to have and to hold-第47章

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I　thrust　the　pearls　within　my　doublet；　and　slipped　the　bracelet　upon　my　wrist。　〃Thanks；　Opechancanough；〃　I　said　briefly。　〃When　we　meet　again　I　shall　not　greet　you　with　empty　thanks。〃

By　this　all　the　folk　of　the　village　had　gathered　around　us；　and　now　the　drums　beat　again；　and　the　maidens　raised　a　wild　and　plaintive　song　of　farewell。　At　a　sign　from　the　werowance　men　and　women　formed　a　rude　procession；　and　followed　us；　who　were　to　go　upon　a　journey；　to　the　edge　of　the　village　where　the　marsh　began。　Only　the　dark　Emperor　and　the　old　men　stayed　behind；　sitting　and　standing　in　the　sunshine；　with　the　peace　pipe　lying　on　the　grass　at　their　feet；　and　the　wind　moving　the　branches　overhead。　I　looked　back　and　saw　them　thus；　and　wondered　idly　how　many　minutes　they　would　wait　before　putting　on　the　black　paint。　Of　Nantauquas　we　had　seen　nothing。　Either　he　had　gone　to　the　forest；　or　upon　some　pretense　he　kept　within　his　lodge。

We　bade　farewell　to　the　noisy　throng　who　had　brought　us　upon　our　way；　and　went　down　to　the　river；　where　we　found　a　canoe　and　rowers；　crossed　the　stream；　and；　bidding　the　rowers　good…by；　entered　the　forest。　It　was　Wednesday　morning；　and　the　sun　was　two　hours　high。　Three　suns；　Nantauquas　had　said：　on　Friday；　then；　the　blow　would　fall。　Three　　days！　Once　at　Jamestown；　it　would　take　three　days　to　warn　each　lonely　scattered　settlement；　to　put　the　colony　into　any　posture　of　defense。　What　of　the　leagues　of　danger…haunted　forest　to　be　traversed　before　even　a　single　soul　of　the　three　thousand　could　be　warned？

As　for　the　three　Indians；　…　who　had　their　orders　to　go　slowly；　who　at　any　suspicious　haste　or　question　or　anxiety　on　our　part　were　to　kill　us　whom　they　deemed　unarmed；　…　when　they　left　their　village　that　morning；　they　left　it　forever。　There　were　times　when　Diccon　and　I　had　no　need　of　speech；　but　knew　each　other's　mind　without；　so　now；　though　no　word　had　been　spoken；　we　were　agreed　to　set　upon　and　slay　our　guides　the　first　occasion　that　offered。



CHAPTER　XXXIV　　IN　WHICH　THE　RACE　IS　NOT　TO　THE　SWIFT


THE　three　Indians　of　whom　we　must　rid　ourselves　were　approved　warriors；　fierce　as　wolves；　cunning　as　foxes；　keen…eyed　as　hawks。　They　had　no　reason　to　doubt　us；　to　dream　that　we　would　turn　upon　them；　but　from　habit　they　watched　us；　with　tomahawk　and　knife　resting　lightly　in　their　belts。

As　for　us；　we　walked　slowly；　smiled　freely；　and　spoke　frankly。　The　sunshine　streaming　down　in　the　spaces　where　the　trees　fell　away　was　not　brighter　than　our　mood。　Had　we　not　smoked　the　peace　pipe？　Were　we　not　on　our　way　home？　Diccon；　walking　behind　me；　fell　into　a　low…voiced　conversation　with　the　savage　who　strode　beside　him。　It　related　to　the　barter　for　a　dozen　otterskins　of　a　gun　which　he　had　at　Jamestown。　The　savage　was　to　bring　the　skins　to　Paspahegh　at　his　earliest　convenience；　and　Diccon　would　meet　him　there　and　give　him　the　gun；　provided　the　pelts　were　to　his　liking。　As　they　talked；　each；　in　his　mind's　eye；　saw　the　other　dead　before　him。　The　one　meant　to　possess　a　gun；　indeed；　but　he　thought　to　take　it　himself　from　the　munition　house　at　Jamestown；　the　other　knew　that　the　otter　which　died　not　until　this　Indian's　arrow　quivered　in　its　side　would　live　until　doomsday。　Yet　they　discussed　the　matter　gravely；　hedging　themselves　about　with　provisos；　and；　the　bargain　clinched；　walked　on　side　by　side　in　the　silence　of　a　perfect　and　all…comprehending　amity。

