green mansions-第49章
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watching me from the deep shade。
〃Piake！〃 I cried； advancing three or four steps。
〃You have returned；〃 he answered； but without moving。 〃Where from？〃
〃Riolama。〃
He shook his head； then asked where it was。
〃Twenty days towards the setting sun；〃 I said。 As he remained silent I added： 〃I heard that I could find gold in the mountains there。 An old man told me； and we went to look for gold。〃
〃What did you find？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Ah！〃
And so our conversation appeared to be at an end。 But after a few moments my intense desire to discover whether the savages knew aught of Rima or not made me hazard a question。
〃Do you live here in the forest now？〃 I asked。
He shook his head； and after a while said： 〃We come to kill animals。〃
〃You are like me now；〃 I returned quickly； 〃you fear nothing。〃
He looked distrustfully at me； then came a little nearer and said： 〃You are very brave。 I should not have gone twenty days' journey with no weapons and only an old man for companion。 What weapons did you have？〃
I saw that he feared me and wished to make sure that I had it not in my power to do him some injury。 〃No weapon except my knife；〃 I replied； with assumed carelessness。 With that I raised my cloak so as to let him see for himself； turning my body round before him。 〃Have you found my pistol？〃 I added。
He shook his head； but he appeared less suspicious now and came close up to me。 〃How do you get food？ Where are you going？〃 he asked。
I answered boldly： 〃Food！ I am nearly starving。 I am going to the village to see if the women have got any meat in the pot； and to tell Runi all I have done since I left him。〃
He looked at me keenly； a little surprised at my confidence perhaps； then said that he was also going back and would accompany me One of the other men now advanced； blow…pipe in hand； to join us； and； leaving the wood； we started to walk across the savannah。
It was hateful to have to recross that savannah again； to leave the woodland shadows where I had hoped to find Rima； but I was powerless： I was a prisoner once more； the lost captive recovered and not yet pardoned； probably never to be pardoned。 Only by means of my own cunning could I be saved； and Nuflo； poor old man； must take his chance。
Again and again as we tramped over the barren ground； and when we climbed the ridge； I was compelled to stand still to recover breath； explaining to Piake that I had been travelling day and night； with no meat during the last three days； so that I was exhausted。 This was an exaggeration； but it was necessary to account in some way for the faintness I experienced during our walk； caused less by fatigue and want of food than by anguish of mind。
At intervals I talked to him； asking after all the other members of the community by name。 At last； thinking only of Rima； I asked him if any other person or persons besides his people came to the wood now or lived there。
He said no。 〃Once；〃 I said； 〃there was a daughter of the Didi； a girl you all feared： is she there now？〃
He looked at me with suspicion and then shook his head。 I dared not press him with more questions； but after an interval he said plainly： 〃She is not there now。〃
And I was forced to believe him； for had Rima been in the wood they would not have been there。 She was not there； this much I had discovered。 Had she； then； lost her way； or perished on that long journey from Riolama？ Or had she returned only to fall into the hands of her cruel enemies？ My heart was heavy in me； but if these devils in human shape knew more than they had told me； I must； I said； hide my anxiety and wait patiently to find it out； should they spare my life。 And if they spared me and had not spared that other sacred life interwoven with mine； the time would come when they would find； too late； that they had taken to their bosom a worse devil than themselves。
CHAPTER XIX
My arrival at the village created some excitement； but I was plainly no longer regarded as a friend or one of the family。 Runi was absent； and I looked forward to his return with no little apprehension； he would doubtless decide my fate。 Kua…ko was also away。 The others sat or stood about the great room； staring at me in silence。 I took no notice； but merely asked for food； then for my hammock； which I hung up in the old place； and lying down I fell into a doze。 Runi made his appearance at dusk。 I rose and greeted him； but he spoke no word and； until he went to his hammock； sat in sullen silence； ignoring my presence。
On the following day the crisis came。 We were once more gathered in the roomall but Kua…ko and another of the men； who had not yet returned from some expeditionand for the space of half an hour not a word was spoken by anyone。 Something was expected； even the children were strangely still； and whenever one of the pet birds strayed in at the open door； uttering a little plaintive note； it was chased out again； but without a sound。 At length Runi straightened himself on his seat and fixed his eyes on me； then cleared his throat and began a long harangue； delivered in the loud； monotonous singsong which I knew so well and which meant that the occasion was an important one。 And as is usual in such efforts； the same thought and expressions were used again and again； and yet again； with dull； angry insistence。 The orator of Guayana to be impressive must be long； however little he may have to say。 Strange as it may seem； I listened critically to him； not without a feeling of scorn at his lower intelligence。 But I was easier in my mind now。 From the very fact of his addressing such a speech to me I was convinced that he wished not to take my life； and would not do so if I could clear myself of the suspicion of treachery。
I was a white man； he said； they were Indians； nevertheless they had treated me well。 They had fed me and sheltered me。 They had done a great deal for me： they had taught me the use of the zabatana； and had promised to make one for me； asking for nothing in return。 They had also promised me a wife。 How had I treated them？ I had deserted them； going away secretly to a distance； leaving them in doubt as to my intentions。 How could they tell why I had gone； and where？ They had an enemy。 Managa was his name； he and his people hated them； I knew that he wished them evil； I knew where to find him； for they had told me。 That was what they thought when I suddenly left them。 Now I returned to them； saying that I had been to Riolama。 He knew where Riolama was； although he had never been there： it was so far。 Why did I go to Riolama？ It was a bad place。 There were Indians there； a few； but they were not good Indians like those of Parahuari； and would kill a white man。 HAD I gone there？ Why had I gone there？
He finished at last； and it was my turn to speak； but he had given me plenty of time； and my reply was ready。 〃I have heard you；〃 I said。 〃Your words are good words。 They are the words of a friend。 'I am the white man's friend；' you say； 'is he my friend？ He went away secretly； saying no word； why did he go without speaking to his friend who had treated him well？ Has he been to my enemy Managa？ Perhaps he is a friend of my enemy？ Where has he been？' I must now answer these things； saying true words to my friend。 You are an Indian； I am a white man。 You do not know all the white man's thoughts。 These are the things I wish to tell you。 In the white man's country are two kinds of men。 There are the rich men； who have all that a man can desirehouses made of stone； full of fine things； fine clothes； fine weapons； fine ornaments； and they have horses； cattle； sheep； dogseverything they desire。 Because they have gold； for with gold the white man buys everything。 The other kind of white men are the poor； who have no gold and cannot buy or have anything： they must work hard for the rich man for the little food he gives them； and a rag to cover their nakedness； and if he gives them shelter they have it； if not they must lie down in the rain out of doors。 In my own country； a hundred days from here； I was the son of a great chief； who had much gold； and when he died it was all mine； and I was rich。 But I had an
