to have and to hold-第42章

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ing　side　by　side　with　our　captors；　and　Diccon；　with　a　great　cut　across　his　head；　seized　the　Indian　girl　who　brought　him　his　platter　of　fish；　and　pulling　her　down　beside　him　kissed　her　soundly；　whereat　the　maid　seemed　not　ill　pleased　and　the　warriors　laughed。

In　the　usual　order　of　things；　the　meal　over；　tobacco　should　have　followed。　But　now　not　a　pipe　was　lit；　and　the　women　made　haste　to　take　away　the　platters　and　to　get　all　things　in　readiness。　The　werowance　of　the　Paspaheghs　rose　to　his　feet；　cast　aside　his　mantle；　and　began　to　speak。　He　was　a　man　in　the　prime　of　life；　of　a　great　figure；　strong　as　a　Susquehannock；　and　a　savage　cruel　and　crafty　beyond　measure。　Over　his　breast；　stained　with　strange　figures；　hung　a　chain　of　small　bones；　and　the　scalp　locks　of　his　enemies　fringed　his　moccasins。　His　tribe　being　the　nearest　to　Jamestown；　and　in　frequent　altercation　with　us；　I　had　heard　him　speak　many　times；　and　knew　his　power　over　the　passions　of　his　people。　No　player　could　be　more　skillful　in　gesture　and　expression；　no　poet　more　nice　in　the　choice　of　words；　no　general　more　quick　to　raise　a　wild　enthusiasm　in　the　soldiers　to　whom　he　called。　All　Indians　are　eloquent；　but　this　savage　was　a　leader　among　them。

He　spoke　now　to　some　effect。　Commencing　with　a　day　in　the　moon　of　blossoms　when　for　the　first　time　winged　canoes　brought　white　men　into　the　Powhatan；　he　came　down　through　year　after　year　to　the　present　hour；　ceased；　and　stood　in　silence；　regarding　his　triumph。　It　was　complete。　In　its　wild　excitement　the　village　was　ready　then　and　there　to　make　an　end　of　us　who　had　sprung　to　our　feet　and　stood　with　our　backs　against　a　great　bay　tree；　facing　the　maddened　throng。　So　much　the　best　for　us　would　it　be　if　the　tomahawks　left　the　hands　that　were　drawn　back　to　throw；　if　the　knives　that　were　flourished　in　our　faces　should　be　buried　to　the　haft　in　our　hearts；　that　we　courted　death；　striving　with　word　and　look　to　infuriate　our　executioners　to　the　point　of　forgetting　their　former　purpose　in　the　lust　for　instant　vengeance。　It　was　not　to　be。　The　werowance　spoke　again；　pointing　to　the　hills　with　the　black　houses　upon　them；　dimly　seen　through　the　mist。　A　moment；　and　the　hands　clenched　upon　the　weapons　fell；　another；　and　we　were　upon　the　march。

As　one　man；　the　village　swept　through　the　forest　toward　the　rising　ground　that　was　but　a　few　bowshots　away。　The　young　men　bounded　ahead　to　make　preparation；　but　the　approved　warriors　and　the　old　men　went　more　sedately；　and　with　them　walked　Diccon　and　I；　as　steady　of　step　as　they。　The　women　and　children　for　the　most　part　brought　up　the　rear；　though　a　few　impatient　hags　ran　past　us；　calling　the　men　tortoises　who　would　never　reach　the　goal。　One　of　these　women　bore　a　great　burning　torch；　the　flame　and　smoke　streaming　over　her　shoulder　as　she　ran。　Others　carried　pieces　of　bark　heaped　with　the　slivers　of　pine　of　which　every　wigwam　has　store。

The　sun　was　yet　to　rise　when　we　reached　a　hollow　amongst　the　low　red　hills。　Above　us　were　the　three　long　houses　in　which　they　keep　the　image　of　Okee　and　the　mummies　of　their　kings。　These　temples　faced　the　crimson　east；　and　the　mist　was　yet　about　them。　Hideous　priests；　painted　over　with　strange　devices；　the　stuffed　skins　of　snakes　knotted　about　their　heads；　in　their　hands　great　rattles　which　they　shook　vehemently；　rushed　through　the　doors　and　down　the　bank　to　meet　us；　and　began　to　dance　around　us；　contorting　their　bodies；　throwing　up　their　arms；　and　making　a　hellish　noise。　Diccon　stared　at　them；　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　with　a　grunt　of　contempt　sat　down　upon　a　fallen　tree　to　watch　the　enemy's　manoeuvres。

