to have and to hold-第48节
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hidden； the whole attitude one of listlessness and dejection。 As I looked； there came a long tremulous sigh； and the head drooped lower and lower； as if in a growing hopelessness。
The revulsion of feeling was so great that for the moment I was dazed as by a sudden blow。 There had been time during the walk from the gaol for enough of wild and whirling thoughts as to what should greet me in that hut； and now the slight figure by the fire； the exquisite melancholy of its posture； its bent head； the weeping I could divine； … I had but one thought； to comfort her as quickly as I might。 Diccon's hand was upon my arm； but I shook it off； and pushing the door open crossed the uneven and noisy floor to the fire； and bent over the lonely figure beside it。 〃Jocelyn；〃 I said； 〃I have kept tryst。〃
As I spoke； I laid my hand upon the bowed and covered head。 It was raised； the cloak was drawn aside； and there looked me in the eyes the Italian。
As if it had been the Gorgon's gaze； I was turned to stone。 The filmy eyes； the smile that would have been mocking had it not been so very faint； the pallor； the malignance； … I stared and stared； and my heart grew cold and sick。
It was but for a minute； then a warning cry from Diccon roused me。 I sprang backward until the width of the hearth was between me and the Italian； then wheeled and found myself face to face with the King's late favorite。 Behind him was an open door； and beyond it a small inner room； dimly lighted。 He stood and looked at me with an insolence and a triumph most intolerable。 His drawn sword was in his hand； the jeweled hilt blazing in the firelight； and on his dark； superb face a taunting smile。 I met it with one as bold； at least； but I said no word； good or bad。 In the cabin of the George I had sworn to myself that thenceforward my sword should speak for me to this gentleman。
〃You came；〃 he said。 〃I thought you would。〃
I glanced around the hut； seeking for a weapon。 Seeing nothing more promising than the thick； half…consumed torch； I sprang to it and wrested it from the socket。 Diccon caught up a piece of rusted iron from the hearth； and together we faced my lord's drawn sword and a small； sharp； and strangely shaped dagger that the Italian drew from a velvet sheath。
My lord laughed； reading my thoughts。 〃You are mistaken；〃 he declared coolly。 〃I am content that Captain Percy knows I do not fear to fight him。 This time I play to win。〃 Turning toward the outer door； he raised his hand with a gesture of command。
In an instant the room was filled。 The red…brown figures； naked save for the loincloth and the headdress； the impassive faces dashed with black； the ruthless eyes … I knew now why Master Edward Sharpless had gone to the forest； and what service had been bought with that silver cup。 The Paspaheghs and I were old enemies； doubtless they would find their task a pleasant one。
〃My own knaves； unfortunately； were out of the way； sent home on the Santa Teresa；〃 said my lord； still smiling。 〃I am not yet so poor that I cannot hire others。 True； Nicolo might have done the work just now； when you bent over him so lovingly and spoke so softly； but the river might give up your body to tell strange tales。 I have heard that the Indians are more ingenious； and leave no such witness anywhere。〃
Before the words were out of his mouth I had sprung upon him； and had caught him by the sword wrist and the throat。 He strove to free his hand； to withdraw himself from my grasp。 Locked together； we struggled backward and forward in what seemed a blaze of lights and a roaring as of mighty waters。 Red hands caught at me； sharp knives panted to drink my blood； but so fast we turned and writhed； now he uppermost； now I； that for very fear of striking the wrong man hands and knives could not be bold。 I heard Diccon fighting； and knew that there would be howling tomorrow among the squaws of the Paspaheghs。 With all his might my lord strove to bend the sword against me； and at last did cut me across the arm； causing the blood to flow freely。 It made a pool upon the floor； and once my foot slipped in it； and I stumbled and almost fell。
