to have and to hold-第39节
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and foam of the waters。 Half a dozen voices cried warning to the helmsman。 It was he of the woman's mantle； whom I had run through the shoulder on the island off Cape Charles； and he had been Kirby's pilot from Maracaibo to Fort Caroline。 Now he answered with a burst of vaunting oaths： 〃We're in deep water； and there's deep water beyond。 I've passed this way before； and I'll carry ye safe past that reef were 't hell's gate！〃
The desperadoes who heard him swore applause； and thought no more of the reef that lay in wait。 Long since they had gone through the gates of hell for the sake of the prize beyond。 Knowing the appeal to be hopeless； I yet made it。
〃She is English； men！〃 I shouted。 〃We will fight the Spaniards while they have a flag in the Indies； but our own people we will not touch！〃
The clamor of shouts and oaths suddenly fell； and the wind in the rigging； the water at the keel； the surf on the shore； made themselves heard。 In the silence； the terror of the fated ship became audible。 Confused voices came to us； and the scream of a woman。
On the faces of a very few of the pirates there was a look of momentary doubt and wavering； it passed； and the most had never worn it。 They began to press forward toward the poop； cursing and threatening； working themselves up into a rage that would not care for my sword； the minister's cutlass； or Diccon's pike。 One who called himself a wit cried out something about Kirby and his methods； and two or three laughed。
〃I find that the r“le of Kirby wearies me；〃 I said。 〃I am an English gentleman； and I will not fire upon an English ship。〃
As if in answer there came from our forecastle a flame and thunder of guns。 The gunners there； intent upon their business； and now within range of the merchantman； had fired the three forecastle culverins。 The shot cut her rigging and brought down the flag。 The pirates' shout of triumph was echoed by a cry from her decks and the defiant roar of her few remaining guns。
I drew my sword。 The minister and Diccon moved nearer to me； and the King's ward； still and white and braver than a man； stood beside me。 From the pirates that we faced came one deep breath； like the first sigh of the wind before the blast strikes。 Suddenly the Spaniard pushed himself to the front； with his gaunt figure and sable dress he had the seeming of a raven come to croak over the dead。 He rested his gloomy eyes upon my lord。 The latter； very white； returned the look； then； with his head held high； crossed the deck with a measured step and took his place among us。 He was followed a moment later by Paradise。 〃I never thought to die in my bed； captain；〃 said the latter nonchalantly。 〃Sooner or later； what does it matter？ And you must know that before I was a pirate I was a gentleman。〃 Turning； he doffed his hat with a flourish to those he had quitted。 〃Hell litter！〃 he cried。 〃I have run with you long enough。 Now I have a mind to die an honest man。〃
At this defection a dead hush of amazement fell upon that crew。 One and all they stared at the man in black and silver； moistening their lips； but saying no word。 We were five armed and desperate men； they were fourscore。 We might send many to death before us； but at the last we ourselves must die； … we and those aboard the helpless ship。
In the moment's respite I bowed my head and whispered to the King's ward。
〃I had rather it were your sword；〃 she answered in a low voice； in which there was neither dread nor sorrow。 〃You must not let it grieve you； it will be added to your good deeds。 And it is I that should ask your forgiveness； not you mine。〃
Though there was scant time for such dalliance； I bent my knee and rested my forehead upon her hand。 As I rose； the minister's hand touched my shoulder and the voice spoke in my ear。 〃There is another way；〃 he said。 〃There is God's death； and not man's。 Look and see what I mean。〃
I followed the pointing of his eyes； and saw how close we were to those white and tumbling waters； the danger signal； the rattle of the hidden snake。 The eyes of the pirate at the helm； too； were upon them； his brows were drawn downward； his lips pressed together； the whole man bent upon the ship's safe passage。 。 。 。 The low thunder of the surf； the cry of a wheeling sea bird； the gleaming lonely shore； the cloudless sky； the ocean； and the white sand far； far below； where one might sleep well； sleep well； with other valiant dead； long drowned； long changed。 〃Of their bones are coral made。〃
The storm broke with fury and outcries； and a blue radiance of drawn steel。 A pistol ball sang past my ear。
