Копи царя Соломона
Our March into the Desert
Atlength,aboutanhourlater,wespiedalittlepileofbouldersrisingoutoftheplain,andtothiswedraggedourselves. Asluckwouldhaveit,herewefoundanoverhangingslabofrockcarpetedbeneathwithsmoothsand,whichaffordedamostgratefulshelterfromtheheat. Underneaththiswecrept,andeachofushavingdrunksomewaterandeatenabitofbiltong,welaydownandsoonweresoundasleep.
Itwasthreeo’clockintheafternoonbeforewewoke,tofindourbearerspreparingtoreturn. Theyhadseenenoughofthedesertalready,andnonumberofkniveswouldhavetemptedthemtocomeastepfarther. Sowetookaheartydrink,andhavingemptiedourwater-bottles,filledthemupagainfromthegourdsthattheyhadbroughtwiththem,andthenwatchedthemdepartontheirtwentymiles’tramphome.
Athalf-pastfourwealsostarted. Itwaslonelyanddesolatework,forwiththeexceptionofafewostrichestherewasnotasinglelivingcreaturetobeseenonallthevastexpanseofsandyplain. Evidentlyitwastoodryforgame,andwiththeexceptionofadeadly-lookingcobraortwowesawnoreptiles. Oneinsect,however,wefoundabundant,andthatwasthecommonorhousefly. Theretheycame,"notassinglespies,butinbattalions,"asIthinktheOldTestamentsayssomewhere. Heisanextraordinaryinsectisthehousefly. Gowhereyouwillyoufindhim,andsoitmusthavebeenalways.
