lowers around them。 Now and then a colibri whirred downward toward the water； hummed for a moment around some pendent flower； and then the living gem was lost in the deep blackness of the inner wood； among tree…trunks as huge and dark as the pillars of some Hindoo shrine； or a parrot swung and screamed at them from an overhanging bough； or a thirsty monkey slid lazily down a liana to the surface of the stream； dipped up the water in his tiny hand； and started chattering back； as his eyes met those of some foul alligator peering upward through the clear depths below。 In shaded nooks beneath the boughs； the capybaras； rabbits as large as sheep； went paddling sleepily round and round； thrusting up their unwieldy heads among the blooms of the blue water…lilies； while black and purple water…hens ran up and down upon the rafts of floating leaves。 The shining snout of a freshwater dolphin rose slowly to the surface； a jet of spray whirred up； a rainbow hung upon it for a moment； and the black snout sank lazily again。 Here and there； too； upon some shallow pebbly shore； scarlet flamingoes stood dreaming knee…deep； on one leg； crested cranes pranced up and down； admiring their own finery； and ibises and egrets dipped their bills under water in search of prey： but before noon even those had slipped away； and there reigned a stillness which might be heardsuch a stillness （to compare small things with great） as broods beneath the rich shadows of Amyas's own Devon woods； or among the lonely sweeps of Exmoor； when the heather is in flowera stillness in which； as Humboldt says； 〃If beyond the silence we listen for the faintest undertones； we detect a stifled； continuous hum of insects； which crowd the air close to the earth； a confused swarming murmur which hangs round every bush； in the cracked bark of trees； in the soil undermined by lizards； millepedes； and bees； a voice proclaiming to us that all Nature breathes； that under a thousand different forms life swarms in the gaping and dusty earth； as much as in the bosom of the waters； and the air which breathes around。〃
At last a soft and distant murmur； increasing gradually to a heavy roar； announced that they were nearing some cataract； till turning a point； where the deep alluvial soil rose into a low cliff fringed with delicate ferns； they came full in sight of a scene at which all paused： not with astonishment； but with something very like disgust。
〃Rapids again！〃 grumbled one。 〃I thought we had had enough of them on the Orinoco。〃
〃We shall have to get out； and draw the canoes overland； I suppose。 Three hours will be lost； and in the very hottest of the day； too。〃
〃There's worse behind； don't you see the spray behind the palms？〃
〃Stop grumbling； my masters； and don't cry out before you are hurt。 Paddle right up to the largest of those islands； and let us look about us。〃
In front of them was a snow…white bar of raging foam； some ten feet high； along which were ranged three or four islands of black rock。 Each was crested with a knot of lofty palms； whose green tops stood out clear against the bright sky； while the lower half of their stems loomed hazy through a luminous veil of rainbowed mist。 The banks right and left of the fall were so densely fringed with a low hedge of shrubs； that landing seemed all but impossible； and their Indian guide； suddenly looking round him and whispering； bade them beware of savages； and pointed to a canoe which lay swinging in the eddies under the largest island； moored apparently to the root of some tree。
〃Silence all！〃 cried Amyas； 〃and paddle up thither and seize the canoe。 If there be an Indian on the island； we will have speech of him： but mind and treat him friendly； and on your lives； neither strike nor shoot； even if he offers to fight。〃
So； choosing a line of smooth backwater just in the wake of the island； they drove their canoes up by main force； and fastened them safely by the side of the Indian's； while Amyas； always the foremost； sprang boldly on shore； whispering to the Indian boy to follow him。
Once on the island； Amyas felt sure enough； that if its wild tenant had not seen them approach； he certainly had not heard them； so deafening was the noise which filled his brain； and seemed to make the very leaves upon the bushes quiver； and the solid stone beneath his feet to reel and ring。 For two hundred yards and more above the fall nothing met his eye but one white waste of raging foam； with here and there a transverse dyke of rock； which hurled columns of spray and surges of beaded water high into the air；strangely contrasting with the still and silent cliffs of green leaves which walled the river right and left； and more strangely still with the knots of enormous palms upon the islets； which reared their polished shafts a hundred feet into the air； straight and upright as masts； while their broad plumes and golden…clustered fruit slept in the sunshine far aloft； the image of the stateliest repose amid the wildest wrath of Nature。
