Копи царя Соломона

           Totheyoung,indeed,deathissometimeswelcome,fortheyoungcanfeel. Theyloveandsuffer,anditwringsthemtoseetheirbelovedpasstothelandofshadows. Buttheoldfeelnot,theylovenot,and,ha!ha!theylaughtoseeanothergooutintothedark; ha!ha!theylaughtoseetheevilthatisdoneunderthestars. Alltheyloveislife,thewarm,warmsun,andthesweet,sweetair. Theyareafraidofthecold,afraidofthecoldandthedark, ha!ha!ha!"andtheoldhagwrithedinghastlymerrimentontheground. 

           "Ceasethineeviltalkandanswerme,"saidIgnosiangrily. "Wiltthoushowtheplacewherethestonesare,orwiltthounot? Ifthouwiltnotthoudiest,evennow,"andheseizedaspearandhelditoverher. 

           "Iwillnotshowit;thoudarestnotkillme,darestnot!Hewhoslaysmewillbeaccursedforever." 

           SlowlyIgnosibroughtdownthespeartillitprickedtheprostrateheapofrags. 

           WithawildyellGagoolsprangtoherfeet,thenfellagainandrolleduponthefloor. 

           "Nay,Iwillshowthee.Onlyletmelive,letmesitinthesunandhaveabitofmeattosuck,andIwillshowthee." 

           "Itiswell.IthoughtthatIshouldfindawaytoreasonwiththee. To-morrowshaltthougowithInfadoosandmywhitebrotherstotheplace, andbewarehowthoufailest,forifthoushowestitnot,thenthoushaltslowlydie.Ihavespoken." 

           "Iwillnotfail,Ignosi.Ialwayskeepmyword—ha!ha!ha! Oncebeforeawomanshowedthechambertoawhiteman,andbehold!evilbefellhim,"andhereherwickedeyesglinted. "HernamewasGagoolalso.PerchanceIwasthatwoman."