independently in the same direction； not so widely separated but that they can occasionally hear and see each other。 The pilgrim in the desert is sometimes attended by a bird； and the bird； with its freer motions； will often leave him a league behind and seem lost to him； but only to return and show its form again； for it has never lost sight nor recollection of the traveller toiling slowly over the surface。 Rima kept us company in some such wild erratic way as that。 A word； a sign from Nuflo was enough for her to know the direction to takethe distant forest or still more distant mountain near which we should have to pass。 She would hasten on and be lost to our sight； and when there was a forest in the way she would explore it； resting in the shade and finding her own food； but invariably she was before us at each resting… or camping…place。
Indian villages were seen during the journey； but only to be avoided； and in like manner； if we caught sight of Indians travelling or camping at a distance； we would alter our course； or conceal ourselves to escape observation。 Only on one occasion； two days after setting out； were we compelled to speak with strangers。 We were going round a hill； and all at once came face to face with three persons travelling in an opposite directiontwo men and a woman； and； by a strange fatality； Rima at that moment happened to be with us。 We stood for some time talking to these people； who were evidently surprised at our appearance； and wished to learn who we were； but Nuflo； who spoke their language like one of themselves； was too cunning to give any true answer。 They； on their side； told us that they had been to visit a relative at Chani； the name of a river three days ahead of us； and were now returning to their own village at Baila…baila； two days beyond Parahuari。 After parting from them Nuflo was much troubled in his mind for the rest of that day。 These people； he said； would probably rest at some Parahuari village； where they would be sure to give a description of us； and so it might eventually come to the knowledge of our unneighbourly neighbour Runi that we had left Ytaioa。
Other incidents of our long and wearisome journey need not be related。 Sitting under some shady tree during the sultry hours； with Rima only too far out of earshot； or by the nightly fire； the old man told me little by little and with much digression； chiefly on sacred subjects； the strange story of the girl's origin。
About seventeen years backNuflo had no sure method to compute time bywhen he was already verging on old age； he was one of a company of nine men； living a kind of roving life in the very part of Guayana through which we were now travelling； the others； much younger than himself； were all equally offenders against the laws of Venezuela； and fugitives from justice。 Nuflo was the leader of this gang； for it happened that he had passed a great portion of his life outside the pale of civilization； and could talk the Indian language； and knew this part of Guayana intimately。 But according to his own account he was not in harmony with them。 They were bold； desperate men； whose evil appetites had so far only been whetted by the crimes they had committed； while he； with passions worn out； recalling his many bad acts； and with a vivid conviction of the truth of all he had been taught in early lifefor Nuflo was nothing if not religiouswas now grown timid and desirous only of making his peace with Heaven。 This difference of disposition made him morose and quarrelsome with his companions； and they would； he said； have murdered him without remorse if he had not been so useful to them。 Their favourite plan was to hang about the neighbourhood of some small isolated settlement； keeping a watch on it； and； when most of the male inhabitants were absent； to swoop down on it and work their will。 Now； shortly after one of these raids it happened that a woman they had carried off； becoming a burden to them； was flung into a river to the alligators； but when being dragged down to the waterside she cast up her eyes； and in a loud voice cried to God to execute vengeance on her murderers。 Nuflo affirmed that he took no part in this black deed； nevertheless； the woman's dying appeal to Heaven preyed on his mind； he feared that it might have won a hearing； and the 〃person〃 eventually commissioned to execute vengeanceafter the usual days； of course might act on the principle of the old proverb： Tell me whom you are with； and I will tell you what you areand punish the innocent （himself to wit） along with the guilty。 But while thus anxious about his spiritual interests； he was not yet prepared to break with his companions。 He thought it best to temporize； and succeeded in persuading them that it would be unsafe to attack another Christian settlement for some time to come； that in the interval they might find some pleasure； if no great credit； by turning their attention to the Indians。 The infidels； he said； were God's natural enemies and fair game to the Christian。 To make a long story short； Nuflo's Christian band； after some successful adventures； met with a reverse which reduced their number from nine to five。 Flying from their enemies； they sought safety at Riolama； an uninhabited place； where they found it possible to exist for some weeks on game； which was abundant； and wild fruits。
