to have and to hold-第29章

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affording　them。　I　was　now　a　better　man　than　Red　Gil；　…　that　was　all。

The　Spaniard　was　a　more　formidable　antagonist。　The　best　blade　of　Lima　was　by　no　means　to　be　despised；　but　Lima　is　a　small　place；　and　its　blades　can　be　numbered。　The　sword　that　for　three　years　had　been　counted　the　best　in　all　the　Low　Countries　was　its　better。　But　I　fought　fasting　and　for　the　second　time　that　morning；　so　maybe　the　odds　were　not　so　great。　I　wounded　him　slightly；　and　presently　succeeded　in　disarming　him。　〃Am　I　Kirby？〃　I　demanded；　with　my　point　at　his　breast。

〃Kirby；　of　course；　se¤or；〃　he　answered　with　a　sour　smile；　his　eyes　upon　the　gleaming　blade。

I　lowered　my　point　and　we　bowed　to　each　other；　after　which　he　sat　down　upon　the　sand　and　applied　himself　to　stanching　the　bleeding　from　his　wound。　The　pirate　ring　gave　him　no　attention；　but　stared　at　me　instead。　I　was　now　a　better　man　than　the　Spaniard。

The　man　in　black　and　silver　rose　and　removed　his　doublet；　folding　it　very　carefully；　inside　out；　that　the　sand　might　not　injure　the　velvet；　then　drew　his　rapier；　looked　at　it　lovingly；　made　it　bend　until　point　and　hilt　well…nigh　met；　and　faced　me　with　a　bow。

〃You　have　fought　twice；　and　must　be　weary；〃　he　said。　〃Will　you　not　take　breath　before　we　engage；　or　will　your　long　rest　afterward　suffice　you？〃

〃I　will　rest　aboard　my　ship；〃　I　made　reply。　〃And　as　I　am　in　a　hurry　to　be　gone　we　won't　delay。〃

Our　blades　had　no　sooner　crossed　than　I　knew　that　in　this　last　encounter　I　should　need　every　whit　of　my　skill；　all　my　wit；　audacity；　and　strength。　I　had　met　my　equal；　and　he　came　to　it　fresh　and　I　jaded。　I　clenched　my　teeth　and　prayed　with　all　my　heart；　I　set　her　face　before　me；　and　thought　if　I　should　fail　her　to　what　ghastly　fate　she　might　come；　and　I　fought　as　I　had　never　fought　before。　The　sound　of　the　surf　became　a　roar　in　my　ears；　the　sunshine　an　intolerable　blaze　of　light；　the　blue　above　and　around　seemed　suddenly　beneath　my　feet　as　well。　We　were　fighting　high　in　the　air；　and　had　fought　thus　for　ages。　I　knew　that　he　made　no　thrust　I　did　not　parry；　no　feint　I　could　not　interpret。　I　knew　that　my　eye　was　more　quick　to　see；　my　brain　to　conceive；　and　my　hand　to　execute　than　ever　before；　but　it　was　as　though　I　held　that　knowledge　of　some　other；　and　I　myself　was　far　away；　at　Weyanoke；　in　the　minister's　garden；　in　the　　haunted　wood；　anywhere　save　on　that　barren　islet。　I　heard　him　swear　under　his　breath；　and　in　the　face　I　had　set　before　me　the　eyes　brightened。　As　if　she　had　loved　me　I　fought　for　her　with　all　my　powers　of　body　and　mind。　He　swore　again；　and　my　heart　laughed　within　me。　The　sea　now　roared　less　loudly；　and　I　felt　the　good　earth　beneath　my　feet。　Slowly　but　surely　I　wore　him　out。　His　breath　came　short；　the　sweat　stood　upon　his　forehead；　and　still　I　deferred　my　attack。　He　made　the　thrust　of　a　boy　of　fifteen；　and　I　smiled　as　I　put　it　by。

〃Why　don't　you　end　it？〃　he　breathed。　〃Finish　and　be　d…d　to　you！〃

For　answer　I　sent　his　sword　flying　over　the　nearest　hillock　of　sand。　〃Am　I　Kirby？〃　I　said。　He　fell　back　against　the　heaped…up　sand　and　leaned　there；　panting；　with　his　hand　to　his　side。　〃Kirby　or　devil；〃　he　replied。　〃Have　it　your　own　way。〃

I　turned　to　the　now　highly　excited　rabble。　〃Shove　the　boats　off；　half　a　dozen　of　you！〃　I　ordered。　〃Some　of　you　others　take　up　that　carrion　there　and　throw　it　into　the　sea。　The　gold　upon　it　is　for　your　pains。　You　there　with　the　wounded　shoulder　you　have　no　great　hurt。　I'll　salve　it　with　ten　pieces　of　eight　from　the　captain's　own　share；　the　next　prize　we　take。〃

A　shout　of　acclamation　arose　that　scared　the　sea　fowl。　They　who　so　short　a　time　before　had　been　ready　to　tear　me　limb　from　limb　now　with　the　greatest　apparent　delight　hailed　me　as　captain。　How　soon　they　might　revert　to　their　former　mood　was　a　question　that　I　found　not　worth　while　to　propound　to　myself。

