westward ho-第129章
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e at not being beaten； or made to carry their captors。 Some； however； caught sight of the little calabashes of coca which the English carried。 That woke them from their torpor； and they began coaxing abjectly （and not in vain） for a taste of that miraculous herb； which would not only make food unnecessary； and enable their panting lungs to endure that keen mountain air； but would rid them； for awhile at least； of the fallen Indian's most unpitying foe； the malady of thought。
As the cavalcade turned the corner of the mountain； they paused for one last look at the scene of that fearful triumph。 Lines of vultures were already streaming out of infinite space； as if created suddenly for the occasion。 A few hours and there would be no trace of that fierce fray； but a few white bones amid untrodden beds of flowers。
And now Amyas had time to ask Ayacanora the meaning of this her strange appearance。 He wished her anywhere but where she was： but now that she was here； what heart could be so hard as not to take pity on the poor wild thing？ And Amyas as he spoke to her had； perhaps； a tenderness in his tone； from very fear of hurting her； which he had never used before。 Passionately she told him how she had followed on their track day and night； and had every evening made sounds； as loud as she dared； in hopes of their hearing her； and either waiting for her； or coming back to see what caused the noise。
Amyas now recollected the strange roaring which had followed them。
〃Noises？ What did you make them with？〃
Ayacanora lifted her finger with an air of most self…satisfied mystery； and then drew cautiously from under her feather cloak an object at which Amyas had hard work to keep his countenance。
〃Look！〃 whispered she； as if half afraid that the thing itself should hear her。 〃I have itthe holy trumpet！〃
There it was verily； that mysterious bone of contention； a handsome earthen tube some two feet long； neatly glazed； and painted with quaint grecques and figures of animals； a relic evidently of some civilization now extinct。
Brimblecombe rubbed his little fat hands。 〃Brave maid！ you have cheated Satan this time；〃 quoth he； while Yeo advised that the 〃idolatrous relic〃 should be forthwith 〃hove over cliff。〃
〃Let be；〃 said Amyas。 〃What is the meaning of this； Ayacanora？ And why have you followed us？〃
She told a long story； from which Amyas picked up； as far as he could understand her； that that trumpet had been for years the torment of her life； the one thing in the tribe superior to her； the one thing which she was not allowed to see； because； forsooth； she was a woman。 So she determined to show them that a woman was as good as a man； and hence her hatred of marriage； and her Amazonian exploits。 But still the Piache would not show her that trumpet； or tell her where it was； and as for going to seek it； even she feared the superstitious wrath of the tribe at such a profanation。 But the day after the English went； the Piache chose to express his joy at their departure； whereon； as was to be expected； a fresh explosion between master and pupil； which ended； she confessed； in her burning the old rogue's hut over his head； from which he escaped with loss of all his conjuring…tackle； and fled raging into the woods； vowing that he would carry off the trumpet to the neighboring tribe。 Whereon； by a sudden impulse； the young lady took plenty of coca； her weapons； and her feathers； started on his trail； and ran him to earth just as he was unveiling the precious mystery。 At which sight （she confessed） she was horribly afraid； and half inclined to run； but； gathering courage from the thought that the white men used to laugh at the whole matter； she rushed upon the hapless conjuror； and bore off her prize in triumph； and there it was！
〃I hope you have not killed him？〃 said Amyas。
〃I did beat him a little； but I thought you would not let me kill him。〃
Amyas was half amused with her confession of his authority over her； but she went on
〃And then I dare not go back to the Indians； so I was forced to come after you。〃
〃And is that； then； your only reason for coming after us？〃 asked stupid Amyas。
He had touched some secret chordthough what it was he was too busy to inquire。 The girl drew herself up proudly； blushing scarlet； and said：
〃You never tell lies。 Do you think that I would tell lies？〃
On which she fell to the rear； and followed them steadfastly； speaking to no one； but evidently determined to follow them to the world's end。
They soon left the highroad； and for several days held on downwards； hewing their path slowly and painfully through the thick underwood。 On the evening of the fourth day； they had reached the margin of a river； at a point where it seemed broad and still enough for navigation。 For those three days they had not seen a trace of human beings； and the spot seemed lonely enough for them to encamp without fear of discovery； and begin the making of their canoes。 They began to spread themselves along the stream； in search of the soft…wooded trees proper for their purpose； but hardly had their search begun； when； in the midst of a dense thicket； they came upon a sight which filled them with astonishment。 Beneath a honeycombed cliff； which supported one enormous cotton…tree； was a spot of some thirty yards square sloping down to the stream； planted in rows with magnificent banana…plants； full twelve feet high； and bearing among their huge waxy leaves clusters of ripening fruit； while； under their mellow shade； yams and cassava plants were flourishing luxuriantly； the whole being surrounded by a hedge of orange and scarlet flowers。 There it lay； streaked with long shadows from the setting sun； while a cool southern air rustled in the cotton…tree； and flapped to and fro the great banana…leaves； a tiny paradise of art and care。 But where was its inhabitant？
Aroused by the noise of their approach； a figure issued from a cave in the rocks； and； after gazing at them for a moment； came down the garden towards them。 He was a tall and stately old man； whose snow…white beard and hair covered his chest and shoulders； while his lower limbs were wrapt in Indian…web。 Slowly and solemnly he approached； a staff in one hand； a string of beads in the other； the living likeness of some old Hebrew prophet； or anchorite of ancient legend。 He bowed courteously to Amyas （who of course returned his salute）； and was in act to speak； when his eye fell upon the Indians； who were laying down their burdens in a heap under the trees。 His mild countenance assumed instantly an expression of the acutest sorrow and displeasure； and； striking his hands together； he spoke in Spanish：
〃Alas！ miserable me！ Alas！ unhappy senors！ Do my old eyes deceive me； and is it one of those evil visions of the past which haunt my dreams by night； or has the accursed thirst of gold； the ruin of my race； penetrated even into this my solitude？ Oh； senors； senors； know you not that you bear with you your own poison； your own familiar fiend； the root of every evil？ And is it not enough for you； senors； to load yourselves with the wedge of Achan； and partake his doom； but you must make these hapless heathens the victims of your greed and cruelty； and forestall for them on earth those torments which may await their unbaptized souls hereafter？〃
〃We have preserved； and not enslaved these Indians； ancient senor；〃 said Amyas； proudly； 〃and to…morrow will see them as free as the birds over our heads。〃
〃Free？ Then you cannot be countrymen of mine！ But pardon an old man； my son； if he has spoken too hastily in the bitterness of his own experience。 But who and whence are you？ And why are you bringing into this lonely wilderness that goldfor I know too well the shape of those accursed packets； which would God that I had never seen！〃
〃What we are； reverend sir； matters little； as long as we behave to you as the young should to the old。 As for our gold； it will be a curse or a blessing to us； I conceive； just as we use it well or ill； and so is a man's head； or his hand； or any other thing； but that is no reason for cutting off his limbs for fear of doing harm with them； neither is it for throwing away those package
