than men； are yet without that larger adaptiveness which can take us back to the sources of life； which they have left eternally behind。 Better； far better for both of us that she should wait through the long； slow months； growing sick at heart with hope deferred； that； seeing me no more； she should weep my loss； and be healed at last by time； and find love and happiness again in the old way； in the old place。
And while I thus sat thinking； sadly enough； but not despondingly； of past and present and future； all at once on the warm； still air came the resonant； far…reaching KLING…KLANG of the campanero from some leafy summit half a league away。 KLING…KLANG fell the sound again； and often again； at intervals； affecting me strangely at that moment； so bell…like； so like the great wide…travelling sounds associated in our minds with Christian worship。 And yet so unlike。 A bell； yet not made of gross metal dug out of earth； but of an ethereal； sublimer material that floats impalpable and invisible in spacea vital bell suspended on nothing； giving out sounds in harmony with the vastness of blue heaven； the unsullied purity of nature； the glory of the sun； and conveying a mystic； a higher message to the soul than the sounds that surge from tower and belfry。
O mystic bell…bird of the heavenly race of the swallow and dove； the quetzal and the nightingale！ When the brutish savage and the brutish white man that slay thee； one for food； the other for the benefit of science； shall have passed away； live still； live to tell thy message to the blameless spiritualized race that shall come after us to possess the earth； not for a thousand years； but for ever； for how much shall thy voice be our clarified successors when even to my dull； unpurged soul thou canst speak such high things and bring it a sense of an impersonal； all…compromising One who is in me and I in Him； flesh of His flesh and soul of His soul。
The sounds ceased； but I was still in that exalted mood and； like a person in a trance； staring fixedly before me into the open wood of scattered dwarf trees on the other side of the stream； when suddenly on the field of vision appeared a grotesque human figure moving towards me。 I started violently； astonished and a little alarmed； but in a very few moments I recognized the ancient Cla…cla； coming home with a large bundle of dry sticks on her shoulders； bent almost double under the burden； and still ignorant of my presence。 Slowly she came down to the stream； then cautiously made her way over the line of stepping…stones by which it was crossed； and only when within ten yards did the old creature catch sight of me sitting silent and motionless in her path。 With a sharp cry of amazement and terror she straightened herself up； the bundle of sticks dropping to the ground； and turned to run from me。 That； at all events； seemed her intention； for her body was thrown forward； and her head and arms working like those of a person going at full speed； but her legs seemed paralysed and her feet remained planted on the same spot。 I burst out laughing； whereat she twisted her neck until her wrinkled； brown old face appeared over her shoulder staring at me。 This made me laugh again； whereupon she straightened herself up once more and turned round to have a good look at me。
〃Come； Cla…cla；〃 I cried； 〃can you not see that I am a living man and no spirit？ I thought no one had remained behind to keep me company and give me food。 Why are you not with the others？〃
〃Ah； why！〃 she returned tragically。 And then deliberately turning from me and assuming a most unladylike attitude； she slapped herself vigorously on the small of the back； exclaiming： 〃Because of my pain here！〃
As she continued in that position with her back towards me for some time； I laughed once more and begged her to explain。
Slowly she turned round and advanced cautiously towards me； staring at me all the time。 Finally； still eyeing me suspiciously； she related that the others had all gone on a visit to a distant village； she starting with them； that after going some distance a pain had attacked her in her hind quarters； so sudden and acute that it had instantly brought her to a full stop； and to illustrate how full the stop was she allowed herself to go down； very unnecessarily； with a flop to the ground。 But she no sooner touched the ground than up she started to her feet again； with an alarmed look on her owlish face； as if she had sat down on a stinging…nettle。
〃We thought you were dead；〃 she remarked； still thinking that I might be a ghost after all。
〃No； still alive；〃 I said。 〃And so because you came to the ground with your pain； they left you behind！ Well； never mind； Cla…cla； we are two now and must try to be happy together。〃
