green mansions-第45节
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ce； and studied to show them a cheerful countenance。 But when alone； or in my hammock； hidden from their eyes； free to look into my own heart； then I was conscious that something new and strange had come into my life； that a new nature； black and implacable； had taken the place of the old。 And sometimes it was hard to conceal this fury that burnt in me； sometimes I felt an impulse to spring like a tiger on one of the Indians； to hold him fast by the throat until the secret I wished to learn was forced from his lips； then to dash his brains out against the stone。 But they were many； and there was no choice but to be cautious and patient if I wished to outwit them with a cunning superior to their own。
Three days after my arrival at the village； Kua…ko returned with his companion。 I greeted him with affected warmth； but was really pleased that he was back； believing that if the Indians knew anything of Rima he among them all would be most likely to tell it。
Kua…ko appeared to have brought some important news； which he discussed with Runi and the others； and on the following day I noticed that preparations for an expedition were in progress。 Spears and bows and arrows were got ready； but not blow…pipes； and I knew by this that the expedition would not be a hunting one。 Having discovered so much； also that only four men were going out； I called Kua…ko aside and begged him to let me go with them。 He seemed pleased at the proposal； and at once repeated it to Runi； who considered for a little and then consented。
By and by he said； touching his bow： 〃You cannot fight with our weapons； what will you do if we meet an enemy？〃
I smiled and returned that I would not run away。 All I wished to show him was that his enemies were my enemies； that I was ready to fight for my friend。
He was pleased at my words； and said no more and gave me no weapons。 Next morning； however； when we set out before daylight； I made the discovery that he was carrying my revolver fastened to his waist。 He had concealed it carefully under the one simple garment he wore； but it bulged slightly； and so the secret was betrayed。 I had never believed that he had lost it； and I was convinced that he took it now with the object of putting it into my hands at the last moment in case of meeting with an enemy。
From the village we travelled in a north…westerly direction； and before noon camped in a grove of dwarf trees； where we remained until the sun was low； then continued our walk through a rather barren country。 At night we camped again beside a small stream； only a few inches deep； and after a meal of smoked meat and parched maize prepared to sleep till dawn on the next day。
Sitting by the fire I resolved to make a first attempt to discover from Kua…ko anything concerning Rima which might be known to him。 Instead of lying down when the others did； I remained seated； my guardian also sittingno doubt waiting for me to lie down first。 Presently I moved nearer to him and began a conversation in a low voice； anxious not to rouse the attention of the other men。
〃Once you said that Oalava would be given to me for a wife；〃 I began。 〃Some day I shall want a wife。〃
He nodded approval； and remarked sententiously that the desire to possess a wife was common to all men。
〃What has been left to me？〃 I said despondingly and spreading out my hands。 〃My pistol gone； and did I not give Runi the tinder…box； and the little box with a cock painted on it to you？ I had no returnnot even the blow…pipe。 How； then； can I get me a wife？〃
He； like the othersdull…witted savage that he washad come to the belief that I was incapable of the cunning and duplicity they practiced。 I could not see a green parrot sitting silent and motionless amidst the green foliage as they could； 1 had not their preternatural keenness of sight； and； in like manner； to deceive with lies and false seeming was their faculty and not mine。 He fell readily into the trap。 My return to practical subjects pleased him。 He bade me hope that Oalava might yet be mine in spite of my poverty。 It was not always necessary to have things to get a wife： to be able to maintain her was enough； some day I would be like one of themselves； able to kill animals and catch fish。 Besides； did not Runi wish to keep me with them for other reasons？ But he could not keep me wifeless。 I could do much： I could sing and make music； I was brave and feared nothing； I could teach the children to fight。
He did not say； however； that I could teach anything to one of his years and attainments。
I protested that he gave me too much praise； that they were just as brave。 Did they not show a courage equal to mine by going every day to hunt in that wood which was inhabited by the daughter of the Didi？
I came to this subject with fear and trembling； but he took it quietly。 He shook his head； and then all at once began to tell me how they first came to go there to hunt。 He said that a few days after I had secretly disappeared； two men and a woman； returning home from a distant place where they had been on a visit to a relation； stopped at the village。 These travellers related that two days' journey from Ytaioa they had met three persons travelling in an opposite direction： an old man with a white beard； followed by two yellow dogs； a young man in a big cloak； and a strange…looking girl。 Thus it came to be known that I had left the wood with the old man and the daughter of the Didi。 It was great news to them； for they did not believe that we had any intention of returning； and at once they began to hunt in the wood； and went there every day； killing birds； monkeys； and other animals in numbers。
His words had begun to excite me greatly； but I studied to appear calm and only slightly interested； so as to draw him on to say more。
〃Then we returned；〃 I said at last。 〃But only two of us； and not together。 I left the old man on the road； and SHE left us in Riolama。 She went away from us into the mountainswho knows whither！〃
〃But she came back！〃 he returned； with a gleam of devilish satisfaction in his eyes that made the blood run cold in my veins。
It was hard to dissemble still； to tempt him to say something that would madden me！ 〃No； no；〃 I answered； after considering his words。 〃She feared to return； she went away to hide herself in the great mountains beyond Riolama。 She could not come back。〃
〃But she came back！〃 he persisted； with that triumphant gleam in his eyes once more。 Under my cloak my hand had clutched my knife…handle； but I strove hard against the fierce； almost maddening impulse to pluck it out and bury it； quick as lightning； in his accursed throat。
He continued： 〃Seven days before you returned we saw her in the wood。 We were always expecting； watching； always afraid； and when hunting we were three and four together。 On that day I and three others saw her。 It was in an open place； where the trees are big and wide apart。 We started up and chased her when she ran from us； but feared to shoot。 And in one moment she climbed up into a small tree； then； like a monkey； passed from its highest branches into a big tree。 We could not see her there； but she was there in the big tree； for there was no other tree nearno way of escape。 Three of us sat down to watch； and the other went back to the village。 He was long gone； we were just going to leave the tree； fearing that she would do us some injury； when he came back； and with him all the others； men； women； and children。 They brought axes and knives。 Then Runi said： 'Let no one shoot an arrow into the tree thinking to hit her； for the arrow would be caught in her hand and thrown back at him。 We must burn her in the tree； there is no way to kill her except by fire。' Then we went round and round looking up； but could see nothing； and someone said： 'She has escaped； flying like a bird from the tree'； but Runi answered that fire would show。 So we cut down the small tree and lopped the branches off and heaped them round the big trunk。 Then； at a distance； we cut down ten more small trees； and afterwards； further away； ten more； and then others； and piled them all round； tree after tree； until the pile reached as far from the trunk as that；〃 and here he pointed to a bush forty to fifty yards from where we sat。
The feeling with which I had listened to this recital had become intolerable。 The sweat ran from me in streams； I shivered like a person in a fit of ague； and clenched my teeth together to prevent them from rattling。 〃I must drink；〃 I said； cutting him short and rising to my feet。 He also rose； but did not follow me； when； with uncertain steps； I made my way to the waterside； which was ten or twelve yards away。 Lying prostrate on my chest； I took a long draught of clear cold water； and held my face for a few moments in the current。 It sent a chill through me； drying my wet skin； and bracing me for the concluding part of the hideous narrative。 Slowly I stepped back to the fireside and sat down again； while he resumed his old place at my side。
〃You burnt the tree down；〃 I said。 〃Finish telling me now and let me sleepmy eyes are heavy。〃
〃Yes。 While the men cut and brought trees； the women and children gathered dry s