〃Don't shoot！〃 roared the gravedigger to the man who had fired the shot。 〃Don't cut them down！ Take them and thrust them under hatches until we've time to give them a slow death！ And hands off the woman until we've time to draw lots！〃
He and the Spaniard led the rush。 I turned my head and nodded to Sparrow； then faced them again。 〃Then may the Lord have mercy upon your souls！〃 I said。
As I spoke the minister sprang upon the helmsman； and； striking him to the deck with one blow of his huge fist； himself seized the wheel。 Before the pirates could draw breath he had jammed the helm to starboard； and the reef lay right across our bows。
A dreadful cry went up from that black ship to a deaf Heaven； … a cry that was echoed by a wild shout of triumph from the merchantman。 The mass fronting us broke in terror and rage and confusion。 Some ran frantically up and down with shrieks and curses； others sprang overboard。 A few made a dash for the poop and for us who stood to meet them。 They were led by the Spaniard and the gravedigger。 The former I met and sent tumbling back into the waist； the latter whirled past me； and rushing upon Paradise thrust him through with a pike； then dashed on to the wheel； to be met and hewn down by Diccon。
The ship struck。 I put my arm around my wife； and my hand before her eyes； and while I looked only at her； in that storm of terrible cries； of flapping canvas； rushing water； and crashing timbers； the Spaniard clambered like a catamount upon the poop； that was now high above the broken forepart of the ship； and fired his pistol at me point…blank。
CHAPTER XXV IN WHICH MY LORD HATH HIS DAY
I AND Black Lamoral were leading a forlorn hope。 With all my old company behind us； we were thundering upon an enemy as thick as ants； covering the face of the earth。 Down came Black Lamoral； and the hoofs of every mad charger went over me。 For a time I was dead； then I lived again； and was walking with the forester's daughter in the green chase at home。 The oaks stretched broad sheltering arms above the young fern and the little wild flowers； and the deer turned and looked at us。 In the open spaces； starring the lush grass； were all the yellow primroses that ever bloomed。 I gathered them for her； but when I would have given them to her she was no longer the forester's daughter； but a proud lady； heiress to lands and gold； the ward of the King。 She would not take the primroses from a poor gentleman； but shook her head and laughed sweetly； and faded into a waterfall that leaped from a pink hill into a waveless sea。 Another darkness； and I was captive to the Chickahominies； tied to the stake。 My arm and shoulder were on fire； and Opechancanough came and looked at me； with his dark； still face and his burning eyes。 The fierce pain died； and I with it； and I lay in a grave and listened to the loud and deep murmur of the forest above。 I lay there for ages on ages before I awoke to the fact that the darkness about me was the darkness of a ship's hold； and the murmur of the forest the wash of the water alongside。 I put out an arm and touched； not the side of a grave； but a ship's timbers。 I stretched forth the other arm； then dropped it with a groan。 Some one bent over me and held water to my lips。 I drank； and my senses came fully to me。 〃Diccon！〃 I said。
〃It's not Diccon；〃 replied the figure； setting down a pitcher。 〃It is Jeremy Sparrow。 Thank God； you are yourself again！〃
〃Where are we？〃 I asked； when I had lain and listened to the water a little longer。
〃In the hold of the George；〃 he answered。 〃The ship sank by the bows； and well…nigh all were drowned。 But when they upon the George saw that there was a woman amongst us who clung to the poop deck； they sent their longboat to take us off。〃
The light was too dim for me to read his face； so I touched his arm。
〃She was saved；〃 he said。 〃She is safe now。 There are gentlewomen aboard； and she is in their care。〃
I put my unhurt arm across my eyes。
〃You are weak yet；〃 said the minister gently。 〃The Spaniard's ball； you know； went through your shoulder； and in some way your arm was badly torn from shoulder to wrist。 You have been out of your head ever since we were brought here； three days ago。 The chirurgeon came and dressed your wound； and it is healing well。 Don't try to speak； … I'll tell you all。 Diccon has been pressed into service； as the ship is short of hands； having lost some by fever and some overboard。 Four of the pirates were picked up； and hung at the yardarm next morning。〃
He moved as he spoke； and something clanked in the stillness。 〃You are ironed！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Only my ankles。 My lord wou
