqueerpositionhaveIfoundmyselfin,butneverbeforeinonequitesounpleasantasthepresent, oroneinwhichmychanceofcomingoffsafewassmaller.
BythetimethatwereachedtheedgeoftheplateautheGreyswerealreadyhalf-waydowntheslope endinginthetongueofgrasslandthatranupintothebendofthemountain,somethingasthefrogofahorse’sfootrunsupintotheshoe. TheexcitementinTwala’scampontheplainbeyondwasverygreat, andregimentafterregimentwasstartingforwardatalongswingingtrotinordertoreachtherootofthetongueoflandbeforetheattackingforcecouldemergeintotheplainofLoo.
Thistongue,whichwassomefourhundredyardsindepth,evenatitsrootorwidestpartwasnotmorethansixhundredandfiftypacesacross,whileatitstipitscarcelymeasuredninety.