The　sun　rode　higher　and　higher；　gilding　the　misty　green　of　the　budding　trees；　quickening　the　red　maple　bloom　into　fierce　scarlet；　throwing　lances　of　light　down　through　the　pine　branches　to　splinter　against　the　dark　earth　far　below。　For　an　hour　it　shone；　then　clouds　gathered　and　shut　it　from　sight。　The　forest　darkened；　and　the　wind　arose　with　a　shriek。　The　young　trees　cowered　before　the　blast；　the　strong　and　vigorous　beat　their　branches　together　with　a　groaning　sound；　the　old　and　worn　fell　crashing　to　the　earth。　Presently　the　rain　rushed　down；　slant　lines　of　silver　tearing　through　the　wood　with　the　sound　of　the　feet　of　an　army；　hail　followed；　a　torrent　of　ice　beating　and　bruising　all　tender　green　things　to　the　earth。　The　wind　took　the　multitudinous　sounds；　…　the　cries　of　frightened　birds；　the　creaking　trees；　the　snap　of　breaking　boughs；　the　crash　of　falling　giants；　the　rush　of　the　rain；　the　drumming　of　the　hail；　…　enwound　them　with　itself；　and　made　the　forest　like　a　great　shell　held　close　to　the　ear。

There　was　no　house　to　flee　to；　so　long　as　we　could　face　the　hail　we　staggered　on；　heads　down；　buffeting　the　wind；　but　at　last；　the　fury　of　the　storm　increasing；　we　were　fain　to　throw　ourselves　upon　the　earth；　in　a　little　brake；　where　an　overhanging　bank　somewhat　broke　the　wind。　A　mighty　oak；　swaying　and　groaning　above　us；　might　fall　and　crush　us　like　eggshells；　but　if　we　went　on；　the　like　fate　might　meet　us　in　the　way。　Broken　and　withered　limbs；　driven　by　the　wind；　went　past　us　like　crooked　shadows；　it　grew　darker　and　darker；　and　the　air　was　deadly　cold。

The　three　Indians　pressed　their　faces　against　the　ground；　they　dreamed　not　of　harm　from　us；　but　Okee　was　in　the　merciless　hail　and　the　first　thunder　of　the　　year；　now　pealing　through　the　wood。　Suddenly　Diccon　raised　himself　upon　his　elbow；　and　looked　across　at　me。　Our　eyes　had　no　sooner　met　than　his　hand　was　at　his　bosom。　The　savage　nearest　him；　feeling　the　movement；　as　it　were；　lifted　his　head　from　the　earth；　of　which　it　was　so　soon　to　become　a　part；　but　if　he　saw　the　knife；　he　saw　it　too　late。　The　blade；　driven　down　with　all　the　strength　of　a　desperate　man；　struck　home；　when　it　was　drawn　from　its　sheath　of　flesh；　there　remained　to　us　but　a　foe　apiece。

In　the　instant　of　its　descent　I　had　thrown　myself　upon　the　Indian　nearest　me。　It　was　not　a　time　for　overniceness。　If　I　could　have　done　so；　I　would　have　struck　him　in　the　back　while　he　thought　no　harm；　as　it　was；　some　subtle　instinct　warning　him；　he　whirled　himself　over　in　time　to　strike　up　my　hand　and　to　clench　with　me。　He　was　very　strong；　and　his　naked　body；　wet　with　rain；　slipped　like　a　snake　from　my　hold。　Over　and　over　we　rolled　on　the　rain…soaked　moss　and　rotted　leaves　and　cold　black　earth；　the　hail　blinding　us；　and　the　wind　shrieking　like　a　thousand　watching　demons。　He　strove　to　reach　the　knife　within　his　belt；　I；　to　prevent　him；　and　to　strike　deep　with　the　knife　I　yet　held。

At　last　I　did　so。　Blood　gushed　over　my　hand　and　wrist；　the　clutch　upon　my　arm　relaxed；　the　head　fell　back。　The　dying　eyes　glared　into　mine；　then　the　lids　shut　forever　upon　that　unquenchable　hatred。　I　staggered　to　my　feet　and　turned；　to　find　that　Diccon　had　given　account　of　the　third　Indian。

We　stood　up　in　the　hail　and　the　wind；　and　looked　at　the　dead　men　at　our　feet。　Then；　without　speaking；　we　went　our　way　through　the　tossing　forest；　with　the　hailstones　coming　thick　against　us；　and　the　wind　a　　strong　hand　to　push　us　back。　When　we　came　to　a　little　trickling　spring；　we　knelt　and　washed　our　hands。

The　hail　ceased；　but　the　rain　fell　and　the　wind　blew　throughout　the　morning。　We　made　what　speed　we　could　over　the　boggy　earth　against　the　storm；　but　we　knew　that　we　were　measuring　miles　where　we　should　have　measured　leagues。　There　was　no　breath　to　waste　in　words；　and　thought　was　a　burden　quite　intolerable；　it　was　enough　to　stumble　on　through　the　partial　light；　with　a　mind　as　gray　and　blank　as　the　rain…blurred　distance。

At　noon　the　clouds　broke；　and　an　hour　later　the　sunshine　was　streaming　down　from　a　cloudless　heaven；　beneath　which　the　forest　lay　clear　before　us；　naught　stirring　save　shy　sylvan　creatures　to　whom　it　mattered　not　if　red　man　or　white　held　the　land。

