to have and to hold-第50章

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see　them　again。〃

With　an　effort　I　drew　myself　erect；　and　standing　so　told　my　tidings；　quietly　and　with　circumstance；　so　as　to　leave　no　room　for　doubt　as　to　their　verity；　or　as　to　the　sanity　of　him　who　brought　them。　They　listened；　as　the　warder　had　listened；　with　shaking　limbs　and　gasping　breath；　for　this　was　the　fall　and　wiping　out　of　a　people　of　which　I　brought　warning。

When　all　was　told；　and　they　stood　there　before　me；　white　and　shaken；　seeking　in　their　minds　the　thing　to　say　or　do　first；　I　thought　to　ask　a　question　myself；　but　before　my　tongue　could　frame　it；　the　roaring　of　the　sea　became　so　loud　that　I　could　hear　naught　else；　and　the　lights　all　ran　together　into　a　wheel　of　fire。　Then　in　a　moment　all　sounds　ceased；　and　to　the　lights　succeeded　the　blackness　of　outer　darkness。



CHAPTER　XXXVI　　IN　WHICH　I　HEAR　ILL　NEWS


WHEN　I　awoke　from　the　sleep　or　stupor　into　which　I　must　have　passed　from　that　swoon；　it　was　to　find　myself　lying　upon　a　bed　in　a　room　flooded　with　sunshine。　I　was　alone。　For　a　moment　I　lay　still；　staring　at　the　blue　sky　without　the　window；　and　wondering　where　I　was　and　how　I　came　there。　A　drum　beat；　a　dog　barked；　and　a　man's　quick　voice　gave　a　command。　The　sounds　stung　me　into　remembrance；　and　I　was　at　the　window　while　the　voice　was　yet　speaking。

It　was　West　in　the　street　below；　pointing　with　his　sword　now　to　the　fort；　now　to　the　palisade；　and　giving　directions　to　the　armed　men　about　him。　There　were　many　people　in　the　street。　Women　hurried　by　to　the　fort　with　white；　scared　faces；　their　arms　filled　with　household　gear；　children　ran　beside　them；　sturdily　bearing　their　share　of　the　goods；　but　pressing　close　to　their　elders'　skirts；　men　went　to　and　fro；　the　most　grimly　silent；　but　a　few　talking　loudly。　Not　all　of　the　faces　in　the　crowd　belonged　to　the　town：　there　were　Kingsmell　and　his　wife　from　the　main；　and　John　Ellison　from　Archer's　Hope；　and　the　Italians　Vincencio　and　Bernardo　from　the　Glass　House。　The　nearer　plantations；　then；　had　been　warned；　and　their　people　had　come　for　refuge　to　the　city。　A　negro　passed；　but　on　that　morning；　alone　of　many　days；　no　Indian　aired　his　paint　and　feathers　in　the　white　man's　village。

I　could　not　see　the　palisade　across　the　neck；　but　I　knew　that　it　was　there　that　the　fight　…　if　fight　there　were　…　would　be　made。　Should　the　Indians　take　the　palisade；　there　would　yet　be　the　houses　of　the　town；　and；　last　of　all；　the　fort　in　which　to　make　a　stand。　I　believed　not　that　they　would　take　it。　Long　since　we　had　found　out　their　method　of　warfare。　They　used　ambuscade；　surprise；　and　massacre；　when　withstood　in　force　and　with　determination　they　withdrew　to　their　stronghold　the　forest；　there　to　bide　their　time　until；　in　the　blackness　of　some　night；　they　could　again　swoop　down　upon　a　sleeping　foe。

The　drum　beat　again；　and　a　messenger　from　the　palisade　came　down　the　street　at　a　run。　〃They're　in　the　woods　over　against　us；　thicker　than　ants！〃　he　cried　to　West　as　he　passed。　〃A　boat　has　just　drifted　ashore　yonder；　with　two　men　in　it；　dead　and　scalped！〃

I　turned　to　leave　the　room；　and　ran　against　Master　Pory　coming　in　on　tiptoe；　with　a　red　and　solemn　face。　He　started　when　he　saw　me。

〃The　roll　of　the　drum　brought　you　to　your　feet；　then！〃　he　cried。　〃You've　lain　like　the　dead　all　night。　I　came　but　to　see　if　you　were　breathing。〃

〃When　I　have　eaten；　I　shall　be　myself　again；〃　I　said。　〃There's　no　attack　as　yet？〃

〃No；〃　he　answered。　〃They　must　know　that　we　are　prepared。　But　they　have　kindled　fires　along　the　river　bank；　and　we　can　hear　them　yelling。　Whether　they'll　be　mad　enough　to　come　against　us　remains　to　be　seen。〃

