westward ho-第130节

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　its　heart　for　ever。

Yes；　she　is　gone；　to　answer　at　a　higher　tribunal　than　that　of　the　Estates　of　England；　for　all　the　noble　English　blood　which　has　been　poured　out　for　her；　for　all　the　noble　English　hearts　whom　she　has　tempted　into　treachery；　rebellion；　and　murder。　　Elizabeth's　own　words　have　been　fulfilled　at　last；　after　years　of　long…suffering；


　　　　　〃The　daughter　of　debate；　　　　　　　　　That　discord　aye　doth　sow；　　　　　　　Hath　reap'd　no　gain　where　former　rule　　　　　　　　　Hath　taught　still　peace　to　grow。〃


And　now　she　can　do　evil　no　more。　　Murder　and　adultery；　the　heart　which　knew　no　forgiveness；　the　tongue　which　could　not　speak　truth　even　for　its　own　interest；　have　past　and　are　perhaps　atoned　for；　and　her　fair　face　hangs　a　pitiful　dream　in　the　memory　even　of　those　who　knew　that　either　she；　or　England；　must　perish。


　　　　　〃Nothing　is　left　of　her　　　　　　　Now；　but　pure　womanly。〃


And　Mrs。　Leigh；　Protestant　as　she　is；　breathes　a　prayer；　that　the　Lord　may　have　mercy　on　that　soul；　as　〃clear　as　diamond；　and　as　hard；〃　as　she　said　of　herself。　　That　last　scene；　too；　before　the　fatal　blockit　could　not　be　altogether　acting。　　Mrs。　Leigh　had　learned　many　a　priceless　lesson　in　the　last　seven　years；　might　not　Mary　Stuart　have　learned　something　in　seventeen？　　And　Mrs。　Leigh　had　been　a　courtier；　and　knew；　as　far　as　a　chaste　Englishwoman　could　know　（which　even　in　those　coarser　days　was　not　very　much）；　of　that　godless　style　of　French　court　profligacy　in　which　poor　Mary　had　had　her　youthful　training；　amid　the　Medicis；　and　the　Guises；　and　Cardinal　Lorraine；　and　she　shuddered；　and　sighed　to　herself〃　To　whom　little　is　given；　of　them　shall　little　be　required！〃　　But　still　the　bells　pealed　on　and　would　not　cease。

What　was　that　which　answered　them　from　afar　out　of　the　fast　darkening　twilight？　　A　flash；　and　then　the　thunder　of　a　gun　at　sea。

Mrs。　Leigh　stopped。　　The　flash　was　right　outside　the　bar。　　A　ship　in　distress　it　could　not　be。　　The　wind　was　light　and　westerly。　　It　was　a　high　spring…tide；　as　evening　floods　are　always　there。　　What　could　it　be？　　Another　flash；　another　gun。　　The　noisy　folks　of　Northam　were　hushed　at　once；　and　all　hurried　into　the　churchyard　which　looks　down　on　the　broad　flats　and　the　river。

There　was　a　gallant　ship　outside　the　bar。　　She　was　running　in；　too；　with　all　sails　set。　　A　large　ship；　nearly　a　thousand　tons　she　might　be；　but　not　of　English　rig。　　What　was　the　meaning　of　it？　　A　Spanish　cruiser　about　to　make　reprisals　for　Drake's　raid　along　the　Cadiz　shore！　　Not　that；　surely。　　The　Don　had　no　fancy　for　such　unscientific　and　dare…devil　warfare。　　If　he　came；　he　would　come　with　admiral；　rear…admiral；　and　vice…admiral；　transports；　and　avisos；　according　to　the　best…approved　methods；　articles；　and　science　of　war。　　What　could　she　be？

Easily；　on　the　flowing　tide　and　fair　western　wind；　she　has　slipped　up　the　channel　between　the　two　lines　of　sandhill。　　She　is　almost　off　Appledore　now。　　She　is　no　enemy；　and　if　she　be　a　foreigner；　she　is　a　daring　one；　for　she　has　never　veiled　her　topsails；and　that；　all　know；　every　foreign　ship　must　do　within　sight　of　an　English　port；　or　stand　the　chance　of　war；　as　the　Spanish　admiral　found；　who　many　a　year　since　was　sent　in　time　of　peace　to　fetch　home　from　Flanders　Anne　of　Austria；　Philip　the　Second's　last　wife。

