to have and to hold-第30节
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I took my wife by the hand and hurried her on。 A hundred yards before us ran the river； dark and turbulent； and between us and it rose an old； unsafe； and abandoned landing。 Sparrow laid his hand upon my arm。 〃Footsteps behind us；〃 he whispered。
Without slackening pace I turned my head and looked。 The clouds； high around the horizon； were thinning overhead； and the moon； herself invisible； yet lightened the darkness below。 The sandy lane stretched behind us like a ribbon of twilight； … nothing to be seen but it and the ebony mass of bush and tree lining it on either side。 We hastened on。 A minute later and we heard behind us a sound like the winding of a small horn； clear； shrill； and sweet。 Sparrow and I wheeled … and saw nothing。 The trees ran down to the very edge of the wharf； upon whose rotten； loosened； and noisy boards we now trod。 Suddenly the clouds above us broke； and the moon shone forth； whitening the mountainous clouds； the ridged and angry river； and the low； tree…fringed shore。 Below us； fastened to the piles and rocking with the waves； was the open boat in which we were to embark。 A few broken steps led from the boards above to the water below。 Descending these I sprang into the boat and held out my arms for Mistress Percy。 Sparrow gave her to me； and I lifted her down beside me； then turned to give what aid I might to the minister； who was halfway down the steps … and faced my Lord Carnal。
What devil had led him forth on such a night； why he； whom with my own eyes； three hours agone； I had seen drunken； should have chosen； after his carouse； cold air and his own company rather than sleep； when and where he first spied us； how long he had followed us； I have never known。 Perhaps he could not sleep for triumph； had heard of my impending arrest； had come forth to add to the bitterness of my cup by his presence； and so had happened upon us。 He could only have guessed at those he followed； until he reached the edge of the wharf and looked down upon us in the moonlight。 For a moment he stood without moving； then he raised his hand to his lips； and the shrill call that had before startled us rang out again。 At the far end of the lane lights appeared。 Men were coming down the lane at a run； whether they were the watch； or my lord's own rogues； we tarried not to see。 There was not time to loosen the rope from the piles； so I drew my knife to cut it。 My lord saw the movement； and sprang down the steps； at the same time shouting to the men behind to hasten。 Sparrow； grappling with him； locked him in a giant's embrace； lifted him bodily from the steps； and flung him into the boat。 His head struck against a thwart； and he lay； huddled beneath it； quiet enough。 The minister sprang after him； and I cut the rope。 By now the wharf shook with running feet； and the backward…streaming flame of the torches reddened its boards and the black water beneath； but each instant the water widened between us and our pursuers。 Wind and current swept us out； and at that wharf there were no boats to follow us。
Those whom my lord's whistle had brought were now upon the very edge of the wharf。 The marshal's voice called upon us in the name of the King to return。 Finding that we vouchsafed no answer； he pulled out a pistol and fired； the ball going through my hat； then whipped out its fellow and fired again。 Mistress Percy； whose behavior had been that of an angel； stirred in her seat。 I did not know until the day broke that the ball had grazed her arm； drenching her sleeve with blood。
〃It is time we were away；〃 I said； with a laugh。 〃If your reverence will keep your hand upon the tiller and your eye upon the gentleman whom you have made our traveling companion； I'll put up the sail。〃
I was on my way to the foremast； when the boom lying prone before me rose。 Slowly and majestically the sail ascended； tapering upward； silvered by the moon； … the great white pinion which should bear us we knew not whither。 I stopped short in my tracks； Mistress Percy drew a sobbing breath； and the minister gasped with admiration。 We all three stared as though the white cloth had veritably been a monster wing endowed with life。
〃Sails don't rise of themselves！〃 I exclaimed； and was at the mast before the words were out of my lips。 Crouched behind it was a man。 I should have known him even without the aid of the moon。 Often enough； God knows； I had seen him crouched like this beside me； ourselves in ambush awaiting some unwary foe； brute or human； or ourselves in hiding； holding our breath lest it should betray us。 The minister who had been a player； the rival who would have poisoned me； the servant who would have stabbed me； the wife who was wife in name only； … mine were strange shipmates。
