Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Road
Evidentlyitprovedapainfulprocess,forhegroanedverymuchoverit,andIwasconvulsedwithinwardlaughterasIwatchedhimstrugglingwiththatstubblybeard. Itseemedsoveryoddthatamanshouldtakethetroubletoshavehimselfwithapieceoffatinsuchaplaceandinourcircumstances. Atlasthesucceededingettingthehairofftherightsideofhisfaceandchin,whensuddenlyI,whowaswatching,becameconsciousofaflashoflightthatpassedjustbyhishead.
Goodsprangupwithaprofaneexclamation(ifithadnotbeenasafetyrazorhewouldcertainlyhavecuthisthroat), andsodidI,withouttheexclamation,andthiswaswhatIsaw. StandingnotmorethantwentypacesfromwhereIwas,andtenfromGood,wereagroupofmen. Theywereverytallandcopper-coloured,andsomeofthemworegreatplumesofblackfeathersandshortcloaksofleopardskins;thiswasallInoticedatthemoment. Infrontofthemstoodayouthofaboutseventeen,hishandstillraisedandhisbodybentforwardintheattitudeofaGrecianstatueofaspear-thrower. Evidentlytheflashoflighthadbeencausedbyaweaponwhichhehadhurled.
AsIlookedanoldsoldier-likemansteppedforwardoutofthegroup,andcatchingtheyouthbythearmsaidsomethingtohim. Thentheyadvanceduponus.
SirHenry,Good,andUmbopabythistimehadseizedtheirriflesandliftedthemthreateningly.Thepartyofnativesstillcameon. Itstruckmethattheycouldnotknowwhatrifleswere,ortheywouldnothavetreatedthemwithsuchcontempt.
