Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Road
Herewasluckindeed,and,needlesstosay,Ijumpedatthechance.
"Itisgranted,"Isaidwithanimperialsmile. "Nay,yeshallknowthetruth. Wecomefromanotherworld,thoughwearemensuchasye;wecome,"Iwenton,"fromthebiggeststarthatshinesatnight."
"Oh!oh!"groanedthechorusofastonishedaborigines.
"Yes,"Iwenton,"wedo,indeed";andagainIsmiledbenignly,asIutteredthatamazinglie. "Wecometostaywithyoualittlewhile,andtoblessyoubyoursojourn. Yewillsee,Ofriends,thatIhavepreparedmyselfforthisvisitbythelearningofyourlanguage."
"Itisso,itisso,"saidthechorus.
"Only,mylord,"putintheoldgentleman,"thouhastlearntitverybadly."
Icastanindignantglanceathim,andhequailed.
"Nowfriends,"Icontinued,"yemightthinkthataftersolongajourneyweshouldfinditinourheartstoavengesuchareception,mayhaptostrikecoldindeaththeimperioushandthat—that,inshort—threwaknifeattheheadofhimwhoseteethcomeandgo."
"Sparehim,mylords,"saidtheoldmaninsupplication; "heistheking’sson,andIamhisuncle. Ifanythingbefallshimhisbloodwillberequiredatmyhands."
"Yes,thatiscertainlyso,"putintheyoungmanwithgreatemphasis.
"Yemayperhapsdoubtourpowertoavenge,"Iwenton,heedlessofthisby-play. "Stay,Iwillshowyou. Here,thoudogandslave(addressingUmbopainasavagetone),givemethemagictubethatspeaks"; andItippedawinktowardsmyexpressrifle.
Umboparosetotheoccasion,andwithsomethingasnearlyresemblingagrinasIhaveeverseenonhisdignifiedfacehehandedmethegun.
