Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Road
"Itishere,OLordofLords,"hesaidwithadeepobeisance.
NowjustbeforeIhadaskedfortherifleIhadperceivedalittleklipspringerantelopestandingonamassofrockaboutseventyyardsaway,anddeterminedtorisktheshot.
"Yeseethatbuck,"Isaid,pointingtheanimalouttothepartybeforeme./"Tellme,isitpossibleformanbornofwomantokillitfromherewithanoise?"
"Itisnotpossible,mylord,"answeredtheoldman.
"YetshallIkillit,"Isaidquietly.
Theoldmansmiled. "Thatmylordcannotdo,"heanswered.
Iraisedtherifleandcoveredthebuck. Itwasasmallanimal,andonewhichamanmightwellbeexcusedformissing,butIknewthatitwouldnotdotomiss.
Idrewadeepbreath,andslowlypressedonthetrigger.Thebuckstoodstillasastone.
"Bang!thud!"Theantelopesprangintotheairandfellontherockdeadasadoornail.
Agroanofsimultaneousterrorburstfromthegroupbeforeus.
"Ifyouwantmeat,"Iremarkedcoolly,"gofetchthatbuck."
Theoldmanmadeasign,andoneofhisfollowersdeparted,andpresentlyreturnedbearingtheklipspringer. InoticedwithsatisfactionthatIhadhititfairlybehindtheshoulder. Theygatheredroundthepoorcreature’sbody,gazingatthebullet-holeinconsternation.
"Yesee,"Isaid,"Idonotspeakemptywords."
Therewasnoanswer.
"Ifyeyetdoubtourpower,"Iwenton,"letoneofyougostanduponthatrockthatImaymakehimasthisbuck."
