rer； and with a low； sobbing cry sank down at my feet； uttering； as on the occasion of finding me lost at night in the forest near her home； tender； sorrowful expressions in her own mysterious language。 But before I could take her in my arms she rose again quickly to her feet and moved away a little space from me。
〃Oh no； no； it cannot be that you know best！〃 she began again。 〃But I know that you have never sought to deceive me。 And now； because I falsely accused you； I cannot go there without you〃pointing to the summit〃but must stand still and listen to all you have to say。〃
〃You know； Rima； that your grandfather has now told me your historyhow he found your mother at this place； and took her to Voa； where you were born； but of your mother's people he knows nothing； and therefore he can now take you no further。〃
〃Ah； you think that！ He says that now； but he deceived me all these years； and if he lied to me in the past； can he not still lie； affirming that he knows nothing of my people； even as he affirmed that he knew not Riolama？〃
〃He tells lies and he tells truth； Rima； and one can be distinguished from the other。 He spoke truthfully at last； and brought us to this place； beyond which he cannot lead you。〃
〃You are right； I must go alone。〃
〃Not so； Rima； for where you go； there we must go； only you will lead and we follow； believing only that our quest will end in disappointment； if not in death。〃
〃Believe that and yet follow！ Oh no！ Why did he consent to lead me so far for nothing？〃
〃Do you forget that you compelled him？ You know what he believes； and he is old and looks with fear at death； remembering his evil deeds； and is convinced that only through your intercession and your mother's he can escape from perdition。 Consider； Rima； he could not refuse； to make you more angry and so deprive himself of his only hope。〃
My words seemed to trouble her； but very soon she spoke again with renewed animation。 〃If my people exist； why must it be disappointment and perhaps death？ He does not know； but she came to him heredid she not？ The others are not here； but perhaps not far off。 Come； let us go to the summit together to see from it the desert beneath usmountain and forest； mountain and forest。 Somewhere there！ You said that I had knowledge of distant things。 And shall I not know which mountainwhich forest？〃
〃Alas！ no； Rima； there is a limit to your far…seeing； and even if that faculty were as great as you imagine； it would avail you nothing； for there is no mountain； no forest； in whose shadow your people dwell。〃
For a while she was silent； but her eyes and clasping fingers were restless and showed her agitation。 She seemed to be searching in the depths of her mind for some argument to oppose to my assertions。 Then in a low； almost despondent voice； with something of reproach in it； she said： 〃Have we come so far to go back again？ You were not Nuflo to need my intercession； yet you came too。〃
〃Where you are； there I must beyou have said it yourself。 Besides； when we started I had some hope of finding your people。 Now I know better； having heard Nuflo's story。 Now I know that your hope is a vain one。〃
〃Why？ Why？ Was she not found heremother？ Where； then； are the others？〃
〃Yes； she was found here； alone。 You must remember all the things she spoke to you before she died。 Did she ever speak to you of her peoplespeak of them as if they existed； and would be glad to receive you among them some day？〃
〃No。 Why did she not speak of that？ Do you knowcan you tell me？〃
〃I can guess the reason； Rima。 It is very sadso sad that it is hard to tell it。 When Nuflo tended her in the cave and was ready to worship her and do everything she wished； and conversed with her by signs； she showed no wish to return to her people。 And when he offered her； in a way she understood； to take her to a distant place； where she would be among strange beings； among others like Nuflo； she readily consented； and painfully performed that long journey to Voa。 Would you； Rima； have acted thuswould you have gone so far away from your beloved people； never to return； never to hear of them or speak to them again？ Oh no； you could not； nor would she if her people had been in existence。 But she knew that she had survived them； that some great calamity had fallen upon and destroyed them。 They were few in number； perhaps； and surrounded on every side by hostile tribes； and had no weapons； and made no war。 They had been preserved because they inhabited a place apart； some deep valley perhaps； guarded on all sides by lofty mountains and impenetrable forests and marshes； but at last the cruel savages broke into this retreat and hunted them down； destroying all except a few fugitives； who escaped singly like your mother； and fled away to hide in some distant solitude。〃
