that of her skin； which looked neither brown nor white。 All together； near to me as she actually was； there was a kind of mistiness in the figure which made it appear somewhat vague and distant； and a greenish grey seemed the prevailing colour。 This tint I presently attributed to the effect of the sunlight falling on her through the green foliage； for once； for a moment； she raised herself to reach her finger nearer to the bird； and then a gleam of unsubdued sunlight fell on her hair and arm； and the arm at that moment appeared of a pearly whiteness； and the hair； just where the light touched it； had a strange lustre and play of iridescent colour。
I had not been watching her more than three seconds before the bird； with a sharp； creaking little chirp； flew up and away in sudden alarm； at the same moment she turned and saw me through the light leafy screen。 But although catching sight of me thus suddenly； she did not exhibit alarm like the bird； only her eyes； wide open； with a surprised look in them； remained immovably fixed on my face。 And then slowly； imperceptiblyfor I did not notice the actual movement； so gradual and smooth it was； like the motion of a cloud of mist which changes its form and place； yet to the eye seems not to have movedshe rose to her knees； to her feet； retired； and with face still towards me； and eyes fixed on mine； finally disappeared； going as if she had melted away into the verdure。 The leafage was there occupying the precise spot where she had been a moment beforethe feathery foliage of an acacia shrub； and stems and broad； arrow…shaped leaves of an aquatic plant； and slim； drooping fern fronds； and they were motionless and seemed not to have been touched by something passing through them。 She had gone； yet I continued still； bent almost double； gazing fixedly at the spot where I had last seen her； my mind in a strange condition； possessed by sensations which were keenly felt and yet contradictory。 So vivid was the image left on my brain that she still seemed to be actually before my eyes； and she was not there； nor had been； for it was a dream； an illusion； and no such being existed； or could exist； in this gross world； and at the same time I knew that she had been therethat imagination was powerless to conjure up a form so exquisite。
With the mental image I had to be satisfied； for although I remained for some hours at that spot； I saw her no more； nor did I hear any familiar melodious sound。 For I was now convinced that in this wild solitary girl I had at length discovered the mysterious warbler that so often followed me in the wood。 At length； seeing that it was growing late； I took a drink from the stream and slowly and reluctantly made my way out of the forest and went home。
Early next day I was back in the wood full of delightful anticipations； and had no sooner got well among the trees than a soft； warbling sound reached my ears； it was like that heard on the previous day just before catching sight of the girl among the ferns。 So soon！ thought I； elated； and with cautious steps I proceeded to explore the ground； hoping again to catch her unawares。 But I saw nothing； and only after beginning to doubt that I had heard anything unusual； and had sat down to rest on a rock； the sound was repeated； soft and low as before； very near and distinct。 Nothing more was heard at this spot； but an hour later； in another place； the same mysterious note sounded near me。 During my remaining time in the forest I was served many times in the same way； and still nothing was seen； nor was there any change in the voice。
Only when the day was near its end did I give up my quest； feeling very keenly disappointed。 It then struck me that the cause of the elusive creature's behaviour was that she had been piqued at my discovery of her in one of her most secret hiding…places in the heart of the wood； and that it had pleased her to pay me out in this manner。
On the next day there was no change； she was there again； evidently following me； but always invisible； and varied not from that one mocking note of yesterday； which seemed to challenge me to find her a second time。 In the end I was vexed； and resolved to be even with her by not visiting the wood for some time。 A display of indifference on my part would； I hoped； result in making her less coy in the future。
Next day； firm in my new resolution； I accompanied Kua…ko and two others to a distant spot where they expected that the ripening fruit on a cashew tree would attract a large number of birds。 The fruit； however； proved still green； so that we gathered none and killed few birds。 Returning together； Kua…ko kept at my side； and by and by； falling behind our companions； he complimented me on my good shooting； although； as usual； I had only wasted the arrows I had blown。
〃Soon you will be able to hit；〃 he said； 〃hit a bird as big as a small woman〃； and he laughed once more immoderately at the old joke。 At last； growing confidential； he said that I would soon possess a zabatana of my own； with arrows in plenty。 He was going to make the arrows himself； and his uncle Otawinki； who had a straight eye； would make the tube。 I treated it all as a joke； but he solemnly assured me that he meant it。
