green mansions-第14节
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s copper…coloured little drab of the wilderness he proposed to bestow in marriage on me！ Anxious to pump him； I managed to control my muscles and asked him what authority hea young nobody； who had not yet risen to the dignity of buying a wife for himselfcould have to dispose of a sister in this offhand way？ He replied that there would be no difficulty： that Runi would give his consent； as would also Otawinki； Piake； and other relations； and last； and LEAST； according to the matrimonial customs of these latitudes； Oalava herself would be ready to bestow her personqueyou； worn figleaf…wise； necklace of accouri teeth； and allon so worthy a suitor as myself。 Finally； to make the prospect still more inviting； he added that it would not be necessary for me to subject myself to any voluntary tortures to prove myself a man and fitted to enter into the purgatorial state of matrimony。 He was a great deal too considerate； I said； and； with all the gravity I could command； asked him what kind of torture he would recommend。 For meso valorous a person〃no torture；〃 he answered magnanimously。 But heKua…kohad made up his mind as to the form of torture he meant to inflict some day on his own person。 He would prepare a large sack and into it put fire…ants〃As many as that！〃 he exclaimed triumphantly； stooping and filling his two hands with loose sand。 He would put them in the sack； and then get into it himself naked； and tie it tightly round his neck； so as to show to all spectators that the hellish pain of innumerable venomous stings in his flesh could be endured without a groan and with an unmoved countenance。 The poor youth had not an original mind； since this was one of the commonest forms of self…torture among the Guayana tribes。 But the sudden wonderful animation with which he spoke of it； the fiendish joy that illumined his usually stolid countenance； sent a sudden disgust and horror through me。 But what a strange inverted kind of fiendishness is this； which delights at the anticipation of torture inflicted on oneself and not on an enemy！ And towards others these savages are mild and peaceable！ No； I could not believe in their mildness； that was only on the surface； when nothing occurred to rouse their savage； cruel instincts。 I could have laughed at the whole matter； but the exulting look on my companion's face had made me sick of the subject； and I wished not to talk any more about it。
But he would talk stillthis fellow whose words； as a rule； I had to take out of his mouth with a fork； as we say； and still on the same subject； he said that not one person in the village would expect to see me torture myself； that after what I would do for them allafter delivering them from a great evilnothing further would be expected of me。
I asked him to explain his meaning； for it now began to appear plain that in everything he had said he had been leading up to some very important matter。 It would； of course； have been a great mistake to suppose that my savage was offering me a blow…pipe and a marketable virgin sister from purely disinterested motives。
In reply he went back to that still unforgotten joke about my being able eventually to hit a bird as big as a small woman with an arrow。 Out of it all came； when he went on to ask me if that mysterious girl I had seen in the wood was not of a size to suit me as a target when I had got my hand in with a little more practice。 That was the great work I was asked to do for themthat shy； mysterious girl with the melodious wild…bird voice was the evil being I was asked to slay with poisoned arrows！ This was why he now wished me to go often to the wood； to become more and more familiar with her haunts and habits； to overcome all shyness and suspicion in her； and at the proper moment； when it would be impossible to miss my mark； to plant the fatal arrow！ The disgust he had inspired in me before； when gloating over anticipated tortures； was a weak and transient feeling to what I now experienced。 I turned on him in a sudden transport of rage； and in a moment would have shattered on his head the blow…pipe I was carrying in my hand； but his astonished look as he turned to face me made me pause and prevented me from committing so fatal an indiscretion。 I could only grind my teeth and struggle to overcome an almost overpowering hatred and wrath。 Finally I flung the tube down and bade him take it； telling him that I would not touch it again if he offered me all the sisters of all the savages in Guayana for wives。
He continued gazing at me mute with astonishment； and prudence suggested that it would be best to conceal as far as possible the violent animosity I had conceived against him。 I asked him somewhat scornfully if he believed that I should ever be able to hit anythingbird or human beingwith an arrow。 〃No；〃 I almost shouted； so as to give vent to my feelings in some way； and drawing my revolver； 〃this is the white man's weapon； but he kills men with itmen who attempt to kill or injure himbut neither with this nor any other weapon does he murder innocent young girls treacherously。〃 After that we went on in silence for some time； at length he said that the being I had seen in the wood and was not afraid of was no innocent young girl； but a daughter of the Didi； an evil being； and that so long as she continued to inhabit the wood they could not go there to hunt； and even in other woods they constantly went in fear of meeting her。 Too much disgusted to talk with him； I went on in silence； and when we reached the stream near the village； I threw off my clothes and plunged into the water to cool my anger before going in to the others。
CHAPTER VI
Thinking about the forest girl while lying awake that night； I came to the conclusion that I had made it sufficiently plain to her how little her capricious behaviour had been relished； and had therefore no need to punish myself more by keeping any longer out of my beloved green mansions。 Accordingly； next day； after the heavy rain that fell during the morning hours had ceased； I set forth about noon to visit the wood。 Overhead the sky was clear again； but there was no motion in the heavy sultry atmosphere； while dark blue masses of banked…up clouds on the western horizon threatened a fresh downpour later in the day。 My mind was； however； now too greatly excited at the prospect of a possible encounter with the forest nymph to allow me to pay any heed to these ominous signs。
I had passed through the first strip of wood and was in the succeeding stony sterile space when a gleam of brilliant colour close by on the ground caught my sight。 It was a snake lying on the bare earth； had I kept on without noticing it； I should most probably have trodden upon or dangerously near it。 Viewing it closely； I found that it was a coral snake； famed as much for its beauty and singularity as for its deadly character。 It was about three feet long； and very slim； its ground colour a brilliant vermilion； with broad jet…black rings at equal distances round its body； each black ring or band divided by a narrow yellow strip in the middle。 The symmetrical pattern and vividly contrasted colours would have given it the appearance of an artificial snake made by some fanciful artist； but for the gleam of life in its bright coils。 Its fixed eyes； too； were living gems； and from the point of its dangerous arrowy head the glistening tongue flickered ceaselessly as I stood a few yards away regarding it。
〃I admire you greatly； Sir Serpent；〃 I said； or thought； 〃but it is dangerous； say the military authorities； to leave an enemy or possible enemy in the rear； the person who does such a thing must be either a bad strategist or a genius； and I am neither。〃
Retreating a few paces； I found and picked up a stone about as big as a man's hand and hurled it at the dangerous…looking head with the intention of crushing it； but the stone hit upon the rocky ground a little on one side of the mark and； being soft； flew into a hundred small fragments。 This roused the creature's anger； and in a moment with raised head he was gliding swiftly towards me。 Again I retreated； not so slowly on this occasion； and finding another stone； I raised and was about to launch it when a sharp； ringing cry issued from the bushes growing near； and； quickly following the sound； forth stepped the forest girl； no longer elusive and shy； vaguely seen in the shadowy wood； but boldly challenging attention； exposed to the full power of the meridian sun； which made her appear luminous and rich in colour beyond example。 Seeing her thus； all those emotions of fear and abhorrence invariably excited in us by the sight of an active venomous serpent in our path vanished instantly from my mind： I could now only feel astonishment and admiration et the brilliant being as she advanced with swift； easy； undulating motion towards me； or rather towards the serpent； which was now between us； moving more and more slowly as she came nearer。 The cause of this sudden wonderful boldness； so unlike her former habit； was unmistakable。 She had been watching my approach from some hiding…place among the bushes； ready no doubt to lead me a dance through the wood with her mocking voice； as on previous occasions； when m
