Копи царя Соломона
The Attack
Withinlittlemorethananhourrationshadbeenservedoutanddevoured,thedivisionswereformed,theschemeofonslaughtwasexplainedtotheleaders, andthewholeforce,numberingabout18,000men,wasreadytomove,withtheexceptionofaguardleftinchargeofthewounded.
PresentlyGoodcameuptoSirHenryandmyself.
"Good-bye,youfellows,"hesaid; "Iamoffwiththerightwingaccordingtoorders;andsoIhavecometoshakehands,incaseweshouldnotmeetagain,youknow,"headdedsignificantly.
Weshookhandsinsilence,andnotwithouttheexhibitionofasmuchemotionasAnglo–Saxonsarewonttoshow.
"Itisaqueerbusiness,"saidSirHenry,hisdeepvoiceshakingalittle, "andIconfessIneverexpecttoseetomorrow’ssun. SofarasIcanmakeout,theGreys,withwhomIamtogo,aretofightuntiltheyarewipedoutinordertoenablethewingstosliproundunawaresandoutflankTwala. Well,sobeit;atanyrate,itwillbeaman’sdeath. Good-bye,oldfellow.Godblessyou! Ihopeyouwillpullthroughandlivetocollarthediamonds;butifyoudo,takemyadviceanddon’thaveanythingmoretodowithPretenders!"
InanothersecondGoodhadwrungusbothbythehandandgone; andthenInfadooscameupandledoffSirHenrytohisplaceintheforefrontoftheGreys,whilst, withmanymisgivings,IdepartedwithIgnositomystationinthesecondattackingregiment.