The　place　was　a　natural　amphitheatre；　well　fitted　for　a　spectacle。　Those　Indians　who　could　not　crowd　into　the　narrow　level　spread　themselves　over　the　rising　ground；　and　looked　down　with　fierce　laughter　upon　the　driving　of　the　stakes　which　the　young　men　brought。　The　women　and　children　scattered　into　the　woods　beyond　the　cleft　between　the　hills；　and　returned　bearing　great　armfuls　of　dry　branches。　The　hollow　rang　to　the　exultation　of　the　playgoers。　Taunting　laughter；　cries　of　savage　triumph；　the　shaking　of　the　rattles；　and　the　furious　beating　of　two　great　drums　combined　to　make　a　clamor　deafening　to　stupor。　And　above　the　hollow　was　the　angry　reddening　of　the　heavens；　and　the　white　mist　curling　up　like　smoke。

I　sat　down　beside　Diccon　on　the　log。　Beneath　it　there　were　growing　tufts　of　a　pale　blue；　slender…stemmed　flower。　I　plucked　a　handful　of　the　blossoms；　and　thought　how　blue　they　would　look　against　the　whiteness　of　her　hand；　then　dropped　them　in　a　sudden　shame　that　in　that　hour　I　was　so　little　steadfast　　to　things　which　were　not　of　earth。　I　did　not　speak　to　Diccon；　nor　he　to　me。　There　seemed　no　need　of　speech。　In　the　pandemonium　to　which　the　world　had　narrowed；　the　one　familiar；　matter…of…course　thing　was　that　he　and　I　were　to　die　together。

The　stakes　were　in　the　ground　and　painted　red；　the　wood　properly　arranged。　The　Indian　woman　who　held　the　torch　that　was　to　light　the　pile　ran　past　us；　whirling　the　wood　around　her　head　to　make　it　blaze　more　fiercely。　As　she　went　by　she　lowered　the　brand　and　slowly　dragged　it　across　my　wrists。　The　beating　of　the　drums　suddenly　ceased；　and　the　loud　voices　died　away。　To　Indians　no　music　is　so　sweet　as　the　cry　of　an　enemy；　if　they　have　wrung　it　from　a　brave　man　who　has　striven　to　endure；　so　much　the　better。　They　were　very　still　now；　because　they　would　not　lose　so　much　as　a　drawing　in　of　the　breath。

Seeing　that　they　were　coming　for　us；　Diccon　and　I　rose　to　await　them。　When　they　were　nearly　upon　us　I　turned　to　him　and　held　out　my　hand。

He　made　no　motion　to　take　it。　Instead　he　stood　with　fixed　eyes　looking　past　me　and　slightly　upwards。　A　sudden　pallor　had　overspread　the　bronze　of　his　face。　〃There's　a　verse　somewhere；〃　he　said　in　a　quiet　voice；　…　〃it's　in　the　Bible；　I　think；　…　I　heard　it　once　long　ago；　before　I　was　lost：　'I　will　look　unto　the　hills　from　whence　cometh　my　help'　…　Look；　sir！〃

I　turned　and　followed　with　my　eyes　the　pointing　of　his　finger。　In　front　of　us　the　bank　rose　steeply；　bare　to　the　summit；　…　no　trees；　only　the　red　earth；　with　here　and　there　a　low　growth　of　leafless　bushes。　Behind　it　was　the　eastern　sky。　Upon　the　crest；　against　the　sunrise；　stood　the　figure　of　a　man；　…　an　Indian。　From　one　shoulder　hung　an　otterskin；　and　a　great　bow　　was　in　his　hand。　His　limbs　were　bare；　and　as　he　stood　motionless；　bathed　in　the　rosy　light；　he　looked　like　some　bronze　god；　perfect　from　the　beaded　moccasins　to　the　calm；　uneager　face　below　the　feathered　headdress。　He　had　but　just　risen　above　the　brow　of　the　hill；　the　Indians　in　the　hollow　saw　him　not。

While　Diccon　and　I　stared　our　tormentors　were　upon　us。　They　came　a　dozen　or　more　at　once；　and　we　had　no　weapons。　Two　hung　upon　my　arms；　while　a　third　laid　hold　of　my　doublet　to　rend　it　from　me。　An　arrow　whistled　over　our　heads　and　stuck　into　a　tree　behind　us。　The　hands　that　clutched　me　dropped；　and　with　a　yell　the　busy　throng　turned　their　faces　in　the　direction　whence　had　come　the　arrow。

The　Indian　who　had　sent　that　dart　before　him　was　descending　the　bank。　An　instant's　breathless　hush　while　they　stared　at　the　solitary　figure；　then　the　dark　forms　bent　forward　for　the　rush　straightened；　and　there　arose　a　loud　cry　of　recognition。　〃The　son　of　Powhatan！　The　son　of　Powhatan！〃

He　came　down　the　hillside　to　the　level　of　the　hollow；　the　authority　of　his　look　and　gesture　making　way　for　him　through　the　crowd　that　surged　this　way　and　that；　and　walked　up　to　us　where　we　stood；　hemmed　round；　but　no　longer　in　the　clutch　of　our　enemies。　〃It　was　a　very　big　wolf　this　time；　Captain　Percy；〃　he　said。