He rose to his feet and stood there against the mast； in the old half…submissive； half…defiant attitude； with his head thrown back in the old way。
〃If you order me； sir； I will swim ashore；〃 he said； half sullenly； half … I know not how。
〃You would never reach the shore；〃 I replied。 〃And you know that I will never order you again。 Stay here if you please； or come aft if you please。〃
I went back and took the tiller from Sparrow。 We were now in mid…river； and the swollen stream and the strong wind bore us on with them like a leaf before the gale。 We left behind the lights and the clamor； the dark town and the silent fort； the weary Due Return and the shipping about the lower wharf。 Before us loomed the Santa Teresa； we passed so close beneath her huge black sides that we heard the wind whistling through her rigging。 When she； too； was gone； the river lay bare before us； silver when the moon shone； of an inky blackness when it was obscured by one of the many flying clouds。
My wife wrapped her mantle closer about her； and； leaning back in her seat in the stern beside me； raised her face to the wild and solemn heavens。 Diccon sat apart in the bow and held his tongue。 The minister bent over； and； lifting the man that lay in the bottom of the boat； laid him at full length upon the thwart before us。 The moonlight streamed down upon the prostrate figure。 I think it could never have shone upon a more handsome or a more wicked man。 He lay there in his splendid dress and dark beauty； Endymion…like； beneath the moon。 The King's ward turned her eyes upon him； kept them there a moment； then glanced away； and looked at him no more。
〃There's a parlous lump upon his forehead where it struck the thwart；〃 said the minister； 〃but the life's yet in him。 He'll shame honest men for many a day to come。 Your Platonists； who from a goodly outside argue as fair a soul； could never have been acquainted with this gentleman。〃
The subject of his discourse moaned and stirred。 The minister raised one of the hanging hands and felt for the pulse。 〃Faint enough；〃 he went on。 〃A little more and the King might have waited for his minion forever and a day。 It would have been the better for us； who have now； indeed； a strange fish upon our hands； but I am glad I killed him not。〃
I tossed him a flask。 〃It's good aqua vit‘； and the flask is honest。 Give him to drink of it。〃
He forced the liquor between my lord's teeth； then dashed water in his face。 Another minute and the King's favorite sat up and looked around him。 Dazed as yet； he stared； with no comprehension in his eyes； at the clouds； the sail； the rushing water； the dark figures about him。 〃Nicolo！〃 he cried sharply。
〃He's not here； my lord；〃 I said。
At the sound of my voice he sprang to his feet。
〃I should advise your lordship to sit still；〃 I said。 〃The wind is very boisterous； and we are not under bare poles。 If you exert yourself； you may capsize the boat。〃
He sat down mechanically； and put his hand to his forehead。 I watched him curiously。 It was the strangest trick that fortune had played him。
His hand dropped at last； and he straightened himself； with a long breath。 〃Who threw me into the boat？〃 he demanded。
〃The honor was mine；〃 declared the minister。
The King's minion lacked not the courage of the body； nor； when passionate action had brought him naught； a certain reserve force of philosophy。 He now did the best thing he could have done； … burst into a roar of laughter。 〃Zooks！〃 he cried。 〃It's as good a comedy as ever I saw！ How's the play to end； captain？ Are we to go off laughing； or is the end to be bloody after all？ For instance； is there murder to be done？〃 He looked at me boldly； one hand on his hip； the other twirling his mustaches。
〃We are not all murderers； my lord；〃 I told him。 〃For the present you are in no danger other than that which is common to us all。〃
He looked at the clouds piling behind us； thicker and thicker； higher and higher； at the bending mast； at the black water swirling now and again over the gunwales。 〃It's enough；〃 he muttered。
I beckoned to Diccon； and putting the tiller into his hands went forward to reef the sail。 When it was done and I was back in my place； my lord spoke again。
〃Where are we going； captain？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃If you leave that sail up much longer； you will land us at the bottom of the river。〃
〃There are worse places；〃 I replied。
He left his seat； and moved； though with caution； to one nearer Mistress Percy。 〃Are cold and s
