green mansions-第42章
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y。 Then Nuflo knew that God's angels had come for her； and put out his arms to save her from falling； and even while he held her that sudden glory went out from her face； now of a dead white like burnt…out ashes； and murmuring something soft and melodious； her spirit passed away。
Once more Nuflo became a wanderer； now with the fragile…looking little Rima for companion； the sacred child who had inherited the position of his intercessor from a sacred mother。 The priest； who had probably become infected with Nuflo's superstitions； did not allow them to leave Voa empty…handed； but gave the old man as much calico as would serve to buy hospitality and whatsoever he might require from the Indians for many a day to come。
At Parahuari； where they arrived safely at last； they lived for some little time at one of the villages。 But the child had an instinctive aversion to all savages； or possibly the feeling was derived from her mother； for it had shown itself early at Voa； where she had refused to learn their language； and this eventually led Nuflo to go away and live apart from them； in the forest by Ytaioa； where he made himself a house and garden。 The Indians； however； continued friendly with him and visited him with frequency。 But when Rima grew up； developing into that mysterious woodland girl I found her； they became suspicious； and in the end regarded her with dangerously hostile feeling。 She； poor child； detested them because they were incessantly at war with the wild animals she loved； her companions； and having no fear of them； for she did not know that they had it in their minds to turn their little poisonous arrows against herself； she was constantly in the woods frustrating them； and the animals； in league with her； seemed to understand her note of warning and hid themselves or took to flight at the approach of danger。 At length their hatred and fear grew to such a degree that they determined to make away with her； and one day； having matured a plan； they went to the wood and spread themselves two and two about it。 The couples did not keep together； but moved about or remained concealed at a distance of forty or fifty yards apart； lest she should be missed。 Two of the savages； armed with blow…pipes； were near the border of the forest on the side nearest to the village； and one of them； observing a motion in the foliage of a tree； ran swiftly and cautiously towards it to try and catch a glimpse of the enemy。 And he did see her no doubt； as she was there watching both him and his companions； and blew an arrow at her； but even while in the act of blowing it he was himself struck by a dart that buried itself deep in his flesh just over the heart。 He ran some distance with the fatal barbed point in his flesh and met his comrade； who had mistaken him for the girl and shot him。 The wounded man threw himself down to die； and dying related that he had fired at the girl sitting up in a tree and that she had caught the arrow in her hand only to hurl it instantly back with such force and precision that it pierced his flesh just over the heart。 He had seen it all with his own eyes； and his friend who had accidentally slain him believed his story and repeated it to the others。 Rima had seen one Indian shoot the other； and when she told her grandfather he explained to her that it was an accident； but he guessed why the arrow had been fired。
From that day the Indians hunted no more in the wood； and at length one day Nuflo； meeting an Indian who did not know him and with whom he had some talk； heard the strange story of the arrow； and that the mysterious girl who could not be shot was the offspring of an old man and a Didi who had become enamoured of him； that； growing tired of her consort； the Didi had returned to her river； leaving her half…human child to play her malicious pranks in the wood。
This； then； was Nuflo's story； told not in Nuflo's manner； which was infinitely prolix； and think not that it failed to move methat I failed to bless him for what he had done； in spite of his selfish motives。
CHAPTER XVI
We were eighteen days travelling to Riolama； on the last two making little progress； on account of continuous rain； which made us miserable beyond description。 Fortunately the dogs had found； and Nuflo had succeeded in killing； a great ant…eater； so that we were well supplied with excellent； strength…giving flesh。 We were among the Riolama mountains at last； and Rima kept with us； apparently expecting great things。 I expected nothing； for reasons to be stated by and by。 My belief was that the only important thing that could happen to us would be starvation。
The afternoon of the last day was spent in skirting the foot of a very long mountain； crowned at its southern extremity with a huge； rocky mass resembling the head of a stone sphinx above its long； couchant body； and at its highest part about a thousand feet above the surrounding level。 It was late in the day； raining fast again； yet the old man still toiled on； contrary to his usual practice； which was to spend the last daylight hours in gathering firewood and in constructing a shelter。 At length； when we were nearly under the peak； he began to ascend。 The rise in this place was gentle； and the vegetation； chiefly composed of dwarf thorn trees rooted in the clefts of the rock； scarcely impeded our progress； yet Nuflo moved obliquely； as if he found the ascent difficult； pausing frequently to take breath and look round him。 Then we came to a deep； ravine…like cleft in the side of the mountain； which became deeper and narrower above us； but below it broadened out to a valley； its steep sides as we looked down were clothed with dense； thorny vegetation； and from the bottom rose to our ears the dull sound of a hidden torrent。 Along the border of this ravine Nuflo began toiling upwards； and finally brought us out upon a stony plateau on the mountain…side。 Here he paused and； turning and regarding us with a look as of satisfied malice in his eyes； remarked that we were at our journey's end； and he trusted the sight of that barren mountain…side would compensate us for all the discomforts we had suffered during the last eighteen days。
I heard him with indifference。 I had already recognized the place from his own exact description of it； and I now saw all that I had looked to seea big； barren hill。 But Rima； what had she expected that her face wore that blank look of surprise and pain？ 〃Is this the place where mother appeared to you？〃 she suddenly cried。 〃The very placethis！ This！〃 Then she added： 〃The cave where you tended herwhere is it？〃
〃Over there；〃 he said； pointing across the plateau； which was partially overgrown with dwarf trees and bushes； and ended at a wall of rock； almost vertical and about forty feet high。
Going to this precipice； we saw no cave until Nuflo had cut away two or three tangled bushes； revealing an opening behind； about half as high and twice as wide as the door of an ordinary dwelling…house。
The next thing was to make a torch； and aided by its light we groped our way in and explored the interior。 The cave； we found； was about fifty feet long； narrowing to a mere hole at the extremity； but the anterior portion formed an oblong chamber； very lofty； with a dry floor。 Leaving our torch burning； we set to work cutting bushes to supply ourselves with wood enough to last us all night。 Nuflo； poor old man； loved a big fire dearly； a big fire and fat meat to eat （the ranker its flavour； the better he liked it） were to him the greatest blessings that man could wish for。 In me also the prospect of a cheerful blaze put a new heart； and I worked with a will in the rain； which increased in the end to a blinding downpour。
By the time I dragged my last load in； Nuflo had got his fire well alight； and was heaping on wood in a most lavish way。 〃No fear of burning our house down tonight；〃 he remarked； with a chucklethe first sound of that description he had emitted for a long time。
After we had satisfied our hunger； and had smoked one or two cigarettes； the unaccustomed warmth； and dryness； and the firelight affected us with drowsiness； and I had probably been nodding for some time； but starting at last and ope
