The Legend of Solomon’s Mines

           "Whatwasitthatyouheardaboutmybrother’sjourneyatBamangwato?"askedSirHenry, asIpausedtofillmypipebeforereplyingtoCaptainGood. 

           "Iheardthis,"Ianswered,"andIhavenevermentionedittoasoultilltoday. IheardthathewasstartingforSolomon’sMines." 

           "Solomon’sMines?" ejaculatedbothmyhearersatonce. "Wherearethey?" 

           "Idon’tknow,"Isaid;"Iknowwheretheyaresaidtobe. OnceIsawthepeaksofthemountainsthatborderthem,buttherewereahundredandthirtymilesofdesertbetweenmeandthem,andIamnotawarethatanywhitemanevergotacrossitsaveone. ButperhapsthebestthingIcandoistotellyouthelegendofSolomon’sMinesasIknowit,youpassingyourwordnottorevealanythingItellyouwithoutmypermission. Doyouagreetothat? Ihavemyreasonsforasking." 

           SirHenrynodded,andCaptainGoodreplied, "Certainly,certainly." 

           "Well,"Ibegan,"asyoumayguess,generallyspeaking,elephanthuntersarearoughsetofmen,whodonottroublethemselveswithmuchbeyondthefactsoflifeandthewaysofKafirs. Buthereandthereyoumeetamanwhotakesthetroubletocollecttraditionsfromthenatives,andtriestomakeoutalittlepieceofthehistoryofthisdarkland. ItwassuchamanasthiswhofirsttoldmethelegendofSolomon’sMines,nowamatterofnearlythirtyyearsago. ThatwaswhenIwasonmyfirstelephanthuntintheMatalebecountry. HisnamewasEvans,andhewaskilledthefollowingyear,poorfellow,byawoundedbuffalo,andliesburiedneartheZambesiFalls.