d not to be alone； even for her； low down as she was intellectually； the solitary earthen pot had no 〃mind stuff〃 in it； and could not be sent to sleep at night with the legends of long ago。
By the time I reached the ridge； I had discovered that she had prophesied truly； for now an ominous change had come over nature。 A dull grey vapour had overspread the entire western half of the heavens； down； beyond the forest； the sky looked black as ink； and behind this blackness the sun had vanished。 It was too late to go back now； I had been too long absent from Rima； and could only hope to reach Nuflo's lodge； wet or dry； before night closed round me in the forest。
For some moments I stood still on the ridge； struck by the somewhat weird aspect of the shadowed scene before methe long strip of dull uniform green； with here and there a slender palm lifting its feathery crown above the other trees； standing motionless； in strange relief against the advancing blackness。 Then I set out once more at a run； taking advantage of the downward slope to get well on my way before the tempest should burst。 As I approached the wood； there came a flash of lightning； pale； but covering the whole visible sky； followed after a long interval by a distant roll of thunder； which lasted several seconds and ended with a succession of deep throbs。 It was as if Nature herself； in supreme anguish and abandonment； had cast herself prone on the earth； and her great heart had throbbed audibly； shaking the world with its beats。 No more thunder followed； but the rain was coming down heavily now in huge drops that fell straight through the gloomy； windless air。 In half a minute I was drenched to the skin； but for a short time the rain seemed an advantage； as the brightness of the falling water lessened the gloom； turning the air from dark to lighter grey。 This subdued rain…light did not last long： I had not been twenty minutes in the wood before a second and greater darkness fell on the earth； accompanied by an even more copious downpour of water。 The sun had evidently gone down； and the whole sky was now covered with one thick cloud。 Becoming more nervous as the gloom increased； I bent my steps more to the south； so as to keep near the border and more open part of the wood。 Probably I had already grown confused before deviating and turned the wrong way； for instead of finding the forest easier； it grew closer and more difficult as I advanced。 Before many minutes the darkness so increased that I could no longer distinguish objects more than five feet from my eyes。 Groping blindly along； I became entangled in a dense undergrowth； and after struggling and stumbling along for some distance in vain endeavours to get through it； I came to a stand at last in sheer despair。 All sense of direction was now lost： I was entombed in thick blacknessblackness of night and cloud and rain and of dripping foliage and network of branches bound with bush ropes and creepers in a wild tangle。 I had struggled into a hollow； or hole； as it were； in the midst of that mass of vegetation； where I could stand upright and turn round and round without touching anything； but when I put out my hands they came into contact with vines and bushes。 To move from that spot seemed folly； yet how dreadful to remain there standing on the sodden earth； chilled with rain； in that awful blackness in which the only luminous thing one could look to see would be the eyes； shining with their own internal light； of some savage beast of prey！ Yet the danger； the intense physical discomfort； and the anguish of looking forward to a whole night spent in that situation stung my heart less than the thought of Rima's anxiety and of the pain I had carelessly given by secretly leaving her。
It was then； with that pang in my heart； that I was startled by hearing； close by； one of her own low； warbled expressions。 There could be no mistake； if the forest had been full of the sounds of animal life and songs of melodious birds； her voice would have been instantly distinguished from all others。 How mysterious； how infinitely tender it sounded in that awful blackness！so musical and exquisitely modulated； so sorrowful； yet piercing my heart with a sudden； unutterable joy。
〃Rime！ Rima！〃 I cried。 〃Speak again。 Is it you？ Come to me here。〃
Again that low； warbling sound； or series of sounds； seemingly from a distance of a few yards。 I was not disturbed at her not replying in Spanish： she had always spoken it somewhat reluctantly； and only when at my side； but when calling to me from some distance she would return instinctively to her own mysterious language； and call to me as bird calls to bird。 I knew that she was inviting me to follow her； but I refused to move。
〃Rima；〃 I cried again； 〃come to me here； for I know not where to step； and cannot move until you are at my side and I can feel your hand。〃
There came no response； and after some moments； becoming alarmed； I called to her again。
Then close by me； in a low； trembling voice； she returned： 〃I am here。〃
