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all　those　shameless　faces　that　stare　at　me　as　if　I　were　in　the　pillory。　I　am　pilloried　before　you　all；　and　I　find　the　experience　sufficiently　bitter。　And　when　I　think　that　that　man　whom　I　hate；　hate；　hate；　breathes　the　air　that　I　breathe；　it　stifles　me！　If　I　could　fly　away　like　those　birds；　if　I　could　only　be　gone　from　this　place　for　even　a　day！〃

〃I　would　beg　leave　to　take　you　home；　to　Weyanoke；〃　I　said　after　a　pause；　〃but　I　cannot　go　and　leave　the　field　to　him。〃

〃And　I　cannot　go；〃　she　answered。　〃I　must　watch　for　that　ship　and　that　King's　command　that　my　Lord　Carnal　thinks　potent　enough　to　make　me　his　wife。　King's　commands　are　strong；　but　a　woman's　will　is　stronger。　At　the　last　I　shall　know　what　to　do。　But　now　why　may　I　not　take　Angela　and　cross　that　strip　of　sand　and　go　into　the　woods　on　the　other　side？　They　are　so　fair　and　strange；　…　all　red　and　yellow；　…　and　they　look　very　still　and　peaceful。　I　could　walk　in　them；　or　lie　down　under　the　trees　and　forget　awhile；　and　they　are　not　at　all　far　away。〃　She　looked　at　me　eagerly。

〃You　could　not　go　alone；〃　I　told　her。　〃There　would　be　danger　in　that。　But　to…morrow；　if　you　　choose；　I　and　Master　Sparrow　and　Diccon　will　take　you　there。　A　day　in　the　woods　is　pleasant　enough；　and　will　do　none　of　us　harm。　Then　you　may　wander　as　you　please；　fill　your　arms　with　colored　leaves；　and　forget　the　world。　We　will　watch　that　no　harm　comes　nigh　you；　but　otherwise　you　shall　not　be　disturbed。〃

She　broke　into　delighted　laughter。　Of　all　women　the　most　steadfast　of　soul；　her　outward　moods　were　as　variable　as　a　child's。　〃Agreed！〃　she　cried。　〃You　and　the　minister　and　Diccon　Demon　shall　lay　your　muskets　across　your　knees；　and　Angela　shall　witch　you　into　stone　with　her　old；　mad；　heathen　charms。　And　then　…　and　then　…　I　will　gather　more　gold　than　had　King　Midas；　I　will　dance　with　the　hamadryads；　I　will　find　out　Oberon　and　make　Titania　jealous！〃

〃I　do　not　doubt　that　you　could　do　so；〃　I　said；　as　she　sprang　to　her　feet；　childishly　eager　and　radiantly　beautiful。

I　rose　to　go　in　with　her；　for　it　was　supper　time；　but　in　a　moment　changed　my　mind；　and　resumed　my　seat　on　the　bank　of　turf。　〃Do　you　go　in；〃　I　said。　〃There's　a　snake　near　by；　in　those　bushes　below　the　bank。　I'll　kill　the　creature；　and　then　I'll　come　to　supper。〃

When　she　was　gone；　I　walked　to　where；　ten　feet　away；　the　bank　dipped　to　a　clump　of　reeds　and　willows　planted　in　the　mud　on　the　brink　of　the　river。　Dropping　on　my　knees　I　leaned　over；　and；　grasping　a　man　by　the　collar；　lifted　him　from　the　slime　where　he　belonged　to　the　bank　beside　me。

It　was　my　Lord　Carnal's　Italian　doctor　that　I　had　so　fished　up。　I　had　seen　him　before；　and　had　found　in　his　very　small；　mean　figure　clad　all　in　black；　and　　his　narrow　face　with　malignant　eyes；　and　thin　white　lips　drawn　tightly　over　gleaming　teeth；　something　infinitely　repulsive；　sickening　to　the　sight　as　are　certain　reptiles　to　the　touch。

