to have and to hold-第49节
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r the Governor's house。 Did she sleep or did she wake？ Sleeping or waking； I prayed God to keep her safe and give her comfort。 The stars now shone through naked branches； black tree trunks hemmed us round； and under our feet was the dreary rustling of dead leaves。 The leafless trees gave way to pines and cedars； and the closely woven； scented roof hid the heavens； and made a darkness of the world beneath。
1。 The modern York。
CHAPTER XXX IN WHICH WE START UPON A JOURNEY
WHEN the dawn broke； it found us traveling through a narrow valley； beside a stream of some width。 Upon its banks grew trees of extraordinary height and girth； cypress and oak and walnut； they towered into the air； their topmost branches stark and black against the roseate heavens。 Below that iron tracery glowed the firebrands of the maples； and here and there a willow leaned a pale green cloud above the stream。 Mist closed the distances； we could hear； but not see； the deer where they stood to drink in the shallow places； or couched in the gray and dreamlike recesses of the forest。
Spectral； unreal； and hollow seems the world at dawn。 Then； if ever； the heart sickens and the will flags； and life becomes a pageant that hath ceased to entertain。 As I moved through the mist and the silence； and felt the tug of the thong that bound me to the wrist of the savage who stalked before me； I cared not how soon they made an end； seeing how stale and unprofitable were all things under the sun。
Diccon； walking behind me； stumbled over a root and fell upon his knees； dragging down with him the Indian to whom he was tied。 In a sudden access of fury； aggravated by the jeers with which his fellows greeted his mishap； the savage turned upon his prisoner and would have stuck a knife into him； bound and helpless as he was； had not the werowance interfered。 The momentary altercation over； and the knife restored to its owner's belt； the Indians relapsed into their usual menacing silence； and the sullen march was resumed。 Presently the stream made a sharp bend across our path； and we forded it as best we might。 It ran dark and swift； and the water was of icy coldness。 Beyond； the woods had been burnt； the trees rising from the red ground like charred and blackened stakes； with the ghostlike mist between。 We left this dismal tract behind； and entered a wood of mighty oaks； standing well apart； and with the earth below carpeted with moss and early wild flowers。 The sun rose； the mist vanished； and there set in the March day of keen wind and brilliant sunshine。
Farther on； an Indian bent his bow against a bear shambling across a little sunny glade。 The arrow did its errand； and where the creature fell； there we sat down and feasted beside a fire kindled by rubbing two sticks together。 According to their wont the Indians ate ravenously； and when the meal was ended began to smoke； each warrior first throwing into the air； as thankoffering to Kiwassa； a pinch of tobacco。 They all stared at the fire around which we sat； and the silence was unbroken。 One by one； as the pipes were smoked； they laid themselves down upon the brown leaves and went to sleep； only our two guardians and a third Indian over against us remaining wide…eyed and watchful。
There was no hope of escape； and we entertained no thought of it。 Diccon sat； biting his nails； staring into the fire； and I stretched myself out； and burying my head in my arms tried to sleep； but could not。
With the midday we were afoot again； and we went steadily on through the bright afternoon。 We met with no harsh treatment other than our bonds。 Instead； when our captors spoke to us； it was with words of amity and smiling lips。 Who accounteth for Indian fashions？ It is a way they have； to flatter and caress the wretch for whom have been provided the torments of the damned。 If； when at sunset we halted for supper and gathered around the fire； the werowance began to tell of a foray I had led against the Paspaheghs years before； and if he and his warriors； for all the world like generous foes； loudly applauded some daring that had accompanied that raid； none the less did the red stake wait for us； none the less would they strive； as for heaven； to wring from us groans and cries。
The sun sank； and the darkness entered the forest。 In the distance we heard the wolves； so the fire was kept up through the night。 Diccon and I were tied to trees； and all the savages save one lay down and slept。 I worked awhile at my bonds； but an Indian had tied them； and after a time I desisted from the useless labor。 We two could have no speech together； the fire was between us； and we saw each other but dimly through the flame and wreathing smoke； … as each might see the other to…morrow。 What Diccon's thoughts were I know not； mine were not of the morrow。