For　in　his　pride　he　sailed　into　Plymouth　Sound　without　veiling　topsails；　or　lowering　the　flag　of　Spain。　　Whereon；　like　lion　from　his　den；　out　rushed　John　Hawkins　the　port　admiral；　in　his　famous　Jesus　of　Lubec　（afterwards　lost　in　the　San　Juan　d'Ulloa　fight）；　and　without　argument　or　parley；　sent　a　shot　between　the　admiral's　masts；　which　not　producing　the　desired　effect；　alongside　ran　bold　Captain　John；　and　with　his　next　shot；　so　says　his　son；　an　eye…　witness；　〃lackt　the　admiral　through　and　through；〃　whereon　down　came　the　offending　flag；　and　due　apologies　were　made；　but　not　accepted　for　a　long　time　by　the　stout　guardian　of　her　majesty's　honor。　　And　if　John　Hawkins　did　as　much　for　a　Spanish　fleet　in　time　of　peace；　there　is　more　than　one　old　sea…dog　in　Appledore　who　will　do　as　much　for　a　single　ship　in　time　of　war；　if　he　can　find　even　an　iron　pot　to　burn　powder　withal。

The　strange　sail　passed　out　of　sight　behind　the　hill　of　Appledore；　and　then　there　rose　into　the　quiet　evening　air　a　cheer；　as　from　a　hundred　throats。　　Mrs。　Leigh　stood　still；　and　listened。　　Another　gun　thundered　among　the　hills；　and　then　another　cheer。

It　might　have　been　twenty　minutes　before　the　vessel　hove　in　sight　again　round　the　dark　rocks　of　the　Hubbastone；　as　she　turned　up　the　Bideford　river。　　Mrs。　Leigh　had　stood　that　whole　time　perfectly　motionless；　a　pale　and　scarcely　breathing　statue；　her　eyes　fixed　upon　the　Viking's　rock。

Round　the　Hubbastone　she　came　at　last。　　There　was　music　on　board；　drums　and　fifes；　shawms　and　trumpets；　which　wakened　ringing　echoes　from　every　knoll　of　wood　and　slab　of　slate。　　And　as　she　opened　full　on　Burrough　House；　another　cheer　burst　from　her　crew；　and　rolled　up　to　the　hills　from　off　the　silver　waters　far　below；　full　a　mile　away。

Mrs。　Leigh　walked　quickly　toward　the　house；　and　called　her　maid；

〃Grace；　bring　me　my　hood。　　Master　Amyas　is　come　home！〃

〃No；　surely？　　O　joyful　sound！　　Praised　and　blessed　be　the　Lord；　then；　praised　and　blessed　be　the　Lord！　　But；　madam；　however　did　you　know　that？〃

〃I　heard　his　voice　on　the　river；　but　I　did　not　hear　Mr。　Frank's　with　him；　Grace！〃

〃Oh；　be　sure；　madam；　where　the　one　is　the　other　is。　　They'd　never　part　company。　　Both　come　home　or　neither；　I'll　warrant。　　Here's　your　hood；　madam。〃

And　Mrs。　Leigh；　with　Grace　behind　her；　started　with　rapid　steps　towards　Bideford。

Was　it　true？　　Was　it　a　dream？　　Had　the　divine　instinct　of　the　mother　enabled　her　to　recognize　her　child's　voice　among　all　the　rest；　and　at　that　enormous　distance；　or　was　her　brain　turning　with　the　long　effort　of　her　supernatural　calm？

Grace　asked　herself；　in　her　own　way；　that　same　question　many　a　time　between　Burrough　and　Bideford。　　When　they　arrived　on　the　quay　the　question　answered　itself。

As　they　came　down　Bridgeland　Street　（where　afterwards　the　tobacco　warehouses　for　the　Virginia　trade　used　to　stand；　but　which　then　was　but　a　row　of　rope…walks　and　sailmakers'　shops）；　they　could　see　the　strange　ship　already　at　anchor　in　the　river。　　They　had　just　reached　the　lower　end　of　the　street；　when　round　the　corner　swept　a　great　mob；　sailors；　women；　'prentices；　hurrahing；　questioning；　weeping；　laughing：　Mrs。　Leigh　stopped；　and　behold；　they　stopped　also。

