to have and to hold-第45章

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her。　They　who　had　danced　with　the　abandonment　of　wild　priestesses　to　some　wild　god　were　again　but　shy　brown　Indian　maids　　who　went　and　set　them　meekly　down　upon　the　grass　beneath　the　trees。　From　the　darkness　now　came　a　burst　of　savage　cries　only　less　appalling　than　the　war　whoop　itself。　In　a　moment　the　men　of　the　village　had　rushed　from　the　shadow　of　the　trees　into　the　broad；　firelit　space　before　us。　Now　they　circled　around　us；　now　around　the　fire；　now　each　man　danced　and　stamped　and　muttered　to　himself。　For　the　most　part　they　were　painted　red；　but　some　were　white　from　head　to　heel；　…　statues　come　to　life；　…　while　others　had　first　oiled　their　bodies；　then　plastered　them　over　with　small　bright…colored　feathers。　The　tall　headdresses　made　giants　of　them　all；　as　they　leaped　and　danced　in　the　glare　of　the　fire　they　had　a　fiendish　look。　They　sang；　too；　but　the　air　was　rude；　and　broken　by　dreadful　cries。　Out　of　a　hut　behind　us　burst　two　or　three　priests；　the　conjurer；　and　a　score　or　more　of　old　men。　They　had　Indian　drums　upon　which　they　beat　furiously；　and　long　pipes　made　of　reeds　which　gave　forth　no　uncertain　sound。　Fixed　upon　a　pole　and　borne　high　above　them　was　the　image　of　their　Okee；　a　hideous　thing　of　stuffed　skins　and　rattling　chains　of　copper。　When　they　had　joined　themselves　to　the　throng　in　the　firelight　the　clamor　became　deafening。　Some　one　piled　on　more　logs；　and　the　place　grew　light　as　day。　Opechancanough　was　not　there；　nor　Nantauquas。

Diccon　and　I　watched　that　uncouth　spectacle；　that　Virginian　masque；　as　we　had　watched　many　another　one；　with　disgust　and　weariness。　It　would　last；　we　knew；　for　the　better　part　of　the　night。　It　was　in　our　honor；　and　for　a　while　we　must　stay　and　testify　our　pleasure；　but　after　a　time；　when　they　had　sung　and　danced　themselves　into　oblivion　of　our　presence；　we　　might　retire；　and　leave　the　very　old　men；　the　women；　and　the　children　sole　spectators。　We　waited　for　that　relief　with　impatience；　though　we　showed　it　not　to　those　who　pressed　about　us。

Time　passed；　and　the　noise　deepened　and　the　dancing　became　more　frantic。　The　dancers　struck　at　one　another　as　they　leaped　and　whirled；　the　sweat　rolled　from　their　bodies；　and　from　their　lips　came　hoarse；　animal…like　cries。　The　fire；　ever　freshly　fed；　roared　and　crackled；　mocking　the　silent　stars。　The　pines　were　bronze…red；　the　woods　beyond　a　dead　black。　All　noises　of　marsh　and　forest　were　lost　in　the　scream　of　the　pipes；　the　wild　yelling；　and　the　beating　of　the　drums。

From　the　ranks　of　the　women　beneath　the　reddened　pines　rose　shrill　laughter　and　applause　as　they　sat　or　knelt；　bent　forward；　watching　the　dancers。　One　girl　alone　watched　not　them；　but　us。　She　stood　somewhat　back　of　her　companions；　one　slim　brown　hand　touching　the　trunk　of　a　tree；　one　brown　foot　advanced；　her　attitude　that　of　one　who　waits　but　for　a　signal　to　be　gone。　Now　and　then　she　glanced　impatiently　at　the　wheeling　figures；　or　at　the　old　men　and　the　few　warriors　who　took　no　part　in　the　masque；　but　her　eyes　always　came　back　to　us。　She　had　been　among　the　maidens　who　danced　before　us　earlier　in　the　night；　when　they　rested　beneath　the　trees　she　had　gone　away；　and　the　night　was　much　older　when　I　marked　her　again；　coming　out　of　the　firelit　distance　back　to　the　fire　and　her　dusky　mates。　It　was　soon　after　this　that　I　became　aware　that　she　must　have　some　reason　for　her　anxious　scrutiny；　some　message　to　deliver　or　warning　to　give。　Once　when　I　made　a　slight　motion　as　if　to　go　to　her；　she　shook　her　head　and　laid　her　finger　upon　her　lips。

A　dancer　fell　from　sheer　exhaustion；　another　and　another；　and　warriors　from　the　dozen　or　more　seated　at　our　right　began　to　take　the　places　of　the　fallen。　The　priests　shook　their　rattles；　and　made　themselves　dizzy　with　bending　and　whirling　about　their　Okee；　the　old　men；　too；　though　they　sat　like　statues；　thought　only　of　the　dance；　and　of　how　they　themselves　had　excelled；　long　ago　when　they　were　young。

