to have and to hold-第40章

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　it；　but　those　glaring　eyes　had　marked　me　not。　It　passed　me　like　a　bar　from　a　catapult；　and　the　man　whose　heel　it　had　felt　was　full　in　its　path。　One　of　its　forefeet　sank　in　the　velvet　of　the　doublet；　the　　claws　of　the　other　entered　the　flesh　below　the　temple；　and　tore　downwards　and　across。　With　a　cry　as　awful　as　the　panther's　scream　the　Italian　threw　himself　upon　the　beast　and　buried　his　poniard　in　its　neck。　The　panther　and　the　man　it　had　attacked　went　down　together。

When　the　Indians　had　unlocked　that　dread　embrace　and　had　thrust　aside　the　dead　brute；　there　emerged　from　the　dimness　of　the　inner　room　Master　Edward　Sharpless；　gray　with　fear；　trembling　in　every　limb；　to　take　the　reins　that　had　fallen　from　my　lord's　hands。　The　King's　minion　lay　in　his　blood；　a　ghastly　spectacle；　unconscious　now；　but　with　life　before　him；　…　life　through　which　to　pass　a　nightmare　vision。　The　face　out　of　which　had　looked　that　sullen；　proud；　and　wicked　spirit　had　been　one　of　great　beauty；　it　had　brought　him　exceeding　wealth　and　power　beyond　measure；　the　King　had　loved　to　look　upon　it；　and　it　had　come　to　this。　He　lived；　and　I　was　to　die：　better　my　death　than　his　life。　In　every　heart　there　are　dark　depths；　whence　at　times　ugly　things　creep　into　the　daylight；　but　at　least　I　could　drive　back　that　unmanly　triumph；　and　bid　it　never　come　again。　I　would　have　killed　him；　but　I　would　not　have　had　him　thus。

The　Italian　was　upon　his　knees　beside　his　master：　even　such　a　creature　could　love。　From　his　skeleton　throat　came　a　low；　prolonged；　croaking　sound；　and　his　bony　hands　strove　to　wipe　away　the　blood。　The　Paspaheghs　drew　around　us　closer　and　closer；　and　the　werowance　clutched　me　by　the　shoulder。　I　shook　him　off。　〃Give　the　word；　Sharpless；〃　I　said；　〃or　nod；　if　thou　art　too　frightened　to　speak。　Murder　is　too　stern　a　stuff　for　such　a　base　kitchen　knave　as　thou　to　deal　in。〃

White　and　shaking；　he　would　not　meet　my　eyes；　but　beckoned　the　werowance　to　him；　and　began　to　whisper　vehemently；　pointing　now　to　the　man　upon　the　floor；　now　to　the　town；　now　to　the　forest。　The　Indian　listened；　nodded；　and　glided　back　to　his　fellows。

〃The　white　men　upon　the　Powhatan　are　many；〃　he　said　in　his　own　tongue；　〃but　they　build　not　their　wigwams　upon　the　banks　of　the　Pamunkey。　1　　The　singing　birds　of　the　Pamunkey　tell　no　tales。　The　pine　splinters　will　burn　as　brightly　there；　and　the　white　men　will　smell　them　not。　We　will　build　a　fire　at　Uttamussac；　between　the　red　hills；　before　the　temple　and　the　graves　of　the　kings。〃　There　was　a　murmur　of　assent　from　his　braves。

Uttamussac！　They　would　probably　make　a　two　days'　journey　of　it。　We　had　that　long；　then；　to　live。

Captors　and　captives；　we　presently　left　the　hut。　On　the　threshold　I　looked　back；　past　the　poltroon　whom　I　had　flung　into　the　river　one　midsummer　day；　to　that　prone　and　bleeding　figure。　As　I　looked；　it　groaned　and　moved。　The　Indians　behind　me　forced　me　on；　a　moment；　and　we　were　out　beneath　the　stars。　They　shone　so　very　brightly；　there　was　one　…　large；　steadfast；　golden　…　just　over　the　dark　town　behind　us；　over　the　Governor's　house。　Did　she　sleep　or　did　she　wake？　Sleeping　or　waking；　I　prayed　God　to　keep　her　safe　and　give　her　comfort。　The　stars　now　shone　through　naked　branches；　black　tree　trunks　hemmed　us　round；　and　under　our　feet　was　the　dreary　rustling　of　dead　leaves。　The　leafless　trees　gave　way　to　pines　and　cedars；　and　the　closely　woven；　scented　roof　hid　the　heavens；　and　made　a　darkness　of　the　world　beneath。

