to have and to hold-第27章

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An　exquisite　smile　just　lit　her　face；　and　her　eyelids　drooped　again。　〃I　am　so　tired；〃　she　said　drowsily；　〃that　I　will　sleep　a　little　longer。　Will　you　bring　me　some　water；　Captain　Percy？　I　am　very　thirsty。〃

After　a　moment　I　said　gently；　〃I　will　go　get　it；　madam。〃　She　made　no　answer；　she　was　already　asleep。　Nor　did　Sparrow　and　I　speak　again。　He　laid　himself　down　with　his　face　to　the　ocean；　and　I　sat　with　my　head　in　my　hands；　and　thought　and　thought；　to　no　purpose。



CHAPTER　XXI　　IN　WHICH　A　GRAVE　IS　DIGGED


WHEN　the　stars　had　gone　out　and　the　moon　begun　to　pale；　I　raised　my　face　from　my　hands。　Only　a　few　glowing　embers　remained　of　the　fire；　and　the　driftwood　that　we　had　collected　was　exhausted。　I　thought　that　I　would　gather　more；　and　build　up　the　fire　against　the　time　when　the　others　should　awake。　The　driftwood　lay　in　greatest　quantity　some　distance　up　the　beach；　against　a　low　ridge　of　sand　dunes。　Beyond　these　the　islet　tapered　off　to　a　long　gray　point　of　sand　and　shell。　Walking　toward　this　point　in　the　first　pale　light　of　dawn；　I　chanced　to　raise　my　eyes；　and　beheld　riding　at　anchor　beyond　the　spit　of　sand　a　ship。

I　stopped　short　and　rubbed　my　eyes。　She　lay　there　on　the　sleeping　ocean　like　a　dream　ship；　her　masts　and　rigging　black　against　the　pallid　sky；　the　mist　that　rested　upon　the　sea　enfolding　half　her　hull。　She　might　have　been　of　three　hundred　tons　burthen；　she　was　black　and　two…decked；　and　very　high　at　poop　and　forecastle；　and　she　was　heavily　armed。　My　eyes　traveled　from　the　ship　to　the　shore；　and　there　dragged　up　on　the　point；　the　oars　within　it；　was　a　boat。

At　the　head　of　the　beach；　beyond　the　line　of　shell　and　weed；　the　sand　lay　piled　in　heaps。　With　these　friendly　hillocks　between　me　and　the　sea；　I　crept　on　as　silently　as　I　might；　until　I　reached　a　point　just　above　the　boat。　Here　I　first　heard　voices。　I　went　a　　little　further；　then　knelt；　and；　parting　the　long　coarse　grass　that　filled　the　hollow　between　two　hillocks；　looked　out　upon　two　men　who　were

digging　a　grave。

They　dug　in　a　furious　hurry；　throwing　the　sand　to　left　and　right；　and　cursing　as　they　dug。　They　were　powerful　men；　of　a　most　villainous　cast　of　countenance；　and　dressed　very　oddly。　One　with　a　shirt　of　coarsest　dowlas；　and　a　filthy　rag　tying　up　a　broken　head；　yet　wore　velvet　breeches；　and　wiped　the　sweat　from　his　face　with　a　wrought　handkerchief；　the　other　topped　a　suit　of　shreds　and　patches　with　a　fine　bushy　ruff；　and　swung　from　one　ragged　shoulder　a　cloak　of　grogram　lined　with　taffeta。　On　the　ground；　to　one　side　of　them；　lay　something　long　and　wrapped　in　white。

As　they　dug　and　cursed；　the　light　strengthened。　The　east　changed　from　gray　to　pale　rose；　from　rose　to　a　splendid　crimson　shot　with　gold。　The　mist　lifted　and　the　sea　burned　red。　Two　boats　were　lowered　from　the　ship；　and　came　swiftly　toward　the　point。

〃Here　they　are　at　last；〃　growled　the　gravedigger　with　the　broken　head　and　velvet　breeches。

〃They've　taken　their　time；〃　snarled　his　companion；　〃and　us　two　here　on　this　d…d　island　with　a　dead　man　the　whole　ghost's　hour。　Boarding　a　ship's　nothing；　but　to　dig　a　grave　on　the　land　before　cockcrow；　with　the　man　you're　to　put　in　it　looking　at　you！　Why　could　n't　he　be　buried　at　sea；　decent　and　respectable；　like　other　folk？〃

〃It　was　his　will；　…　that's　all　I　know；〃　said　the　first；　〃just　as　it　was　his　will；　when　he　found　he　was　a　dying　man；　to　come　booming　away　from　the　gold　seas　up　here　to　a　land　where　there　is　n't　no　gold；　and　never　will　be。　Belike　he　thought　he'd　find　waiting　for　him　　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　all　along　from　the　Lucayas　to　Cartagena；　the　many　he　sent　there　afore　he　died。　And　Captain　Paradise；　he　says；　says　he：　'It's　ill　crossing　a　dead　man。　We'll　obey　him　this　once　more'　〃　…

