westward ho-第118节

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e　with　the　hermit。

She　heard　him　quietly；　her　great　dark　eyes　opening　wider　and　wider；　her　bosom　swelling；　her　stature　seeming　to　grow　taller　every　moment；　as　she　clenched　her　weapons　firmly　in　both　her　hands。　Beautiful　as　she　always　was；　she　had　never　looked　so　beautiful　before；　and　as　Amyas　spoke　of　parting　with　her；　it　was　like　throwing　away　a　lovely　toy；　but　it　must　be　done；　for　her　sake；　for　his；　perhaps　for　that　of　all　the　crew。

The　last　words　had　hardly　passed　his　lips；　when；　with　a　shriek　of　mingled　scorn；　rage；　and　fear；　she　dashed　through　the　astonished　group。

〃Stop　her！〃　were　Amyas's　first　words；　but　his　next　were；　〃Let　her　go！〃　for；　springing　like　a　deer　through　the　little　garden　and　over　the　flower…fence；　she　turned；　menacing　with　her　blow…gun　the　sailors；　who　had　already　started　in　her　pursuit。

〃Let　her　alone；　for　Heaven's　sake！〃　shouted　Amyas；　who；　he　scarce　knew　why；　shrank　from　the　thought　of　seeing　those　graceful　limbs　struggling　in　the　seamen's　grasp。

She　turned　again；　and　in　another　minute　her　gaudy　plumes　had　vanished　among　the　dark　forest　stems；　as　swiftly　as　if　she　had　been　a　passing　bird。

All　stood　thunderstruck　at　this　unexpected　end　to　the　conference。　At　last　Aymas　spoke：

〃There's　no　use　in　standing　here　idle；　gentlemen。　　Staring　after　her　won't　bring　her　back。　　After　all；　I'm　glad　she's　gone。〃

But　the　tone　of　his　voice　belied　his　words。　　Now　he　had　lost　her；　he　wanted　her　back；　and　perhaps　every　one　present；　except　he；　guessed　why。

But　Ayacanora　did　not　return；　and　ten　days　more　went　on　in　continual　toil　at　the　canoes　without　any　news　of　her　from　the　hunters。　　Amyas；　by　the　by；　had　strictly　bidden　these　last　not　to　follow　the　girl；　not　even　to　speak　to　her；　if　they　came　across　her　in　their　wanderings。　　He　was　shrewd　enough　to　guess　that　the　only　way　to　cure　her　sulkiness　was　to　outsulk　her；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　her　presence　in　any　direction；　and　the　canoes　being　finished　at　last；　the　gold；　and　such　provisions　as　they　could　collect；　were　placed　on　board；　and　one　evening　the　party　prepared　for　their　fresh　voyage。　　They　determined　to　travel　as　much　as　possible　by　night；　for　fear　of　discovery；　especially　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　few　Spanish　settlements　which　were　then　scattered　along　the　banks　of　the　main　stream。　　These；　however；　the　negroes　knew；　so　that　there　was　no　fear　of　coming　on　them　unawares；　and　as　for　falling　asleep　in　their　night　journeys；　〃Nobody；〃　the　negroes　said；　〃ever　slept　on　the　Magdalena；　the　mosquitoes　took　too　good　care　of　that。〃　　Which　fact　Amyas　and　his　crew　verified　afterwards　as　thoroughly　as　wretched　men　could　do。

The　sun　had　sunk；　the　night　had　all　but　fallen；　the　men　were　all　on　board；　Amyas　in　command　of　one　canoe；　Cary　of　the　other。　　The　Indians　were　grouped　on　the　bank；　watching　the　party　with　their　listless　stare；　and　with　them　the　young　guide；　who　preferred　remaining　among　the　Indians；　and　was　made　supremely　happy　by　the　present　of　Spanish　sword　and　an　English　axe；　while；　in　the　midst；　the　old　hermit；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　prayed　God's　blessing　on　them。

〃I　owe　to　you；　noble　cavaliers；　new　peace；　new　labor；　I　may　say；　new　life。　　May　God　be　with　you；　and　teach　you　to　use　your　gold　and　your　swords　better　than　I　used　mine。

