Копи царя Соломона
We Abandon Hope
Thentheironyofthesituationforceditselfuponme. Therearounduslaytreasuresenoughtopayoffamoderatenationaldebt,ortobuildafleetofironclads,andyetwewouldhavebarteredthemallgladlyforthefaintestchanceofescape. Soon,doubtless,weshouldberejoicedtoexchangethemforabitoffoodoracupofwater,and,afterthat,evenfortheprivilegeofaspeedyclosetooursufferings. Trulywealth,whichmenspendtheirlivesinacquiring,isavaluelessthingatthelast.
Andsothenightworeon.
"Good,"saidSirHenry’svoiceatlast,anditsoundedawfulintheintensestillness,"howmanymatcheshaveyouinthebox?"
"Eight,Curtis."
"Strikeoneandletusseethetime."
Hedidso,andincontrasttothedensedarknesstheflamenearlyblindedus. Itwasfiveo’clockbymywatch. Thebeautifuldawnwasnowblushingonthesnow-wreathsfaroverourheads,andthebreezewouldbestirringthenightmistsinthehollows.
"Wehadbettereatsomethingandkeepupourstrength,"Isuggested.
"Whatisthegoodofeating?"answeredGood;"thesoonerwedieandgetitoverthebetter."
"Whilethereislifethereishope,"saidSirHenry.
Accordinglyweateandsippedsomewater, andanotherperiodoftimeelapsed .ThenSirHenrysuggestedthatitmightbewelltogetasnearthedooraspossibleandhalloa,onthefaintchanceofsomebodycatchingasoundoutside. AccordinglyGood,who,fromlongpracticeatsea,hasafinepiercingnote,gropedhiswaydownthepassageandsettowork.Imustsaythathemadeamostdiabolicalnoise.
