Копи царя Соломона
Solomon’s Treasure Chamber
Itookoutamatch,ofwhichwehadstillafewinabox,andlitarushwick,andthenlookedforthedoorway,buttherewasnothingbeforeusexceptthesolidrock. Gagoolgrinned. "Thewayisthere,mylords.Ha!ha!ha!"
"Donotjestwithus,"Isaidsternly.
"Ijestnot,mylords.See!"andshepointedattherock.
Asshedidso,onholdingupthelampweperceivedthatamassofstonewasrisingslowlyfromthefloorandvanishingintotherockabove,wheredoubtlessthereisacavitypreparedtoreceiveit. Themasswasofthewidthofagood-sizeddoor,abouttenfeethighandnotlessthanfivefeetthick.Itmusthaveweighedatleasttwentyorthirtytons, andwasclearlymoveduponsomesimplebalanceprincipleofcounter-weights,probablythesameasthatbywhichtheopeningandshuttingofanordinarymodernwindowisarranged. Howtheprinciplewassetinmotion,ofcoursenoneofussaw;Gagoolwascarefultoavoidthis; butIhavelittledoubtthattherewassomeverysimplelever,whichwasmovedeversolittlebypressureatasecretspot,therebythrowingadditionalweightontothehiddencounter-balances,andcausingthemonolithtobeliftedfromtheground.
Veryslowlyandgentlythegreatstoneraiseditself,tillatlastithadvanishedaltogether,andadarkholepresenteditselftousintheplacewhichthedoorhadfilled.
Ourexcitementwassointense,aswesawthewaytoSolomon’streasurechamberthrownopenatlast,thatIforonebegantotrembleandshake.