〃There　are　no　simples　or　herbs　of　grace　to　be　found　amongst　reeds　and　half…drowned　willows；〃　I　said。　〃What　did　so　learned　a　doctor　look　for　in　so　unlikely　a　place？〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　made　play　with　his　clawlike　hands；　as　if　he　understood　me　not。　It　was　a　lie；　for　I　knew　that　he　and　the　English　tongue　were　sufficiently　acquainted。　I　told　him　as　much；　and　he　shot　at　me　a　most　venomous　glance；　but　continued　to　shrug；　gesticulate；　and　jabber　in　Italian。　At　last　I　saw　nothing　better　to　do　than　to　take　him；　still　by　the　collar；　to　the　edge　of　the　garden　next　the　churchyard；　and　with　the　toe　of　my　boot　to　send　him　tumbling　among　the　graves。　I　watched　him　pick　himself　up；　set　his　attire　to　rights；　and　go　away　in　the　gathering　dusk；　winding　in　and　out　among　the　graves；　and　then　I　went　in　to　supper；　and　told　Mistress　Percy　that　the　snake　was　dead。　



CHAPTER　X　　IN　WHICH　I　RECEIVE　A　WARNING　AND　REPOSE　A　TRUST


SHORTLY　before　daybreak　I　was　wakened　by　a　voice　beneath　my　window。　〃Captain　Percy；〃　it　cried；　〃the　Governor　wishes　you　at　his　house！〃　and　was　gone。

I　dressed　and　left　the　house；　disturbing　no　one。　Hurrying　through　the　chill　dawn；　I　reached　the　square　not　much　behind　the　rapid　footsteps　of　the　watch　who　had　wakened　me。　About　the　Governor's　door　were　horses；　saddled　and　bridled；　with　grooms　at　their　heads；　men　and　beasts　gray　and　indistinct；　wrapped　in　the　fog。　I　went　up　the　steps　and　into　the　hall；　and　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　Governor's　great　room。　It　opened；　and　I　entered　to　find　Sir　George；　with　Master　Pory；　Rolfe；　West；　and　others　of　the　Council　gathered　about　the　great　centre　table　and　talking　eagerly。　The　Governor　was　but　half　dressed；　West　and　Rolfe　were　in　jack　boots　and　coats　of　mail。　A　man；　breathless　with　hard　riding；　spattered　with　swamp　mud　and　torn　by　briers；　stood；　cap　in　hand；　staring　from　one　to　the　other。

〃In　good　time；　Captain　Percy！〃　cried　the　Governor。　〃Yesterday　you　called　the　profound　peace　with　the　Indians；　of　which　some　of　us　boasted；　the　lull　before　the　storm。　Faith；　it　looks　to…day　as　though　you　were　in　the　right；　after　all！〃

〃What　's　the　matter；　sir？〃　I　asked；　advancing　to　the　table。

〃Matter　enough！〃　he　answered。　〃This　man　has　come；　post　haste；　from　the　plantations　above　Paspahegh。　Three　days　ago；　Morgan；　the　trader；　was　decoyed　into　the　woods　by　that　Paspahegh　fool　and　bully；　Nemattanow；　whom　they　call　Jack　of　the　Feather；　and　there　murdered。　Yesterday；　out　of　sheer　bravado；　the　Indian　turned　up　at　Morgan's　house；　and　Morgan's　men　shot　him　down。　They　buried　the　dog；　and　thought　no　more　of　it。　Three　hours　ago；　Chanco　the　Christian　went　to　the　commander　and　warned　him　that　the　Paspaheghs　were　in　a　ferment；　and　that　the　warriors　were　painting　themselves　black。　The　commander　sent　off　at　once　to　me；　and　I　see　naught　better　to　do　than　to　dispatch　you　with　a　dozen　men　to　bring　them　to　their　senses。　But　there　's　to　be　no　harrying　nor　battle。　A　show　of　force　is　all　that　's　needed；　…　I'll　stake　my　head　upon　it。　Let　them　see　that　we　are　not　to　be　taken　unawares；　but　give　them　fair　words。　That　they　may　be　the　sooner　placated　I　send　with　you　Master　Rolfe；　…　they'll　listen　to　him。　See　that　the　black　paint　is　covered　with　red；　give　them　some　beads　and　a　knife　or　two；　then　come　home。　If　you　like　not　the　look　of　things；　find　out　where　Opechancanough　is；　and　I'll　send　him　an　embassy。　He　loves　us　well；　and　will　put　down　any　disaffection。〃

