Копи царя Соломона
We Abandon Hope
Whenwehadgropedourwayforaboutaquarterofanhouralongthepassage,suddenlyittookasharpturn,orelsewasbisectedbyanother,whichwefollowed,onlyincourseoftimetobeledintoathird. Andsoitwentonforsomehours. Weseemedtobeinastonelabyrinththatlednowhere. Whatallthesepassagesare,ofcourseIcannotsay,butwethoughtthattheymustbetheancientworkingsofamine,ofwhichthevariousshaftsandaditstravelledhitherandthitherastheoreledthem. Thisistheonlywayinwhichwecouldaccountforsuchamultitudeofgalleries.
Atlengthwehalted,thoroughlywornoutwithfatigueandwiththathopedeferredwhichmakeththeheartsick,andateupourpoorremainingpieceofbiltonganddrankourlastsupofwater,forourthroatswerelikelime-kilns. ItseemedtousthatwehadescapedDeathinthedarknessofthetreasurechamberonlytomeethiminthedarknessofthetunnels.
Aswestood,oncemoreutterlydepressed,IthoughtthatIcaughtasound,towhichIcalledtheattentionoftheothers. Itwasveryfaintandveryfaroff,butitwasasound,afaint,murmuringsound,fortheothersheardittoo, andnowordscandescribetheblessednessofitafterallthosehoursofutter,awfulstillness.
"Byheaven!it’srunningwater,"saidGood."Comeon."
Offwestartedagaininthedirectionfromwhichthefaintmurmurseemedtocome,gropingourwayasbeforealongtherockywalls.