〃Captain　Paradise！〃　cried　he　of　the　ruff。　〃Who　made　him　captain？　…　curse　him！〃

His　fellow　straightened　himself　with　a　jerk。　〃Who　made　him　captain？　The　ship　will　make　him　captain。　Who　else　should　be　captain？〃

〃Red　Gil！〃

〃Red　Gil！〃　exclaimed　the　other。　〃I'd　rather　have　the　Spaniard！〃

〃The　Spaniard　would　do　well　enough；　if　the　rest　of　us　were　n't　English。　If　hating　every　other　Spaniard　would　do　it；　he'd　be　English　fast　enough。〃

The　scoundrel　with　the　broken　head　burst　into　a　loud　laugh。　〃D'　ye　remember　the　bark　we　took　off　Porto　Bello；　with　the　priests　aboard？　Oho！　Oho！〃

The　rogue　with　the　ruff　grinned。　〃I　reckon　the　padres　remember　it；　and　find　hell　easy　lying。　This　hole's　deep　enough；　I'm　thinking。〃

They　both　clambered　out；　and　one　squatted　at　the　head　of　the　grave　and　mopped　his　face　with　his　delicate　handkerchief；　while　the　other　swung　his　fine　cloak　with　an　air　and　dug　his　bare　toes　in　the　sand。

The　two　boats　now　grated　upon　the　beach；　and　several　of　their　occupants；　springing　out；　dragged　them　up　on　the　sand。

〃We'll　never　get　another　like　him　that's　gone；〃　said　the　worthy　at　the　head　of　the　grave；　gloomily　regarding　the　something　wrapped　in　white。

〃That's　gospel　truth；〃　assented　the　other；　with　a　prodigious　sigh。　〃He　was　a　man　what　was　a　man。　　He　never　stuck　at　nothing。　Don　or　priest；　man　or　woman；　good　red　gold　or　dirty　silver；　…　it　was　all　one　to　him。　But　he's　dead　and　gone！〃

〃Now；　if　we　had　a　captain　like　Kirby；〃　suggested　the　first。

〃Kirby　keeps　to　the　Summer　Isles；〃　said　the　second。　〃'T　is　n't　often　now　that　he　swoops　down　as　far　as　the　Indies。〃

The　man　with　the　broken　head　laughed。　〃When　he　does；　there's　a　noise　in　that　part　of　the　world。〃

〃And　that's　gospel　truth；　too；〃　swore　the　other；　with　an　oath　of　admiration。

By　this　the　score　or　more　who　had　come　in　the　two　boats　were　halfway　up　the　beach。　In　front；　side　by　side；　as　each　conceding　no　inch　of　leadership；　walked　three　men：　a　large　man；　with　a　villainous　face　much　scarred；　and　a　huge；　bushy；　dark　red　beard；　a　tall　dark　man；　with　a　thin　fierce　face　and　bloodshot　eyes；　the　Spaniard　by　his　looks；　and　a　slight　man；　with　the　face　and　bearing　of　an　English　gentleman。　The　men　behind　them　differed　no　whit　from　the　two　gravediggers；　being　as　scoundrelly　of　face；　as　great　of　strength；　and　as　curiously　attired。　They　came　straight　to　the　open　grave；　and　the　dead　man　beside　it。　The　three　who　seemed　of　most　importance　disposed　themselves；　still　side　by　side；　at　the　head　of　the　grave；　and　their　following　took　the　foot。

〃It's　a　dirty　piece　of　work；〃　said　Red　Gil　in　a　voice　like　a　raven's；　〃and　the　sooner　it's　done　with；　and　we　are　aboard　again　and　booming　back　to　the　Indies；　the　better　I'll　like　it。　Over　with　him；　brave　boys！〃

〃Is　it　yours　to　give　the　word？〃　asked　the　slight　man；　who　was　dressed　point…device；　and　with　a　finical　　nicety；　in　black　and　silver。　His　voice　was　low　and　clear；　and　of　a　somewhat　melancholy　cadence；　going　well　with　the　pensiveness　of　fine；　deeply　fringed　eyes。

〃Why　should　n't　I　give　the　word？〃　growled　the　personage　addressed；　adding　with　an　oath；　〃I've　as　good　a　right　to　give　it　as　any　man；　…　maybe　a　better　right！〃

〃That　would　be　scanned；〃　said　he　of　the　pensive　eyes。　〃Gentlemen；　we　have　here　the　pick　of　the　ship。　For　the　captain　that　these　choose；　those　on　board　will　throw　up　their　caps。　Let　us　bury　the　dead；　and　then　let　choice　be　made　of　one　of　us　three；　each　of　whom　has　claims　that　might　be　put　forward〃　…　He　broke　off　and　picking　up　a　delicate　shell　began　to　study　its　pearly　spirals　with　a　tender；　thoughtful；　half…pleased；　half…melancholy　countenance。