Next morning he asked me if I was going to the forest of evil fame； and when I replied in the negative； seemed surprised and； very much to my surprise； evidently disappointed。 He even tried to persuade me to go； where before I had been earnestly recommended not to go； until； finding that I would not； he took me with him to hunt in the woods。 By and by he returned to the same subject： he could not understand why I would not go to that wood； and asked me if I had begun to grow afraid。
〃No； not afraid；〃 I replied； 〃but I know the place well； and am getting tired of it。〃 I had seen everything in itbirds and beastsand had heard all its strange noises。
〃Yes； heard；〃 he said； nodding his head knowingly； 〃but you have seen nothing strange； your eyes are not good enough yet。〃
I laughed contemptuously and answered that I had seen everything strange the wood contained； including a strange young girl； and I went on to describe her appearance； and finished by asking if he thought a white man was frightened at the sight of a young girl。
What I said astonished him； then he seemed greatly pleased； and； growing still more confidential and generous than on the previous day； he said that I would soon be a most important personage among them； and greatly distinguish myself。 He did not like it when I laughed at all this； and went on with great seriousness to speak of the unmade blowpipe that would be minespeaking of it as if it had been something very great； equal to the gift of a large tract of land； or the governorship of a province； north of the Orinoco。 And by and by he spoke of something else more wonderful even than the promise of a blow…pipe； with arrows galore； and this was that young sister of his； whose name was Oalava； a maid of about sixteen； shy and silent and mild…eyed； rather lean and dirty； not ugly； nor yet prepossessing。 And this copper…coloured little drab of the wilderness he proposed to bestow in marriage on me！ Anxious to pump him； I managed to control my muscles and asked him what authority hea young nobody； who had not yet risen to the dignity of buying a wife for himselfcould have to dispose of a sister in this offhand way？ He replied that there would be no difficulty： that Runi would give his consent； as would also Otawinki； Piake； and other relations； and last； and LEAST； according to the matrimonial customs of these latitudes； Oalava herself would be ready to bestow her personqueyou； worn figleaf…wise； necklace of accouri teeth； and allon so worthy a suitor as myself。 Finally； to make the prospect still more inviting； he added that it would not be necessary for me to subject myself to any voluntary tortures to prove myself a man and fitted to enter into the purgatorial state of matrimony。 He was a great deal too considerate； I said； and； with all the gravity I could command； asked him what kind of torture he would recommend。 For meso valorous a person〃no torture；〃 he answered magnanimously。 But heKua…kohad made up his mind as to the form of torture he meant to inflict some day on his own person。 He would prepare a large sack and into it put fire…ants〃As many as that！〃 he exclaimed triumphantly； stooping and filling his two hands with loose sand。 He would put them in the sack； and then get into it himself naked； and tie it tightly round his neck； so as to show to all spectators that the hellish pain of innumerable venomous stings in his flesh could be endured without a groan and with an unmoved countenance。 The poor youth had not an original mind； since this was one of the commonest forms of self…torture among the Guayana tribes。 But the sudden wonderful animation with which he spoke of it； the fiendish joy that illumined his usually stolid countenance； sent a sudden disgust and horror through me。 But what a strange inverted kind of fiendishness is this； which delights at the anticipation of torture inflicted on oneself and not on an enemy！ And towards others these savages are mild and peaceable！ No； I could not believe in their mildness； that was only on the surface； when nothing occurred to rouse their savage； cruel instincts。 I could have laughed at the whole matter； but the exulting look on my companion's face had made me sick of the subject； and I wished not to talk any more about it。
But he would talk stillthis fellow whose words； as a rule； I had to take out of his mouth with a fork； as we say； and still on the same subject； he said that not one person in the village would expect to see me torture myself； that after what I would do for them allafter delivering them from a great evilnothing further would be expected of me。
I asked him to explain his meaning； for it now began to appear plain that in everything he had said he had been leading up to some very important matter。 It would； of course； have been a great mistake to suppose that my savage was offering me a blow…pipe and a marketable virgin sister from purely disinterested motives。
In reply he went back to that still unforgotten joke about my b