to have and to hold-第44章

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ld　not　hold　their　peace；　and　there　were　the　marshes　to　cross　and　the　river。

Thus　four　days　dragged　themselves　by；　and　in　the　early　morning　of　the　fifth；　when　we　came　from　our　wigwam；　it　was　to　find　Nantauquas　sitting　by　the　fire；　magnificent　in　the　paint　and　trappings　of　the　ambassador；　motionless　as　a　piece　of　bronze；　and　apparently　quite　unmindful　of　the　admiring　glances　of　the　women　who　knelt　about　the　fire　preparing　our　breakfast。　When　he　saw　us　he　rose　and　came　to　meet　us；　and　I　embraced　him；　I　was　so　glad　to　see　him。　〃The　Rappahannocks　feasted　me　long；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　afraid　that　Captain　Percy　would　be　gone　to　Jamestown　before　I　was　back　upon　the　Pamunkey。〃

〃Shall　I　ever　see　Jamestown　again；　Nantauquas？〃　I　demanded。　〃I　have　my　doubts。〃

He　looked　me　full　in　the　eyes；　and　there　was　no　doubting　the　candor　of　his　own。　〃You　go　with　the　next　sunrise；〃　he　answered。　〃Opechancanough　has　given　me　his　word。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；〃　I　said。　〃Why　have　we　been　kept　at　all？　Why　did　he　not　free　us　five　days　agone？〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃I　do　not　know。　Opechancanough　has　many　thoughts　which　he　shares　with　no　man。　But　now　he　will　send　you　with　presents　for　the　Governor；　and　with　messages　of　his　love　to　the　white　men。　There　will　be　a　great　feast　to…day；　and　to…night　the　young　men　and　maidens　will　dance　before　you。　Then　in　the　morning　you　will　go。〃

〃Will　you　not　come　with　us？〃　I　asked。　〃You　are　ever　welcome　amongst　us；　Nantauquas；　both　for　your　sister's　sake　and　for　your　own。　Rolfe　will　rejoice　to　have　you　with　him　again；　he　ever　grudgeth　you　to　the　forest。〃

He　shook　his　head　again。　〃Nantauquas；　the　son　of　Powhatan；　hath　had　much　talk　with　himself　lately；〃　he　said　simply。　〃The　white　men's　ways　have　seemed　very　good　to　him；　and　the　God　of　the　white　men　he　knows　to　be　greater　than　Okee；　and　to　be　good　and　tender；　not　like　Okee；　who　sucks　the　blood　of　the　children。　He　remembers　Matoax；　too；　and　how　she　loved　and　cared　for　the　white　men　and　would　weep　when　danger　threatened　them。　And　Rolfe　is　his　brother　and　his　teacher。　But　Opechancanough　is　his　king；　and　the　red　men　are　his　people；　and　the　forest　is　his　home。　If；　because　he　loved　Rolfe；　and　because　the　ways　of　the　white　men　seemed　to　him　better　than　his　own　ways；　he　forgot　these　things；　he　did　wrong；　and　the　One　over　All　frowns　upon　him。　Now　he　has　come　back　to　his　home　again；　to　the　forest　and　the　hunting　and　the　warpath；　to　his　king　and　his　people。　He　will　be　again　the　panther　crouching　upon　the　bough〃　…

〃Above　the　white　men？〃

He　gazed　at　me　in　silence；　a　shadow　upon　his　face。　〃Above　the　Monacans；〃　he　answered　slowly。　〃Why　did　Captain　Percy　say　'above　the　white　men'？　Opechancanough　and　the　English　have　buried　the　hatchet　forever；　and　the　smoke　of　the　peace　pipe　will　never　fade　from　the　air。　Nantauquas　meant　'above　the　Monacans　or　the　Long　House　dogs。'　〃

I　put　my　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　〃I　know　you　did；　brother　of　Rolfe　by　nature　if　not　by　blood！　Forget　　what　I　said；　it　was　without　thought　or　meaning。　If　we　go　indeed　to…morrow；　I　shall　be　loath　to　leave　you　behind；　and　yet；　were　I　in　your　place；　I　should　do　as　you　are　doing。〃

The　shadow　left　his　face　and　he　drew　himself　up。　〃Is　it　what　you　call　faith　and　loyalty　and　like　a　knight？〃　he　demanded；　with　a　touch　of　eagerness　breaking　through　the　slowness　and　gravity　with　which　an　Indian　speaks。

〃Yea；〃　I　made　reply。　〃I　think　you　good　knight　and　true；　Nantauquas；　and　my　friend；　moreover；　who　saved　my　life。〃