Two of the Paspaheghs were silent for evermore。 Diccon had the knife of the first to fall； and it ran red。 The Italian； quick and sinuous as a serpent； kept beside my lord and me； striving to bring his dagger to his master's aid。 We two panted hard； before our eyes blood； within our ears the sea。 The noise of the other combatants suddenly fell。 The hush could only mean that Diccon was dead or taken。 I could not look behind to see。 With an access of fury I drove my antagonist toward a corner of the hut； … the corner； so it chanced； in which the panther had taken up its quarters。 With his heel he struck the beast out of his way； then made a last desperate effort to throw me。 I let him think he was about to succeed； gathered my forces and brought him crashing to the ground。 The sword was in my hand and shortened； the point was at his throat； when my arm was jerked backwards。 A moment； and half a dozen hands had dragged me from the man beneath me； and a supple savage had passed a thong of deerskin around my arms and pinioned them to my sides。 The game was up； there remained only to pay the forfeit without a grimace。
Diccon was not dead； pinioned； like myself； and breathing hard； he leaned sullenly against the wall； they that he had slain at his feet。 My lord rose； and stood over against me。 His rich doublet was torn and dragged away at the neck； and my blood stained his hand and arm。 A smile was upon the face that had made him master of a kingdom's master。
〃The game was long；〃 he said； 〃but I have won at last。 A long good…night to you； Captain Percy； and a dreamless sleep！〃
There was a swift backward movement of the Indians； and a loud 〃The panther； sir！ Have a care！〃 from Diccon。 I turned。 The panther； maddened by the noise and light； the shifting figures； the blocked doors； the sight and smell of blood； the blow that had been dealt it； was crouching for a spring。 The red…brown hair was bristling； the eyes were terrible。 I was before it； but those glaring eyes had marked me not。 It passed me like a bar from a catapult； and the man whose heel it had felt was full in its path。 One of its forefeet sank in the velvet of the doublet； the claws of the other entered the flesh below the temple； and tore downwards and across。 With a cry as awful as the panther's scream the Italian threw himself upon the beast and buried his poniard in its neck。 The panther and the man it had attacked went down together。
When the Indians had unlocked that dread embrace and had thrust aside the dead brute； there emerged from the dimness of the inner room Master Edward Sharpless； gray with fear； trembling in every limb； to take the reins that had fallen from my lord's hands。 The King's minion lay in his blood； a ghastly spectacle； unconscious now； but with life before him； … life through which to pass a nightmare vision。 The face out of which had looked that sullen； proud； and wicked spirit had been one of great beauty； it had brought him exceeding wealth and power beyond measure； the King had loved to look upon it； and it had come to this。 He lived； and I was to die： better my death than his life。 In every heart there are dark depths； whence at times ugly things creep into the daylight； but at least I could drive back that unmanly triumph； and bid it never come again。 I would have killed him； but I would not have had him thus。
The Italian was upon his knees beside his master： even such a creature could love。 From his skeleton throat came a low； prolonged； croaking sound； and his bony hands strove to wipe away the blood。 The Paspaheghs drew around us closer and closer； and the werowance clutched me by the shoulder。 I shook him off。 〃Give the word； Sharpless；〃 I said； 〃or nod； if thou art too frightened to speak。 Murder is too stern a stuff for such a base kitchen knave as thou to deal in。〃
White and shaking； he would not meet my eyes； but beckoned the werowance to him； and began to whisper vehemently； pointing now to the man upon the floor； now to the town； now to the forest。 The Indian listened； nodded； and glided back to his fellows。
〃The white men upon the Powhatan are many；〃 he said in his own tongue； 〃but they build not their wigwams upon the banks of the Pamunkey。 1 The singing birds of the Pamunkey tell no tales。 The pine splinters will burn as brightly there； and the white men will smell them not。 We will build a fire at Uttamussac； between the red hills； before the temple and the graves of the kings。〃 There was a murmur of assent from his braves。
Uttamussac！ They would probably make a two days' journey of it。 We had that long； then； to live。
Captors and captives； we presently left the hut。 On the threshold I looked back； past the poltroon whom I had flung into the river one midsummer day； to that prone and bleeding figure。 As I looked； it groaned and moved。 The Indians behind me forced me on； a moment； and we were out beneath the stars。 They shone so very brightly； there was one … large； steadfast； golden … just over the dark town behind us； over the Governor's house。 Did she sleep or did she wake？ Sleeping or waking； I prayed God to keep her