〃The　nearest　settlements　have　been　warned？〃

〃Ay。　The　Governor　offered　a　thousand　pounds　of　tobacco　and　the　perpetual　esteem　of　the　Company　to　the　man　or　men　who　would　carry　the　news。　Six　　　volunteered；　and　went　off　in　boats；　three　up　river；　three　down。　How　many　they　reached；　or　if　they　still　have　their　scalps；　we　know　not。　And　awhile　ago；　just　before　daybreak；　comes　with　frantic　haste　Richard　Pace；　who　had　rowed　up　from　Pace's　Pains　to　tell　the　news　which　you　had　already　brought。　Chanco　the　Christian　had　betrayed　the　plot　to　him；　and　he　managed　to　give　warning　at　Powel's　and　one　or　two　other　places　as　he　came　up　the　river。〃

He　broke　off；　but　when　I　would　have　spoken　interrupted　me　with：　〃And　so　you　were　on　the　Pamunkey　all　this　while！　Then　the　Paspaheghs　fooled　us　with　the　simple　truth；　for　they　swore　so　stoutly　that　their　absent　chief　men　were　but　gone　on　a　hunt　toward　the　Pamunkey　that　we　had　no　choice　but　to　believe　them　gone　in　quite　another　direction。　And　one　and　all　of　every　tribe　we　questioned　swore　that　Opechancanough　was　at　Orapax。　So　Master　Rolfe　puts　off　up　river　to　find；　if　not　you；　then　the　Emperor；　and　make　him　give　up　your　murderers；　and　the　Governor　sends　a　party　along　the　bay；　and　West　another　up　the　Chickahominy。　And　there　you　were；　all　the　time；　mewed　up　in　the　village　above　the　marshes！　And　Nantauquas；　after　saving　our　lives　like　one　of　us；　is　turned　Indian　again！　And　your　man　is　killed！　Alackaday！　there's　naught　but　trouble　in　the　world。　'As　the　sparks　fly　upwards；'　you　know。　But　a　brave　man　draws　his　breath　and　sets　his　teeth。〃

In　his　manner；　his　rapid　talk；　his　uneasy　glances　toward　the　door；　I　found　something　forced　and　strange。　〃I　thought　Rolfe　was　behind　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　he　must　have　been　delayed。　There　are　meat　and　drink　set　out　in　the　great　room；　where　the　Governor　and　those　of　the　Council　who　are　safe　here　with　us　are　　advising　together。　Let's　descend；　you've　not　eaten；　and　the　good　sack　will　give　you　strength。　Wilt　come？〃

〃Ay；〃　I　answered；　〃but　tell　me　the　news　as　we　go。　I　have　been　gone　ten　days；　…　faith；　it　seems　ten　years！　There　have　no　ships　sailed；　Master　Pory？　The　George　is　still　here？〃　I　looked　him　full　in　the　eye；　for　a　sudden　guess　at　a　possible　reason　for　his　confusion　had　stabbed　me　like　a　knife。

〃Ay；〃　he　said；　with　a　readiness　that　could　scarce　be　feigned。　〃She　was　to　have　sailed　this　week；　it　is　true；　the　Governor　fearing　to　keep　her　longer。　But　the　Esperance；　coming　in　yesterday；　brought　news　which　removed　his　Honor's　scruples。　Now　she'll　wait　to　see　out　this　hand　at　the　cards；　and　to　take　home　the　names　of　those　who　are　left　alive　in　Virginia。　If　the　red　varlets　do　swarm　in　upon　us；　there　are　her　twelve…pounders；　they　and　the　fort　guns〃　…

I　let　him　talk　on。　The　George　had　not　sailed。　I　saw　again　a　firelit　hut；　and　a　man　and　a　panther　who　went　down　together。　Those　claws　had　dug　deep；　the　man　across　whose　face　they　had　torn　their　way　would　keep　his　room　in　the　guest　house　at　Jamestown　until　his　wounds　were　somewhat　healed。　The　George　would　wait　for　him；　would　scarcely　dare　to　sail　without　him；　and　I　should　find　the　lady　whom　she　was　to　carry　away　to　England　in　Virginia　still。　It　was　this　that　I　had　built　upon；　the　grain　of　comfort；　the　passionate　hope；　the　sustaining　cordial；　of　those　year…long　days　in　the　village　above　the　Pamunkey。

My　heart　was　sore　because　of　Diccon；　but　I　could　speak　of　that　grief　to　her；　and　she　would　grieve　with　me。　There　were　awe　and　dread　and　stern　sorrow　in　the　knowledge　that　even　now　in　the　bright　spring　　morning　blood　from　a　hundred　homes　might　be　flowing　to　meet　the　shining；　careless　river；　but　it　was　the　springtime；　and　she　was　waiting　for　me。　I　strode　on　toward　the　stairway　so　fast　that　when　I　asked　a　question　Master　Pory；　at　my　side；　was　too　out　of　breath　to　answer　it。　Halfway　down　the　stairs　I　asked　it　again；　and　again　received　no　answer　save　a　〃Zooks！　you　go　too　fast　for　my　years　and　having　in　flesh！　Go　more　slowly；　Ralph　Percy；　there's　time　enough；　there's　time　enough！〃