I　rose；　and　making　my　way　to　the　werowance　of　the　village　where　he　sat　with　his　eyes　fixed　upon　a　young　Indian；　his　son；　who　bade　fair　to　outlast　all　others　in　that　wild　contest；　told　him　that　I　was　wearied　and　would　go　to　my　hut；　I　and　my　servant；　to　rest　for　the　few　hours　that　yet　remained　of　the　night。　He　listened　dreamily；　his　eyes　upon　the　dancing　Indian；　but　made　offer　to　escort　me　thither。　I　pointed　out　to　him　that　my　quarters　were　not　fifty　yards　away；　in　the　broad　firelight；　in　sight　of　them　all；　and　that　it　were　a　pity　to　take　him　or　any　others　from　the　contemplation　of　that　whirling　Indian；　so　strong　and　so　brave　that　he　would　surely　one　day　lead　the　war　parties。

After　a　moment　he　acquiesced；　and　Diccon　and　I；　quietly　and　yet　with　some　ostentation；　so　as　to　avoid　all　appearance　of　stealing　away；　left　the　press　of　savages　and　began　to　cross　the　firelit　turf　between　them　and　our　lodge。　When　we　had　gone　fifty　paces　I　glanced　over　my　shoulder　and　saw　that　the　Indian　maid　no　longer　stood　where　we　had　last　seen　her；　beneath　the　pines。　A　little　farther　on　we　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　winding　in　and　out　among　a　row　of　trees　to　our　left。　The　trees　ran　past　our　lodge。　When　we　had　reached　its　entrance　we　paused　and　looked　back　to　the　throng　we　had　left。　Every　back　seemed　turned　to　us；　every　eye　intent　upon　the　leaping　figures　　around　the　great　fire。　Swiftly　and　quietly　we　walked　across　the　bit　of　even　ground　to　the　friendly　trees；　and　found　ourselves　in　a　thin　strip　of　shadow　between　the　light　of　the　great　fire　we　had　left　and　that　of　a　lesser　one　burning　redly　before　the　Emperor's　lodge。　Beneath　the　trees；　waiting　for　us；　was　the　Indian　maid；　with　her　light　form；　and　large；　shy　eyes；　and　finger　upon　her　lips。　She　would　not　speak　or　tarry；　but　flitted　before　us　as　dusk　and　noiseless　as　a　moth；　and　we　followed　her　into　the　darkness　beyond　the　firelight；　well…nigh　to　the　line　of　sentinels。　A　wigwam；　larger　than　common　and　shadowed　by　trees；　rose　in　our　path；　the　girl；　gliding　in　front　of　us；　held　aside　the　mats　that　curtained　the　entrance。　We　hesitated　a　moment；　then　stooped　and　entered　the　place。



CHAPTER　XXXIII　　IN　WHICH　MY　FRIEND　BECOMES　MY　FOE


IN　the　centre　of　the　wigwam　the　customary　fire　burned　clear　and　bright；　showing　the　white　mats；　the　dressed　skins；　the　implements　of　war　hanging　upon　the　bark　walls；　…　all　the　usual　furniture　of　an　Indian　dwelling；　…　and　showing　also　Nantauquas　standing　against　the　stripped　trunk　of　a　pine　that　pierced　the　wigwam　from　floor　to　roof。　The　fire　was　between　us。　He　stood　so　rigid；　at　his　full　height；　with　folded　arms　and　head　held　high；　and　his　features　were　so　blank　and　still；　so　forced　and　frozen；　as　it　were；　into　composure；　that；　with　the　red　light　beating　upon　him　and　the　thin　smoke　curling　above　his　head；　he　had　the　look　of　a　warrior　tied　to　the　stake。

〃Nantauquas！〃　I　exclaimed；　and　striding　past　the　fire　would　have　touched　him　but　that　with　a　slight　and　authoritative　motion　of　the　hand　he　kept　me　back。　Otherwise　there　was　no　change　in　his　position　or　in　the　dead　calm　of　his　face。

The　Indian　maid　had　dropped　the　mat　at　the　entrance；　and　if　she　waited；　waited　without　in　the　darkness。　Diccon；　now　staring　at　the　young　chief；　now　eyeing　the　weapons　upon　the　wall　with　all　a　lover's　passion；　kept　near　the　doorway。　Through　the　thickness　of　the　bark　and　woven　twigs　the　wild　cries　and　singing　came　to　us　somewhat　faintly；　beneath　that　distant　noise　could　be　heard　the　wind　in　the　trees　and　the　soft　fall　of　the　burning　pine。

〃Well！〃　I　asked　at　last。　〃What　is　the　matter；　my　friend？〃

For　a　full　minute　he　made　no　answer；　and　when　he　did　speak　his　voice　matched　his　face。

