to have and to hold-第35节

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f　the　players。

〃There　is　really　no　good　reason　why　we　should　gratify　your　whim；〃　said　Paradise；　still　amused。　〃But　it　will　serve　to　pass　the　time。　We　will　fight　you；　one　by　one。〃

〃And　if　I　win？〃

He　laughed。　〃Then；　on　the　honor　of　a　gentleman；　you　are　Kirby　and　our　captain。　If　you　lose；　we　will　leave　you　where　you　stand　for　the　gulls　to　bury。〃

〃A　bargain；〃　I　said；　and　drew　my　sword。

〃I　first！〃　roared　Red　Gil。　〃God's　wounds！　there　will　need　no　second！〃

As　he　spoke　he　swung　his　cutlass　and　made　an　arc　of　blue　flame。　The　weapon　became　in　his　hands　a　flail；　terrible　to　look　upon；　making　lightnings　and　whistling　in　the　air；　but　in　reality　not　so　deadly　as　it　seemed。　The　fury　of　his　onslaught　would　have　beaten　down　the　guard　of　any　mere　swordsman；　but　that　I　was　not。　A　man；　knowing　his　weakness　and　insufficiency　in　many　and　many　a　thing；　may　yet　know　his　strength　in　one　or　two　and　his　modesty　take　no　hurt。　I　was　ever　master　of　my　sword；　and　it　did　the　　thing　I　would　have　it　do。　Moreover；　as　I　fought　I　saw　her　as　I　had　last　seen　her；　standing　against　the　bank　of　sand；　her　dark　hair；　half　braided；　drawn　over　her　bosom　and　hanging　to　her　knees。　Her　eyes　haunted　me；　and　my　lips　yet　felt　the　touch　of　her　hand。　I　fought　well；　…　how　well　the　lapsing　of　oaths　and　laughter　into　breathless　silence　bore　witness。

The　ruffian　against　whom　I　was　pitted　began　to　draw　his　breath　in　gasps。　He　was　a　scoundrel　not　fit　to　die；　less　fit　to　live；　unworthy　of　a　gentleman's　steel。　I　presently　ran　him　through　with　as　little　compunction　and　as　great　a　desire　to　be　quit　of　a　dirty　job　as　if　he　had　been　a　mad　dog。　He　fell；　and　a　little　later；　while　I　was　engaged　with　the　Spaniard；　his　soul　went　to　that　hell　which　had　long　gaped　for　it。　To　those　his　companions　his　death　was　as　slight　a　thing　as　would　theirs　have　been　to　him。　In　the　eyes　of　the　two　remaining　would…be　leaders　he　was　a　stumbling…block　removed；　and　to　the　squatting；　open…mouthed　commonality　his　taking　off　weighed　not　a　feather　against　the　solid　entertainment　I　was　affording　them。　I　was　now　a　better　man　than　Red　Gil；　…　that　was　all。

The　Spaniard　was　a　more　formidable　antagonist。　The　best　blade　of　Lima　was　by　no　means　to　be　despised；　but　Lima　is　a　small　place；　and　its　blades　can　be　numbered。　The　sword　that　for　three　years　had　been　counted　the　best　in　all　the　Low　Countries　was　its　better。　But　I　fought　fasting　and　for　the　second　time　that　morning；　so　maybe　the　odds　were　not　so　great。　I　wounded　him　slightly；　and　presently　succeeded　in　disarming　him。　〃Am　I　Kirby？〃　I　demanded；　with　my　point　at　his　breast。

〃Kirby；　of　course；　se¤or；〃　he　answered　with　a　sour　smile；　his　eyes　upon　the　gleaming　blade。

I　lowered　my　point　and　we　bowed　to　each　other；　after　which　he　sat　down　upon　the　sand　and　applied　himself　to　stanching　the　bleeding　from　his　wound。　The　pirate　ring　gave　him　no　attention；　but　stared　at　me　instead。　I　was　now　a　better　man　than　the　Spaniard。

The　man　in　black　and　silver　rose　and　removed　his　doublet；　folding　it　very　carefully；　inside　out；　that　the　sand　might　not　injure　the　velvet；　then　drew　his　rapier；　looked　at　it　lovingly；　made　it　bend　until　point　and　hilt　well…nigh　met；　and　faced　me　with　a　bow。

