to have and to hold-第55章

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　soft　music；　in　the　sunshine；　with　flowers　about　her。〃

With　an　exclamation　he　put　me　from　him；　but　kept　his　hand　upon　my　arm　and　his　steady　eyes　upon　my　face。

〃She　loved　laughter　and　sunshine　and　sweet　songs；〃　I　continued。　〃She　can　never　know　them　in　this　wood。　They　are　outside；　they　are　outside　the　world；　I　think。　It　is　sad；　is　it　not？　Faith；　I　think　it　is　the　saddest　thing　I　have　ever　known。〃

He　clapped　his　other　hand　upon　my　shoulder。　　〃Wake；　man！〃　he　commanded。　〃If　thou　shouldst　go　mad　now　…　Wake！　thy　brain　is　turning。　Hold　to　thyself。　Stand　fast；　as　thou　art　soldier　and　Christian！　Ralph；　she　is　not　dead。　She　will　wear　flowers；　…　thy　flowers；　…　sing；　laugh；　move　through　the　sunshine　of　earth　for　many　and　many　a　year；　please　God！　Art　listening；　Ralph？　Canst　hear　what　I　am　saying？〃

〃I　hear；〃　I　said　at　last；　〃but　I　do　not　well　understand。〃

He　pushed　me　back　against　a　pine；　and　held　me　there　with　his　hands　upon　my　shoulders。　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　speaking　rapidly　and　keeping　his　eyes　upon　mine。　〃All　those　days　that　you　were　gone；　when　all　the　world　declared　you　dead；　she　believed　you　living。　She　saw　party　after　party　come　back　without　you；　and　she　believed　that　you　were　left　behind　in　the　forest。　Also　she　knew　that　the　George　waited　but　for　the　search　to　be　quite　given　over；　and　for　my　Lord　Carnal's　recovery。　She　had　been　told　that　the　King's　command　might　not　be　defied；　that　the　Governor　had　no　choice　but　to　send　her　from　Virginia。　Ralph；　I　watched　her；　and　I　knew　that　she　meant　not　to　go　upon　that　ship。　Three　nights　agone　she　stole　from　the　Governor's　house；　and；　passing　through　the　gates　that　the　sleeping　warder　had　left　unfastened；　went　toward　the　forest。　I　saw　her　and　followed　her；　and　at　the　edge　of　the　forest　I　spoke　to　her。　I　stayed　her　not；　I　brought　her　not　back；　Ralph；　because　I　was　convinced　that　an　I　did　so　she　would　die。　I　knew　of　no　great　danger；　and　I　trusted　in　the　Lord　to　show　me　what　to　do；　step　by　step；　and　how　to　guide　her　gently　back　when　she　was　weary　of　wandering；　…　when；　worn　out；　she　was　willing　to　give　up　the　quest　for　the　dead。　Art　following　me；　Ralph？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　and　took　my　hand　from　my　eyes。　〃I　was　nigh　mad；　Jeremy；　for　my　faith　was　not　like　hers。　I　have　looked　on　Death　too　much　of　late；　and　yesterday　all　men　believed　that　he　had　come　to　dwell　in　the　forest　and　had　swept　clean　his　house　before　him。　But　you　escaped；　you　both　escaped〃　…

〃God's　hand　was　over　us；〃　he　said　reverently。　〃This　is　the　way　of　it。　She　had　been　ill；　you　know；　and　of　late　she　had　taken　no　thought　of　food　or　sleep。　She　was　so　weak；　we　had　to　go　so　slowly；　and　so　winding　was　our　path；　who　knew　not　the　country；　that　the　evening　found　us　not　far　upon　our　way；　if　way　we　had。　We　came　to　a　cabin　in　a　clearing；　and　they　whose　home　it　was　gave　us　shelter　for　the　night。　In　the　morning；　when　the　father　and　son　would　go　forth　to　their　work　we　walked　with　them。　When　they　came　to　the　trees　they　meant　to　fell　we　bade　them　good…by；　and　went　on　alone。　We　had　not　gone　an　hundred　paces　when；　looking　back；　we　saw　three　Indians　start　from　the　dimness　of　the　forest　and　set　upon　and　slay　the　man　and　the　boy。　That　murder　done　they　gave　chase　to　me；　who　caught　up　thy　wife　and　ran　for　both　our　lives。　When　I　saw　that　they　were　light　of　foot　and　would　overtake　me；　I　set　my　burden　down；　and；　drawing　a　sword　that　I　had　with　me；　went　back　to　meet　them　halfway。　Ralph；　I　slew　all　three；　…　may　the　Lord　have　mercy　on　my　soul！　I　knew　not　what　to　think　of　that　attack；　the　peace　with　the　Indians　being　so　profound；　and　I　began　to　fear　for　thy　wife's　safety。　She　knew　not　the　woods；　and　I　managed　to　turn　our　steps　back　toward　Jamestown　without　her　knowledge　that　I　did　so。　It　was　about　midday　when　we　saw　the　gleam　of　the　river　through　the　trees　before　us；　and　heard　the　sound　of　firing　and　of　a　great　yelling。　　I　made　her　crouch　within　a　thicket；　while　I　myself　went　forward　to　reconnoitre；　and　well…nigh　stumbled　into　the　midst　of　an　army。　Yelling；　painted；　maddened；　brandishing　their　weapons　toward　the　town；　human　hair　dabbled　with　blood　at　the　belts　of　many　…　in　the　name　of　God；　Ralph；　what　is　the　meaning　of　it　all？〃

