green mansions-第16节
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or me that that which no man had ever looked for or hoped to find existed here； that through that unfamiliar lustre of the wild life shone the spiritualizing light of mind that made us kin。
These thoughts passed swiftly through my brain as I stood feasting my sight on her bright； piquant face； while she on her part gazed back into my eyes； not only with fearless curiosity； but with a look of recognition and pleasure at the encounter so unmistakably friendly that； encouraged by it； I took her arm in my hand； moving at the same time a little nearer to her。 At that moment a swift； startled expression came into her eyes； she glanced down and up again into my face； her lips trembled and slightly parted as she murmured some sorrowful sounds in a tone so low as to be only just audible。
Thinking she had become alarmed and was on the point of escaping out of my hands； and fearing； above all things； to lose sight of her again so soon； I slipped my arm around her slender body to detain her； moving one foot at the same time to balance myself； and at that moment I felt a slight blow and a sharp burning sensation shoot into my leg； so sudden and intense that I dropped my arm； at the same time uttering a cry of pain； and recoiled one or two paces from her。 But she stirred not when I released her； her eyes followed my movements； then she glanced down at her feet。 I followed her look； and figure to yourself my horror when I saw there the serpent I had so completely forgotten； and which even that sting of sharp pain had not brought back to remembrance！ There it lay； a coil of its own thrown round one of her ankles； and its head； raised nearly a foot high； swaying slowly from side to side； while the swift forked tongue flickered continuously。 Thenonly thenI knew what had happened； and at the same time I understood the reason of that sudden look of alarm in her face； the murmuring sounds she had uttered； and the downward startled glance。 Her fears had been solely for my safety； and she had warned me！ Too late！ too late！ In moving I had trodden on or touched the serpent with my foot； and it had bitten me just above the ankle。 In a few moments I began to realize the horror of my position。 〃Must I die！ must I die！ Oh； my God； is there nothing that can save me？〃 I cried in my heart。
She was still standing motionless in the same place： her eyes wandered back from me to the snake； gradually its swaying head was lowered again； and the coil unwound from her ankle； then it began to move away； slowly at first； and with the head a little raised； then faster； and in the end it glided out of sight。 Gone！but it had left its venom in my bloodO cursed reptile！
Back from watching its retreat； my eyes returned to her face； now strangely clouded with trouble； her eyes dropped before mine； while the palms of her hands were pressed together； and the fingers clasped and unclasped alternately。 How different she seemed now； the brilliant face grown so pallid and vague…looking！ But not only because this tragic end to our meeting had pierced her with pain： that cloud in the west had grown up and now covered half the sky with vast lurid masses of vapour； blotting out the sun； and a great gloom had fallen on the earth。
That sudden twilight and a long roll of approaching thunder； reverberating from the hills； increased my anguish and desperation。 Death at that moment looked unutterably terrible。 The remembrance of all that made life dear pierced me to the coreall that nature was to me； all the pleasures of sense and intellect； the hopes I had cherishedall was revealed to me as by a flash of lightning。 Bitterest of all was the thought that I must now bid everlasting farewell to this beautiful being I had found in the solitude this lustrous daughter of the Didijust when I had won her from her shynessthat I must go away into the cursed blackness of death and never know the mystery of her life！ It was that which utterly unnerved me； and made my legs tremble under me； and brought great drops of sweat to my forehead； until I thought that the venom was already doing its swift； fatal work in my veins。
With uncertain steps I moved to a stone a yard or two away and sat down upon it。 As I did so the hope came to me that this girl； so intimate with nature； might know of some antidote to save me。 Touching my leg； and using other signs； I addressed her again in the Indian language。
〃The snake has bitten me；〃 I said。 〃What shall I do？ Is there no leaf； no root you know that would save me from death？ Help me！ help me！〃 I cried in despair。
My signs she probably understood if not my words； but she made no reply； and still she remained standing motionless； twisting and untwisting her fingers； and regarding me with a look of ineffable grief and compassion。
Alas！ It was vain to appeal to her： she knew what had happened； and what the result would most likely be； and pitied； but was powerless to help me。 Then it occurred to me that if I could reach the Indian village before the venom overpowered me something might be done to save me。 Oh； why had I tarried so long； losing so many precious minutes！ Large drops of rain were falling now； and the gloom was deeper； and the thunder almost continuous。 With a cry of anguish I started to my feet and was about to rush away towards the village when a dazzling flash of lightning made me pause for a moment。 When it vanished I turned a last look on the girl； and her face was deathly pale； and her hair looked blacker than night； and as she looked she stretched out her arms towards me and uttered a low； wailing cry。 〃Good…bye for ever！〃 I murmured； and turning once more from her； rushed away like one crazed into the wood。 But in my confusion I had probably taken the wrong direction； for instead of coming out in a few minutes into the open border of the forest； and on to the savannah； I found myself every moment getting deeper among the trees。 I stood still； perplexed； but could not shake off the conviction that I had started in the right direction。 Eventually I resolved to keep on for a hundred yards or so and then； if no opening appeared； to turn back and retrace my steps。 But this was no easy matter。 I soon became entangled in a dense undergrowth； which so confused me that at last I confessed despairingly to myself that for the first time in this wood I was hopelessly lost。 And in what terrible circumstances！ At intervals a flash of lightning would throw a vivid blue glare down into the interior of the wood and only serve to show that I had lost myself in a place where even at noon in cloudless weather progress would be most difficult； and now the light would only last a moment； to be followed by thick gloom； and I could only tear blindly on； bruising and lacerating my flesh at every step； falling again and again； only to struggle up and on again； now high above the surface； climbing over prostrate trees and branches； now plunged to my middle in a pool or torrent of water。
Hopelessutterly hopeless seemed all my mad efforts； and at each pause； when I would stand exhausted； gasping for breath； my throbbing heart almost suffocating me； a dull； continuous； teasing pain in my bitten leg served to remind me that I had but a little time left to existthat by delaying at first I had allowed my only chance of salvation to slip by。
How long a time I spent fighting my way through this dense black wood I know not； perhaps two or three hours； only to me the hours seemed like years of prolonged agony。 At last； all at once； I found that I was free of the close undergrowth and walking on level ground； but it was darker here darker than the darkest night； and at length； when the lightning came and flared down through the dense roof of foliage overhead； I discovered that I was in a spot that had a strange look； where the trees were very large and grew wide apart； and with no undergrowth to impede progress beneath them。 Here； recovering breath； I began to run； and after a while found that I had left the large trees behind me； and was now in a more open place； with small trees and bushes； and this made me hope for a while that I had at last reached the border of the forest。 But the hope proved vain； once more I had to force my way through dense undergrowth； and finally emerged on to a slope where it was open； and I could once more see for some distance around me by such light as came through the thick pall of clouds。 Trudging on to the summit of the slope； I saw that there was open savannah country beyond； and for a moment rejoiced that I had got free from the forest。 A few steps more； and I was standing on the very edge of a bank； a precipice not less than fifty feet deep。 I had never seen that bank before； and therefore knew that I could not be on the right side of the forest。 But now my only hope was to get completely away from the trees and then to look for the village； and I began following the bank in search of a descent。 No break occurred； and presently I was stopped by a dense thicket of bushes。 I was about to retrace my steps when I noticed that a tall slender tree growing at the foot of the precipice； its green top not more than a couple of yards below my feet； seemed to offer a means of escape。 Nerving
