Копи царя Соломона
The Witch-Hunt
"Whatmeanestthou,boy?"askedInfadoos;"whotoldtheetospeak?"
"Listen,Infadoos,"wastheanswer,"andIwilltelltheeastory. YearsagothekingImotuwaskilledinthiscountryandhiswifefledwiththeboyIgnosi.Isitnotso?"
"Itisso."
"Itwassaidthatthewomanandhersondieduponthemountains.Isitnotso?"
"Itisevenso."
"Well,itcametopassthatthemotherandtheboyIgnosididnotdie. Theycrossedthemountainsandwereledbyatribeofwanderingdesertmenacrossthesandsbeyond,tillatlasttheycametowaterandgrassandtreesagain."
"Howknowestthouthis?"
"Listen.Theytravelledonandon,manymonths’journey,tilltheyreachedalandwhereapeoplecalledtheAmazulu,whoalsoareoftheKukuanastock,livebywar,andwiththemtheytarriedmanyyears,tillatlengththemotherdied. ThenthesonIgnosibecameawandereragain,andjourneyedintoalandofwonders,wherewhitepeoplelive,andformanymoreyearshelearnedthewisdomofthewhitepeople."
"Itisaprettystory,"saidInfadoosincredulously.
"Foryearshelivedthereworkingasaservantandasoldier,butholdinginhisheartallthathismotherhadtoldhimofhisownplace, andcastingaboutinhismindtofindhowhemightjourneythithertoseehispeopleandhisfather’shousebeforehedied. Forlongyearshelivedandwaited,andatlastthetimecame,asitevercomestohimwhocanwaitforit,andhemetsomewhitemenwhowouldseekthisunknownland,andjoinedhimselftothem.
