Копи царя Соломона

           "Whatmeanestthou,boy?"askedInfadoos;"whotoldtheetospeak?" 

           "Listen,Infadoos,"wastheanswer,"andIwilltelltheeastory. YearsagothekingImotuwaskilledinthiscountryandhiswifefledwiththeboyIgnosi.Isitnotso?" 

           "Itisso." 

           "Itwassaidthatthewomanandhersondieduponthemountains.Isitnotso?" 

           "Itisevenso." 

           "Well,itcametopassthatthemotherandtheboyIgnosididnotdie. Theycrossedthemountainsandwereledbyatribeofwanderingdesertmenacrossthesandsbeyond,tillatlasttheycametowaterandgrassandtreesagain." 

           "Howknowestthouthis?" 

           "Listen.Theytravelledonandon,manymonths’journey,tilltheyreachedalandwhereapeoplecalledtheAmazulu,whoalsoareoftheKukuanastock,livebywar,andwiththemtheytarriedmanyyears,tillatlengththemotherdied. ThenthesonIgnosibecameawandereragain,andjourneyedintoalandofwonders,wherewhitepeoplelive,andformanymoreyearshelearnedthewisdomofthewhitepeople." 

           "Itisaprettystory,"saidInfadoosincredulously. 

           "Foryearshelivedthereworkingasaservantandasoldier,butholdinginhisheartallthathismotherhadtoldhimofhisownplace, andcastingaboutinhismindtofindhowhemightjourneythithertoseehispeopleandhisfather’shousebeforehedied. Forlongyearshelivedandwaited,andatlastthetimecame,asitevercomestohimwhocanwaitforit,andhemetsomewhitemenwhowouldseekthisunknownland,andjoinedhimselftothem.