laurence had heretofore thought kulingile of a remarkably placid nature , but that was not in evidence now as the great golden beast turned towards them : having been roused to violence and with demane 's fear driving him , he hissed and swept the soldiers into a broken heap onto the ground with a few swipes of his massive talons , careless of them as a child with its toys ; only a few of them groaned and moved a little , and soon they , too , were still .