I put out my hand and touched something soft and wet； it was her breast； and moving my hand higher up； I felt her hair； hanging now and streaming with water。 She was trembling； and I thought the rain had chilled her。
〃Rimepoor child！ How wet you are！ How strange to meet you in such a place！ Tell me； dear Rima； how did you find me？〃
〃I was waitingwatchingall day。 I saw you coming across the savannah； and followed at a distance through the wood。〃
〃And I had treated you so unkindly！ Ah； my guardian angel； my light in the darkness； how I hate myself for giving you pain！ Tell me； sweet； did you wish me to come back and live with you again？〃 She made no reply。 Then； running my fingers down her arm； I took her hand in mine。 It was hot； like the hand of one in a fever。 I raised it to my lips and then attempted to draw her to me； but she slipped down and out of my arms to my feet。 I felt her there； on her knees； with head bowed low。 Stooping and putting my arm round her body； I drew her up and held her against my breast； and felt her heart throbbing wildly。 With many endearing words I begged her to speak to me； but her only reply was： 〃Comecome；〃 as she slipped again out of my arms and； holding my hand in hers； guided me through the bushes。
Before long we came to an open path or glade； where the darkness was not profound； and releasing my hand； she began walking rapidly before me； always keeping at such a distance as just enabled me to distinguish her grey； shadowy figure； and with frequent doublings to follow the natural paths and openings which she knew so well。 In this way we kept on nearly to the end； without exchanging a word； and hearing no sound except the continuous rush of rain； which to our accustomed ears had ceased to have the effect of sound； and the various gurgling noises of innumerable runners。 All at once； as we came to a more open place； a strip of bright firelight appeared before us； shining from the half…open door of Nuflo's lodge。 She turned round as much as to say： 〃Now you know where you are；〃 then hurried on； leaving me to follow as best I could。
CHAPTER XI
There was a welcome change in the weather when I rose early next morning； the sky was without cloud and had that purity in its colour and look of infinite distance seen only when the atmosphere is free from vapour。 The sun had not yet risen； but old Nuflo was already among the ashes； on his hands and knees； blowing the embers he had uncovered to a flame。Then Rima appeared only to pass through the room with quick light tread to go out of the door without a word or even a glance at my face。 The old man； after watching at the door for a few minutes； turned and began eagerly questioning me about my adventures on the previous evening。 In reply I related to him how the girl had found me in the forest lost and unable to extricate myself from the tangled undergrowth。
He rubbed his hands on his knees and chuckled。 〃Happy for you； senor；〃 he said； 〃that my granddaughter regards you with such friendly eyes； otherwise you might have perished before morning。 Once she was at your side； no light； whether of sun or moon or lantern； was needed； nor that small instrument which is said to guide a man aright in the desert； even in the darkest nightlet him that can believe such a thing！〃
〃Yes； happy for me；〃 I returned。 〃I am filled with remorse that it was all through my fault that the poor child was exposed to such weather。〃
〃O senor；〃 he cried airily； 〃let not that distress you！ Rain and wind and hot suns； from which we seek shelter； do not harm her。 She takes no cold； and no fever； with or without ague。〃
After some further conversation I left him to steal away unobserved on his own account； and set out for a ramble in the hope of encountering Rima and winning her to talk to me。
My quest did not succeed： not a glimpse of her delicate shadowy form did I catch among the trees； and not one note from her melodious lips came to gladden me。 At noon I returned to the house； where I found food placed ready for me； and knew that she had come there during my absence and had not been forgetful of my wants。 〃Shall I thank you for this？〃 I said。 〃I ask you for heavenly nectar for the sustentation of the higher winged nature in me； and you give me a boiled sweet potato； toasted strips of sun…dried pumpkins； and a handful of parched maize！ Rima！ Rima！ my woodland fairy； my sweet saviour； why do you yet fear me？ Is it that love struggles in you with repugnance？ Can you discern with clear spiritual eyes the grosser elements in me； and hate them； or has some false imagination made me appear all dark and evil； but too late for your peace； after the sweet sickness of love has infected you？〃
But she was not there to answer me； and so after a time I went forth again and seated myself listlessly on the root of an old tree not far from the house。 I had sat there a full hour when all at once Rima appeared at my side。 Bending forward； she touched my hand； but without glancing at my face； 〃Come with me；〃 she said； and turning； moved swiftly towards the northern extremity of the forest。 She seemed to take it for granted that I would follow； never cast