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He looked at me with suspicion and then shook his head。 I dared not press him with more questions； but after an interval he said plainly： 〃She is not there now。〃
And I was forced to believe him； for had Rima been in the wood they would not have been there。 She was not there； this much I had discovered。 Had she； then； lost her way； or perished on that long journey from Riolama？ Or had she returned only to fall into the hands of her cruel enemies？ My heart was heavy in me； but if these devils in human shape knew more than they had told me； I must； I said； hide my anxiety and wait patiently to find it out； should they spare my life。 And if they spared me and had not spared that other sacred life interwoven with mine； the time would come when they would find； too late； that they had taken to their bosom a worse devil than themselves。
CHAPTER XIX
My arrival at the village created some excitement； but I was plainly no longer regarded as a friend or one of the family。 Runi was absent； and I looked forward to his return with no little apprehension； he would doubtless decide my fate。 Kua…ko was also away。 The others sat or stood about the great room； staring at me in silence。 I took no notice； but merely asked for food； then for my hammock； which I hung up in the old place； and lying down I fell into a doze。 Runi made his appearance at dusk。 I rose and greeted him； but he spoke no word and； until he went to his hammock； sat in sullen silence； ignoring my presence。
On the following day the crisis came。 We were once more gathered in the roomall but Kua…ko and another of the men； who had not yet returned from some expeditionand for the space of half an hour not a word was spoken by anyone。 Something was expected； even the children were strangely still； and whenever one of the pet birds strayed in at the open door； uttering a little plaintive note； it was chased out again； but without a sound。 At length Runi straightened himself on his seat and fixed his eyes on me； then cleared his throat and began a long harangue； delivered in the loud； monotonous singsong which I knew so well and which meant that the occasion was an important one。 And as is usual in such efforts； the same thought and expressions were used again and again； and yet again； with dull； angry insistence。 The orator of Guayana to be impressive must be long； however little he may have to say。 Strange as it may seem； I listened critically to him； not without a feeling of scorn at his lower intelligence。 But I was easier in my mind now。 From the very fact of his addressing such a speech to me I was convinced that he wished not to take my life； and would not do so if I could clear myself of the suspicion of treachery。
I was a white man； he said； they were Indians； nevertheless they had treated me well。 They had fed me and sheltered me。 They had done a great deal for me： they had taught me the use of the zabatana； and had promised to make one for me； asking for nothing in return。 They had also promised me a wife。 How had I treated them？ I had deserted them； going away secretly to a distance； leaving them in doubt as to my intentions。 How could they tell why I had gone； and where？ They had an enemy。 Managa was his name； he and his people hated them； I knew that he wished them evil； I knew where to find him； for they had told me。 That was what they thought when I suddenly left them。 Now I returned to them； saying that I had been to Riolama。 He knew where Riolama was； although he had never been there： it was so far。 Why did I go to Riolama？ It was a bad place。 There were Indians there； a few； but they were not good Indians like those of Parahuari； and would kill a white man。 HAD I gone there？ Why had I gone there？
He finished at last； and it was my turn to speak； but he had given me plenty of time； and my reply was ready。 〃I have heard you；〃 I said。 〃Your words are good words。 They are the words of a friend。 'I am the white man's friend；' you say； 'is he my friend？ He went away secretly； saying no word； why did he go without speaking to his friend who had treated him well？ Has he been to my enemy Managa？ Perhaps he is a friend of my enemy？ Where has he been？' I must now answer these things； saying true words to my friend。 You are an Indian； I am a white man。 You do not know all the white man's thoughts。 These are the things I wish to tell you。 In the white man's country are two kinds of men。 There are the rich men； who have all that a man can desirehouses made of stone； full of fine things； fine clothes； fine weapons； fine ornaments； and they have horses； cattle； sheep； dogseverything they desire。 Because they have gold； for with gold the white man buys everything。 The other kind of white men are the poor； who have no gold and cannot buy or have anything： they must work hard for the rich man for the little food he gives them； and a rag to cover their nakedness； and if he gives them shelter they have it； if not they must lie down in the rain out of doors。 In my own country； a hundred days from here； I was the son of a great chief； who had much gold； and when he died it was all mine； and I was rich。 But I had an enemy； one worse than Managa； for he was rich and had many people。 And in a war his people overcame mine； and he took my gold； and all I possessed； making me poor。 The Indian kills his enemy； but the white man takes his gold； and that is worse than death。 Then I said： 'I have been a rich man and now I am poor； and must work like a dog for some rich man； for the sake of the little food he will throw me at the end of each day。 No； I cannot do it！ I will go away and live with the Indians； so that those who have seen me a rich man shall never see me working like a dog for a master； and cry out and mock at me。 For the Indians are not like white men： they have no gold； they are not rich and poor； all are alike。 One roof covers them from the rain and sun。 All have weapons which they make； all kill birds in the forest and catch fish in the rivers； and the women cook the meat and all eat from one pot。 And with the Indians I will be an Indian； and hunt in the forest and eat with them and drink with them。' Then I left my country and came here； and lived with you； Runi； and was well treated。 And now； why did I go away？ This I have now to tell you。 After I had been here a certain time I went over there to the forest。 You wished me not to go； because of an evil thing； a daughter of the Didi； that lived there； but I feared nothing and went。 There I met an old man； who talked to me in the white man's language。 He had travelled and seen much； and told me one strange thing。 On a mountain at Riolama he told me that he had seen a great lump of gold； as much as a man could carry。 And when I heard this I said： 'With the gold I could return to my country； and buy weapons for myself and all my people and go to war with my enemy and deprive him of all his possessions and serve him as he served me。' I asked the old man to take me to Riolama； and when he had consented I went away from here without saying a word； so as not to be prevented。 It is far to Riolama； and I had no weapons； but I feared nothing。 I said： 'If I must fight I must fight； and if I must be killed I must be killed。' But when I got to Riolama I found no gold。 There was only a yellow stone which the old man had mistaken for gold。 It was yellow； like gold； but it would buy nothing。 Therefore I came back to Parahuari again； to my friend； and if he is angry with me still because I went away without informing him； let him say： 'Go and seek elsewhere for a new friend； for I am your friend no longer。〃'
I concluded thus boldly because I did not wish him to know that I had suspected him of harbouring any sinister designs； or that I looked on our quarrel as a very serious one。 When I had finished speaking he emitted a sound which expressed neither approval nor disapproval； but only the fact that he had heard me。 But I was satisfied。 His expression had undergone a favourable change； it was less grim。 After a while he remarked； with a peculiar twitching of the mouth which might have developed into a smile： 〃The white man will do much to get gold。 You walked twenty days to see a yellow stone that would buy nothing。〃 It was fortunate that he took this view of the case； which was flattering to his Indian nature； and perhaps touched his sense of the ludicrous。 At all events； he said nothing to discredit my story； to which they had all listened with profound interest。
From that time it seemed to be tacitly agreed to let bygones be bygones； and I could see that as the dangerous feeling that had threatened my life diminished； the old pleasure they had once found in my company returned。 But my feelings towards them did not change； nor could they while that black and terrible suspicion concerning Rima was in my heart。 I talked again freely with them； as if there had been no break in the old friendly relations。 If they watched me furtively whenever I went out of doors； I affected not to see it。 I set to work to repair my rude guitar； which had been broken in my absence； and studied to show them a cheerful countenance。 But when alone； or in my hammock； hidden f