to have and to hold-第32章

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〃Perhaps　you　might　be　let　to　go　off　to　her　in　one　of　the　boats；〃　finished　Paradise　dryly。　〃I　think　not；　Master　Sparrow。〃

〃It's　other　guess　messengers　that　they'll　send；〃　muttered　Diccon。　〃They're　uncovering　the　guns；　sir。〃

Every　man　of　those　villains；　save　one；　was　of　English　birth；　every　man　knew　that　the　disabled　ship　was　an　English　merchantman　filled　with　peaceful　folk；　but　the　knowledge　changed　their　plans　no　whit。　There　was　a　great　hubbub；　cries　and　oaths　and　brutal　laughter；　the　noise　of　the　gunners　with　their　guns；　the　clang　of　cutlass　and　pike　as　they　were　dealt　out；　but　not　a　voice　raised　against　the　murder　that　was　to　be　done。　I　looked　from　the　doomed　ship；　upon　which　there　was　now　frantic　haste　and　confusion；　to　the　excited　throng　below　me；　and　knew　that　I　had　as　well　cry　for　mercy　to　winter　wolves。　

The　helmsman　behind　me　had　not　waited　for　orders；　and　we　were　bearing　down　upon　the　disabled　bark。　Ahead　of　us；　upon　our　larboard　bow；　was　a　patch　of　lighter　green；　and　beyond　it　a　slight　hurry　and　foam　of　the　waters。　Half　a　dozen　voices　cried　warning　to　the　helmsman。　It　was　he　of　the　woman's　mantle；　whom　I　had　run　through　the　shoulder　on　the　island　off　Cape　Charles；　and　he　had　been　Kirby's　pilot　from　Maracaibo　to　Fort　Caroline。　Now　he　answered　with　a　burst　of　vaunting　oaths：　〃We're　in　deep　water；　and　there's　deep　water　beyond。　I've　passed　this　way　before；　and　I'll　carry　ye　safe　past　that　reef　were　't　hell's　gate！〃

The　desperadoes　who　heard　him　swore　applause；　and　thought　no　more　of　the　reef　that　lay　in　wait。　Long　since　they　had　gone　through　the　gates　of　hell　for　the　sake　of　the　prize　beyond。　Knowing　the　appeal　to　be　hopeless；　I　yet　made　it。

〃She　is　English；　men！〃　I　shouted。　〃We　will　fight　the　Spaniards　while　they　have　a　flag　in　the　Indies；　but　our　own　people　we　will　not　touch！〃

The　clamor　of　shouts　and　oaths　suddenly　fell；　and　the　wind　in　the　rigging；　the　water　at　the　keel；　the　surf　on　the　shore；　made　themselves　heard。　In　the　silence；　the　terror　of　the　fated　ship　became　audible。　Confused　voices　came　to　us；　and　the　scream　of　a　woman。

On　the　faces　of　a　very　few　of　the　pirates　there　was　a　look　of　momentary　doubt　and　wavering；　it　passed；　and　the　most　had　never　worn　it。　They　began　to　press　forward　toward　the　poop；　cursing　and　threatening；　working　themselves　up　into　a　rage　that　would　not　care　for　my　sword；　the　minister's　cutlass；　or　Diccon's　pike。　One　who　called　himself　a　wit　cried　out　something　about　Kirby　and　his　methods；　and　two　or　three　laughed。

〃I　find　that　the　r“le　of　Kirby　wearies　me；〃　I　said。　〃I　am　an　English　gentleman；　and　I　will　not　fire　upon　an　English　ship。〃

As　if　in　answer　there　came　from　our　forecastle　a　flame　and　thunder　of　guns。　The　gunners　there；　intent　upon　their　business；　and　now　within　range　of　the　merchantman；　had　fired　the　three　forecastle　culverins。　The　shot　cut　her　rigging　and　brought　down　the　flag。　The　pirates'　shout　of　triumph　was　echoed　by　a　cry　from　her　decks　and　the　defiant　roar　of　her　few　remaining　guns。

I　drew　my　sword。　The　minister　and　Diccon　moved　nearer　to　me；　and　the　King's　ward；　still　and　white　and　braver　than　a　man；　stood　beside　me。　From　the　pirates　that　we　faced　came　one　deep　breath；　like　the　first　sigh　of　the　wind　before　the　blast　strikes。　Suddenly　the　Spaniard　pushed　himself　to　the　front；　with　his　gaunt　figure　and　sable　dress　he　had　the　seeming　of　a　raven　come　to　croak　over　the　dead。　He　rested　his　gloomy　eyes　upon　my　lord。　The　latter；　very　white；　returned　the　look；　then；　with　his　head　held　high；　crossed　the　deck　with　a　measured　step　and　took　his　place　among　us。　He　was　followed　a　moment　later　by　Paradise。　〃I　never　thought　to　die　in　my　bed；　captain；〃　said　the　latter　nonchalantly。　〃Sooner　or　later；　what　does　it　matter？　And　you　must　know　that　before　I　was　a　pirate　I　was　a　gentleman。〃　Turning；　he　doffed　his　hat　with　a　flourish　to　those　he　had　quitted。　〃Hell　litter！〃　he　cried。　〃I　have　run　with　you　long　enough。　Now　I　have　a　mind　to　die　an　honest　man。〃

