Копи царя Соломона
We Give a Sign
AstheprospectdidnotseemtobewithoutattractionsforGood,who,likemostsailors,isofasusceptiblenature —beingelderlyandwise,foreseeingtheendlesscomplicationsthatanythingofthesortwouldinvolve,forwomenbringtroublesosurelyasthenightfollowstheday,Iputinahastyanswer—
"Thankstothee,Oking,butwewhitemenwedonlywithwhitewomenlikeourselves. Yourmaidensarefair,buttheyarenotforus!"
Thekinglaughed. "Itiswell.Inourlandthereisaproverbwhichruns,‘Women’seyesarealwaysbright,whateverthecolour,’ andanotherthatsays,‘Loveherwhoispresent,forbesureshewhoisabsentisfalsetothee;’ butperhapsthesethingsarenotsointheStars. Inalandwheremenarewhiteallthingsarepossible. Sobeit,whitemen;thegirlswillnotgobegging! Welcomeagain;andwelcome,too,thoublackone; ifGagoolherehadwonherway,thouwouldsthavebeenstiffandcoldbynow. ItisluckyfortheethatthoutoocamestfromtheStars;ha!ha!"
"Icankilltheebeforethoukillestme,Oking,"wasIgnosi’scalmanswer,"andthoushaltbestiffbeforemylimbsceasetobend."
Twalastarted. "Thouspeakestboldly,boy,"herepliedangrily;"presumenottoofar."
"Hemaywellbeboldinwhoselipsaretruth. Thetruthisasharpspearwhichflieshomeandmissesnot. Itisamessagefrom‘theStars,’Oking."
Twalascowled,andhisoneeyegleamedfiercely,buthesaidnothingmore.
