to have and to hold-第58节
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rds； and thought was a burden quite intolerable； it was enough to stumble on through the partial light； with a mind as gray and blank as the rain…blurred distance。
At noon the clouds broke； and an hour later the sunshine was streaming down from a cloudless heaven； beneath which the forest lay clear before us； naught stirring save shy sylvan creatures to whom it mattered not if red man or white held the land。
Side by side Diccon and I hurried on； not speaking； keeping eye and ear open； proposing with all our will to reach the goal we had set； and to reach it in time； let what might oppose。 It was but another forced march； many had we made in our time； through dangers manifold； and had lived to tell the tale。
There was no leisure in which to play the Indian and cover up our footprints as we made them； but when we came to a brook we stepped into the cold； swift…flowing water； and kept it company for a while。 The brook flowed between willows； thickly set； already green； and overarching a yard or more of water。 Presently it bent sharply； and we turned with it。 Ten yards in front of us the growth of willows ceased abruptly； the low； steep banks shelved downwards to a grassy level； and the stream widened into a clear and placid pool； as blue as the sky above。 Crouched upon the grass or standing in the shallow water were some fifteen or twenty deer。 We had come upon them without noise； the wind blew from them to us； and the willows hid us from their sight。 There was no alarm； and we stood a moment watching them before we should throw a stone or branch into their midst and scare them from our path。
Suddenly； as we looked； the leader threw up his head； made a spring； and was off like a dart； across the stream and into the depths of the forest beyond。 The herd followed。 A moment； and there were only the trodden grass and the troubled waters； no other sign that aught living had passed that way。
〃Now what was that for？〃 muttered Diccon。 〃I'm thinking we had best not take to the open just yet。〃
For answer I parted the willows； and forced myself into the covert； pressing as closely as possible against the bank； and motioning him to do the same。 He obeyed； and the thick…clustering gold…green twigs swung into place again； shutting us in with the black water and the leafy； crumbling bank。 From that green dimness we could look out upon the pool and the grass； with small fear that we ourselves would be seen。
Out of the shadow of the trees into the grassy space stepped an Indian； a second followed； a third； a fourth； … one by one they came from the gloom into the sunlight； until we had counted a score or more。 They made no pause； a glance telling them to what were due the trampled grass and the muddied water。 As they crossed the stream one stooped and drank from his hand； but they said no word and made no noise。 All were painted black； a few had face and chest striped with yellow。 Their headdresses were tall and wonderful； their leggings and moccasins fringed with scalp locks； their hatchets glinted in the sunshine； and their quivers were stuck full of arrows。 One by one they glided from the stream into the thick woods beyond。 We waited until we knew that they were were deep in the forest； then crept from the willows and went our way。
〃They were Youghtenunds；〃 I said； in the low tones we used when we spoke at all； 〃and they went to the southward。〃
〃We may thank our stars that they missed our trail；〃 Diccon answered。
We spoke no more； but； leaving the stream； struck again toward the south。 The day wore on； and still we went without pause。 Sun and shade and keen wind； long stretches of pine and open glades where we quickened our pace to a run； dense woods； snares of leafless vines； swamp and thicket through which we toiled so slowly that the heart bled at the delay； streams and fallen trees； … on and on we hurried； until the sun sank and the dusk came creeping in upon us。
〃We've dined with Duke Humphrey to…day；〃 said Diccon at last； 〃but if we can keep this pace； and don't meet any more war parties； or fall foul of an Indian village； or have to fight the wolves to…night； we'll dine with the Governor to…morrow。 What's that？〃
〃That〃 was the report of a musket； and a spent ball had struck me above the knee； bruising the flesh beneath the leather of my boot。
We wheeled； and looked in the direction whence lead come that unwelcome visitor。 There was naught to be seen。 It was dusk in the distance； and there were thickets too； and fallen logs。 Where that ambuscade was planted； if one or twenty Indians lurked in the dusk behind the trees； or lay on the further side of those logs； or crouched within a thicket； no mortal man could tell。
