Копи царя Соломона

           "Isay,"gaspedGood,presently,"weoughttobesomewherenearthatcavetheoldgentlemanwroteabout." 

           "Yes,"saidI,"ifthereisacave." 

           "Come,Quatermain,"groanedSirHenry,"don’ttalklikethat;IhaveeveryfaithintheDom; rememberthewater! Weshallfindtheplacesoon." 

           "Ifwedon’tfinditbeforedarkwearedeadmen,thatisallaboutit,"wasmyconsolatoryreply. 

           Forthenexttenminuteswetrudgedinsilence, whensuddenlyUmbopa,whowasmarchingalongbesideme,wrappedinhisblanket,andwithaleatherbeltstrappedsotightlyroundhisstomach,to"makehishungersmall,"ashesaid,thathiswaistlookedlikeagirl’s, caughtmebythearm. 

           "Look!"hesaid,pointingtowardsthespringingslopeofthenipple. 

           Ifollowedhisglance,andsometwohundredyardsfromusperceivedwhatappearedtobeaholeinthesnow. 

           "Itisthecave,"saidUmbopa. 

           Wemadethebestofourwaytothespot,andfoundsureenoughthattheholewasthemouthofacavern,nodoubtthesameasthatofwhichdaSilvestrawrote. Wewerenottoosoon,forjustaswereachedshelterthesunwentdownwithstartlingrapidity,leavingtheworldnearlydark, forintheselatitudesthereisbutlittletwilight. Sowecreptintothecave,whichdidnotappeartobeverybig,andhuddlingourselvestogetherforwarmth,swallowedwhatremainedofourbrandy—barelyamouthfuleach —andtriedtoforgetourmiseriesinsleep.