to have and to hold-第28节
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！
by the window； I knew that she was weeping； though her pride strove to keep that knowledge from me。 My heart ached for her； and I knew not how to comfort her。 At last she turned。 A pasty and stoup of wine were upon the table。
〃You are tired and shaken；〃 I said； 〃and you may need all your strength。 Come； eat and drink。〃
〃For to…morrow we die；〃 she added； and broke into tremulous laughter。 Her lashes were still wet； but her pride and daring had returned。 She drank the wine I poured for her； and we spoke of indifferent things； … of the game that afternoon； of the Indian Nantauquas； of the wild night that clouds and wind portended。 Supper over； I called Angela to bear her company； and I myself went out into the night； and down the street toward the guest house。
CHAPTER XVIII IN WHICH WE GO OUT INTO THE NIGHT
THE guest house was aflame with lights。 As I neared it； there was borne to my ears a burst of drunken shouts accompanied by a volley of musketry。 My lord was pursuing with a vengeance our senseless fashion of wasting in drinking bouts powder that would have been better spent against the Indians。 The noise increased。 The door was flung open； and there issued a tide of drawers and servants headed by mine host himself； and followed by a hail of such minor breakables as the house contained and by Olympian laughter。
I made my way past the indignant host and his staff； and standing upon the threshold looked at the riot within。 The long room was thick with the smoke of tobacco and the smoke of powder； through which the many torches burned yellow。 Upon the great table wine had been spilt； and dripped to swell a red pool upon the floor。 Underneath the table； still grasping his empty tankard； lay the first of my lord's guests to fall； an up…river Burgess with white hair。 The rest of the company were fast reeling to a like fate。 Young Hamor had a fiddle； and； one foot upon a settle； the other upon the table； drew across it a fast and furious bow。 Master Pory； arrived at the maudlin stage； alternately sang a slow and melancholy ditty and wiped the tears from his eyes with elaborate care。 Master Edward Sharpless； now in a high voice； now in an undistinguishable murmur； argued some imaginary case。 Peaceable Sherwood was drunk； and Giles Allen； and Pettiplace Clause。 Captain John Martin； sitting with outstretched legs； called now for a fresh tankard； which he emptied at a gulp； now for his pistols； which； as fast as my lord's servants brought them to him new primed； he discharged at the ceiling。 The loud wind rattled doors and windows； and made the flame of the torches stream sideways。 The music grew madder and madder； the shots more frequent； the drunken voices thicker and louder。
The master of the feast carried his wine better than did his guests； or had drunk less； but his spirit too was quite without bounds。 A color burned in his cheeks； a wicked light in his eyes； he laughed to himself。 In the gray smoke cloud he saw me not； or saw me only as one of the many who thronged the doorway and stared at the revel within。 He raised his silver cup with a slow and wavering hand。 〃Drink； you dogs！〃 he chanted。 〃Drink to the Santa Teresa！ Drink to to…morrow night！ Drink to a proud lady within my arms and an enemy in my power！〃
The wine that had made him mad had maddened those others； also。 In that hour they were dead to honor。 With shameless laughter and as little spilling as might be； they raised their tankards as my lord raised his。 A stone thrown by some one behind me struck the cup from my lord's hand； sending it clattering to the floor and dashing him with the red wine。 Master Pory roared with drunken laughter。 〃Cup and lip missed that time！〃 he cried。
The man who had thrown the stone was Jeremy Sparrow。 For one instant I saw his great figure； and the wrathful face beneath his shock of grizzled hair； the next he had made his way through the crowd of gaping menials and was gone。
My lord stared foolishly at the stains upon his hands； at the fallen goblet and the stone beside it。 〃Cogged dice；〃 he said thickly； 〃or I had not lost that throw！ I'll drink that toast by myself to…morrow night； when the ship does n't rock like this d … d floor； and the sea has no stones to throw。 More wine； Giles！ To my Lord High Admiral； gentlemen！ To his Grace of Buckingham！ May he shortly howl in hell； and looking back to Whitehall see me upon the King's bosom！ The King 's a good king； gentlemen！ He gave me this ruby。 D' ye know what I had of him last year？ I〃 …
I turned and left the door and the house。 I could not thrust a fight upon a drunken man。
