little novels-第59章
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ntary consideration to the consequences which might follow the risk that he had run。 The charming figure that he had seen haunted him night and day。 The image of the innocent creature； secluded from humanity in her island solitude； was the one image that filled his mind。 A man； passing a woman in the street； acts on the impulse to turn and follow her； and in that one thoughtless moment shapes the destiny of his future life。 The Captain had acted on a similar impulse； when he took the first canoe he had found on the beach； and shaped his reckless course for the tabooed island。
Reaching the shore while it was still dark； he did one sensible thinghe hid the canoe so that it might not betray him when the daylight came。 That done； he waited for the morning on the outskirts of the forest。
The trembling light of dawn revealed the mysterious solitude around him。 Following the outer limits of the trees； first in one direction； then in another； and finding no trace of any living creature； he decided on penetrating to the interior of the island。 He entered the forest。
An hour of walking brought him to rising ground。 Continuing the ascent； he got clear of the trees； and stood on the grassy top of a broad cliff which overlooked the sea。 An open hut was on the cliff。 He cautiously looked in； and discovered that it was empty。 The few household utensils left about； and the simple bed of leaves in a corner； were covered with fine sandy dust。 Night…birds flew blundering out of the inner cavities of the roof； and took refuge in the shadows of the forest below。 It was plain that the hut had not been inhabited for some time past。
Standing at the open doorway and considering what he should do next； the Captain saw a bird flying toward him out of the forest。 It was a turtle…dove； so tame that it fluttered close up to him。 At the same moment the sound of sweet laughter became audible among the trees。 His heart beat fast； he advanced a few steps and stopped。 In a moment more the nymph of the island appeared； in her white robe； ascending the cliff in pursuit of her truant bird。 She saw the strange man； and suddenly stood still； struck motionless by the amazing discovery that had burst upon her。 The Captain approached； smiling and holding out his hand。 She never moved； she stood before him in helpless wondermenther lovely black eyes fixed spellbound on his face； her dusky bosom palpitating above the fallen folds of her robe； her rich red lips parted in mute astonishment。 Feasting his eyes on her beauty in silence； the Captain after a while ventured to speak to her in the language of the main island。 The sound of his voice； addressing her in the words that she understood； roused the lovely creature to action。 She started； stepped close up to him； and dropped on her knees at his feet。
〃My father worships invisible deities；〃 she said； softly。 〃Are you a visible deity？ Has my mother sent you？〃 She pointed as she spoke to the deserted hut behind them。 〃You appear；〃 she went on； 〃in the place where my mother died。 Is it for her sake that you show yourself to her child？ Beautiful deity； come to the Templecome to my father！〃
The Captain gently raised her from the ground。 If her father saw him； he was a doomed man。
Infatuated as he was； he had sense enough left to announce himself plainly in his own character； as a mortal creature arriving from a distant land。 The girl instantly drew back from him with a look of terror。
〃He is not like my father；〃 she said to herself； 〃he is not like me。 Is he the lying demon of the prophecy？ Is he the predestined destroyer of our island？〃
The Captain's experience of the sex showed him the only sure way out of the awkward position in which he was now placed。 He appealed to his personal appearance。
〃Do I look like a demon？〃 he asked。
Her eyes met his eyes； a faint smile trembled on her lips。 He ventured on asking what she meant by the predestined destruction of the island。 She held up her hand solemnly； and repeated the prophecy。
The Holy Island was threatened with destruction by an evil being； who would one day appear on its shores。 To avert the fatality the place had been sanctified and set apart； under the protection of the gods and their priest。 Here was the reason for the taboo； and for the extraordinary rigor with which it was enforced。 Listening to her with the deepest interest； the Captain took her hand and pressed it gently。
〃Do I feel like a demon？〃 he whispered。
Her slim brown fingers closed frankly on his hand。 〃You feel soft and friendly；〃 she said with the fearless candor of a child。 〃Squeeze me again。 I like it！〃
The next moment she snatched her hand away from him； the sense of his danger had suddenly forced itself on her mind。 〃If my father sees you；〃 she said； 〃he will light the signal fire at the Temple； and the people from the other island will come here and put you to death。 Where is your canoe？ No！ It is daylight。 My father may see you on the water。〃 She considered a little； and； approaching him； laid her hands on his shoulders。 〃Stay here till nightfall；〃 she resumed。 〃My father never comes this way。 The sight of the place where my mother died is horrible to him。 You are safe here。 Promise to stay where you are till night…time。〃
The Captain gave his promise。
Freed from anxiety so far； the girl's mobile temperament recovered its native cheerfulness； its sweet gayety and spirit。 She admired the beautiful stranger as she might have admired a new bird that had flown to her to be fondled with the rest。 She patted his fair white skin； and wished she had a skin like it。 She lifted the great glossy folds of her long black hair； and compared it with the Captain's bright curly locks； and longed to change colors with him from the bottom of her heart。 His dress was a wonder to her； his watch was a new revelation。 She rested her head on his shoulder to listen delightedly to the ticking； as he held the watch to her ear。 Her fragrant breath played on his face； her warm； supple figure rested against him softly。 The Captain's arm stole round her waist； and the Captain's lips gently touched her cheek。 She lifted her head with a look of pleased surprise。 〃Thank you；〃 said the child of Nature； simply。 〃Kiss me again； I like it。 May I kiss you？〃 The tame turtle…dove perched on her shoulder as she gave the Captain her first kiss； and diverted her thoughts to the pets that she had left； in pursuit of the truant dove。 〃Come；〃 she said； 〃and see my birds。 I keep them on this side of the forest。 There is no danger； so long as you don't show yourself on the other side。 My name is Aimata。 Aimata will take care of you。 Oh； what a beautiful white neck you have！〃 She put her arm admiringly round his neck。 The Captain's arm held her tenderly to him。 Slowly the two descended the cliff； and were lost in the leafy solitudes of the forest。 And the tame dove fluttered before them； a winged messenger of love； cooing to his mate。
VI。
THE night had come； and the Captain had not left the island。
Aimata's resolution to send him away in the darkness was a forgotten resolution already。 She had let him persuade her that he was in no danger； so long as he remained in the hut on the cliff； and she had promised； at parting； to return to him while the Priest was still sleeping； at the dawn of day。
He was alone in the hut。 The thought of the innocent creature whom he loved was sorrowfully as well as tenderly present to his mind。 He almost regretted his rash visit to the island。 〃I will take her with me to England；〃 he said to himself。 〃What does a sailor care for the opinion of the world？ Aimata shall be my wife。〃
The intense heat oppressed him。 He stepped out on the cliff； toward midnight； in search of a breath of air。
At that moment； the first shock of earthquake （felt in the ship while she was inside the reef） shook the ground he stood on。 He instantly thought of the volcano on the main island。 Had he been mistaken in supposing the crater to be extinct？ Was the shock that he had just felt a warning from the volcano； communicated through a submarine connection between the two islands？ He waited and watched through the hours of darkness； with a vague sense of apprehension； which was not to be r