He looked round anxiously for the expected Indian； but he was nowhere to be seen； and； in the meanwhile； as he stept cautiously along the island； which was some fifty yards in length and breadth； his senses； accustomed as they were to such sights； could not help dwelling on the exquisite beauty of the scene； on the garden of gay flowers； of every imaginable form and hue； which fringed every boulder at his feet； peeping out amid delicate fern…fans and luxuriant cushions of moss； on the chequered shade of the palms； and the cool air； which wafted down from the cataracts above the scents of a thousand flowers。 Gradually his ear became accustomed to the roar； and； above its mighty undertone； he could hear the whisper of the wind among the shrubs； and the hum of myriad insects； while the rock manakin； with its saffron plumage； flitted before him from stone to stone； calling cheerily； and seeming to lead him on。 Suddenly； scrambling over the rocky flower…beds to the other side of the isle； he came upon a little shady beach； which； beneath a bank of stone some six feet high； fringed the edge of a perfectly still and glassy bay。 Ten yards farther； the cataract fell sheer in thunder： but a high fern…fringed rock turned its force away from that quiet nook。 In it the water swung slowly round and round in glassy dark…green rings； among which dimpled a hundred gaudy fish； waiting for every fly and worm which spun and quivered on the eddy。 Here； if anywhere； was the place to find the owner of the canoe。 He leapt down upon the pebbles； and as he did so； a figure rose from behind a neighboring rock； and met him face to face。
It was an Indian girl； and yet； when he looked again；was it an Indian girl？ Amyas had seen hundreds of those delicate dark… skinned daughters of the forest； but never such a one as this。 Her stature was taller； her limbs were fuller and more rounded； her complexion； though tanned by light； was fairer by far than his own sunburnt face； her hair； crowned with a garland of white flowers； was not lank； and straight； and black； like an Indian's； but of a rich； glossy brown； and curling richly and crisply from her very temples to her knees。 Her forehead； though low； was upright and ample； her nose was straight and small； her lips； the lips of a European； her whole face of the highest and richest type of Spanish beauty； a collar of gold mingled with green beads hung round her neck； and golden bracelets were on her wrists。 All the strange and dim legends of white Indians； and of nations of a higher race than Carib； or Arrowak； or Solimo； which Amyas had ever heard； rose up in his memory。 She must be the daughter of some great cacique； perhaps of the lost Incas themselveswhy not？ And full of simple wonder； he gazed upon that fairy vision； while she； unabashed in her free innocence； gazed fearlessly in return； as Eve might have done in Paradise； upon the mighty stature； and the strange garments； and above all； on the bushy beard and flowing yellow locks of the Englishman。
He spoke first； in some Indian tongue； gently and smilingly； and made a half…step forward； but quick as light she caught up from the ground a bow； and held it fiercely toward him； fitted with the long arrow； with which； as he could see； she had been striking fish； for a line of twisted grass hung from its barbed head。 Amyas stopped； laid down his own bow and sword； and made another step in advance； smiling still； and making all Indian signs of amity： but the arrow was still pointed straight at his breast； and he knew the mettle and strength of the forest nymphs well enough to stand still and call for the Indian boy； too proud to retreat； but in the uncomfortable expectation of feeling every moment the shaft quivering between his ribs。
The boy； who had been peering from above； leaped down to them in a moment； and began； as the safest method； grovelling on his nose upon the pebbles； while he tried two or three dialects； one of which at last she seemed to understand； and answered in a tone of evident suspicion and anger。
〃What does she say？〃
〃That you are a Spaniard and a robber； because you have a beard。〃
〃Tell her that we are no Spaniards； but that we hate them； and are come across the great waters to help the Indians to kill them。〃
The boy translated his speech。 The nymph answered by a contemptuous shake of the head。
〃Tell her； that if she will send her tribe to us； we will do them no harm。 We are going over the mountains to fight the Spaniards； and we want them to show us the way。〃
The boy had no sooner spoken； than； nimble as a deer； the nymph had sprung up the rocks； and darted between the palm…stems to her canoe。 Suddenly she caught sight of the English boat； and stopped with a cry of fear and rage。
〃Let her pass！〃 shouted Amyas； who had followed her close。 〃Push your boat off； and let her pass。 Boy； tell her to go on； they will not come near her。〃
But she hesitated still； and with arrow drawn to the head； faced first on the boat's crew； and then on Amyas； till the Englishmen had shoved off full twenty yards。
Then； leaping into her tiny piragua； she darted into the wildest whirl of the eddies； shooting along with vigorous strokes； while the English trembled as they saw the fra