to have and to hold-第16章

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ely　a　place？〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　made　play　with　his　clawlike　hands；　as　if　he　understood　me　not。　It　was　a　lie；　for　I　knew　that　he　and　the　English　tongue　were　sufficiently　acquainted。　I　told　him　as　much；　and　he　shot　at　me　a　most　venomous　glance；　but　continued　to　shrug；　gesticulate；　and　jabber　in　Italian。　At　last　I　saw　nothing　better　to　do　than　to　take　him；　still　by　the　collar；　to　the　edge　of　the　garden　next　the　churchyard；　and　with　the　toe　of　my　boot　to　send　him　tumbling　among　the　graves。　I　watched　him　pick　himself　up；　set　his　attire　to　rights；　and　go　away　in　the　gathering　dusk；　winding　in　and　out　among　the　graves；　and　then　I　went　in　to　supper；　and　told　Mistress　Percy　that　the　snake　was　dead。　



CHAPTER　X　　IN　WHICH　I　RECEIVE　A　WARNING　AND　REPOSE　A　TRUST


SHORTLY　before　daybreak　I　was　wakened　by　a　voice　beneath　my　window。　〃Captain　Percy；〃　it　cried；　〃the　Governor　wishes　you　at　his　house！〃　and　was　gone。

I　dressed　and　left　the　house；　disturbing　no　one。　Hurrying　through　the　chill　dawn；　I　reached　the　square　not　much　behind　the　rapid　footsteps　of　the　watch　who　had　wakened　me。　About　the　Governor's　door　were　horses；　saddled　and　bridled；　with　grooms　at　their　heads；　men　and　beasts　gray　and　indistinct；　wrapped　in　the　fog。　I　went　up　the　steps　and　into　the　hall；　and　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　Governor's　great　room。　It　opened；　and　I　entered　to　find　Sir　George；　with　Master　Pory；　Rolfe；　West；　and　others　of　the　Council　gathered　about　the　great　centre　table　and　talking　eagerly。　The　Governor　was　but　half　dressed；　West　and　Rolfe　were　in　jack　boots　and　coats　of　mail。　A　man；　breathless　with　hard　riding；　spattered　with　swamp　mud　and　torn　by　briers；　stood；　cap　in　hand；　staring　from　one　to　the　other。

〃In　good　time；　Captain　Percy！〃　cried　the　Governor。　〃Yesterday　you　called　the　profound　peace　with　the　Indians；　of　which　some　of　us　boasted；　the　lull　before　the　storm。　Faith；　it　looks　to…day　as　though　you　were　in　the　right；　after　all！〃

〃What　's　the　matter；　sir？〃　I　asked；　advancing　to　the　table。

〃Matter　enough！〃　he　answered。　〃This　man　has　come；　post　haste；　from　the　plantations　above　Paspahegh。　Three　days　ago；　Morgan；　the　trader；　was　decoyed　into　the　woods　by　that　Paspahegh　fool　and　bully；　Nemattanow；　whom　they　call　Jack　of　the　Feather；　and　there　murdered。　Yesterday；　out　of　sheer　bravado；　the　Indian　turned　up　at　Morgan's　house；　and　Morgan's　men　shot　him　down。　They　buried　the　dog；　and　thought　no　more　of　it。　Three　hours　ago；　Chanco　the　Christian　went　to　the　commander　and　warned　him　that　the　Paspaheghs　were　in　a　ferment；　and　that　the　warriors　were　painting　themselves　black。　The　commander　sent　off　at　once　to　me；　and　I　see　naught　better　to　do　than　to　dispatch　you　with　a　dozen　men　to　bring　them　to　their　senses。　But　there　's　to　be　no　harrying　nor　battle。　A　show　of　force　is　all　that　's　needed；　…　I'll　stake　my　head　upon　it。　Let　them　see　that　we　are　not　to　be　taken　unawares；　but　give　them　fair　words。　That　they　may　be　the　sooner　placated　I　send　with　you　Master　Rolfe；　…　they'll　listen　to　him。　See　that　the　black　paint　is　covered　with　red；　give　them　some　beads　and　a　knife　or　two；　then　come　home。　If　you　like　not　the　look　of　things；　find　out　where　Opechancanough　is；　and　I'll　send　him　an　embassy。　He　loves　us　well；　and　will　put　down　any　disaffection。〃

〃There's　no　doubt　that　he　loves　us；〃　I　said　dryly。　〃He　loves　us　as　a　cat　loves　the　mouse　that　it　plays　with。　If　we　are　to　start　at　once；　sir；　I'll　go　get　my　horse。〃

〃Then　meet　us　at　the　neck　of　land；〃　said　Rolfe。

I　nodded；　and　left　the　room。　As　I　descended　the　steps　into　the　growing　light　outside；　I　found　Master　Pory　at　my　side。

〃I　kept　late　hours　last　night；〃　he　remarked；　with　a　　portentous　yawn。　〃Now　that　this　business　is　settled；　I'll　go　back　to　bed。〃

