green mansions-第33节
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forest with their cries； and so their long hunger was satisfied； and the children grew sleek； and played and laughed in the sunshine； and the wife； no longer brooding over the empty pot； wove a hammock of silk grass； decorated with blue…and…scarlet feathers of the macaw； and in that new hammock the Indian rested long from his labours； smoking endless cigars。
When I at last concluded with a loud note of joy； a long； involuntary suspiration in the darkening room told me that I had been listened to with profound interest； and； although no word was spoken； though I was still a stranger and under a cloud； it was plain that the experiment had succeeded； and that for the present the danger was averted。
I went to my hammock and slept； but without undressing。 Next morning I missed my revolver and found that the holster containing it had been detached from the belt。 My knife had not been taken； possibly because it was under me in the hammock while I slept。 In answer to my inquiries I was informed that Runi had BORROWED my weapon to take it with him to the forest； where he had gone to hunt； and that he would return it to me in the evening。 I affected to take it in good part； although feeling secretly ill at ease。 Later in the day I came to the conclusion that Runi had had it in his mind to murder me； that I had softened him by singing that Indian story； and that by taking possession of the revolver he showed that he now only meant to keep me a prisoner。 Subsequent events confirmed me in this suspicion。 On his return he explained that he had gone out to seek for game in the woods； and； going without a companion； he had taken my revolver to preserve him from dangersmeaning those of a supernatural kind； and that he had had the misfortune to drop it among the bushes while in pursuit of some animal。 I answered hotly that he had not treated me like a friend； that if he had asked me for the weapon it would have been lent to him； that as he had taken it without permission he must pay me for it。 After some pondering he said that when he took it I was sleeping soundly； also； that it would not be lost； he would take me to the place where he had dropped it； when we could search together for it。
He was in appearance more friendly towards me now； even asking me to repeat my last evening's song； and so we had that performance all over again to everybody's satisfaction。 But when morning came he was not inclined to go to the woods： there was food enough in the house； and the pistol would not be hurt by lying where it had fallen a day longer。 Next day the same excuse； still I disguised my impatience and suspicion of him and waited； singing the ballad for the third time that evening。 Then I was conducted to a wood about a league and a half away and we hunted for the lost pistol among the bushes； I with little hope of finding it； while he attended to the bird voices and frequently asked me to stand or lie still when a chance of something offered。
The result of that wasted day was a determination on my part to escape from Runi as soon as possible； although at the risk of making a deadly enemy of him and of being compelled to go on that long journey to Riolama with no better weapon than a hunting…knife。 I had noticed； while appearing not to do so； that outside of the house I was followed or watched by one or other of the Indians； so that great circumspection was needed。 On the following day I attacked my host once more about the revolver； telling him with well…acted indignation that if not found it must be paid for。 I went so far as to give a list of the articles I should require； including a bow and arrows； zabatana； two spears； and other things which I need not specify； to set me up for life as a wild man in the woods of Guayana。 I was going to add a wife； but as I had already been offered one it did not appear to be necessary。 He seemed a little taken aback at the value I set upon my weapon； and promised to go and look for it again。 Then I begged that Kua…ko； in whose sharpness of sight I had great faith； might accompany us。 He consented； and named the next day but one for the expedition。 Very well； thought I； tomorrow their suspicion will be less； and my opportunity will come； then taking up my rude instrument； I gave them an old Spanish song：
Desde aquel doloroso momento；
but this kind of music had lost its charm for them； and I was asked to give them the ballad they understood so well； in which their interest seemed to increase with every repetition。 In spite of anxiety it amused me to see old Cla…cla regarding me fixedly with owlish eyes and lips moving。 My tale had no wonderful things in it； like hers of the olden time； which she told only to send her hearers to sleep。 Perhaps she had discovered by now that it was the strange honey of melody which made the coarse； common cassava bread of everyday life in my story so pleasant to the palate。 I was quite prepared to receive a proposal to give her music and singing lessons； and to bequeath a guitar to her in my last will and testament。 For； in spite of her hoary hair and million wrinkles； she； more than any other savage I had met with； seemed to have taken a draught from Ponce de Leon's undiscovered fountain of eternal youth。 Poor old witch！
The following day was the sixth of my absence from Rima； and one of intense anxiety to me； a feeling which I endeavoured to hide by playing with the children； fighting our old comic stick fights； and by strumming noisily on the guitar。 In the afternoon； when it was hottest； and all the men who happened to be indoors were lying in their hammocks； I asked Kua…ko to go with me to the stream to bathe。 He refusedI had counted on thatand earnestly advised me not to bathe in the pool I was accustomed to； as some little caribe fishes had made their appearance there and would be sure to attack me。 I laughed at his idle tale and； taking up my cloak； swung out of the door； whistling a lively air。 He knew that I always threw my cloak over my head and shoulders as a protection from the sun and stinging flies when coming out of the water； and so his suspicion was not aroused； and I was not followed。 The pool was about ten minutes' walk from the house； I arrived at it with palpitating heart； and going round to its end； where the stream was shallow； sat down to rest for a few moments and take a few sips of cool water dipped up in my palm。 Presently I rose； crossed the stream； and began running； keeping among the low trees near the bank until a dry gully； which extended for some distance across the savannah； was reached。 By following its course the distance to be covered would be considerably increased； but the shorter way would have exposed me to sight and made it more dangerous。 I had put forth too much speed at first； and in a short time my exertions； and the hot sun； together with my intense excitement； overcame me。 I dared not hope that my flight had not been observed； I imagined that the Indians； unencumbered by any heavy weight； were already close behind me； and ready to launch their deadly spears at my back。 With a sob of rage and despair I fell prostrate on my face in the dry bed of the stream； and for two or three minutes remained thus exhausted and unmanned； my heart throbbing so violently that my whole frame was shaken。 If my enemies had come on me then disposed to kill me； I could not have lifted a hand in defence of my life。 But minutes passed and they came not。 I rose and went on； at a fast walk now； and when the sheltering streamed ended； I stooped among the sere dwarfed shrubs scattered about here and there on its southern side； and now creeping and now running； with an occasional pause to rest and look back； I at last reached the dividing ridge at its southern extremity。 The rest of the way was over comparatively easy ground； inclining downwards； and with that glad green forest now full in sight； and hope growing stronger every minute in my breast； my knees ceased to tremble； and I ran on again； scarcely pausing until I had touched and lost myself in the welcome shadows。
CHAPTER XIV
Ah； that return to the forest where Rima dwelt； after so anxious day； when the declining sun shone hotly still； and the green woodland shadows were so grateful！ The coolness； the sense of security； allayed the fever and excitement I had suffered on the open savannah； I walked leisurely； pausing often to listen to some bird voice or to admire some rare insect or parasitic flower shining star…like in the shade。 There was a strangely delightful sensation in me。 I likened myself to a child that； startled at something it had seen while out playing in the sun； flies to its mother to feel her caressing hand on its cheek and forget its tremors。 And describing what I felt in that way； I was a little ashamed and laughed at myself； nevertheless the feeling was very sweet。 At that moment Mother and Nature seemed one and the same thing。 As I kept to the more open part of the wood； on its southernmost border； the red flame of the sinking sun was seen at intervals through the deep humid green of the higher foliage。 How every object it touched took from it a new wonderful glory！ At one spot； high up where the foliage was scanty； and slende
