Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Road
Atanotherplaceitwascutinzigzagsoutofthesideofaprecipicefivehundredfeetdeep,andinathirdittunnelledthroughthebaseofaninterveningridge,aspaceofthirtyyardsormore.
Herewenoticedthatthesidesofthetunnelwerecoveredwithquaintsculptures,mostlyofmailedfiguresdrivinginchariots. One,whichwasexceedinglybeautiful,representedawholebattlescenewithaconvoyofcaptivesbeingmarchedoffinthedistance.
"Well,"saidSirHenry,afterinspectingthisancientworkofart, "itisverywelltocallthisSolomon’sRoad,butmyhumbleopinionisthattheEgyptianshadbeenherebeforeSolomon’speopleeversetafootonit. Ifthisisn’tEgyptianorPhoenicianhandiwork,Imustsaythatitisverylikeit."
Bymiddaywehadadvancedsufficientlydownthemountaintosearchtheregionwherewoodwastobemetwith. Firstwecametoscatteredbusheswhichgrewmoreandmorefrequent, tillatlastwefoundtheroadwindingthroughavastgroveofsilvertreessimilartothosewhicharetobeseenontheslopesofTableMountainatCapeTown. Ihadneverbeforemetwiththeminallmywanderings,exceptattheCape,andtheirappearancehereastonishedmegreatly.
"Ah!"saidGood,surveyingtheseshining-leavedtreeswithevidententhusiasm,"hereislotsofwood,letusstopandcooksomedinner; Ihaveaboutdigestedthatrawheart."
Nobodyobjectedtothis, soleavingtheroadwemadeourwaytoastreamwhichwasbabblingawaynotfaroff,andsoonhadagoodlyfireofdryboughsblazing.