〃It was a spent ball；〃 I said。 〃Our best hope is in our heels。〃
〃There are pines beyond； and smooth going；〃 he answered； 〃but if ever I thought to run from an Indian！〃
Without more ado we started。 If we could outstrip that marksman； if we could even hold our distance until night had fallen； all might yet be well。 A little longer； and even an Indian must fire at random； moreover； we might reach some stream and manage to break our trail。 The ground was smooth before us； … too smooth； and slippery with pine needles； the pines themselves stood in grim brown rows； and we ran between them lightly and easily； husbanding our strength。 Now and again one or the other looked behind； but we saw only the pines and the gathering dusk。 Hope was strengthening in us； when a second bullet dug into the earth just beyond us。
Diccon swore beneath his breath。 〃It struck deep；〃 he muttered。 〃The dark is slow in coming。〃
A minute later； as I ran with my head over my shoulder； I saw our pursuer； dimly； like a deeper shadow in the shadows far down the arcade behind us。 There was but one man； … a tall warrior； strayed aside from his band； perhaps； or bound upon a warpath of his own。 The musket that he carried some English fool had sold him for a mess of pottage。
Putting forth all our strength； we ran for our lives； and for the lives of many others。 Before us the pine wood sloped down to a deep and wide thicket； and beyond the thicket a line of sycamores promised water。 If we could reach the thicket； its close embrace would hide us； … then the darkness and the stream。 A third shot； and Diccon staggered slightly。
〃For God's sake； not struck； man？〃 I cried。
〃It grazed my arm；〃 he panted。 〃No harm done。 Here's the thicket！〃
Into the dense growth we broke； reckless of the blood which the sharp twigs drew from face and hands。 The twigs met in a thick roof over our heads； that was all we cared for； and through the network we saw one of the larger stars brighten into being。 The thicket was many yards across。 When we had gone thirty feet down we crouched and waited for the dark。 If our enemy followed us； he must do so at his peril； with only his knife for dependence。
One by one the stars swam into sight； until the square of sky above us was thickly studded。 There was no sound； and no living thing could have entered that thicket without noise。 For what seemed an eternity； we waited； then we rose and broke our way through the bushes to the sycamores； to find that they indeed shadowed a little sluggish stream。
Down this we waded for some distance before taking to dry earth again。 Since entering the thicket we had seen and heard nothing suspicious； and were now fain to conclude that the dark warrior had wearied of the chase； and was gone on his way toward his mates and that larger and surer quarry which two suns would bring。 Certain it is that we saw no more of him。
The stream flowing to the south； we went with it； hurrying along its bank； beneath the shadow of great trees； with the stars gleaming down through the branches。 It was cold and still； and far in the distance we heard wolves hunting。 As for me； I felt no weariness。 Every sense was sharpened； my feet were light； the keen air was like wine in the drinking； there was a star low in the south that shone and beckoned。 The leagues between my wife and me were few。 I saw her standing beneath the star； with a little purple flower in her hand。
Suddenly； a bend in the stream hiding the star； I became aware that Diccon was no longer keeping step with me； but had fallen somewhat to the rear。 I turned； and he was leaning heavily； with drooping head； against the trunk of a tree。
〃Art so worn as that？〃 I exclaimed。 〃Put more heart into thy heels； man！〃
He straightened himself and strode on beside me。 〃I don't know what came over me for a minute；〃 he answered。 〃The wolves are loud to…night。 I hope they'll keep to their side of the water。〃
A stone's throw farther on； the stream curving to the west； we left it； and found ourselves in a sparsely wooded glade； with a bare and sandy soil beneath our feet； and above； in the western sky； a crescent moon。 Again Diccon lagged behind； and presently I heard him groan in the darkness。
I wheeled。 〃Diccon！〃 I cried。 〃What is the matter？〃
Before I could reach him he had sunk to his knees。 When I put my hand upon his arm and again demanded what ailed him； he tried to laugh； then tried to swear； and ended with another groan。 〃The ball did graze my arm；〃 he said； 〃but it went on into my side。 I'll just lie
