essed of padded hoofs and an infallible instinct; and before many
minutes she vanished from sight among crabs and trees lower down.

"Nuflo, old man," said I, looking out towards his lodge, "are there no
shooting pains in those old bones of yours to warn you in time of the
tempest about to burst on your head?"

Then I sat down to think.

CHAPTER XII

To follow impetuous, bird-like Rima in her descent of the hill would
have been impossible, nor had I any desire to be a witness of old
Nuflo's discomfiture at the finish. It was better to leave them to
settle their quarrel themselves, while I occupied myself in turning
over these fresh facts in my mind to find out how they fitted into the
speculative structure I had been building during the last two or three
weeks. But it soon struck me that it was getting late, that the sun
would be gone in a couple of hours; and at once I began the descent.
It was not accomplished without some bruises and a good many scratches.
After a cold draught, obtained by putting my lips to a black rock from
which the water was trickling, I set out on my walk home, keeping
near the western border of the forest for fear of losing myself. I had
covered about half the distance from the foot of the hill to Nuflo's
lodge when the sun went down. Away on my left the evening uproar of the
howling monkeys burst out, and after three or four minutes ceased; the
after silence was pierced at intervals by screams of birds going to
roost among the trees in the distance, and by many minor sounds close
at hand, of small bird, frog, and insect. The western sky was now like
amber-coloured flame, and against that immeasurably distant luminous
background the near branches and clustered foliage looked black; but on
my left hand the vegetation still appeared of a uniform dusky green. In
a little while night would drown all colour, and there would be no light
but that of the wandering lantern-fly, always unwelcome to the belated
walker in a lonely place, since, like the ignis fatuus, it is confusing
to the sight and sense of direction.

With increasing anxiety I hastened on, when all at once a low growl
issuing from the bushes some yards ahead of me brought me to a stop. In
a moment the dogs, Susio and Goloso, rushed out from some hiding place
furiously barking; but they quickly recognized me and slunk back again.
Relieved from fear, I walked on for a short distance; then it struck
me that the old man must be abou