to have and to hold-第8章

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〃A　toy；〃　he　declared；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand；　〃a　trifle；　a　silly　old　song　that　came　into　my　mind　unawares；　the　leaves　being　so　green　and　the　sky　so　blue。　Had　you　come　a　little　earlier　or　a　little　later；　you　would　have　heard　the　ninetieth　psalm。　Give　you　good…day　madam。　I　must　have　sung　for　that　the　very　queen　of　May　was　coming　by。〃

〃Art　on　your　way　to　Jamestown？〃　I　demanded。　〃Come　ride　with　us。　Diccon；　saddle　his　reverence's　horse。〃

〃Saddle　him　an　thou　wilt；　friend；〃　said　Master　Sparrow；　〃　for　he　and　I　have　idled　long　enough；　but　　I　fear　I　cannot　keep　pace　with　this　fair　company。　I　and　the　horse　are　footing　it　together。〃

〃He　is　not　long　for　this　world；〃　I　remarked；　eyeing　his　ill…favored　steed；　〃but　neither　are　we　far　from　Jamestown。　He'll　last　that　far。〃

Master　Sparrow　shook　his　head；　with　a　rueful　countenance。　〃I　bought　him　from　one　of　the　French　vignerons　below　Westover；〃　he　said。　〃The　fellow　was　astride　the　poor　creature；　beating　him　with　a　club　because　he　could　not　go。　I　laid　Monsieur　Crapaud　in　the　dust；　after　which　we　compounded；　he　for　my　purse；　I　for　the　animal；　since　when　the　poor　beast　and　I　have　tramped　it　together；　for　I　could　not　in　conscience　ride　him。　Have　you　read　me　’sop　his　fables；　Captain　Percy？〃

〃I　remember　the　man；　the　boy；　and　the　ass；〃　I　replied。　〃The　ass　came　to　grief　in　the　end。　Put　thy　scruples　in　thy　pocket；　man；　and　mount　thy　pale　horse。〃

〃Not　I！〃　he　said；　with　a　smile。　〃　'T　is　a　thousand　pities；　Captain　Percy；　that　a　small；　mean；　and　squeamish　spirit　like　mine　should　be　cased　like　a　very　Guy　of　Warwick。　Now；　if　I　were　slight　of　body；　or　even　if　I　were　no　heavier　than　your　servant　there〃　…

〃Oh！〃　I　said。　〃Diccon；　give　his　reverence　the　mare；　and　do　you　mount　his　horse　and　bring　him　slowly　on　to　town。　If　he　will　not　carry　you；　you　can　lead　him　in。〃

Sunshine　revisited　the　countenance　of　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow；　he　swung　his　great　body　into　the　saddle；　gathered　up　the　reins；　and　made　the　mare　to　caracole　across　the　path　for　very　joy。

〃Have　a　care　of　the　poor　brute；　friend！〃　he　cried　genially　to　Diccon；　whose　looks　were　of　the　sulkiest。　　〃Bring　him　gently　on；　and　leave　him　at　Master　Bucke's；　near　to　the　church。〃

〃What　do　you　do　at　Jamestown？〃　I　asked；　as　we　passed　from　out　the　glade　into　the　gloom　of　a　pine　wood。　〃I　was　told　that　you　were　gone　to　Henricus；　to　help　Master　Thorpe　convert　the　Indians。〃

