to have and to hold-µÚ54ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
ed¡¡a¡¡canoe¡¡and¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡and¡¡pushed¡¡off¡¡from¡¡the¡¡land¡£
Well¡nigh¡¡a¡¡day¡¡and¡¡a¡¡night¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡since¡¡Lady¡¡Wyatt¡¡had¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡which¡¡made¡¡for¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡a¡¡night¡time¡¡indeed¡£¡¡I¡¡believed¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡to¡¡be¡¡dead£»¡¡¡¡¡yea£»¡¡I¡¡trusted¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡dead¡£¡¡I¡¡hoped¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡quickly¡¡over£»¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡blow¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Better¡¡that£»¡¡oh£»¡¡better¡¡that¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡times£»¡¡than¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡carried¡¡off¡¡to¡¡some¡¡village£»¡¡saved¡¡to¡day¡¡to¡¡die¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡deaths¡¡to¡morrow¡£
But¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡there¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡left£»¡¡lying¡¡on¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡leaves¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡that¡¡fair¡¡shell¡¡from¡¡which¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡had¡¡flown¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡not¡¡where¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡go¡¡I¡¡must¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡finding¡¡that¡¡which¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡seek£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡thought¡¡but¡¡to¡¡take¡¡up¡¡that¡¡quest¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡soldier£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡stood¡¡to¡¡my¡¡post£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡the¡¡need¡¡was¡¡past£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡go¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Governor's¡¡house£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡written¡¡a¡¡line¡¡of¡¡farewell¡¡to¡¡Rolfe£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡given¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡a¡¡trusty¡¡fellow£»¡¡charging¡¡him¡¡not¡¡to¡¡deliver¡¡it¡¡for¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡to¡¡come¡£
I¡¡rowed¡¡two¡¡miles¡¡downstream¡¡through¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡darkness£»¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡quiet¡¡after¡¡the¡¡hubbub¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡my¡¡boat¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡the¡¡day¡¡was¡¡close¡¡at¡¡hand¡£¡¡The¡¡stars¡¡were¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pale£»¡¡cold¡¡light£»¡¡more¡¡desolate¡¡than¡¡the¡¡dark£»¡¡streamed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡east¡¡across¡¡which¡¡ran£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡faded¡¡blood¡¡stain£»¡¡a¡¡smear¡¡of¡¡faint¡¡red¡£¡¡Upon¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡the¡¡mist¡¡lay¡¡heavy¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡drove¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡in¡¡amongst¡¡the¡¡sedge¡¡and¡¡¡¡reeds¡¡below¡¡the¡¡bank£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡only¡¡the¡¡trunks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡trees£»¡¡hear¡¡only¡¡the¡¡sullen¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡some¡¡river¡¡bird¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡disturbed¡£
Why¡¡I¡¡was¡¡at¡¡some¡¡pains¡¡to¡¡fasten¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡to¡¡a¡¡sycamore¡¡that¡¡dipped¡¡a¡¡pallid¡¡arm¡¡into¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡£¡¡I¡¡never¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡come¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sycamore£»¡¡I¡¡never¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡bend¡¡to¡¡an¡¡oar¡¡again£»¡¡to¡¡behold¡¡again¡¡the¡¡river¡¡that¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mist¡¡hid¡¡from¡¡me¡¡before¡¡I¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡twenty¡¡yards¡¡into¡¡the¡¡forest¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XXXIX¡¡¡¡IN¡¡WHICH¡¡WE¡¡LISTEN¡¡TO¡¡A¡¡SONG
