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to have and to hold-第60节

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With his hand at his mouth; and his story untold; he fell back。 I held him in my arms until the brief struggle was over; and then laid his body down upon the earth。

It might have been one of the clock。 For a little while I sat beside him; with my head bowed in my hands。 Then I straightened his limbs and crossed his hands upon his breast; and kissed him upon the brow; and left him lying dead in the forest。

It was hard going through the blackness of the night…time woods。 Once I was nigh sucked under in a great swamp; and once I stumbled into some hole or pit in the earth; and for a time thought that I had broken my leg。 The night was very dark; and sometimes  when I could not see the stars; I lost my way; and went to the right or the left; or even back upon my track。 Though I heard the wolves; they did not come nigh me。 Just before daybreak; I crouched behind a log; and watched a party of savages file past like shadows of the night。

At last the dawn came; and I could press on more rapidly。 For two days and two nights I had not slept; for a day and a night I had not tasted food。 As the sun climbed the heavens; a thousand black spots; like summer gnats; danced between his face and my weary eyes。 The forest laid stumbling…blocks before me; and drove me back; and made me wind in and out when I would have had my path straighter than an arrow。 When the ground allowed I ran; when I must break my way; panting; through undergrowth so dense and stubborn that it seemed some enchanted thicket; where each twig snapped but to be on the instant stiff in place again; I broke it with what patience I might; when I must turn aside for this or that obstacle I made the detour; though my heart cried out at the necessity。 Once I saw reason to believe that two or more Indians were upon my trail; and lost time in outwitting them; and once I must go a mile out of my way to avoid an Indian village。

As the day wore on; I began to go as in a dream。 It had come to seem the gigantic wood of some fantastic tale through which I was traveling。 The fallen trees ranged themselves into an abatis hard to surmount; the thickets withstood one like iron; the streamlets were like rivers; the marshes leagues wide; the treetops miles away。 Little things; twisted roots; trailing vines; dead and rotten wood; made me stumble。 A wind was blowing that had blown just so  since time began; and the forest was filled with the sound of the sea。

Afternoon came; and the shadows began to lengthen。 They were lines of black paint spilt in a thousand places; and stealing swiftly and surely across the brightness of the land。 Torn and bleeding and breathless; I hastened on; for it was drawing toward night; and I should have been at Jamestown hours before。 My head pained me; and as I ran I saw men and women stealing in and out among the trees before me: Pocahontas with her wistful eyes and braided hair and finger on her lips; Nantauquas; Dale; the knight…marshal; and Argall with his fierce; unscrupulous face; my cousin George Percy; and my mother with her stately figure; her embroidery in her hands。 I knew that they were but phantoms of my brain; but their presence confused and troubled me。

The shadows ran together; and the sunshine died out of the forest。 Stumbling on; I saw through the thinning trees a long gleam of red; and thought it was blood; but presently knew that it was the river; crimson from the sunset。 A minute more and I stood upon the shore of the mighty stream; between the two brightnesses of flood and heavens。 There was a silver crescent in the sky with one white star above it; and fair in sight; down the James; with lights springing up through the twilight; was the town; … the English town that we had built and named for our King; and had held in the teeth of Spain; in the teeth of the wilderness and its terrors。 It was not a mile away; a little longer; … a little longer and I could rest; with my tidings told。

The dusk had quite fallen when I reached the neck of land。 The hut to which I had been enticed that  night stood dark and ghastly; with its door swinging in the wind。 I ran past it and across the neck; and; arriving at the palisade; beat upon the gate with my hands; and called to the warder to open。 When I had told him my name and tidings; he did so; with shaking knees and starting eyes。 Cautioning him to raise no alarm in the town; I hurried by him into the street; and down it toward the house that was set aside for the Governor of Virginia。 I should find there now; not Yeardley; but Sir Francis Wyatt。

The torches were lighted; and the folk were indoors; for the night was cold。 One or two figures that I met or passed would have accosted me; not knowing who I was; but I brushed by them; and hastened on。 Only when I passed the guest house I looked up; and saw that mine host's chief rooms were yet in use。

