green mansions-第29章

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mysterious；　how　infinitely　tender　it　sounded　in　that　awful　blackness！so　musical　and　exquisitely　modulated；　so　sorrowful；　yet　piercing　my　heart　with　a　sudden；　unutterable　joy。

〃Rime！　　Rima！〃　　I　cried。　　〃Speak　again。　　Is　it　you？　　Come　to　me　here。〃

Again　that　low；　warbling　sound；　or　series　of　sounds；　seemingly　from　a　distance　of　a　few　yards。　　I　was　not　disturbed　at　her　not　replying　in　Spanish：　she　had　always　spoken　it　somewhat　reluctantly；　and　only　when　at　my　side；　but　when　calling　to　me　from　some　distance　she　would　return　instinctively　to　her　own　mysterious　language；　and　call　to　me　as　bird　calls　to　bird。　　I　knew　that　she　was　inviting　me　to　follow　her；　but　I　refused　to　move。

〃Rima；〃　I　cried　again；　〃come　to　me　here；　for　I　know　not　where　to　step；　and　cannot　move　until　you　are　at　my　side　and　I　can　feel　your　hand。〃

There　came　no　response；　and　after　some　moments；　becoming　alarmed；　I　called　to　her　again。

Then　close　by　me；　in　a　low；　trembling　voice；　she　returned：　〃I　am　here。〃

I　put　out　my　hand　and　touched　something　soft　and　wet；　it　was　her　breast；　and　moving　my　hand　higher　up；　I　felt　her　hair；　hanging　now　and　streaming　with　water。　　She　was　trembling；　and　I　thought　the　rain　had　chilled　her。

〃Rimepoor　child！　　How　wet　you　are！　　How　strange　to　meet　you　in　such　a　place！　　Tell　me；　dear　Rima；　how　did　you　find　me？〃

〃I　was　waitingwatchingall　day。　　I　saw　you　coming　across　the　savannah；　and　followed　at　a　distance　through　the　wood。〃

〃And　I　had　treated　you　so　unkindly！　　Ah；　my　guardian　angel；　my　light　in　the　darkness；　how　I　hate　myself　for　giving　you　pain！　Tell　me；　sweet；　did　you　wish　me　to　come　back　and　live　with　you　again？〃　　She　made　no　reply。　　Then；　running　my　fingers　down　her　arm；　I　took　her　hand　in　mine。　　It　was　hot；　like　the　hand　of　one　in　a　fever。　　I　raised　it　to　my　lips　and　then　attempted　to　draw　her　to　me；　but　she　slipped　down　and　out　of　my　arms　to　my　feet。　　I　felt　her　there；　on　her　knees；　with　head　bowed　low。　　Stooping　and　putting　my　arm　round　her　body；　I　drew　her　up　and　held　her　against　my　breast；　and　felt　her　heart　throbbing　wildly。　　With　many　endearing　words　I　begged　her　to　speak　to　me；　but　her　only　reply　was：　〃Comecome；〃　as　she　slipped　again　out　of　my　arms　and；　holding　my　hand　in　hers；　guided　me　through　the　bushes。

Before　long　we　came　to　an　open　path　or　glade；　where　the　darkness　was　not　profound；　and　releasing　my　hand；　she　began　walking　rapidly　before　me；　always　keeping　at　such　a　distance　as　just　enabled　me　to　distinguish　her　grey；　shadowy　figure；　and　with　frequent　doublings　to　follow　the　natural　paths　and　openings　which　she　knew　so　well。　　In　this　way　we　kept　on　nearly　to　the　end；　without　exchanging　a　word；　and　hearing　no　sound　except　the　continuous　rush　of　rain；　which　to　our　accustomed　ears　had　ceased　to　have　the　effect　of　sound；　and　the　various　gurgling　noises　of　innumerable　runners。　　All　at　once；　as　we　came　to　a　more　open　place；　a　strip　of　bright　firelight　appeared　before　us；　shining　from　the　half…open　door　of　Nuflo's　lodge。　　She　turned　round　as　much　as　to　say：　〃Now　you　know　where　you　are；〃　then　hurried　on；　leaving　me　to　follow　as　best　I　could。　　



CHAPTER　XI

There　was　a　welcome　change　in　the　weather　when　I　rose　early　next　morning；　the　sky　was　without　cloud　and　had　that　purity　in　its　colour　and　look　of　infinite　distance　seen　only　when　the　atmosphere　is　free　from　vapour。　　The　sun　had　not　yet　risen；　but　old　Nuflo　was　already　among　the　ashes；　on　his　hands　and　knees；　blowing　the　embers　he　had　uncovered　to　a　flame。Then　Rima　appeared　only　to　pass　through　the　room　with　quick　light　tread　to　go　out　of　the　door　without　a　word　or　even　a　glance　at　my　face。　　The　old　man；　after　watching　at　the　door　for　a　few　minutes；　turned　and　began　eagerly　questioning　me　about　my　adventures　on　the　previous　evening。　　In　reply　I　related　to　him　how　the　girl　had　found　me　in　the　forest　lost　and　unable　to　extricate　myself　from　the　tangled　undergrowth。

