the path of the king-第29节

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　In　each　dwelling　the　roof　was　of　beaten　gold；　and　the　square　pillars　were　covered　with　gold　plates；　and　where　the　dead　sat　was　a　wilderness　of　jewels。　。　。　。　　I　tell　you；　all　the　riches　that　Spain　has　drawn　from　all　her　Indies　since　the　first　conquistador　set　foot　in　them　would　not　vie　with　the　preciousness　of　a　single　one　among　those　dead　kings'　houses。〃

〃And　the　kings　？〃　Raleigh　interjected。

〃They　sat　stiff　in　gold　on　their　thrones；　their　bodies　fashioned　in　the　likeness　of　men。　But　they　had　no　faces　only　golden　plates　set　with　gems'〃

〃What　fortune！　What　fortune！　And　what　did　you　then？

〃We　went　mad。〃　The　seaman's　voice　was　slow　and　melancholy。　〃We；　who　an　hour　before　had　been　filled　with　high　contemplations；　went　mad　like　common　bravos　at　the　sight　of　plunder。　No　man　thought　of　the　greater　treasure　which　these　gold　things　warded。　We　laughed　and　cried　like　children；　and　tore　at　the　plated　dead。　。　。　。　　I　mind　how　I　wrenched　off　one　jewelled　face　with　the　haft　of　my　dagger；　and　a　thin　trickle　of　bones　fell　inside。　。　。　。　And　yet；　as　we　ravened　and　plundered　we　would　fall　into　fits　of　shivering；　for　the　thing　was　not　of　this　world。　Often　a　man　would　stop　and　fall　to　weeping。　But　the　lust　of　gold　consumed　us；　and　presently　we　only　sorrowed　because　we　had　no　sumpter　mules　to　aid　its　transit；　and　had　a　terror　of　the　infernal　plain　and　valley　we　had　travelled。　。。。

〃Captain　Bovill　made　camp　in　a　mead　outside　the　city；　and　one　of　us　shot　a　deer；　so　that　we　supped　full。　He　unfolded　his　purpose；　which　was　that　we　should　pack　about　our　persons　such　jewels　as　were　the　smallest　and　most　precious；　and　some　gold　likewise　as　an　earnest；　and　by　striking　northward　through　the　mountains　seek　to　reach　at　a　higher　point　in　its　course　the　river　by　which　we　had　entered　from　the　sea。　I　mistrusted　the　plan；　for　the　chart　had　shown　but　the　one　way；　but　the　terror　of　the　road　we　had　come　was　strong　on　me　and　I　made　no　protest。　So　we　packed　our　treasure；　so　that　each　man　staggered　under　it；　and　before　noon　left　the　place　of　the　kings。〃

〃And　then？　Was　the　road　desperate？〃　Raleigh's　pale　eyes　had　the　ardour　of　a　boy's。

〃Desperate　beyond　all　telling。　An　escalade　of　sheer　mountains　and　a　battling　through　vales　choked　with　unbelievable　thorns。　Yet　there　was　water　and　food；　and　the　hardships　were　not　beyond　mortal　endurance。　'Twas　not　a　haunted　hell　like　the　way　up。　Wherefore　I　knew　it　would　lead　us　to　disaster；　for　'twas　not　ordained　as　the　path　in　the　chart　had　been。〃

Raleigh　laughed。　〃Faith；　you　show　your　mother's　race。　All　Coffyns　have　in　their　souls　the　sour　milk　of　Jean　Calvin。〃

〃Judge　if　I　speak　not　the　truth。　Bit　by　bit　we　had　to　cast　our　burdens　till　only　the　jewels　remained。　And　on　the　seventh　day；　when　we　were　in　sight　of　the　river；　we　met　a　Spanish　party；　a　convoy　from　their　northern　mines。　We　marched　loosely　and　blindly；　and　they　came　on　us　unawares。　We　had　all　but　reached　the　river's　brink；　so　had　the　stream　for　a　defence　on　one　side；　but　before　we　knew　they　had　taken　us　on　flank　and　rear。〃

