Копи царя Соломона

           WithtremblinghandsIlitamatch. Ihadonlythreeleft,andwesawthatwewereintheangleofthefarcornerofthechamber,afactthataccountedforournothavingnoticedthehollowsoundoftheplaceduringourformerexhaustiveexamination. Asthematchburntwescrutinisedthespot. Therewasajoininthesolidrockfloor,and,greatheavens! there,letinlevelwiththerock,wasastonering. Wesaidnoword,weweretooexcited,andourheartsbeattoowildlywithhopetoallowustospeak. Goodhadaknife,atthebackofwhichwasoneofthosehooksthataremadetoextractstonesfromhorses’hoofs. Heopenedit,andscratchedroundtheringwithit. Finallyheworkeditunder,andleveredawaygentlyforfearofbreakingthehook. Theringbegantomove. Beingofstoneithadnotrustedfastinallthecenturiesithadlainthere,aswouldhavebeenthecasehaditbeenofiron. Presentlyitwasupright. Thenhethrusthishandsintoitandtuggedwithallhisforce,butnothingbudged. 

           "Letmetry,"Isaidimpatiently, forthesituationofthestone,rightintheangleofthecorner,wassuchthatitwasimpossiblefortwotopullatonce. Itookholdandstrainedaway,butnoresults. 

           ThenSirHenrytriedandfailed. 

           Takingthehookagain,Goodscratchedallroundthecrackwherewefelttheaircomingup. 

           "Now,Curtis,"hesaid,"tackleon,andputyourbackintoit;youareasstrongastwo.