〃It　means；〃　I　said；　〃that　yesterday　they　rose　against　us　and　slew　us　by　the　hundred。　The　town　was　warned　and　is　safe。　Go　on。〃

〃I　crept　back　to　madam；〃　he　continued；　〃and　hurried　her　away　from　that　dangerous　neighborhood。　We　found　a　growth　of　bushes　and　hid　ourselves　within　it；　and　just　in　time；　for　from　the　north　came　a　great　band　of　picked　warriors；　tall　and　black　and　wondrously　feathered；　fresh　to　the　fray；　whatever　the　fray　might　be。　They　joined　themselves　to　the　imps　upon　the　river　bank；　and　presently　we　heard　another　great　din　with　more　firing　and　more　yelling。　Well；　to　make　a　long　story　short；　we　crouched　there　in　the　bushes　until　late　afternoon；　not　knowing　what　was　the　matter；　and　not　daring　to　venture　forth　to　find　out。　The　woman　of　the　cabin　at　which　we　had　slept　had　given　us　a　packet　of　bread　and　meat；　so　we　were　not　without　food；　but　the　time　was　long。　And　then　of　a　sudden　the　wood　around　us　was　filled　with　the　heathen；　band　after　band；　coming　from　the　river；　stealing　like　serpents　this　way　and　that　into　the　depths　of　the　forest。　They　saw　us　not　in　the　thick　bushes；　maybe　it　was　because　of　the　prayers　which　I　said　with　might　and　main。　At　last　the　distance　swallowed　them；　the　forest　seemed　clear；　no　sound；　no　motion。　Long　we　waited；　but　with　the　sunset　we　stole　from　the　bushes　and　down　an　aisle　of　the　forest　toward　the　　river；　rounded　a　little　wood　of　cedar；　and　came　full　upon　perhaps　fifty　of　the　savages〃　…　He　paused　to　draw　a　great　breath　and　to　raise　his　brows　after　a　fashion　that　he　had。

〃Go　on；　go　on！〃　I　cried。　〃What　did　you　do？　You　have　said　that　she　is　alive　and　safe！〃

〃She　is；〃　he　answered；　〃but　no　thanks　to　me；　though　I　did　set　lustily　upon　that　painted　fry。　Who　led　them；　d'　ye　think；　Ralph？　Who　saved　us　from　those　bloody　hands？〃

A　light　broke　in　upon　me。　〃I　know；〃　I　said。　〃And　he　brought　you　here〃　…

〃Ay；　he　sent　away　the　devils　whose　color　he　is；　worse　luck！　He　told　us　that　there　were　Indians；　not　of　his　tribe；　between　us　and　the　town。　If　we　went　on　we　should　fall　into　their　hands。　But　there　was　a　place　that　was　shunned　by　the　Indian　as　by　the　white　man：　we　could　bide　there　until　the　morrow；　when　we　might　find　the　woods　clear。　He　guided　us　to　this　dismal　wood　that　was　not　altogether　strange　to　us。　Ay；　he　told　her　that　you　were　alive。　He　said　no　more　than　that；　all　at　once；　when　we　were　well　within　the　wood　and　the　twilight　was　about　us；　he　was　gone。〃

He　ceased　to　speak；　and　stood　regarding　me　with　a　smile　upon　his　rugged　face。　I　took　his　hand　and　raised　it　to　my　lips。　〃I　owe　you　more　than　I　can　ever　pay；〃　I　said。　〃Where　is　she；　my　friend？〃

〃Not　far　away；〃　he　answered。　〃We　sought　the　centre　of　the　wood；　and　because　she　was　so　chilled　and　weary　and　shaken　I　did　dare　to　build　a　fire　there。　Not　a　foe　has　come　against　us；　and　we　waited　but　for　the　dusk　of　this　evening　to　try　to　make　the　town。　I　came　down　to　the　stream　just　now　to　find；　if　I　could；　how　near　we　were　to　the　river〃　…

He　broke　off；　made　a　gesture　with　his　hand　toward　one　of　the　long　aisles　of　pine　trees；　and　then；　with　a　muttered　〃God　bless　you　both；〃　left　me；　and　going　a　little　way　down　the　stream；　stood　with　his　back　to　a　great　tree　and　his　eyes　upon　the　slow；　deep　water。

