westward ho-第33节

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　was　possible　then　for　men　of　the　world　to　be　thoroughly　ingrained　with　the　Gospel；　and　yet　to　be　free　from　any　taint　of　superstitious　fear；　or　false　devoutness。　　The　religion　of　those　days　was　such　as　no　soldier　need　have　been　ashamed　of　confessing。　At　least；　Sir　Richard　died　as　he　lived；　without　a　shudder；　and　without　a　whine；　and　these　were　his　last　words；　fifteen　years　after　that；　as　he　lay　shot　through　and　through；　a　captive　among　Popish　Spaniards；　priests；　crucifixes；　confession；　extreme　unction；　and　all　other　means　and　appliances　for　delivering　men　out　of　the　hands　of　a　God　of　love：

〃Here　die　I；　Richard　Grenville；　with　a　joyful　and　quiet　mind；　for　that　I　have　ended　my　life　as　a　true　soldier　ought；　fighting　for　his　country；　queen；　religion；　and　honor：　my　soul　willingly　departing　from　this　body；　leaving　behind　the　lasting　fame　of　having　behaved　as　every　valiant　soldier　is　in　his　duty　bound　to　do。〃

Those　were　the　last　words　of　Richard　Grenville。　　The　pulpits　of　those　days　had　taught　them　to　him。

But　to　return。　　That　day's　events　were　not　over　yet。　　For；　when　they　went　down　into　the　house；　the　first　person　whom　they　met　was　the　old　steward；　in　search　of　his　master。

〃There　is　a　manner　of　roog；　Sir　Richard；　a　masterless　man；　at　the　door；　a　very　forward　fellow；　and　must　needs　speak　with　you。〃

〃A　masterless　man？　　He　had　better　not　to　speak　to　me；　unless　he　is　in　love　with　gaol　and　gallows。〃

〃Well；　your　worship；〃　said　the　steward；　〃I　expect　that　is　what　he　does　want；　for　he　swears　he　will　not　leave　the　gate　till　he　has　seen　you。〃

〃Seen　me？　　Halidame！　he　shall　see　me；　here　and　at　Launceston　too；　if　he　likes。　　Bring　him　in。〃

〃Fegs；　Sir　Richard；　we　are　half　afeard。　　With　your　good　leave〃

〃Hillo；　Tony；〃　cried　Amyas；　〃who　was　ever　afeard　yet　with　Sir　Richard's　good　leave？〃

〃What；　has　the　fellow　a　tail　or　horns？〃

〃Massy　no：　but　I　be　afeard　of　treason　for　your　honor；　for　the　fellow　is　pinked　all　over　in　heathen　patterns；　and　as　brown　as　a　filbert；　and　a　tall　roog；　a　very　strong　roog；　sir；　and　a　foreigner　too；　and　a　mighty　staff　with　him。　　I　expect　him　to　be　a　manner　of　Jesuit；　or　wild　Irish；　sir；　and　indeed　the　grooms　have　no　stomach　to　handle　him；　nor　the　dogs　neither；　or　he　had　been　under　the　pump　before　now；　for　they　that　saw　him　coming　up　the　hill　swear　that　he　had　fire　coming　out　of　his　mouth。〃

〃Fire　out　of　his　mouth？〃　said　Sir　Richard。　　〃The　men　are　drunk。〃

〃Pinked　all　over？　　He　must　be　a　sailor；〃　said　Amyas；　〃let　me　out　and　see　the　fellow；　and　if　he　needs　putting　forth〃

〃Why；　I　dare　say　he　is　not　so　big　but　what　he　will　go　into　thy　pocket。　　So　go；　lad；　while　I　finish　my　writing。〃

Amyas　went　out；　and　at　the　back　door；　leaning　on　his　staff；　stood　a　tall；　raw…boned；　ragged　man；　〃pinked　all　over；〃　as　the　steward　had　said。

〃Hillo；　lad！〃　quoth　Amyas。　　〃Before　we　come　to　talk；　thou　wilt　please　to　lay　down　that　Plymouth　cloak　of　thine。〃　　And　he　pointed　to　the　cudgel；　which　among　West…country　mariners　usually　bore　that　name。

〃I'll　warrant；〃　said　the　old　steward；　〃that　where　he　found　his　cloak　he　found　purse　not　far　off。〃

