Копи царя Соломона
The Legend of Solomon’s Mines
Whenhewentonnextdaywithhishalf-breedcompanion,hesaid‘Good-bye,’takingoffhishatquiteintheoldstyle.
"‘Good-bye,senor,’hesaid;‘ifeverwemeetagainIshallbetherichestmanintheworld,andIwillrememberyou.’ Ilaughedalittle—Iwastooweaktolaughmuch—andwatchedhimstrikeoutforthegreatdeserttothewest,wonderingifhewasmad,orwhathethoughthewasgoingtofindthere.
"Aweekpassed,andIgotthebetterofmyfever.OneeveningIwassittingonthegroundinfrontofthelittletentIhadwithme,chewingthelastlegofamiserablefowlIhadboughtfromanativeforabitofclothworthtwentyfowls, andstaringatthehotredsunsinkingdownoverthedesert,whensuddenlyIsawafigure,apparentlythatofaEuropean,foritworeacoat,ontheslopeoftherisinggroundoppositetome,aboutthreehundredyardsaway. Thefigurecreptalongonitshandsandknees,thenitgotupandstaggeredforwardafewyardsonitslegs,onlytofallandcrawlagain. Seeingthatitmustbesomebodyindistress,Isentoneofmyhunterstohelphim, andpresentlyhearrived,andwhodoyousupposeitturnedouttobe?"
"JoséSilvestre,ofcourse,"saidCaptainGood.
"Yes,JoséSilvestre,orratherhisskeletonandalittleskin. Hisfacewasabrightyellowwithbiliousfever,andhislargedarkeyesstoodnearlyoutofhishead,forallthefleshhadgone. Therewasnothingbutyellowparchment-likeskin,whitehair,andthegauntbonesstickingupbeneath.
"‘Water!forthesakeofChrist,water!’hemoanedandIsawthathislipswerecracked,andhistongue,whichprotrudedbetweenthem,wasswollenandblackish.
