green mansions-第47章
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et leaves； and that made me glad till I trembled with happiness。 Then suddenly the lightning would come； so bright； and I would tremble with fear； and wish that it would be dark again。 That was when you looked at me sitting in the shadow； and I could not take my eyes away quickly and could not meet yours； so that I trembled with fear。〃
〃And now there is no fearno shadow； now you are perfectly happy？〃
〃Oh； so happy！ If the way back to the wood was longer； ten times； and if the great mountains； white with snow on their tops； were between； and the great dark forest； and rivers wider than Orinoco； still I would go alone without fear； because you would come after me； to join me in the wood； to be with me at last and always。〃
〃But I should not let you go alone； Rimayour lonely days are over now。〃
She opened her eyes wider and looked earnestly into my face。 〃I must go back alone； Abel；〃 she said。 〃Before day comes I must leave you。 Rest here； with grandfather； for a few days and nights； then follow me。〃
I heard her with astonishment。 〃It must not be； Rima；〃 I cried。 〃What； let you leave menow you are mineto go all that distance； through all that wild country where you might lose yourself and perish alone？ Oh； do not think of it！〃
She listened； regarding me with some slight trouble in her eyes； but smiling a little at the same time。 Her small hand moved up my arm and caressed my cheek； then she drew my face down to hers until our lips met。 But when I looked at her eyes again； I saw that she had not consented to my wish。 〃Do I not know all the way now；〃 she spoke； 〃all the mountains； rivers； forestshow should I lose myself？ And I must return quickly； not step by step； walkingresting； restingwalking； stopping to cook and eat； stopping to gather firewood； to make a shelterso many things！ Oh； I shall be back in half the time； and I have so much to do。〃
〃What can you have to do； love？everything can be done when we are in the wood together。〃
A bright smile with a touch of mockery in it flitted over her face as she replied： 〃Oh； must I tell you that there are things you cannot do？ Look； Abel；〃 and she touched the slight garment she wore； thinner now than at first； and dulled by long exposure to sun and wind and rain。
I could not command her； and seemed powerless to persuade her； but I had not done yet； and proceeded to use every argument I could find to bring her round to my view； and when I finished she put her arms around my neck and drew herself up once more。 〃O Abel； how happy I shall be！〃 she said； taking no notice of all I had said。 〃Think of me alone； days and days； in the wood； waiting for you； working all the time； saying： 'Come quickly； Abel； come slow； Abel。 O Abel； how long you are！ Oh； do not come until my work is finished！' And when it is finished and you arrive you shall find me； but not at once。 First you will seek for me in the house； then in the wood； calling： 'Rime！ Rima！' And she will be there； listening； hid in the trees； wishing to be in your arms； wishing for your lipsoh； so glad； yet fearing to show herself。 Do you know why？ He told youdid he not？that when he first saw her she was standing before him all in whitea dress that was like snow on the mountain…tops when the sun is setting and gives it rose and purple colour。 I shall be like that； hidden among the trees； saying： 'Am I differentnot like Rima？ Will he know mewill he love me just the same？' Oh； do I not know that you will be glad； and love me； and call me beautiful？ Listen！ Listen！〃 she suddenly exclaimed； lifting her face。
Among the bushes not far from the cave's mouth a small bird had broken out in song； a clear； tender melody soon taken up by other birds further away。
〃It will soon be morning；〃 she said； and then clasped her arms about me once more and held me in a long； passionate embrace； then slipping away from my arms and with one swift glance at the sleeping old man； passed out of the cave。
For a few moments I remained sitting； not yet realizing that she had left me； so suddenly and swiftly had she passed from my arms and my sight； then； recovering my faculties； I started up and rushed out in hopes of overtaking her。
It was not yet dawn； but there was still some light from the full moon； now somewhere behind the mountains。 Running to the verge of the bushgrown plateau； I explored the rocky slope beneath without seeing her form； and then called： 〃Rima！ Rima！〃
A soft； warbling sound； uttered by no bird； came up from the shadowy bushes far below； and in that direction I ran on； then pausing； called again。 The sweet sound was repeated once more； but much lower down now； and so faintly that I scarcely heard it。 And when I went on further and called again and again； there was no reply； and I knew that she had indeed gone on that long journey alone。
CHAPTER XVIII
When Nuflo at length opened his eyes he found me sitting alone and despondent by the fire； just returned from my vain chase。 I had been caught in a heavy mist on the mountain…side； and was wet through as well as weighed down by fatigue and drowsiness； consequent upon the previous day's laborious march and my night…long vigil； yet I dared not think of rest。 She had gone from me； and I could not have prevented it； yet the thought that I had allowed her to slip out of my arms； to go away alone on that long； perilous journey； was as intolerable as if I had consented to it。
Nuflo was at first startled to hear of her sudden departure； but he laughed at my fears； affirming that after having once been over the ground she could not lose herself； that she would be in no danger from the Indians； as she would invariably see them at a distance and avoid them； and that wild beasts； serpents； and other evil creatures would do her no harm。 The small amount of food she required to sustain life could be found anywhere； furthermore； her journey would not be interrupted by bad weather； since rain and heat had no effect on her。 In the end he seemed pleased that she had left us； saying that with Rima in the wood the house and cultivated patch and hidden provisions and implements would be safe； for no Indian would venture to come where she was。 His confidence reassured me； and casting myself down on the sandy floor of the cave； I fell into a deep slumber； which lasted until evening； then I only woke to share a meal with the old man； and sleep again until the following day。
Nuflo was not ready to start yet； he was enamoured of the unaccustomed comforts of a dry sleeping…place and a fire blown about by no wind and into which fell no hissing raindrops。 Not for two days more would he consent to set out on the return journey； and if he could have persuaded me our stay at Riolama would have lasted a week。
We had fine weather at starting； but before long it clouded； and then for upwards of a fortnight we had it wet and stormy； which so hindered us that it took us twenty…three days to accomplish the return journey； whereas the journey out had only taken eighteen。 The adventures we met with and the pains we suffered during this long march need not be related。 The rain made us miserable； but we suffered more from hunger than from any other cause； and on more than one occasion were reduced to the verge of starvation。 Twice we were driven to beg for food at Indian villages； and as we had nothing to give in exchange for it； we got very little。 It is possible to buy hospitality from the savage without fish…hooks； nails； and calico； but on this occasion I found myself without that impalpable medium of exchange which had been so great a help to me on my first journey to Parahuari。 Now I was weak and miserable and without cunning。 It is true that we could have exchanged the two dogs for cassava bread and corn； but we should then have been worse off than ever。 And in the end the dogs saved us by an occasional capturean armadillo surprised in the open and seized before it could bury itself in the soil； or an iguana； opossum； or labba； traced by means of their keen sense of smell to its hiding…place。 Then Nuflo would rejoice and feast； rewarding them with the skin； bones； and entrails。 But at length one of the dogs fell lame； and Nuflo； who was very h
