to have and to hold-第39章

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oler　and　procured　the　pass　from　West？　Might　I　not　find　him　at　that　strange　trysting　place？　Might　not　all　be　well；　after　all？　I　was　sorely　tempted　to　rouse　that　silent　house　and　demand　if　its　master　were　within。　I　did　it　not。　Servants　were　there；　and　noise　would　be　made；　and　time　that　might　be　more　precious　than　life…blood　was　flying　fast。　I　went　on；　and　Diccon　with　me。

There　was　a　cabin　built　almost　against　the　palisade；　and　here　one　man　was　supposed　to　watch；　whilst　another　slept。　To…night　we　found　both　asleep。　I　shook　the　younger　to　his　feet；　and　heartily　cursed　him　for　his　negligence。　He　listened　stupidly；　and　read　as　stupidly；　by　the　light　of　his　lantern；　the　pass　which　I　thrust　beneath　his　nose。　Staggering　to　his　feet；　and　drunk　with　his　unlawful　slumber；　he　fumbled　at　the　fastenings　of　the　gate　for　full　three　minutes　before　the　ponderous　wood　finally　swung　open　and　showed　the　road　beyond。　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　muttered　thickly。　〃The　commander's　pass。　Good…night；　the　three　of　ye！〃

〃Are　you　drunk　or　drugged？〃　I　demanded。　〃There　are　only　two。　It's　not　sleep　that　is　the　matter　with　you。　What　is　it？〃

He　made　no　answer；　but　stood　holding　the　gate　open　and　blinking　at　us　with　dull；　unseeing　eyes。　Something　ailed　him　besides　sleep；　he　may　have　been　drugged；　for　aught　I　know。　When　we　had　gone　some　yards　from　the　gate；　we　heard　him　say　again；　in　precisely　　the　same　tone；　〃Good…night；　the　three　of　ye！〃　Then　the　gate　creaked　to；　and　we　heard　the　bars　drawn　across　it。

Without　the　palisade　was　a　space　of　waste　land；　marsh　and　thicket；　tapering　to　the　narrow　strip　of　sand　and　scrub　joining　the　peninsula　to　the　forest；　and　here　and　there　upon　this　waste　ground　rose　a　mean　house；　dwelt　in　by　the　poorer　sort。　All　were　dark。　We　left　them　behind；　and　found　ourselves　upon　the　neck；　with　the　desolate　murmur　of　the　river　on　either　hand；　and　before　us　the　deep　blackness　of　the　forest。　Suddenly　Diccon　stopped　in　his　tracks　and　turned　his　head。　〃I　did　hear　something　then；〃　he　muttered。　〃Look；　sir！〃

The　stars　faintly　lit　the　road　that　had　been　trodden　hard　and　bare　by　the　feet　of　all　who　came　and　went。　Down　this　road　something　was　coming　toward　us；　something　low　and　dark；　that　moved　not　fast；　and　not　slow；　but　with　a　measured　and　relentless　pace。　〃A　panther！〃　said　Diccon。

We　watched　the　creature　with　more　of　curiosity　than　alarm。　Unless　brought　to　bay；　or　hungry；　or　wantonly　irritated；　these　great　cats　were　cowardly　enough。　It　would　hardly　attack　the　two　of　us。　Nearer　and　nearer　it　came；　showing　no　signs　of　anger　and　none　of　fear；　and　paying　no　attention　to　the　withered　branch　with　which　Diccon　tried　to　scare　it　off。　When　it　was　so　close　that　we　could　see　the　white　of　its　breast　it　stopped；　looking　at　us　with　large　unfaltering　eyes；　and　slightly　moving　its　tail　to　and　fro。

〃A　tame　panther！〃　ejaculated　Diccon。　〃It　must　be　the　one　Nantauquas　tamed；　sir。　He　would　have　kept　it　somewhere　near　Master　Rolfe's　house。〃

〃And　it　heard　us；　and　followed　us　through　the　gate；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　the　third　the　warder　talked　of。〃

We　walked　on；　and　the　beast；　addressing　itself　to　motion；　followed　at　our　heels。　Now　and　then　we　looked　back　at　it；　but　we　feared　it　not。

As　for　me；　I　had　begun　to　think　that　a　panther　might　be　the　least　formidable　thing　I　should　meet　that　night。　By　this　I　had　scarcely　any　hope　…　or　fear　…　that　I　should　find　her　at　our　journey's　end。　The　lonesome　path　that　led　only　to　the　night…time　forest；　the　deep　and　dark　river　with　its　mournful　voice；　the　hard；　bright；　pitiless　stars；　the　cold；　the　loneliness；　the　distance；　…　how　should　she　be　there？　And　if　not　she；　who　then？

