green mansions-第13章
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brave speech； just after that araguato episode； but I did not make it without blushingmentally。
… He shook his head； and said it was a poor weapon against some enemies； alsotruly enoughthat it would procure no birds and monkeys for the stew…pot。
Next morning my friend Kua…ko； taking his zabatana； invited me to go out with him； and I consented with some misgivings； thinking he had overcome his superstitious fears and； inflamed by my account of the abundance of game in the forest； intended going there with me。 The previous day's experience had made me think that it would be better in the future to go there alone。 But I was giving the poor youth more credit than he deserved： it was far from his intention to face the terrible unknown again。 We went in a different direction； and tramped for hours through woods where birds were scarce and only of the smaller kinds。 Then my guide surprised me a second time by offering to teach me to use the zabatana。 This； then； was to be my reward for giving him the box！ I readily consented； and with the long weapon； awkward to carry； in my hand； and imitating the noiseless movements and cautious； watchful manner of my companion； I tried to imagine myself a simple Guayana savage； with no knowledge of that artificial social state to which I had been born； dependent on my skill and little roll of poison…darts for a livelihood。 By an effort of the will I emptied myself of my life experience and knowledgeor as much of it as possibleand thought only of the generations of my dead imaginary progenitors； who had ranged these woods back to the dim forgotten years before Columbus； and if the pleasure I had in the fancy was childish； it made the day pass quickly enough。 Kua…ko was constantly at my elbow to assist and give advice； and many an arrow I blew from the long tube； and hit no bird。 Heaven knows what I hit； for the arrows flew away on their wide and wild career to be seen no more； except a few which my keen…eyed comrade marked to their destination and managed to recover。 The result of our day's hunting was a couple of birds； which Kua…ko； not I； shot； and a small opossum his sharp eyes detected high up a tree lying coiled up on an old nest； over the side of which the animal had incautiously allowed his snaky tail to dangle。 The number of darts I wasted must have been a rather serious loss to him； but he did not seem troubled at it； and made no remark。
Next day； to my surprise； he volunteered to give me a second lesson； and we went out again。 On this occasion he had provided himself with a large bundle of darts； butwise man！they were not poisoned； and it therefore mattered little whether they were wasted or not。 I believe that on this day I made some little progress； at all events； my teacher remarked that before long I would be able to hit a bird。 This made me smile and answer that if he could place me within twenty yards of a bird not smaller than a small man I might manage to touch it with an arrow。
This speech had a very unexpected and remarkable effect。 He stopped short in his walk； stared at me wildly； then grinned； and finally burst into a roar of laughter； which was no bad imitation of the howling monkey's performance； and smote his naked thighs with tremendous energy。 At length recovering himself； he asked whether a small woman was not the same as a small man； and being answered in the affirmative； went off into a second extravagant roar of laughter。
Thinking it was easy to tickle him while he continued in this mood； I began making any number of feeble jokesfeeble； but quite as good as the one which had provoked such outrageous merrimentfor it amused me to see him acting in this unusual way。 But they all failed of their effectthere was no hitting the bull's…eye a second time； he would only stare vacantly at me； then grunt like a peccarynot appreciativelyand walk on。 Still； at intervals he would go back to what I had said about hitting a very big bird； and roar again； as if this wonderful joke was not easily exhausted。
Again on the third day we were out together practicing at the birdsfrightening if not killing them； but before noon； finding that it was his intention to go to a distant spot where he expected to meet with larger game； I left him and returned to the village。 The blow…pipe practice had lost its novelty； and I did not care to go on all day and every day with it； more than that； I was anxious after so long an interval to pay a visit to my wood； as I began to call it； in the hope of hearing that mysterious melody which I had grown to love and to miss when even a single day passed without it。
CHAPTER V
After making a hasty meal at the house； I started； full of pleasing anticipations； for the wood； for how pleasant a place it was to be in！ What a wild beauty and fragrance and melodiousness it possessed above all forests； because of that mystery that drew me to it！ And it was mine； truly and absolutelyas much mine as any portion of earth's surface could belong to any manmine with all its products： the precious woods and fruits and fragrant gums that would never be trafficked away； its wild animals that man would never persecute； nor would any jealous savage dispute my ownership or pretend that it was part of his hunting…ground。 As I crossed the savannah I played with this fancy； but when I reached the ridgy eminence； to look down once more on my new domain； the fancy changed to a feeling so keen that it pierced to my heart and was like pain in its intensity； causing tears to rush to my eyes。 And caring not in that solitude to disguise my feelings from myself； and from the wide heaven that looked down and saw mefor this is the sweetest thing that solitude has for us； that we are free in it； and no convention holds usI dropped on my knees and kissed the stony ground； then casting up my eyes； thanked the Author of my being for the gift of that wild forest； those green mansions where I had found so great a happiness！
Elated with this strain of feeling； I reached the wood not long after noon； but no melodious voice gave me familiar and expected welcome； nor did my invisible companion make itself heard at all on that day； or； at all events； not in its usual bird…like warbling language。 But on this day I met with a curious little adventure and heard something very extraordinary； very mysterious； which I could not avoid connecting in my mind with the unseen warbler that so often followed me in my rambles。
It was an exceedingly bright day； without cloud； but windy； and finding myself in a rather open part of the wood； near its border； where the breeze could be felt； I sat down to rest on the lower part of a large branch； which was half broken； but still remained attached to the trunk of the tree； while resting its terminal twigs on the ground。 Just before me； where I sat； grew a low； wide…spreading plant； covered with broad； round； polished leaves； and the roundness； stiffness； and perfectly horizontal position of the upper leaves made them look like a collection of small platforms or round table…tops placed nearly on a level。 Through the leaves； to the height of a foot or more above them； a slender dead stem protruded； and from a twig at its summit depended a broken spider's web。 A minute dead leaf had become attached to one of the loose threads and threw its small but distinct shadow on the platform leaves below； and as it trembled and swayed in the current of air； the black spot trembled with it or flew swiftly over the bright green surfaces； and was seldom at rest。 Now； as I sat looking down on the leaves and the small dancing shadow； scarcely thinking of what I was looking at； I noticed a small spider； with a flat body and short legs； creep cautiously out on to the upper surface of a leaf。 Its pale red colour barred with velvet black first drew my attention to it； for it was beautiful to the eye； and presently I discovered that this was no web…spinning； sedentary spider； but a wandering hunter； that captured its prey； like a cat； by stealing on it concealed and making a rush or spring at the last。 The moving shadow had attracted it and； as the sequel showed； was mistaken for a fly running about over the leaves and flitting from leaf to l
