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Green Mansions-Part34_W.H.Hudson(1841-1922)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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At all events, he said nothing to discredit my story, to which

they had all listened with profound interest.



From that time it seemed to be tacitly agreed to let bygones be

bygones; and I could see that as the dangerous feeling that had



threatened my life diminished, the old pleasure they had once

found in my company returned. But my feelings towards them did



not change, nor could they while that black and terrible

suspicionconcerning Rima was in my heart. I talked again freely



with them, as if there had been no break in the old friendly

relations. If they watched me furtively whenever I went out of



doors, I affected not to see it. I set to work to repair my rude

guitar, which had been broken in my absence, and studied to show



them a cheerfulcountenance. But when alone, or in my hammock,

hidden from their eyes, free to look into my own heart, then I



was conscious that something new and strange had come into my

life; that a new nature, black and implacable, had taken the



place of the old. And sometimes it was hard to conceal this fury

that burnt in me; sometimes I felt an impulse to spring like a



tiger on one of the Indians, to hold him fast by the throat until

the secret I wished to learn was forced from his lips, then to



dash his brains out against the stone. But they were many, and

there was no choice but to be cautious and patient if I wished to



outwit them with a cunning superior to their own.

Three days after my arrival at the village, Kua-ko returned with



his companion. I greeted him with affectedwarmth, but was

really pleased that he was back, believing that if the Indians



knew anything of Rima he among them all would be most likely to

tell it.



Kua-ko appeared to have brought some important news, which he

discussed with Runi and the others; and on the following day I



noticed that preparations for an expedition were in progress.

Spears and bows and arrows were got ready, but not blow-pipes,



and I knew by this that the expedition would not be a hunting

one. Having discovered so much, also that only four men were



going out, I called Kua-ko aside and begged him to let me go with

them. He seemed pleased at the proposal, and at once repeated it



to Runi, who considered for a little and then consented.

By and by he said, touching his bow: "You cannot fight with our



weapons; what will you do if we meet an enemy?"

I smiled and returned that I would not run away. All I wished to



show him was that his enemies were my enemies, that I was ready

to fight for my friend.



He was pleased at my words, and said no more and gave me no

weapons. Next morning, however, when we set out before daylight,



I made the discovery that he was carrying my revolver fastened to

his waist. He had concealed it carefully under the one simple



garment he wore, but it bulged slightly, and so the secret was

betrayed. I had never believed that he had lost it, and I was



convinced that he took it now with the object of putting it into

my hands at the last moment in case of meeting with an enemy.



From the village we travelled in a north-westerly direction, and

before noon camped in a grove of dwarf trees, where we remained



until the sun was low, then continued our walk through a rather

barren country. At night we camped again beside a small stream,



only a few inches deep, and after a meal of smoked meat and

parched maize prepared to sleep till dawn on the next day.



Sitting by the fire I resolved to make a first attempt to

discover from Kua-ko anything concerning Rima which might be



known to him. Instead of lying down when the others did, I

remained seated, my guardian also sitting--no doubt waiting for



me to lie down first. Presently I moved nearer to him and began

a conversation in a low voice, anxious not to rouse the attention



of the other men.

"Once you said that Oalava would be given to me for a wife," I



began. "Some day I shall want a wife."

He nodded approval, and remarked sententiously that the desire to



possess a wife was common to all men.

"What has been left to me?" I said despondingly and spreading



out my hands. "My pistol gone, and did I not give Runi the

tinder-box, and the little box with a cock painted on it to you?



I had no return--not even the blow-pipe. How, then, can I get me

a wife?"



He, like the others--dull-witted savage that he was--had come to

the belief that I was incapable of the cunning and duplicity they



practiced. I could not see a green parrot sitting silent and

motionless amidst the green foliage as they could; 1 had not



their preternatural keenness of sight; and, in like manner, to




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