〃Many？〃

〃A　matter　of　three　score；　fresh　and　well　armed；　against　nine　weary　men　mortally　short　of　powder。　That　marked　the　end　of　our　madness　and　we　became　again　sober　Christians。　Most　notable　was　Captain　Bovill。　'We　have　seen　what　we　have　seen；'　he　told　us；　as　we　cast　up　our　defences　under　Spanish　bullets；　'and　none　shall　wrest　the　secret　from　us。　If　God　wills　that　we　perish；　'twill　perish　too。　The　odds　are　something　heavier　than　I　like；　and　if　the　worst　befall　I　trust　every　man　to　fling　into　the　river　what　jewels　he　carries　sooner　than　let　them　become　spoil　of　war。　For　if　they　see　such　preciousness　they　will　be　fired　to　inquiry　and　may　haply　stumble　on　our　city。　Such　of　us　as　live　will　some　day　return　there。　。　。　。'　I　have　said　we　had　little　powder；　but　for　half　a　day　we　withstood　the　assault；　and　time　and　again　when　the　enemy　leapt　inside　our　lines　we　beat　him　back。　At　the　end；　when　hope　was　gone；　you　would　hear　little　splashes　in　the　waters　as　this　man　or　that　put　his　treasures　into　eternal　hiding。　A　Spanish　sword　was　like　to　have　cleft　my　skull；　but　before　I　lost　my　senses　I　noted　Captain　Bovill　tearing　the　chart　in　shreds　and　using　them　to　hold　down　the　last　charges　for　his　matchlock。　He　was　crying；　too；　in　English　that　some　day　we　would　return　the　road　we　had　come。〃

〃And　you　returned？〃

The　seaman　shook　his　head。　Not　with　earthly　feet。　Two　of　us　they　slew　outright；　and　two　more　died　on　the　way　coastwards。　For　long　I　was　between　death　and　life；　and　knew　little　till　I　woke　in　the　Almirante's　cell　at　Panama。　。　。　。　　The　rest　you　have　heard。　Captain　Bovill　died　praising　God；　and　with　him　three　stout　lads　out　of　Somerset。　I　escaped　and　tell　you　the　tale。〃

Raleigh　meditation。　With　a　sudden　motion　he　rose　to　his　feet　and　stared　through　the　port；　which　was　now　tremulous　with　the　foreglow　of　the　tropic　dawn。　He　put　his　head　out　and　sniffed　the　sweet　cold　air。　Then　he　turned　to　his　companion。

〃You　know　the　road　back　to　the　city？〃

The　other　nodded。　〃I　alone　of　men。〃

〃What　hinders；　Jasper？〃　Raleigh's　face　was　sharp　and　eager；　and　his　eyes　had　the　hunger　of　an　old　hound　on　a　trail。　〃They　are　all　deserting　me　and　look　but　to　save　their　throats。　Most　are　scum　and　have　no　stomach　for　great　enterprises。　I　can　send　Herbert　home　with　three　shiploads　of　faint　hearts；　while　you　and　I　take　the　Destiny　and　steer　for　fortune。　Ned　King　will　comeay；　and　Pommerol。　What　hinders；　old　friend？〃

The　seaman　shook　his　head。　〃Not　for　me；　Sir　Walter。〃

〃Why；　man；　will　you　let　that　great　marvel　lie　hid　till　the　hills　crumble　and　bury　it？〃

〃I　will　returnbut　not　yet。　When　I　have　seen　my　son　a　man；　I　go　back；　but　I　go　alone。〃

〃To　the　city　of　the　gold　kings？〃

〃Nay；　to　the　Mount　of　the　Angels；　of　which　the　priest　told。〃

There　was　silence　for　a　minute。　The　light　dawn　wind　sent　a　surge　of　little　waves　against　the　ship's　side；　so　that　it　seemed　as　if　the　now　flaming　sky　was　making　its　song　of　morning。　Raleigh　blew　out　the　flickering　lamp；　and　the　cabin　was　filled　with　a　clear　green　dusk　like　palest　emerald。　The　air　from　the　sea　flapped　the　pages　of　the　book　upon　the　table。　He　flung　off　his　furred　gown；　and　stretched　his　long　arms　to　the　ceiling。

