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Master Bucke had been seldom at home； perhaps； or was feeble and careless of altering matters。 All was as though we had been but an hour gone； save that no fire burned upon the hearth。
I went to the table； and the books upon it were Jeremy Sparrow's： the minister's house； then； had been his home once more。 Beside the books lay a packet； tied with silk； sealed； and addressed to me。 Perhaps the Governor had given it； the day before； into Master Bucke's care； … I do not know； at any rate； there it lay。 I looked at the 〃By the Esperance〃 upon the cover； and wondered dully who at home would care to write to me； then broke the seal and untied the silk。 Within the cover there was a letter with the superscription； 〃To a Gentleman who has served me well。〃
I read the letter through to the signature； which was that of his Grace of Buckingham； and then I laughed； who had never thought to laugh again； and threw the paper down。 It mattered naught to me now that George Villiers should be grateful； or that James Stewart could deny a favorite nothing。 〃The King graciously sanctions the marriage of his sometime ward； the Lady Jocelyn Leigh； with Captain Ralph Percy； invites them home〃 …
She was gone home； and I her husband； I who loved her； was left behind。 How many years of pilgrimage 。 。 。 how long； how long； O Lord？
The minister's great armchair was drawn before the cold and blackened hearth。 How often she had sat there within its dark clasp； the firelight on her dress； her hands； her face！ She had been fair to look upon； the pride； the daring； the willfulness； were but the thorns about the rose； behind those defenses was the flower； pure and lovely； with a heart of gold。 I flung myself down beside the chair； and； putting my arms across it； hid my face upon them； and could weep at last。
That passion spent itself； and I lay with my face against the wood and well…nigh slept。 The battle was done； the field was lost； the storm and stress of life had sunk into this dull calm； as still as peace； as hopeless as the charred log and white ash upon the hearth； cold； never to be quickened again。
Time passed； and at length I raised my head； roused suddenly to the consciousness that for a while there had been no stillness。 The air was full of sound； shouts； savage cries； the beating of a drum； the noise of musketry。 I sprang to my feet； and went to the door to meet Rolfe crossing the threshold。
He put his arm within mine and drew me out into the sunshine upon the doorstep。 〃I thought I should find you here；〃 he said； 〃but it is only a room with its memories； Ralph。 Out here is more breadth； more height。 There is country yet； Ralph； and after a while； friends。 The Indians are beginning to attack in force。 Humphry Boyse is killed； and Morris Chaloner。 There is smoke over the plantations up and down the river； as far as we can see； and awhile ago the body of a child drifted down to us。〃
〃I am unarmed；〃 I said。 〃I will but run to the fort for sword and musket〃 …
〃No need；〃 he answered。 〃There are the dead whom you may rob。〃 The noise increasing as he spoke； we made no further tarrying； but； leaving behind us house and garden； hurried to the palisade。
CHAPTER XXXVIII IN WHICH I GO UPON A QUEST
THROUGH a loophole in the gate of the palisade I looked； and saw the sandy neck joining the town to the main； and the deep and dark woods beyond； the fairy mantle giving invisibility to a host。 Between us and that refuge dead men lay here and there； stiff and stark； with the black paint upon them； and the colored feathers of their headdresses red or blue against the sand。 One warrior； shot through the back； crawled like a wounded beetle to the forest。 We let him go； for we cared not to waste ammunition upon him。
I drew back from my loophole； and held out my hand to the women for a freshly loaded musket。 A quick murmur like the drawing of a breath came from our line。 The Governor； standing near me； cast an anxious glance along the stretch of wooden stakes that were neither so high nor so thick as they should have been。 〃I am new to this warfare； Captain Percy；〃 he said。 〃Do they think to use those logs that they carry as battering rams？〃
〃As scaling ladders； your Honor；〃 I replied。 〃It is on the cards that we may have some sword play； after all。〃
〃We'll take your advice； the next time we build a palisade； Ralph Percy；〃 muttered West on my other side。 Mounting the breastwork that we had thrown up to shelter the women who were to load the muskets； he coolly looked over the pales at the oncoming savages。 〃Wait until they pass the blasted pine； men！〃 he cried。 〃Then give them a hail of lead that will beat them back to the Pamunkey！〃
An arrow whistled by his ear； a second struck him on the shoulder； but pierced not his coat of mail。 He came down from his dangerous post with a laugh。
〃If the leader could be picked off〃 … I said。 〃It's a long shot； but there's no harm in trying。〃
As I spoke I raised my gun to my shoulder； but he leaned across Rolfe； who stood between us； and plucked me by the sleeve。
〃You've not looked at him closely。 Look again。〃
I did as he told me； and lowered my musket。 It was not for me to send that Indian leader to his account。 Rolfe's lips tightened and a sudden pallor overspread his face。 〃Nantauquas？〃 he muttered in my ear； and I nodded yes。
The volley that we fired full into the ranks of our foe was deadly； and we looked to see them turn and flee； as they had fled before。 But this time they were led by one who had been trained in English steadfastness。 Broken for the moment； they rallied and came on yelling； bearing logs； thick branches of trees； oars tied together； … anything by whose help they could hope to surmount the palisade。 We fired again； but they had planted their ladders。 Before we could snatch the loaded muskets from the women a dozen painted figures appeared above the sharpened stakes。 A moment； and they and a score behind them had leaped down upon us。
It was no time now to skulk behind a palisade。 At all hazards； that tide from the forest must be stemmed。 Those that were amongst us we might kill； but more were swarming after them； and from the neck came the exultant yelling of madly hurrying reinforcements。
We flung open the gates。 I drove my sword through the heart of an Indian who would have opposed me； and； calling for men to follow me； sprang forward。 Perhaps thirty came at my call； together we made for the opening。 A party of the savages in our midst interposed。 We set upon them with sword and musket butt； and though they fought like very devils drove them before us through the gateway。 Behind us were wild clamor； the shrieking of women； the stern shouts of the English； the whooping of the savages； before us a rush that must be met and turned。
It was done。 A moment's fierce fighting； then the Indians wavered； broke； and fled。 Like sheep we drove them before us； across the neck； to the edge of the forest； into which they plunged。 Into that ambush we cared not to follow； but fell back to the palisade and the town； believing； and with reason； that the lesson had been taught。 The strip of sand was strewn with the dead and the dying； but they belonged not to us。