By this time she had recovered from her fear and began to feel highly pleased at my return； only lamenting that she had no meat to give me。 She was anxious to hear my adventures； and the reason of my long absence。 I had no wish to gratify her curiosity； with the truth at all events； knowing very well that with regard to the daughter of the Didi her feelings were as purely savage and malignant as those of Kua…ko。 But it was necessary to say something； and； fortifying myself with the good old Spanish notion that lies told to the heathen are not recorded； I related that a venomous serpent had bitten me； after which a terrible thunderstorm had surprised me in the forest； and night coming on prevented my escape from it； then； next day； remembering that he who is bitten by a serpent dies； and not wishing to distress my friends with the sight of my dissolution； I elected to remain； sitting there in the wood； amusing myself by singing songs and smoking cigarettes； and after several days and nights had gone by； finding that I was not going to die after all； and beginning to feel hungry； I got up and came back。
Old Cla…cla looked very serious； shaking and nodding her head a great deal； muttering to herself； finally she gave it as her opinion that nothing ever would or could kill me； but whether my story had been believed or not she only knew。
I spent an amusing evening with my old savage hostess。 She had thrown off her ailments and； pleased at having a companion in her dreary solitude； she was good…tempered and talkative； and much more inclined to laugh than when the others were present； when she was on her dignity。
We sat by the fire； cooking such food as we had； and talked and smoked； then I sang her songs in Spanish with that melody of my own
Muy mas clara que la luna；
and she rewarded me by emitting a barbarous chant in a shrill； screechy voice； and finally； starting up； I danced for her benefit polka； mazurka； and valse； whistling and singing to my motions。
More than once during the evening she tried to introduce serious subjects； telling me that I must always live with them； learn to shoot the birds and catch the fishes； and have a wife； and then she would speak of her granddaughter Oalava； whose virtues it was proper to mention； but whose physical charms needed no description since they had never been concealed。 Each time she got on this topic I cut her short； vowing that if I ever married she only should be my wife。 She informed me that she was old and past her fruitful period； that not much longer would she make cassava bread； and blow the fire to a flame with her wheezy old bellows； and talk the men to sleep at night。 But I stuck to it that she was young and beautiful； that our descendants would be more numerous than the birds in the forest。 I went out to some bushes close by； where I had noticed a passion plant in bloom； and gathering a few splendid scarlet blossoms with their stems and leaves； I brought them in and wove them into a garland for the old dame's head； then I pulled her up； in spite of screams and struggles； and waltzed her wildly to the other end of the room and back again to her seat beside the fire。 And as she sat there； panting and grinning with laughter； I knelt before her and； with suitable passionate gestures； declaimed again the old delicate lines sung by Mena before Columbus sailed the seas：
Muy mas clara que la luna Sola una en el mundo vos nacistes tan gentil； que no vecistes ni tavistes competedora ninguna Desdi ninez en la cuna cobrastes fama； beldad； con tanta graciosidad； que vos doto la fortuna。
Thinking of another all the time！ O poor old Cla…cla； knowing not what the jingle meant nor the secret of my wild happiness； now when I recall you sitting there； your old grey owlish head crowned with scarlet passion flowers； flushed with firelight； against the background of smoke…blackened walls and rafters； how the old undying sorrow comes back to me！
Thus our evening was spent； merrily enough； then we made up the fire with hard wood that would last all night； and went to our hammocks； but wakeful still。 The old dame； glad and proud to be on duty once more； religiously went to work to talk me to sleep； but although I called out at intervals to encourage her to go on； I did not attempt to follow the ancient tales she told； which she had imbibed in childhood from other white…headed grandmothers long； long turned to dust。 My own brain was busy thinking； thinking； thinking now of the woman I had once loved； far away in Venezuela； waiting and weeping and sick with hope deferred； now of Rima； wakeful and listening to the mysterious nightsounds of the forestlistening； listening for my returning footsteps。
Next morning I began to waver in my resolution to remain absent from Rima for some days； and before evening my passion； which I had now ceased to struggle against； coupled with the thought that I had acted unkindly in leaving her； that she would be a prey to anxiety； overcame me； and I was ready to return。 The old woman； who had been suspiciously watching my movements； rushed out after me as I left the house； crying out that a storm was brewing； that it was too late to go far； and night would be full of danger。 I waved my hand in good…bye； laughingly reminding her that I was proof against all perils。 Little she cared what evil might befall me； I thought； but she loved not to be alone； even for her； low down as she was intellectually； the solitary earthen pot had no