〃Ay；〃　he　answered；　〃I　did　go。　I　had　a　call；　…　I　was　sure　I　had　a　call。　I　thought　of　myself　as　a　very　apostle　to　the　Gentiles。　I　went　from　Henricus　one　day's　journey　into　the　wilderness；　with　none　but　an　Indian　lad　for　interpreter；　and　coming　to　an　Indian　village　gathered　its　inhabitants　about　me；　and　sitting　down　upon　a　hillock　read　and　expounded　to　them　the　Sermon　on　the　Mount。　I　was　much　edified　by　the　solemnity　of　their　demeanor　and　the　earnestness　of　their　attention；　and　had　conceived　great　hopes　for　their　spiritual　welfare；　when；　the　reading　and　exhortation　being　finished；　one　of　their　old　men　arose　and　made　me　a　long　speech；　which　I　could　not　well　understand；　but　took　to　be　one　of　grateful　welcome　to　myself　and　my　tidings　of　peace　and　good　will。　He　then　desired　me　to　tarry　with　them；　and　to　be　present　at　some　entertainment　or　other；　the　nature　of　which　I　could　not　make　out。　I　tarried；　and　toward　evening　they　conducted　me　with　much　ceremony　to　an　open　space　in　the　midst　of　the　village。　There　I　found　planted　in　the　ground　a　thick　stake；　and　around　it　a　ring　of　flaming　brushwood。　To　the　stake　was　fastened　an　Indian　warrior；　captured；　so　my　interpreter　informed　me；　from　some　hostile　tribe　above　the　falls。　His　arms　and　ankles　were　secured　to　the　stake　by　means　of　thongs　passed　through　incisions　in　the　flesh；　his　body　was　stuck　over　with　countless　pine　splinters；　each　burning　like　a　miniature　torch；　and　on　his　shaven　　crown　was　tied　a　thin　plate　of　copper　heaped　with　red…hot　coals。　A　little　to　one　side　appeared　another　stake　and　another　circle　of　brushwood：　the　one　with　nothing　tied　to　it　as　yet；　and　the　other　still　unlit。　My　friend；　I　did　not　tarry　to　see　it　lit。　I　tore　a　branch　from　an　oak；　and　I　became　as　Samson　with　the　jaw　bone　of　the　ass。　I　fell　upon　and　smote　those　Philistines。　Their　wretched　victim　was　beyond　all　human　help；　but　I　dearly　avenged　him　upon　his　enemies。　And　they　had　their　pains　for　naught　when　they　planted　that　second　stake　and　laid　the　brush　for　their　hell　fire。　At　last　I　dropped　into　the　stream　upon　which　their　damnable　village　was　situate；　and　got　safely　away。　Next　day　I　went　to　George　Thorpe　and　resigned　my　ministry；　telling　him　that　we　were　nowhere　commanded　to　preach　to　devils；　when　the　Company　was　ready　to　send　shot　and　steel　amongst　them；　they　might　count　upon　me。　After　which　I　came　down　the　river　to　Jamestown；　where　I　found　worthy　Master　Bucke　well…nigh　despaired　of　with　the　fever。　Finally　he　was　taken　up　river　for　change　of　air；　and；　for　lack　of　worthier　substitute；　the　Governor　and　Captain　West　constrained　me　to　remain　and　minister　to　the　shepherdless　flock。　Where　will　you　lodge；　good　sir？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　I　said。　〃The　town　will　be　full；　and　the　guest　house　is　not　yet　finished。〃

〃Why　not　come　to　me？〃　he　asked。　〃There　are　none　in　the　minister's　house　but　me　and　Goodwife　Allen　who　keeps　it。　There　are　five　fair　large　rooms　and　a　goodly　garden；　though　the　trees　do　too　much　shadow　the　house。　If　you　will　come　and　let　the　sunshine　in；〃　…　a　bow　and　smile　for　madam；　…　〃I　shall　be　your　debtor。〃

His　plea　pleased　me　well。　Except　the　Governor's　　and　Captain　West's；　the　minister's　house　was　the　best　in　the　town。　It　was　retired；　too；　being　set　in　its　own　grounds；　and　not　upon　the　street；　and　I　desired　privacy。　Goodwife　Allen　was　stolid　and　incurious。　Moreover；　I　liked　Master　Jeremy　Sparrow。

I　accepted　his　hospitality　and　gave　him　thanks。　He　waved　them　away；　and　fell　to　complimenting　Mistress　Percy；　who　was　pleased　to　be　gracious　to　us　both。　Well　content　for　the　moment　with　the　world　and　ourselves；　we　fared　on　through　the　alternating　sunshine　and　shade；　and　were　happy　with　the　careless　inhabitants　of　the　forest。　Oversoon　we　came　to　the　peninsula；　and　crossed　the　neck　of　land。　Before　us　lay　the　town：　to　the　outer　eye　a　poor　and　mean　village；　indeed；　but　to　the　inner　the　stronghold　and　capital　of　our　race　in　the　western　world；　the　germ　from　which　might　spring　stately　cities；　the　newborn　babe　which　might　in　time　equal　its　parent　in　stature；　strength；　and　comeliness。　So　I　and　a　few　besides；　both　in　Virginia　and　at　home；　viewed　the　mean　houses；　the　poor　church　and　rude　fort；　and　loved　the　spot　which　had　witnessed　much　suffering　and　small　joy；　but　which　held　within　it　the　future；　which　was　even　now　a　bit　in　the　mouth　of　Spain；　a　thing　in　itself　outweighing　all　the　toil　and　anguish　of　our　planting。　But　there　were　others　who　saw　only　the　meanness　of　the　place；　its　almost　defenselessness；　its　fluxes　and　fevers；　the　fewness　of　its　inhabitants　and　the　number　of　its　graves。　Finding　no　gold　and　no　earthly　paradise；　and　that　in　the　sweat　of　their　brow　they　must　eat　their　bread；　they　straightway　fell　into　the　dumps；　and　either　died　out　of　sheer　perversity；　or　went　yelping　home　to　the　Company　with　all　manner　of　dismal　tales；　…　which　tales；　through　my　Lord　Warwick's　　good　offices；　never　failed　to　reach　the　sacred　ears　of　his　Majesty；　and　to　bring　the　colony　and　the　Company　into　disfavor。

We　came　to　the　palisade；　and　found　the　gates　wide　open　and　the　warder　gone。

〃Where　be　the　people？〃　marveled　Master　Sparrow；　as　we　rode　through　into　the　street。　In　truth；　where　were　the　people？　On　either　side　of　the　street　the　doors　of　the　houses　stood　open；　but　no　person　looked　out　from　them　or　loitered　on　the　doorsteps；　the　square　was　empty；　there　were　no　women　at　the　well；　no　children　underfoot；　no　gaping　crowd　before　gaol　and　pillory；　no　guard　before　the　Governor's　house；　…　not　a　soul；　high　or　low；　to　be　seen。

