to have and to hold-第37章

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〃Nothing　that　you　can　supply；〃　I　answered　curtly。

The　fellow　grinned　again；　straightened　the　things　upon　the　table；　and　started　for　the　door。　〃You　can　stay　until　I　come　for　the　platters；〃　he　said　to　Diccon；　and　went　out；　locking　the　door　after　him　with　ostentation。

I　applied　myself　to　the　dinner；　and　Diccon　went　to　the　window；　and　stood　there　looking　out　at　the　blue　sky　and　at　the　man　in　the　pillory。　He　had　the　freedom　of　the　gaol。　I　was　somewhat　more　straitly　confined；　though　my　friends　had　easy　access　to　me。　As　for　Jeremy　Sparrow；　he　had　spent　twenty…four　hours　in　gaol；　at　the　end　of　which　time　Madam　West　had　a　fit　of　the　spleen；　declared　she　was　dying；　and　insisted　upon　Master　Sparrow's　being　sent　for　to　administer　consolation；　Master　Bucke；　unfortunately；　having　gone　up　to　Henricus　on　business　connected　with　the　college。　From　the　bedside　of　that　despotic　lady　Sparrow　was　called　to　bury　a　man　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　and　from　the　grave　to　marry　a　couple　at　Mulberry　Island。　And　the　next　day　being　Sunday；　and　no　minister　at　hand；　he　preached　again　in　Master　Bucke's　pulpit；　…　and　preached　a　sermon　so　powerful　and　moving　that　its　like　had　never　been　heard　in　Virginia。　They　marched　him　not　back　from　the　pulpit　to　gaol。　There　were　but　five　ministers　in　Virginia；　and　there　were　a　many　more　sick　to　visit　and　dead　to　bury。　Master　Bucke；　still　feeble　in　body；　tarried　up　river　discussing　with　Thorpe　the　latter's　darling　project　of　converting　every　imp　of　an　Indian　this　side　the　South　Sea；　and　Jeremy　slipped　into　his　old　place。　There　had　been　some　talk　of　a　public　censure；　but　it　died　away。

The　pasty　and　sack　disposed　of；　I　turned　in　my　seat　and　spoke　to　Diccon：　〃I　looked　for　Master　Rolfe　to…day。　Have　you　heard　aught　of　him？〃

〃No；〃　he　answered。　As　he　spoke；　the　door　was　opened　and　the　gaoler　put　in　his　head。　〃A　messenger　from　Master　Rolfe；　captain。〃　He　drew　back；　and　the　Indian　Nantauquas　entered　the　room。

Rolfe　I　had　seen　twice　since　the　arrival　of　the　George　at　Jamestown；　but　the　Indian　had　not　been　with　him。　The　young　chief　now　came　forward　and　touched　the　hand　I　held　out　to　him。　〃My　brother　will　be　here　before　the　sun　touches　the　tallest　pine；〃　he　announced　in　his　grave；　calm　voice。　〃He　asks　Captain　Percy　to　deny　himself　to　any　other　that　may　come。　He　wishes　to　see　him　alone。〃

〃I　shall　hardly　be　troubled　with　company；〃　I　said。　〃There's　a　bear…baiting　toward。〃

Nantauquas　smiled。　〃　My　brother　asked　me　to　find　a　bear　for　to…day。　I　bought　one　from　the　Paspaheghs　for　a　piece　of　copper；　and　took　him　to　the　ring　below　the　fort。〃

〃Where　all　the　town　will　presently　be　gone；〃　I　said。　〃I　wonder　what　Rolfe　did　that　for！〃

Filling　a　cup　with　sack；　I　pushed　it　to　the　Indian　across　the　table。　〃You　are　little　in　the　woods　nowadays；　Nantauquas。〃

His　fine　dark　face　clouded　ever　so　slightly。　〃Opechancanough　has　dreamt　that　I　am　Indian　no　longer。　Singing　birds　have　lied　to　him；　telling　him　that　I　love　the　white　man；　and　hate　my　own　color。　He　calls　me　no　more　his　brave；　his　brother　Powhatan's　dear　son。　I　do　not　sit　by　his　council　fire　now；　nor　do　I　lead　his　war　bands。　When　I　went　last　to　his　lodge　and　stood　before　him；　his　eyes　burned　me　like　the　coals　the　　Monacans　once　closed　my　hands　upon。　He　would　not　speak　to　me。〃

〃It　would　not　fret　me　if　he　never　spoke　again；〃　I　said。　〃You　have　been　to　the　forest　to…day？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　replied；　glancing　at　the　smear　of　leaf　mould　upon　his　beaded　moccasins。　〃Captain　Percy's　eyes　are　quick；　he　should　have　been　an　Indian。　I　went　to　the　Paspaheghs　to　take　them　the　piece　of　copper。　I　could　tell　Captain　Percy　a　curious　thing〃　…

