to have and to hold-第66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！


d　broke　our　way　through　the　bushes　to　the　sycamores；　to　find　that　they　indeed　shadowed　a　little　sluggish　stream。

Down　this　we　waded　for　some　distance　before　taking　to　dry　earth　again。　Since　entering　the　thicket　we　had　seen　and　heard　nothing　suspicious；　and　were　now　fain　to　conclude　that　the　dark　warrior　had　wearied　of　the　chase；　and　was　gone　on　his　way　toward　his　mates　and　that　larger　and　surer　quarry　which　two　suns　would　bring。　Certain　it　is　that　we　saw　no　more　of　him。

The　stream　flowing　to　the　south；　we　went　with　it；　hurrying　along　its　bank；　beneath　the　shadow　of　great　trees；　with　the　stars　gleaming　down　through　the　branches。　It　was　cold　and　still；　and　far　in　the　distance　we　heard　wolves　hunting。　As　for　me；　I　felt　no　　weariness。　Every　sense　was　sharpened；　my　feet　were　light；　the　keen　air　was　like　wine　in　the　drinking；　there　was　a　star　low　in　the　south　that　shone　and　beckoned。　The　leagues　between　my　wife　and　me　were　few。　I　saw　her　standing　beneath　the　star；　with　a　little　purple　flower　in　her　hand。

Suddenly；　a　bend　in　the　stream　hiding　the　star；　I　became　aware　that　Diccon　was　no　longer　keeping　step　with　me；　but　had　fallen　somewhat　to　the　rear。　I　turned；　and　he　was　leaning　heavily；　with　drooping　head；　against　the　trunk　of　a　tree。

〃Art　so　worn　as　that？〃　I　exclaimed。　〃Put　more　heart　into　thy　heels；　man！〃

He　straightened　himself　and　strode　on　beside　me。　〃I　don't　know　what　came　over　me　for　a　minute；〃　he　answered。　〃The　wolves　are　loud　to…night。　I　hope　they'll　keep　to　their　side　of　the　water。〃

A　stone's　throw　farther　on；　the　stream　curving　to　the　west；　we　left　it；　and　found　ourselves　in　a　sparsely　wooded　glade；　with　a　bare　and　sandy　soil　beneath　our　feet；　and　above；　in　the　western　sky；　a　crescent　moon。　Again　Diccon　lagged　behind；　and　presently　I　heard　him　groan　in　the　darkness。

I　wheeled。　〃Diccon！〃　I　cried。　〃What　is　the　matter？〃

Before　I　could　reach　him　he　had　sunk　to　his　knees。　When　I　put　my　hand　upon　his　arm　and　again　demanded　what　ailed　him；　he　tried　to　laugh；　then　tried　to　swear；　and　ended　with　another　groan。　〃The　ball　did　graze　my　arm；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　went　on　into　my　side。　I'll　just　lie　here　and　die；　and　wish　you　well　at　Jamestown。　When　the　red　imps　come　against　you　there；　and　you　open　fire　on　them；　name　a　bullet　for　me。〃



CHAPTER　XXXV　　IN　WHICH　I　COME　TO　THE　GOVERNOR'S　HOUSE


I　LAID　him　down　upon　the　earth；　and；　cutting　away　his　doublet　and　the　shirt　beneath；　saw　the　wound；　and　knew　that　there　was　a　journey　indeed　that　he　would　shortly　make。　〃The　world　is　turning　round；〃　he　muttered；　〃and　the　stars　are　falling　thicker　than　the　hailstones　yesterday。　Go　on；　and　I　will　stay　behind；　…　I　and　the　wolves。〃

I　took　him　in　my　arms　and　carried　him　back　to　the　bank　of　the　stream；　for　I　knew　that　he　would　want　water　until　he　died。　My　head　was　bare；　but　he　had　worn　his　cap　from　the　gaol　at　Jamestown　that　night。　I　filled　it　with　water　and　gave　him　to　drink；　then　washed　the　wound　and　did　what　I　could　to　stanch　the　bleeding。　He　turned　from　side　to　side；　and　presently　his　mind　began　to　wander；　and　he　talked　of　the　tobacco　in　the　fields　at　Weyanoke。　Soon　he　was　raving　of　old　things；　old　camp　fires　and　night…time　marches　and　wild　skirmishes；　perils　by　land　and　by　sea；　then　of　dice　and　wine　and　women。　Once　he　cried　out　that　Dale　had　bound　him　upon　the　wheel；　and　that　his　arms　and　legs　were　broken；　and　the　woods　rang　to　his　screams。　Why；　in　that　wakeful　forest；　they　were　unheard；　or　why；　if　heard；　they　went　unheeded；　God　only　knows。

The　moon　went　down；　and　it　was　very　cold。　How　black　were　the　shadows　around　us；　what　foes　might　　steal　from　that　darkness　upon　us；　it　was　not　worth　while　to　consider。　I　do　not　know　what　I　thought　of　on　that　night；　or　even　that　I　thought　at　all。　Between　my　journeys　for　the　water　that　he　called　for　I　sat　beside　the　dying　man　with　my　hand　upon　his　breast；　for　he　was　quieter　so。　Now　and　then　I　spoke　to　him；　but　he　answered　not。