〃Have　they　all　migrated？〃　cried　Sparrow。　〃Are　they　gone　to　Croatan？〃

〃They　have　left　one　to　tell　the　tale；　then；〃　I　said；　〃for　here　he　comes　running。〃



CHAPTER　VII　　IN　WHICH　WE　PREPARE　TO　FIGHT　THE　SPANIARD


A　MAN　came　panting　down　the　street。　〃　Captain　Ralph　Percy！〃　he　cried。　〃My　master　said　it　was　your　horse　coming　across　the　neck。　The　Governor　commands　your　attendance　at　once；　sir。〃

〃Where　is　the　Governor？　Where　are　all　the　people？〃　I　demanded。

〃At　the　fort。　They　are　all　at　the　fort　or　on　the　bank　below。　Oh；　sirs；　a　woeful　day　for　us　all！〃

〃A　woeful　day！〃　I　exclaimed。　〃What's　the　matter？〃

The　man；　whom　I　recognized　as　one　of　the　commander's　servants；　a　fellow　with　the　soul　of　a　French　valet　de　chambre；　was　wild　with　terror。

〃They　are　at　the　guns！〃　he　quavered。　〃Alackaday！　what　can　a　few　sakers　and　demiculverins　do　against　them？〃

〃Against　whom？〃　I　cried。

〃They　are　giving　out　pikes　and　cutlasses！　Woe's　me；　the　sight　of　naked　steel　hath　ever　made　me　sick！〃

I　drew　my　dagger；　and　flashed　it　before　him。　〃Does　't　make　you　sick？〃　I　asked。　〃You　shall　be　sicker　yet；　if　you　do　not　speak　to　some　purpose。〃

The　fellow　shrank　back；　his　eyeballs　starting　from　his　head。

〃It's　a　tall　ship；〃　he　gasped；　〃a　very　big　ship！　　It　hath　ten　culverins；　beside　fowlers　and　murderers；　sabers；　falcons；　and　bases！〃

I　took　him　by　the　collar　and　shook　him　off　his　feet。

〃There　are　priests　on　board！〃　he　managed　to　say　as　I　set　him　down。　〃This　time　to…morrrow　we'll　all　be　on　the　rack！　And　next　week　the　galleys　will　have　us！〃

〃It's　the　Spaniard　at　last；〃　I　said。　〃Come　on！〃

When　we　reached　the　river　bank　before　the　fort；　it　was　to　find　confusion　worse　confounded。　The　gates　of　the　palisade　were　open；　and　through　them　streamed　Councilors；　Burgesses；　and　officers；　while　the　bank　itself　was　thronged　with　the　generality。　Ancient　planters；　Smith's　men；　Dale's　men；　tenants　and　servants；　women　and　children；　including　the　little　eyases　we　imported　the　year　before；　negroes；　Paspaheghs；　French　vignerons；　Dutch　sawmill　men；　Italian　glassworkers；　…　all　seethed　to　and　fro；　all　talked　at　once；　and　all　looked　down　the　river。　Out　of　the　babel　of　voices　these　words　came　to　us　over　and　over：　〃The　Spaniard！〃　〃The　Inquisition！〃　〃The　galleys！〃　They　were　the　words　oftenest　heard　at　that　time；　when　strange　sails　hove　in　sight。

But　where　was　the　Spaniard？　On　the　river；　hugging　the　shore；　were　many　small　craft；　barges；　shallops；　sloops；　and　pinnaces；　and　beyond　them　the　masts　of　the　Truelove；　the　Due　Return；　and　the　Tiger；　then　in　port；　on　these　three；　of　which　the　largest；　the　Due　Return；　was　of　but　eighty　tons　burthen；　the　mariners　were　running　about　and　the　masters　bawling　orders。　But　there　was　no　other　ship；　no　bark；　galleon；　or　man…of…war；　with　three　tiers　of　grinning　ordnance；　and　the　hated　yellow　flag　flaunting　above。

I　sprang　from　my　horse；　and；　leaving　it　and　Mistress　　Percy　in　Sparrow's　charge；　hastened　up　to　the　fort。　As　I　passed　through　the　palisade　I　heard　my　name　called；　and　turning　waited　for　Master　Pory　to　come　up。　He　was　panting　and　puffing；　his　jovial　face　very　red。

〃I　was　across　the　neck　of　land　when　I　heard　the　news；〃　he　said。　〃I　ran　all　the　way；　and　am　somewhat　scant　of　breath。　Here's　the　devil　to　pay！〃

〃It　looks　another　mare's…nest；〃　I　replied。　〃We　have　cried　'Spaniard！'　pretty　often。〃

〃But　this　time　the　wolf's　here；〃　he　answered。　〃Davies　sent　a　horse