Копи царя Соломона
Our March into the Desert
Iaskedhimsharplywhathemeantbyaddressinghismasterinthatfamiliarway. Itisverywellfornativestohaveanameforoneamongthemselves,butitisnotdecentthattheyshouldcallawhitemanbytheirheathenishappellationstohisface. TheZululaughedaquietlittlelaughwhichangeredme.
"HowdostthouknowthatIamnottheequaloftheInkosiwhomIserve?"hesaid. "Heisofaroyalhouse,nodoubt;onecanseeitinhissizeandbyhismien;so,mayhap,amI.Atleast,Iamasgreataman. Bemymouth,OMacumazahn,andsaymywordstotheInkoosIncubu,mymaster,forIwouldspeaktohimandtothee."
Iwasangrywiththeman,forIamnotaccustomedtobetalkedtointhatwaybyKafirs,butsomehowheimpressedme,andbesidesIwascurioustoknowwhathehadtosay. SoItranslated,expressingmyopinionatthesametimethathewasanimpudentfellow,andthathisswaggerwasoutrageous.
"Yes,Umbopa,"answeredSirHenry,"Iwouldjourneythere."
"Thedesertiswideandthereisnowaterinit,themountainsarehighandcoveredwithsnow, andmancannotsaywhatliesbeyondthembehindtheplacewherethesunsets;howshaltthoucomethither,Incubu,andwhereforedostthougo?"
Itranslatedagain.
"Tellhim,"answeredSirHenry,"thatIgobecauseIbelievethatamanofmyblood,mybrother,hasgonetherebeforeme,andIjourneytoseekhim."
"Thatisso,Incubu;aHottentotImetontheroadtoldmethatawhitemanwentoutintothedeserttwoyearsagotowardsthosemountainswithoneservant,ahunter. Theynevercameback."
