Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Itwouldhavebeenashockingsight,ifwehadfoundtimetothinkofsuchthings.
Butnowasecondregiment,distinguishedbywhiteplumes,kilts,andshields,wasmovingtotheattackofthetwothousandremainingGreys,whostoodwaitinginthesameominoussilenceasbefore, tillthefoewaswithinfortyyardsorso,whentheyhurledthemselveswithirresistibleforceuponthem. Againtherecametheawfulrollofthemeetingshields,andaswewatchedthetragedyrepeateditself.
Butthistimetheissuewasleftlongerindoubt;indeed,itseemedforawhilealmostimpossiblethattheGreysshouldagainprevail. Theattackingregiment,whichwasformedofyoungmen,foughtwiththeutmostfury,andatfirstseemedbysheerweighttobedrivingtheveteransback. Theslaughterwastrulyawful,hundredsfallingeveryminute; andfromamongtheshoutsofthewarriorsandthegroansofthedying,settothemusicofclashingspears,cameacontinuoushissingundertoneof"S’gee,s’gee," thenoteoftriumphofeachvictorashepassedhisassegaithroughandthroughthebodyofhisfallenfoe.
Butperfectdisciplineandsteadyandunchangingvalourcandowonders,andoneveteransoldierisworthtwoyoungones,assoonbecameapparentinthepresentcase. ForjustwhenwethoughtthatitwasalloverwiththeGreys,andwerepreparingtotaketheirplacesosoonastheymaderoombybeingdestroyed,IheardSirHenry’sdeepvoiceringingoutthroughthedin, andcaughtaglimpseofhiscirclingbattle-axeashewavedithighabovehisplumes.
