Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Anothersecondandhewasuponhisfeet,theredbloodstreamingfromthewoundinhisface,andsowasTwala. Drawingtheheavytollafromhisbelt,hereeledstraightatCurtisandstruckhiminthebreast. Thestabcamehometrueandstrong,butwhoeveritwaswhomadethatchainarmour,heunderstoodhisart,foritwithstoodthesteel. AgainTwalastruckoutwithasavageyell,andagainthesharpkniferebounded,andSirHenrywentstaggeringback. OncemoreTwalacameon, andashecameourgreatEnglishmangatheredhimselftogether,andswingingthebigaxeroundhisheadwithbothhands,hitathimwithallhisforce.
Therewasashriekofexcitementfromathousandthroats,and,behold! Twala’sheadseemedtospringfromhisshoulders:thenitfellandcamerollingandboundingalongthegroundtowardsIgnosi,stoppingjustashisfeet. Forasecondthecorpsestoodupright; thenwithadullcrashitcametotheearth,andthegoldtorquefromitsneckrolledawayacrossthepavement. AsitdidsoSirHenry,overpoweredbyfaintnessandlossofblood,fellheavilyacrossthebodyofthedeadking.
Inasecondhewasliftedup,andeagerhandswerepouringwateronhisface. Anotherminute,andthegreyeyesopenedwide.
Hewasnotdead.
ThenI,justasthesunsank,steppingtowhereTwala’sheadlayinthedust,unloosedthediamondfromthedeadbrows,andhandedittoIgnosi.
"Takeit,"Isaid,"lawfulkingoftheKukuanas—kingbybirthandvictory."
