Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Infiveminutesthefateofthebattlewasdecided. Takenonbothflanks,anddismayedattheawfulslaughterinflicteduponthembytheGreysandBuffaloes,Twala’sregimentsbrokeintoflight, andsoonthewholeplainbetweenusandLoowasscatteredwithgroupsofrunningsoldiersmakinggoodtheirretreat. AsforthehoststhathadsorecentlysurroundedusandtheBuffaloes,theymeltedawayasthoughbymagic,andpresentlywewereleftstandingtherelikearockfromwhichtheseahasretreated. Butwhatasightitwas!Aroundusthedeadanddyinglayinheaped-upmasses,andofthegallantGreysthereremainedbutninety-fivemenupontheirfeet. Morethanthreethousandfourhundredhadfalleninthisoneregiment,mostofthemnevertoriseagain.
"Men,"saidInfadooscalmly,asbetweentheintervalsofbindingawoundonhisarmhesurveyedwhatremainedtohimofhiscorps,"yehavekeptupthereputationofyourregiment,andthisday’sfightingwillbewellspokenofbyyourchildren’schildren." ThenheturnedroundandshookSirHenryCurtisbythehand. "Thouartagreatcaptain,Incubu,"hesaidsimply; "Ihavelivedalonglifeamongwarriors,andhaveknownmanyabraveone,yethaveIneverseenamanlikeuntothee."
AtthismomenttheBuffaloesbegantomarchpastourpositionontheroadtoLoo,andastheywentamessagewasbroughttousfromIgnosirequestingInfadoos,SirHenry,andmyselftojointhem.
