Копи царя Соломона
Twala the King
Itwasasomewhattryingordeal,butwecarrieditoffasbestwecould. Atlengththedoorofthehutopened,andagiganticfigure,withasplendidtiger-skinkarrossflungoveritsshoulders, steppedout,followedbytheboyScragga,andwhatappearedtoustobeawithered-upmonkey,wrappedinafurcloak. Thefigureseateditselfuponastool,Scraggatookhisstandbehindit,andthewithered-upmonkeycreptonallfoursintotheshadeofthehutandsquatteddown.
Stilltherewassilence.
Thenthegiganticfigureslippedoffthekarrossandstoodupbeforeus, atrulyalarmingspectacle. Itwasthatofanenormousmanwiththemostentirelyrepulsivecountenancewehadeverbeheld. Thisman’slipswereasthickasaNegro’s,thenosewasflat,hehadbutonegleamingblackeye,fortheotherwasrepresentedbyahollowintheface,andhiswholeexpressionwascruelandsensualtoadegree. Fromthelargeheadroseamagnificentplumeofwhiteostrichfeathers,hisbodywascladinashirtofshiningchainarmour,whilstroundthewaistandrightkneeweretheusualgarnishesofwhiteox-tail. Inhisrighthandwasahugespear,abouttheneckathicktorqueofgold,andboundontheforeheadshonedullyasingleandenormousuncutdiamond.
Stilltherewassilence;butnotforlong. Presentlytheman,whomwerightlyguessedtobetheking,raisedthegreatjavelininhishand.Instantlyeightthousandspearswereliftedinanswer,andfromeightthousandthroatsrangouttheroyalsaluteof"Koom."
