flesh of my left arm close to the shoulder on its way； and not knowing that I was not badly wounded nor how near my pursuer might be； I turned in desperation to meet him； and saw him not above twenty…five yards away； running towards me with something bright in his hand。 It was Kua…ko； and after wounding me with his spear he was about to finish me with his knife。 O fortunate young savage； after such a victory； and with that noble blue cloth cloak for trophy and covering； what fame and happiness will be yours！ A change swift as lightning had come over me； a sudden exultation。 I was wounded； but my right hand was sound and clutched a knife as good as his； and we were on an equality。 I waited for him calmly。 All weakness； grief； despair had vanished； all feelings except a terrible raging desire to spill his accursed blood； and my brain was clear and my nerves like steel； and I remembered with something like laughter our old amusing encounters with rapiers of wood。 Ah； that was only making believe and childish play； this was reality。 Could any white man； deprived of his treacherous； far…killing weapon； meet the resolute savage； face to face and foot to foot； and equal him with the old primitive weapons？ Poor youth； this delusion will cost you dear！ It was scarcely an equal contest when he hurled himself against me； with only his savage strength and courage to match my skill； in a few moments he was lying at my feet； pouring out his life blood on that white thirsty plain。 From his prostrate form I turned； the wet； red knife in my hand； to meet the others； still thinking that they were on the track and close at hand。 Why had he stooped to pick up the cloak if they were not followingif he had not been afraid of losing it？ I turned only to receive their spears； to die with my face to them； nor was the thought of death terrible to me； I could die calmly now after killing my first assailant。 But had I indeed killed him？ I asked； hearing a sound like a groan escape from his lips。 Quickly stooping； I once more drove my weapon to the hilt in his prostrate form； and when he exhaled a deep sigh； and his frame quivered； and the blood spurted afresh； I experienced a feeling of savage joy。 And still no sound of hurrying footsteps came to my listening ears and no vague forms appeared in the darkness。 I concluded that he had either left them sleeping or that they had not followed in the right direction。 Taking up the cloak； I was about to walk on； when I noticed the spear he had thrown at me lying where it had fallen some yards away； and picking that up also； I went on once more； still keeping the guiding star before me。
CHAPTER XX
That good fight had been to me like a draught of wine； and made me for a while oblivious of my loss and of the pain from my wound。 But the glow and feeling of exultation did not last： the lacerated flesh smarted； I was weak from loss of blood； and oppressed with sensations of fatigue。 If my foes had appeared on the scene they would have made an easy conquest of me； but they came not； and I continued to walk on； slowly and painfully； pausing often to rest。
At last； recovering somewhat from my faint condition； and losing all fear of being overtaken； my sorrow revived in full force； and thought returned to madden me。
Alas！ this bright being； like no other in its divine brightness； so long in the making； now no more than a dead leaf； a little dust； lost and forgotten for everoh； pitiless！ Oh； cruel！
But I knew it all beforethis law of nature and of necessity； against which all revolt is idle： often had the remembrance of it filled me with ineffable melancholy； only now it seemed cruel beyond all cruelty。
Not nature the instrument； not the keen sword that cuts into the bleeding tissues； but the hand that wields itthe unseen unknown something； or person； that manifests itself in the horrible workings of nature。
〃Did you know； beloved； at the last； in that intolerable heat； in that moment of supreme anguish； that he is unlistening； unhelpful as the stars； that you cried not to him？ To me was your cry； but your poor； frail fellow creature was not there to save； or； failing that； to cast himself into the flames and perish with you； hating God。〃
Thus； in my insufferable pain； I spoke aloud； alone in that solitary place； a bleeding fugitive in the dark night； looking up at the stars I cursed the Author of my being and called on Him to take back the abhorred gift of life。
Yet； according to my philosophy； how vain it was！ All my bitterness and hatred and defiance were as empty； as ineffectual； as utterly futile； as are the supplications of the meek worshipper； and no more than the whisper of a leaf； the light whirr of an insect's wing。 Whether I loved Him who was over all； as when I thanked Him on my knees for guiding me to where I had heard so sweet and mysterious a melody； or hated and defied Him as now； it all came from Himlove and hate； good and evil。
