THE ENEMY NEAR
In fifteen minutes after I settled myself in the tree, in a position of
comparative ease, I fell into a deep and dreamless slumber. I had not
intended to give up in any such manner, but the warmth, the relief to my
mind and my weariness, combined to send me off before I realised what I
was doing.
It might have been a noise and it could have been pangs of hunger that
awakened me finally. The hour was certainly that of noon, if not later.
I felt hazy in my notions; it required no little blinking to get the
webs from my eyes and brain. Then I heard voices. What was being said
sounded to me like Link language.
I nearly cried out, thinking some of the tribe were near at hand, but
fortunately I was still too lazy and exhausted to make such an effort.
Then a movement attracted my gaze and I saw several Links, sure enough.
But they were black!
I was wide enough awake in a second. I crouched low and got a mass of
leaves between these vengeful creatures and myself, for I knew it would
be death, or worse, if once they clapped eyes upon my form. Peering
furtively down, I saw that all of them were standing perfectly still,
just as if they might have halted abruptly and remained in various poses
of action. There were eight in all, every one of whom was looking
intently at something across the little clearing.
Without moving my body I turned my head and discovered a small black
bear, which was sleepily smelling about and moving through the grass and
giant ferns. Wondering if presently the Links would dart upon the
inoffensive animal and beat it to death with their clubs, I looked them
over carefully. Except that they stood erect, they did certainly look
like close relations of the savage ourangs. Their ears were large,
foreheads low and receding, and jaws tremendously heavy and protuberant.
Their noses were flat and broad, while their eyes, like those of my
friendly Reds, were small, round, near together and nervously watchful.
I was not at all gratified to see them here; I wondered if, being so
near, they had discovered our settlement on the hill. Our settlement!
Would I ever get back to my barbarous company and that “city” again, I
wondered.
The bear shuffled off, with the utmost indifference to anything which
might be near. Then I beheld those black Links, one of whom possessed
the club with the nugget of gold on the end, do precisely what I had
seen my Reds do, the day we were driven into the cave. They crept up to
the tracks which bruin had left in the moist earth and kneeling, as if
in adoration, each placed his forehead down where the bear had trod.
Plainly the creature was held in great reverence and awe by all the
family of Links, whatever their colour. This seemed to me a remarkable
and wholly inexplicable thing.
Two of the fellows, I noted, had fruits and cocoa-nuts in their hands,
having probably gathered them recently for the dinner of the party. They
now parleyed a moment in monosyllables, with the others, the result
being that all of the food was deposited on the ground, doubtless with
the thought that the bear might return and be pleased to find something
to eat. It was doubtless a primitive “sacred” offering. As silently as
so many snakes, the fellows then withdrew, on the side just opposite to
that in which their adored one had disappeared. I heard their voices die
away in the jungle.
In order to be sure that I incurred no risk, I waited for fully fifteen
minutes. The forest was particularly still. Slipping quietly down from
my perch, at last, I possessed myself of those fruits in the twinkling
of an eye, and devouring a part then and there, I ascended to my throne
with all I could carry, and finished a meal, the relish of which
surpasses all human imagination.
When I had done at last and that craving, inward system was fully
gratified, I heaved a big sigh of content and gazed off listlessly into
the ocean of endless verdure. A soft wind fanned lazily by; there was
nothing to threaten my life; the tropics were at their loveliest. As
naturally as it comes to a tired animal, sleep again came creeping
across my senses. Without even moving into an easier position, I slept
away the whole balmy afternoon.
I waked at last and found it was night. How drowsy it was, how blissful
to sleep and sleep. My brain was too dull to receive an impression of
alarm at my being alone in the jungle; I felt that I did not care what
occurred. If anything wished to come and eat me up, it was all right,
but I did wish they might not make me awake while the job was being
done. Howls, death-screams, roars of the prowlers—all made a lullaby
that soothed me more. I turned the other way about, heavily, and sank
again into slumber.