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Green Mansions-Part4_W.H.Hudson(1841-1922)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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tinder-box of chased silver.

I returned to the house and, going in, seated myself on a log by



the fire, just opposite to my grim host, who was smoking and

appeared not to have moved since I left him. I made myself a



cigarette, then drew out the tinder-box, with its flint and steel

attached to it by means of two small silver chains. His eyes



brightened a little as they curiously watched my movements, and

he pointed without speaking to the glowing coals of fire at my



feet. I shook my head, and striking the steel, sent out a

brilliant spray of sparks, then blew on the tinder and lit my



cigarette.

This done, instead of returning the box to my pocket I passed the



chain through the buttonhole of my cloak and let it dangle on my

breast as an ornament. When the cigarette was smoked, I cleared



my throat in the orthodox manner and fixed my eyes on Runi, who,

on his part, made a slight movement to indicate that he was ready



to listen to what I had to say.

My speech was long, lasting at least half an hour, delivered in a



profound silence; it was chiefly occupied with an account of my

wanderings in Guayana; and being little more than a catalogue of



names of all the places I had visited, and the tribes and chief

or head men with whom I had come in contact, I was able to speak



continuously, and so to hide my ignorance of a dialect which was

still new to me. The Guayana savage judges a man for his staying



powers. To stand as motionless as a bronzestatue for one or two

hours watching for a bird; to sit or lie still for half a day; to



endure pain, not seldom self-inflicted, without wincing; and when

delivering a speech to pour it out in a copiousstream, without



pausing to take breath or hesitating over a word--to be able to

do all this is to prove yourself a man, an equal, one to be



respected and even made a friend of. What I really wished to say

to him was put in a few words at the conclusion of my well-nigh



meaningless oration. Everywhere, I said, I had been the Indian's

friend, and I wished to be his friend, to live with him at



Parahuari, even as I had lived with other chiefs and heads of

villages and families; to be looked on by him, as these others



had looked on me, not as a stranger or a white man, but as a

friend, a brother, an Indian.



I ceased speaking, and there was a slight murmurous sound in the

room, as of wind long pent up in many lungs suddenly exhaled;



while Runi, still unmoved, emitted a low grunt. Then I rose, and

detaching the silver ornament from my cloak, presented it to him.



He accepted it; not very graciously, as a stranger to these

people might have imagined; but I was satisfied, feeling sure



that I had made a favourable impression. After a little he

handed the box to the person sitting next to him, who examined it



and passed it on to a third, and in this way it went round and

came back once more to Runi. Then he called for a drink. There



happened to be a store of casserie in the house; probably the

women had been busy for some days past in making it, little



thinking that it was destined to be prematurely consumed. A

large jarful was produced; Runi politely quaffed the first cup; I



followed; then the others; and the women drank also, a woman

taking about one cupful to a man's three. Runi and I, however,



drank the most, for we had our positions as the two principal

personages there to maintain. Tongues were loosened now; for the



alcohol, small as the quantity contained in this mild liquor is,

had begun to tell on our brains. I had not their pottle-shaped



stomach, made to hold unlimited quantities of meat and drink; but

I was determined on this most important occasion not to deserve



my host's contempt--to be compared, perhaps, to the small bird

that delicately picks up six drops of water in its bill and is



satisfied. I would measure my strength against his, and if

necessary drink myself into a state of insensibility.



At last I was scarcely able to stand on my legs. But even the




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