Копи царя Соломона

           "Nay,Iknownot.Infadoos,hastthouaplan?" 

           "Ignosi,SonoftheLightning,"answeredhisuncle,"to-nightisthegreatdanceandwitch-hunt. Manyshallbesmeltoutandperish,andintheheartsofmanyotherstherewillbegriefandanguishandfuryagainstthekingTwala. Whenthedanceisover,thenIwillspeaktosomeofthegreatchiefs,whointurn,ifIcanwinthemover,willspeaktotheirregiments. Ishallspeaktothechiefssoftlyatfirst,andbringthemtoseethatthouartindeedtheking, andIthinkthatbytomorrow’slightthoushalthavetwentythousandspearsatthycommand. AndnowImustgoandthink,andhear,andmakeready. Afterthedanceisdone,ifIamyetalive,andweareallalive,Iwillmeettheehere,andwecantalk. Atthebesttheremustbewar." 

           Atthismomentourconferencewasinterruptedbythecrythatmessengershadcomefromtheking. Advancingtothedoorofthehutweorderedthattheyshouldbeadmitted,andpresentlythreemenentered, eachbearingashiningshirtofchainarmour,andamagnificentbattle-axe. 

           "ThegiftsofmylordthekingtothewhitemenfromtheStars!"saidaheraldwhocamewiththem. 

           "Wethanktheking,"Ianswered;"withdraw." 

           Themenwent,andweexaminedthearmourwithgreatinterest. Itwasthemostwonderfulchainworkthateitherofushadeverseen. Awholecoatfelltogethersocloselythatitformedamassoflinksscarcelytoobigtobecoveredwithbothhands. 

           "Doyoumakethesethingsinthiscountry,Infadoos?"Iasked;"theyareverybeautiful."