IT¡¡was¡¡like¡¡a¡¡May¡¡morning£»¡¡so¡¡mild¡¡was¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡so¡¡gay¡¡the¡¡sunshine£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡mist¡¡had¡¡risen¡£¡¡Wild¡¡flowers¡¡were¡¡blooming£»¡¡and¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡unfolding¡¡leaves¡¡made¡¡a¡¡delicate¡¡fretwork¡¡against¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡blue¡¡sky¡£¡¡The¡¡wind¡¡did¡¡not¡¡blow£»¡¡everywhere¡¡were¡¡stillness¡¡soft¡¡and¡¡sweet£»¡¡dewy¡¡freshness£»¡¡careless¡¡peace¡£
Hour¡¡after¡¡hour¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡slowly¡¡through¡¡the¡¡woodland£»¡¡pausing¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡look¡¡from¡¡side¡¡to¡¡side¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡idle¡¡going£»¡¡wandering¡¡in¡¡a¡¡desert¡¡with¡¡no¡¡guiding¡¡star¡£¡¡The¡¡place¡¡where¡¡I¡¡would¡¡be¡¡might¡¡lie¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡west¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡enshrouding¡¡forest¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡passed¡¡it¡¡by¡£¡¡I¡¡believed¡¡not¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡done¡¡so¡£¡¡Surely£»¡¡surely¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡known£»¡¡surely¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡lived¡¡only¡¡in¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡would¡¡have¡¡called¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡stay¡£
Beside¡¡a¡¡newly¡¡felled¡¡tree£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡glade¡¡starred¡¡with¡¡small¡¡white¡¡flowers£»¡¡I¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡and¡¡a¡¡boy£»¡¡so¡¡hacked£»¡¡so¡¡hewn£»¡¡so¡¡robbed¡¡of¡¡all¡¡comeliness£»¡¡that¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡stood¡¡still¡¡and¡¡the¡¡brain¡¡grew¡¡sick¡£¡¡Farther¡¡on¡¡was¡¡a¡¡clearing£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡its¡¡midst¡¡the¡¡charred¡¡and¡¡blackened¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡what¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡home¡£¡¡I¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡freshly¡¡turned¡¡earth£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡door¡¡with¡¡the¡¡stillness¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sunshine¡£¡¡A¡¡woman¡¡lay¡¡dead¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡her¡¡outstretched¡¡hand¡¡clenched¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cradle¡£¡¡I¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡and£»¡¡looking¡¡within¡¡the¡¡cradle£»¡¡¡¡found¡¡that¡¡the¡¡babe¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡spared¡£¡¡Taking¡¡up¡¡the¡¡little¡¡waxen¡¡body¡¡with¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡innocent¡¡breast£»¡¡I¡¡laid¡¡it¡¡within¡¡the¡¡mother's¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡my¡¡way¡¡over¡¡the¡¡sunny¡¡doorstep¡¡and¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡planting¡£¡¡A¡¡white¡¡butterfly¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡first¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡¡¡¡fluttered¡¡before¡¡me£»¡¡then¡¡rose¡¡through¡¡a¡¡mist¡¡of¡¡green¡¡and¡¡passed¡¡from¡¡my¡¡sight¡£
The¡¡sun¡¡climbed¡¡higher¡¡into¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡blue¡¡sky¡£¡¡Save¡¡where¡¡grew¡¡pines¡¡or¡¡cedars¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡shadowy¡¡places¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡The¡¡slight¡¡green¡¡of¡¡uncurling¡¡leaves£»¡¡the¡¡airy¡¡scarlet¡¡of¡¡the¡¡maples£»¡¡the¡¡bare¡¡branches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tardier¡¡trees£»¡¡opposed¡¡no¡¡barrier¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sunlight¡£¡¡It¡¡streamed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡world¡¡below¡¡the¡¡treetops£»¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡warm¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡leaves¡¡and¡¡the¡¡green¡¡moss¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fragile¡¡wild¡¡flowers¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡birds£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡fox¡¡barked¡£¡¡All¡¡was¡¡lightness£»¡¡gayety£»¡¡and¡¡warmth£»¡¡the¡¡sap¡¡was¡¡running£»¡¡the¡¡heyday¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡at¡¡hand¡£¡¡Ah£¡¡¡to¡¡be¡¡riding¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡going¡¡home¡¡through¡¡the¡¡fairy¡¡forest£»¡¡the¡¡sunshine£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡singing£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡The¡¡happy¡¡miles¡¡to¡¡Weyanoke£»¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sassafras¡¡in¡¡its¡¡woods£»¡¡the¡¡house¡¡all¡¡lit¡¡and¡¡trimmed¡£¡¡The¡¡fire¡¡kindled£»¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡table¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Diccon's¡¡welcoming¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡upon¡¡Black¡¡Lamoral's¡¡bridle£»¡¡the¡¡minister£»¡¡too£»¡¡maybe£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡great¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡his¡¡kindly¡¡eyes£»¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡mine£»¡¡her¡¡head¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡breast¡¡¡
