to have and to hold-第43章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the wind； he listened to the deepening sound； and glanced at the son of Powhatan where he stood； calm and confident； then smoothed his own countenance and made a most pacific speech； in which all the blame of the late proceedings was laid upon the singing birds。 When he had done speaking； the young men tore the stakes from the earth and threw them into a thicket； while the women plucked apart the newly kindled fire and flung the brands into a little near…by stream； where they went out in a cloud of hissing steam。
I turned to the Indian who had wrought this miracle。 〃Art sure it is not a dream； Nantauquas？〃 I said。 〃I think that Opechancanough would not lift a finger to save me from all the deaths the tribes could invent。〃
〃Opechancanough is very wise；〃 he answered quietly。 〃He says that now the English will believe in his love indeed when they see that he holds dear even one who might be called his enemy； who hath spoken against him at the Englishmen's council fire。 He says that for five suns Captain Percy shall feast with Opechancanough； and that then he shall be sent back free to Jamestown。 He thinks that then Captain Percy will not speak against him any more； calling his love to the white men only words with no good deeds behind。〃
He spoke simply； out of the nobility of his nature； believing his own speech。 I that was older； and had more knowledge of men and the masks that they wear； was but half deceived。 My belief in the hatred of the dark Emperor was not shaken； and I looked yet to find the drop of poison within this honey flower。 How poisoned was that bloom God knows I could not guess！
〃When you were missed； three suns ago；〃 Nantauquas went on； 〃I and my brother tracked you to the hut beside the forest； where we found only the dead panther。 There we struck the trail of the Paspaheghs； but presently we came to running water； and the trail was gone。〃
〃We walked up the bed of the stream for half the night；〃 I said。
The Indian nodded。 〃I know。 My brother went back to Jamestown for men and boats and guns to go to the Paspahegh village and up the Powhatan。 He was wise with the wisdom of the white men； but I； who needed no gun； and who would not fight against my own people； I stepped into the stream and walked up it until past the full sun power。 Then I found a broken twig and the print of a moccasin； half hidden by a bush； overlooked when the other prints were smoothed away。 I left the stream and followed the trail until it was broken again。 I looked for it no more then； for I knew that the Paspaheghs had turned their faces toward Uttamussac； and that they would make a fire where many others had been made； in the hollow below the three temples。 Instead I went with speed to seek Opechancanough。 Yesterday； when the sun was low； I found him； sitting in his lodge above the marshes and the colored river。 We smoked the peace pipe together； and I am his war chief again。 I asked for the green stone； that I might show it to the Paspaheghs for a sign。 He gave it； but he willed to come to Uttamussac with me。〃
〃I owe you my life；〃 I said； with my hand upon his。 〃I and Diccon〃 …
What I would have said he put aside with a fine gesture。 〃Captain Percy is my friend。 My brother loves him； and he was kind to Matoax when she was brought prisoner to Jamestown。 I am glad that I could pull off this wolf。〃
〃Tell me one thing；〃 I asked。 〃Before you left Jamestown； had you heard aught of my wife or of my enemy？〃
He shook his head。 〃At sunrise； the commander came to rouse my brother； crying out that you had broken gaol and were nowhere to be found； and that the man you hate was lying within the guest house； sorely torn by some beast of the forest。 My brother and I followed your trail at once； the town was scarce awake when we left it behind us； … and I did not return。〃
By this we three were alone in the hollow； for all the savages； men and women； had gone forth to meet the Indian whose word was law from the falls of the far west to the Chesapeake。 The sun now rode above the low hills； pouring its gold into the hollow and brightening all the world besides。 The little stream flashed diamonds； and the carven devils upon the black houses above us were frightful no longer。 There was not a menace anywhere from the cloudless skies to the sweet and plaintive chant to Kiwassa； sung by women and floating to us from the woods beyond the hollow。 The singing grew nearer； and the rustling of the leaves beneath many feet more loud and deep； then all noise ceased； and Opechancanough entered the hollow alone。 An eagle feather was thrust through his scalp lock； over his naked breast； that was neither painted nor pricked into strange figures； hung a triple row of pearls； his mantle was woven of bluebird feathers； as soft and sleek as satin。 The face of this barbarian was dark； cold； and impassive as death。 Behind that changeless mask； as in a safe retreat； the supersubtle devil that was the man might plot destruction and plan the laying of dreadful mines。 He had dignity and courage； … no man denied him that。 I suppose he thought that he and his had wrongs： God knows！ perhaps they had。 But if ever we were hard or unjust in our dealings with the savages； … I say not that this was the case； … at least we were not treacherous and dealt not in Judas kisses。
I stepped forward； and met him on the spot where the fire had been。 For a minute neither spoke。 It was true that I had striven against him many a time； and I knew that he knew it。 It was also true that without his aid Nantauquas could not have rescued us from that dire peril。 And it was again the truth that an Indian neither forgives nor forgets。 He was my saviour； and I knew that mercy had been shown for some dark reason which I could not divine。 Yet I owed him thanks； and gave them as shortly and simply as I could。
