gs chase any
animal there. That is what I meant when I said that if an animal should
stumble against their legs, they would lift up their noses and pass on
without seeing it. For in that wood there is one law, the law that Rima
imposes, and outside of it a different law."

"I am glad that you have told me this," I replied. "The thought that
Rima might be near, and, unseen herself, look in upon us feeding with
the dogs and, like dogs, on flesh, was one which greatly troubled my
mind."

He glanced at me in his usual quick, cunning way.

"Ah, senor, you have that feeling too--after so short a time with us!
Consider, then, what it must be for me, unable to nourish myself on gums
and fruitlets, and that little sweetness made by wasps out of flowers,
when I am compelled to go far away and eat secretly to avoid giving
offence."

It was hard, no doubt, but I did not pity him; secretly I could only
feel anger against him for refusing to enlighten me, while making such
a presence of openness; and I also felt disgusted with myself for having
joined him in his rank repast. But dissimulation was necessary, and so,
after conversing a little more on indifferent topics, and thanking him
for his hospitality, I left him alone to go on with his smoky task.

On my way back to the lodge, fearing that some taint of Nuflo's
evil-smelling den and dinner might still cling to me, I turned aside to
where a streamlet in the wood widened and formed a deep pool, to take
a plunge in the water. After drying myself in the air, and thoroughly
ventilating my garments by shaking and beating them, I found an open,
shady spot in the wood and threw myself on the grass to wait for evening
before returning to the house. By that time the sweet, warm air would
have purified me. Besides, I did not consider that I had sufficiently
punished Rima for her treatment of me. She would be anxious for my
safety, perhaps even looking for me everywhere in the wood. It was not
much to make her suffer one day after she had made me miserable for
three; and perhaps when she discovered that I could exist without her
society she would begin to treat me less capriciously.

So ran my thoughts as I rested on the warm ground, gazing up into the
foliage, green as young grass in the lower, shady parts, and above
luminous with the bright sunlight, and full of the murmuring sounds of
insect life. My every action, word, thought, had my feeling for Rima
as a motive. Why, I began to