〃Well？〃　I　demanded；　as　he　paused。

〃I　went　to　the　lodge　of　the　werowance　with　the　copper；　and　found　him　not　there。　The　old　men　declared　that　he　had　gone　to　the　weirs　for　fish；　…　he　and　ten　of　his　braves。　The　old　men　lied。　I　had　passed　the　weirs　of　the　Paspaheghs；　and　no　man　was　there。　I　sat　and　smoked　before　the　lodge；　and　the　maidens　brought　me　chinquapin　cakes　and　pohickory；　for　Nantauquas　is　a　prince　and　a　welcome　guest　to　all　save　Opechancanough。　The　old　men　smoked；　with　their　eyes　upon　the　ground；　each　seeing　only　the　days　when　he　was　even　as　Nantauquas。　They　never　knew　when　a　wife　of　the　werowance；　turned　child　by　pride；　unfolded　a　doeskin　and　showed　Nantauquas　a　silver　cup　carved　all　over　and　set　with　colored　stones。〃

〃Humph！〃

〃The　cup　was　a　heavy　price　to　pay；〃　continued　the　Indian。　〃I　do　not　know　what　great　thing　it　bought。〃

〃Humph！〃　I　said　again。　〃Did　you　happen　to　meet　Master　Edward　Sharpless　in　the　forest？〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃The　forest　is　wide；　and　there　are　many　trails　through　it。　Nantauquas　looked　for　that　of　the　werowance　of　the　Paspaheghs；　but　found　it　not。　He　had　no　time　to　waste　upon　a　white　man。〃

He　gathered　his　otterskin　mantle　about　him　and　prepared　to　depart。　I　rose　and　gave　him　my　hand；　for　I　thoroughly　liked　him；　and　in　the　past　he　had　made　me　his　debtor。　〃Tell　Rolfe　he　will　find　me　alone；〃　I　said；　〃and　take　my　thanks　for　your　pains；　Nantauquas。　If　ever　we　hunt　together　again；　may　I　have　the　chance　to　serve　you！　I　bear　the　scars　of　the　wolf's　teeth　yet；　you　came　in　the　nick　of　time；　that　day。〃

The　Indian　smiled。　〃It　was　a　fierce　old　wolf。　I　wish　Captain　Percy　free　with　all　my　heart；　and　then　we　will　hunt　more　wolves；　he　and　I。〃

When　he　was　gone；　and　the　gaoler　and　Diccon　with　him；　I　returned　to　the　window。　The　runaway　in　the　pillory　was　released；　and　went　away　homewards；　staggering　beside　his　master's　stirrup。　Passers…by　grew　more　and　more　infrequent；　and　up　the　street　came　faint　sounds　of　laughter　and　hurrahing；　…　the　bear　must　be　making　good　sport。　I　could　see　the　half…moon；　and　the　guns；　and　the　flag　that　streamed　in　the　wind；　and　on　the　river　a　sail　or　two；　white　in　the　sunlight　as　the　gulls　that　swooped　past。　Beyond　rose　the　bare　masts　of　the　George。　The　Santa　Teresa　rode　no　more　forever　in　the　James。　The　King's　ship　was　gone　home　to　the　King　without　the　freight　he　looked　for。　Three　days；　and　the　George　would　spread　her　white　wings　and　go　down　the　wide　river；　and　I　with　her；　and　the　King's　ward；　and　the　King's　sometime　favorite。　I　looked　down　the　wind…ruffled　stream；　and　saw　the　great　bay　into　which　it　emptied；　and　beyond　the　bay　the　heaving　ocean；　dark　and　light；　league　on　league；　league　on　league；　then　green　England；　and　London；　and　the　Tower。　The　vision　disturbed　me　less　than　once　it　would　have　done。　Men　　that　I　knew　and　trusted　were　to　be　passengers　on　that　ship；　as　well　as　one　I　knew　and　did　not　trust。　And　if；　at　the　journey's　end；　I　saw　the　Tower；　I　saw　also　his　Grace　of　Buckingham。　Where　I　hated　he　hated；　and　was　now　powerful　enough　to　strike。

The　wind　blew　from　the　west；　from　the　unknown。　I　turned　my　head；　and　it　beat　against　my　forehead；　cold　and　fragrant　with　the　essence　of　the　forest；　…　pine　and　cedar；　dead　leaves　and　black　mould；　fen　and　hollow　and　hill；　…　all　the　world　of　woods　over　which　it　had　passed。　The　ghost　of　things　long　dead；　which　face　or　voice　could　never　conjure　up；　will　sometimes　start　across　our　path　at　the　beckoning　of　an　odor。　A　day　in　the　Starving　Time　came　back　to　me：　how　I　had　dragged　myself　from　our　broken　palisade　and　crazy　huts；　and　the　groans　of　the　famished　and　the　plague…stricken；　and　the　presence　of　the　unburied　dead；　across　the　neck　and　into　the　woods；　and　had　lain　down　there　to　die；　being　taken　with　a　sick　fear　and　horror　of　the　place　of　cannibals　behind　me；　and　how　weak　I　was！　…　too　weak　to　care　any　more。　I　had　been　a　strong　man；　and　it　had　come　to　that；　and　I　was　content　to　let　it　be。　The　smell　of　the　woods　that　day；　the　chill　brown　earth　beneath　me；　the　blowing　wind；　the　long　stretch　of　the　river　gleaming　between　the　pines；　。　。　。　and　fair　in　sight　the　white　sails　of　the　Patience　and　the　Deliverance。