By　this　the　man　in　black　and　silver　had　recovered　his　breath　and　his　equanimity。　〃Have　you　no　commission　with　which　to　honor　me；　noble　captain？〃　he　　asked　in　gently　reproachful　tones。　〃Have　you　forgot　how　often　you　were　wont　to　employ　me　in　those　sweet　days　when　your　eyes　were　black？〃

〃By　no　means；　Master　Paradise；〃　I　said　courteously。　〃I　desire　your　company　and　that　of　the　gentleman　from　Lima。　You　will　go　with　me　to　bring　up　the　rest　of　my　party。　The　three　gentlemen　of　the　broken　head；　the　bushy　ruff；　which　I　protest　is　vastly　becoming；　and　the　wounded　shoulder　will　escort　us。〃

〃The　rest　of　your　party？〃　said　Paradise　softly。

〃Ay；〃　I　answered　nonchalantly。　〃They　are　down　the　beach　and　around　the　point　warming　themselves　by　a　fire　which　this　piled…up　sand　hides　from　you。　Despite　the　sunshine　it　is　a　biting　air。　Let　us　be　going！　This　island　wearies　me；　and　I　am　anxious　to　be　on　board　ship　and　away。〃

〃So　small　an　escort　scarce　befits　so　great　a　captain；〃　he　said。　〃We　will　all　attend　you。〃　One　and　all　started　forward。

I　called　to　mind　and　gave　utterance　to　all　the　oaths　I　had　heard　in　the　wars。　〃I　entertain　you　for　my　subordinate　whom　I　command；　and　not　who　commands　me！〃　I　cried；　when　my　memory　failed　me。　〃As　for　you；　you　dogs；　who　would　question　your　captain　and　his　doings；　stay　where　you　are；　if　you　would　not　be　lessoned　in　earnest！〃

Sheer　audacity　is　at　times　the　surest　steed　a　man　can　bestride。　Now　at　least　it　did　me　good　service。　With　oaths　and　grunts　of　admiration　the　pirates　stayed　where　they　were；　and　went　about　their　business　of　launching　the　boats　and　stripping　the　body　of　Red　Gil；　while　the　man　in　black　and　silver；　the　Spaniard；　the　two　gravediggers；　the　knave　with　the　wounded　shoulder；　and　myself　walked　briskly　up　the　beach。

With　these　five　at　my　heels　I　strode　up　to　the　dying　fire　and　to　those　who　had　sprung　to　their　feet　at　our　approach。　〃Sparrow；〃　I　said　easily；　〃luck　being　with　us　as　usual；　I　have　fallen　in　with　a　party　of　rovers。　I　have　told　them　who　I　am；　…　that　Kirby；　to　wit；　whom　an　injurious　world　calls　the　blackest　pirate　unhanged；　…　and　have　recounted　to　them　how　the　great　galleon　which　I　took　some　months　ago　went　down　yesterday　with　all　on　board；　you　and　I　with　these　others　being　the　sole　survivors。　By　dint　of　a　little　persuasion　they　have　elected　me　their　captain；　and　we　will　go　on　board　directly　and　set　sail　for　the　Indies；　a　hunting　ground　which　we　never　should　have　left。　You　need　not　look　so　blank；　you　shall　be　my　mate　and　right　hand　still。〃　I　turned　to　the　five　who　formed　my　escort。　〃This；　gentlemen；　is　my　mate；　Jeremy　Sparrow　by　name；　who　hath　a　taste　for　divinity　that　in　no　wise　interferes　with　his　taste　for　a　galleon　or　a　guarda　costa。　This　man；　Diccon　Demon　by　name；　was　of　my　crew。　The　gentleman　without　a　sword　is　my　prisoner；　taken　by　me　from　the　last　ship　I　sunk。　How　he；　an　Englishman；　came　to　be　upon　a　Spanish　bark　I　have　not　found　leisure　to　inquire。　The　lady　is　my　prisoner；　also。〃

〃Sure　by　rights　she　should　be　gaoler　and　hold　all　men's　hearts　in　ward；〃　said　Paradise；　with　a　low　bow　to　my　unfortunate　captive。

While　he　spoke　a　most　remarkable　transformation　was　going　on。　The　minister's　grave；　rugged；　and　deeply　lined　face　smoothed　itself　and　shed　ten　years　at　least；　in　the　eyes　that　I　had　seen　wet　with　noble　tears　a　laughing　devil　now　lurked；　while　his　strong　mouth　became　a　loose…lipped；　devil…may…care　one。　His　head　with　its　aureole　of　bushy；　grizzled　hair　set　itself　jauntily　　upon　one　side；　and　from　it　and　from　his　face　and　his　whole　great　frame　breathed　a　wicked　jollity　quite　indescribable。

