green mansions-第5节
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dering how to get to that rich district； unknown to civilized men。 The Indians gravely shook their heads when I tried to persuade them to take me。 They were far enough from the Orinoco； and Parahuari was ten； perhaps fifteen； days' journey further ona country unknown to them； where they had no relations。
In spite of difficulties and delays； however； and not without pain and some perilous adventures； I succeeded at last in reaching the upper Orinoco； and； eventually； in crossing to the other side。 With my life in my hand I struggled on westward through an unknown difficult country； from Indian village to village； where at any moment I might have been murdered with impunity for the sake of my few belongings。 It is hard for me to speak a good word for the Guayana savages； but I must now say this of them； that they not only did me no harm when I was at their mercy during this long journey； but they gave me shelter in their villages； and fed me when I was hungry； and helped me on my way when I could make no return。 You must not； however； run away with the idea that there is any sweetness in their disposition； any humane or benevolent instincts such as are found among the civilized nations： far from it。 I regard them now； and； fortunately for me； I regarded them then； when； as I have said； I was at their mercy； as beasts of prey； plus a cunning or low kind of intelligence vastly greater than that of the brute； and； for only morality； that respect for the rights of other members of the same family； or tribe； without which even the rudest communities cannot hold together。 How； then； could I do this thing； and dwell and travel freely； without receiving harm； among tribes that have no peace with and no kindly feelings towards the stranger； in a district where the white man is rarely or never seen？ Because I knew them so well。 Without that knowledge； always available； and an extreme facility in acquiring new dialects； which had increased by practice until it was almost like intuition； I should have fared badly after leaving the Maquiritari tribe。 As it was； I had two or three very narrow escapes。
To return from this digression。 I looked at last on the famous Parahuari mountains； which； I was greatly surprised to find； were after all nothing but hills； and not very high ones。 This； however； did not impress me。 The very fact that Parahuari possessed no imposing feature in its scenery seemed rather to prove that it must be rich in gold： how else could its name and the fame of its treasures be familiar to people dwelling so far away as the Cunucumana？
But there was no gold。 I searched through the whole range； which was about seven leagues long； and visited the villages； where I talked much with the Indians； interrogating them； and they had no necklets of gold； nor gold in any form； nor had they ever heard of its presence in Parahuari or in any other place known to them。
The very last village where I spoke on the subject of my quest； albeit now without hope； was about a league from the western extremity of the range； in the midst of a high broken country of forest and savannah and many swift streams； near one of these； called the Curicay； the village stood； among low scattered trees… …a large building； in which all the people； numbering eighteen； passed most of their time when not hunting； with two smaller buildings attached to it。 The head； or chief； Runi by name； was about fifty years old； a taciturn； finely formed； and somewhat dignified savage； who was either of a sullen disposition or not well pleased at the intrusion of a white man。 And for a time I made no attempt to conciliate him。 What profit was there in it at all？ Even that light mask； which I had worn so long and with such good effect； incommoded me now： I would cast it aside and be myselfsilent and sullen as my barbarous host。 If any malignant purpose was taking form in his mind； let it； and let him do his worst； for when failure first stares a man in the face； it has so dark and repellent a look that not anything that can be added can make him more miserable； nor has he any apprehension。 For weeks I had been searching with eager； feverish eyes in every village； in every rocky crevice； in every noisy mountain streamlet； for the glittering yellow dust I had travelled so far to find。 And now all my beautiful dreamsall the pleasure and power to behad vanished like a mere mirage on the savannah at noon。
It was a day of despair which I spent in this place； sitting all day indoors； for it was raining hard； immersed in my own gloomy thoughts； pretending to doze in my seat； and out of the narrow slits of my half…closed eyes seeing the others； also sitting or moving about； like shadows or people in a dream； and I cared nothing about them； and wished not to seem friendly； even for the sake of the food they might offer me by and by。
Towards evening the rain ceased； and rising up I went out a short distance to the neighbouring stream； where I sat on a stone and； casting off my sandals； raved my bruised feet in the cool running water。 The western half of the sky was blue again with that tender lucid blue seen after rain； but the leaves still glittered with water； and the wet trunks looked almost black under the green foliage。 The rare loveliness of the scene touched and lightened my heart。 Away back in the east the hills of Parahuari； with the level sun full on them； loomed with a strange glory against the grey rainy clouds drawing off on that side； and their new mystic beauty almost made me forget how these same hills had wearied； and hurt； and mocked me。 On that side； also to the north and south； there was open forest； but to the west a different prospect met the eye。 Beyond the stream and the strip of verdure that fringed it； and the few scattered dwarf trees growing near its banks； spread a brown savannah sloping upwards to a long； low； rocky ridge； beyond which rose a great solitary hill； or rather mountain； conical in form； and clothed in forest almost to the summit。 This was the mountain Ytaioa； the chief landmark in that district。 As the sun went down over the ridge； beyond the savannah； the whole western sky changed to a delicate rose colour that had the appearance of rose…coloured smoke blown there by some far off…wind； and left suspendeda thin； brilliant veil showing through it the distant sky beyond； blue and ethereal。 Flocks of birds； a kind of troupial； were flying past me overhead； flock succeeding flock； on their way to their roosting…place； uttering as they flew a clear； bell…like chirp； and there was something ethereal too in those drops of melodious sound； which fell into my heart like raindrops falling into a pool to mix their fresh heavenly water with the water of earth。
Doubtless into the turbid tarn of my heart some sacred drops had fallenfrom the passing birds； from that crimson disk which had now dropped below the horizon； the darkening hills； the rose and blue of infinite heaven； from the whole visible circle； and I felt purified and had a strange sense and apprehension of a secret innocence and spirituality in naturea prescience of some bourn； incalculably distant perhaps； to which we are all moving； of a time when the heavenly rain shall have washed us clean from all spot and blemish。 This unexpected peace which I had found now seemed to me of infinitely greater value than that yellow metal I had missed finding； with all its possibilities。 My wish now was to rest for a season at this spot； so remote and lovely and peaceful； where I had experienced such unusual feelings and such a blessed disillusionment。
This was the end of my second period in Guayana： the first had been filled with that dream of a book to win me fame in my country； perhaps even in Europe； the second； from the time of leaving the Queneveta mountains； with the dream of boundless wealththe old dream of gold in this region that has drawn so many minds since the days of Francisco Pizarro。 But to remain I must propitiate Runi； sitting silent with gloomy brows over there indoors； and he did not appear to me like one that might be won with words； however flattering。 It was clear to me that the time had come to part with my one remaining valuable trinketthe tinder…box of chased silver。
I returned to the house and； going in； seated myself on a log by the fire； just opposite to my grim host； who was smoking and appeared not to have moved since I left him。 I made myself a cigarette； then drew out the tinder…box； with its flint and steel attached to it by means of two small silver chains。 His eyes brightened a little as they curiously watched my movements； and he pointed without speaking to the glowing coals of fire at my feet。 I shook my head； and striking the steel； sent out a brilliant spray of sparks； then blew on the tinder and lit my cigarette。
This done； instead of returning the box to my pocket I passed the chain through the buttonhole of my cloak and let it dangle on my breast as an ornament。 When the cigarette was smoked； I cleared my throat in the orthodox manner and fixed my eyes on Runi； who； on his part； made a slight movement to indicate that he was ready to listen to what I had to say。
My speech was long； lasting at least half an hour； de