〃But　not　hose　or　doublet；　so　the　magical　virtue　of　his　staff　has　not　helped　him　much。　　But　put　down　thy　staff；　man；　and　speak　like　a　Christian；　if　thou　be　one。〃

〃I　am　a　Christian；　though　I　look　like　a　heathen；　and　no　rogue；　though　a　masterless　man；　alas！　　But　I　want　nothing；　deserving　nothing；　and　only　ask　to　speak　with　Sir　Richard；　before　I　go　on　my　way。〃

There　was　something　stately　and　yet　humble　about　the　man's　tone　and　manner　which　attracted　Amyas；　and　he　asked　more　gently　where　he　was　going　and　whence　he　came。

〃From　Padstow　Port；　sir；　to　Clovelly　town；　to　see　my　old　mother；　if　indeed　she　be　yet　alive；　which　God　knoweth。〃

Clovally　man！　why　didn't　thee　say　thee　was　Clovally　man？〃　asked　all　the　grooms　at　once；　to　whom　a　West…countryman　was　of　course　a　brother。　　The　old　steward　asked

〃What's　thy　mother's　name；　then？〃

〃Susan　Yeo。〃

〃What；　that　lived　under　the　archway？〃　asked　a　groom。

〃Lived？〃　said　the　man。

〃Iss；　sure；　her　died　three　days　since；　so　we　heard；　poor　soul。〃

The　man　stood　quite　silent　and　unmoved　for　a　minute　or　two；　and　then　said　quietly　to　himself；　in　Spanish；　〃That　which　is；　is　best。〃

〃You　speak　Spanish？〃　asked　Amyas；　more　and　more　interested。

〃I　had　need　to　do　so；　young　sir；　I　have　been　five　years　in　the　Spanish　Main；　and　only　set　foot　on　shore　two　days　ago；　and　if　you　will　let　me　have　speech　of　Sir　Richard；　I　will　tell　him　that　at　which　both　the　ears　of　him　that　heareth　it　shall　tingle；　and　if　not；　I　can　but　go　on　to　Mr。　Cary　of　Clovelly；　if　he　be　yet　alive；　and　there　disburden　my　soul；　but　I　would　sooner　have　spoken　with　one　that　is　a　mariner　like　to　myself。〃

〃And　you　shall；〃　said　Amyas。　　〃Steward；　we　will　have　this　man　in；　for　all　his　rags；　he　is　a　man　of　wit。〃　　And　he　led　him　in。

〃I　only　hope　he　ben't　one　of　those　Popish　murderers；〃　said　the　old　steward；　keeping　at　a　safe　distance　from　him　as　they　entered　the　hall。

〃Popish；　old　master？　　There's　little　fear　of　my　being　that。　　Look　here！〃　　And　drawing　back　his　rags；　he　showed　a　ghastly　scar；　which　encircled　his　wrist　and　wound　round　and　up　his　fore…arm。

〃I　got　that　on　the　rack；〃　said　he；　quietly；　〃in　the　Inquisition　at　Lima。〃

〃O　Father！　　Father！　why　didn't　you　tell　us　that　you　were　a　poor　Christian？〃　asked　the　penitent　steward。

〃Because　I　have　had　naught　but　my　deserts；　and　but　a　taste　of　them　either；　as　the　Lord　knoweth　who　delivered　me；　and　I　wasn't　going　to　make　myself　a　beggar　and　a　show　on　their　account。〃

〃By　heaven；　you　are　a　brave　fellow！〃　said　Amyas。　　〃Come　along　straight　to　Sir　Richard's　room。〃

So　in　they　went；　where　Sir　Richard　sat　in　his　library　among　books；　despatches；　state…papers；　and　warrants；　for　though　he　was　not　yet；　as　in　after　times　（after　the　fashion　of　those　days）　admiral；　general；　member　of　parliament；　privy　councillor；　justice　of　the　peace；　and　so　forth；　all　at　once；　yet　there　were　few　great　men　with　whom　he　did　not　correspond；　or　great　matters　with　which　he　was　not　cognizant。

〃Hillo；　Amyas；　have　you　bound　the　wild　man　already；　and　brought　him　in　to　swear　allegiance？〃

But　before　Amyas　could　answer；　the　man　looked　earnestly　on　him　〃Amyas？〃　said　he；　〃is　that　your　name；　sir？〃

