BY MY ARRANT FOLLY I LOSE MY DEAR LADY BIDDY.
The sides of this gorge (which was prodigiously steep and profound,
looking as if the rock had at one time been riven asunder) were craggy
and barren, save here and there where some vines and brush had taken
root in the crannies; however, by dint of agility in helping each other
with our hands, we got down to a shelf or table of rock very agreeably
covered with a soft sward, where we could rest in comfort, and refresh
ourselves to our hearts' content with the wonderful sweet water we found
there in a pool formed by a hollow of the rock.
And here was shade from the sun (which was now at its height), and a
little cool breeze carried down by the falling water, so that we were
well disposed to rest awhile, and overcome the fatigue produced by our
long and difficult march, to say nothing of the exhaustion which we owed
to the terrors of the morning. It seemed to me prudent also, as well as
pleasurable, to repose till the heat of the day was moderated, in order
to gain strength for our next march, which must carry us beyond the
reach of Rodrigues and his wicked pirates, and as no place could be more
proper for that purpose than this (wherein only by accident could we be
discovered), I tore up from the rock half a dozen soft turfs, and,
disposing them like a pillow, begged Lady Biddy to lie down at her ease.
Thanking me very sweetly, she did as I bade her, and presently fell
asleep as gently as any child, which gave me exceeding happiness, for it
showed how greatly she trusted in my protecting care.
For some time I sat watching her face, from which peaceful sleep had
smoothed away all traces of fear and trouble, observing how her white
teeth did gleam through her parted red lips; how her nether lip was
round, and her upper lip pointed like a little bow, curved up; how her
dark lashes curled; and how a little lock of hair had strayed from her
gathered tresses and fluttered in the breeze loose upon her pale brow. I
say I sat noting these trifles with an indescribable emotion in my
breast; and truly, if all the world had been offered me, in exchange for
my present condition, I would have refused it a thousand times. Nay, so
selfish did my great joy make me, that I believe I would not have undone
the past, though it had been to Lady Biddy's advantage.
My emotions growing by indulgence, and passion stirring within me as I
feasted my eyes upon that lovely face, I was sorely tempted to touch her
head with my fingers, yet in such a gentle manner as it should not awake
her; but stretching out my hand I seemed to see upon it the blood of
those men I had killed, so that I dropped it in shame, thinking what a
wretch I was, and how cowardly to attempt upon her sleeping what I dared
not offer if she were waking; moreover, what cleansing of my heart as
well as of my hands there must be ere I might touch her without
reproach.
Taking myself to task in this manner, I perceived that I must give my
passion no loose, lest it should run away with me; and so, turning my
eyes from her face, I set myself to think about the future and what
measure I must take for my tender companion's comfort, as being vastly
more creditable than the self-indulgence I had given way to.
And first, a griping in my vitals did put me in mind that we could not
live on guava apples and water alone, but must have more solid victuals
to strengthen us against the hardships of traveling in the desert that
lay before us.
How was I to get meat? Never was man since the days of Orson so naked
for the chase. Not a bodkin had I; nay, not even a stick with which to
strike down a snake. Birds we had seen galore in the fruitful thicket,
and thinking of the savory dish I might make of a young macaw for my
Lady Biddy put me in mind of my old weapon--a sling. Then casting about
for material to make this simple engine, I bethought me of my shoe that
was furnished with a tongue, very proper for my purpose. Whereupon I
whipped off the said shoe, and getting a sharp-edged stone I made a
shift to cut it out.
"Now," thinks I, "if I had but a thorn for an awl, and a strip of silk
grass for a thong, the business would be done in a trice."
Thorns there were (and to spare) in the thicket above, and I doubted not
I might also find grass or the fibre of a palmetto to serve my turn. And
seeing that I could get to the thicket and yet keep my eye on Lady Biddy
for her safety, I cast a glance at my companion, whose bosom still
heaved very gently and regularly; and satisfied she would not awake for
some while, I rose and scaled the steep side of the gorge.