But I knowI knew thenthat in one thing my philosophy was false； that it was not the whole truth； that though my cries did not touch nor come near Him they would yet hurt me； and； just as a prisoner maddened at his unjust fate beats against the stone walls of his cell until he falls back bruised and bleeding to the floor； so did I wilfully bruise my own soul； and knew that those wounds I gave myself would not heal。
Of that night； the beginning of the blackest period of my life； I shall say no more； and over subsequent events I shall pass quickly。
Morning found me at a distance of many miles from the scene of my duel with the Indian； in a broken； hilly country； varied with savannah and open forest。 I was well…nigh spent with my long march； and felt that unless food was obtained before many hours my situation would be indeed desperate。 With labour I managed to climb to the summit of a hill about three hundred feet high in order to survey the surrounding country； and found that it was one of a group of five； and conjectured that these were the five hills of Uritay and that I was in the neighbourhood of Managa's village。 Coming down I proceeded to the next hill； which was higher； and before reaching it came to a stream in a narrow valley dividing the hills； and proceeding along its banks in search of a crossing…place； I came full in sight of the settlement sought for。 As I approached； people were seen moving hurriedly about； and by the time I arrived； walking slowly and painfully； seven or eight men were standing before the village' some with spears in their hands； the women and children behind them； all staring curiously at me。 Drawing near I cried out in a somewhat feeble voice that I was seeking for Managa； whereupon a gray…haired man stepped forth； spear in hand； and replied that he was Managa； and demanded to know why I sought him。 I told him a part of my storyenough to show that I had a deadly feud with Runi； that I had escaped from him after killing one of his people。
I was taken in and supplied with food； my wound was examined and dressed； and then I was permitted to lie down and sleep； while Managa； with half a dozen of his people； hurriedly started to visit the scene of my fight with Kua…ko； not only to verify my story； but partly with the hope of meeting Runi。 I did not see him again until the next morning； when he informed me that he had found the spot where I had been overtaken； that the dead man had been discovered by the others and carried back towards Parahuari。 He had followed the trace for some distance； and he was satisfied that Runi had come thus far in the first place only with the intention of spying on him。
My arrival； and the strange tidings I had brought； had thrown the village into a great commotion； it was evident that from that time Managa lived in constant apprehension of a sudden attack from his old enemy。 This gave me great satisfaction； it was my study to keep the feeling alive； and； more than that； to drop continual hints of his enemy's secret murderous purpose； until he was wrought up to a kind of frenzy of mingled fear and rage。 And being of a suspicious and somewhat truculent temper； he one day all at once turned on me as the immediate cause of his miserable state； suspecting perhaps that I only wished to make an instrument of him。 But I was strangely bold and careless of danger then； and only mocked at his rage； telling him proudly that I feared him not； that Runi； his mortal enemy and mine； feared not him but me； that Runi knew perfectly well where I had taken refuge and would not venture to make his meditated attack while I remained in his village； but would wait for my departure。 〃Kill me； Managa；〃 I cried； smiting my chest as I stood facing him。 〃Kill me； and the result will be that he will come upon you unawares and murder you all； as he has resolved to do sooner or later。〃
After that speech he glared at me in silence； then flung down the spear he had snatched up in his sudden rage and stalked out of the house and into the wood； but before long he was back again； seated in his old place； brooding on my words with a face black as night。
It is painful to recall that secret dark chapter of my lifethat period of moral insanity。 But I wish not to be a hypocrite； conscious or unconscious； to delude myself or another with this plea of insanity。 My mind was very clear just then； past and present were clear to me； the future clearest of all： I could measure the extent of my action and speculate on its future effect； and my sense of right or wrongof individual responsibilitywas more vivid than at any other period of my life。 Can I even say that I was blinded by passion？ Driven； perhaps； but certainly not blinded。 For no reaction； or submission； had followed on that furious revolt against the unknown being； personal or not； that is behind nature； in whose existence I believed。 I was still in revolt： I would hate Him； and show my hatred by being like Him； as He appears to us reflected in that mirror of Nature。 Had He given me good giftsthe sense of right and wrong and sweet humanity？ The beautiful sacred flower He had caused to grow in me I would crush ruthlessly； its beauty and fragrance and grace would be dead for ever； there was nothing evil； nothing cruel and contrary to