〃My　friend；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　going　to　show　myself　a　friend　indeed　to　the　English；　to　the　strangers　who　were　not　content　with　their　own　hunting　grounds　beyond　the　great　salt　water。　When　I　have　done　this；　I　do　not　know　that　Captain　Percy　will　call　me　'friend'　again。〃

〃You　were　wont　to　speak　plainly；　Nantauquas；〃　I　answered　him。　〃I　am　not　fond　of　riddles。〃

Again　he　waited；　as　though　he　found　speech　difficult。　I　stared　at　him　in　amazement；　he　was　so　changed　in　so　short　a　time。

He　spoke　at　last：　〃When　the　dance　is　over；　and　the　fires　are　low；　and　the　sunrise　is　at　hand；　then　will　Opechancanough　come　to　you　to　bid　you　farewell。　He　will　give　you　the　pearls　that　he　wears　about　his　neck　for　a　present　to　the　Governor；　and　a　bracelet　for　yourself。　Also　he　will　give　you　three　men　for　a　guard　through　the　forest。　He　has　messages　of　love　to　send　the　white　men；　and　he　would　send　them　by　you　who　were　his　enemy　and　his　captive。　So　all　the　white　men　shall　believe　in　his　love。〃

〃Well；〃　I　said　dryly　as　he　paused。　〃I　will　take　his　messages。　What　next？〃

〃Those　are　the　words　of　Opechancanough。　Now　listen　to　the　words　of　Nantauquas；　the　son　of　Wahunsonacock；　a　war　chief　of　the　Powhatans。　There　are　two　sharp　knives　there；　hanging　beneath　the　bow　and　the　quiver　and　the　shield。　Take　them　and　hide　them。〃

The　words　were　scarcely　out　of　his　mouth　before　　Diccon　had　the　two　keen　English　blades。　I　took　the　one　he　offered　me；　and　hid　it　in　my　doublet。

〃So　we　go　armed；　Nantauquas；〃　I　said。　〃Love　and　peace　and　goodwill　consort　not　with　such　toys。〃

〃You　may　want　them；〃　he　went　on；　with　no　change　in　his　low；　measured　tones。　〃If　you　see　aught　in　the　forest　that　you　should　not　see；　if　they　think　you　know　more　than　you　are　meant　to　know；　then　those　three；　who　have　knives　and　tomahawks；　are　to　kill　you；　whom　they　believe　unarmed。〃

〃See　aught　that　we　should　not　see；　know　more　than　we　are　meant　to　know？〃　I　said。　〃To　the　point；　friend。〃

〃They　will　go　slowly；　too；　through　the　forest　to　Jamestown；　stopping　to　eat　and　to　sleep。　For　them　there　is　no　need　to　run　like　the　stag　with　the　hunter　behind　him。〃

〃Then　we　should　make　for　Jamestown　as　for　life；〃　I　said；　〃not　sleeping　or　eating　or　making　pause？〃

〃Yea；〃　he　replied；　〃if　you　would　not　die；　you　and　all　your　people。〃

In　the　silence　of　the　hut　the　fire　crackled；　and　the　branches　of　the　trees　outside；　bent　by　the　wind；　made　a　grating　sound　against　the　bark　roof。

〃How　die？〃　I　asked　at　last。　〃Speak　out！〃

〃Die　by　the　arrow　and　the　tomahawk；〃　he　answered；　…　〃yea；　and　by　the　guns　you　have　given　the　red　men。　To…morrow's　sun；　and　the　next；　and　the　next；　…　three　suns；　…　and　the　tribes　will　fall　upon　the　English。　At　the　same　hour；　when　the　men　are　in　the　fields　and　the　women　and　children　are　in　the　houses；　they　will　strike；　…　Kecoughtans；　Paspaheghs；　Chickahominies；　Pamunkeys；　Arrowhatocks；　Chesapeakes；　Nansemonds；　Accomacs；　…　as　one　man　will　　they　strike；　and　from　where　the　Powhatan　falls　over　the　rocks　to　the　salt　water　beyond　Accomac；　there　will　not　be　one　white　man　left　alive。〃

He　ceased　to　speak；　and　for　a　minute　the　fire　made　the　only　sound　in　the　hut。　Then；　〃All　die？〃　I　asked　dully。　〃There　are　three　thousand　Englishmen　in　Virginia。〃

〃They　are　scattered　and　unwarned。　The　fighting　men　of　the　villages　of　the　Powhatan　and　the　Pamunkey　and　the　great　bay　are　many；　and　they　have　sharpened　their　hatchets　and　filled　their　quivers　with　arrows。〃

〃Scattered；〃　I　said；　〃　strewn　broadcast　up　and　down　the　river；　…　here　a　lonely　house；　there　a　cluster　of　two　or　three；　they　at　Jamestown　and　Henricus　off　guard；　…　the　men　in　the　fields　or　at　the　wharves；　the　women　and　the　children　busy　within　doors；　all　unwarned　…　O　my　God！〃