〃Amyas　Leigh　is　my　name；　at　your　service；　good　fellow。〃

〃Of　Burrough　by　Bideford？〃

〃Why　then？　　What　do　you　know　of　me？〃

〃Oh　sir；　sir！　young　brains　and　happy　ones　have　short　memories；　but　old　and　sad　brains　too　long　ones　often！　　Do　you　mind　one　that　was　with　Mr。　Oxenham；　sir？　　A　swearing　reprobate　he　was；　God　forgive　him；　and　hath　forgiven　him　too；　for　His　dear　Son's　sakeone；　sir；　that　gave　you　a　horn；　a　toy　with　a　chart　on　it？〃

〃Soul　alive！〃　cried　Amyas；　catching　him　by　the　hand；　〃and　are　you　he？　　The　horn？　why；　I　have　it　still；　and　will　keep　it　to　my　dying　day；　too。　　But　where　is　Mr。　Oxenham？〃

〃Yes；　my　good　fellow；　where　is　Mr。　Oxenham？〃　asked　Sir　Richard；　rising。　　〃You　are　somewhat　over…hasty　in　welcoming　your　old　acquaintance；　Amyas；　before　we　have　heard　from　him　whether　he　can　give　honest　account　of　himself　and　of　his　captain。　　For　there　is　more　than　one　way　by　which　sailors　may　come　home　without　their　captains；　as　poor　Mr。　Barker　of　Bristol　found　to　his　cost。　　God　grant　that　there　may　have　been　no　such　traitorous　dealing　here。〃

〃Sir　Richard　Grenville；　if　I　had　been　a　guilty　man　to　my　noble　captain；　as　I　have　to　God；　I　had　not　come　here　this　day　to　you；　from　whom　villainy　has　never　found　favor；　nor　ever　will；　for　I　know　your　conditions　well；　sir；　and　trust　in　the　Lord；　that　if　you　will　be　pleased　to　hear　me；　you　shall　know　mine。〃

〃Thou　art　a　well…spoken　knave。　　We　shall　see。〃

〃My　dear　sir；〃　said　Amyas；　in　a　whisper；　〃I　will　warrant　this　man　guiltless。〃

〃I　verily　believe　him　to　be；　but　this　is　too　serious　a　matter　to　be　left　on　guess。　　If　he　will　be　sworn〃

Whereon　the　man；　humbly　enough；　said；　that　if　it　would　please　Sir　Richard；　he　would　rather　not　be　sworn。

〃But　it　does　not　please　me；　rascal！　　Did　I　not　warn　thee；　Amyas？〃

〃Sir；〃　said　the　man；　proudly；　〃God　forbid　that　my　word　should　not　be　as　good　as　my　oath：　but　it　is　against　my　conscience　to　be　sworn。〃

〃What　have　we　here？　some　fantastical　Anabaptist；　who　is　wiser　than　his　teachers。〃

〃My　conscience；　sir〃

〃The　devil　take　it　and　thee！　　I　never　heard　a　man　yet　begin　to　prate　of　his　conscience；　but　I　knew　that　he　was　about　to　do　something　more　than　ordinarily　cruel　or　false。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　the　man；　coolly　enough；　〃do　you　sit　here　to　judge　me　according　to　law；　and　yet　contrary　to　the　law　swear　profane　oaths；　for　which　a　fine　is　provided？〃

Amyas　expected　an　explosion：　but　Sir　Richard　pulled　a　shilling　out　and　put　it　on　the　table。　　〃Theremy　fine　is　paid；　sirrah；　to　the　poor　of　Kilkhampton：　but　hearken　thou　all　the　same。　　If　thou　wilt　not　speak　an　oath；　thou　shalt　speak　on　compulsion；　for　to　Launceston　gaol　thou　goest；　there　to　answer　for　Mr。　Oxenham's　death；　on　suspicion　whereof；　and　of　mutiny　causing　it；　I　will　attach　thee　and　every　soul　of　his　crew　that　comes　home。　　We　have　lost　too　many　gallant　captains　of　late　by　treachery　of　their　crews；　and　he　that　will　not　clear　himself　on　oath；　must　be　held　for　guilty；　and　self…condemned。〃

〃My　good　fellow；〃　said