At　this　defection　a　dead　hush　of　amazement　fell　upon　that　crew。　One　and　all　they　stared　at　the　man　in　black　and　silver；　moistening　their　lips；　but　saying　no　word。　We　were　five　armed　and　desperate　men；　they　were　fourscore。　We　might　send　many　to　death　before　us；　but　at　the　last　we　ourselves　must　die；　…　we　and　those　aboard　the　helpless　ship。

In　the　moment's　respite　I　bowed　my　head　and　whispered　to　the　King's　ward。

〃I　had　rather　it　were　your　sword；〃　she　answered　in　a　low　voice；　in　which　there　was　neither　dread　nor　sorrow。　〃You　must　not　let　it　grieve　you；　it　will　be　added　to　your　good　deeds。　And　it　is　I　that　should　ask　your　forgiveness；　not　you　mine。〃

Though　there　was　scant　time　for　such　dalliance；　I　　bent　my　knee　and　rested　my　forehead　upon　her　hand。　As　I　rose；　the　minister's　hand　touched　my　shoulder　and　the　voice　spoke　in　my　ear。　〃There　is　another　way；〃　he　said。　〃There　is　God's　death；　and　not　man's。　Look　and　see　what　I　mean。〃

I　followed　the　pointing　of　his　eyes；　and　saw　how　close　we　were　to　those　white　and　tumbling　waters；　the　danger　signal；　the　rattle　of　the　hidden　snake。　The　eyes　of　the　pirate　at　the　helm；　too；　were　upon　them；　his　brows　were　drawn　downward；　his　lips　pressed　together；　the　whole　man　bent　upon　the　ship's　safe　passage。　。　。　。　The　low　thunder　of　the　surf；　the　cry　of　a　wheeling　sea　bird；　the　gleaming　lonely　shore；　the　cloudless　sky；　the　ocean；　and　the　white　sand　far；　far　below；　where　one　might　sleep　well；　sleep　well；　with　other　valiant　dead；　long　drowned；　long　changed。　〃Of　their　bones　are　coral　made。〃

The　storm　broke　with　fury　and　outcries；　and　a　blue　radiance　of　drawn　steel。　A　pistol　ball　sang　past　my　ear。

〃Don't　shoot！〃　roared　the　gravedigger　to　the　man　who　had　fired　the　shot。　〃Don't　cut　them　down！　Take　them　and　thrust　them　under　hatches　until　we've　time　to　give　them　a　slow　death！　And　hands　off　the　woman　until　we've　time　to　draw　lots！〃

He　and　the　Spaniard　led　the　rush。　I　turned　my　head　and　nodded　to　Sparrow；　then　faced　them　again。　〃Then　may　the　Lord　have　mercy　upon　your　souls！〃　I　said。

As　I　spoke　the　minister　sprang　upon　the　helmsman；　and；　striking　him　to　the　deck　with　one　blow　of　his　huge　fist；　himself　seized　the　wheel。　Before　the　pirates　could　draw　breath　he　had　jammed　the　helm　to　starboard；　and　the　reef　lay　right　across　our　bows。

A　dreadful　cry　went　up　from　that　black　ship　to　a　deaf　Heaven；　…　a　cry　that　was　echoed　by　a　wild　shout　of　triumph　from　the　merchantman。　The　mass　fronting　us　broke　in　terror　and　rage　and　confusion。　Some　ran　frantically　up　and　down　with　shrieks　and　curses；　others　sprang　overboard。　A　few　made　a　dash　for　the　poop　and　for　us　who　stood　to　meet　them。　They　were　led　by　the　Spaniard　and　the　gravedigger。　The　former　I　met　and　sent　tumbling　back　into　the　waist；　the　latter　whirled　past　me；　and　rushing　upon　Paradise　thrust　him　through　with　a　pike；　then　dashed　on　to　the　wheel；　to　be　met　and　hewn　down　by　Diccon。

The　ship　struck。　I　put　my　arm　around　my　wife；　and　my　hand　before　her　eyes；　and　while　I　looked　only　at　her；　in　that　storm　of　terrible　cries；　of　flapping　canvas；　rushing　water；　and　crashing　timbers；　the　Spaniard　clambered　like　a　catamount　upon　the　poop；　that　was　now　high　above　the　broken　forepart　of　the　ship；　and　fired　his　pistol　at　me　point…blank。