The　hut　to　which　I　had　been　directed　stood　in　an　angle　made　by　the　neck　and　the　main　bank　of　the　river。　On　one　side　of　it　was　the　water；　on　the　other　a　deep　wood。　The　place　had　an　evil　name；　and　no　man　had　lived　there　since　the　planter　who　had　built　it　hanged　himself　upon　its　threshold。　The　hut　was　ruinous：　in　the　summer　tall　weeds　grew　up　around　it；　and　venomous　snakes　harbored　beneath　its　rotted　and　broken　floor；　in　the　winter　the　snow　whitened　it；　and　the　wild　fowl　flew　screaming　in　and　out　of　the　open　door　and　the　windows　that　needed　no　barring。　To…night　the　door　was　shut　and　the　windows　in　some　way　obscured。　But　the　interstices　between　the　logs　showed　red；　the　hut　was　lighted　within；　and　some　one　was　keeping　tryst。

The　stillness　was　deadly。　It　was　not　silence；　for　the　river　murmured　in　the　stiff　reeds；　and　far　off　in　the　midnight　forest　some　beast　of　the　night　uttered　its　cry；　but　a　hush；　a　holding　of　the　breath；　an　expectant　horror。　The　door；　warped　and　shrunken；　was　drawn　to；　but　was　not　fastened；　as　I　could　tell　by　the　unbroken　line　of　red　light　down　one　side　from　top　to　　bottom。　Making　no　sound；　I　laid　my　hand　upon　it；　pushed　it　open　a　little　way；　and　looked　within　the　hut。

I　had　thought　to　find　it　empty　or　to　find　it　crowded。　It　was　neither。　A　torch　lit　it；　and　on　the　hearth　burned　a　fire。　Drawn　in　front　of　the　blaze　was　an　old　rude　chair；　and　in　it　sat　a　slight　figure　draped　from　head　to　foot　in　a　black　cloak。　The　head　was　bowed　and　hidden；　the　whole　attitude　one　of　listlessness　and　dejection。　As　I　looked；　there　came　a　long　tremulous　sigh；　and　the　head　drooped　lower　and　lower；　as　if　in　a　growing　hopelessness。

The　revulsion　of　feeling　was　so　great　that　for　the　moment　I　was　dazed　as　by　a　sudden　blow。　There　had　been　time　during　the　walk　from　the　gaol　for　enough　of　wild　and　whirling　thoughts　as　to　what　should　greet　me　in　that　hut；　and　now　the　slight　figure　by　the　fire；　the　exquisite　melancholy　of　its　posture；　its　bent　head；　the　weeping　I　could　divine；　…　I　had　but　one　thought；　to　comfort　her　as　quickly　as　I　might。　Diccon's　hand　was　upon　my　arm；　but　I　shook　it　off；　and　pushing　the　door　open　crossed　the　uneven　and　noisy　floor　to　the　fire；　and　bent　over　the　lonely　figure　beside　it。　〃Jocelyn；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　kept　tryst。〃

As　I　spoke；　I　laid　my　hand　upon　the　bowed　and　covered　head。　It　was　raised；　the　cloak　was　drawn　aside；　and　there　looked　me　in　the　eyes　the　Italian。

As　if　it　had　been　the　Gorgon's　gaze；　I　was　turned　to　stone。　The　filmy　eyes；　the　smile　that　would　have　been　mocking　had　it　not　been　so　very　faint；　the　pallor；　the　malignance；　…　I　stared　and　stared；　and　my　heart　grew　cold　and　sick。

It　was　but　for　a　minute；　then　a　warning　cry　from　Diccon　roused　me。　I　sprang　backward　until　the　width　　of　the　hearth　was　between　me　and　the　Italian；　then　wheeled　and　found　myself　face　to　face　with　the　King's　late　favorite。　Behind　him　was　an　open　door；　and　beyond　it　a　small　inner　room；　dimly　lighted。　He　stood　and　looked　at　me　with　an　insolence　and　a　triumph　most　intolerable。　His　drawn　sword　was　in　his　hand；　the　jeweled　hilt　blazing　in　the　firelight；　and　on　his　dark；　superb　face　a　taunting　smile。　I　met　it　with　one　as　bold；　at　least；　but　I　said　no　word；　good　or　bad。　In　the　cabin　of　the　George　I　had　sworn　to　myself　that　thenceforward　my　sword　should　speak　for　me　to　this　gentleman。

〃You　came；〃　he　said。　〃I　thought　you　would。〃

I　glanced　around　the　hut；　seeking　for　a　weapon。　Seeing　nothing　more　promising　than　the　thick；　half…consumed　torch；　I　sprang　to　it　and　wrested　it　from　the　socket。　Diccon　caught　up　a　piece　of　rusted　iron　from　the　hearth；　and　together　we　faced　my　lord's　drawn　sword　and　a　small；　sharp；　and　strangely　shaped　dagger　that　the　Italian　drew　from　a　velvet　sheath。

My　lord　laughed；　reading　my　thoughts。　〃You　are　mistaken；〃　he　declared　coolly。　〃I　am　content　that　Captain　Percy　knows　I　do　not　fear　to　fight　him。　This　time　I　play　to　win。〃　Turning　toward　the　outer　door；　he　raised　his　hand　with　a　gesture　of　command。

