pression。 Moreover； is it not a fact that the strange or unheard of can never appear beautiful in a mere description； because that which is most novel in it attracts too much attention and is given undue prominence in the picture； and we miss that which would have taken away the effect of strangenessthe perfect balance of the parts and harmony of the whole？ For instance； the blue eyes of the northerner would； when first described to the black…eyed inhabitants of warm regions； seem unbeautiful and a monstrosity； because they would vividly see with the mental vision that unheard…of blueness； but not in the same vivid way the accompanying flesh and hair tints with which it harmonizes。
Think； then； less of the picture as I have to paint it in words than of the feeling its original inspired in me when； looking closely for the first time on that rare loveliness； trembling with delight； I mentally cried： 〃Oh； why has Nature； maker of so many types and of innumerable individuals of each； given to the world but one being like this？〃
Scarcely had the thought formed itself in my mind before I dismissed it as utterly incredible。 No； this exquisite being was without doubt one of a distinct race which had existed in this little…known corner of the continent for thousands of generations； albeit now perhaps reduced to a small and dwindling remnant。
Her figure and features were singularly delicate； but it was her colour that struck me most； which indeed made her differ from all other human beings。 The colour of the skin would be almost impossible to describe； so greatly did it vary with every change of moodand the moods were many and transientand with the angle on which the sunlight touched it； and the degree of light。
Beneath the trees； at a distance； it had seemed a somewhat dim white or pale grey； near in the strong sunshine it was not white； but alabastrian； semi…pellucid； showing an underlying rose colour； and at any point where the rays fell direct this colour was bright and luminous； as we see in our fingers when held before a strong firelight。 But that part of her skin that remained in shadow appeared of a dimmer white； and the underlying colour varied from dim； rosy purple to dim blue。 With the skin the colour of the eyes harmonized perfectly。 At first； when lit with anger； they had appeared flame…like； now the iris was of a peculiar soft or dim and tender red； a shade sometimes seen in flowers。 But only when looked closely at could this delicate hue be discerned； the pupils being large； as in some grey eyes； and the long； dark； shading lashes at a short distance made the whole eye appear dark。 Think not； then； of the red flower； exposed to the light and sun in conjunction with the vivid green of the foliage； think only of such a hue in the half…hidden iris； brilliant and moist with the eye's moisture； deep with the eye's depth； glorified by the outward look of a bright； beautiful soul。 Most variable of all in colour was the hair； this being due to its extreme fineness and glossiness； and to its elasticity； which made it lie fleecy and loose on head； shoulders； and back； a cloud with a brightness on its surface made by the freer outer hairs； a fit setting and crown for a countenance of such rare changeful loveliness。 In the shade； viewed closely； the general colour appeared a slate； deepening in places to purple； but even in the shade the nimbus of free flossy hairs half veiled the darker tints with a downy pallor； and at a distance of a few yards it gave the whole hair a vague； misty appearance。 In the sunlight the colour varied more； looking now dark； sometimes intensely black； now of a light uncertain hue； with a play of iridescent colour on the loose surface； as we see on the glossed plumage of some birds； and at a short distance； with the sun shining full on her head； it sometimes looked white as a noonday cloud。 So changeful was it and ethereal in appearance with its cloud colours that all other human hair； even of the most beautiful golden shades； pale or red； seemed heavy and dull and dead…looking by comparison。
But more than form and colour and that enchanting variability was the look of intelligence； which at the same time seemed complementary to and one with the all…seeing； all…hearing alertness appearing in her face； the alertness one remarks in a wild creature； even when in repose and fearing nothing； but seldom in man； never perhaps in intellectual or studious man。 She was a wild； solitary girl of the woods； and did not understand the language of the country in which I had addressed her。 What inner or mind life could such a one have more than that of any wild animal existing in the same conditions？ Yet looking at her face it was not possible to doubt its intelligence。 This union in her of two opposite qualities； which； with us； cannot or do not exist together； although so novel； yet struck me as the girl's principal charm。 Why had Nature not done this beforewhy in all others does the brightness of the mind dim that beautiful physical brightness which the wild animals have？ But enough for me that that which no man had ever looked for or hoped to find existed here； that through that unfamiliar lustre of the wild life shone the spiritualizing light of mind that made us kin。
