Копи царя Соломона

The Last Stand of the Greys

           Takingdueprecautionsagainsttreachery,wemarchedonintothetown. Allalongtheroadwaysstoodthousandsofdejectedwarriors, theirheadsdrooping,andtheirshieldsandspearsattheirfeet, who,headedbytheirofficers,salutedIgnosiaskingashepassed. Onwemarched,straighttoTwala’skraal. Whenwereachedthegreatspace,whereadayortwopreviouslywehadseenthereviewandthewitchhunt,wefounditdeserted. No,notquitedeserted,forthere,onthefurtherside,infrontofhishut,satTwalahimself,withbutoneattendantGagool. 

           Itwasamelancholysighttoseehimseated,hisbattle-axeandshieldbyhisside,hischinuponhismailedbreast,withbutoneoldcroneforcompanion, andnotwithstandinghiscrimesandmisdeeds,apangofcompassionshotthroughmeasIlookeduponTwalathus"fallenfromhishighestate." Notasoldierofallhisarmies,notacourtieroutofthehundredswhohadcringedroundhim,notevenasolitarywife,remainedtosharehisfateorhalvethebitternessofhisfall. Poorsavage! hewaslearningthelessonwhichFateteachestomostofuswholivelongenough,thattheeyesofmankindareblindtothediscredited,andthathewhoisdefencelessandfallenfindsfewfriendsandlittlemercy. Nor,indeed,inthiscasedidhedeserveany. 

           Filingthroughthekraalgate,wemarchedacrosstheopenspacetowheretheex-kingsat. Whenwithinaboutfiftyyardsofhimtheregimentwashalted,andaccompaniedonlybyasmallguardweadvancedtowardshim,Gagoolrevilingusbitterlyaswecame. 

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