to have and to hold-第32节
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Another hour； and the sea still fell。 Another； and a wave struck the boat with force。 〃The sea is coming in！〃 cried the minister。
〃Ay；〃 I answered。 〃She will go to pieces now。〃
The minister rose to his feet。 〃I am no mariner；〃 he said； 〃but once in the water I can swim you like any fish。 There have been times when I have reproached the Lord for that he cased a poor silly humble preacher like me with the strength and seeming of some might man of old； and there have been times when I have thanked him for that strength。 I thank him now。 Captain Percy； if you will trust the lady to me； I will take her safely to that shore。〃
I raised my head from the figure over which I was bending； and looked first at the still tumultuous sea； and then at the gigantic frame of the minister。 When we had made that frail raft no swimmer could have lived in that shock of waves； now there was a chance for all； and for the minister； with his great strength； the greatest I have ever seen in any man； a double chance。 I took her from the raft and gave her into his arms。 A minute later the boat went to pieces。
Side by side Sparrow and I buffeted the sea。 He held the King's ward in one arm； and he bore her safely over the huge swells and through the onslaught of the breaking waves。 I could thank God for his strength； and trust her to it。 For the other three of us； we were all strong swimmers； and though bruised and beat about； we held our own。 Each wave； overcome； left us nearer the islet； … a little while and our feet touched bottom。 A short struggle with the tremendous surf and we were out of the maw of the sea； but out upon a desolate islet； a mere hand's…breadth of sand and shell in a lonely ocean； some three leagues from the mainland of Accomac； and upon it neither food nor water。 We had the clothes upon our backs； and my lord and I had kept our swords。 I had a knife； and Diccon too was probably armed。 The flint and steel and tinder box within my pouch made up our store。
The minister laid the woman whom he carried upon the pebbles； fell upon his knees； and lifted his rugged face to heaven。 I too knelt； and with my hand upon her heart said my own prayer in my own way。 My lord stood with unbent head； his eyes upon that still white face； but Diccon turned abruptly and strode off to a low ridge of sand； from the top of which one might survey the entire island。
In two minutes he was back again。 〃There's plenty of driftwood further up the beach；〃 he announced； 〃and a mort of dried seaweed。 At least we need n't freeze。〃
The great bonfire that we made roared and crackled； sending out a most cheerful heat and light。 Under that genial breath the color came slowly back to madam's cheek and lip； and her heart beat more strongly。 Presently she turned under my hand； and with a sigh pillowed her head upon her arm and went to sleep in that blessed warmth like a little child。
We who had no mind for sleep sat there beside the fire and watched the sun sink behind the low black line of the mainland； now plainly visible in the cleared air。 It dyed the waves blood red； and shot out one long ray to crimson a single floating cloud； no larger than a man's hand； high in the blue。 Sea birds； a countless multitude； went to and fro with harsh cries from island to marsh； and marsh to island。 The marshes were still green； they lay； a half moon of fantastic shapes； each parted from the other by pink water。 Beyond them was the inlet dividing us from the mainland； and that inlet was three leagues in width。 We turned and looked seaward。 Naught but leaping waves white…capped to the horizon。
〃We touched here the time we went against the French at Port Royal and St。 Croix；〃 I said。 〃We had heard a rumor that the Bermuda pirates had hidden gold here。 Argall and I went over every foot of it。〃
〃And found no water？〃 questioned the minister。
〃And found no water。〃
The light died from the west and from the sea beneath； and the night fell。 When with the darkness the sea fowl ceased their clamor； a dreadful silence suddenly enfolded us。 The rush of the surf made no difference； the ear heard it； but to the mind there was no sound。 The sky was thick with stars； every moment one shot； and the trail of white fire it left behind melted into the night silently like snowflakes。 There was no wind。 The moon rose out of the sea； and lent the sandy isle her own pallor。 Here and there； back amongst the dunes； the branches of a low and leafless tree writhed upward like dark fingers thrust from out the spectral earth。 The ocean； quiet now； dreamed beneath the moon and cared not for the five lives it had cast upon that span of sand。