The¡¡vision¡¡faded¡£¡¡Never£»¡¡never£»¡¡never¡¡for¡¡me¡¡a¡¡home¡coming¡¡such¡¡as¡¡that£»¡¡so¡¡deep£»¡¡so¡¡dear£»¡¡so¡¡sweet¡£¡¡The¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡my¡¡friends£»¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡loved£»¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡into¡¡a¡¡far¡¡country¡£¡¡This¡¡world¡¡was¡¡not¡¡their¡¡home¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡threshold¡¡while¡¡I¡¡lagged¡¡behind¡£¡¡The¡¡door¡¡was¡¡shut£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡were¡¡the¡¡night¡¡and¡¡I¡£
With¡¡the¡¡fading¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vision¡¡came¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡¡¡¡¡consciousness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡presence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡other¡¡than¡¡my¡¡own¡£¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡sharply£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡an¡¡Indian¡¡walking¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡step¡¡for¡¡step£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡a¡¡space¡¡between¡¡us¡¡of¡¡earth¡¡and¡¡brown¡¡tree¡¡trunks¡¡and¡¡drooping¡¡branches¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shadow£»¡¡not¡¡substance£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡still£»¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡or¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡nearer¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡first¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bronze¡¡figure¡¡I¡¡had¡¡touched¡¡my¡¡sword£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡who¡¡it¡¡was¡¡I¡¡let¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡fall¡£¡¡He¡¡too¡¡paused£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡offer¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡With¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡great¡¡bow£»¡¡he¡¡waited£»¡¡motionless¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sunlight¡£¡¡A¡¡minute¡¡or¡¡more¡¡thus£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡on¡¡with¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡upon¡¡him¡£
At¡¡once¡¡he¡¡addressed¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡motion£»¡¡not¡¡speaking¡¡or¡¡making¡¡any¡¡sign¡¡or¡¡lessening¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡between¡¡us£»¡¡but¡¡moving¡¡as¡¡I¡¡moved¡¡through¡¡the¡¡light¡¡and¡¡shade£»¡¡the¡¡warmth¡¡and¡¡stillness£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡time¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡upon¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡soon¡¡I¡¡was¡¡back¡¡with¡¡my¡¡dreams¡¡again¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡not¡¡worth¡¡while¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡why¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡now¡¡the¡¡mortal¡¡foe¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡had¡¡returned¡£
From¡¡the¡¡river¡¡bank£»¡¡the¡¡sycamore£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡fastened¡¡there£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡northward¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡Pamunkey£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡clearing¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ruined¡¡cabin¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡within¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡eastward¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡in¡¡that¡¡hopeless¡¡wandering£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡faced¡¡the¡¡north¡¡again¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡who¡¡had¡¡made¡¡himself¡¡my¡¡traveling¡¡companion¡¡stopped¡¡short£»¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡he¡¡knew£»¡¡maybe£»¡¡of¡¡some¡¡war¡¡party¡¡between¡¡us¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Pamunkey£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡save¡¡me¡¡from¡¡it¡£¡¡A¡¡listlessness¡¡had¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡obeyed¡¡the¡¡pointing¡¡finger¡£
