Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Treasure Chamber
Nextweseatedourselves,leaningourbacksagainstthethreestonechestswhichcontainedthepricelesstreasure.
"Letusdividethefood,"saidSirHenry,"soastomakeitlastaslongaspossible." Accordinglywedidso.Itwould,wereckoned,makefourinfinitesimallysmallmealsforeachofus,enough,say,tosupportlifeforacoupleofdays. Besidesthe"biltong,"ordriedgame-flesh,thereweretwogourdsofwater,eachofwhichheldnotmorethanaquart.
"Now,"saidSirHenrygrimly,"letuseatanddrink,fortomorrowwedie."
Weeachateasmallportionofthe"biltong,"anddrankasipofwater. Needlesstosay,wehadbutlittleappetite,thoughweweresadlyinneedoffood,andfeltbetterafterswallowingit. Thenwegotupandmadeasystematicexaminationofthewallsofourprison-house,inthefainthopeoffindingsomemeansofexit,soundingthemandthefloorcarefully.
Therewasnone.Itwasnotprobablethattherewouldbeanytoatreasurechamber.
Thelampbegantoburndim.Thefatwasnearlyexhausted.
"Quatermain,"saidSirHenry,"whatisthetime—yourwatchgoes?"
Idrewitout,andlookedatit.Itwassixo’clock;wehadenteredthecaveateleven.
"Infadooswillmissus,"Isuggested."Ifwedonotreturnto-nighthewillsearchforusinthemorning,Curtis."
"Hemaysearchinvain.Hedoesnotknowthesecretofthedoor,norevenwhereitis. Nolivingpersonknewityesterday,exceptGagool.To-daynooneknowsit. Evenifhefoundthedoorhecouldnotbreakitdown.
