to have and to hold-第60部分

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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