The　gravedigger　with　the　wrought　handkerchief　looked　from　him　to　the　rascal　crew　massed　at　the　foot　of　the　grave；　and；　seeing　his　own　sentiments　mirrored　in　the　countenances　of　not　a　few；　snatched　the　bloody　clout　from　his　head；　waved　it；　and　cried　out；　〃Paradise！〃　Whereupon　arose　a　great　confusion。　Some　bawled　for　Paradise；　some　for　Red　Gil；　a　few　for　the　Spaniard。　The　two　gravediggers　locked　horns；　and　a　brawny　devil　with　a　woman's　mantle　swathed　about　his　naked　shoulders　drew　a　knife；　and　made　for　a　partisan　of　the　Spaniard；　who　in　his　turn　skillfully　interposed　between　himself　and　the　attack　the　body　of　a　bawling　well…wisher　to　Red　Gil。

The　man　in　black　and　silver　tossed　aside　the　shell；　rose；　and　entered　the　lists。　With　one　hand　he　seized　the　gravedigger　of　the　ruff；　and　hurled　him　apart　from　him　of　the　velvet　breeches；　with　the　other　he　presented　a　dagger　with　a　jeweled　haft　at　the　breast　　of　the　ruffian　with　the　woman's　mantle；　while　in　tones　that　would　have　befitted　Astrophel　plaining　of　his　love　to　rocks；　woods；　and　streams；　he　poured　forth　a　flood　of　wild；　singular；　and　filthy　oaths；　such　as　would　have　disgraced　a　camp　follower。　His　interference　was　effectual。　The　combatants　fell　apart　and　the　clamor　was　stilled；　whereupon　the　gentleman　of　contrarieties　at　once　resumed　the　gentle　and　indifferent　melancholy　of　manner　and　address。

〃Let　us　off　with　the　old　love　before　we　are　on　with　the　new；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　bury　the　dead　first；　and　choose　his　successor　afterward；　…　decently　and　in　order；　I　trust；　and　with　due　submission　to　the　majority。〃

〃I'll　fight　for　my　rights；〃　growled　Red　Gil。

〃And　I　for　mine；〃　cried　the　Spaniard。

〃And　each　of　us'll　back　his　own　man；〃　muttered　in　an　aside　the　gravedigger　with　the　broken　head。

The　one　they　called　Paradise　sighed。　〃It　is　a　thousand　pities　that　there　is　not　amongst　us　some　one　of　merit　so　pre‰minent　that　faction　should　hide　its　head　before　it。　But　to　the　work　in　hand；　gentlemen。〃

They　gathered　closer　around　the　yawning　grave；　and　some　began　to　lift　the　corpse。　As　for　me；　I　withdrew　as　noiselessly　as　an　Indian　from　my　lair　of　grass；　and；　hidden　by　the　heaped…up　sand；　made　off　across　the　point　and　down　the　beach　to　where　a　light　curl　of　smoke　showed　that　some　one　was　mending　the　fire　I　had　neglected。　It　was　Sparrow；　who　alternately　threw　on　driftwood　and　seaweed　and　spoke　to　madam；　who　sat　at　his　feet　in　the　blended　warmth　of　fire　and　sunshine。　Diccon　was　roasting　the　remainder　of　the　oysters　he　had　gathered　the　night　before；　and　my　lord　stood　and　stared　with　a　frowning　face　at　the　nine…mile　　distant　mainland。　All　turned　their　eyes　upon　me　as　I　came　up　to　the　fire。

〃A　little　longer；　Captain　Percy；　and　we　would　have　had　out　a　search　warrant；〃　began　the　minister　cheerfully。　〃Have　you　been　building　a　bridge？〃

〃If　I　build　one；〃　I　said；　〃it　will　be　a　perilous　one　enough。　Have　you　looked　seaward？〃

〃We　waked　but　a　minute　agone；〃　he　answered。　As　he　spoke；　he　straightened　his　great　form　and　lifted　his　face　from　the　fire　to　the　blue　sea。　Diccon；　still　on　his　knees　at　his　task；　looked　too；　and　my　lord；　turning　from　his　contemplation　of　the　distant　kingdom　of　Accomac；　and　Mistress　Percy；　one　hand　shading　her　eyes；　the　slender　fingers　of　the　other　still　immeshed　in　her　long　dark　hair　which　she　had　been　braiding。　They　stared　at　the　ship　in　silence　until　my　lord　laughed。

〃Conjure　us　on　board　at　once；　captain；〃　he　cried。　〃We　are　thirsty。〃

I　drew　the　minister　aside。　〃I　am　going　up　the　beach；　beyond　that　point；　again；　you　will　one　and　all　stay　here。　If　I　do　not　come　back；　do　the　best　you　can；　and　sell　her　life　as　dearly　as　you　can。　If　I　come　back；　…　you　are　quick　of　wit　and　have　been　a　player；　look　that　you　take　the　cue　I　give　you！〃

I　returned　to　the　fire；　and　he　followed　me；　amazement　in　his　face。　〃My　Lord　Carnal；〃　I　said；　〃I　must　ask　you　for　your　sword。〃

He　started；　and　his　black　brows　drew　togeth