His　smile　was　like　his　sister's；　quick　and　very　bright；　and　leaving　behind　it　a　most　entire　gravity。　Together　we　sat　down　by　the　fire　and　ate　of　the　sylvan　breakfast；　with　shy　brown　maidens　to　serve　us　and　with　the　sunshine　streaming　down　upon　us　through　the　trees　that　were　growing　faintly　green。　It　was　a　thing　to　smile　at　to　see　how　the　Indian　girls　manoeuvred　to　give　the　choicest　meat；　the　most　delicate　maize　cakes；　to　the　young　war　chief；　and　to　see　how　quietly　he　turned　aside　their　benevolence。　The　meal　over；　he　went　to　divest　himself　of　his　red　and　white　paint；　of　the　stuffed　hawk　and　strings　of　copper　that　formed　his　headdress；　of　his　gorgeous　belt　and　quiver　and　his　mantle　of　raccoon　skins；　while　Diccon　and　I　sat　still　before　our　wigwam；　smoking；　and　reckoning　the　distance　to　Jamestown　and　the　shortest　time　in　which　we　could　cover　it。

When　we　had　sat　there　for　an　hour　the　old　men　and　the　warriors　came　to　visit　us；　and　the　smoking　must　commence　all　over　again。　The　women　laid　mats　in　a　great　half　circle；　and　each　savage　took　his　seat　with　perfect　breeding；　that　is；　in　absolute　silence　and　with　a　　face　like　a　stone。　The　peace　paint　was　upon　them　all；　…　red；　or　red　and　white；　they　sat　and　looked　at　the　ground　until　I　had　made　the　speech　of　welcome。　Soon　the　air　was　dense　with　the　fragrant　smoke；　in　the　thick　blue　haze　the　sweep　of　painted　figures　had　the　seeming　of　some　fantastic　dream。　An　old　man　arose　and　made　a　long　and　touching　speech　with　much　reference　to　calumets　and　buried　hatchets。　When　he　had　finished　a　chief　talked　of　Opechancanough's　love　for　the　English；　〃high　as　the　stars；　deep　as　Popogusso；　wide　as　from　the　sunrise　to　the　sunset；〃　adding　that　the　death　of　Nemattanow　last　year　and　the　troubles　over　the　hunting　grounds　had　kindled　in　the　breasts　of　the　Indians　no　desire　for　revenge。　With　which　highly　probable　statement　he　made　an　end；　and　all　sat　in　silence　looking　at　me　and　waiting　for　my　contribution　of　honeyed　words。　These　Pamunkeys；　living　at　a　distance　from　the　settlements；　had　but　little　English　to　their　credit；　and　the　learning　of　the　Paspaheghs　was　not　much　greater。　I　sat　and　repeated　to　them　the　better　part　of　the　seventh　canto　of　the　second　book　of　Master　Spenser's　〃Faery　Queen。〃　Then　I　told　them　the　story　of　the　Moor　of　Venice；　and　ended　by　relating　Smith's　tale　of　the　three　Turks'　heads。　It　all　answered　the　purpose　to　admiration。　When　at　length　they　went　away　to　change　their　paint　for　the　coming　feast　Diccon　and　I　laughed　at　that　foolery　as　though　there　were　none　beside　us　who　could　juggle　with　words。　We　were　as　light…hearted　as　children　…　God　forgive　us！

The　day　wore　on；　with　relay　after　relay　of　food　which　we　must　taste　at　least；　with　endless　smoking　of　pipes　and　speeches　that　must　be　listened　to　and　answered。　When　evening　came　and　our　entertainers　　drew　off　to　prepare　for　the　dance；　they　left　us　as　wearied　as　by　a　long　day's　march。

The　wind　had　been　high　during　the　day；　but　with　the　sunset　it　sank　to　a　desolate　murmur。　The　sky　wore　the　strange　crimson　of　the　past　year　at　Weyanoke。　Against　that　sea　of　color　the　pines　were　drawn　in　ink；　and　beneath　it　the　winding；　threadlike　creeks　that　pierced　the　marshes　had　the　look　of　spilt　blood　moving　slowly　and　heavily　to　join　the　river　that　was　black　where　the　pines　shadowed　it；　red　where　the　light　touched　it。　From　the　marsh　arose　the　cry　of　some　great　bird　that　made　its　home　there；　it　had　a　lonely　and　a　boding　sound；　like　a　trumpet　blown　above　the　dead。　The　color　died　into　an　ashen　gray　and　the　air　grew　cold；　with　a　heaviness　beside　that　dragged　at　the　very　soul。　Diccon　shivered　violently；　turned　restlessly　upon　the　log　that　served　him　as　settle；　and　began　to　mutter　to　himself。

〃Art　cold？〃　I　asked。

He　shook　his　head。　〃Something　walked　over　my　grave；〃　he　said。　〃I　would　give　all　the　pohickory　that　was　ever　brewed　by　heathen　for　a　toss　of　aqua　vit‘！〃