〃You　were　never　more　welcome；　Nantauquas；〃　I　answered；　…　〃unless；　indeed；　the　wolf　intends　making　a　meal　of　three　instead　of　two。〃

He　smiled。　〃The　wolf　will　go　hungry　to…day。〃　Taking　my　hand　in　his　he　turned　to　his　frowning　countrymen。　〃Men　of　the　Pamunkeys！〃　he　cried。　〃This　is　Nantauquas'　friend；　and　so　the　friend　of　all　　the　tribes　that　called　Powhatan　'father。'　The　fire　is　not　for　him　nor　for　his　servant；　keep　it　for　the　Monacans　and　for　the　dogs　of　the　Long　House！　The　calumet　is　for　the　friend　of　Nantauquas；　and　the　dance　of　the　maidens；　the　noblest　buck　and　the　best　of　the　weirs〃　…

There　was　a　surging　forward　of　the　Indians；　and　a　fierce　murmur　of　dissent。　The　werowance；　standing　out　from　the　throng；　lifted　his　voice。　〃There　was　a　time；〃　he　cried；　〃when　Nantauquas　was　the　panther　crouched　upon　the　bough　above　the　leader　of　the　herd；　now　Nantauquas　is　a　tame　panther　and　rolls　at　the　white　men's　feet！　There　was　a　time　when　the　word　of　the　son　of　Powhatan　weighed　more　than　the　lives　of　many　dogs　such　as　these；　but　now　I　know　not　why　we　should　put　out　the　fire　at　his　command！　He　is　war　chief　no　longer；　for　Opechancanough　will　have　no　tame　panther　to　lead　the　tribes。　Opechancanough　is　our　head；　and　Opechancanough　kindleth　a　fire　indeed！　We　will　give　to　this　one　what　fuel　we　choose；　and　to…night　Nantauquas　may　look　for　the　bones　of　the　white　men！〃

He　ended；　and　a　great　clamor　arose。　The　Paspaheghs　would　have　cast　themselves　upon　us　again　but　for　a　sudden　action　of　the　young　chief；　who　had　stood　motionless；　with　raised　head　and　unmoved　face；　during　the　werowance's　bitter　speech。　Now　he　flung　up　his　hand；　and　in　it　was　a　bracelet　of　gold　carved　and　twisted　like　a　coiled　snake　and　set　with　a　green　stone。　I　had　never　seen　the　toy　before；　but　evidently　others　had　done　so。　The　excited　voices　fell；　and　the　Indians；　Pamunkeys　and　Paspaheghs　alike；　stood　as　though　turned　to　stone。

Nantauquas　smiled　coldly。　〃This　day　hath　　　Opechancanough　made　me　war　chief　again。　We　have　smoked　the　peace　pipe　together　…　my　father's　brother　and　I　…　in　the　starlight；　sitting　before　his　lodge；　with　the　wide　marshes　and　the　river　dark　at　our　feet。　Singing　birds　in　the　forest　have　been　many；　evil　tales　have　they　told；　Opechancanough　has　stopped　his　ears　against　their　false　singing。　My　friends　are　his　friends；　my　brother　is　his　brother；　my　word　is　his　word：　witness　the　armlet　that　hath　no　like；　that　Opechancanough　brought　with　him　when　he　came　from　no　man　knows　where　to　the　land　of　the　Powhatans；　many　Huskanawings　ago；　that　no　white　men　but　these　have　ever　seen。　Opechancanough　is　at　hand；　he　comes　through　the　forest　with　his　two　hundred　warriors　that　are　as　tall　as　Susquehannocks；　and　as　brave　as　the　children　of　Wahunsonacock。　He　comes　to　the　temples　to　pray　to　Kiwassa　for　a　great　hunting。　Will　you；　when　you　lie　at　his　feet；　that　he　ask　you；　'Where　is　the　friend　of　my　friend；　of　my　war　chief；　of　the　Panther　who　is　one　with　me　again？'　〃

There　came　a　long；　deep　breath　from　the　Indians；　then　a　silence；　in　which　they　fell　back；　slowly　and　sullenly；　whipped　hounds；　but　with　the　will　to　break　that　leash　of　fear。

〃Hark！〃　said　Nantauquas；　smiling。　〃I　hear　Opechancanough　and　his　warriors　coming　over　the　leaves。〃

The　noise　of　many　footsteps　was　indeed　audible；　coming　toward　the　hollow　from　the　woods　beyond。　With　a　burst　of　cries；　the　priests　and　the　conjurer　whirled　away　to　bear　the　welcome　of　Okee　to　the　royal　worshiper；　and　at　their　heels　went　the　chief　men　of　the　Pamunkeys。　The　werowance　of　the　Paspaheghs　was　one　that　sailed　with　the　wind；　he　listened　　to　the　deepening　sound；　and　glanced　at　the　son　of　Powhatan　where　he　stood；　ca