〃You　have　fought　twice；　and　must　be　weary；〃　he　said。　〃Will　you　not　take　breath　before　we　engage；　or　will　your　long　rest　afterward　suffice　you？〃

〃I　will　rest　aboard　my　ship；〃　I　made　reply。　〃And　as　I　am　in　a　hurry　to　be　gone　we　won't　delay。〃

Our　blades　had　no　sooner　crossed　than　I　knew　that　in　this　last　encounter　I　should　need　every　whit　of　my　skill；　all　my　wit；　audacity；　and　strength。　I　had　met　my　equal；　and　he　came　to　it　fresh　and　I　jaded。　I　clenched　my　teeth　and　prayed　with　all　my　heart；　I　set　her　face　before　me；　and　thought　if　I　should　fail　her　to　what　ghastly　fate　she　might　come；　and　I　fought　as　I　had　never　fought　before。　The　sound　of　the　surf　became　a　roar　in　my　ears；　the　sunshine　an　intolerable　blaze　of　light；　the　blue　above　and　around　seemed　suddenly　beneath　my　feet　as　well。　We　were　fighting　high　in　the　air；　and　had　fought　thus　for　ages。　I　knew　that　he　made　no　thrust　I　did　not　parry；　no　feint　I　could　not　interpret。　I　knew　that　my　eye　was　more　quick　to　see；　my　brain　to　conceive；　and　my　hand　to　execute　than　ever　before；　but　it　was　as　though　I　held　that　knowledge　of　some　other；　and　I　myself　was　far　away；　at　Weyanoke；　in　the　minister's　garden；　in　the　　haunted　wood；　anywhere　save　on　that　barren　islet。　I　heard　him　swear　under　his　breath；　and　in　the　face　I　had　set　before　me　the　eyes　brightened。　As　if　she　had　loved　me　I　fought　for　her　with　all　my　powers　of　body　and　mind。　He　swore　again；　and　my　heart　laughed　within　me。　The　sea　now　roared　less　loudly；　and　I　felt　the　good　earth　beneath　my　feet。　Slowly　but　surely　I　wore　him　out。　His　breath　came　short；　the　sweat　stood　upon　his　forehead；　and　still　I　deferred　my　attack。　He　made　the　thrust　of　a　boy　of　fifteen；　and　I　smiled　as　I　put　it　by。

〃Why　don't　you　end　it？〃　he　breathed。　〃Finish　and　be　d…d　to　you！〃

For　answer　I　sent　his　sword　flying　over　the　nearest　hillock　of　sand。　〃Am　I　Kirby？〃　I　said。　He　fell　back　against　the　heaped…up　sand　and　leaned　there；　panting；　with　his　hand　to　his　side。　〃Kirby　or　devil；〃　he　replied。　〃Have　it　your　own　way。〃

I　turned　to　the　now　highly　excited　rabble。　〃Shove　the　boats　off；　half　a　dozen　of　you！〃　I　ordered。　〃Some　of　you　others　take　up　that　carrion　there　and　throw　it　into　the　sea。　The　gold　upon　it　is　for　your　pains。　You　there　with　the　wounded　shoulder　you　have　no　great　hurt。　I'll　salve　it　with　ten　pieces　of　eight　from　the　captain's　own　share；　the　next　prize　we　take。〃

A　shout　of　acclamation　arose　that　scared　the　sea　fowl。　They　who　so　short　a　time　before　had　been　ready　to　tear　me　limb　from　limb　now　with　the　greatest　apparent　delight　hailed　me　as　captain。　How　soon　they　might　revert　to　their　former　mood　was　a　question　that　I　found　not　worth　while　to　propound　to　myself。

By　this　the　man　in　black　and　silver　had　recovered　his　breath　and　his　equanimity。　〃Have　you　no　commission　with　which　to　honor　me；　noble　captain？〃　he　　asked　in　gently　reproachful　tones。　〃Have　you　forgot　how　often　you　were　wont　to　employ　me　in　those　sweet　days　when　your　eyes　were　black？〃