In　the　centre　of　the　village　rose　a　great　heap　of　logs　and　dry　branches；　built　during　the　day　by　the　women　and　children。　When　the　twilight　fell　and　the　owls　began　to　hoot　this　pile　was　fired；　and　lit　the　place　from　end　to　end。　The　scattered　wigwams；　the　scaffolding　where　the　fish　were　dried；　the　tall　pines　and　wide…branching　mulberries；　the　trodden　grass；　…　all　flashed　into　sight　as　the　flame　roared　up　to　the　top…most　withered　bough。　The　village　glowed　like　a　lamp　set　in　the　dead　blackness　of　marsh　and　forest。　Opechancanough　came　from　the　forest　with　a　score　of　　warriors　behind　him；　and　stopped　beside　me。　I　rose　to　greet　him；　as　was　decent；　for　he　was　an　Emperor；　albeit　a　savage　and　a　pagan。　〃Tell　the　English　that　Opechancanough　grows　old；〃　he　said。　〃The　years　that　once　were　as　light　upon　him　as　the　dew　upon　the　maize　are　now　hailstones　to　beat　him　back　to　the　earth　whence　he　came。　His　arm　is　not　swift　to　strike　and　strong　as　it　once　was。　He　is　old；　the　warpath　and　the　scalp　dance　please　him　no　longer。　He　would　die　at　peace　with　all　men。　Tell　the　English　this；　tell　them　also　that　Opechancanough　knows　that　they　are　good　and　just；　that　they　do　not　treat　men　whose　color　is　not　their　own　like　babes；　fooling　them　with　toys；　thrusting　them　out　of　their　path　when　they　grow　troublesome。　The　land　is　wide　and　the　hunting　grounds　are　many。　Let　the　red　men　who　were　here　as　many　moons　ago　as　there　are　leaves　in　summer　and　the　white　men　who　came　yesterday　dwell　side　by　side　in　peace；　sharing　the　maize　fields　and　the　weirs　and　the　hunting　grounds　together。〃　He　waited　not　for　my　answer；　but　passed　on；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　age　in　his　stately　figure　and　his　slow；　firm　step。　I　watched　him　with　a　frown　until　the　darkness　of　his　lodge　had　swallowed　up　him　and　his　warriors；　and　mistrusted　him　for　a　cold　and　subtle　devil。

Suddenly；　as　we　sat　staring　at　the　fire　we　were　beset　by　a　band　of　maidens；　coming　out　of　the　woods；　painted；　with　antlers　upon　their　heads　and　pine　branches　in　their　hands。　They　danced　about　us；　now　advancing　until　the　green　needles　met　above　our　heads；　now　retreating　until　there　was　a　space　of　turf　between　us。　Their　slender　limbs　gleamed　in　the　firelight；　they　moved　with　grace；　keeping　time　to　a　plaintive　song；　now　raised　by　the　whole　choir；　now　fallen　　to　a　single　voice。　Pocahontas　had　danced　thus　before　the　English　many　a　time。　I　thought　of　the　little　maid；　of　her　great　wondering　eyes　and　her　piteous；　untimely　death；　of　how　loving　she　was　to　Rolfe　and　how　happy　they　had　been　in　their　brief　wedded　life。　It　had　bloomed　like　a　rose；　as　fair　and　as　early　fallen；　with　only　a　memory　of　past　sweetness。　Death　was　a　coward；　passing　by　men　whose　trade　it　was　to　out…brave　him；　and　striking　at　the　young　and　lovely　and　innocent。　。　。　。

We　were　tired　with　all　the　mummery　of　the　day；　moreover；　every　fibre　of　our　souls　had　been　strained　to　meet　the　hours　that　had　passed　since　we　left　the　gaol　at　Jamestown。　The　elation　we　had　felt　earlier　in　the　day　was　all　gone。　Now；　the　plaintive　song；　the　swaying　figures；　the　red　light　beating　against　the　trees；　the　blackness　of　the　enshrouding　forest；　the　low；　melancholy　wind；　…　all　things　seemed　strange；　and　yet　deadly　old；　as　though　we　had　seen　and　heard　them　since　the　beginning　of　the　world。　All　at　once　a　fear　fell　upon　me；　causeless　and　unreasonable；　but　weighing　upon　my　heart　like　a　stone。　She　was　in　a　palisaded　town；　under　the　Governor's　protection；　with　my　friends　about　her　and　my　enemy　lying　sick；　unable　to　harm　her。　It　was　I；　not　she；　that　was　in　danger。　I　laughed　at　myself；　but　my　heart　was　heavy；　and　I　was　in　a　fever　to　be　gone。

The　Indian　girls　danced　more　and　more　swiftly；　and　their　song　changed；　becoming　gay　and　shrill　and　sweet。　Higher　and　higher　rang　the　notes；　faster　and　faster　moved　the　dark　limbs；　then；　quite　suddenly；　song　and　motion　ceased　together。　They　who　had　danced　with　the　abandonment　of　wild　priestesses　to　some　wild　god　were　again　but　sh