The　adventurers　waved　their　hands　to　him。

〃Give　way；　men；〃　cried　Amyas；　and　as　he　spoke　the　paddles　dashed　into　the　water；　to　a　right　English　hurrah！　which　sent　the　birds　fluttering　from　their　roosts；　and　was　answered　by　the　yell　of　a　hundred　monkeys；　and　the　distant　roar　of　the　jaguar。

About　twenty　yards　below；　a　wooded　rock；　some　ten　feet　high；　hung　over　the　stream。　　The　river　was　not　there　more　than　fifteen　yards　broad；　deep　near　the　rock；　shallow　on　the　farther　side；　and　Amyas's　canoe　led　the　way；　within　ten　feet　of　the　stone。

As　he　passed；　a　dark　figure　leapt　from　the　bushes　on　the　edge；　and　plunged　heavily　into　the　water　close　to　the　boat。　　All　started。　　A　jaguar？　　No；　he　would　not　have　missed　so　short　a　spring。　　What；　then？　　A　human　being？

A　head　rose　panting　to　the　surface；　and　with　a　few　strong　strokes　the　swimmer　had　clutched　the　gunwale。　　It　was　Ayacanora！

〃Go　back！〃　shouted　Amyas。　　〃Go　back；　girl！〃

She　uttered　the　same　wild　cry　with　which　she　had　fled　into　the　forest。

〃I　will　die；　then！〃　and　she　threw　up　her　arms。　　Another　moment；　and　she　had　sunk。

To　see　her　perish　before　his　eyes！　who　could　bear　that？　　Her　hands　alone　were　above　the　surface。　　Amyas　caught　convulsively　at　her　in　the　darkness；　and　seized　her　wrist。

A　yell　rose　from　the　negroes：　a　roar　from　the　crew　as　from　a　cage　of　lions。　　There　was　a　rush　and　a　swirl　along　the　surface　of　the　stream；　and　〃Caiman！　caiman！〃　shouted　twenty　voices。

Now；　or　never；　for　the　strong　arm！　　〃To　larboard；　men；　or　over　we　go！〃　cried　Amyas；　and　with　one　huge　heave　he　lifted　the　slender　body　upon　the　gunwale。　　Her　lower　limbs　were　still　in　the　water；　when；　within　arm's　length；　rose　above　the　stream　a　huge　muzzle。　The　lower　jaw　lay　flat；　the　upper　reached　as　high　as　Amyas's　head。　He　could　see　the　long　fangs　gleam　white　in　the　moonshine；　he　could　see　for　one　moment　full　down　the　monstrous　depths　of　that　great　gape；　which　would　have　crushed　a　buffalo。　　Three　inches；　and　no　more；　from　that　soft　side；　the　snout　surged　up

There　was　the　gleam　of　an　axe　from　above；　a　sharp　ringing　blow；　and　the　jaws　came　together　with　a　clash　which　rang　from　bank　to　bank。　He　had　missed　her！　　Swerving　beneath　the　blow；　his　snout　had　passed　beneath　her　body；　and　smashed　up　against　the　side　of　the　canoe；　as　the　striker；　overbalanced；　fell　headlong　overboard　upon　the　monster's　back。

〃Who　is　it？〃

〃Yeo！〃　shouted　a　dozen。

Man　and　beast　went　down　together；　and　where　they　sank；　the　moonlight　shone　on　a　great　swirling　eddy；　while　all　held　their　breaths；　and　Ayacanora　cowered　down　into　the　bottom　of　the　canoe；　her　proud　spirit　utterly　broken；　for　the　first　time；　by　the　terror　of　that　great　need；　and　by　a　bitter　loss。　　For　in　the　struggle；　the　holy　trumpet；　companion　of　all　her　wanderings；　had　fallen　from　her　bosom；　and　her　fond　hope　of　bringing　magic　prosperity　to　her　English　friends　had　sunk　with　it　to　the　bottom　of　the　stream。

None　heeded　her；　not　even　Amyas；　round　whose　knees　she　clung；　fawning　like　a　spaniel　dog：　for　where　was　Yeo？

