Копи царя Соломона

           Thisremarksetmethinking, andhavingspokentoGood,ItoldSirHenrythatitwasourjointwishthatheshouldtakeathirdportionofthediamonds,or,ifhewouldnot,thathisshareshouldbehandedtohisbrother,whohadsufferedevenmorethanourselvesonthechanceofgettingthem. Finally,weprevaileduponhimtoconsenttothisarrangement,butGeorgeCurtisdidnotknowofituntilsometimeafterwards. 

           *** 

           Here,atthispoint,IthinkthatIshallendmyhistory. OurjourneyacrossthedesertbacktoSitanda’sKraalwasmostarduous,especiallyaswehadtosupportGeorgeCurtis,whoserightlegwasveryweakindeed,andcontinuallythrewoutsplintersofbone. Butwedidaccomplishitsomehow,andtogiveitsdetailswouldonlybetoreproducemuchofwhathappenedtousontheformeroccasion. 

           Sixmonthsfromthedateofourre-arrivalatSitanda’s, wherewefoundourgunsandothergoodsquitesafe,thoughtheoldrascalinchargewasmuchdisgustedatoursurvivingtoclaimthem,sawusalloncemoresafeandsoundatmylittleplaceontheBerea,nearDurban,whereIamnowwriting. ThenceIbidfarewelltoallwhohaveaccompaniedmethroughthestrangesttripIevermadeinthecourseofalongandvariedexperience. 

           P.S.—JustasIhadwrittenthelastword,aKafircameupmyavenueoforangetrees,carryingaletterinacleftstick,whichhehadbroughtfromthepost. ItturnedouttobefromSirHenry,andasitspeaksforitselfIgiveitinfull. 

           October1,1884.BrayleyHall,Yorkshire.