to have and to hold-第32部分

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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