Complete Works

garment, entered the water cautiously.  He had had nothing to eat that day, and had not dared show himself in daylight by the water-side to drink.  Now, as he swam silently, he swallowed a few mouthfuls of water that lapped about his lips.  This did him good, and he walked with greater confidence in himself and others as he returned towards the fire.  Had he been betrayed by Lakamba all would have been over by this.  He made up a big blaze, and while it lasted dried himself, and then lay down by the embers.  He could not sleep, but he felt a great numbness in all his limbs.  His restlessness was gone, and he was content to lay still, measuring the time by watching the stars that rose in endless succession above the forests, while the slight puffs of wind under the cloudless sky seemed to fan their twinkle into a greater brightness.  Dreamily he assured himself over and over again that she would come, till the certitude crept into his heart and filled him with a great peace.  Yes, when the next day broke, they would be together on the great blue sea that was like life — away from the forests that were like death.  He murmured the name of Nina into the silent space with a tender smile: this seemed to break the spell of stillness, and far away by the creek a frog croaked loudly as if in answer.  A chorus of loud roars and plaintive calls rose from the mud along the line of bushes.  He laughed heartily; doubtless it was their love-song.  He felt affectionate towards the frogs and listened, pleased with the noisy life near him.
    When the moon peeped above the trees he felt the old impatience and the old restlessness steal over him.  Why was she so late?  True, it was a long way to come with a single paddle.  With what skill and what endurance could those small hands manage a heavy paddle!  It was very wonderful — such small hands, such soft little palms that knew how to touch his cheek with a feel lighter than the fanning of a butterfly’s wing.  Wonderful!  He lost himself lovingly in the contemplation of this tremendous mystery, and when he looked at the moon again it had risen a hand’s breadth above the trees.  Would she come?  He forced himself to lay still, overcoming the impulse to rise and rush round the clearing again.  He turned this way and that; at last, quivering with the effort, he lay on his back, and saw her face among the stars looking down on him.
    The croaking of frogs suddenly ceased.  With the watchfulness of a hunted man Dain sat up, listening anxiously, and heard several splashes in the water as the frogs took rapid headers into the creek.  He knew that they had been alarmed by something, and stood up suspicious and attentive.  A slight grating noise, then the dry sound as of two pieces of wood struck against each other.  Somebody was about to land!  He took up an armful of brushwood, and, without taking his eyes from the path, held it over the embers of his fire.  He waited, undecided, and saw something gleam amongst the bushes; then a white figure came out of the shadows and seemed to float towards him in the pale light.  His heart gave a great leap and stood still, then went on shaking his frame in furious beats.  He dropped the brushwood upon the glowing coals, and had an impression of shouting her name — of rushing to meet her; yet he emitted no sound, he stirred not an inch, but he stood silent and motionless like chiselled bronze under the moonlight that streamed over his naked shoulders.  As he stood still, fighting with his breath, as if bereft of his senses by the intensity of his delight, she walked up to him with quick, resolute steps, and, with the appearance of one about to leap from a dangerous height, threw both her arms round his neck with a sudden gesture.  A small blue gleam crept amongst the dry branches, and the crackling of reviving fire was the only sound as they faced each other in the speechless emotion of that meeting; then the dry fuel caught at once, and a bright hot flame shot upwards in a blaze as high as their heads, and in its light they saw each other’s eyes.
    Neither of them spoke.  He was regaining his senses in a slight tremor that ran upwards along his rigid body and hung about his trembling lips.  She drew back her head and fastened her eyes on his in one of those long looks that are a woman’s most terrible weapon; a look that is more stirring than the closest touch, and more dangerous than the thrust of a dagger,