CHAPTER　XXV　　IN　WHICH　MY　LORD　HATH　HIS　DAY


I　AND　Black　Lamoral　were　leading　a　forlorn　hope。　With　all　my　old　company　behind　us；　we　were　thundering　upon　an　enemy　as　thick　as　ants；　covering　the　face　of　the　earth。　Down　came　Black　Lamoral；　and　the　hoofs　of　every　mad　charger　went　over　me。　For　a　time　I　was　dead；　then　I　lived　again；　and　was　walking　with　the　forester's　daughter　in　the　green　chase　at　home。　The　oaks　stretched　broad　sheltering　arms　above　the　young　fern　and　the　little　wild　flowers；　and　the　deer　turned　and　looked　at　us。　In　the　open　spaces；　starring　the　lush　grass；　were　all　the　yellow　primroses　that　ever　bloomed。　I　gathered　them　for　her；　but　when　I　would　have　given　them　to　her　she　was　no　longer　the　forester's　daughter；　but　a　proud　lady；　heiress　to　lands　and　gold；　the　ward　of　the　King。　She　would　not　take　the　primroses　from　a　poor　gentleman；　but　shook　her　head　and　laughed　sweetly；　and　faded　into　a　waterfall　that　leaped　from　a　pink　hill　into　a　waveless　sea。　Another　darkness；　and　I　was　captive　to　the　Chickahominies；　tied　to　the　stake。　My　arm　and　shoulder　were　on　fire；　and　Opechancanough　came　and　looked　at　me；　with　his　dark；　still　face　and　his　burning　eyes。　The　fierce　pain　died；　and　I　with　it；　and　I　lay　in　a　grave　and　listened　to　the　loud　and　deep　murmur　of　the　forest　above。　I　lay　there　for　ages　on　ages　before　I　awoke　to　the　fact　that　the　darkness　about　me　was　the　darkness　　of　a　ship's　hold；　and　the　murmur　of　the　forest　the　wash　of　the　water　alongside。　I　put　out　an　arm　and　touched；　not　the　side　of　a　grave；　but　a　ship's　timbers。　I　stretched　forth　the　other　arm；　then　dropped　it　with　a　groan。　Some　one　bent　over　me　and　held　water　to　my　lips。　I　drank；　and　my　senses　came　fully　to　me。　〃Diccon！〃　I　said。

〃It's　not　Diccon；〃　replied　the　figure；　setting　down　a　pitcher。　〃It　is　Jeremy　Sparrow。　Thank　God；　you　are　yourself　again！〃

〃Where　are　we？〃　I　asked；　when　I　had　lain　and　listened　to　the　water　a　little　longer。

〃In　the　hold　of　the　George；〃　he　answered。　〃The　ship　sank　by　the　bows；　and　well…nigh　all　were　drowned。　But　when　they　upon　the　George　saw　that　there　was　a　woman　amongst　us　who　clung　to　the　poop　deck；　they　sent　their　longboat　to　take　us　off。〃

The　light　was　too　dim　for　me　to　read　his　face；　so　I　touched　his　arm。

〃She　was　saved；〃　he　said。　〃She　is　safe　now。　There　are　gentlewomen　aboard；　and　she　is　in　their　care。〃

I　put　my　unhurt　arm　across　my　eyes。

〃You　are　weak　yet；〃　said　the　minister　gently。　〃The　Spaniard's　ball；　you　know；　went　through　your　shoulder；　and　in　some　way　your　arm　was　badly　torn　from　shoulder　to　wrist。　You　have　been　out　of　your　head　ever　since　we　were　brought　here；　three　days　ago。　The　chirurgeon　came　and　dressed　your　wound；　and　it　is　healing　well。　Don't　try　to　speak；　…　I'll　tell　you　all。　Diccon　has　been　pressed　into　service；　as　the　ship　is　short　of　hands；　having　lost　some　by　fever　and　some　overboard。　Four　of　the　pirates　were　picked　up；　and　hung　at　the　yardarm　next　morning。〃

He　moved　as　he　spoke；　and　something　clanked　in　the　stillness。　〃You　are　ironed！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃Only　my　ankles。　My　lord　would　have　had　me　bound　hand　and　foot；　but　you　were　raving　for　water；　and；　taking　you　for　a　dying　man；　they　were　so　humane　as　to　leave　my　hands　free　to　attend　you。〃

〃My　lord　would　have　had　you　bound；〃　I　said　slowly。　〃Then　it's　my　lord's　day。〃

〃High　noon　and　blazing　sunshine；〃　he　answered；　with　a　rueful　laugh。　〃It　seems　that　half　the　folk　on　board　had　gaped　at　him　at　court。　Lord！　when　he　put　his　foot　over　the　side　of　the　ship；　how　the　women　screeched　and　the　men　stared！　He　's　cock　of　the　walk　now；　my　Lord　Carnal；　the　King's　favorite！〃

〃And　we　are　pirates。〃

〃That　's　the　case　in　a　nutshell；〃　he　answered　cheerfully。

〃Do　they　know　how　the　ship　came　to　strike　upon　that　reef？〃　I　asked。

〃Probably　not；　unless　madam　has　enlightened　them。　I　did　n't　take　the　trouble；　…　they　would　n't　have　believed　me；　…　and　I　can　take　my　oath　my　lord　has　n't。　He　was　only　our　helpless　prisoner；　you　know；　and　they　would　think　madam　mistaken　or　bewitched。〃

〃It　's　not　a　likely　tale；〃　I　said　grimly；　〃seeing　that　we　had　al