Side　by　side　Diccon　and　I　hurried　on；　not　speaking；　keeping　eye　and　ear　open；　proposing　with　all　our　will　to　reach　the　goal　we　had　set；　and　to　reach　it　in　time；　let　what　might　oppose。　It　was　but　another　forced　march；　many　had　we　made　in　our　time；　through　dangers　manifold；　and　had　lived　to　tell　the　tale。

There　was　no　leisure　in　which　to　play　the　Indian　and　cover　up　our　footprints　as　we　made　them；　but　when　we　came　to　a　brook　we　stepped　into　the　cold；　swift…flowing　water；　and　kept　it　company　for　a　while。　The　brook　flowed　between　willows；　thickly　set；　already　green；　and　overarching　a　yard　or　more　of　water。　Presently　it　bent　sharply；　and　we　turned　with　it。　Ten　yards　in　front　of　us　the　growth　of　willows　ceased　abruptly；　the　low；　steep　banks　shelved　downwards　to　a　grassy　level；　and　the　stream　widened　into　a　clear　and　placid　pool；　as　blue　as　the　sky　above。　Crouched　upon　the　grass　or　standing　in　the　shallow　water　were　　some　fifteen　or　twenty　deer。　We　had　come　upon　them　without　noise；　the　wind　blew　from　them　to　us；　and　the　willows　hid　us　from　their　sight。　There　was　no　alarm；　and　we　stood　a　moment　watching　them　before　we　should　throw　a　stone　or　branch　into　their　midst　and　scare　them　from　our　path。

Suddenly；　as　we　looked；　the　leader　threw　up　his　head；　made　a　spring；　and　was　off　like　a　dart；　across　the　stream　and　into　the　depths　of　the　forest　beyond。　The　herd　followed。　A　moment；　and　there　were　only　the　trodden　grass　and　the　troubled　waters；　no　other　sign　that　aught　living　had　passed　that　way。

〃Now　what　was　that　for？〃　muttered　Diccon。　〃I'm　thinking　we　had　best　not　take　to　the　open　just　yet。〃

For　answer　I　parted　the　willows；　and　forced　myself　into　the　covert；　pressing　as　closely　as　possible　against　the　bank；　and　motioning　him　to　do　the　same。　He　obeyed；　and　the　thick…clustering　gold…green　twigs　swung　into　place　again；　shutting　us　in　with　the　black　water　and　the　leafy；　crumbling　bank。　From　that　green　dimness　we　could　look　out　upon　the　pool　and　the　grass；　with　small　fear　that　we　ourselves　would　be　seen。

Out　of　the　shadow　of　the　trees　into　the　grassy　space　stepped　an　Indian；　a　second　followed；　a　third；　a　fourth；　…　one　by　one　they　came　from　the　gloom　into　the　sunlight；　until　we　had　counted　a　score　or　more。　They　made　no　pause；　a　glance　telling　them　to　what　were　due　the　trampled　grass　and　the　muddied　water。　As　they　crossed　the　stream　one　stooped　and　drank　from　his　hand；　but　they　said　no　word　and　made　no　noise。　All　were　painted　black；　a　few　had　face　and　chest　striped　with　yellow。　Their　headdresses　were　tall　and　wonderful；　their　leggings　and　moccasins　fringed　with　　scalp　locks；　their　hatchets　glinted　in　the　sunshine；　and　their　quivers　were　stuck　full　of　arrows。　One　by　one　they　glided　from　the　stream　into　the　thick　woods　beyond。　We　waited　until　we　knew　that　they　were　were　deep　in　the　forest；　then　crept　from　the　willows　and　went　our　way。

〃They　were　Youghtenunds；〃　I　said；　in　the　low　tones　we　used　when　we　spoke　at　all；　〃and　they　went　to　the　southward。〃

〃We　may　thank　our　stars　that　they　missed　our　trail；〃　Diccon　answered。

We　spoke　no　more；　but；　leaving　the　stream；　struck　again　toward　the　south。　The　day　wore　on；　and　still　we　went　without　pause。　Sun　and　shade　and　keen　wind；　long　stretches　of　pine　and　open　glades　where　we　quickened　our　pace　to　a　run；　dense　woods；　snares　of　leafless　vines；　swamp　and　thicket　through　which　we　toiled　so　slowly　that　the　heart　bled　at　the　delay；　streams　and　fallen　trees；　…　on　and　on　we　hurried；　until　the　sun　sank　and　the　dusk　came　creeping　in　upon　us。

〃We've　dined　with　Duke　Humphrey　to…day；〃　said　Diccon　at　last；　〃but　if　we　can　keep　this　pace；　and　don't　meet　any　more　war　parties；　or　fall　foul　of　an　Indian　village；　or　have　to　figh