green mansions-第6章
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m more miserable； nor has he any apprehension。 For weeks I had been searching with eager； feverish eyes in every village； in every rocky crevice； in every noisy mountain streamlet； for the glittering yellow dust I had travelled so far to find。 And now all my beautiful dreamsall the pleasure and power to behad vanished like a mere mirage on the savannah at noon。
It was a day of despair which I spent in this place； sitting all day indoors； for it was raining hard； immersed in my own gloomy thoughts； pretending to doze in my seat； and out of the narrow slits of my half…closed eyes seeing the others； also sitting or moving about； like shadows or people in a dream； and I cared nothing about them； and wished not to seem friendly； even for the sake of the food they might offer me by and by。
Towards evening the rain ceased； and rising up I went out a short distance to the neighbouring stream； where I sat on a stone and； casting off my sandals； raved my bruised feet in the cool running water。 The western half of the sky was blue again with that tender lucid blue seen after rain； but the leaves still glittered with water； and the wet trunks looked almost black under the green foliage。 The rare loveliness of the scene touched and lightened my heart。 Away back in the east the hills of Parahuari； with the level sun full on them； loomed with a strange glory against the grey rainy clouds drawing off on that side； and their new mystic beauty almost made me forget how these same hills had wearied； and hurt； and mocked me。 On that side； also to the north and south； there was open forest； but to the west a different prospect met the eye。 Beyond the stream and the strip of verdure that fringed it； and the few scattered dwarf trees growing near its banks； spread a brown savannah sloping upwards to a long； low； rocky ridge； beyond which rose a great solitary hill； or rather mountain； conical in form； and clothed in forest almost to the summit。 This was the mountain Ytaioa； the chief landmark in that district。 As the sun went down over the ridge； beyond the savannah； the whole western sky changed to a delicate rose colour that had the appearance of rose…coloured smoke blown there by some far off…wind； and left suspendeda thin； brilliant veil showing through it the distant sky beyond； blue and ethereal。 Flocks of birds； a kind of troupial； were flying past me overhead； flock succeeding flock； on their way to their roosting…place； uttering as they flew a clear； bell…like chirp； and there was something ethereal too in those drops of melodious sound； which fell into my heart like raindrops falling into a pool to mix their fresh heavenly water with the water of earth。
Doubtless into the turbid tarn of my heart some sacred drops had fallenfrom the passing birds； from that crimson disk which had now dropped below the horizon； the darkening hills； the rose and blue of infinite heaven； from the whole visible circle； and I felt purified and had a strange sense and apprehension of a secret innocence and spirituality in naturea prescience of some bourn； incalculably distant perhaps； to which we are all moving； of a time when the heavenly rain shall have washed us clean from all spot and blemish。 This unexpected peace which I had found now seemed to me of infinitely greater value than that yellow metal I had missed finding； with all its possibilities。 My wish now was to rest for a season at this spot； so remote and lovely and peaceful； where I had experienced such unusual feelings and such a blessed disillusionment。
This was the end of my second period in Guayana： the first had been filled with that dream of a book to win me fame in my country； perhaps even in Europe； the second； from the time of leaving the Queneveta mountains； with the dream of boundless wealththe old dream of gold in this region that has drawn so many minds since the days of Francisco Pizarro。 But to remain I must propitiate Runi； sitting silent with gloomy brows over there indoors； and he did not appear to me like one that might be won with words； however flattering。 It was clear to me that the time had come to part with my one remaining valuable trinketthe 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 bronze statue 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 copious stream； without pausing to take breath or hesitating over a wordto 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 contemptto 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 seasoned old savage was affected by this time。 In vino veritas； said the ancients； and the principle holds good