〃There's　no　doubt　that　he　loves　us；〃　I　said　dryly。　〃He　loves　us　as　a　cat　loves　the　mouse　that　it　plays　with。　If　we　are　to　start　at　once；　sir；　I'll　go　get　my　horse。〃

〃Then　meet　us　at　the　neck　of　land；〃　said　Rolfe。

I　nodded；　and　left　the　room。　As　I　descended　the　steps　into　the　growing　light　outside；　I　found　Master　Pory　at　my　side。

〃I　kept　late　hours　last　night；〃　he　remarked；　with　a　　portentous　yawn。　〃Now　that　this　business　is　settled；　I'll　go　back　to　bed。〃

I　walked　on　in　silence。

〃I　am　in　your　black　books；〃　he　continued；　with　his　sly；　merry；　sidelong　glance。　〃You　think　that　I　was　overcareful　of　the　ground；　that　morning　behind　the　church；　and　so　unfortunately　delayed　matters　until　the　Governor　happened　by　and　brought　things　to　another　guess　conclusion。〃

〃I　think　that　you　warned　the　Governor；〃　I　said　bluntly。

He　shook　with　laughter。　〃Warned　him？　Of　course　I　warned　him。　Youth　would　never　have　seen　that　molehill　and　fairy　ring　and　projecting　root；　but　wisdom　cometh　with　gray　hairs；　my　son。　D'　ye　not　think　I'll　have　the　King's　thanks？〃

〃Doubtless；〃　I　answered。　〃An　the　price　contents　you；　I　do　not　know　why　I　should　quarrel　with　it。〃

By　this　we　were　halfway　down　the　street；　and　we　now　came　upon　the　guest　house。　A　window　above　us　was　unshuttered；　and　in　the　room　within　a　light　still　burned。　Suddenly　it　was　extinguished。　A　man's　face　looked　down　upon　us　for　a　moment；　then　drew　back；　a　skeleton　hand　was　put　out　softly　and　slowly；　and　the　shutter　drawn　to。　Hand　and　face　belonged　to　the　man　I　had　sent　tumbling　among　the　graves　the　evening　before。

〃The　Italian　doctor；〃　said　Master　Pory。

There　was　something　peculiar　in　his　tone。　I　glanced　at　him；　but　his　broad　red　face　and　twinkling　eyes　told　me　nothing。　〃The　Italian　doctor；〃　he　repeated。　〃If　I　had　a　friend　in　Captain　Percy's　predicament；　I　should　bid　him　beware　of　the　Italian　doctor。〃

〃Your　friend　would　be　obliged　for　the　warning；〃　I　replied。

We　walked　a　little　further。　〃And　I　think；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　should　inform　this　purely　hypothetical　friend　of　mine　that　the　Italian　and　his　patron　had　their　heads　mighty　close　together；　last　night。〃

〃Last　night？〃

〃Ay；　last　night。　I　went　to　drink　with　my　lord；　and　so　broke　up　their　t？te………t？te。　　My　lord　was　boisterous　in　his　cups　and　not　oversecret。　He　dropped　some　hints〃　…　He　broke　off　to　indulge　in　one　of　his　endless　silent　laughs。　〃I　don't　know　why　I　tell　you　this；　Captain　Percy。　I　am　on　the　other　side；　you　know；　…　quite　on　the　other　side。　But　now　I　bethink　me；　I　am　only　telling　you　what　I　should　tell　you　were　I　upon　your　side。　There's　no　harm　in　that；　I　hope；　no　disloyalty　to　my　Lord　Carnal's　interests　which　happen　to　be　my　interests？〃

I　made　no　answer。　I　gave　him　credit　both　for　his　ignorance　of　the　very　hornbook　of　honor　and　for　his　large　share　of　the　milk　of　human　kindness。

〃My　lord　grows　restive；〃　he　said；　when　we　had　gone　a　little　further。　〃The　Francis　and　John；　c