Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Road
Itsoundshorribleenough,buthonestly,Inevertastedanythingsogoodasthatrawmeat. Inaquarterofanhourwewerechangedmen. Ourlifeandvigourcamebacktous,ourfeeblepulsesgrewstrongagain,andthebloodwentcoursingthroughourveins. Butmindfuloftheresultsofover-feedingonstarvedstomachs,wewerecarefulnottoeattoomuch,stoppingwhilstwewerestillhungry.
"ThankHeaven!"saidSirHenry;"thatbrutehassavedourlives. Whatisit,Quatermain?"
Iroseandwenttolookattheantelope,forIwasnotcertain. Itwasaboutthesizeofadonkey,withlargecurvedhorns. Ihadneverseenonelikeitbefore;thespecieswasnewtome.Itwasbrownincolour,withfaintredstripes,andgrewathickcoat. Iafterwardsdiscoveredthatthenativesofthatwonderfulcountrycallthesebucks"inco." Theyareveryrare,andonlyfoundatagreataltitudewherenoothergamewilllive. Thisanimalwasfairlyhithighupintheshoulder, thoughwhosebulletbroughtitdownwecouldnot,ofcourse,discover. IbelievethatGood,mindfulofhismarvellousshotatthegiraffe,secretlysetitdowntohisownprowess,andwedidnotcontradicthim.
Wehadbeensobusysatisfyingourhungerthathithertowehadnotfoundtimetolookaboutus. Butnow,havingsetUmbopatocutoffasmuchofthebestmeataswewerelikelytobeabletocarry,webegantoinspectoursurroundings. Themisthadclearedaway,foritwaseighto’clock,andthesunhadsuckeditup,sowewereabletotakeinallthecountrybeforeusataglance.