He heard me out with neither liking nor disliking nor any other emotion written upon his face； but when I had finished； as though he suddenly bethought himself； he smiled and held out his hand； white…man fashion。 Now； when a man's lips widen I look into his eyes。 The eyes of Opechancanough were as fathomless as a pool at midnight； and as devoid of mirth or friendliness as the staring orbs of the carven imps upon the temple corners。
〃Singing birds have lied to Captain Percy；〃 he said； and his voice was like his eyes。 〃Opechancanough thinks that Captain Percy will never listen to them again。 The chief of the Powhatans is a lover of the white men； of the English； and of other white men； … if there are others。 He would call the Englishmen his brothers； and be taught of them how to rule； and who to pray to〃 …
〃Let Opechancanough go with me to…day to Jamestown；〃 I said。 〃He hath the wisdom of the woods； let him come and gain that of the town。〃
The Emperor smiled again。 〃I will come to Jamestown soon； but not to…day nor to…morrow nor the next day。 And Captain Percy must smoke the peace pipe in my lodge above the Pamunkey； and watch my young men and maidens dance； and eat with me five days。 Then he may go back to Jamestown with presents for the great white father there； and with a message that Opechancanough is coming soon to learn of the white men。〃
I could have gnashed my teeth at that delay when she must think me dead； but it would have been the madness of folly to show the impatience which I felt。 I too could smile with my lips when occasion drove； and drink a bitter draught as though my soul delighted in it。 Blithe enough to all seeming； and with as few inward misgivings as the case called for； Diccon and I went with the subtle Emperor and the young chief he had bound to himself once more； and with their fierce train； back to that village which we had never thought to see again。 A day and a night we stayed there； then Opechancanough sent away the Paspaheghs； … where we knew not； … and taking us with him went to his own village above the great marshes of the Pamunkey。
CHAPTER XXXII IN WHICH WE ARE THE GUESTS OF AN EMPEROR
I HAD before this spent days among the Indians； on voyages of discovery； as conqueror； as negotiator for food； exchanging blue beads for corn and turkeys。 Other Englishmen had been with me。 Knowing those with whom we dealt for sly and fierce heathen； friends to…day； to…morrow deadly foes； we kept our muskets ready and our eyes and ears open； and； what with the danger and the novelty and the bold wild life； managed to extract some merriment as well as profit from these visits。 It was different now。
Day after day I ate my heart out in that cursed village。 The feasting and the hunting and the triumph； the wild songs and wilder dances； the fantastic mummeries； the sudden rages； the sudden laughter； the great fires with their rings of painted warriors； the sleepless sentinels； the wide marshes that could not be crossed by night； the leaves that rustled so loudly beneath the lightest footfall； the monotonous days； the endless nights when I thought of her grief； of her peril； maybe； … it was an evil dream； and for my own pleasure I could not wake too soon。
Should we ever wake？ Should we not sink from that dream without pause into a deeper sleep whence there would be no waking？ It was a question that I asked myself each morning； half looking to find another hollow between the hills before the night should fall。 The night fell； and there was no change in the dream。
I will allow that the dark Emperor to whom we were so much beholden gave us courteous keeping。 The best of the hunt was ours； the noblest fish； the most delicate roots。 The skins beneath which we slept were fine and soft； the women waited upon us； and the old men and warriors held with us much stately converse； sitting beneath the budding trees with the blue tobacco smoke curling above our heads。 We were alive and sound of limb； well treated and with the promise of release； we might have waited； seeing that wait we must； in some measure of content。 We did not so。 There was a horror in the air。 From the marshes that were growing green； from the sluggish river； from the rotting leaves and cold black earth and naked forest； it rose like an exhalation。 We knew not what it was； but we breathed it in； and it went to the marrow of our bones。
Opechancanough we rarely saw； though we were bestowed so near to him that his sentinels served for ours。 Like some god； he kept within his lodge with the winding passage； and the hanging mats between him and the world without。 At other times； issuing from that retirement； he would stride away into the forest。 Picked men went with him； and they were gone for hours； but when they returned they bore no trophies； brute or human。 What they did we could not guess。 We might have had much comfort in Nantauquas； but the morning after our arrival in this village the Emperor sent him upon an embassy to the Rappahannocks； and when for the fourth time the forest stood black against the sunset he had not returned。 If escape had been possible； we would not have awaited the doubtful fulfillment of that promise made to us below the Uttamussac temples。 But the vigilance of the Indians never slept； they watched us like hawks； night and day。 And the dry leaves underfoot would not hold their peace； and there were the marshes to cross and the river。
Thus four days dragge
