Копи царя Соломона

           Bang!thud!andtheoxwaskickingonhisback,shotintheribs.Thesemi-hollowbullethaddoneitsworkwell,andasighofastonishmentwentupfromtheassembledthousands. 

           Iturnedroundcoolly— 

           "HaveIlied,Oking?" 

           "Nay,whiteman,itisthetruth,"wasthesomewhatawedanswer. 

           "Listen,Twala,"Iwenton."Thouhastseen. Nowknowwecomeinpeace,notinwar. See,"andIhelduptheWinchesterrepeater; "hereisahollowstaffthatshallenabletheetokillevenaswekill, onlyIlaythischarmuponit,thoushaltkillnomanwithit.Ifthouliftestitagainstaman,itshallkillthee. Stay,Iwillshowthee. Bidasoldierstepfortypacesandplacetheshaftofaspearinthegroundsothattheflatbladelookstowardsus." 

           Inafewsecondsitwasdone. 

           "Now,see,Iwillbreakyonderspear." 

           TakingacarefulsightIfired.Thebulletstrucktheflatofthespear,andshatteredthebladeintofragments. 

           Againthesighofastonishmentwentup. 

           "Now,Twala,wegivethismagictubetothee,andby-and-byIwillshowtheehowtouseit; butbewarehowthouturnestthemagicoftheStarsagainstamanofearth," andIhandedhimtherifle. 

           Thekingtookitverygingerly,andlaiditdownathisfeet. AshedidsoIobservedthewizenedmonkey-likefigurecreepingfromtheshadowofthehut. Itcreptonallfours,butwhenitreachedtheplacewherethekingsatitroseuponitsfeet,andthrowingthefurrycoveringfromitsface,revealedamostextraordinaryandweirdcountenance.