These thoughts passed swiftly through my brain as I stood feasting my sight on her bright； piquant face； while she on her part gazed back into my eyes； not only with fearless curiosity； but with a look of recognition and pleasure at the encounter so unmistakably friendly that； encouraged by it； I took her arm in my hand； moving at the same time a little nearer to her。 At that moment a swift； startled expression came into her eyes； she glanced down and up again into my face； her lips trembled and slightly parted as she murmured some sorrowful sounds in a tone so low as to be only just audible。
Thinking she had become alarmed and was on the point of escaping out of my hands； and fearing； above all things； to lose sight of her again so soon； I slipped my arm around her slender body to detain her； moving one foot at the same time to balance myself； and at that moment I felt a slight blow and a sharp burning sensation shoot into my leg； so sudden and intense that I dropped my arm； at the same time uttering a cry of pain； and recoiled one or two paces from her。 But she stirred not when I released her； her eyes followed my movements； then she glanced down at her feet。 I followed her look； and figure to yourself my horror when I saw there the serpent I had so completely forgotten； and which even that sting of sharp pain had not brought back to remembrance！ There it lay； a coil of its own thrown round one of her ankles； and its head； raised nearly a foot high； swaying slowly from side to side； while the swift forked tongue flickered continuously。 Thenonly thenI knew what had happened； and at the same time I understood the reason of that sudden look of alarm in her face； the murmuring sounds she had uttered； and the downward startled glance。 Her fears had been solely for my safety； and she had warned me！ Too late！ too late！ In moving I had trodden on or touched the serpent with my foot； and it had bitten me just above the ankle。 In a few moments I began to realize the horror of my position。 〃Must I die！ must I die！ Oh； my God； is there nothing that can save me？〃 I cried in my heart。
She was still standing motionless in the same place： her eyes wandered back from me to the snake； gradually its swaying head was lowered again； and the coil unwound from her ankle； then it began to move away； slowly at first； and with the head a little raised； then faster； and in the end it glided out of sight。 Gone！but it had left its venom in my bloodO cursed reptile！
Back from watching its retreat； my eyes returned to her face； now strangely clouded with trouble； her eyes dropped before mine； while the palms of her hands were pressed together； and the fingers clasped and unclasped alternately。 How different she seemed now； the brilliant face grown so pallid and vague…looking！ But not only because this tragic end to our meeting had pierced her with pain： that cloud in the west had grown up and now covered half the sky with vast lurid masses of vapour； blotting out the sun； and a great gloom had fallen on the earth。
That sudden twilight and a long roll of approaching thunder； reverberating from the hills； increased my anguish and desperation。 Death at that moment looked unutterably terrible。 The remembrance of all that made life dear pierced me to the coreall that nature was to me； all the pleasures of sense and intellect； the hopes I had cherishedall was revealed to me as by a flash of lightning。 Bitterest of all was the thought that I must now bid everlasting farewell to this beautiful being I had found in the solitude this lustrous daughter of the Didijust when I had won her from her shynessthat I must go away into the cursed blackness of death and never know the mystery of her life！ It was that which utterly unnerved me； and made my legs tremble under me； and brought great drops of sweat to my forehead； until I thought that the venom was already doing its swift； fatal work in my veins。
With uncertain steps I moved to a stone a yard or two away and sat down upon it。 As I did so the hope came to me that this girl； so intimate with nature； might know of some antidote to save me。 Touching my leg； and using other signs； I addressed her again in the Indian language。
〃The snake has bitten me；〃 I said。 〃What shall I do？ Is there no leaf； no root you know that would save me from death？ Help me！ help me！〃 I cried in despair。
My signs she probably understood if not my words； but she made no reply； and still she remained standing motionless； twisting and untwisting her fingers； and regarding me with a look of ineffable grief and compassion。
Alas！ It was vain to appeal to her： she knew what had happened； and what the result would most likely be； and pitied； but was powerless to help me。 Then it occurred to me that if I could reach the Indian village before the venom overpowered me something might be done to save me。 Oh； why had I tarried so long； losing so many precious minutes！ Large drops of rain were falling now； and t