Being come to the top I looked down; my lady had not stirred, and so I
set about cheerfully to get me the things I needed. After a little
search I found a sort of grass nearly an ell long and reasonably tough,
and stripping this down so as to get the mid-rib, I tested it, and found
it would serve well enough for a few casts. As for a thorn, I found that
without seeking--a stickle as long as a cock's spur and as sharp as any
needle piercing through my breeches as I stooped to pluck a blade of the
aforesaid grass.
Having all that I needed (and more, by the smarting wound in my thigh),
I went back to the edge of the gorge whence I could see Lady Biddy, and
set about making my sling. This being done to my satisfaction--not so
stout as I could wish, but good enough as a makeshift--I hunted about
for round stones, and got me half a dozen suitable enough. And now being
armed, I itched to put my weapon to its use.
There was not a sound but the breaking of the water, and all around
looked so still and peaceful that I deemed I might safely venture to
ramble a little way in quest of game. Yet still I hesitated, but just
then I heard the whir of wings hard by, and casting my eye that way,
spied a bird which later I heard the Indians call a _macucagua_, about
the size of an English pheasant and not unlike it, making for a plantain
tree that stood in a coppice not far distant. I saw him alight on the
tree and attack its fruit, on which this bird is a greedy feeder, and
after him I started as stealthily as I might, that he should not take
wing again before I got within range. From bush to bush I crept, till,
getting pretty close, I slipped a stone into the sole of my sling, and
stepping into the open gave my sling a twirl and let fly. By good chance
my shot hit the bird in the neck, and so much to his damage that flying
up he beat his wings vainly against the boughs and then fell fluttering
to the ground. Yet was he only stupefied by the blow, and, being come to
the ground, flew up again away for a furlong, and thence up once more
and off for half a furlong more, so that by the time I finally overtook
him and put an end to the business by wringing his neck I was pretty
well three parts of a mile from the coppice where I started. However, I
took not much heed of this or of the time it had taken me to steal to
the coppice from the gorge, being mightily pleased with myself for my
address.
Handling my bird I was as pleased as any fool to observe how fat he was,
to find that he weighed four pounds if an ounce, etc.: nay, I was so
fond as to pluck one of his tail feathers and stick it in my coat for a
trophy. Then I fell to considering how I should dress him, and
remembering how I had got fire by rubbing two dry sticks together that
time I was in the Oronoque, I wasted another ten minutes in seeking wood
that would serve my turn now. In short, by the time I had brought this
silly business to an end and started off to rejoin Lady Biddy, more than
half an hour was gone from the moment I began it.
When I got back to the edge of the gorge and looked down, I came to a
stand like one suddenly bereft of his senses. Lady Biddy was gone!
I could not fetch my breath; the bird that was paid for so dearly
slipped from my powerless fingers, nor did I ever see anything more of
him save the feather I had stuck in my coat, and my limbs quaked under
me. Then I would not believe but that I had mistaken the place, until
the turfs I had pulled up for a pillow met my eye and convinced me that
it was there and nowhere else that I had left her.
"She is gone!" I moaned; and then, striking my breast with my clenched
fist, I muttered, "And thou, villain, must answer for her fate."
Then, hoping that she had but strolled a little way to find me, I rushed
along the edge of the ravine to a rock that hung over the deep cleft.
From this point I could see down to the bottom of the gorge where the
stream ran into the river. Just within this creek lay a boat, which only
too clearly discovered the reason why Lady Biddy was no longer where I
had left her.
At that very moment I heard her voice calling faintly as from a great
distance--
"Benet, Benet!" Then there was silence while I looked in vain to see her
down the ravine, doubting not that she was being carried away to the
boat below.
"Benet!" she cried, yet a little louder, yet still faintly. "Benet!"
I felt sure that she saw me and was crying for help, and it maddened me
that I could not see her. Nor could I guess from her voice in what part
of the ravine she had been taken for the breaking of the waters and the
echo of the rocks. But leaping to another rock and craning my neck over,
I caught sight of two fellows, whom I knew for Rodrigues' rascals,
rounding a bend of the gorge below. And one of them, facing about, lifts
his finger warningly as if to signal those who followed that they should
stifle Lady Biddy's cry for help.