rom purely disinterested motives。
In reply he went back to that still unforgotten joke about my being able eventually to hit a bird as big as a small woman with an arrow。 Out of it all came； when he went on to ask me if that mysterious girl I had seen in the wood was not of a size to suit me as a target when I had got my hand in with a little more practice。 That was the great work I was asked to do for themthat shy； mysterious girl with the melodious wild…bird voice was the evil being I was asked to slay with poisoned arrows！ This was why he now wished me to go often to the wood； to become more and more familiar with her haunts and habits； to overcome all shyness and suspicion in her； and at the proper moment； when it would be impossible to miss my mark； to plant the fatal arrow！ The disgust he had inspired in me before； when gloating over anticipated tortures； was a weak and transient feeling to what I now experienced。 I turned on him in a sudden transport of rage； and in a moment would have shattered on his head the blow…pipe I was carrying in my hand； but his astonished look as he turned to face me made me pause and prevented me from committing so fatal an indiscretion。 I could only grind my teeth and struggle to overcome an almost overpowering hatred and wrath。 Finally I flung the tube down and bade him take it； telling him that I would not touch it again if he offered me all the sisters of all the savages in Guayana for wives。
He continued gazing at me mute with astonishment； and prudence suggested that it would be best to conceal as far as possible the violent animosity I had conceived against him。 I asked him somewhat scornfully if he believed that I should ever be able to hit anythingbird or human beingwith an arrow。 〃No；〃 I almost shouted； so as to give vent to my feelings in some way； and drawing my revolver； 〃this is the white man's weapon； but he kills men with itmen who attempt to kill or injure himbut neither with this nor any other weapon does he murder innocent young girls treacherously。〃 After that we went on in silence for some time； at length he said that the being I had seen in the wood and was not afraid of was no innocent young girl； but a daughter of the Didi； an evil being； and that so long as she continued to inhabit the wood they could not go there to hunt； and even in other woods they constantly went in fear of meeting her。 Too much disgusted to talk with him； I went on in silence； and when we reached the stream near the village； I threw off my clothes and plunged into the water to cool my anger before going in to the others。
CHAPTER VI
Thinking about the forest girl while lying awake that night； I came to the conclusion that I had made it sufficiently plain to her how little her capricious behaviour had been relished； and had therefore no need to punish myself more by keeping any longer out of my beloved green mansions。 Accordingly； next day； after the heavy rain that fell during the morning hours had ceased； I set forth about noon to visit the wood。 Overhead the sky was clear again； but there was no motion in the heavy sultry atmosphere； while dark blue masses of banked…up clouds on the western horizon threatened a fresh downpour later in the day。 My mind was； however； now too greatly excited at the prospect of a possible encounter with the forest nymph to allow me to pay any heed to these ominous signs。
I had passed through the first strip of wood and was in the succeeding stony sterile space when a gleam of brilliant colour close by on the ground caught my sight。 It was a snake lying on the bare earth； had I kept on without noticing it； I should most probably have trodden upon or dangerously near it。 Viewing it closely； I found that it was a coral snake； famed as much for its beauty and singularity as for its deadly character。 It was about three feet long； and very slim； its ground colour a brilliant vermilion； with broad jet…black rings at equal distances round its body； each black ring or band divided by a narrow yellow strip in the middle。 The symmetrical pattern and vividly contrasted colours would have given it the appearance of an artificial snake made by some fanciful artist； but for the gleam of life in its bright coils。 Its fixed eyes； too； were living gems； and from the point of its dangerous arrowy head the glistening tongue flickered ceaselessly as I stood a few yards away regarding it。
〃I admire you greatly； Sir Serpent；〃 I said； or thought； 〃but it is dangerous； say the military authorities； to leave an enemy or possible enemy in the rear； the person who does such a thing must be either a bad strategist or a genius； and I am neither。〃
