登陆注册
20413600000028

第28章 SOLOMON'S ROAD(5)

"Yes,"I went on,"we do,indeed;"and I again smiled benignly as I uttered that amazing lie."We come to stay with you a little while,and bless you by our sojourn.Ye will see,O friends,that I have prepared myself by learning your language.""It is so,it is so,"said the chorus."Only,my lord,"put in the old gentleman,"thou hast learned it very badly."I cast an indignant glance at him and he quailed.

"Now,friends,"I continued,"ye might think that after so long a journey we should find it in our hearts to avenge such a reception,mayhap to strike cold in death the impious hand that -that,in short -threw a knife at the head of him whose teeth come and go.""Spare him,my lords,"said the old man,in supplication;"he is the king's son,and I am his uncle.If anything befalls him his blood will be required at my hands.""Yes,that is certainly so,"put in the young man with great emphasis.

"You may perhaps doubt our power to avenge,"I went on,heedless of this by-play."Stay,I will show you.Here,you dog and slave"(addressing Umbopa in a savage tone),"give me the magic tube that speaks;"and I tipped a wink towards my express rifle.

Umbopa rose to the occasion,and with something as nearly resembling a grin as I have ever seen on his dignified face,handed me the rifle.

"It is here,O lord of lords,"he said,with a deep obeisance.

Now,just before I asked for the rifle I had perceived a little klipspringer antelope standing on a mass of rock about seventy yards away,and determined to risk a shot at it.

"Ye see that buck,"I said,pointing the animal out to the party before me."Tell me,is it possible for man,born of woman,to kill it from here with a noise?""It is not possible,my lord,"answered the old man.

"Yet shall I kill it,"I said,quietly.

The old man smiled."That my lord cannot do,"he said.

I raised the rifle,and covered the buck.It was a small animal,and one which one might well be excused for missing,but I knew that it would not do to miss.

I drew a deep breath,and slowly pressed on the trigger.The buck stood still as stone.

"Bang!thud!"The buck sprang into the air and fell on the rock dead as a door-nail.

A groan of terror burst from the group before us.

"If ye want meat,"I remarked,coolly,"go fetch that buck."The old man made a sign and one of his followers departed,and presently returned bearing the klipspringer.I noticed,with satisfaction,that I had hit it fairly behind the shoulder.They gathered round the poor creature's body,gazing at the bullet-hole in consternation.

"Ye see,"I said,"I do not speak empty words."There was no answer.

"If ye yet doubt our power,"I went on,"let one of ye go stand upon that rock,that I may make him as this buck."None of them seemed at all inclined to take the hint,till at last the king's son spoke.

"It is well said.Do thou,my uncle,go stand upon the rock.It is but a buck that the magic has killed.Surely it cannot kill a man."The old gentleman did not take the suggestion in good part.Indeed,he seemed hurt.

"No!no!"he ejaculated,hastily;"my old eyes have seen enough.

These are wizards,indeed.Let us bring them to the king.Yet if any should wish a further proof,let him stand upon the rock,that the magic tube may speak with him."There was a most general and hasty expression of dissent.

同类推荐
  • 穆天子传

    穆天子传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 交州记

    交州记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佐杂谱

    佐杂谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 太上五星七元空常诀

    太上五星七元空常诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说摩尼罗亶经

    佛说摩尼罗亶经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 时光未老

    时光未老

    西柚的生命中有无数个过客,但她独独看中了他,却也说始终放不下。三年光阴中。过客还是过客,该擦肩而过的还是过去了。她说,我们能天长地久吗?他说,一定可以Iloveyoubutimissyou.----------------------------写给失恋的故事
  • 三国之江东霸王

    三国之江东霸王

    何为王道?就是对手不乖,从他身上碾过。何为霸道?就算乖,也得碾过。何为天道?亲,今天你该被碾了。何为帝道?你不想被碾,也不得不被碾!王道以德服人,霸道以力服人,王霸兼用,敬天治人。现代人穿越到三国小霸王孙策身上,用霸道和王道能否在这乱世之中成就帝道。敬请期待。
  • 六界纷乱

    六界纷乱

    六界,分为仙界,魔界,冥界,天界,人界,妖界。在这纷乱的六界中,高手层出不穷,谁!是最强的王者呢。
  • 圣图证道

    圣图证道

    先争天下,再霸天宫。助上古神器重生,挡轮回之子灭世。持圣图以证大道,凭仁心系天下苍生。天下第一高手丁叶,手握上古圣图,开启传奇人生。
  • 沐浴的朝阳

    沐浴的朝阳

    后奕帆是一名初入高中的学生,他有一个比他小几个月的小叔叔叫后健勋,他们在一个大家庭中长大,虽然性格上截然不同,但他们还是融洽的相处。可是突然有一天项婕媱的出现打乱了两个人的生活,就在高中毕业的那天,后健勋躺在血泊里嘴里还依旧呢喃着婕媱的名字,而后奕帆在那以后,便选择出国,多年以后在T市的商场里遇到项婕媱,却意外的发现她的身旁出现了另一个健硕的身影。
  • 表姐带我抓鬼

    表姐带我抓鬼

    一个名不见经传的小人物跟着表姐走上了捉鬼之路。
  • Hunting Sketches

    Hunting Sketches

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三国志评话

    三国志评话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大方广佛华严经疏

    大方广佛华严经疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 娘子贵姓

    娘子贵姓

    一不小心玩穿越,她竟成待嫁美娇娘!听说相公貌比潘安,这边她心里那个喜滋滋。可外面却炸开了锅!神马?男人竟然敢逃婚?她掀起盖头往外冲!于是,千里追夫记,火热进行中!