Another　swirl；　a　shout　from　the　canoe　abreast　of　them；　and　Yeo　rose；　having　dived　clean　under　his　own　boat；　and　risen　between　the　two。

〃Safe　as　yet；　lads！　　Heave　me　a　line；　or　he'll　have　me　after　all。〃

But　ere　the　brute　reappeared；　the　old　man　was　safe　on　board。

〃The　Lord　has　stood　by　me；〃　panted　he；　as　he　shot　the　water　from　his　ears。　　〃We　went　down　together：　I　knew　the　Indian　trick；　and　being　uppermost；　had　my　thumbs　in　his　eyes　before　he　could　turn：　but　he　carried　me　down　to　the　very　mud。　　My　breath　was　nigh　gone；　so　I　left　go；　and　struck　up：　but　my　toes　tingled　as　I　rose　again；　I'll　warrant。　　There　the　beggar　is；　looking　for　me；　I　declare！〃

And；　true　enough；　there　was　the　huge　brute　swimming　slowly　round　and　round；　in　search　of　his　lost　victim。　　It　was　too　dark　to　put　an　arrow　into　his　eye；　so　they　paddled　on；　while　Ayacanora　crouched　silently　at　Amyas's　feet。

〃Yeo！〃　asked　he；　in　a　low　voice；　〃what　shall　we　do　with　her？〃

〃Why　ask　me；　sir？〃　said　the　old　man；　as　he　had　a　very　good　right　to　ask。

〃Because；　when　one　don't　know　oneself；　one　had　best　inquire　of　one's　elders。　　Besides；　you　saved　her　life　at　the　risk　of　your　own；　and　have　a　right　to　a　voice　in　the　matter；　if　any　one　has；　old　friend。〃

〃Then；　my　dear　young　captain；　if　the　Lord　puts　a　precious　soul　under　your　care；　don't　you　refuse　to　bear　the　burden　He　lays　on　you。〃

Amyas　was　silent　awhile；　while　Ayacanora；　who　was　evidently　utterly　exhausted　by　the　night's　adventure；　and　probably　by　long　wanderings；　watchings；　and　weepings　which　had　gone　before　it；　sank　with　her　head　against　his　knee；　fell　fast　asleep；　and　breathed　as　gently　as　a　child。

At　last　he　rose　in　the　canoe；　and　called　Cary　alongside。

〃Listen　to　me；　gentlemen；　and　sailors　all。　　You　know　that　we　have　a　maiden　on　board　here；　by　no　choice　of　our　own。　　Whether　she　will　be　a　blessing　to　us；　God　alone　can　tell：　but　she　may　turn　to　the　greatest　curse　which　has　befallen　us　ever　since　we　came　out　over　Bar　three　years　ago。　　Promise　me　one　thing；　or　I　put　her　ashore　the　next　beach；　and　that　is；　that　you　will　treat　her　as　if　she　were　your　own　sister；　and　make　an　agreement　here　and　now；　that　if　the　maid　comes　to　harm　among　us；　the　man　that　is　guilty　shall　hang　for　it　by　the　neck　till　he's　dead；　even　though　he　be　I；　Captain　Leigh；　who　speak　to　you。　　I'll　hang　you；　as　I　am　a　Christian；　and　I　give　you　free　leave　to　hang　me。〃

〃A　very　fair　bargain；〃　quoth　Cary；　〃and　I　for　one　will　see　it　kept　to。　　Lads；　we'll　twine　a　double　strong　halter　for　the　captain　as　we　go　down　along。〃

〃I　am　not　jesting；　Will。〃

〃I　know　it；　good　old　lad；〃　said　Cary；　stretching　out　his　own　hand　to　him　across　the　water　through　the　darkness；　and　giving　him　a　hearty　shake。　　〃I　know　it；　and　listen；　men！　　So　help　me　God！　but　I'll　be　the　first　to　back　the　Captain　in　being　as　good　as　his　word；　as　I　trust　he　never　will　need　to　be。〃

〃Amen！〃　said　Brimblecombe。　　〃Amen！〃　said　Yeo；　and　many　an　honest　voice　joined　in　that　honest　com