The Attack

           Slowly,andwithouttheslightestappearanceofhasteorexcitement,thethreecolumnscrepton. Whenwithinaboutfivehundredyardsofus,themainorcentrecolumnhaltedattherootofatongueofopenplainwhichranupintothehill,togivetimetotheotherdivisionstocircumventourposition, whichwasshapedmoreorlessintheformofahorse-shoe,withitstwopointsfacingtowardsthetownofLoo. Theobjectofthismanoeuvrewasthatthethreefoldassaultshouldbedeliveredsimultaneously. 

           "Oh,foragatling!"groanedGood,ashecontemplatedtheserriedphalanxesbeneathus."Iwouldclearthatplainintwentyminutes." 

           "Wehavenotgotone,soitisnouseyearningforit;butsupposeyoutryashot,Quatermain,"saidSirHenry. "Seehownearyoucangotothattallfellowwhoappearstobeincommand. Twotooneyoumisshim,andanevensovereign,tobehonestlypaidifeverwegetoutofthis,thatyoudon’tdropthebulletwithinfiveyards." 

           Thispiquedme,so,loadingtheexpresswithsolidball,Iwaitedtillmyfriendwalkedsometenyardsoutfromhisforce,inordertogetabetterviewofourposition,accompaniedonlybyanorderly; then,lyingdownandrestingtheexpressonarock,Icoveredhim. Therifle,likeallexpresses,wasonlysightedtothreehundredandfiftyyards,sotoallowforthedropintrajectoryItookhimhalf-waydowntheneck,whichought,Icalculated,tofindhiminthechest.