Копи царя Соломона

           ThenIsawthatthebirdswereaflockofpauworbustards,andthattheywouldpasswithinfiftyyardsofmyhead. TakingoneoftherepeatingWinchesters,Iwaitedtilltheywerenearlyoverus,andthenjumpedtomyfeet. Onseeingmethepauwbuncheduptogether,asIexpectedthattheywould, andIfiredtwoshotsstraightintothethickofthem,and,asluckwouldhaveit,broughtonedown, afinefellow,thatweighedabouttwentypounds. Inhalfanhourwehadafiremadeofdrymelonstalks, andhewastoastingoverit,andwemadesuchafeedaswehadnottastedforaweek. Weatethatpauw; nothingwasleftofhimbuthisleg-bonesandhisbeak, andwefeltnotalittlethebetterafterwards. 

           Thatnightwewentonagainwiththemoon,carryingasmanymelonsaswecouldwithus. Asweascendedwefoundtheairgrewcoolerandcooler,whichwasagreatrelieftous, andatdawn,sofaraswecouldjudge,wewerenotmorethanaboutadozenmilesfromthesnowline. Herewediscoveredmoremelons,andsohadnolongeranyanxietyaboutwater,forweknewthatweshouldsoongetplentyofsnow. Buttheascenthadnowbecomeveryprecipitous,andwemadebutslowprogress,notmorethanamileanhour. Alsothatnightweateourlastmorselofbiltong. Asyet,withtheexceptionofthepauw,wehadseennolivingthingonthemountain,norhadwecomeacrossasinglespringorstreamofwater, whichstruckusasveryodd,consideringtheexpanseofsnowaboveus,whichmust,wethought,meltsometimes.