and two about it。 The couples did not keep together； but moved about or remained concealed at a distance of forty or fifty yards apart； lest she should be missed。 Two of the savages； armed with blow…pipes； were near the border of the forest on the side nearest to the village； and one of them； observing a motion in the foliage of a tree； ran swiftly and cautiously towards it to try and catch a glimpse of the enemy。 And he did see her no doubt； as she was there watching both him and his companions； and blew an arrow at her； but even while in the act of blowing it he was himself struck by a dart that buried itself deep in his flesh just over the heart。 He ran some distance with the fatal barbed point in his flesh and met his comrade； who had mistaken him for the girl and shot him。 The wounded man threw himself down to die； and dying related that he had fired at the girl sitting up in a tree and that she had caught the arrow in her hand only to hurl it instantly back with such force and precision that it pierced his flesh just over the heart。 He had seen it all with his own eyes； and his friend who had accidentally slain him believed his story and repeated it to the others。 Rima had seen one Indian shoot the other； and when she told her grandfather he explained to her that it was an accident； but he guessed why the arrow had been fired。
From that day the Indians hunted no more in the wood； and at length one day Nuflo； meeting an Indian who did not know him and with whom he had some talk； heard the strange story of the arrow； and that the mysterious girl who could not be shot was the offspring of an old man and a Didi who had become enamoured of him； that； growing tired of her consort； the Didi had returned to her river； leaving her half…human child to play her malicious pranks in the wood。
This； then； was Nuflo's story； told not in Nuflo's manner； which was infinitely prolix； and think not that it failed to move methat I failed to bless him for what he had done； in spite of his selfish motives。
CHAPTER XVI
We were eighteen days travelling to Riolama； on the last two making little progress； on account of continuous rain； which made us miserable beyond description。 Fortunately the dogs had found； and Nuflo had succeeded in killing； a great ant…eater； so that we were well supplied with excellent； strength…giving flesh。 We were among the Riolama mountains at last； and Rima kept with us； apparently expecting great things。 I expected nothing； for reasons to be stated by and by。 My belief was that the only important thing that could happen to us would be starvation。
The afternoon of the last day was spent in skirting the foot of a very long mountain； crowned at its southern extremity with a huge； rocky mass resembling the head of a stone sphinx above its long； couchant body； and at its highest part about a thousand feet above the surrounding level。 It was late in the day； raining fast again； yet the old man still toiled on； contrary to his usual practice； which was to spend the last daylight hours in gathering firewood and in constructing a shelter。 At length； when we were nearly under the peak； he began to ascend。 The rise in this place was gentle； and the vegetation； chiefly composed of dwarf thorn trees rooted in the clefts of the rock； scarcely impeded our progress； yet Nuflo moved obliquely； as if he found the ascent difficult； pausing frequently to take breath and look round him。 Then we came to a deep； ravine…like cleft in the side of the mountain； which became deeper and narrower above us； but below it broadened out to a valley； its steep sides as we looked down were clothed with dense； thorny vegetation； and from the bottom rose to our ears the dull sound of a hidden torrent。 Along the border of this ravine Nuflo began toiling upwards； and finally brought us out upon a stony plateau on the mountain…side。 Here he paused and； turning and regarding us with a look as of satisfied malice in his eyes； remarked that we were at our journey's end； and he trusted the sight of that barren mountain…side would compensate us for all the discomforts we had suffered during the last eighteen days。
I heard him with indifference。 I had already recognized the place from his own exact description of it； and I now saw all that I had looked to seea big； barren hill。 But Rima； what had she expected that her face wore that blank look of surprise and pain？ 〃Is this the place where mother appeared to you？〃 she suddenly cried。 〃The very placethis！ This！〃 Then she added： 〃The cave where you tended herwhere is it？〃
〃Over there；〃 he said； pointing across the plateau； which was partially overgrown with dwarf trees and bushes； and ended at a wall of rock； almost vertical and about forty feet high。
Going to this precipice； we saw no cave until Nuflo had cut away two or three tangled bushes； revealing an opening behind； about half as high and twice as wide as the door of an ordinary dwelling…house。
