Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Road
Atanyrate,therehesat,asadmementoofthefatethatsooftenovertakesthosewhowouldpenetrateintotheunknown; andtheredoubtlesshewillstillsit,crownedwiththedreadmajestyofdeath,forcenturiesyetunborn,tostartletheeyesofwandererslikeourselves,ifeveranysuchshouldcomeagaintoinvadehisloneliness. Thethingoverpoweredus,alreadyalmostperishedaswewerewithcoldandhunger.
"Letusgo,"saidSirHenryinalowvoice;"stay,wewillgivehimacompanion,"andliftingupthedeadbodyoftheHottentotVentvögel,heplaceditneartothatoftheoldDom. Thenhestooped,andwithajerkbroketherottenstringofthecrucifixwhichhungrounddaSilvestra’sneck,forhisfingersweretoocoldtoattempttounfastenit. Ibelievethathehasitstill. Itookthebonepen,anditisbeforemeasIwrite—sometimesIuseittosignmyname.
Thenleavingthesetwo,theproudwhitemanofapastage,andthepoorHottentot,tokeeptheireternalvigilinthemidstoftheeternalsnows,wecreptoutofthecaveintothewelcomesunshineandresumedourpath, wonderinginourheartshowmanyhoursitwouldbebeforewewereevenastheyare.
Whenwehadwalkedabouthalfamilewecametotheedgeoftheplateau,forthenippleofthemountaindoesnotriseoutofitsexactcentre,thoughfromthedesertsideithadseemedtodoso. Whatlaybelowuswecouldnotsee,forthelandscapewaswreathedinbillowsofmorningfog.
