Копи царя Соломона
The Attack
Hestoodquitestillandgavemeeveryopportunity,butwhetheritwastheexcitementorthewind,orthefactofthemanbeingalongshot,Idon’tknow,butthiswaswhathappened. Gettingdeadon,asIthought,afinesight,Ipressed,andwhenthepuffofsmokehadclearedaway,tomydisgust,Isawmymanstandingthereunharmed,whilsthisorderly,whowasatleastthreepacestotheleft,wasstretcheduponthegroundapparentlydead. Turningswiftly,theofficerIhadaimedatbegantoruntowardshismeninevidentalarm.
"Bravo,Quatermain!"sangoutGood;"you’vefrightenedhim."
Thismademeveryangry,for,ifpossibletoavoidit,Ihatetomissinpublic. Whenamanismasterofonlyonearthelikestokeepuphisreputationinthatart. Movedquiteoutofmyselfatmyfailure,Ididarashthing. Rapidlycoveringthegeneralasheran,Iletdrivewiththesecondbarrel. Instantlythepoormanthrewuphisarms,andfellforwardontohisface. ThistimeIhadmadenomistake; and—Isayitasaproofofhowlittlewethinkofotherswhenourownsafety,pride,orreputationisinquestion—Iwasbruteenoughtofeeldelightedatthesight.
Theregimentswhohadseenthefeatcheeredwildlyatthisexhibitionofthewhiteman’smagic,whichtheytookasanomenofsuccess, whiletheforcethegeneralhadbelongedto—which,indeed,asweascertainedafterwards,hehadcommanded—fellbackinconfusion.
