Копи царя Соломона
The Legend of Solomon’s Mines
"Igavehimwaterwithalittlemilkinit,andhedrankitingreatgulps,twoquartsorso,withoutstopping. Iwouldnotlethimhaveanymore. Thenthefevertookhimagain,andhefelldownandbegantoraveaboutSuliman’sMountains,andthediamonds,andthedesert. IcarriedhimintothetentanddidwhatIcouldforhim,whichwaslittleenough;butIsawhowitmustend. Abouteleveno’clockhegrewquieter,andIlaydownforalittlerestandwenttosleep. AtdawnIwokeagain,andinthehalflightsawSilvestresittingup,astrange,gauntform,andgazingouttowardsthedesert. PresentlythefirstrayofthesunshotrightacrossthewideplainbeforeustillitreachedthefarawaycrestofoneofthetallestoftheSulimanMountainsmorethanahundredmilesaway.
"‘Thereitis!’criedthedyingmaninPortuguese,andpointingwithhislong,thinarm,‘butIshallneverreachit,never.Noonewilleverreachit!’
"Suddenly,hepaused,andseemedtotakearesolution.‘Friend,’hesaid,turningtowardsme,‘areyouthere?Myeyesgrowdark.’
"‘Yes,’Isaid;‘yes,liedownnow,andrest.’
"‘Ay,’heanswered,‘Ishallrestsoon,Ihavetimetorest—alleternity.Listen,Iamdying!Youhavebeengoodtome. Iwillgiveyouthewriting.Perhapsyouwillgetthereifyoucanlivetopassthedesert,whichhaskilledmypoorservantandme.’
"ThenhegropedinhisshirtandbroughtoutwhatIthoughtwasaBoertobaccopouchmadeoftheskinoftheSwart-vet-pensorsableantelope. Itwasfastenedwithalittlestripofhide,whatwecallarimpi,andthishetriedtoloose,butcouldnot. Hehandedittome.
