westward ho-第37节
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on these； the men began to blaspheme； saying； 'What a plague had the captain to fill the boat with dirty live lumber for that giglet's sake？ They had a better right to a good supper than ever she had； and might fast awhile to cool her hot blood；' and so cooked and ate those hens； plucking them on board the pinnace； and letting the feathers fall into the stream。 But when William Penberthy； my good comrade； saw the feathers floating away down； he asked them if they were mad； to lay a trail by which the Spaniards would surely track them out； if they came after them； as without doubt they would。 But they laughed him to scorn； and said that no Spanish cur dared follow on the heels of true English mastiffs as they were； and other boastful speeches； and at last； being heated with wine； began afresh to murmur at the captain。 And one speaking of his counsel about the island； the rest altogether took it amiss and out of the way； and some sprang up crying treason； and others that he meant to defraud them of the plate which he had promised； and others that he meant to desert them in a strange land； and so forth； till Mr。 O。； hearing the hubbub； came out to them from the house； when they reviled him foully； swearing that he meant to cheat them； and one Edward Stiles； a Wapping man； mad with drink； dared to say that he was a fool for not giving up the prisoners to the negroes； and what was it to him if the lady roasted？ the negroes should have her yet； and drawing his sword； ran upon the captain： for which I was about to strike him through the body； but the captain； not caring to waste steel on such a ribald； with his fist caught him such a buffet behind the ear； that he fell down stark dead； and all the rest stood amazed。 Then Mr。 Oxenham called out； 'All honest men who know me； and can trust me； stand by your lawful captain against these ruffians。' Whereon； sirs； I； and Penberthy my good comrade； and four Plymouth men； who had sailed with Mr。 O。 in Mr。 Drake's ship； and knew his trusty and valiant conditions； came over to him； and swore before God to stand by him and the lady。 Then said Mr。 O。 to the rest； 'Will you carry this treasure； knaves； or will you not？ Give me an answer here。' And they refused； unless he would； before they started； give each man his share。 So Mr。 O。 waxed very mad； and swore that he would never be served by men who did not trust him； and so went in again； and that night was spent in great disquiet； I and those five others keeping watch about the house of boughs till the rest fell asleep； in their drink。 And next morning； when the wine was gone out of them； Mr。 O。 asked them whether they would go to the hills with him； and find those negroes； and persuade them after all to carry the treasure。 To which they agreed after awhile； thinking that so they should save themselves labor； and went off with Mr。 Oxenham； leaving us six who had stood by him to watch the lady and the treasure； after he had taken an oath of us that we would deal justly and obediently by him and by her； which God knows； gentlemen； we did。 So he parted with much weeping and wailing of the lady； and was gone seven days； and all that time we kept that lady faithfully and honestly； bringing her the best we could find； and serving her upon our bended knees； both for her admirable beauty； and for her excellent conditions； for she was certainly of some noble kin； and courteous； and without fear； as if she had been a very princess。 But she kept always within the house； which the little maid （God bless her！） did not； but soon learned to play with us and we with her； so that we made great cheer of her； gentlemen； sailor fashionfor you know we must always have our minions aboard to pet and amuse usmaybe a monkey； or a little dog； or a singing bird； ay； or mice and spiders； if we have nothing better to play withal。 And she was wonderful sharp； sirs； was the little maid； and picked up her English from us fast； calling us jolly mariners； which I doubt but she has forgotten by now； but I hope in God it be not so；〃 and therewith the good fellow began wiping his eyes。
〃Well； sir； on the seventh day we six were down by the pinnace clearing her out； and the little maid with us gathering of flowers； and William Penberthy fishing on the bank； about a hundred yards below； when on a sudden he leaps up and runs toward us； crying； 'Here come our hens' feathers back again with a vengeance！' and so bade catch up the little maid； and run for the house； for the Spaniards were upon us。
