green mansions-第12章
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chest。
It was simply a concert of howling monkeys that had so terrified me! But my extreme fear was not strange in the circumstances; since everything that had led up to the displaythe gloom and silence; the period of suspense; and my heated imaginationhad raised my mind to the highest degree of excitement and expectancy。 I had rightly conjectured; no doubt; that my unseen guide had led me to that spot for a purpose; and the purpose had been to set me in the midst of a congregation of araguatos to enable me for the first time fully to appreciate their unparalleled vocal powers。 I had always heard them at a distance; here they were gathered in scores; possibly hundredsthe whole araguato population of the forest; I should thinkclose to me; and it may give some faint conception of the tremendous power and awful character of the sound thus produced by their combined voices when I say that this animalmiscalled 〃howler〃 in Englishwould outroar the mightiest lion that ever woke the echoes of an African wilderness。
This roaring concert; which lasted three or four minutes; having ended; I lingered a few minutes longer on the spot; and not hearing the voice again; went back to the edge of the wood; and then started on my way back to the village。
CHAPTER IV
Perhaps I was not capable of thinking quite coherently on what had just happened until I was once more fairly outside of the forest shadowsout in that clear open daylight; where things seem what they are; and imagination; like a juggler detected and laughed at; hastily takes itself out of the way。 As I walked homewards I paused midway on the barren ridge to gaze back on the scene I had left; and then the recent adventure began to take a semi…ludicrous aspect in my mind。 All that circumstance of preparation; that mysterious prelude to something unheard of; unimaginable; surpassing all fables ancient and modern; and all tragediesto end at last in a concert of howling monkeys! Certainly the concert was very grandindeed; one of the most astounding in nature…but stillI sat down on a stone and laughed freely。
The sun was sinking behind the forest; its broad red disk still showing through the topmost leaves; and the higher part of the foliage was of a luminous green; like green flame; throwing off flakes of quivering; fiery light; but lower down the trees were in profound shadow。
I felt very light…hearted while I gazed on this scene; for how pleasant it was just now to think of the strange experience I had passed throughto think that I had come safely out of it; that no human eye had witnessed my weakness; and that the mystery existed still to fascinate me! For; ludicrous as the denouement now looked; the cause of all; the voice itself; was a thing to marvel at more than ever。 That it proceeded from an intelligent being I was firmly convinced; and although too materialistic in my way of thinking to admit for a moment that it was a supernatural being; I still felt that there was something more than I had at first imagined in Kua…ko's speech about a daughter of the Didi。 That the Indians knew a great deal about the mysterious voice; and had held it in great fear; seemed evident。 But they were savages; with ways that were not mine; and however friendly they might be towards one of a superior race; there was always in their relations with him a low cunning; prompted partly by suspicion; underlying their words and actions。 For the white man to put himself mentally on their level is not more impossible than for these aborigines to be perfectly open; as children are; towards the white。 Whatever subject the stranger within their gates exhibits an interest in; that they will be reticent about; and their reticence; which conceals itself under easily invented lies or an affected stupidity; invariably increases with his desire for information。 It was plain to them that some very unusual interest took me to the wood; consequently I could not expect that they would tell me anything they might know to enlighten me about the matter; and I concluded that Kua…ko's words about the daughter of the Didi; and what she would do if he blew an arrow at a bird; had accidentally escaped him in a moment of excitement。 Nothing; therefore; was to be gained by questioning them; or; at all events; by telling them how much the subject attracted me。 And I had nothing to fear; my independent investigations had made this much clear to me; the voice might proceed from a very frolicsome and tricksy creature; full of wild fantastic humours; but nothing worse。 It was friendly to me; I felt sure; at the same time it might not be friendly towards the Indians; for; on that day; it had made itself heard only after my companion had taken flight; and it had then seemed incensed against me; possibly because the savage had been in my company。
That was the result of my reflections on the day's events when I returned to my entertainer's roof and sat down among my friends to refresh myself with stewed fowl and fish from the household pot; into which a hospitable woman invited me with a gesture to dip my fingers。
Kua…ko was lying in his hammock; smoking; I thinkcertainly not reading。 When I entered he lifted his head and stared at me; probably surprised to see me alive; unharmed; and in a placid temper。 I laughed at the look; and; somewhat disconcerted; he dropped his head down again。 After a minute or two I took the metal match…box and tossed it on to his breast。 He clutched it and; starting up; stared at me in the utmost astonishment。 He could scarcely believe his good fortune; for he had failed to carry out his part of the compact and had resigned himself to the loss of the coveted prize。 Jumping down to the floor; he held up the box triumphantly; his joy overcoming the habitual stolid look; while all the others gathered about him; each trying to get the box into his own hands to admire it again; notwithstanding that they had all seen it a dozen times before。 But it was Kua…ko's now and not the stranger's; and therefore more nearly their own than formerly; and must look different; more beautiful; with a brighter polish on the metal。 And that wonderful enamelled cock on the lidfigured in Paris probably; but just like a cock in Guayana; the pet bird which they no more think of killing and eating than we do our purring pussies and lemon…coloured canariesmust now look more strikingly valiant and cock…like than ever; with its crimson comb and wattles; burnished red hackles; and dark green arching tail…plumes。 But Kua…ko; while willing enough to have it admired and praised; would not let it out of his hands; and told them pompously that it was not theirs for them to handle; but hisKua…ko'sfor all time; that he had won it by accompanying mevalorous man that he was!to that evil wood into which theytimid; inferior creatures that they were!would never have ventured to set foot。 I am not translating his words; but that was what he gave them to understand pretty plainly; to my great amusement。
After the excitement was over; Runi; who had maintained a dignified calm; made some roundabout remarks; apparently with the object of eliciting an account of what I had seen and heard in the forest of evil fame。 I replied carelessly that I had seen a great many birds and monkeysmonkeys so tame that I might have procured one if I had had a blow…pipe; in spite of my never having practiced shooting with that weapon。
It interested them to hear about the abundance and tameness of the monkeys; although it was scarcely news; but how tame they must have been when I; the stranger not to the manner bornnot naked; brown…skinned; lynx…eyed; and noiseless as an owl in his movementshad yet been able to look closely at them! Runi only remarked; apropos of what I had told him; that they could not go there to hunt; then he asked me if I feared nothing。
〃Nothing;〃 I replied carelessly。 〃The things you fear hurt not the white man and are no more than this to me;〃 saying which I took up a little white wood…ash in my hand and blew it away with my breath。 〃And against other enemies I have this;〃 I added; touching my revolver。 A brave speech; just after that araguato episode; but I did not make it without blushingmentally。