So£»¡¡estranged¡¡and¡¡silent£»¡¡with¡¡two¡¡spears'¡¡length¡¡of¡¡earth¡¡between¡¡us£»¡¡we¡¡went¡¡on¡¡until¡¡we¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡quiet¡¡¡¡stream¡¡flowing¡¡between¡¡low£»¡¡dark¡¡banks¡£¡¡Again¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northward£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Powhatan£»¡¡gliding¡¡before¡¡me£»¡¡set¡¡his¡¡face¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stream£»¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡river¡¡I¡¡had¡¡left¡£¡¡A¡¡minute¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡think¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not£»¡¡because¡¡in¡¡my¡¡ears¡¡was¡¡the¡¡singing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡birds¡¡at¡¡Weyanoke£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡him¡£
How¡¡long¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dream£»¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sweetness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡past£»¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡the¡¡present¡¡and¡¡its¡¡anguish¡¡weighed¡¡again¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡it¡¡was¡¡darker£»¡¡colder£»¡¡stiller£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡The¡¡soundless¡¡stream¡¡was¡¡bright¡¡no¡¡longer£»¡¡the¡¡golden¡¡sunshine¡¡that¡¡had¡¡lain¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡was¡¡all¡¡gathered¡¡up£»¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡was¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡smooth¡¡and¡¡bare£»¡¡with¡¡not¡¡a¡¡flower£»¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡trunks¡¡were¡¡many¡¡and¡¡straight¡¡and¡¡tall¡£¡¡Above¡¡were¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡brown¡¡branch¡¡and¡¡blue¡¡sky£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡and¡¡sombre¡¡green£»¡¡thick¡¡woven£»¡¡keeping¡¡out¡¡the¡¡sunlight¡¡like¡¡a¡¡pall¡£¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡still¡¡and¡¡gazed¡¡around¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡place¡£
To¡¡me£»¡¡whose¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡haunted£»¡¡the¡¡dismal¡¡wood£»¡¡the¡¡charmed¡¡silence£»¡¡the¡¡withdrawal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡light£»¡¡were¡¡less¡¡than¡¡nothing¡£¡¡All¡¡day¡¡I¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡for¡¡one¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡horror£»¡¡yea£»¡¡had¡¡longed¡¡to¡¡come¡¡at¡¡last¡¡upon¡¡it£»¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡beside¡¡it£»¡¡to¡¡embrace¡¡it¡¡with¡¡my¡¡arms¡£¡¡There£»¡¡there£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡should¡¡be¡¡some¡¡fair¡¡and¡¡sunny¡¡spot£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡my¡¡haunted¡¡wood¡£¡¡As¡¡for¡¡this¡¡place¡¡of¡¡gloom¡¡and¡¡stillness£»¡¡it¡¡fell¡¡in¡¡with¡¡my¡¡mood¡£¡¡More¡¡welcome¡¡than¡¡the¡¡mocking¡¡sunshine¡¡were¡¡this¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡solemn¡¡light£»¡¡this¡¡deathlike¡¡silence£»¡¡these¡¡ranged¡¡pines¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡place¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡life¡¡as¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡thing¡¡and¡¡scarcely¡¡worth¡¡the¡¡while£»¡¡given¡¡without¡¡the¡¡asking£»¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡turmoil£»¡¡strife£»¡¡suffering£»¡¡and¡¡longings¡¡all¡¡in¡¡vain¡£¡¡Easily¡¡laid¡¡down£»¡¡too£»¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡easily¡¡laid¡¡down¡¡that¡¡the¡¡wonder¡¡was¡¡¡
I¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡ghostly¡¡wood£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dull¡¡stream£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡hilt¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡drawn¡¡halfway¡¡from¡¡the¡¡scabbard¡£¡¡The¡¡life¡¡within¡¡that¡¡hand¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡asked¡¡for¡£¡¡Why¡¡should¡¡I¡¡stand¡¡like¡¡a¡¡soldier¡¡left¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡not¡¡worth¡¡the¡¡guarding£»¡¡seeing¡¡his¡¡comrades¡¡march¡¡homeward£»¡¡hearing¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡to¡¡him¡¡from¡¡his¡¡distant¡¡hearthstone£¿
I¡¡drew¡¡my¡¡sword¡¡well¡nigh¡¡from¡¡its¡¡sheath£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡in¡¡a¡¡truer¡¡light£»¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡indeed¡¡the¡¡soldier£»¡¡and¡¡willed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡neither¡¡coward¡¡nor¡¡deserter¡£¡¡The¡¡blade¡¡dropped¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡scabbard¡¡with¡¡a¡¡clang£»¡¡and£»¡¡straightening¡¡myself£»¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡on¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡sluggish¡¡stream¡¡deep¡¡into¡¡the¡¡haunted¡¡wood¡£
