Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Treasure Chamber
Acrossthethresholdofthisdoorlayaskinbag,formedofagoat-skin,thatappearedtobefullofpebbles.
"Hee!hee!whitemen,"sniggeredGagool,asthelightfromthelampfelluponit. "WhatdidItellyou,thatthewhitemanwhocameherefledinhaste,anddroppedthewoman’sbag—beholdit!Lookwithinalsoandyewillfindawater-gourdamongstthestones."
Goodstoopeddownandliftedit.Itwasheavyandjingled.
"ByJove!Ibelieveit’sfullofdiamonds,"hesaid,inanawedwhisper; and,indeed,theideaofasmallgoat-skinfullofdiamondsisenoughtoaweanybody.
"Goon,"saidSirHenryimpatiently. "Here,oldlady,givemethelamp," andtakingitfromGagool’shand,hesteppedthroughthedoorwayandheldithighabovehishead.
Wepressedinafterhim,forgetfulforthemomentofthebagofdiamonds,andfoundourselvesinKingSolomon’streasurechamber.
Atfirst,allthatthesomewhatfaintlightgivenbythelamprevealedwasaroomhewnoutofthelivingrock,andapparentlynotmorethantenfeetsquare. Nexttherecameintosight,storedoneontheothertothearchoftheroof,asplendidcollectionofelephant-tusks. Howmanyofthemtherewerewedidnotknow,forofcoursewecouldnotseetowhatdepththeywentback,buttherecouldnothavebeenlessthantheendsoffourorfivehundredtusksofthefirstqualityvisibletooureyes. There,alone,wasenoughivorytomakeamanwealthyforlife.
