to have and to hold-第45节
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〃Nothing that you can supply；〃 I answered curtly。
The fellow grinned again； straightened the things upon the table； and started for the door。 〃You can stay until I come for the platters；〃 he said to Diccon； and went out； locking the door after him with ostentation。
I applied myself to the dinner； and Diccon went to the window； and stood there looking out at the blue sky and at the man in the pillory。 He had the freedom of the gaol。 I was somewhat more straitly confined； though my friends had easy access to me。 As for Jeremy Sparrow； he had spent twenty…four hours in gaol； at the end of which time Madam West had a fit of the spleen； declared she was dying； and insisted upon Master Sparrow's being sent for to administer consolation； Master Bucke； unfortunately； having gone up to Henricus on business connected with the college。 From the bedside of that despotic lady Sparrow was called to bury a man on the other side of the river； and from the grave to marry a couple at Mulberry Island。 And the next day being Sunday； and no minister at hand； he preached again in Master Bucke's pulpit； … and preached a sermon so powerful and moving that its like had never been heard in Virginia。 They marched him not back from the pulpit to gaol。 There were but five ministers in Virginia； and there were a many more sick to visit and dead to bury。 Master Bucke； still feeble in body； tarried up river discussing with Thorpe the latter's darling project of converting every imp of an Indian this side the South Sea； and Jeremy slipped into his old place。 There had been some talk of a public censure； but it died away。
The pasty and sack disposed of； I turned in my seat and spoke to Diccon： 〃I looked for Master Rolfe to…day。 Have you heard aught of him？〃
〃No；〃 he answered。 As he spoke； the door was opened and the gaoler put in his head。 〃A messenger from Master Rolfe； captain。〃 He drew back； and the Indian Nantauquas entered the room。
Rolfe I had seen twice since the arrival of the George at Jamestown； but the Indian had not been with him。 The young chief now came forward and touched the hand I held out to him。 〃My brother will be here before the sun touches the tallest pine；〃 he announced in his grave； calm voice。 〃He asks Captain Percy to deny himself to any other that may come。 He wishes to see him alone。〃
〃I shall hardly be troubled with company；〃 I said。 〃There's a bear…baiting toward。〃
Nantauquas smiled。 〃 My brother asked me to find a bear for to…day。 I bought one from the Paspaheghs for a piece of copper； and took him to the ring below the fort。〃
〃Where all the town will presently be gone；〃 I said。 〃I wonder what Rolfe did that for！〃
Filling a cup with sack； I pushed it to the Indian across the table。 〃You are little in the woods nowadays； Nantauquas。〃
His fine dark face clouded ever so slightly。 〃Opechancanough has dreamt that I am Indian no longer。 Singing birds have lied to him； telling him that I love the white man； and hate my own color。 He calls me no more his brave； his brother Powhatan's dear son。 I do not sit by his council fire now； nor do I lead his war bands。 When I went last to his lodge and stood before him； his eyes burned me like the coals the Monacans once closed my hands upon。 He would not speak to me。〃
〃It would not fret me if he never spoke again；〃 I said。 〃You have been to the forest to…day？〃
〃Yes；〃 he replied； glancing at the smear of leaf mould upon his beaded moccasins。 〃Captain Percy's eyes are quick； he should have been an Indian。 I went to the Paspaheghs to take them the piece of copper。 I could tell Captain Percy a curious thing〃 …
〃Well？〃 I demanded； as he paused。
〃I went to the lodge of the werowance with the copper； and found him not there。 The old men declared that he had gone to the weirs for fish； … he and ten of his braves。 The old men lied。 I had passed the weirs of the Paspaheghs； and no man was there。 I sat and smoked before the lodge； and the maidens brought me chinquapin cakes and pohickory； for Nantauquas is a prince and a welcome guest to all save Opechancanough。 The old men smoked； with their eyes upon the ground； each seeing only the days when he was even as Nantauquas。 They never knew when a wife of the werowance； turned child by pride； unfolded a doeskin and showed Nantauquas a silver cup carved all over and set with colored stones。〃
〃Humph！〃
〃The cup was a heavy price to pay；〃 continued the Indian。 〃I do not know what great thing it bought。〃
〃Humph！〃 I said again。 〃Did you happen to meet Master Edward Sharpless in the forest？〃