I　walked　on　in　silence。

〃I　am　in　your　black　books；〃　he　continued；　with　his　sly；　merry；　sidelong　glance。　〃You　think　that　I　was　overcareful　of　the　ground；　that　morning　behind　the　church；　and　so　unfortunately　delayed　matters　until　the　Governor　happened　by　and　brought　things　to　another　guess　conclusion。〃

〃I　think　that　you　warned　the　Governor；〃　I　said　bluntly。

He　shook　with　laughter。　〃Warned　him？　Of　course　I　warned　him。　Youth　would　never　have　seen　that　molehill　and　fairy　ring　and　projecting　root；　but　wisdom　cometh　with　gray　hairs；　my　son。　D'　ye　not　think　I'll　have　the　King's　thanks？〃

〃Doubtless；〃　I　answered。　〃An　the　price　contents　you；　I　do　not　know　why　I　should　quarrel　with　it。〃

By　this　we　were　halfway　down　the　street；　and　we　now　came　upon　the　guest　house。　A　window　above　us　was　unshuttered；　and　in　the　room　within　a　light　still　burned。　Suddenly　it　was　extinguished。　A　man's　face　looked　down　upon　us　for　a　moment；　then　drew　back；　a　skeleton　hand　was　put　out　softly　and　slowly；　and　the　shutter　drawn　to。　Hand　and　face　belonged　to　the　man　I　had　sent　tumbling　among　the　graves　the　evening　before。

〃The　Italian　doctor；〃　said　Master　Pory。

There　was　something　peculiar　in　his　tone。　I　glanced　at　him；　but　his　broad　red　face　and　twinkling　eyes　told　me　nothing。　〃The　Italian　doctor；〃　he　repeated。　〃If　I　had　a　friend　in　Captain　Percy's　predicament；　I　should　bid　him　beware　of　the　Italian　doctor。〃

〃Your　friend　would　be　obliged　for　the　warning；〃　I　replied。

We　walked　a　little　further。　〃And　I　think；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　should　inform　this　purely　hypothetical　friend　of　mine　that　the　Italian　and　his　patron　had　their　heads　mighty　close　together；　last　night。〃

〃Last　night？〃

〃Ay；　last　night。　I　went　to　drink　with　my　lord；　and　so　broke　up　their　t？te………t？te。　　My　lord　was　boisterous　in　his　cups　and　not　oversecret。　He　dropped　some　hints〃　…　He　broke　off　to　indulge　in　one　of　his　endless　silent　laughs。　〃I　don't　know　why　I　tell　you　this；　Captain　Percy。　I　am　on　the　other　side；　you　know；　…　quite　on　the　other　side。　But　now　I　bethink　me；　I　am　only　telling　you　what　I　should　tell　you　were　I　upon　your　side。　There's　no　harm　in　that；　I　hope；　no　disloyalty　to　my　Lord　Carnal's　interests　which　happen　to　be　my　interests？〃

I　made　no　answer。　I　gave　him　credit　both　for　his　ignorance　of　the　very　hornbook　of　honor　and　for　his　large　share　of　the　milk　of　human　kindness。

〃My　lord　grows　restive；〃　he　said；　when　we　had　gone　a　little　further。　〃The　Francis　and　John；　coming　in　yesterday；　brought　court　news。　Out　of　sight；　out　of　mind。　Buckingham　is　making　hay　while　the　sun　shines。　Useth　angel　water　for　his　complexion；　sleepeth　in　a　medicated　mask　such　as　the　Valois　used；　and　is　grown　handsomer　than　ever；　changeth　the　fashion　of　his　clothes　thrice　a　week；　which　mightily　pleaseth　his　Majesty。　Whoops　on　the　Spanish　match；　too；　and；　wonderful　past　all　whooping；　from　the　prince's　detestation　hath　become　his　bosom　friend。　Small　wonder　if　my　Lord　Carnal　thinks　it's　time　he　was　back　at　Whitehall。〃

〃Let　him　go；　then；〃　I　said。　〃There's　his　ship　that　brought　him　here。〃

〃Ay；　there　's　his　ship；〃　rejoined　Master　Pory。　〃A　few　weeks　more；　and　the　Due　Return　will　be　here　with　the　Company's　commands。　D'　ye　think；　Captain　Percy；　that　there's　the　slightest　doubt　as　to　their　tenor？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　my　lord　has　but　to　possess　his　soul　with　patience　and　wait　for　the　Due　Return。　No　doubt　he'll　do　so。〃

〃No　doubt　he'll　do　so；〃　I　echoed。

By　this　we　had　reached　the　Secretary's　own　door。　〃Fortune　favor　you　with　the　Paspaheghs！〃　he　said；　with　another　mighty　yawn。　〃As　for　me；　I'll　to　bed。　Do　you　ever　dream；　Captain　Percy？　I　don't；　mine　is　too　good　a　conscience。　But　if　I　did；　I　should　dream　of　an　Italian　doctor。〃

