had I tarried so long； losing so many precious minutes！ Large drops of rain were falling now； and the gloom was deeper； and the thunder almost continuous。 With a cry of anguish I started to my feet and was about to rush away towards the village when a dazzling flash of lightning made me pause for a moment。 When it vanished I turned a last look on the girl； and her face was deathly pale； and her hair looked blacker than night； and as she looked she stretched out her arms towards me and uttered a low； wailing cry。 〃Good…bye for ever！〃 I murmured； and turning once more from her； rushed away like one crazed into the wood。 But in my confusion I had probably taken the wrong direction； for instead of coming out in a few minutes into the open border of the forest； and on to the savannah； I found myself every moment getting deeper among the trees。 I stood still； perplexed； but could not shake off the conviction that I had started in the right direction。 Eventually I resolved to keep on for a hundred yards or so and then； if no opening appeared； to turn back and retrace my steps。 But this was no easy matter。 I soon became entangled in a dense undergrowth； which so confused me that at last I confessed despairingly to myself that for the first time in this wood I was hopelessly lost。 And in what terrible circumstances！ At intervals a flash of lightning would throw a vivid blue glare down into the interior of the wood and only serve to show that I had lost myself in a place where even at noon in cloudless weather progress would be most difficult； and now the light would only last a moment； to be followed by thick gloom； and I could only tear blindly on； bruising and lacerating my flesh at every step； falling again and again； only to struggle up and on again； now high above the surface； climbing over prostrate trees and branches； now plunged to my middle in a pool or torrent of water。
Hopelessutterly hopeless seemed all my mad efforts； and at each pause； when I would stand exhausted； gasping for breath； my throbbing heart almost suffocating me； a dull； continuous； teasing pain in my bitten leg served to remind me that I had but a little time left to existthat by delaying at first I had allowed my only chance of salvation to slip by。
How long a time I spent fighting my way through this dense black wood I know not； perhaps two or three hours； only to me the hours seemed like years of prolonged agony。 At last； all at once； I found that I was free of the close undergrowth and walking on level ground； but it was darker here darker than the darkest night； and at length； when the lightning came and flared down through the dense roof of foliage overhead； I discovered that I was in a spot that had a strange look； where the trees were very large and grew wide apart； and with no undergrowth to impede progress beneath them。 Here； recovering breath； I began to run； and after a while found that I had left the large trees behind me； and was now in a more open place； with small trees and bushes； and this made me hope for a while that I had at last reached the border of the forest。 But the hope proved vain； once more I had to force my way through dense undergrowth； and finally emerged on to a slope where it was open； and I could once more see for some distance around me by such light as came through the thick pall of clouds。 Trudging on to the summit of the slope； I saw that there was open savannah country beyond； and for a moment rejoiced that I had got free from the forest。 A few steps more； and I was standing on the very edge of a bank； a precipice not less than fifty feet deep。 I had never seen that bank before； and therefore knew that I could not be on the right side of the forest。 But now my only hope was to get completely away from the trees and then to look for the village； and I began following the bank in search of a descent。 No break occurred； and presently I was stopped by a dense thicket of bushes。 I was about to retrace my steps when I noticed that a tall slender tree growing at the foot of the precipice； its green top not more than a couple of yards below my feet； seemed to offer a means of escape。 Nerving myself with the thought that if I got crushed by the fall I should probably escape a lingering and far more painful death； I dropped into the cloud of foliage beneath me and clutched desperately at the twigs as I fell。 For a moment I felt myself sustained； but branch after branch gave way beneath my weight； and then I only remember； very dimly； a swift flight through the air before losing consciousness。
CHAPTER VII
