Копи царя Соломона

           Justbelowourencampmentflowedalittlestream,onthefarthersideofwhichisastonyslope,thesamedownwhich,twentyyearsbefore,IhadseenpoorSilvestrecreepingbackafterhisattempttoreachSolomon’sMines, andbeyondthatslopebeginsthewaterlessdesert,coveredwithaspeciesofkarooshrub. 

           Itwaseveningwhenwepitchedourcamp,andthegreatballofthesunwassinkingintothedesert,sendinggloriousraysofmany-colouredlightflyingalloveritsvastexpanse. LeavingGoodtosuperintendthearrangementofourlittlecamp,ItookSirHenrywithme,andwalkingtothetopoftheslopeopposite,wegazedacrossthedesert. Theairwasveryclear,andfar,farawayIcoulddistinguishthefaintblueoutlines,hereandtherecappedwithwhite,oftheSulimanBerg. 

           "There,"Isaid,"thereisthewallroundSolomon’sMines,butGodknowsifweshalleverclimbit." 

           "Mybrothershouldbethere,andifheis,Ishallreachhimsomehow,"saidSirHenry,inthattoneofquietconfidencewhichmarkedtheman. 

           "Ihopeso,"Ianswered,andturnedtogobacktothecamp,whenIsawthatwewerenotalone. Behindus,alsogazingearnestlytowardsthefar-offmountains,stoodthegreatKafirUmbopa. 

           TheZuluspokewhenhesawthatIhadobservedhim,addressingSirHenry,towhomhehadattachedhimself. 

           "Isittothatlandthatthouwouldstjourney,Incubu?"(anativewordmeaning,Ibelieve,anelephant,andthenamegiventoSirHenrybytheKafirs),hesaid,pointingtowardsthemountainwithhisbroadassegai.