to have and to hold-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He had dropped the pike to raise his clasped hands to the blue heavens； but now he lifted it again； threw back his shoulders； and flung up his head。 He laid his hand on the flagstaff； and looked up to the banner streaming in the breeze。 〃It looks well so high against the blue； does n't it； friends？〃 he cried genially。 〃Suppose we keep it there forever and a day！〃
A cheer arose； so loud that it silenced； if it did not convince； the craven few。 As for Master Edward Sharpless； he disappeared behind the line of women。
The great ship came steadily on； her white sails growing larger and larger； moment by moment； her tiers of guns more distinct and menacing； her whole aspect more defiant。 Her waist seemed packed with men。 But no streamers； no flag。
A puff of smoke floated up from the deck of the Tiger； and a ball from one of her two tiny falcons passed through the stranger's rigging。 A cheer for the brave little cockboat arose from the English。 〃David and his pebble！〃 exclaimed Master Jeremy Sparrow。 〃Now for Goliath's twenty…pounders！〃
But no flame and thunder issued from the guns aboard the stranger。 Instead； from her deck there came to us what sounded mightily like a roar of laughter。 Suddenly； from each masthead and yard shot out streamers of red and blue； up from the poop rose and flaunted in the wind the crosses of St。 George and St。 Andrew； and with a crash trumpet； drum； and fife rushed into
〃Here's to jolly good ale and old！〃
〃By the Lord； she's English！〃 shouted the Governor。
On she came； banners flying； music playing； and inextinguishable laughter rising from her decks。 The Tiger； the Truelove； and the Due Return sent no more hailstones against her； they turned and resolved themselves into her consort。 The watch； a grim old sea dog that had come in with Dale； swung himself down from his post； and came toward the Governor at a run。 〃I know her now； sir！〃 he shouted。 〃I was at the winning of Cales； and she's the Santa Teresa； that we took and sent home to the Queen。 She was Spanish once； sir； but she's English now。〃
The gates were flung open； and the excited people poured out again upon the river bank。 I found myself beside the Governor； whose honest countenance wore an expression of profound bewilderment。
〃What d' ye make of her； Percy？〃 he said。 〃The Company does n't send servants； felons； 'prentices； or maids in such craft； no； nor officers or governors； either。 It's the King's ship； sure enough； but what is she doing here？ … that 's the question。 What does she want； and whom does she bring？〃
〃We'll soon know；〃 I answered； 〃for there goes her anchor。〃
Five minutes later a boat was lowered from the ship； and came swiftly toward us。 The boat had four rowers； and in the stern sat a tall man； black…bearded； high…colored； and magnificently dressed。 It touched the sand some two hundred feet from the spot where Governor； Councilors； officers； and a sprinkling of other sorts stood staring at it； and at the great ship beyond。 The man in the stern leaped out； looked around him； and then walked toward us。 As he walked slowly； we had leisure to note the richness of his doublet and cloak； … the one slashed； the other lined with scarlet taffeta； … the arrogance of his mien and gait； and the superb full…blooded beauty of his face。
〃The handsomest man that ever I saw！ 〃 ejaculated the Governor。
Master Pory； standing beside him； drew in his breath； then puffed it out again。 〃Handsome enough； your Honor；〃 he said； 〃unless handsome is as handsome does。 That； gentlemen； is my Lord Carnal； … that is the King's latest favorite。〃
CHAPTER VIII IN WHICH ENTERS MY LORD CARNAL
I FELT a touch upon my shoulder； and turned to find Mistress Percy beside me。 Her cheeks were white； her eyes aflame； her whole frame tense。 The passion that dominated her was so clearly anger at white heat that I stared at her in amazement。 Her hand slid from my shoulder to the bend of my arm and rested there。 〃Remember that I am your wife； sir；〃 she said in a low； fierce voice； … 〃your kind and loving wife。 You said that your sword was mine； now bring your wit to the same service！〃
There was not time to question her meaning。 The man whose position in the realm had just been announced by the Secretary； and of whom we had all heard as one not unlikely to supplant even Buckingham himself； was close at hand。 The Governor； headpiece in hand； stepped forward； the other swept off his Spanish hat； both bowed profoundly。
〃I speak to his Honor the Governor of Virginia？〃 inquired the newcomer。 His tone was offhand； his hat already back upon his head。
〃I am George Yeardley； at my Lord Carnal's service；〃 answered the Governor。
The favorite raised his eyebrows。 〃I don't need to introduce myself； it seems；〃 he said。 〃You've found that I am not the devil； after all； … at least not the Spanish Apollyon。 Zooks ！ a hawk above a poultry yard could n't have caused a greater commotion than did my poor little ship and my few poor birding pieces！ Does every strange sail so put you through your paces？〃
The Governor's color mounted。 〃We are not at home；〃 he answered stiffly。 〃Here we are few and weak and surrounded by many dangers； and have need to be vigilant； being planted； as it were； in the very grasp of that Spain who holds Europe in awe； and who claims this land as her own。 That we are here at all is proof enough of our courage； my lord。〃
The other shrugged his shoulders。 〃I don't doubt your mettle；〃 he said negligently。 〃I dare say it matches your armor。〃
His glance had rested for a moment upon the battered headpiece and ancient rusty breastplate with which Master Jeremy Sparrow was bedight。
〃It is something antique； truly； something out of fashion；〃 remarked that worthy； … 〃almost as out of fashion as courtesy from guests； or respect for dignities from my…face…is…my…fortune minions and lords on carpet considerations。〃
The hush of consternation following this audacious speech was broken by a roar of laughter from the favorite himself。 〃Zounds！〃 he cried； 〃your courage is worn on your sleeve； good giant！ I'll uphold you to face Spaniards； strappado； rack； galleys； and all！〃
The bravado with which he spoke； the insolence of his bold glance and curled lip； the arrogance with which he flaunted that King's favor which should be a brand more infamous than the hangman's； his beauty； the pomp of his dress； … all were alike hateful。 I hated him then； scarce knowing why； as I hated him afterward with reason。
He now pulled from the breast of his doublet a packet； which he proffered the Governor。 〃From the King； sir；〃 he announced； in the half…fierce； half… mocking tone he had made his own。 〃You may read it at your leisure。 He wishes you to further me in a quest upon which I have come。〃
The Governor took the packet with reverence。 〃His Majesty's will is our law；〃 he said。 〃Anything that lies in our power； sir； though if you come for gold〃 …
The favorite laughed again。 〃I've come for a thing a deal more precious； Sir Governor； … a thing worth more to me than all the treasure of the Indies with Manoa and El Dorado thrown in； … to wit； the thing upon which I've set my mind。 That which I determine to do； I do； sir； and the thing I determine to have； why； sooner or later； by hook or by crook； fair means or foul； I have it！ I am not one to be crossed or defied with impunity。〃
〃I do not take your meaning； my lord；〃 said the Governor； puzzled； but courteous。 〃There are none here who would care to thwart； in any honorable enterprise； a nobleman so high in the King's favor。 I trust that my Lord Carnal will make my poor house his own during his stay in Virginia … What's the matter； my lord？〃
My lord's face was dark red； his black eyes afire； his mustaches working up and down。 His white teeth had closed with a click on the loud oath which had interrupted the Governor's speech。 Honest Sir George and his circle stared at this unaccountable guest in amazement not unmixed with dismay。 As for myself； I knew before he spoke what had caused the oath and the fierce triumph in that handsome face。 Master Jeremy Sparrow had moved a little to one side； thus exposing to view that which his great body had before screened from observatio
