green mansions-第12节
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This speech had a very unexpected and remarkable effect。 He stopped short in his walk； stared at me wildly； then grinned； and finally burst into a roar of laughter； which was no bad imitation of the howling monkey's performance； and smote his naked thighs with tremendous energy。 At length recovering himself； he asked whether a small woman was not the same as a small man； and being answered in the affirmative； went off into a second extravagant roar of laughter。
Thinking it was easy to tickle him while he continued in this mood； I began making any number of feeble jokesfeeble； but quite as good as the one which had provoked such outrageous merrimentfor it amused me to see him acting in this unusual way。 But they all failed of their effectthere was no hitting the bull's…eye a second time； he would only stare vacantly at me； then grunt like a peccarynot appreciativelyand walk on。 Still； at intervals he would go back to what I had said about hitting a very big bird； and roar again； as if this wonderful joke was not easily exhausted。
Again on the third day we were out together practicing at the birdsfrightening if not killing them； but before noon； finding that it was his intention to go to a distant spot where he expected to meet with larger game； I left him and returned to the village。 The blow…pipe practice had lost its novelty； and I did not care to go on all day and every day with it； more than that； I was anxious after so long an interval to pay a visit to my wood； as I began to call it； in the hope of hearing that mysterious melody which I had grown to love and to miss when even a single day passed without it。
CHAPTER V
After making a hasty meal at the house； I started； full of pleasing anticipations； for the wood； for how pleasant a place it was to be in！ What a wild beauty and fragrance and melodiousness it possessed above all forests； because of that mystery that drew me to it！ And it was mine； truly and absolutelyas much mine as any portion of earth's surface could belong to any manmine with all its products： the precious woods and fruits and fragrant gums that would never be trafficked away； its wild animals that man would never persecute； nor would any jealous savage dispute my ownership or pretend that it was part of his hunting…ground。 As I crossed the savannah I played with this fancy； but when I reached the ridgy eminence； to look down once more on my new domain； the fancy changed to a feeling so keen that it pierced to my heart and was like pain in its intensity； causing tears to rush to my eyes。 And caring not in that solitude to disguise my feelings from myself； and from the wide heaven that looked down and saw mefor this is the sweetest thing that solitude has for us； that we are free in it； and no convention holds usI dropped on my knees and kissed the stony ground； then casting up my eyes； thanked the Author of my being for the gift of that wild forest； those green mansions where I had found so great a happiness！
Elated with this strain of feeling； I reached the wood not long after noon； but no melodious voice gave me familiar and expected welcome； nor did my invisible companion make itself heard at all on that day； or； at all events； not in its usual bird…like warbling language。 But on this day I met with a curious little adventure and heard something very extraordinary； very mysterious； which I could not avoid connecting in my mind with the unseen warbler that so often followed me in my rambles。
It was an exceedingly bright day； without cloud； but windy； and finding myself in a rather open part of the wood； near its border； where the breeze could be felt； I sat down to rest on the lower part of a large branch； which was half broken； but still remained attached to the trunk of the tree； while resting its terminal twigs on the ground。 Just before me； where I sat； grew a low； wide…spreading plant； covered with broad； round； polished leaves； and the roundness； stiffness； and perfectly horizontal position of the upper leaves made them look like a collection of small platforms or round table…tops placed nearly on a level。 Through the leaves； to the height of a foot or more above them； a slender dead stem protruded； and from a twig at its summit depended a broken spider's web。 A minute dead leaf had become attached to one of the loose threads and threw its small but distinct shadow on the platform leaves below； and as it trembled and swayed in the current of air； the black spot trembled with it or flew swiftly over the bright green surfaces； and was seldom at rest。 Now； as I sat looking down on the leaves and the small dancing shadow； scarcely thinking of what I was looking at； I noticed a small spider； with a flat body and short legs； creep cautiously out on to the upper surface of a leaf。 Its pale red colour barred with velvet black first drew my attention to it； for it was beautiful to the eye； and presently I discovered that this was no web…spinning； sedentary spider； but a wandering hunter； that captured its prey； like a cat； by stealing on it concealed and making a rush or spring at the last。 The moving shadow had attracted it and； as the sequel showed； was mistaken for a fly running about over the leaves and flitting from leaf to leaf。 Now began a series of wonderful manoeuvres on the spider's part； with the object of circumventing the imaginary fly； which seemed specially designed to meet this special case； for certainly no insect had ever before behaved in quite so erratic a manner。 Each time the shadow flew past； the spider ran swiftly in the same direction； hiding itself under the leaves； always trying to get near without alarming its prey； and then the shadow would go round and round in a small circle； and some new strategic move on the part of the hunter would be called forth。 I became deeply interested in this curious scene； I began to wish that the shadow would remain quiet for a moment or two； so as to give the hunter a chance。 And at last I had my wish： the shadow was almost motionless； and the spider moving towards it； yet seeming not to move； and as it crept closer I fancied that I could almost see the little striped body quivering with excitement。 Then came the final scene： swift and straight as an arrow the hunter shot himself on to the fly…like shadow； then wiggled round and round； evidently trying to take hold of his prey with fangs and claws； and finding nothing under him； he raised the fore part of his body vertically； as if to stare about him in search of the delusive fly； but the action may have simply expressed astonishment。 At this moment I was just on the point of giving free and loud vent to the laughter which I had been holding in when； just behind me； as if from some person who had been watching the scene over my shoulder and was as much amused as myself at its termination； sounded a clear trill of merry laughter。 I started up and looked hastily around； but no living creature was there。 The mass of loose foliage I stared into was agitated； as if from a body having just pushed through it。 In a moment the leaves and fronds were motionless again； still； I could not be sure that a slight gust of wind had not shaken them。 But I was so convinced that I had heard close to me a real human laugh； or sound of some living creature that exactly simulated a laugh； that I carefully searched the ground about me； expecting to find a being of some kind。 But I found nothing； and going back to my seat on the hanging branch； I remained seated for a considerable time； at first only listening； then pondering on the mystery of that sweet trill of laughter； and finally I began to wonder whether I； like the spider that chased the shadow； had been deluded； and had seemed to hear a sound that was not a sound。
On the following day I was in the wood again； and after a two or three hours' ramble； during which I heard nothing； thinking it useless to haunt the known spots any longer； I turned southwards and penetrated into a denser part of the forest； where the undergrowth made progress difficult。 I was not afraid of losing myself； the sun above and my sense of direction； which was always good； would enable me to return to the starting…point。
In this direction I had been pushing resolutely on for over half an hour； finding it no easy matter to make my way without constantly deviating to this side or that from the course I wished to keep； when I came to a much more open spot。 The trees were smaller and scantier here； owing to the rocky nature of the ground； which sloped rather rapidly down； but it was moist and overgrown with mosses； ferns； creepers； and low shrubs； all of the liveliest green。 I could not see many yards ahead owing to the bushes and tall fern fronds； but presently I began to hear a low； continuous sound； which； when I had advanced twenty or thirty yards further； I made out to be the gurgling of running water； and at the same moment I made the discovery that my throat was parched and my palms tingling with heat。 I hurried on； promising myself a cool draught； when all at once； above the soft dashing and gurgling of the water； I caught yet another sounda low； warbling note； or succession of notes； which might have been emitted by a bird。 But it startled