〃I　think　the　fever　has　left　me。　。　。　。　　You　said　your　tale　was　a　commentary　on　my　confessions。　Wherefore；　O　Ulysses？〃

〃We　had　the　chance　of　immortal　joys；　but　we　forsook　them　for　lesser　things。　For　that　we　were　thoroughly　punished　and　failed　even　in　our　baseness。　You；　too；　Sir　Walter；　have　glanced　aside　after　gauds。〃

〃For　certain　I　have；〃　and　Raleigh　laughed。

〃Yet　not　for　long。　You　have　cherished　most　resolutely　an　elect　purpose　and　in　that　you　cannot　fail。〃

〃I　know　not。　I　know　not。　I　have　had　great　dreams　and　I　have　striven　to　walk　in　the　light　of　them。　But　most　men　call　them　will　o'　the　wisps；　Jasper。　What　have　they　brought　me？　I　am　an　old　sick　man；　penniless　and　disgraced。　His　slobbering　Majesty　will　give　me　a　harsh　welcome。　For　me　the　Mount　of　the　Angels　is　like　to　be　a　scaflold。〃

〃Even　so。　A　man　does　not　return　from　those　heights。　When　I　find　my　celestial　hill　I　will　lay　my　bones　there。　But　what　matters　the　fate　of　these　twisted　limbs　or　even　of　your　comely　head：　All's　one　in　the　end；　Sir　Walter。　We　shall　not　die。　You　have　lit　a　fire　among　Englishmen　which　will　kindle　a　hundred　thousand　hearths　in　a　cleaner　world。〃

Raleigh　smiled；　sadly　yet　with　a　kind　of　wistful　pride。

〃God　send　it！　And　you？〃

〃I　have　a　son　of　my　body。　That　which　I　have　sowed　he　may　reap。　He　or　his　son；　or　his　son's　son。〃

The　morning　had　grown　bright　in　the　little　room。　Of　the　two　the　Admiral　now　looked　the　younger。　The　fresh　light　showed　the　other　like　a　wrinkled　piece　of　driftwood。　He　rose　stiffly　and　moved　towards　the　door。

〃You　have　proved　my　David　in　good　truth；〃　said　Raleigh。　〃This　night　has　gone　far　to　heal　me　in　soul　and　body。　Faith；　I　have　a　mind　to　breakfast。　。　。　。　What　a　miracle　is　our　ancient　England！　French　sire　or　no；　Jasper；　you　have　that　slow　English　patience　that　is　like　the　patience　of　God。〃



CHAPTER　9。　THE　REGICIDE

There　was　a　sharp　grue　of　ice　in　the　air；　as　Mr。　Nicholas　Lovel　climbed　the　rickety　wooden　stairs　to　his　lodgings　in　Chancery　Lane　hard　by　Lincoln's　Inn。　That　morning　he　had　ridden　in　from　his　manor　in　the　Chilterns；　and　still　wore　his　heavy　horseman's　cloak　and　the　long　boots　splashed　with　the　mud　of　the　Colne　fords。　He　had　been　busy　all　day　with　legal　mattersconveyances　on　which　his　opinion　was　sought；　for；　though　it　was　the　Christmas　vacation；　his　fame　among　the　City　merchants　kept　him　busy　in　term　and　out　of　it。　Rarely；　he　thought；　had　he　known　London　in　so　strange　a　temper。　Men　scarcely　dared　to　speak　above　their　breath　of　public　things；　and　eyed　him　fearfullyeven　the　attorneys　who　licked　his　bootsas　if　a　careless　word　spoken　in　his　presence　might　be　their　ruin。　For　it　was　known　that　this　careful　lawyer　stood　very　near　Cromwell；　had　indeed　been　his　comrade　at　bed　and　board　from　Marston　to　Dunbar；　and；　though　no　Commons　man；　had　more　weight　than　any　ten　in　Parliament。　Mr。　Lovel　could　not　but　be　conscious　of　the　tension　among　his　acquaintances；　and　had　he　missed　to　note　it　there　he　would　have　found　it　in　the　streets。　Pride's　troopers　were　everywhere；　riding　in　gr