Копи царя Соломона
We Abandon Hope
Ineverheardsuchyells;butitmighthavebeenamosquitobuzzingforalltheeffecttheyproduced.
Afterawhilehegaveitupandcamebackverythirsty,andhadtodrink. Thenwestoppedyelling,asitencroachedonthesupplyofwater.
Sowesatdownoncemoreagainstthechestsofuselessdiamondsinthatdreadfulinactionwhichwasoneofthehardestcircumstancesofourfate;andIamboundtosaythat,formypart,Igavewayindespair. LayingmyheadagainstSirHenry’sbroadshoulderIburstintotears; andIthinkthatIheardGoodgulpingawayontheotherside,andswearinghoarselyathimselffordoingso.
Ah,howgoodandbravethatgreatmanwas! Hadwebeentwofrightenedchildren,andheournurse,hecouldnothavetreatedusmoretenderly. Forgettinghisownshareofmiseries,hedidallhecouldtosootheourbrokennerves, tellingstoriesofmenwhohadbeeninsomewhatsimilarcircumstances,andmiraculouslyescaped; andwhenthesefailedtocheerus,pointingouthow,afterall,itwasonlyanticipatinganendwhichmustcometousall,thatitwouldsoonbeover,andthatdeathfromexhaustionwasamercifulone(whichisnottrue). Then,inadiffidentsortofway,asoncebeforeIhadheardhimdo,hesuggestedthatweshouldthrowourselvesonthemercyofahigherPower,whichformypartIdidwithgreatvigour.
Hisisabeautifulcharacter,veryquiet,butverystrong.
