Копи царя Соломона
The Place of Death
AtlastweweredrawingneartothewonderfulminesthathadbeenthecauseofthemiserabledeathoftheoldPortugueseDomthreecenturiesago,ofmypoorfriend,hisill-starreddescendant,andalso,aswefeared,ofGeorgeCurtis,SirHenry’sbrother. Werewedestined,afterallthatwehadgonethrough,tofareanybetter? Evilbefellthem,asthatoldfiendGagoolsaid; woulditalsobefallus? Somehow,asweweremarchingupthatlaststretchofbeautifulroad,Icouldnothelpfeelingalittlesuperstitiousaboutthematter,andsoIthinkdidGoodandSirHenry.
Foranhourandahalformorewetrampedonuptheheather-fringedway, goingsofastinourexcitementthatthebearersofGagool’shammockcouldscarcelykeeppacewithus,anditsoccupantpipedouttoustostop.
"Walkmoreslowly,whitemen,"shesaid,projectingherhideousshrivelledcountenancebetweenthegrasscurtains,andfixinghergleamingeyesuponus; "whywillyeruntomeettheevilthatshallbefallyou,yeseekersaftertreasure?" andshelaughedthathorriblelaughwhichalwayssentacoldshiverdownmyback, andforawhilequitetooktheenthusiasmoutofus.
However,onwewent,tillwesawbeforeus,andbetweenourselvesandthepeak,avastcircularholewithslopingsides,threehundredfeetormoreindepth,andquitehalfamileround.
"Can’tyouguesswhatthisis?"IsaidtoSirHenryandGood,whowerestaringinastonishmentattheawfulpitbeforeus.
Theyshooktheirheads.