In　an　instant　the　room　was　filled。　The　red…brown　figures；　naked　save　for　the　loincloth　and　the　headdress；　the　impassive　faces　dashed　with　black；　the　ruthless　eyes　…　I　knew　now　why　Master　Edward　Sharpless　had　gone　to　the　forest；　and　what　service　had　been　bought　with　that　silver　cup。　The　Paspaheghs　and　I　were　old　enemies；　doubtless　they　would　find　their　task　a　pleasant　one。

〃My　own　knaves；　unfortunately；　were　out　of　the　　way；　sent　home　on　the　Santa　Teresa；〃　said　my　lord；　still　smiling。　〃I　am　not　yet　so　poor　that　I　cannot　hire　others。　True；　Nicolo　might　have　done　the　work　just　now；　when　you　bent　over　him　so　lovingly　and　spoke　so　softly；　but　the　river　might　give　up　your　body　to　tell　strange　tales。　I　have　heard　that　the　Indians　are　more　ingenious；　and　leave　no　such　witness　anywhere。〃

Before　the　words　were　out　of　his　mouth　I　had　sprung　upon　him；　and　had　caught　him　by　the　sword　wrist　and　the　throat。　He　strove　to　free　his　hand；　to　withdraw　himself　from　my　grasp。　Locked　together；　we　struggled　backward　and　forward　in　what　seemed　a　blaze　of　lights　and　a　roaring　as　of　mighty　waters。　Red　hands　caught　at　me；　sharp　knives　panted　to　drink　my　blood；　but　so　fast　we　turned　and　writhed；　now　he　uppermost；　now　I；　that　for　very　fear　of　striking　the　wrong　man　hands　and　knives　could　not　be　bold。　I　heard　Diccon　fighting；　and　knew　that　there　would　be　howling　tomorrow　among　the　squaws　of　the　Paspaheghs。　With　all　his　might　my　lord　strove　to　bend　the　sword　against　me；　and　at　last　did　cut　me　across　the　arm；　causing　the　blood　to　flow　freely。　It　made　a　pool　upon　the　floor；　and　once　my　foot　slipped　in　it；　and　I　stumbled　and　almost　fell。

Two　of　the　Paspaheghs　were　silent　for　evermore。　Diccon　had　the　knife　of　the　first　to　fall；　and　it　ran　red。　The　Italian；　quick　and　sinuous　as　a　serpent；　kept　beside　my　lord　and　me；　striving　to　bring　his　dagger　to　his　master's　aid。　We　two　panted　hard；　before　our　eyes　blood；　within　our　ears　the　sea。　The　noise　of　the　other　combatants　suddenly　fell。　The　hush　could　only　mean　that　Diccon　was　dead　or　taken。　I　could　not　look　behind　to　see。　With　an　access　of　fury　I　drove　　my　antagonist　toward　a　corner　of　the　hut；　…　the　corner；　so　it　chanced；　in　which　the　panther　had　taken　up　its　quarters。　With　his　heel　he　struck　the　beast　out　of　his　way；　then　made　a　last　desperate　effort　to　throw　me。　I　let　him　think　he　was　about　to　succeed；　gathered　my　forces　and　brought　him　crashing　to　the　ground。　The　sword　was　in　my　hand　and　shortened；　the　point　was　at　his　throat；　when　my　arm　was　jerked　backwards。　A　moment；　and　half　a　dozen　hands　had　dragged　me　from　the　man　beneath　me；　and　a　supple　savage　had　passed　a　thong　of　deerskin　around　my　arms　and　pinioned　them　to　my　sides。　The　game　was　up；　there　remained　only　to　pay　the　forfeit　without　a　grimace。

Diccon　was　not　dead；　pinioned；　like　myself；　and　breathing　hard；　he　leaned　sullenly　against　the　wall；　they　that　he　had　slain　at　his　feet。　My　lord　rose；　and　stood　over　against　me。　His　rich　doublet　was　torn　and　dragged　away　at　the　neck；　and　my　blood　stained　his　hand　and　arm。　A　smile　was　upon　the　face　that　had　made　him　master　of　a　kingdom's　master。

〃The　game　was　long；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　won　at　last。　A　long　good…night　to　you；　Captain　Percy；　and　a　dreamless　sleep！〃

There　was　a　swift　backward　movement　of　the　Indians；　and　a　loud　〃The　panther；　sir！　Have　a　care！〃　from　Diccon。　I　turned。　The　panther；　maddened　by　the　noise　and　light；　the　shifting　figures；　the　blocked　doors；　the　sight　and　smell　of　blood；　the　blow　that　had　been　dealt　it；　was　crouching　for　a　spring。　The　red…brown　hair　was　bristling；　the　eyes　were　terrible。　I　was　before　it；　but　those　glaring　eyes　had　marked　me　not。　It　passed　me　like　a　bar　from　a　catapult；　and　the　man