Копи царя Соломона
We Give a Sign
"Thewaysofblackpeoplearenotasthewaysofwhitemen,Incubu,nordowevaluelifesohighly. YetIwillpromise.Ifitbeinmypowertoholdthemback,thewitch-findersshallhuntnomore,norshallanymandiethedeathwithouttrialorjudgment."
"That’sabargain,then,"saidSirHenry;"andnowletusgetalittlerest."
Thoroughlyweariedout,weweresoonsoundasleep,andslepttillIgnosiwokeusabouteleveno’clock. Thenwerose,washed,andateaheartybreakfast.Afterthatwewentoutsidethehutandwalkedabout, amusingourselveswithexaminingthestructureoftheKukuanahutsandobservingthecustomsofthewomen.
"Ihopethateclipsewillcomeoff,"saidSirHenrypresently.
"Ifitdoesnotitwillsoonbeallupwithus,"Iansweredmournfully; "forsosureaswearelivingmensomeofthosechiefswilltellthewholestorytotheking,andthentherewillbeanothersortofeclipse,andonethatweshallcertainlynotlike."
Returningtothehutweatesomedinner,andpassedtherestofthedayinreceivingvisitsofceremonyandcuriosity. Atlengththesunset,andweenjoyedacoupleofhoursofsuchquietasourmelancholyforebodingswouldallowtous. Finally,abouthalf-pasteight,amessengercamefromTwalatobidustothegreatannual"danceofgirls"whichwasabouttobecelebrated.
Hastilyweputonthechainshirtsthatthekinghadsentus,andtakingourriflesandammunitionwithus,soastohavethemhandyincasewehadtofly,assuggestedbyInfadoos,westartedboldlyenough,thoughwithinwardfearandtrembling.