The Governor's door was open; and in the hall servingmen were moving to and fro。 When I came in upon them; they cried out as it had been a ghost; and one fellow let a silver dish that he carried fall clattering to the floor。 They shook and stood back; as I passed them without a word; and went on to the Governor's great room。 The door was ajar; and I pushed it open and stood for a minute upon the threshold; unobserved by the occupants of the room。

After the darkness outside the lights dazzled me; the room; too; seemed crowded with men; though when I counted them there were not so many; after all。 Supper had been put upon the table; but they were not eating。 Before the fire; his head thoughtfully bent; and his fingers tapping upon the arm of his chair; sat the Governor; over against him; and as serious of aspect; was the Treasurer。 West stood by the mantel; tugging at his long mustaches and softly swearing。  Clayborne was in the room; Piersey the Cape Merchant; and one or two besides。 And Rolfe was there; walking up and down with hasty steps; and a flushed and haggard face。 His suit of buff was torn and stained; and his great…boots were spattered with mud。

The Governor let his fingers rest upon the arm of his chair; and raised his head。

〃He is dead; Master Rolfe;〃 he said。 〃There can be no other conclusion; … a brave man lost to you and to the colony。 We mourn with you; sir。〃

〃We too have searched; Jack;〃 put in West。 〃We have not been idle; though well…nigh all men believe that the Indians; who we know had a grudge against him; murdered him and his man that night; then threw their bodies into the river; and themselves made off out of our reach。 But we hoped against hope that when your party returned he would be in your midst。〃

〃As for this latest loss;〃 continued the Governor; 〃within an hour of its discovery this morning search parties were out; yea; if I had allowed it; the whole town would have betaken itself to the woods。 The searchers have not returned; and we are gravely anxious。 Yet we are not utterly cast down。 This trail can hardly be missed; and the Indians are friendly。 There were a number in town overnight; and they went with the searchers; volunteering to act as their guides。 We cannot but think that of this load; our hearts will soon be eased。〃

〃God grant it!〃 groaned Rolfe。 〃I will drink but a cup of wine; sir; and then will be gone upon this new quest。〃

There was a movement in the room。 〃You are worn and spent with your fruitless travel; sir;〃 said the Governor kindly。 〃I give you my word that all  that can be done is doing。 Wait at least for the morning; and the good news it may bring。〃

The other shook his head。 〃I will go now。 I could not look my friend in the face else … God in heaven!〃

The Governor sprang to his feet; through the Treasurer's lips came a long; sighing breath; West's dark face was ashen。 I came forward to the table; and leaned my weight upon it; for all the waves of the sea were roaring in my ears; and the lights were going up and down。

〃Are you man or spirit?〃 cried Rolfe through white lips。 〃Are you Ralph Percy?〃

〃Yes; I am Percy;〃 I said。 〃I have not well understood what quest you would go upon; Rolfe; but you cannot go to…night。 And those parties that your Honor talked of; that have gone with Indians to guide them to look for some lost person; … I think that you will never see them again。〃

With an effort I drew myself erect; and standing so told my tidings; quietly and with circumstance; so as to leave no room for doubt as to their verity; or as to the sanity of him who brought them。 They listened; as the warder had listened; with shaking limbs and gasping breath; for this was the fall and wiping out of a people of which I brought warning。

When all was told; and they stood there before me; white and shaken; seeking in their minds the thing to say or do first; I thought to ask a question myself; but before my tongue could frame it; the roaring of the sea became so loud that I could hear naught else; and the lights all ran together into a wheel of fire。 Then in a moment all sounds ceased; and to the lights succeeded the blackness of outer darkness。



CHAPTER XXXVI  IN WHICH I HEAR ILL NEWS


WHEN I awoke from the sleep or stupor into which I must have passed from that swoon; it was to find myself lying upon a bed in a room flooded with sunshine。 I was alone。 For a moment

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