The anxious expression on her face deepened as she listened to one of anguish and despair； and then； almost before I concluded； she suddenly lifted her hands to her head； uttering a low； sobbing cry； and would have fallen on the rock had I not caught her quickly in my arms。 Once more in my armsagainst my breast； her proper place！ But now all that bright life seemed gone out of her； her head fell on my shoulder； and there was no motion in her except at intervals a slight shudder in her frame accompanied by a low； gasping sob。 In a little while the sobs ceased； the eyes were closed； the face still and deathly white； and with a terrible anxiety in my heart I carried her down to the cave。
CHAPTER XVII
As I re…entered the cave with my burden Nuflo sat up and stared at me with a frightened look in his eyes。 Throwing my cloak down； I placed the girl on it and briefly related what had happened。
He drew near to examine her； then placed his hand on her heart。 〃Dead！she is dead！〃 he exclaimed。
My own anxiety changed to an irrational anger at his words。 〃Old fool！ She has only fainted；〃 I returned。 〃Get me some water； quick。〃
But the water failed to restore her； and my anxiety deepened as I gazed on that white； still face。 Oh； why had I told her that sad tragedy I had imagined with so little preparation？ Alas！ I had succeeded too well in my purpose； killing her vain hope and her at the same moment。
The old man； still bending over her； spoke again。 〃No； I will not believe that she is dead yet； but； sir； if not dead； then she is dying。〃
I could have struck him down for his words。 〃She will die in my arms； then；〃 I exclaimed； thrusting him roughly aside； and lifting her up with the cloak beneath her。
And while I held her thus； her head resting on my arm； and gazed with unutterable anguish into her strangely white face； insanely praying to Heaven to restore her to me； Nuflo fell on his knees before her； and with bowed head； and hands clasped in supplication； began to speak。
〃Rima！ Grandchild！〃 he prayed； his quivering voice betraying his agitation。 〃Do not die just yet： you must not dienot wholly dieuntil you have heard what I have to say to you。 I do not ask you to answer in wordsyou are past that； and I am not unreasonable。 Only； when I finish； make some signa sigh； a movement of the eyelid； a twitch of the lips； even in the small corners of the mouth； nothing more than that； just to show that you have heard； and I shall be satisfied。 Remember all the years that I have been your protector； and this long journey that I have taken on your account； also all that I did for your sainted mother before she died at Voa； to become one of the most important of those who surround the Queen of Heaven； and who； when they wish for any favour； have only to say half a word to get it。 And do not cast in oblivion that at the last I obeyed your wish and brought you safely to Riolama。 It is true that in some small things I deceived you； but that must not weigh with you； because it is a small matter and not worthy of mention when you consider the claims I have on you。 In your hands； Rima； I leave everything； relying on the promise you made me； and on my services。 Only one word of caution remains to be added。 Do not let the magnificence of the place you are now about to enter； the new sights and colours； and the noise of shouting； and musical instruments and blowing of trumpets； put these things out of your head。 Nor must you begin to think meanly of yourself and be abashed when you find yourself surrounded by saints and angels； for you are not less than they； although it may not seem so at first when you see them in their bright clothes； which； they say； shine like the sun。 I cannot ask you to tie a string round your finger； I can only trust to your memory； which was always good； even about the smallest things； and when you are asked； as no doubt you will be； to express a wish； remember before everything to speak of your grandfather； and his claims on you； also on your angelic mother； to whom you will present my humble remembrances。〃
During this petition； which in other circumstances would have moved me to laughter but now only irritated me； a subtle change seemed to come to the apparently lifeless girl to make me hope。 The small hand in mine felt not so icy cold； and though no faintest colour had come to the face； its pallor had lost something of its deathly waxen appearance； and now the compressed lips had relaxed a little and seemed ready to part。 I laid my finger…tips on her heart and felt； or imagined that I felt； a faint fluttering； and at last I became convinced that her heart was really beating。
I turned my eyes on the old man； still bending forward； intently watching for the sign he had asked her to make。 My anger and disgust at his gross earthy egoism had vanished。 〃Let us thank God； old man；〃 I said； the tears of joy half choking my utterance。 〃She livesshe is recovering from her fit。〃
He drew back； and on his knees； with bowed head； murmured a prayer of thanks to Heaven。
Together we continued watching her face for half an hour longer； I still holding her in my arms； which could never grow weary of that sweet burden； waiting for other； surer signs of returning life； and she seemed now like one that had fallen into a profound； death…like sleep which must end in death。 Yet when I remembered her face