Ten yards away； suddenly and without any warning of his approach； I found beside me the Indian Nantauquas。 〃I have been to the woods to hunt；〃 he said； in the slow musical English Rolfe had taught him。 〃I knew where a panther lodged； and to…day I laid a snare； and took him in it。 I brought him to my brother's house； and caged him there。 When I have tamed him； I shall give him to the beautiful lady。〃
He expected no answer； and I gave him none。 There are times when an Indian is the best company in the world。
Just before we reached the market place we had to pass the mouth of a narrow lane leading down to the river。 The night was very dark； though the stars still shone through rifts in the ever moving clouds。 The Indian and I walked rapidly on； … my footfalls sounding clear and sharp on the frosty ground； he as noiseless as a shadow。 We had reached the further side of the lane； when he put forth an arm and plucked from the blackness a small black figure。
In the middle of the square was kept burning a great brazier filled with pitched wood。 It was the duty of the watch to keep it flaming from darkness to dawn。 We found it freshly heaped with pine； and its red glare lit a goodly circle。 The Indian； pinioning the wrists of his captive with his own hand of steel； dragged him with us into this circle of light。
〃Looking for simples once more； learned doctor？〃 I demanded。
He mowed and jabbered； twisting this way and that in the grasp of the Indian。
〃Loose him；〃 I said to the latter； 〃but let him not come too near you。 Why； worthy doctor； in so wild and threatening a night； when fire is burning and wine flowing at the guest house； do you choose to crouch here in the cold and darkness？〃
He looked at me with his filmy eyes； and that faint smile that had more of menace in it than a panther's snarl。 〃I laid in wait for you； it is true； noble sir；〃 he said in his thin； dreamy voice； 〃but it was for your good。 I would give you warning； sir。〃
He stood with his mean figure bent cringingly forward； and with his hat in his hand。 〃A warning； sir；〃 he went ramblingly on。 〃Maybe a certain one has made me his enemy。 Maybe I cut myself loose from his service。 Maybe I would do him an ill turn。 I can tell you a secret； sir。〃 He lowered his voice and looked around； as if in fear of eavesdroppers。
〃In your ear； sir；〃 he said。
I recoiled。 〃Stand back；〃 I cried； 〃or you will cull no more simples this side of hell！〃
〃Hell！ 〃 he answered。 〃There's no such place。 I will not tell my secret aloud。〃
〃Nicolo the Italian！ Nicolo the Poisoner！ Nicolo the Black Death！ I am coming for the soul you sold me。 There is a hell！〃
The thundering voice came from underneath our feet。 With a sound that was not a groan and not a screech； the Italian reeled back against the heated iron of the brazier。 Starting from that fiery contact with an unearthly shriek； he threw up his arms and dashed away into the darkness。 The sound of his madly hurrying footsteps came back to us until the guest house had swallowed him and his guilty terrors。
〃Can the preacher play the devil too？〃 I asked； as Sparrow came up to us from the other side of the fire。 〃I could have sworn that that voice came from the bowels of the earth。 'T is the strangest gift！〃
〃A mere trick；〃 he said； with his great laugh； 〃but it has served me well on more occasions than one。 It is not known in Virginia； sir； but before ever the word of the Lord came to me to save poor silly souls I was a player。 Once I played the King's ghost in Will Shakespeare's 'Hamlet；' and then； I warrant you； I spoke from the cellarage indeed。 I so frighted players and playgoers that they swore it was witchcraft； and Burbage's knees did knock together in dead earnest。 But to the matter in hand。 When I had thrown yonder stone； I walked quietly down to the Governor's house and looked through the window。 The Governor hath the Company's letters； and he and the Council … all save the reprobate Pory … sit there staring at them and drumming with their fingers on the table。〃
〃Is Rolfe of the Council？〃 I asked。
〃Ay； he was speaking； … for you； I suppose； though I heard not the words。 They all listened； but they all shook their heads。〃
〃We shall know in the morning；〃 I said。 〃The night grows wilder； and honest folks should be abed。 Nantauquas； good…night。 When will you have tamed your panther？〃
〃It is now the moon of cohonks；〃 answered the Indian。 〃When the moon of blossoms is here； the panther shall roll at the beautiful lady's feet。〃
〃The moon of blossoms！〃 I said。 〃The moon of blossoms is a long way off。 I have panthers myself to tame before it comes。 This wil