The next thing was to make a torch； and aided by its light we groped our way in and explored the interior。 The cave； we found； was about fifty feet long； narrowing to a mere hole at the extremity； but the anterior portion formed an oblong chamber； very lofty； with a dry floor。 Leaving our torch burning； we set to work cutting bushes to supply ourselves with wood enough to last us all night。 Nuflo； poor old man； loved a big fire dearly； a big fire and fat meat to eat （the ranker its flavour； the better he liked it） were to him the greatest blessings that man could wish for。 In me also the prospect of a cheerful blaze put a new heart； and I worked with a will in the rain； which increased in the end to a blinding downpour。
By the time I dragged my last load in； Nuflo had got his fire well alight； and was heaping on wood in a most lavish way。 〃No fear of burning our house down tonight；〃 he remarked； with a chucklethe first sound of that description he had emitted for a long time。
After we had satisfied our hunger； and had smoked one or two cigarettes； the unaccustomed warmth； and dryness； and the firelight affected us with drowsiness； and I had probably been nodding for some time； but starting at last and opening my eyes； I missed Rima。 The old man appeared to be asleep； although still in a sitting posture close to the fire。 I rose and hurried out； drawing my cloak close around me to protect me from the rain； but what was my surprise on emerging from the cave to feel a dry； bracing wind in my face and to see the desert spread out for leagues before me in the brilliant white light of a full moon！ The rain had apparently long ceased； and only a few thin white clouds appeared moving swiftly over the wide blue expanse of heaven。 It was a welcome change； but the shock of surprise and pleasure was instantly succeeded by the maddening fear that Rima was lost to me。 She was nowhere in sight beneath； and running to the end of the little plateau to get free of the thorn trees； I turned my eyes towards the summit； and there； at some distance above me； caught sight of her standing motionless and gazing upwards。 I quickly made my way to her side； calling to her as I approached； but she only half turned to cast a look at me and did not reply。
〃Rima；〃 I said； 〃why have you come here？ Are you actually thinking of climbing the mountain at this hour of the night？〃 〃Yeswhy not？〃 she returned； moving one or two steps from me。
〃Rimasweet Rima； will you listen to me？〃
〃Now？ Oh； nowhy do you ask that？ Did I not listen to you in the wood before we started； and you also promised to do what I wished？ See； the rain is over and the moon shines brightly。 Why should I wait？ Perhaps from the summit I shall see my people's country。 Are we not near it now？〃
〃Oh； Rima； what do you expect to see？ Listenyou must listen； for I know best。 From that summit you would see nothing but a vast dim desert； mountain and forest； mountain and forest； where you might wander for years； or until you perished of hunger or fever； or were slain by some beast of prey or by savage men； but oh； Rima； never； never； never would you find your people； for they exist not。 You have seen the false water of the mirage on the savannah； when the sun shines bright and hot； and if one were to follow it one would at last fall down and perish； with never a cool drop to moisten one's parched lips。 And your hope； Rimathis hope to find your people which has brought you all the way to Riolamais a mirage； a delusion； which will lead to destruction if you will not abandon it。〃
She turned to face me with flashing eyes。 〃You know best！〃 she exclaimed。 〃You know best and tell me that！ Never until this moment have you spoken falsely。 Oh； why have you said such things to menamed after this place； Riolama？ Am I also like that false water you speak ofno divine Rima； no sweet Rima？ My mother； had she no mother； no mother's mother？ I remember her； at Voa； before she died； and this hand seems reallike yours； you have asked to hold it。 But it is not he that speaks to menot one that showed me the whole world on Ytaioa。 Ah； you have wrapped yourself in a stolen cloak； only you have left your old grey beard behind！ Go back to the cave and look for it； and leave me to seek my people alone！〃
Once more； as on that day in the forest when she prevented me from killing the serpent； and as on the occasion of her meeting with Nuflo after we had been together on Ytaioa； she appeared transformed and instinct with intense resentmenta beautiful human wasp； and every word a sting。
〃Rima；〃 I cried； 〃you are cruelly unjust to say such words to me。 If you know that I have never deceived you before； give me a little credit now。 You are no delusionno mirage； but Rima； like no other being on earth。 So perfectly truthful and pure I cannot be； but rather than mislead you with falsehoods I would drop down and die on this rock； and lose you and the sweet light that shines on us for ever。〃
As she listened to my words； spoken with passion； she grew pale and clasped her hands。 〃What have I said？ What have I said？〃 She spoke in a low voice charged with pain； and all at once she came nearer； and with a low； sobbing cry sank down at my feet； uttering； as on the occasion of finding me lo