He　rubbed　his　hands　on　his　knees　and　chuckled。　　〃Happy　for　you；　senor；〃　he　said；　〃that　my　granddaughter　regards　you　with　such　friendly　eyes；　otherwise　you　might　have　perished　before　morning。　Once　she　was　at　your　side；　no　light；　whether　of　sun　or　moon　or　lantern；　was　needed；　nor　that　small　instrument　which　is　said　to　guide　a　man　aright　in　the　desert；　even　in　the　darkest　nightlet　him　that　can　believe　such　a　thing！〃

〃Yes；　happy　for　me；〃　I　returned。　　〃I　am　filled　with　remorse　that　it　was　all　through　my　fault　that　the　poor　child　was　exposed　to　such　weather。〃

〃O　senor；〃　he　cried　airily；　〃let　not　that　distress　you！　　Rain　and　wind　and　hot　suns；　from　which　we　seek　shelter；　do　not　harm　her。　She　takes　no　cold；　and　no　fever；　with　or　without　ague。〃

After　some　further　conversation　I　left　him　to　steal　away　unobserved　on　his　own　account；　and　set　out　for　a　ramble　in　the　hope　of　encountering　Rima　and　winning　her　to　talk　to　me。

My　quest　did　not　succeed：　not　a　glimpse　of　her　delicate　shadowy　form　did　I　catch　among　the　trees；　and　not　one　note　from　her　melodious　lips　came　to　gladden　me。　　At　noon　I　returned　to　the　house；　where　I　found　food　placed　ready　for　me；　and　knew　that　she　had　come　there　during　my　absence　and　had　not　been　forgetful　of　my　wants。　　〃Shall　I　thank　you　for　this？〃　　I　said。　　〃I　ask　you　for　heavenly　nectar　for　the　sustentation　of　the　higher　winged　nature　in　me；　and　you　give　me　a　boiled　sweet　potato；　toasted　strips　of　sun…dried　pumpkins；　and　a　handful　of　parched　maize！　　Rima！　　Rima！　my　woodland　fairy；　my　sweet　saviour；　why　do　you　yet　fear　me？　　Is　it　that　love　struggles　in　you　with　repugnance？　　Can　you　discern　with　clear　spiritual　eyes　the　grosser　elements　in　me；　and　hate　them；　or　has　some　false　imagination　made　me　appear　all　dark　and　evil；　but　too　late　for　your　peace；　after　the　sweet　sickness　of　love　has　infected　you？〃

But　she　was　not　there　to　answer　me；　and　so　after　a　time　I　went　forth　again　and　seated　myself　listlessly　on　the　root　of　an　old　tree　not　far　from　the　house。　　I　had　sat　there　a　full　hour　when　all　at　once　Rima　appeared　at　my　side。　　Bending　forward；　she　touched　my　hand；　but　without　glancing　at　my　face；　〃Come　with　me；〃　she　said；　and　turning；　moved　swiftly　towards　the　northern　extremity　of　the　forest。　　She　seemed　to　take　it　for　granted　that　I　would　follow；　never　casting　a　look　behind　nor　pausing　in　her　rapid　walk；　but　I　was　only　too　glad　to　obey　and；　starting　up；　was　quickly　after　her。　　She　led　me　by　easy　ways；　familiar　to　her；　with　many　doublings　to　escape　the　undergrowth；　never　speaking　or　pausing　until　we　came　out　from　the　thick　forest；　and　I　found　myself　for　the　first　time　at　the　foot　of　the　great　hill　or　mountain　Ytaioa。　Glancing　back　for　a　few　moments；　she　waved　a　hand　towards　the　summit；　and　then　at　once　began　the　ascent。　　Here　too　it　seemed　all　familiar　ground　to　her。　　From　below；　the　sides　had　presented　an　exceedingly　rugged　appearancea　wild　confusion　of　huge　jagged　rocks；　mixed　with　a　tangled　vegetation　of　trees；　bushes；　and　vines；　but　following　her　in　all　her　doublings；　it　became　easy　enough；　although　it　fatigued　me　greatly　owing　to　our　rapid　pace。　The　hill　was　conical；　but　I　found　that　it　had　a　flat　topan　oblong　or　pear…shaped　area；　almost　level；　of　a　soft；　crumbly　sandstone；　with　a　few　blocks　and　boulders　of　a　harder　stone　scattered　aboutand　no　vegetation；　except　the　grey　mountain　lichen　and　a　few　sere…looking　dwarf　shrubs。

Here　Rima；　at　a　distance　of　a　few　yards　from　me；　remained　standing　still　for　some　minutes；　as　if　to　give　me　time　to　recover　my　breath；　and　I　was　right　glad　to　sit　down　on　a　stone　to　rest。　Finally　she　walked　slowly　to　the　centre　of　the　level　area；　which　was　about　two　acres　in　extent；　rising；　I　followed　her　and；　climbing　on　to　a　huge　block　of　stone；　began　gazing　at　the　wide　prospect　spread　out　before　me。　　The　day　was　windless　and　bright；　with　only　a　few　white　clouds　floating　at　a　great　height　above　and　casting　travelling　shadows　over　that　wild；　broken　country；　where　forest；　marsh；　and　savannah　were　only　distinguishable　by　their　different　colours；　like　the　greys　and　greens　and　yellows　on　a　map。　　At　a　great　distance　the　circle　of　the　horizon　was　broken　here　and　there　by　mountains；　but　the　hills　in　our　neighbourhood　were　all　beneath　our　feet。

After　gazing　all　round　for　some　minutes；　I　jumped　down　from　my　stand　and；　leaning　against　the　stone；