Копи царя Соломона

           Nowitwasgraduallygrowinglight, andaswesatstaringblanklyateachother, IobservedtheHottentotVentvögelriseandbegintowalkaboutwithhiseyesontheground. Presentlyhestoppedshort,andutteringagutturalexclamation,pointedtotheearth. 

           "Whatisit?"weexclaimed;andrisingsimultaneouslywewenttowherehewasstandingstaringatthesand. 

           "Well,"Isaid,"itisfreshSpringbokspoor;whatofit?" 

           "Springbucksdonotgofarfromwater,"heansweredinDutch. 

           "No,"Ianswered,"Iforgot;andthankGodforit." 

           Thislittlediscoveryputnewlifeintous; foritiswonderful,whenamanisinadesperateposition,howhecatchesattheslightesthope,andfeelsalmosthappy. Onadarknightasinglestarisbetterthannothing. 

           MeanwhileVentvögelwasliftinghissnubnose,andsniffingthehotairforalltheworldlikeanoldImpalaramwhoscentsdanger. Presentlyhespokeagain. 

           "Ismellwater,"hesaid. 

           Thenwefeltquitejubilant,forweknewwhatawonderfulinstinctthesewild-bredmenpossess. 

           Justatthatmomentthesuncameupgloriously,andrevealedsograndasighttoourastonishedeyesthatforamomentortwoweevenforgotourthirst. 

           There,notmorethanfortyorfiftymilesfromus,glitteringlikesilverintheearlyraysofthemorningsun,soaredSheba’sBreasts; andstretchingawayforhundredsofmilesoneithersideofthemranthegreatSulimanBerg. Nowthat,sittinghere,Iattempttodescribetheextraordinarygrandeurandbeautyofthatsight,languageseemstofailme.