Hours　before　we　had　heard　the　howling　of　wolves；　and　knew　that　some　ravenous　pack　was　abroad。　With　the　setting　of　the　moon　the　noise　had　ceased；　and　I　thought　that　the　brutes　had　pulled　down　the　deer　they　hunted；　or　else　had　gone　with　their　hunger　and　their　dismal　voices　out　of　earshot。　Suddenly　the　howling　recommenced；　at　first　faint　and　far　away；　then　nearer　and　nearer　yet。　Earlier　in　the　evening　the　stream　had　been　between　us；　but　now　the　wolves　had　crossed　and　were　coming　down　our　side　of　the　water；　and　were　coming　fast。

All　the　ground　was　strewn　with　dead　wood；　and　near　by　was　a　growth　of　low　and　brittle　bushes。　I　gathered　the　withered　branches；　and　broke　fagots　from　the　bushes；　then　into　the　press　of　dark　and　stealthy　forms　I　threw　a　great　crooked　stick；　shouting　as　I　did　so；　and　threatening　with　my　arms。　They　turned　and　fled；　but　presently　they　were　back　again。　Again　I　frightened　them　away；　and　again　they　returned。　I　had　flint　and　steel　and　tinder　box；　when　I　had　scared　them　from　us　a　third　time；　and　they　had　gone　only　a　little　way；　I　lit　a　splinter　of　pine；　and　with　it　fired　my　heap　of　wood；　then　dragged　Diccon　into　the　light　and　sat　down　beside　him；　with　no　longer　any　fear　of　the　wolves；　but　with　absolute　confidence　in　the　quick　appearance　of　less　cowardly　foes。　There　was　wood　enough　and　to　spare；　when　the　fire　sank　low　and　the　　hungry　eyes　gleamed　nearer；　I　fed　it　again；　and　the　flame　leaped　up　and　mocked　the　eyes。

No　human　enemy　came　upon　us。　The　fire　blazed　and　roared；　and　the　man　who　lay　in　its　rosy　glare　raved　on；　crying　out　now　and　then　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　but　on　that　night　of　all　nights；　of　all　years；　light　and　voice　drew　no　savage　band　to　put　out　the　one　and　silence　the　other　forever。

Hours　passed；　and　as　it　drew　toward　midnight　Diccon　sank　into　a　stupor。　I　knew　that　the　end　was　not　far　away。　The　wolves　were　gone　at　last；　and　my　fire　was　dying　down。　He　needed　my　touch　upon　his　breast　no　longer；　and　I　went　to　the　stream　and　bathed　my　hands　and　forehead；　and　then　threw　myself　face　downward　upon　the　bank。　In　a　little　while　the　desolate　murmur　of　the　water　became　intolerable；　and　I　rose　and　went　back　to　the　fire；　and　to　the　man　whom；　as　God　lives；　I　loved　as　a　brother。

He　was　conscious。　Pale　and　cold　and　nigh　gone　as　he　was；　there　came　a　light　to　his　eyes　and　a　smile　to　his　lips　when　I　knelt　beside　him。　〃You　did　not　go？〃　he　breathed。

〃No；〃　I　answered；　〃I　did　not　go。〃

For　a　few　minutes　he　lay　with　closed　eyes；　when　he　again　opened　them　upon　my　face；　there　were　in　their　depths　a　question　and　an　appeal。　I　bent　over　him；　and　asked　him　what　he　would　have。

〃You　know；〃　he　whispered。　〃If　you　can　。　。　。　I　would　not　go　without　it。〃

〃Is　it　that？〃　I　asked。　〃I　forgave　you　long　ago。〃

〃I　meant　to　kill　you。　I　was　mad　because　you　struck　me　before　the　lady；　and　because　I　had　betrayed　my　trust。　An　you　had　not　caught　my　hand；　I　should　be　your　murderer。〃　He　spoke　with　long　intervals　　between　the　words；　and　the　death　dew　was　on　his　forehead。

〃Remember　it　not；　Diccon；〃　I　entreated。　〃I　too　was　to　blame。　And　I　see　not　that　night　for　other　nights；　…　for　other　nights　and　days；　Diccon。〃

He　smiled；　but　there　was　still　in　his　face　a　shadowy　eagerness。　〃You　said　you　would　never　strike　me　again；〃　he　went　on；　〃and　that　I　was　man　of　yours　no　more　forever　…　and　you　gave　me　my　freedom　in　the　paper　which　I　tore。〃　He　spoke　in　gasps；　with　his　eyes　upon　mine。　〃I'll　be　gone　in　a　few　minutes　now。　If　I　might　go　as　your　man　still；　and　could　tell　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ　that　my　master　on　earth　forgave；　and　took　back；　it　would　be　a　hand　in　the　dark。　I　have　spent　my　life　in　gathering　darkness　for　myself　at　the　last。〃

I　bent　lower　over　him；　and　took　his　hand　in　mine。　〃Diccon；　my　man；〃　I　said。

A　brightness　came　into　his　face；　and　he　faintly　pressed　my　hand。　I　slipped　my　arm　beneath　him　and　raised　him　a　little　higher　to　meet　his　death。　He　was　smiling　now；　and　his　mind　was　not　quite　clear。　〃Do　you　mind；　sir；〃　he　asked；　〃how　green　and　strong　and　sweet　smelled　the　pines　that　May　day；　when　we　found　Virginia；　so　many　years　ago？〃

〃Ay；　Diccon；〃　I　answered。　〃Before　we　saw　the　land；　the　fragance　told　us　we　were　near　it。〃

〃I　smell　it　now；〃　he　went　on；　〃and　the　bloom　of　the　grape；　and　the　May…time　flowers。　And　can　you　not　hear；　sir；　the　whistling　and　the　laughter　an