She　was　coming。　I　watched　the　slight　figure　grow　out　of　the　dusk　between　the　trees；　and　the　darkness　in　which　I　had　walked　of　late　fell　away。　The　wood　that　had　been　so　gloomy　was　a　place　of　sunlight　and　song；　had　red　roses　sprung　up　around　me　I　had　felt　no　wonder。　She　came　softly　and　slowly；　with　bent　head　and　hanging　arms；　not　knowing　that　I　was　near。　I　went　not　to　meet　her；　…　it　was　my　fancy　to　have　her　come　to　me　still；　…　but　when　she　raised　her　eyes　and　saw　me　I　fell　upon　my　knees。

For　a　moment　she　stood　still；　with　her　hands　at　her　bosom；　then；　softly　and　slowly　through　the　dusky　wood；　she　came　to　me　and　touched　me　upon　the　shoulder。　〃Art　come　to　take　me　home？〃　she　asked。　〃I　have　wept　and　prayed　and　waited　long；　but　now　the　spring　is　here　and　the　woods　are　growing　green。〃

I　took　her　hands　and　bowed　my　head　upon　them。　〃I　believed　thee　dead；〃　I　said。　〃I　thought　that　thou　hadst　gone　home；　indeed；　and　I　was　left　in　the　world　alone。　I　can　never　tell　thee　how　I　love　thee。〃

〃I　need　no　telling；〃　she　answered。　〃I　am　glad　that　I　did　so　forget　my　womanhood　as　to　come　to　Virginia　on　such　an　errand；　glad　that　they　did　laugh　at　and　insult　me　in　the　meadow　at　Jamestown；　for　else　thou　mightst　have　given　me　no　thought；　very　heartily　glad　that　thou　didst　buy　me　with　thy　handful　of　tobacco。　With　all　my　heart　I　love　thee；　my　knight；　my　lover；　my　lord　and　husband〃　…　Her　voice　broke；　and　I　felt　the　trembling　of　her　frame。　〃I　love　not　　thy　tears　upon　my　hands；〃　she　murmured。　〃I　have　wandered　far　and　am　weary。　Wilt　rise　and　put　thy　arm　around　me　and　lead　me　home？〃

I　stood　up；　and　she　came　to　my　arms　like　a　tired　bird　to　its　nest。　I　bent　my　head；　and　kissed　her　upon　the　brow；　the　blue…veined　eyelids；　the　perfect　lips。　〃I　love　thee；〃　I　said。　〃The　song　is　old；　but　it　is　sweet。　See！　I　wear　thy　color；　my　lady。〃

The　hand　that　had　touched　the　ribbon　upon　my　arm　stole　upwards　to　my　lips。　〃An　old　song；　but　a　sweet　one；〃　she　said。　〃I　love　thee。　I　will　always　love　thee。　My　head　may　lie　upon　thy　breast；　but　my　heart　lies　at　thy　feet。〃

There　was　joy　in　the　haunted　wood；　deep　peace；　quiet　thankfulness；　a　springtime　of　the　heart；　…　not　riotous　like　the　May；　but　fair　and　grave　and　tender　like　the　young　world　in　the　sunshine　without　the　pines。　Our　lips　met　again；　and　then；　with　my　arm　around　her；　we　moved　to　the　giant　pine　beneath　which　stood　the　minister。　He　turned　at　our　approach；　and　looked　at　us　with　a　quiet　and　tender　smile；　though　the　water　stood　in　his　eyes。　〃　'Heaviness　may　endure　for　a　night；'　〃　he　said；　〃　'but　joy　cometh　in　the　morning。'　I　thank　God　for　you　both。〃

〃Last　summer；　in　the　green　meadow；　we　knelt　before　you　while　you　blessed　us；　Jeremy；〃　I　answered。　〃Bless　us　now　again；　true　friend　and　man　of　God。〃

He　laid　his　hands　upon　our　bowed　heads　and　blessed　us；　and　then　we　three　moved　through　the　dismal　wood　and　beside　the　sluggish　stream　down　to　the　great　bright　river。　Ere　we　reached　it　the　pines　had　fallen　away；　the　haunted　wood　was　behind　us；　our　steps　were　set　through　a　fairy　world　of　greening　bough　and　springing　bloom。　The　blue　sky　laughed　　above；　the　late　sunshine　barred　our　path　with　gold。　When　we　came　to　the　river　it　lay　in　silver　at　our　feet；　making　low　music　amongst　its　reeds。

I　had　bethought　me　of　the　boat　which　I　had　fastened　that　morning　to　the　sycamore　between　us　and　the　town；　and　now　we　moved　along　the　river　bank　until　we　should　come　to　the　tree。　Though　we　walked　through　an　enemy's　country　we　saw　no　foe。　Stillness　and　peace　encompassed　us；　it　was　like　a　beautiful　dream　from　which　one　fears　no　wakening。

As　we　went；　I　told　them；　speaking　low；　for　we　knew　not　if　we　were　yet　in　safety；　of　the　slaughter　that　had　been　made　and　of　Diccon。　My　wife　shuddered　and　wept；　and　the　minister　drew　long　breaths　while　his　hands　opened　and　closed。　And　then；　when　she　asked　me；　I　told　of　how　I　had　been　trapped　to　the　ruined　hut　that　night　and　of　all　that　had　followed。　When