He shook his head。 〃The forest is wide； and there are many trails through it。 Nantauquas looked for that of the werowance of the Paspaheghs； but found it not。 He had no time to waste upon a white man。〃
He gathered his otterskin mantle about him and prepared to depart。 I rose and gave him my hand； for I thoroughly liked him； and in the past he had made me his debtor。 〃Tell Rolfe he will find me alone；〃 I said； 〃and take my thanks for your pains； Nantauquas。 If ever we hunt together again； may I have the chance to serve you！ I bear the scars of the wolf's teeth yet； you came in the nick of time； that day。〃
The Indian smiled。 〃It was a fierce old wolf。 I wish Captain Percy free with all my heart； and then we will hunt more wolves； he and I。〃
When he was gone； and the gaoler and Diccon with him； I returned to the window。 The runaway in the pillory was released； and went away homewards； staggering beside his master's stirrup。 Passers…by grew more and more infrequent； and up the street came faint sounds of laughter and hurrahing； … the bear must be making good sport。 I could see the half…moon； and the guns； and the flag that streamed in the wind； and on the river a sail or two； white in the sunlight as the gulls that swooped past。 Beyond rose the bare masts of the George。 The Santa Teresa rode no more forever in the James。 The King's ship was gone home to the King without the freight he looked for。 Three days； and the George would spread her white wings and go down the wide river； and I with her； and the King's ward； and the King's sometime favorite。 I looked down the wind…ruffled stream； and saw the great bay into which it emptied； and beyond the bay the heaving ocean； dark and light； league on league； league on league； then green England； and London； and the Tower。 The vision disturbed me less than once it would have done。 Men that I knew and trusted were to be passengers on that ship； as well as one I knew and did not trust。 And if； at the journey's end； I saw the Tower； I saw also his Grace of Buckingham。 Where I hated he hated； and was now powerful enough to strike。
The wind blew from the west； from the unknown。 I turned my head； and it beat against my forehead； cold and fragrant with the essence of the forest； … pine and cedar； dead leaves and black mould； fen and hollow and hill； … all the world of woods over which it had passed。 The ghost of things long dead； which face or voice could never conjure up； will sometimes start across our path at the beckoning of an odor。 A day in the Starving Time came back to me： how I had dragged myself from our broken palisade and crazy huts； and the groans of the famished and the plague…stricken； and the presence of the unburied dead； across the neck and into the woods； and had lain down there to die； being taken with a sick fear and horror of the place of cannibals behind me； and how weak I was！ … too weak to care any more。 I had been a strong man； and it had come to that； and I was content to let it be。 The smell of the woods that day； the chill brown earth beneath me； the blowing wind； the long stretch of the river gleaming between the pines； 。 。 。 and fair in sight the white sails of the Patience and the Deliverance。
I had been too nigh gone then to greatly care that I was saved； now I cared； and thanked God for my life。 Come what might in the future； the past was mine。 Though I should never see my wife again； I had that hour in the state cabin of the George。 I loved； and was loved again。
There was a noise outside the door； and Rolfe's voice speaking to the gaoler。 Impatient for his entrance I started toward the door； but when it opened he made no move to cross the threshold。 〃I am not coming in；〃 he said； with a face that he strove to keep grave。 〃I only came to bring some one else。〃 With that he stepped back； and a second figure； coming forward out of the dimness behind him； crossed the threshold。 It was a woman； cloaked and hooded。 The door was drawn to behind her； and we were alone together。
Beside the cloak and hood she wore a riding mask。 〃Do you know who it is？〃 she asked； when she had stood； so shrouded； for a long minute； during which I had found no words with which to welcome her。
〃Yea；〃 I answered： 〃the princess in the fairy tale。〃
She freed her dark hair from its covering； and unclasping her cloak let it drop to the floor。 〃Shall I unmask？〃 she asked； with a sigh。 〃Faith！ I should keep the bit of silk between your eyes； sir； and my blushes。 Am I ever to be the forward one？ Do you not think me too bold a lady？〃 As she spoke； her white hands were busy about the fastening of her mask。 〃The knot is too hard；〃 she murmured； with a little tremulous laugh and a ca
