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d doves； while now and then； from far away； the musical wail of the sloth； or the deep toll of the bell…bird； came softly to the ear。 What was not there which eye or ear could need？ And what which palate could need either？ For on the rock above； some strange tree； leaning forward； dropped every now and then a luscious apple upon the grass below； and huge wild plantains bent beneath their load of fruit。
There； on the stream bank； lay the two renegades from civilized life。 They had cast away their clothes； and painted themselves； like the Indians； with arnotto and indigo。 One lay lazily picking up the fruit which fell close to his side； the other sat； his back against a cushion of soft moss； his hands folded languidly upon his lap； giving himself up to the soft influence of the narcotic coca… juice； with half…shut dreamy eyes fixed on the everlasting sparkle of the waterfall
〃While beauty； born of murmuring sound； Did pass into his face。〃
Somewhat apart crouched their two dusky brides； crowned with fragrant flowers； but working busily； like true women； for the lords whom they delighted to honor。 One sat plaiting palm fibres into a basket； the other was boring the stem of a huge milk…tree； which rose like some mighty column on the right hand of the lawn； its broad canopy of leaves unseen through the dense underwood of laurel and bamboo； and betokened only by the rustle far aloft； and by the mellow shade in which it bathed the whole delicious scene。
Amyas stood silent for awhile； partly from noble shame at seeing two Christian men thus fallen of their own self…will； partly becauseand he could not but confess thata solemn calm brooded above that glorious place； to break through which seemed sacrilege even while he felt it a duty。 Such； he thought； was Paradise of old； such our first parents' bridal bower！ Ah！ if man had not fallen； he too might have dwelt forever in such a homewith whom？ He started； and shaking off the spell； advanced sword in hand。
The women saw him； and springing to their feet； caught up their long pocunas； and leapt like deer each in front of her beloved。 There they stood； the deadly tubes pressed to their lips； eyeing him like tigresses who protect their young； while every slender limb quivered； not with terror； but with rage。
Amyas paused； half in admiration； half in prudence； for one rash step was death。 But rushing through the canes； Ayacanora sprang to the front； and shrieked to them in Indian。 At the sight of the prophetess the women wavered； and Amyas； putting on as gentle a face as he could； stepped forward； assuring them in his best Indian that he would harm no one。
〃Ebsworthy！ Parracombe！ Are you grown such savages already； that you have forgotten your captain？ Stand up； men； and salute！〃
Ebsworthy sprang to his feet； obeyed mechanically； and then slipped behind his bride again； as if in shame。 The dreamer turned his head languidly； raised his hand to his forehead； and then returned to his contemplation。
Amyas rested the point of his sword on the ground； and his hands upon the hilt； and looked sadly and solemnly upon the pair。 Ebsworthy broke the silence； half reproachfully； half trying to bluster away the coming storm。
〃Well； noble captain； so you've hunted out us poor fellows； and want to drag us back again in a halter； I suppose？〃
〃I came to look for Christians； and I find heathens； for men； and I find swine。 I shall leave the heathens to their wilderness； and the swine to their trough。 Parracombe！〃
〃He's too happy to answer you； sir。 And why not？ What do you want of us？ Our two years vow is out； and we are free men now。〃
〃Free to become like the beasts that perish？ You are the queen's servants still； and in her name I charge you
〃Free to be happy；〃 interrupted the man。 〃With the best of wives； the best of food； a warmer bed than a duke's； and a finer garden than an emperor's。 As for clothes； why the plague should a man wear them where he don't need them？ As for gold； what's the use of it where Heaven sends everything ready…made to your hands？ Hearken； Captain Leigh。 You've been a good captain to me； and I'll repay you with a bit of sound advice。 Give up your gold…hunting； and toiling and moiling after honor and glory； and copy us。 Take that fair maid behind you there to wife； pitch here with us； and see if you are not happier in one day than ever you were in all your life before。〃
〃You are drunk； sirrah！ William Parracombe！ Will you speak to me； or shall I heave you into the stream to sober you？〃
〃Who calls William Parracombe？〃 answered a sleepy voice。
〃I； fool！your captain。〃
〃I am not William Parracombe。 He is dead long ago of hunger； and labor； and heavy sorrow； and will never see Bideford town any more。 He is turned into an Indian now； and he is to sleep； sleep； sleep for a hundred years； till he gets his strength again； poor fellow〃
〃Awake； then； thou that sleepest； and arise from the dead； and Christ shall give thee light！ A christened Englishman； and living thus the life of a beast？〃
〃Christ shall give thee light？〃 answered the same unnatural abstracted voice。 〃Yes； so the parsons say。 And they say too； that He is Lord of heaven and earth。 I should have thought His light was as near us here as anywhere； and nearer too； by the look of the place。 Look round！〃 said he； waving a lazy hand； 〃and see the works of God； and the place of Paradise； whither poor weary souls go home and rest； after their masters in the wicked world have used them up； with labor and sorrow； and made them wade knee… deep in bloodI'm tired of blood； and tired of gold。 I'll march no more； I'll fight no more； I'll hunger no more after vanity and vexation of spirit。 What shall I get by it？ Maybe I shall leave my bones in the wilderness。 I can but do that here。 Maybe I shall get home with a few pezos； to die an old cripple in some stinking hovel； that a monkey would scorn to lodge in here。 You may go on； it'll pay you。 You may be a rich man； and a knight； and live in a fine house； and drink good wine； and go to Court； and torment your soul with trying to get more； when you've got too much already； plotting and planning to scramble upon your neighbor's shoulders； as they all didSir Richard； and Mr。 Raleigh； and Chichester； and poor dear old Sir Warham； and all of them that I used to watch when I lived before。 They were no happier than I was then； I'll warrant they are no happier now。 Go your ways； captain； climb to glory upon some other backs than ours； and leave us here in peace； alone with God and God's woods； and the good wives that God has given us； to play a little like school children。 It's long since I've had play…hours； and now I'll be a little child once more； with the flowers； and the singing birds； and the silver fishes in the stream； that are at peace； and think no harm； and want neither clothes； nor money； nor knighthood； nor peerage； but just take what comes； and their heavenly Father feedeth them； and Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of theseand will He not much more feed us； that are of more value than many sparrows？〃
〃And will you live here； shut out from all Christian ordinances？