I　had　been　too　nigh　gone　then　to　greatly　care　that　I　was　saved；　now　I　cared；　and　thanked　God　for　my　life。　Come　what　might　in　the　future；　the　past　was　mine。　Though　I　should　never　see　my　wife　again；　I　had　that　hour　in　the　state　cabin　of　the　George。　I　loved；　and　was　loved　again。

There　was　a　noise　outside　the　door；　and　Rolfe's　　voice　speaking　to　the　gaoler。　Impatient　for　his　entrance　I　started　toward　the　door；　but　when　it　opened　he　made　no　move　to　cross　the　threshold。　〃I　am　not　coming　in；〃　he　said；　with　a　face　that　he　strove　to　keep　grave。　〃I　only　came　to　bring　some　one　else。〃　With　that　he　stepped　back；　and　a　second　figure；　coming　forward　out　of　the　dimness　behind　him；　crossed　the　threshold。　It　was　a　woman；　cloaked　and　hooded。　The　door　was　drawn　to　behind　her；　and　we　were　alone　together。

Beside　the　cloak　and　hood　she　wore　a　riding　mask。　〃Do　you　know　who　it　is？〃　she　asked；　when　she　had　stood；　so　shrouded；　for　a　long　minute；　during　which　I　had　found　no　words　with　which　to　welcome　her。

〃Yea；〃　I　answered：　〃the　princess　in　the　fairy　tale。〃

She　freed　her　dark　hair　from　its　covering；　and　unclasping　her　cloak　let　it　drop　to　the　floor。　〃Shall　I　unmask？〃　she　asked；　with　a　sigh。　〃Faith！　I　should　keep　the　bit　of　silk　between　your　eyes；　sir；　and　my　blushes。　Am　I　ever　to　be　the　forward　one？　Do　you　not　think　me　too　bold　a　lady？〃　As　she　spoke；　her　white　hands　were　busy　about　the　fastening　of　her　mask。　〃The　knot　is　too　hard；〃　she　murmured；　with　a　little　tremulous　laugh　and　a　catch　of　her　breath。

I　untied　the　ribbons。

〃May　I　not　sit　down？〃　she　said　plaintively；　but　with　soft　merriment　in　her　eyes。　〃I　am　not　quite　strong　yet。　My　heart　…　you　do　not　know　what　pain　I　have　in　my　heart　sometimes。　It　makes　me　weep　of　nights　and　when　none　are　by；　indeed　it　does！〃

There　was　a　settle　beneath　the　window。　I　led　her　to　it；　and　she　sat　down。

〃You　must　know　that　I　am　walking　in　the　Governor's　　garden；　that　hath　only　a　lane　between　it　and　the　gaol。〃　Her　eyes　were　downcast；　her　cheeks　pure　rose。

〃When　did　you　first　love　me？〃　I　demanded。

〃Lady　Wyatt　must　have　guessed　why　Master　Rolfe　alone　went　not　to　the　bear…baiting；　but　joined　us　in　the　garden。　She　said　the　air　was　keen；　and　fetched　me　her　mask；　and　then　herself　went　indoors　to　embroider　Samson　in　the　arms　of　Delilah。'

〃Was　it　here　at　Jamestown；　or　was　it　when　we　were　first　wrecked；　or　on　the　island　with　the　pink　hill　when　you　wrote　my　name　in　the　sand；　or〃　…

〃The　George　will　sail　in　three　days；　and　we　are　to　be　taken　back　to　England　after　all。　It　does　not　scare　me　now。〃

〃In　all　my　life　I　have　kissed　you　only　once；〃　I　said。

The　rose　deepened；　and　in　her　eyes　there　was　laughter；　with　tears　behind。　〃You　are　a　gentleman　of　determination；〃　she　said。　〃If　you　are　bent　upon　having　your　way；　I　do　not　know　that　I　…　that　I　…　can　help　myself。　I　do　not　even　know　that　I　want　to　help　myself。〃

Outside　the　wind　blew　and　the　sun　shone；　and　the　laughter　from　below　the　fort　was　too　far　away　and　elfin　to　jar　upon　us。　The　world　forgot　us；　and　we　were　well　content。　There　seemed　not　much　to　say：　I　suppose　we　were　too　happy　for　words。　I　knelt　beside　her；　and　she　laid　her　hands　in　mine；　and　now　and　then　we　spoke。　In　her　short　and　lonely　life；　and　in　my　longer　stern　and　crowded　one；　there　had　been　little　tenderness；　little　happiness。　In　her　past；　to　those　about　her；　she　had　seemed　bright　and　gay；　I　had　been　a　comrade　whom　men　liked　because　I　could　jest　as　well　as　fight。　Now　we　were　happy；　but　we　were　not　gay。　Each　felt　for　the　other　a　great　com