1。　The　modern　York。　



CHAPTER　XXX　　IN　WHICH　WE　START　UPON　A　JOURNEY


WHEN　the　dawn　broke；　it　found　us　traveling　through　a　narrow　valley；　beside　a　stream　of　some　width。　Upon　its　banks　grew　trees　of　extraordinary　height　and　girth；　cypress　and　oak　and　walnut；　they　towered　into　the　air；　their　topmost　branches　stark　and　black　against　the　roseate　heavens。　Below　that　iron　tracery　glowed　the　firebrands　of　the　maples；　and　here　and　there　a　willow　leaned　a　pale　green　cloud　above　the　stream。　Mist　closed　the　distances；　we　could　hear；　but　not　see；　the　deer　where　they　stood　to　drink　in　the　shallow　places；　or　couched　in　the　gray　and　dreamlike　recesses　of　the　forest。

Spectral；　unreal；　and　hollow　seems　the　world　at　dawn。　Then；　if　ever；　the　heart　sickens　and　the　will　flags；　and　life　becomes　a　　pageant　that　hath　ceased　to　entertain。　As　I　moved　through　the　mist　and　the　silence；　and　felt　the　tug　of　the　thong　that　bound　me　to　the　wrist　of　the　savage　who　stalked　before　me；　I　cared　not　how　soon　they　made　an　end；　seeing　how　stale　and　unprofitable　were　all　things　under　the　sun。

Diccon；　walking　behind　me；　stumbled　over　a　root　and　fell　upon　his　knees；　dragging　down　with　him　the　Indian　to　whom　he　was　tied。　In　a　sudden　access　of　fury；　aggravated　by　the　jeers　with　which　his　fellows　greeted　his　mishap；　the　savage　turned　upon　his　prisoner　and　would　have　stuck　a　knife　into　him；　bound　　and　helpless　as　he　was；　had　not　the　werowance　interfered。　The　momentary　altercation　over；　and　the　knife　restored　to　its　owner's　belt；　the　Indians　relapsed　into　their　usual　menacing　silence；　and　the　sullen　march　was　resumed。　Presently　the　stream　made　a　sharp　bend　across　our　path；　and　we　forded　it　as　best　we　might。　It　ran　dark　and　swift；　and　the　water　was　of　icy　coldness。　Beyond；　the　woods　had　been　burnt；　the　trees　rising　from　the　red　ground　like　charred　and　blackened　stakes；　with　the　ghostlike　mist　between。　We　left　this　dismal　tract　behind；　and　entered　a　wood　of　mighty　oaks；　standing　well　apart；　and　with　the　earth　below　carpeted　with　moss　and　early　wild　flowers。　The　sun　rose；　the　mist　vanished；　and　there　set　in　the　March　day　of　keen　wind　and　brilliant　sunshine。

Farther　on；　an　Indian　bent　his　bow　against　a　bear　shambling　across　a　little　sunny　glade。　The　arrow　did　its　errand；　and　where　the　creature　fell；　there　we　sat　down　and　feasted　beside　a　fire　kindled　by　rubbing　two　sticks　together。　According　to　their　wont　the　Indians　ate　ravenously；　and　when　the　meal　was　ended　began　to　smoke；　each　warrior　first　throwing　into　the　air；　as　thankoffering　to　Kiwassa；　a　pinch　of　tobacco。　They　all　stared　at　the　fire　around　which　we　sat；　and　the　silence　was　unbroken。　One　by　one；　as　the　pipes　were　smoked；　they　laid　themselves　down　upon　the　brown　leaves　and　went　to　sleep；　only　our　two　guardians　and　a　third　Indian　over　against　us　remaining　wide…eyed　and　watchful。

There　was　no　hope　of　escape；　and　we　entertained　no　thought　of　it。　Diccon　sat；　biting　his　nails；　staring　into　the　fire；　and　I　stretched　myself　out；　and　burying　my　head　in　my　arms　tried　to　sleep；　but　could　not。

With　the　midday　we　were　afoot　again；　and　we　went　　steadily　on　through　the　bright　afternoon。　We　met　with　no　harsh　treatment　other　than　our　bonds。　Instead；　when　our　captors　spoke　to　us；　it　was　with　words　of　amity　and　smiling　lips。　Who　accounteth　for　Indian　fashions？　It　is　a　way　they　have；　to　flatter　and　caress　the　wretch　for　whom　have　been　provided　the　torments　of　the　damned。　If；　when　at　sunset　we　halted　for　supper　and　gathered　around　the　fire；　the　werowance　began　to　tell　of　a　foray　I　had　led　against　the　Paspaheghs　years　before；　and　if　he　and　his　warriors；　for　all　the　world　like　generous　foes；　loudly　applauded　some　daring　that　had　accompanied　that　raid；　none　the　less　did　the　red　stake　wait　for　us；　none　the　less　would　they　strive；　as　for　heaven；　to　wring　from　us　groans　and　cries。

