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had the wished fire； and heaped wood dry and green on it to make it large。 I nursed it well； and spent the night beside it； and it also served to roast some huge white grubs which I had found in the rotten wood of a prostrate trunk。 The sight of these great grubs had formerly disgusted me； but they tasted good to me now； and stayed my hunger； and that was all I looked for in my wild forest food。
For a long time an undefined feeling prevented me from going near the site of Nuflo's burnt lodge。 I went there at last； and the first thing I did was to go all round the fatal spot； cautiously peering into the rank herbage； as if I feared a lurking serpent； and at length； at some distance from the blackened heap； I discovered a human skeleton； and knew it to be Nuflo's。 In his day he had been a great armadillo…hunter； and these quaint carrion…eaters had no doubt revenged themselves by devouring his flesh when they found him deadkilled by the savages。
Having once returned to this spot of many memories； I could not quit it again； while my wild woodland life lasted； here must I have my lair； and being here I could not leave that mournful skeleton above ground。 With labour I excavated a pit to bury it； careful not to cut or injure a broad…leafed creeper that had begun to spread itself over the spot； and after refilling the hole I drew the long； trailing stems over the mound。
〃Sleep well； old man；〃 said I； when my work was done； and these few words； implying neither censure nor praise； was all the burial service that old Nuflo had from me。
I then visited the spot where the old man； assisted by me； had concealed his provisions before starting for Riolama； and was pleased to find that it had not been discovered by the Indians。 Besides the store of tobacco leaf； maize； pumpkin； potatoes； and cassava bread； and the cooking utensils； I found among other things a choppera great acquisition； since with it I would be able to cut down small palms and bamboos to make myself a hut。
The possession of a supply of food left me time for many things： time in the first place to make my own conditions； doubtless after them there would be further progression on the old linesluxuries added to necessaries； a healthful； fruitful life of thought and action combined； and at last a peaceful； contemplative old age。
I cleared away ashes and rubbish； and marked out the very spot where Rima's separate bower had been for my habitation； which I intended to make small。 In five days it was finished； then； after lighting a fire； I stretched myself out in my dry bed of moss and leaves with a feeling that was almost triumphant。 Let the rain now fall in torrents； putting out the firefly's lamp； let the wind and thunder roar their loudest； and the lightnings smite the earth with intolerable light； frightening the poor monkeys in their wet； leafy habitations； little would I heed it all on my dry bed； under my dry； palm…leaf thatch； with glorious fire to keep me company and protect me from my ancient enemy； Darkness。
From that first sleep under shelter I woke refreshed； and was not driven by the cruel spur of hunger into the wet forest。 The wished time had come of rest from labour； of leisure for thought。 Resting here； just where she had rested； night by night clasping a visionary mother in her arms； whispering tenderest words in a visionary ear； I too now clasped her in my armsa visionary Rima。 How different the nights had seemed when I was without shelter； before I had rediscovered fire！ How had I endured it？ That strange ghostly gloom of the woods at night…time full of innumerable strange shapes； still and dark； yet with something seen at times moving amidst them； dark and vague and strange alsoan owl； perhaps； or bat； or great winged moth； or nightjar。 Nor had I any choice then but to listen to the night…sounds of the forest； and they were various as the day…sounds； and for every day…sound； from the faintest lisping and softest trill to the deep boomings and piercing cries； there was an analogue； always with something mysterious； unreal in its tone； something proper to the night。 They were ghostly sounds； uttered by the ghosts of dead animals； they were a hundred different things by turns； but always with a meaning in them； which I vainly strove to catchsomething to be interpreted only by a sleeping faculty in us； lightly sleeping； and now； now on the very point of awaking！
Now the gloom and the mystery were shut out； now I had that which stood in the place of pleasure to me； and was more than pleasure。 It was a mournful rapture to lie awake now； wishing not for sleep and oblivion； hating the thought of daylight that would come at last to drown and scare away my vision。 To be with Rima againmy lost Rima recoveredmine； mine at last！ No longer the old vexing doubt now〃You are you； and I am Iwhy is it？〃the question asked when our souls were near together； like two raindrops side by side； drawing irresistibly nearer； ever nearer： for now they had touched and were not two； but one inseparable drop； crystallized beyond change； not to be disintegrated by time； nor shattered by death's blow； nor resolved by any alchemy。
I had other company besides this unfailing vision and the bright dancing fire that talked to me in its fantastic fire language。 It was my custom to secure the door well on retiring； grief had perhaps chilled my blood； for I suffered less from heat than from cold at this period； and the fire seemed grateful all night long； I was also anxious to exclude all small winged and creeping night…wanderers。 But to exclude them entirely proved impossible： through a dozen invisible chinks they would find their way to me； also some entered by day to lie concealed until after nightfall。 A monstrous hairy hermit spider found an asylum in a dusky corner of the hut； under the thatch； and day after day he was there； all day long； sitting close and motionless； but at dark he invariably disappearedwho knows on what murderous errand！ His hue was a deep dead…leaf yellow； with a black and grey pattern； borrowed from some wild cat； and so large was he that his great outspread hairy legs； radiating from the flat disk of his body； would have covered a man's open hand。 It was easy to see him in my small interior； often in the night…time my eyes would stray to his corner； never to encounter that strange hairy figure； but daylight failed not to bring him。 He troubled me； but now； for Rima's sake； 1 could slay no living thing except from motives of hunger。 I had it in my mind to injure himto strike off one of his legs； which would not be missed much； as they were manyso as to make him go away and return no more to so inhospitable a place。 But courage failed me。 He might come stealthily back at night to plunge his long； crooked farces into my throat； poisoning my blood with fever and delirium and black death。 So I left him alone； and glanced furtively and fearfully at him； hoping that he had not divined any thoughts； thus we lived on unsocially together。 More companionable； but still in an uncomfortable way； were the large crawling； running insectscrickets； beetles； and others。 They were shapely and black and polished； and ran about here and there on