〃Odsbodikins；　captain！〃　he　cried。　〃Kirby's　luck！　…　't　will　pass　into　a　saw！　Adzooks！　and　so　you're　captain　once　more；　and　I'm　mate　once　more；　and　we've　a　ship　once　more；　and　we're　off　once　more

　sail　the　Spanish　Main　


　give　the　Spaniard　pain；

　ho；　bully　boy；　heave　ho！

By　'r　lakin！　I'm　too　dry　to　sing。　It　will　take　all　the　wine　of　Xeres　in　the　next　galleon　to　unparch　my　tongue！〃



CHAPTER　XXIII　　IN　WHICH　WE　WRITE　UPON　THE　SAND


DAY　after　day　the　wind　filled　our　sails　and　sang　in　the　rigging；　and　day　after　day　we　sailed　through　blue　seas　toward　the　magic　of　the　south。　Day　after　day　a　listless　and　voluptuous　world　seemed　too　idle　for　any　dream　of　wrong；　and　day　after　day　we　whom　a　strange　turn　of　Fortune's　wheel　had　placed　upon　a　pirate　ship　held　our　lives　in　our　hands；　and　walked　so　close　with　Death　that　at　length　that　very　intimacy　did　breed　contempt。　It　was　not　a　time　to　think；　it　was　a　time　to　act；　to　laugh　and　make　others　laugh；　to　bluster　and　brag；　to　estrange　sword　and　scabbard；　to　play　one's　hand　with　a　fine　unconcern；　but　all　the　time　to　watch；　watch；　watch；　day　in　and　day　out；　every　minute　of　every　hour。　That　ship　became　a　stage；　and　we；　the　actors；　should　have　been　applauded　to　the　echo。　How　well　we　played　let　witness　the　fact　that　the　ship　came　to　the　Indies；　with　me　for　captain　and　the　minister　for　mate；　and　with　the　woman　that　was　on　board　unharmed；　nay；　reverenced　like　a　queen。　The　great　cabin　was　hers；　and　the　poop　deck；　we　made　for　her　a　fantastic　state　with　doffing　of　hats　and　bowings　and　backward　steps。　We　were　her　guard；　…　the　gentlemen　of　the　Queen；　…　I　and　my　Lord　Carnal；　the　minister　and　Diccon；　and　we　kept　between　her　and　the　rest　of　the　ship。

We　did　our　best；　and　our　best　was　very　much。　　When　I　think　of　the　songs　the　minister　sang；　of　the　roars　of　laughter　that　went　up　from　the　lounging　pirates　when；　sitting　astride　one　of　the　main…deck　guns；　he　made　his　voice　call　to　them；　now　from　the　hold；　now　from　the　stern　gallery；　now　from　the　masthead；　now　from　the　gilt　sea　maid　upon　the　prow；　I　laugh　too。　Sometimes　a　space　was　cleared　for　him；　and　he　played　to　them　as　to　the　pit　at　Blackfriars。　They　laughed　and　wept　and　swore　with　delight；　…　all　save　the　Spaniard；　who　was　ever　like　a　thundercloud；　and　Paradise；　who　only　smiled　like　some　languid；　side…box　lord。　There　was　wine　on　board；　and　during　the　long；　idle　days；　when　the　wind　droned　in　the　rigging　like　a　bagpipe；　and　there　was　never　a　cloud　in　the　sky；　and　the　galleons　were　still　far　away；　the　pirates　gambled　and　drank。　Diccon　diced　with　them；　and　taught　them　all　the　oaths　of　a　free　company。　So　much　wine；　and　no　more；　should　they　have；　when　they　frowned；　I　let　them　see　that　their　frowning　and　their　half…drawn　knives　mattered　no　doit　to　me。　It　was　their　whim　…　a　huge　jest　of　which　they　could　never　have　enough　…　still　to　make　believe　that　they　sailed　under　Kirby。　Lest　it　should　spoil　the　jest；　and　while　the　jest　outranked　all　other　entertainment；　they　obeyed　as　though　I　had　been　indeed　that　fierce　sea　wolf。

Time　passed；　though　it　passed　like　a　tortoise；　and　we　came　to　the　Lucayas；　to　the　outposts　of　the　vast　hunting　ground　of　Spaniard　and　pirate　and　buccaneer；　the　fringe　of　that　zone　of　beauty　and　villainy　and　fear；　and　sailed　slowly　past　the　islands；　looking　for　our　prey。

The　sea　was　blue　as　blue　could　be。　Only　in　the　morning　and　the　evening　it　glowed　blood　red；　or　spread　upon　its　still　bosom　all　the　gold　of　all　the　Indies；　or　became　an　endless　mead　of　palest　green　shot　with　　amethyst。　When　night　fell；　it　mirrored　the　stars；　great　and　small；　or　was　caught　in　a　net　of　gold　flung　across　it　from　horizon　to　horizon。　The　ship　rent　the　net　with　a　wake　of　white　fire。　The　air　was　balm；　the　islands　were　enchanted　places；　abandoned　by　Spaniard　and　Indian；　overgrown；　serpent…haunted。　The　reef；　the　still　water；　pink　or　gol