〃Here　she　is！〃　shouted　some　one；　〃here's　his　mother！〃

〃His　mother？　　Not　their　mother！〃　said　Mrs。　Leigh　to　herself；　and　turned　very　pale；　but　that　heart　was　long　past　breaking。

The　next　moment　the　giant　head　and　shoulders　of　Amyas；　far　above　the　crowd；　swept　round　the　corner。

〃Make　a　way！　　Make　room　for　Madam　Leigh！〃And　Amyas　fell　on　his　knees　at　her　feet。

She　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck；　and　bent　her　fair　head　over　his；　while　sailors；　'prentices；　and　coarse　harbor…women　were　hushed　into　holy　silence；　and　made　a　ring　round　the　mother　and　the　son。

Mrs。　Leigh　asked　no　question。　　She　saw　that　Amyas　was　alone。

At　last　he　whispered；　〃I　would　have　died　to　save　him；　mother；　if　I　could。〃

〃You　need　not　tell　me　that；　Amyas　Leigh；　my　son。〃

Another　silence。

〃How　did　he　die？〃　whispered　Mrs。　Leigh。

〃He　is　a　martyr。　　He　died　in　the〃

Amyas　could　say　no　more。

〃The　Inquisition？〃

〃Yes。〃

A　strong　shudder　passed　through　Mrs。　Leigh's　frame；　and　then　she　lifted　up　her　head。

〃Come　home；　Amyas。　　I　little　expected　such　an　honorsuch　an　honor　ha！　ha！　and　such　a　fair　young　martyr；　too；　a　very　St。　Stephen！　God；　have　mercy　on　me；　and　let　me　not　go　mad　before　these　folk；　when　I　ought　to　be　thanking　Thee　for　Thy　great　mercies！　　Amyas；　who　is　that？〃

And　she　pointed　to　Ayacanora；　who　stood　close　behind　Amyas；　watching　with　keen　eyes　the　whole。

〃She　is　a　poor　wild　Indian　girlmy　daughter；　I　call　her。　　I　will　tell　you　her　story　hereafter。〃

〃Your　daughter？　　My　grand…daughter；　then。　　Come　hither；　maiden；　and　be　my　grand…daughter。〃

Ayacanora　came　obedient；　and　knelt　down；　because　she　had　seen　Amyas　kneel。

〃God　forbid；　child！　kneel　not　to　me。　　Come　home；　and　let　me　know　whether　I　am　sane　or　mazed；　alive　or　dead。〃

And　drawing　her　hood　over　her　face；　she　turned　to　go　back；　holding　Amyas　tight　by　one　hand；　and　Ayacanora　by　the　other。

The　crowd　let　them　depart　some　twenty　yards　in　respectful　silence；　and　then　burst　into　a　cheer　which　made　the　old　town　ring。

Mrs。　Leigh　stopped　suddenly。

〃I　had　forgotten；　Amyas。　　You　must　not　let　me　stand　in　the　way　of　your　duty。　　Where　are　your　men？〃

〃Kissed　to　death　by　this　time；　all　of　them；　that　is；　who　are　left。〃

〃Left？〃

〃We　went　out　a　hundred；　mother；　and　we　came　home　forty…fourif　we　are　at　home。　　Is　it　a　dream；　mother？　　Is　this　you？　and　this　old　Bridgeland　Street　again？　　As　I　live；　there　stands　Evans　the　smith；　at　his　door；　tankard　in　hand；　as　he　did　when　I　was　a　boy！〃

The　brawny　smith　came　across　the　street　to　them；　but　stopped　when　he　saw　Amyas；　but　no　Frank。

〃Better　one　than　neither；　madam！〃　said　he；　trying　a　rough　comfort。　Amyas　shook　his　hand　as　he　passed　him；　but　Mrs。　Leigh　neither　heard　nor　saw　him　nor　any　one。

〃Mother；〃　said　Amyas；　when　th