There had been no rain for a long time； and the multitude of leaves underfoot were crisp and dry。 The wind was loud in them and in the swaying trees。 Off in the forest was a bog； and the will…o'…the…wisps danced over it； … pale； cold flames； moving aimlessly here and there like ghosts of those lost in the woods。 Toward the middle of the night some heavy animal crashed through a thicket to the left of us； and tore away into the darkness over the loud…rustling leaves； and later on wolves' eyes gleamed from out the ring of darkness beyond the firelight。 Far on in the night the wind fell and the moon rose； changing the forest into some dim； exquisite； far…off land； seen only in dreams。 The Indians awoke silently and all at once； as at an appointed hour。 They spoke for a while among themselves； then we were loosed from the trees； and the walk toward death began anew。
On this march the werowance himself stalked beside me； the moonlight whitening his dark limbs and relentless face。 He spoke no word； nor did I deign to question or reason or entreat。 Alike in the darkness of the deep woods； and in the silver of the glades； and in the long twilight stretches of sassafras and sighing grass； there was for me but one vision。 Slender and still and white； she moved before me； with her wide dark eyes upon my face。 Jocelyn！ Jocelyn！
At sunrise the mist lifted from a low hill before us； and showed an Indian boy； painted white； poised upon the summit； like a spirit about to take its flight。 He prayed to the One over All； and his voice came down to us pure and earnest。 At sight of us he bounded down the hillside like a ball； and would have rushed away into the forest had not a Paspahegh starting out of line seized him and set him in our midst； where he stood； cool and undismayed； a warrior in miniature。 He was of the Pamunkeys； and his tribe and the Paspaheghs were at peace； therefore； when he saw the totem burnt upon the breast of the werowance； he became loquacious enough； and offered to go before us to his village； upon the banks of a stream； some bowshots away。 He went； and the Paspaheghs rested under the trees until the old men of the village came forth to lead them through the brown fields and past the ring of leafless mulberries to the strangers' lodge。 Here on the green turf mats were laid for the visitors； and water was brought for their hands。 Later on； the women spread a great breakfast of fish and turkey and venison； maize bread； tuckahoe and pohickory。 When it was eaten； the Paspaheghs ranged themselves in a semicircle upon the grass； the Pamunkeys faced them； and each warrior and old man drew out his pipe and tobacco pouch。 They smoked gravely； in a silence broken only by an occasional slow and stately question or compliment。 The blue incense from the pipes mingled with the sunshine falling freely through the bare branches； the stream which ran by the lodge rippled and shone； and the wind rose and fell in the pines upon its farther bank。
Diccon and I had been freed for the time from our bonds； and placed in the centre of this ring； and when the Indians raised their eyes from the ground it was to gaze steadfastly at us。 I knew their ways； and how they valued pride； indifference； and a bravado disregard of the worst an enemy could do。 They should not find the white man less proud than the savage。
They gave us readily enough the pipes I asked for。 Diccon lit one and I the other； and sitting side by side we smoked in a contentment as absolute as the Indians' own。 With his eyes upon the werowance； Diccon told an old story of a piece of Paspahegh villainy and of the payment which the English exacted； and I laughed as at the most amusing thing in the world。 The story ended； we smoked with serenity for a while； then I drew my dice from my pocket； and； beginning to throw； we were at once as much absorbed in the game as if there were no other stake in the world beside the remnant of gold that I piled between us。 The strange people in whose power we found ourselves looked on with grim approval； as at brave men who could laugh in Death's face。
The sun was high in the heavens when we bade the Pamunkeys farewell。 The cleared ground； the mulberry trees； and the grass beneath； the few rude lodges with the curling smoke above them； the warriors and women and brown naked children； … all vanished； and the forest closed around us。 A high wind was blowing； and the branches far above beat at one anoth
