Копи царя Соломона
The Place of Death
Iamnotanervousmaninageneralway,andverylittletroubledwithsuperstitions,ofwhichIhavelivedtoseethefolly;butIamfreetoownthatthissightquiteupsetme,andhaditnotbeenthatSirHenrycaughtmebythecollarandheldme,IdohonestlybelievethatinanotherfiveminutesIshouldhavebeenoutsidethestalactitecave, andthatapromiseofallthediamondsinKimberleywouldnothaveinducedmetoenteritagain. Butheheldmetight,soIstoppedbecauseIcouldnothelpmyself. Nextsecond,however,hiseyesbecameaccustomedtothelight,andheletgoofme,andbegantomoptheperspirationoffhisforehead. AsforGood,hesworefeebly,whileFoulatathrewherarmsroundhisneckandshrieked.
OnlyGagoolchuckledloudandlong.
Itwasaghastlysight. Thereattheendofthelongstonetable,holdinginhisskeletonfingersagreatwhitespear,satDeathhimself,shapedintheformofacolossalhumanskeleton,fifteenfeetormoreinheight. Highabovehisheadheheldthespear,asthoughintheacttostrike; onebonyhandrestedonthestonetablebeforehim,inthepositionamanassumesonrisingfromhisseat,whilsthisframewasbentforwardsothatthevertebræoftheneckandthegrinning,gleamingskullprojectedtowardsus, andfixeditsholloweye-placesuponus,thejawsalittleopen,asthoughitwereabouttospeak.
"Greatheavens!"saidIfaintly,atlast,"whatcanitbe?"
"Andwhatarethosethings?"askedGood,pointingtothewhitecompanyroundthetable.