Retreating a few paces； I found and picked up a stone about as big as a man's hand and hurled it at the dangerous…looking head with the intention of crushing it； but the stone hit upon the rocky ground a little on one side of the mark and； being soft； flew into a hundred small fragments。 This roused the creature's anger； and in a moment with raised head he was gliding swiftly towards me。 Again I retreated； not so slowly on this occasion； and finding another stone； I raised and was about to launch it when a sharp； ringing cry issued from the bushes growing near； and； quickly following the sound； forth stepped the forest girl； no longer elusive and shy； vaguely seen in the shadowy wood； but boldly challenging attention； exposed to the full power of the meridian sun； which made her appear luminous and rich in colour beyond example。 Seeing her thus； all those emotions of fear and abhorrence invariably excited in us by the sight of an active venomous serpent in our path vanished instantly from my mind： I could now only feel astonishment and admiration et the brilliant being as she advanced with swift； easy； undulating motion towards me； or rather towards the serpent； which was now between us； moving more and more slowly as she came nearer。 The cause of this sudden wonderful boldness； so unlike her former habit； was unmistakable。 She had been watching my approach from some hiding…place among the bushes； ready no doubt to lead me a dance through the wood with her mocking voice； as on previous occasions； when my attack on the serpent caused that outburst of wrath。 The torrent of ringing and to me inarticulate sounds in that unknown tongue； her rapid gestures； and； above all； her wide…open sparkling eyes and face aflame with colour made it impossible to mistake the nature of her feeling。
In casting about for some term or figure of speech in which to describe the impression produced on me at that moment； I think of waspish； and； better still； avispadaliterally the same word in Spanish； not having precisely the same meaning nor ever applied contemptuouslyonly to reject both after a moment's reflection。 Yet I go back to the image of an irritated wasp as perhaps offering the best illustration； of some large tropical wasp advancing angrily towards me； as I have witnessed a hundred times； not exactly flying； but moving rapidly； half running and half flying； over the ground； with loud and angry buzz； the glistening wings open and agitated； beautiful beyond most animated creatures in its sharp but graceful lines； polished surface； and varied brilliant colouring； and that wrathfulness that fits it so well and seems to give it additional lustre。
Wonder…struck at the sight of her strange beauty and passion； I forgot the advancing snake until she came to a stop at about five yards from me； then to my horror I saw that it was beside her naked feet。 Although no longer advancing； the head was still raised high as if to strike； but presently the spirit of anger appeared to die out of it； the lifted head； oscillating a little from side to side； sunk down lower and lower to rest finally on the girl's bare instep； and lying there motionless； the deadly thing had the appearance of a gaily coloured silken garter just dropped from her leg。 It was plain to see that she had no fear of it； that she was one of those exceptional persons； to be found； it is said； in all countries； who possess some magnetic quality which has a soothing effect on even the most venomous and irritable reptiles。
Following the direction of my eyes； she too glanced down； but did not move her foot； then she made her voice heard again； still loud and sharp； but the anger was not now so pronounced。
〃Do not fear； I shall not harm it；〃 I said in the Indian tongue。
She took no notice of my speech and continued speaking with increasing resentment。
I shook my head； replying that her language was unknown to me。 Then by means of signs I tried to make her understand that the creature was safe from further molestation。 She pointed indignantly at the stone in my hand； which I had forgotten all about。 At once I threw it from me； and instantly there was a change； the resentment had vanished； and a tender radiance lit her face like a smile。
I advanced a little nearer； addressing her once more in the Indian tongue； but my speech was evidently unintelligible to her； as she stood now glancing at the snake lying at her feet； now at me。 Again I had recourse to signs and gestures； pointing to the snake； then to the stone I had cast away； I endeavoured to convey to her that in the future I would for her sake be a friend to all venomous reptiles； and that I wished her to have the same kindly feelings towards me as towards these creatures。 Whether or not she understood me； she showed no disposition to go into hiding again； and continued silently regarding me with a look that seemed to express pleasure at finding herself at last thus suddenly brought face to face with me。 Flattered at this； I gradually drew nearer until at the last I was standing at her side； gazing down with the utmost delight into that face which so greatly surpassed in loveliness all human faces I had ever seen or imagined。
And yet to you； my friend； it probably will not seem that she was so beautiful； since I have； alas！ only the words we all use to paint commoner； coarser things； and no means to represent all the exquisite details； all the delicate lights； and shades； and swift changes of colour and expression。 Moreover； is it not a fact that the strange or unheard of can never appear beautiful in a