The　door　shut　upon　his　red　face　and　bright　eyes。　I　walked　rapidly　on　down　the　street　to　the　minister's　house。　The　light　was　very　pale　as　yet；　and　house　and　garden　lay　beneath　a　veil　of　mist。　No　one　was　stirring。　I　went　on　through　the　gray　wet　paths　to　the　stable；　and　roused　Diccon。

〃Saddle　Black　Lamoral　quickly；〃　I　ordered。　〃There's　trouble　with　the　Paspaheghs；　and　I　am　off　with　Master　Rolfe　to　settle　it。〃

〃Am　I　to　go　with　you？〃　he　asked。

I　shook　my　head。　〃We　have　a　dozen　men。　There's　no　need　of　more。〃

I　left　him　busy　with　the　horse；　and　went　to　the　house。　In　the　hall　I　found　the　negress　strewing　the　floor　with　fresh　rushes；　and　asked　her　if　her　mistress　yet　slept。　In　her　soft　half　English；　half　Spanish；　she　　answered　in　the　affirmative。　I　went　to　my　own　room　and　armed　myself；　then　ran　upstairs　to　the　comfortable　chamber　where　abode　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow；　surrounded　by　luxuries　which　his　soul　contemned。　He　was　not　there。　At　the　foot　of　the　stair　I　was　met　by　Goodwife　Allen。　〃The　minister　was　called　an　hour　ago；　sir；〃　she　announced。　〃There's　a　man　dying　of　the　fever　at　Archer's　Hope；　and　they　sent　a　boat　for　him。　He　won't　be　back　until　afternoon。〃

I　hurried　past　her　back　to　the　stable。　Black　Lamoral　was　saddled；　and　Diccon　held　the　stirrup　for　me　to　mount。

〃Good　luck　with　the　vermin；　sir！〃　he　said。　〃I　wish　I　were　going；　too。〃

His　tone　was　sullen；　yet　wistful。　I　knew　that　he　loved　danger　as　I　loved　it；　and　a　sudden　remembrance　of　the　dangers　we　had　faced　together　brought　us　nearer　to　each　other　than　we　had　been　for　many　a　day。

〃I　don't　take　you；〃　I　explained；　〃because　I　have　need　of　you　here。　Master　Sparrow　has　gone　to　watch　beside　a　dying　man；　and　will　not　be　back　for　hours。　As　for　myself；　there's　no　telling　how　long　I　may　be　kept。　Until　I　come　you　are　to　guard　house　and　garden　well。　You　know　what　I　mean。　Your　mistress　is　to　be　molested　by　no　one。〃

〃Very　well；　sir。〃

〃One　thing　more。　There　was　some　talk　yesterday　of　my　taking　her　across　the　neck　to　the　forest。　When　she　awakes；　tell　her　from　me　that　I　am　sorry　for　her　to　lose　her　pleasure；　but　that　now　she　could　not　go　even　were　I　here　to　take　her。〃

〃There　's　no　danger　from　the　Paspaheghs　there；〃　he　muttered。

〃The　Paspaheghs　happen　not　to　be　my　only　foes；〃　　I　said　curtly。　〃Do　as　I　bid　you　without　remark。　Tell　her　that　I　have　good　reasons　for　desiring　her　to　remain　within　doors　until　my　return。　On　no　account　whatever　is　she　to　venture　without　the　garden。〃

I　gathered　up　the　reins；　and　he　stood　back　from　the　horse's　head。　When　I　had　gone　a　few　paces　I　drew　rein；　and；　turning　in　my　saddle；　spoke　to　him　across　the　dew…drenched　grass。　〃This　is　a　trust；　Diccon；〃　I　said。

The　red　came　into　his　tanned　face。　He　raised　his　hand　and　made　our　old　military　salute。　〃I　understand　it　so；　my　captain；〃　he　answered；　and　I　rode　away　satisfied。



CHAPTER　XIII　　IN　WHICH　THE　SANTA　TERESA　DROPS　DOWNSTREAM


AN　hour's　ride　brought　us　to　the　block　house　standing　within　the　forest；　midway　between　the　white　plantations　at　Paspahegh　and　the　village　of　the　tribe。　We　found　it　well　garrisoned；　spies　out；　and　the　men　inclined　to　make　light　of　the　black　paint　and　the　seething　village。

Amongst　them　was　Chanco　the　Christian。　I　called　him　to　me；　and　we　listened　to　his　report　with　growing　perturbation。　〃Thirty　warriors！〃　I　said；　when　he　had　finished。　〃And　they　are　painted　yellow　as　well　as　black；　and　have　dashed　their　cheeks　with　puccoon：　it's　…　l'outrance；　then！　And　the　war　dance　is　toward！　If　we　are　to　pacify　this　hornets'　nest；　it's　high　time　we　set　about　it。　Gentlemen　of　the　block　house；　we　are　but　twelve；　and　they　may　beat　us　back；　in　which　case　those　that　are　left　of　us　will　fight　it　out　with　you　here。　Watch　for　us；　therefore；　and　have　a　sally　party　ready。　Forward；　men！〃

〃One　moment；　Captain　Percy；〃　said　Rolfe。　〃Chanco；　where