With the return of consciousness； I at first had a vague impression that I was lying somewhere； injured； and incapable of motion； that it was night； and necessary for me to keep my eyes fast shut to prevent them from being blinded by almost continuous vivid flashes of lightning。 Injured； and sore all over； but warm and drysurely dry； nor was it lightning that dazzled； but firelight。 I began to notice things little by little。 The fire was burning on a clay floor a few feet from where I was lying。 Before it； on a log of wood； sat or crouched a human figure。 An old man； with chin on breast and hands clasped before his drawn…up knees； only a small portion of his forehead and nose visible to me。 An Indian I took him to be； from his coarse； lank； grey hair and dark brown skin。 I was in a large hut； falling at the sides to within two feet of the floor； but there were no hammocks in it； nor bows and spears； and no skins； not even under me； for I was lying on straw mats。 I could hear the storm still raging outside； the rush and splash of rain； and； at intervals； the distant growl of thunder。 There was wind； too； I listened to it sobbing in the trees； and occasionally a puff found its way in； and blew up the white ashes at the old man's feet； and shook the yellow flames like a flag。 I remembered now how the storm began； the wild girl； the snake…bite； my violent efforts to find a way out of the woods； and； finally； that leap from the bank where recollection ended。 That I had not been killed by the venomous tooth； nor the subsequent fearful fall； seemed like a miracle to me。 And in that wild； solitary place； lying insensible； in that awful storm and darkness； I had been found by a fellow creaturea savage； doubtless； but a good Samaritan all the samewho had rescued me from death！ I was bruised all over and did not attempt to move； fearing the pain it would give me； and I had a racking headache； but these seemed trifling discomforts after such adventures and such perils。 I felt that I had recovered or was recovering from that venomous bite； that I would live and not dielive to return to my country； and the thought filled my heart to overflowing； and tears of gratitude and happiness rose to my eyes。
At such times a man experiences benevolent feelings； and would willingly bestow some of that overplus of happiness on his fellows to lighten other hearts； and this old man before me； who was probably the instrument of my salvation； began greatly to excite my interest and compassion。 For he seemed so poor in his old age and rags； so solitary and dejected as he sat there with knees drawn up； his great； brown； bare feet looking almost black by contrast with the white wood…ashes about them！ What could I do for him？ What could I say to cheer his spirits in that Indian language； which has few or no words to express kindly feelings？ Unable to think of anything better to say； I at length suddenly cried aloud： 〃Smoke； old man！ Why do you not smoke？ It is good to smoke。〃
He gave a mighty start and； turning； fixed his eyes on me。 Then I saw that he was not a pure Indian； for although as brown as old leather； he wore a beard and moustache。 A curious face had this old man； which looked as if youth and age had made it a battling…ground。 His forehead was smooth except for two parallel lines in the middle running its entire length； dividing it in zones； his arched eyebrows were black as ink； and his small black eyes were bright and cunning； like the eyes of some wild carnivorous animal。 In this part of his face youth had held its own； especially in the eyes； which looked young and lively。 But lower down age had conquered； scribbling his skin all over with wrinkles； while moustache and beard were white as thistledown。 〃Aha； the dead man is alive again！〃 he exclaimed； with a chuckling laugh。 This in the Indian tongue； then in Spanish he added： 〃But speak to me in the language you know best； senor； for if you are not a Venezuelan call me an owl。〃
〃And you； old man？〃 said I。
〃Ah； I was right！ Why sir what I am is plainly written on my face。
Surely you do not take me for a pagan！ I might be a black man from Africa； or an Englishman； but an Indianthat； no！ But a minute ago you had the goodness to invite me to smoke。 How； sir； can a poor man smoke who is without tobacco？〃
〃Without tobaccoin Guayana！〃
〃Can you believe it？ But； sir； do not blame me； if the beast that came one night and destroyed my plants when ripe for cutting had taken pumpkins and sweet potatoes instead； it would have been better for him； if curses have any effect。 And the plant grows slowly； sirit is not an evil weed to come to maturity in a single day。 And as for other leaves in the forest； I smoke them； yes； but there is no comfort to the lungs in such smoke。〃
〃My tobacco…pouch was full；〃 I said。 〃You will find it in my coat； if I did not lose it。〃
〃The saints forbid！〃 he exclaimed。 〃GrandchildRima； have you got a tobacco…pouch with the other things？ Give it to me。〃
Then I first noticed that another person was in the hut； a slim young girl； who had been seated against the wall on the other side of the fire； partially hid by the shadows。 She had my leather belt； with the revolver in its case； and my hunting…knife attached； and the few articles I had had in my pockets； on her lap。 Taking up the pouch； she handed it to him； and he clutched it with a strange eagerness。
〃I will give it back presently； Rima；〃 he said。 〃Let me first smoke a cigaretteand then another。〃
It seemed probable from this that the good old man had already been casting covetous eyes on my property； and that his granddaughter had taken c