One day at noon； while ascending a mountain at the southern extremity of the Riolama range in order to get a view of the country beyond the summit； Nuflo and his companions discovered a cave； and finding it dry； without animal occupants； and with a level floor； they at once determined to make it their dwelling…place for a season。 Wood for firing and water were to be had close by； they were also well provided with smoked flesh of a tapir they had slaughtered a day or two before； so that they could afford to rest for a time in so comfortable a shelter。 At a short distance from the cave they made a fire on the rock to toast some slices of meat for their dinner； and while thus engaged all at once one of the men uttered a cry of astonishment； and casting up his eyes Nuflo beheld； standing near and regarding them with surprise and fear in…her wide…open eyes； a woman of a most wonderful appearance。 The one slight garment she had on was silky and white as the snow on the summit of some great mountain； but of the snow when the sinking sun touches and gives it some delicate changing colour which is like fire。 Her dark hair was like a cloud from which her face looked out； and her head was surrounded by an aureole like that of a saint in a picture； only more beautiful。 For； said Nuflo； a picture is a picture； and the other was a reality； which is finer。 Seeing her he fell on his knees and crossed himself； and all the time her eyes； full of amazement and shining with such a strange splendour that he could not meet them； were fixed on him and not on the others； and he felt that she had come to save his soul； in danger of perdition owing to his companionship with men who were at war with God and wholly bad。
But at this moment his comrades； recovering from their astonishment； sprang to their feet； and the heavenly woman vanished。 Just behind where she had stood； and not twelve yards from them； there was a huge chasm in the mountain； its jagged precipitous sides clothed with thorny bushes； the men now cried out that she had made her escape that way； and down after her
they rushed； pell…mell。
Nuflo cried out after them that they had seen a saint and that some horrible thing would befall them if they allowed any evil thought to enter their hearts； but they scoffed at his words； and were soon far down out of hearing； while he； trembling with fear； remained praying to the woman that had appeared to them and had looked with such strange eyes at him； not to punish him for the sins of the others。
Before long the men returned； disappointed and sullen； for they had failed in their search for the woman； and perhaps Nuflo's warning words had made them give up the chase too soon。 At all events； they seemed ill at ease； and made up their minds to abandon the cave； in a short time they left the place to camp that night at a considerable distance from the mountain。 But they were not satisfied： they had now recovered from their fear； but not from the excitement of an evil passion； and finally； after comparing notes； they came to the conclusion that they had missed a great prize through Nuflo's cowardice； and when he reproved them they blasphemed all the saints in the calendar and even threatened him with violence。 Fearing to remain longer in the company of such godless men； he only waited until they slept； then rose up cautiously； helped himself to most of the provisions； and made his escape； devoutly hoping that after losing their guide they would all speedily perish。
Finding himself alone now and master of his own actions； Nuflo was in terrible distress； for while his heart was in the utmost fear； it yet urged him imperiously to go back to the mountain； to seek again for that sacred being who had appeared to him and had been driven away by his brutal companions。 If he obeyed that inner voice； he would be saved； if he resisted it； then there would be no hope for him； and along with those who had cast the woman to the alligators he would be lost eternally。 Finally； on the following day； he went back； although not without fear and trembling； and sat down on a stone just where he had sat toasting his tapir meat on the previous day。 But he waited in vain； and at length that voice within him； which he had so far obeyed； began urging him to descend into the valley…like chasm down which the woman had escaped from his comrades； and to seek for her there。 Accordingly he rose and began cautiously and slowly climbing down over the broken jagged rocks and through a dense mass of thorny bushes and creepers。 At the bottom of the chasm a clear； swift stream of water rushed with foam and noise along its rocky bed； but before reaching it； and when it was still twenty yards lower down； he was startled by hearing a low moan among the bushes； and looking about for the cause； he found the wonderful womanhis saviour； as he expressed it。 She was not now standing no