〃By　no　means；　Master　Paradise；〃　I　said　courteously。　〃I　desire　your　company　and　that　of　the　gentleman　from　Lima。　You　will　go　with　me　to　bring　up　the　rest　of　my　party。　The　three　gentlemen　of　the　broken　head；　the　bushy　ruff；　which　I　protest　is　vastly　becoming；　and　the　wounded　shoulder　will　escort　us。〃

〃The　rest　of　your　party？〃　said　Paradise　softly。

〃Ay；〃　I　answered　nonchalantly。　〃They　are　down　the　beach　and　around　the　point　warming　themselves　by　a　fire　which　this　piled…up　sand　hides　from　you。　Despite　the　sunshine　it　is　a　biting　air。　Let　us　be　going！　This　island　wearies　me；　and　I　am　anxious　to　be　on　board　ship　and　away。〃

〃So　small　an　escort　scarce　befits　so　great　a　captain；〃　he　said。　〃We　will　all　attend　you。〃　One　and　all　started　forward。

I　called　to　mind　and　gave　utterance　to　all　the　oaths　I　had　heard　in　the　wars。　〃I　entertain　you　for　my　subordinate　whom　I　command；　and　not　who　commands　me！〃　I　cried；　when　my　memory　failed　me。　〃As　for　you；　you　dogs；　who　would　question　your　captain　and　his　doings；　stay　where　you　are；　if　you　would　not　be　lessoned　in　earnest！〃

Sheer　audacity　is　at　times　the　surest　steed　a　man　can　bestride。　Now　at　least　it　did　me　good　service。　With　oaths　and　grunts　of　admiration　the　pirates　stayed　where　they　were；　and　went　about　their　business　of　launching　the　boats　and　stripping　the　body　of　Red　Gil；　while　the　man　in　black　and　silver；　the　Spaniard；　the　two　gravediggers；　the　knave　with　the　wounded　shoulder；　and　myself　walked　briskly　up　the　beach。

With　these　five　at　my　heels　I　strode　up　to　the　dying　fire　and　to　those　who　had　sprung　to　their　feet　at　our　approach。　〃Sparrow；〃　I　said　easily；　〃luck　being　with　us　as　usual；　I　have　fallen　in　with　a　party　of　rovers。　I　have　told　them　who　I　am；　…　that　Kirby；　to　wit；　whom　an　injurious　world　calls　the　blackest　pirate　unhanged；　…　and　have　recounted　to　them　how　the　great　galleon　which　I　took　some　months　ago　went　down　yesterday　with　all　on　board；　you　and　I　with　these　others　being　the　sole　survivors。　By　dint　of　a　little　persuasion　they　have　elected　me　their　captain；　and　we　will　go　on　board　directly　and　set　sail　for　the　Indies；　a　hunting　ground　which　we　never　should　have　left。　You　need　not　look　so　blank；　you　shall　be　my　mate　and　right　hand　still。〃　I　turned　to　the　five　who　formed　my　escort。　〃This；　gentlemen；　is　my　mate；　Jeremy　Sparrow　by　name；　who　hath　a　taste　for　divinity　that　in　no　wise　interferes　with　his　taste　for　a　galleon　or　a　guarda　costa。　This　man；　Diccon　Demon　by　name；　was　of　my　crew。　The　gentleman　without　a　sword　is　my　prisoner；　taken　by　me　from　the　last　ship　I　sunk。　How　he；　an　Englishman；　came　to　be　upon　a　Spanish　bark　I　have　not　found　leisure　to　inquire。　The　lady　is　my　prisoner；　also。〃

〃Sure　by　rights　she　should　be　gaoler　and　hold　all　men's　hearts　in　ward；〃　said　Paradise；　with　a　low　bow　to　my　unfortunate　captive。

While　he　spoke　a　most　remarkable　transformation　was　going　on。　The　minister's　grave；　rugged；　and　deeply　lined　face　smoothed　itself　and　shed　ten　years　at　least；　in　the　eyes　that　I　had　seen　wet　with　noble　tears　a　laughing　devil　now　lurked；　while　his　strong　mouth　became　a　loose…lip