The　sun　sank；　and　the　darkness　entered　the　forest。　In　the　distance　we　heard　the　wolves；　so　the　fire　was　kept　up　through　the　night。　Diccon　and　I　were　tied　to　trees；　and　all　the　savages　save　one　lay　down　and　slept。　I　worked　awhile　at　my　bonds；　but　an　Indian　had　tied　them；　and　after　a　time　I　desisted　from　the　useless　labor。　We　two　could　have　no　speech　together；　the　fire　was　between　us；　and　we　saw　each　other　but　dimly　through　the　flame　and　wreathing　smoke；　…　as　each　might　see　the　other　to…morrow。　What　Diccon's　thoughts　were　I　know　not；　mine　were　not　of　the　morrow。

There　had　been　no　rain　for　a　long　time；　and　the　multitude　of　leaves　underfoot　were　crisp　and　dry。　The　wind　was　loud　in　them　and　in　the　swaying　trees。　Off　in　the　forest　was　a　bog；　and　the　will…o'…the…wisps　danced　over　it；　…　pale；　cold　flames；　moving　aimlessly　here　and　there　like　ghosts　of　those　lost　in　the　woods。　Toward　the　middle　of　the　night　some　heavy　animal　　crashed　through　a　thicket　to　the　left　of　us；　and　tore　away　into　the　darkness　over　the　loud…rustling　leaves；　and　later　on　wolves'　eyes　gleamed　from　out　the　ring　of　darkness　beyond　the　firelight。　Far　on　in　the　night　the　wind　fell　and　the　moon　rose；　changing　the　forest　into　some　dim；　exquisite；　far…off　land；　seen　only　in　dreams。　The　Indians　awoke　silently　and　all　at　once；　as　at　an　appointed　hour。　They　spoke　for　a　while　among　themselves；　then　we　were　loosed　from　the　trees；　and　the　walk　toward　death　began　anew。

On　this　march　the　werowance　himself　stalked　beside　me；　the　moonlight　whitening　his　dark　limbs　and　relentless　face。　He　spoke　no　word；　nor　did　I　deign　to　question　or　reason　or　entreat。　Alike　in　the　darkness　of　the　deep　woods；　and　in　the　silver　of　the　glades；　and　in　the　long　twilight　stretches　of　sassafras　and　sighing　grass；　there　was　for　me　but　one　vision。　Slender　and　still　and　white；　she　moved　before　me；　with　her　wide　dark　eyes　upon　my　face。　Jocelyn！　Jocelyn！

At　sunrise　the　mist　lifted　from　a　low　hill　before　us；　and　showed　an　Indian　boy；　painted　white；　poised　upon　the　summit；　like　a　spirit　about　to　take　its　flight。　He　prayed　to　the　One　over　All；　and　his　voice　came　down　to　us　pure　and　earnest。　At　sight　of　us　he　bounded　down　the　hillside　like　a　ball；　and　would　have　rushed　away　into　the　forest　had　not　a　Paspahegh　starting　out　of　line　seized　him　and　set　him　in　our　midst；　where　he　stood；　cool　and　undismayed；　a　warrior　in　miniature。　He　was　of　the　Pamunkeys；　and　his　tribe　and　the　Paspaheghs　were　at　peace；　therefore；　when　he　saw　the　totem　burnt　upon　the　breast　of　the　werowance；　he　became　loquacious　enough；　and　offered　to　go　before　us　to　his　village；　upon　the　banks　of　a　stream；　some　bowshots　away。　He　went；　and　the　Paspaheghs　　rested　under　the　trees　until　the　old　men　of　the　village　came　forth　to　lead　them　through　the　brown　fields　and　past　the　ring　of　leafless　mulberries　to　the　strangers'　lodge。　Here　on　the　green　turf　mats　were　laid　for　the　visitors；　and　water　was　brought　for　their　hands。　Later　on；　the　women　spread　a　great　breakfast　of　fish　and　turkey　and　venison；　maize　bread；　tuckahoe　and　pohickory。　When　it　was　eaten；　the　Paspaheghs　ranged　themselves　in　a　semicircle　upon　the　grass；　the　Pamunkeys　faced　them；　and　each　warrior　and　old　man　drew　out　his　pipe　and　tobacco　pouch。　They　smoked　gravely；　in　a　silence　broken　only　by　an　occasional　slow　and　stately　question　or　compliment。　The　blue　incense　from　the　pipes　mingled　with　the　sunshine　falling　freely　through　the　bare　branches；　the　stream　which　ran　by　the　lodge　rippled　and　shone；　and　the　wind　rose　and　fell　in　the　pines　upon　its　farther　bank。

Diccon　and　I　had　been　freed　for　the　time　from　our　bonds；　and　placed　in　the　centre　of　this　ring；　and　when　the　Indians　raised　their　eyes　from　the　ground　it　was　to　gaze　steadfastly　at　us。　I　knew　their　ways；　and　how　they　valued　pride；　indifference；　and　a　bravado　disregard　of　the　worst　an　enemy　could　do。　They　should　not　find　the　white　man　less　proud　than　the　savage。

They　gave　us　readily　enough　the　pipes　I　asked　for。　Diccon　lit　one　and　I　the　other；　and