We piled driftwood and tangles of seaweed upon our fire； and it flamed and roared and broke the silence。 Diccon； going to the landward side of the islet； found some oysters； which we roasted and ate； but we had nor wine nor water with which to wash them down。
〃At least there are here no foes to fear；〃 quoth my lord。 〃We may all sleep to…night； and zooks！ we shall need it！〃 He spoke frankly； with an open face。
〃I will take one watch； if you will take the other；〃 I said to the minister。
He nodded。 〃I will watch until midnight。〃
It was long past that time when he roused me from where I lay at Mistress Percy's feet。
〃I should have relieved you long ago；〃 I told him。
He smiled。 The moon； now high in the heavens； shone upon and softened his rugged features。 I thought I had never seen a face so filled with tenderness and hope and a sort of patient power。 〃I have been with God；〃 he said simply。 〃The starry skies and the great ocean and the little shells beneath my hand； … how wonderful are thy works； O Lord！ What is man that thou art mindful of him？ And yet not a sparrow falleth〃…
I rose and sat by the fire； and he laid himself down upon the sand beside me。
〃Master Sparrow；〃 I asked； 〃have you ever suffered thirst？〃
〃No；〃 he answered。 We spoke in low tones； lest we should wake her。 Diccon and my lord； upon the other side of the fire； were sleeping heavily。
〃I have；〃 I said。 〃Once I lay upon a field of battle throughout a summer day； sore wounded and with my dead horse across my body。 I shall forget the horror of that lost field and the torment of that weight before I forget the thirst。〃
〃You think there is no hope？〃
〃What hope should there be？〃
He was silent。 Presently he turned and looked at the King's ward where she lay in the rosy light； then his eyes came back to mine。
〃If it comes to the worst I shall put her out of her torment；〃 I said。
He bowed his head and we sat in silence； our gaze upon the ground between us； listening to the low thunder of the surf and the crackling of the fire。 〃I love her；〃 I said at last。 〃God help me！〃
He put his finger to his lips。 She had stirred and opened her eyes。 I knelt beside her； and asked her how she did and if she wanted aught。
〃It is warm；〃 she said wonderingly。
〃You are no longer in the boat；〃 I told her。 〃You are safe upon the land。 You have been sleeping here by the fire that we kindled。〃
An exquisite smile just lit her face； and her eyelids drooped again。 〃I am so tired；〃 she said drowsily； 〃that I will sleep a little longer。 Will you bring me some water； Captain Percy？ I am very thirsty。〃
After a moment I said gently； 〃I will go get it； madam。〃 She made no answer； she was already asleep。 Nor did Sparrow and I speak again。 He laid himself down with his face to the ocean； and I sat with my head in my hands； and thought and thought； to no purpose。
CHAPTER XXI IN WHICH A GRAVE IS DIGGED
WHEN the stars had gone out and the moon begun to pale； I raised my face from my hands。 Only a few glowing embers remained of the fire； and the driftwood that we had collected was exhausted。 I thought that I would gather more； and build up the fire against the time when the others should awake。 The driftwood lay in greatest quantity some distance up the beach； against a low ridge of sand dunes。 Beyond these the islet tapered off to a long gray point of sand and shell。 Walking toward this point in the first pale light of dawn； I chanced to raise my eyes； and beheld riding at anchor beyond the spit of sand a ship。
I stopped short and rubbed my eyes。 She lay there on the sleeping ocean like a dream ship； her masts and rigging black against the pallid sky； the mist that rested upon the sea enfolding half her hull。 She might have been of three hundred tons burthen； she was black and two…decked； and very high at poop and forecastle； and she was heavily armed。 My eyes traveled from the ship to the shore； and there dragged up on the point； the oars within it； was a boat。
At the head of the beach； beyond the line of shell and weed； the sand lay piled in heaps。 With these friendly hillocks between me and the sea； I crept on as silently as I might； until I reached a point just above the boat。 Here I first heard voices。 I went a little further； then knelt； and； parting the long coarse grass that filled the hollow between two hillocks； looked out upon two men who were
digging a grave。
They dug in a furious hurry； throwing the sand to left and right； and cursing as they dug。 They were powerful men； of a most villainous cast of countenance； and dressed very oddly。 On