There　was　a　tone　in　his　voice　that　I　liked　not；　for　it　savored　of　pity。　I　looked　at　him　with　knitted　brows；　but　we　were　now　in　the　hall；　and　through　the　open　door　of　the　great　room　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　woman's　skirt。　There　were　men　in　the　hall；　servants　and　messengers；　who　made　way　for　us；　staring　at　me　as　they　did　so；　and　whispering。　I　knew　that　my　clothing　was　torn　and　muddied　and　stained　with　blood；　as　we　paused　at　the　door　there　came　to　me　in　a　flash　that　day　in　the　courting　meadow　when　I　had　tried　with　my　dagger　to　scrape　the　dried　mud　from　my　boots。　I　laughed　at　myself　for　caring　now；　and　for　thinking　that　she　would　care　that　I　was　not　dressed　for　a　lady's　bower。　The　next　moment　we　were　in　the　great　room。

She　was　not　there。　The　silken　skirt　that　I　had　seen；　and　…　there　being　but　one　woman　in　all　the　world　for　me　…　had　taken　for　hers；　belonged　to　Lady　Wyatt；　who；　pale　and　terrified；　was　sitting　with　clasped　hands；　mutely　following　with　her　eyes　her　husband　as　he　walked　to　and　fro。　West　had　come　in　from　the　street　and　was　making　some　report。　Around　the　table　were　gathered　two　or　three　of　the　Council；　Master　Sandys　stood　at　a　window；　Rolfe　beside　Lady　　Wyatt's　chair。　The　room　was　filled　with　sunshine；　and　a　caged　bird　was　singing；　singing。　It　made　the　only　sound　there　when　they　saw　that　I　stood　amongst　them。

When　I　had　made　my　bow　to　Lady　Wyatt　and　to　the　Governor；　and　had　clasped　hands　with　Rolfe；　I　began　to　find　in　the　silence；　as　I　had　found　in　Master　Pory's　loquaciousness；　something　strange。　They　looked　at　me　uneasily；　and　I　caught　a　swift　glance　from　the　Treasurer　to　Master　Pory；　and　an　answering　shake　of　the　latter's　head。　Rolfe　was　very　white　and　his　lips　were　set；　West　was　pulling　at　his　mustaches　and　staring　at　the　floor。

〃With　all　our　hearts　we　welcome　you　back　to　life　and　to　the　service　of　Virginia；　Captain　Percy；〃　said　the　Governor；　when　the　silence　had　become　awkward。

A　murmur　of　assent　went　round　the　room。

I　bowed。　〃I　thank　you；　sir；　and　these　gentlemen　very　heartily。　You　have　but　to　command　me　now。　I　find　that　I　have　to…day　the　best　will　in　the　world　toward　fighting。　I　trust　that　your　Honor　does　not　deem　it　necessary　to　send　me　back　to　gaol？〃

〃Virginia　has　no　gaol　for　Captain　Percy；〃　he　answered　gravely。　〃She　has　only　grateful　thanks　and　fullest　sympathy。〃

I　glanced　at　him　keenly。　〃Then　I　hold　myself　at　your　command；　sir；　when　I　shall　have　seen　and　spoken　with　my　wife。〃

He　looked　at　the　floor；　and　they　one　and　all　held　their　peace。

〃Madam；〃　I　said　to　Lady　Wyatt；　〃I　have　been　watching　your　ladyship's　face。　Will　you　tell　me　why　it　is　so　very　full　of　pity；　and　why　there　are　tears　in　your　eyes？〃

She　shrank　back　in　her　chair　with　a　little　cry；　and　Rolfe　stepped　toward　me；　then　turned　sharply　aside。　〃I　cannot！〃　he　cried；　〃　I　that　know〃　…

I　drew　myself　up　to　meet　the　blow；　whatever　it　might　be。　〃I　demand　of　you　my　wife；　Sir　Francis　Wyatt；〃　I　said。　〃If　there　is　ill　news　to　be　told；　be　so　good　as　to　tell　it　quickly。　If　she　is　sick；　or　hath　been　sent　away　to　England〃　…

The　Governor　made　as　if　to　speak；　then　turned　and　flung　out　his　hands　to　his　wife。　〃　'T　is　woman's　work；　Margaret！〃　he　cried。　〃Tell　him！〃

More　merciful　than　the　men；　she　came　to　me　at　once；　the　tears　running　down　her　cheeks；　and　laid　one　trembling　hand　upon　my　arm。　〃She　was　a　brave　lady；　Captain　Percy；〃　she　said。　〃Bear　it　as　she　would　have　had　you　bear　it。〃

〃I　am　bearing　it；　madam；〃　I　answered　at　length。　〃　'She　was　a　brave　lady。'　May　it　please　your　ladyship　to　go　on？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　all；　Captain　Percy；　I　will　tell　you　everything。　。　。　。　She　never　believed　you　dead；　and　she　begged　upon　her　knee