Presently¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡me¡¡to¡¡glance¡¡aside¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡who¡¡had¡¡kept¡¡pace¡¡with¡¡me¡¡through¡¡the¡¡forest¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡there£»¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡with¡¡me¡¡no¡¡longer£»¡¡save¡¡for¡¡myself¡¡there¡¡seemed¡¡no¡¡breathing¡¡creature¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡wood¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡right¡¡and¡¡left£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡only¡¡the¡¡tall£»¡¡straight¡¡pines¡¡and¡¡the¡¡needle¡strewn¡¡ground¡£¡¡How¡¡long¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡gone¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡tell¡£¡¡He¡¡might¡¡have¡¡left¡¡me¡¡when¡¡first¡¡we¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pines£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡dreams¡¡had¡¡held¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡looked¡¡his¡¡way¡£
There¡¡was¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡twilight¡¡place£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡strangeness£»¡¡the¡¡horror£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡yearning¡¡that¡¡had¡¡kept¡¡company¡¡with¡¡me¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dull¡¡weariness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡and¡¡body¡¡overwrought¡¡of¡¡late£»¡¡which¡¡made¡¡thought¡¡impossible¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡¡on¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡chanced¡¡that¡¡my¡¡face¡¡was¡¡set¡¡in¡¡that¡¡direction¡£
How¡¡dark¡¡was¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pines£»¡¡how¡¡lifeless¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡beneath£»¡¡how¡¡faint¡¡and¡¡far¡¡away¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡that¡¡showed¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡through¡¡rifts¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡foliage£¡¡¡The¡¡stream¡¡bending¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡before¡¡me¡¡stood¡¡the¡¡minister£¡
I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡strangled¡¡cry¡¡burst¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡The¡¡earth¡¡was¡¡rocking£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡a¡¡glare¡¡of¡¡light¡£¡¡As¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡me¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡my¡¡voice¡¡he¡¡had¡¡staggered¡¡back¡¡against¡¡a¡¡tree£»¡¡but¡¡now£»¡¡recovering¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡put¡¡his¡¡great¡¡arms¡¡about¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨From¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dog£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lion's¡¡mouth£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried¡¡brokenly¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡they¡¡slew¡¡thee¡¡not£»¡¡Ralph£»¡¡the¡¡heathen¡¡who¡¡took¡¡thee¡¡away£¡¡¡Yesternight¡¡I¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡you¡¡lived£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡not¡¡for¡¡you¡¡here¡£¡¨
I¡¡scarce¡¡heard¡¡or¡¡marked¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡saying£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡no¡¡time¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡at¡¡his¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡perished¡£¡¡I¡¡only¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡alone£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡wood¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡other¡¡living¡¡creature¡£
¡¨Yea£»¡¡they¡¡slew¡¡me¡¡not£»¡¡Jeremy£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡would¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡done¡¡so¡£¡¡And¡¡you¡¡are¡¡alone£¿¡¡I¡¡am¡¡glad¡¡that¡¡you¡¡died¡¡not£»¡¡my¡¡friend£»¡¡yes£»¡¡faith£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡very¡¡glad¡¡that¡¡one¡¡escaped¡£¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡sit¡¡here¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡and¡¡listen¡£¡¡Was¡¡it¡¡done¡¡in¡¡this¡¡wood£¿¡¡A¡¡gloomy¡¡deathbed£»¡¡friend£»¡¡for¡¡one¡¡so¡¡young¡¡and¡¡fair¡£¡¡She¡¡should¡¡have¡¡died¡¡to¡¡soft¡¡music£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sunshine£»¡¡with¡¡flowers¡¡about¡¡her¡£¡¨
With¡¡an¡¡exclamation¡¡he¡¡put¡¡me¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡bu