Копи царя Соломона
Umbopa Enters Our Service
"Yes,yes,"putinthecaptain. "Wehaveallthreeofusbeenaccustomedtofacedanger,andtoholdourlivesinourhandsinvariousways,soitisnogoodturningbacknow. AndnowIvotewegodowntothesaloonandtakeanobservationjustforluck,youknow."Andwedid—throughthebottomofatumbler.
Nextdaywewentashore,andIputupSirHenryandCaptainGoodatthelittleshantyIhavebuiltontheBerea,andwhichIcallmyhome. Thereareonlythreeroomsandakitcheninit,anditisconstructedofgreenbrickwithagalvanisedironroof, butthereisagoodgardenwiththebestloquottreesinitthatIknow,andsomeniceyoungmangoes,ofwhichIhopegreatthings. Thecuratorofthebotanicalgardensgavethemtome. ItislookedafterbyanoldhunterofminenamedJack,whosethighwassobadlybrokenbyabuffalocowinSikukuniscountrythathewillneverhuntagain. Buthecanpotteraboutandgarden,beingaGriquabybirth.YouwillneverpersuadeaZulutotakemuchinterestingardening.Itisapeacefulart,andpeacefulartsarenotinhisline.
SirHenryandGoodsleptinatentpitchedinmylittlegroveoforangetreesattheendofthegarden,fortherewasnoroomfortheminthehouse,andwhatwiththesmellofthebloom, andthesightofthegreenandgoldenfruit—inDurbanyouwillseeallthreeonthetreetogether—Idaresayitisapleasantplaceenough,forwehavefewmosquitoshereontheBerea,unlesstherehappenstocomeanunusuallyheavyrain.
Well,togeton—forifIdonot,Harry,youwillbetiredofmystorybeforeeverwefetchupatSuliman’sMountains—havingoncemadeupmymindtogoIsetaboutmakingthenecessarypreparations. FirstIsecuredthedeedfromSirHenry,providingforyou,myboy,incaseofaccidents.
