Копи царя Соломона
Umbopa Enters Our Service
Ipausedtowatchtheeffectofmywords.CaptainGoodlookedalittleuncomfortable,butSirHenry’sfacedidnotchange. "Wemusttakeourchance,"hesaid.
"Youmayperhapswonder,"Iwenton,"why,ifIthinkthis,I,whoam,asItoldyou,atimidman,shouldundertakesuchajourney. Itisfortworeasons. FirstIamafatalist,andbelievethatmytimeisappointedtocomequitewithoutreferencetomyownmovementsandwill,andthatifIamtogotoSuliman’sMountainstobekilled,Ishallgothereandshallbekilled. GodAlmighty,nodoubt,knowsHismindaboutme,soIneednottroubleonthatpoint. Secondly,Iamapoorman. FornearlyfortyyearsIhavehuntedandtraded,butIhavenevermademorethanaliving. Well,gentlemen,Idon’tknowifyouareawarethattheaveragelifeofanelephanthunterfromthetimehetakestothetradeisbetweenfourandfiveyears. SoyouseeIhavelivedthroughaboutsevengenerationsofmyclass,andIshouldthinkthatmytimecannotbefaroff,anyway. Now,ifanythingweretohappentomeintheordinarycourseofbusiness,bythetimemydebtsarepaidtherewouldbenothinglefttosupportmysonHarrywhilsthewasgettinginthewayofearningaliving,whereasnowhewillbesetupforfiveyears. Thereisthewholeaffairinanutshell."
"Mr.Quatermain,"saidSirHenry,whohadbeengivingmehismostseriousattention,"yourmotivesforundertakinganenterprisewhichyoubelievecanonlyendindisasterreflectagreatdealofcreditonyou. Whetherornotyouareright,ofcoursetimeandtheeventalonecanshow. Butwhetheryouarerightorwrong,ImayaswelltellyouatoncethatIamgoingthroughwithittotheend,sweetorbitter. Ifwearetobeknockedonthehead,allIhavetosayis,thatIhopewegetalittleshootingfirst,eh,Good?"
