Копи царя Соломона
Water! WATER!
Forawhilethemorninglightsplayeduponthesnowandthebrownandswellingmassesbeneath, andthen,asthoughtoveilthemajesticsightfromourcuriouseyes,strangevapoursandcloudsgatheredandincreasedaroundthemountains,tillpresentlywecouldonlytracetheirpureandgiganticoutlines,showingghostlikethroughthefleecyenvelope. Indeed,asweafterwardsdiscovered,usuallytheywerewrappedinthisgauze-likemist,whichdoubtlessaccountedforournothavingseenthemmoreclearlybefore.
Sheba’sBreastshadscarcelyvanishedintocloud-cladprivacy,beforeourthirst—literallyaburningquestion—reasserteditself.
ItwasallverywellforVentvögeltosaythathesmeltwater,butwecouldseenosignsofit,lookwhichwaywewould. Sofarastheeyemightreachtherewasnothingbutaridswelteringsandandkarooscrub. Wewalkedroundthehillockandgazedaboutanxiouslyontheotherside,butitwasthesamestory, notadropofwatercouldbefound;therewasnoindicationofapan,apool,oraspring.
"Youareafool,"IsaidangrilytoVentvögel;"thereisnowater."
Butstillheliftedhisuglysnubnosesniffed.
"Ismellit,Baas,"heanswered;"itissomewhereintheair."
"Yes,"Isaid,"nodoubtitisintheclouds,andabouttwomonthshenceitwillfallandwashourbones."
SirHenrystrokedhisyellowbeardthoughtfully. "Perhapsitisonthetopofthehill,"hesuggested.