〃Which was too true； for before we could win the house； there were full eighty shot at our heels； but could not overtake us； nevertheless； some of them stopping； fixed their calivers and let fly； killing one of the Plymouth men。 The rest of us escaped to the house； and catching up the lady； fled forth； not knowing whither we went； while the Spaniards； finding the house and treasure； pursued us no farther。
〃For all that day and the next we wandered in great misery； the lady weeping continually； and calling for Mr。 Oxenham most piteously； and the little maid likewise； till with much ado we found the track of our comrades； and went up that as best we might： but at nightfall； by good hap； we met the whole crew coming back； and with them 200 negroes or more； with bows and arrows。 At which sight was great joy and embracing； and it was a strange thing； sirs； to see the lady； for before that she was altogether desperate： and yet she was now a very lioness； as soon as she had got her love again； and prayed him earnestly not to care for that gold； but to go forward to the North Sea； vowing to him in my hearing that she cared no more for poverty than she had cared for her good name； and thenthey being a little apart from the rest pointed round to the green forest； and said in Spanishwhich I suppose they knew not that I understood；'See； all round us is Paradise。 Were it not enough for you and me to stay here forever； and let them take the gold or leave it as they will？'
〃To which Mr。 Oxenham'Those who lived in Paradise had not sinned as we have； and would never have grown old or sick； as we shall。'
〃And she'If we do that； there are poisons enough in these woods； by which we may die in each other's arms； as would to Heaven we had died seven years agone！'
〃But he'No； no； my life。 It stands upon my honor both to fulfil my bond with these men； whom I have brought hither； and to take home to England at least something of my prize as a proof of my own valor。'
〃Then she smiling'Am I not prize enough； and proof enough？' But he would not be so tempted； and turning to us offered us the half of that treasure； if we would go back with him； and rescue it from the Spaniard。 At which the lady wept and wailed much； but I took upon myself to comfort her； though I was but a simple mariner； telling her that it stood upon Mr。 Oxenham's honor； and that in England nothing was esteemed so foul as cowardice； or breaking word and troth betwixt man and man； and that better was it for him to die seven times by the Spaniards； than to face at home the scorn of all who sailed the seas。 So； after much ado； back they went again； I and Penberthy； and the three Plymouth men which escaped from the pinnace； keeping the lady as before。
〃Well； sirs； we waited five days； having made houses of boughs as before； without hearing aught； and on the sixth we saw coming afar off Mr。 Oxenham； and with him fifteen or twenty men； who seemed very weary and wounded； and when we looked for the rest to be behind them； behold there were no more； at which； sirs； as you may well think； our hearts sank within us。
〃And Mr。 O。； coming nearer； cried out afar off； 'All is lost！' and so walked into the camp without a word； and sat himself down at the foot of a great tree with his head between his hands； speaking neither to the lady or to any one； till she very pitifully kneeling before him； cursing herself for the cause of all his mischief； and praying him to avenge himself upon that her tender body； won him hardly to look once upon her； after which （as is the way of vain and unstable man） all between them was as before。
〃But the men were full of curses against the negroes； for their cowardice and treachery； yea； and against high Heaven itself； which had put the most part of their ammunition into the Spaniards' hands； and told me； and I believe truly； how they forced the enemy awaiting them in a little copse of great trees； well fortified with barricades of boughs； and having with them our two falcons； which they had taken out of the pinnace。 And how Mr。 Oxenham divided both the English and the negroes into two bands； that one might attack the enemy in front； and the other in the rear； and so set upon them with great fury； and would have utterly driven them out； but that the negroes； who had come on with much howling； like very wild beasts； being suddenly scared with the shot and noise of the ordnance； turned and fled； leaving the Englishmen alone； in which evil strait Mr。 O。 fought like a very Guy of Warwick； and I verily believe every man of them likewise； for there was none of them who had not his shrewd scratch to show。 And indeed； Mr。 Oxenham's party had once gotten within the barricades； but the Spaniards being sheltered
