green mansions-第48章
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h the skin； bones； and entrails。 But at length one of the dogs fell lame； and Nuflo； who was very hungry； made its lameness an excuse for dispatching it； which he did apparently without compunction； notwithstanding that the poor brute had served him well in its way。 He cut up and smoke…dried the flesh； and the intolerable pangs of hunger compelled me to share the loathsome food with him。 We were not only indecent； it seemed to me； but cannibals to feed on the faithful servant that had been our butcher。 〃But what does it matter？〃 I argued with myself。 〃All flesh； clean and unclean； should be； and is； equally abhorrent to me； and killing animals a kind of murder。 But now I find myself constrained to do this evil thing that good may come。 Only to live I take it nowthis hateful strength…giver that will enable me to reach Rima； and the purer； better life that is to be。〃
During all that time； when we toiled onwards league after league in silence； or sat silent by the nightly fire； I thought of many things； but the past； with which I had definitely broken； was little in my mind。 Rima was still the source and centre of all my thoughts； from her they rose； and to her returned。 Thinking； hoping； dreaming； sustained me in those dark days and nights of pain and privation。 Imagination was the bread that gave me strength； the wine that exhilarated。 What sustained old Nuflo's mind I know not。 Probably it was like a chrysalis； dormant； independent of sustenance； the bright…winged image to be called at some future time to life by a great shouting of angelic hosts and noises of musical instruments slept secure； coffined in that dull； gross nature。
The old beloved wood once more！ Never did his native village in some mountain valley seem more beautiful to the Switzer； returning； war…worn； from long voluntary exile； than did that blue cloud on the horizonthe forest where Rima dwelt； my bride； my beautifuland towering over it the dark cone of Ytaioa； now seem to my hungry eyes！ How near at lasthow near！ And yet the two or three intervening leagues to be traversed so slowly； step by stephow vast the distance seemed！ Even at far Riolama； when I set out on my return； I scarcely seemed so far from my love。 This maddening impatience told on my strength； which was small； and hindered me。 I could not run nor even walk fast； old Nuflo； slow； and sober； with no flame consuming his heart； was more than my equal in the end； and to keep up with him was all I could do。 At the finish he became silent and cautious； first entering the belt of trees leading away through the low range of hills at the southern extremity of the wood。 For a mile or upwards we trudged on in the shade； then I began to recognize familiar ground； the old trees under which I had walked or sat； and knew that a hundred yards further on there would be a first glimpse of the palm…leaf thatch。 Then all weakness forsook me； with a low cry of passionate longing and joy I rushed on ahead； but I strained my eyes in vain for a sight of that sweet shelter； no patch of pale yellow colour appeared amidst the universal verdure of bushes； creepers； and treestrees beyond trees； trees towering above trees。
For some moments I could not realize it。 No； I had surely made a mistake； the house had not stood on that spot； it would appear in sight a little further on。 I took a few uncertain steps onwards； and then again stood still； my brain reeling； my heart swelling nigh to bursting with anguish。 I was still standing motionless； with hand pressed to my breast； when Nuflo overtook me。 〃Where is itthe house？〃 I stammered； pointing with my hand。 All his stolidity seemed gone now； he was trembling too； his lips silently moving。 At length he spoke： 〃They have comethe children of hell have been here； and have destroyed everything！〃
〃Rima！ What has become of Rima？〃 I cried； but without replying he walked on； and I followed。
The house； we soon found； had been burnt down。 Not a stick remained。 Where it had stood a heap of black ashes covered the groundnothing more。 But on looking round we could discover no sign of human beings having recently visited the spot。 A rank growth of grass and herbage now covered the once clear space surrounding the site of the dwelling； and the ash…heap looked as if it had been lying there for a month at least。 As to what had become of Rima the old man could say no word。 He sat down on the ground overwhelmed at the calamity： Runi's people had been there； he could not doubt it； and they would come again； and he could only look for death at their hands。 The thought that Rima had perished； that she was lost； was unendurable。 It could not be！ No doubt the Indians tract come and destroyed the house during our absence； but she had returned； and they had gone away again to come no more。 She would be somewhere in the forest； perhaps not far off； impatiently waiting our return。 The old man stared at me while I spoke； he appeared to be in a kind of stupor； and made no reply： and at last； leaving him still sitting on the ground； I went into the wood to look for Rima。
As I walked there； occasionally stopping to peer into some shadowy glade or opening； and to listen； I was tempted again and again to call the name of her I sought aloud； and still the fear that by so doing I might bring some hidden danger on myself； perhaps on her； made me silent。 A strange melancholy rested on the forest； a quietude seldom broken by a distant bird's cry。 How； I asked myself； should I ever find her in that wide forest while I moved about in that silent； cautious way？ My only hope was that she would find me。 It occurred to me that the most likely place to seek her would be some of the old haunts known to us both； where we had talked together。 I thought first of the mora tree； where she had hidden herself from me； and thither I directed my steps。 About this tree； and within its shade； I lingered for upwards of an hour； and； finally； casting my eyes up into the great dim cloud of green and purple leaves； I softly called： 〃Rima； Rima； if you have seen me； and have concealed yourself from me in your hiding…place； in mercy answer mein mercy come down to me now！〃 But Rima answered not； nor threw down any red glowing leaves to mock me： only the wind； high up； whispered something low and sorrowful in the foliage； and turning； I wandered away at random into the deeper shadows。
By and by I was startled by the long； piercing cry of a wildfowl； sounding strangely loud in the silence； and no sooner was the air still again than it struck me that no bird had uttered that cry。 The Indian is a good mimic of animal voices； but practice had made me able to distinguish the true from the false bird…note。 For a minute or so I stood still； at a loss what to do； then moved on again with greater caution； scarcely breathing； straining my sight to pierce the shadowy depths。 All at once I gave a great start； for directly before me； on the projecting root in the deeper shade of a tree； sat a dark； motionless human form。 I stood still； watching it for some time； not yet knowing that it had seen me； when all doubts were put to flight by the form rising and deliberately advancinga naked Indian with a zabatana in his hand。 As he came up out of the deeper shade I recognized Piake； the surly elder brother of my friend Kua…ko。
It was a great shock to meet him in the wood； but I had no time to reflect just then。 I only remembered that I had deeply offended him and his people； that they probably looked on me as an enemy； and would think little of taking my life。 It was too late to attempt to escape by flight； I was spent with my long journey and the many privations I had suffered； while he stood there in his full strength with a deadly weapon in his hand。
Nothing was left but to put a bold face on； greet him in a friendly way； and invent some plausible story to account for my action in secretly leaving the village。
He was now standing still； silently regarding me； and glancing round I saw that he was not alone： at a distance of about forty yards on my right hand two other dusky forms appeared watching me from the deep shade。
〃Piake！〃 I cried； advancing three or four steps。
〃You have r
