按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
opper that formed his headdress； of his gorgeous belt and quiver and his mantle of raccoon skins； while Diccon and I sat still before our wigwam； smoking； and reckoning the distance to Jamestown and the shortest time in which we could cover it。
When we had sat there for an hour the old men and the warriors came to visit us； and the smoking must commence all over again。 The women laid mats in a great half circle； and each savage took his seat with perfect breeding； that is； in absolute silence and with a face like a stone。 The peace paint was upon them all； … red； or red and white； they sat and looked at the ground until I had made the speech of welcome。 Soon the air was dense with the fragrant smoke； in the thick blue haze the sweep of painted figures had the seeming of some fantastic dream。 An old man arose and made a long and touching speech with much reference to calumets and buried hatchets。 When he had finished a chief talked of Opechancanough's love for the English； 〃high as the stars； deep as Popogusso； wide as from the sunrise to the sunset；〃 adding that the death of Nemattanow last year and the troubles over the hunting grounds had kindled in the breasts of the Indians no desire for revenge。 With which highly probable statement he made an end； and all sat in silence looking at me and waiting for my contribution of honeyed words。 These Pamunkeys； living at a distance from the settlements； had but little English to their credit； and the learning of the Paspaheghs was not much greater。 I sat and repeated to them the better part of the seventh canto of the second book of Master Spenser's 〃Faery Queen。〃 Then I told them the story of the Moor of Venice； and ended by relating Smith's tale of the three Turks' heads。 It all answered the purpose to admiration。 When at length they went away to change their paint for the coming feast Diccon and I laughed at that foolery as though there were none beside us who could juggle with words。 We were as light…hearted as children … God forgive us！
The day wore on； with relay after relay of food which we must taste at least； with endless smoking of pipes and speeches that must be listened to and answered。 When evening came and our entertainers drew off to prepare for the dance； they left us as wearied as by a long day's march。
The wind had been high during the day； but with the sunset it sank to a desolate murmur。 The sky wore the strange crimson of the past year at Weyanoke。 Against that sea of color the pines were drawn in ink； and beneath it the winding； threadlike creeks that pierced the marshes had the look of spilt blood moving slowly and heavily to join the river that was black where the pines shadowed it； red where the light touched it。 From the marsh arose the cry of some great bird that made its home there； it had a lonely and a boding sound； like a trumpet blown above the dead。 The color died into an ashen gray and the air grew cold； with a heaviness beside that dragged at the very soul。 Diccon shivered violently； turned restlessly upon the log that served him as settle； and began to mutter to himself。
〃Art cold？〃 I asked。
He shook his head。 〃Something walked over my grave；〃 he said。 〃I would give all the pohickory that was ever brewed by heathen for a toss of aqua vit‘！〃
In the centre of the village rose a great heap of logs and dry branches； built during the day by the women and children。 When the twilight fell and the owls began to hoot this pile was fired； and lit the place from end to end。 The scattered wigwams； the scaffolding where the fish were dried； the tall pines and wide…branching mulberries； the trodden grass； … all flashed into sight as the flame roared up to the top…most withered bough。 The village glowed like a lamp set in the dead blackness of marsh and forest。 Opechancanough came from the forest with a score of warriors behind him； and stopped beside me。 I rose to greet him； as was decent； for he was an Emperor； albeit a savage and a pagan。 〃Tell the English that Opechancanough grows old；〃 he said。 〃The years that once were as light upon him as the dew upon the maize are now hailstones to beat him back to the earth whence he came。 His arm is not swift to strike and strong as it once was。 He is old； the warpath and the scalp dance please him no longer。 He would die at peace with all men。 Tell the English this； tell them also that Opechancanough knows that they are good and just； that they do not treat men whose color is not their own like babes； fooling them with toys； thrusting them out of their path when they grow troublesome。 The land is wide and the hunting grounds are many。 Let the red men who were here as many moons ago as there are leaves in summer and the white men who came yesterday dwell side by side in peace； sharing the maize fields and the weirs and the hunting grounds together。〃 He waited not for my answer； but passed on； and there was no sign of age in his stately figure and his slow； firm step。 I watched him with a frown until the darkness of his lodge had swallowed up him and his warriors； and mistrusted him for a cold and subtle devil。
Suddenly； as we sat staring at the fire we were beset by a band of maidens； coming out of the woods； painted； with antlers upon their heads and pine branches in their hands。 They danced about us； now advancing until the green needles met above our heads； now retreating until there was a space of turf between us。 Their slender limbs gleamed in the firelight； they moved with grace； keeping time to a plaintive song； now raised by the whole choir； now fallen to a single voice。 Pocahontas had danced thus before the English many a time。 I thought of the little maid； of her great wondering eyes and her piteous； untimely death； of how loving she was to Rolfe and how happy they had been in their brief wedded life。 It had bloomed like a rose； as fair and as early fallen； with only a memory of past sweetness。 Death was a coward； passing by men whose trade it was to out…brave him； and striking at the young and lovely and innocent。 。 。 。
We were tired with all the mummery of the day； moreover； every fibre of our souls had been strained to meet the hours that had passed since we left the gaol at Jamestown。 The elation we had felt earlier in the day was all gone。 Now； the plaintive song； the swaying figures； the red light beating against the trees； the blackness of the enshrouding forest； the low； melancholy wind； … all things seemed strange； and yet deadly old； as though we had seen and heard them since the beginning of the world。 All at once a fear fell upon me； causeless and unreasonable； but weighing upon my heart like a stone。 She was in a palisaded town； under the Governor's protection； with my friends about her and my enemy lying sick； unable to harm her。 It was I； not she； that was in danger。 I laughed at myself； but my heart was heavy； and I was in a fever to be gone。
The Indian girls danced more and more swiftly； and their song changed； becoming gay and shrill and sweet。 Higher and higher rang the notes； faster and faster moved the dark limbs； then； quite suddenly； song and motion ceased together。 They who had danced with the abandonment of wild priestesses to some wild god were again but shy brown Indian maids who went and set them meekly down upon the grass beneath the trees。 From the darkness now came a burst of savage cries only less appalling than the war whoop itself。 In a moment the men of the village had rushed from the shadow of the trees into the broad； firelit space before us。 Now they circled around us； now around the fire； now each man danced and stamped and muttered to himself。 For the most part they were painted red； but some were white from head to heel； … statues come to life； … while others had first oiled their bodies； then plastered them over with small bright…colored feathers。 The tall headdresses made giants of them all； as they leaped and danced in the glare of the fire they had a fiendish look。 They sang； too； but the air was rude； and broken by dreadful cries。 Out of a hut behind us burst two or three priests； the conjurer； and a score or more of old men。 They had Indian drums upon which they beat furiously； and long pipes made of reeds which gave forth no uncertain sound。 Fixed upon a pole and borne high above them was the image of their Okee； a hideous thing of stuffed skins and rattling chains of copper。 When they had joined themselves to the throng in the firelight the clamor became deafening。 Some one piled on more logs； and the place grew light as day。 Opechancanough was not there； nor Nantauquas。
Diccon and I watched that uncouth spectacle； that Virginian masque； as we had watched many another one； with disgust and weariness。 It would last； we knew； for the better part of the night。 It was in our honor； and for a while we must stay and testify our pleasure； but after a time； when they had sung and danced themselves into oblivion of our presence； we might retire； and leave the very old men； the women； and the children sole spectators。 We waited for that relief with impatience； though we showed it not to those who pressed about us。
Time passed； and the noise deepened and the dancing became more frantic。 The dancers struck at one another as they leaped and whirle