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through the woods … news of how others had fared； and also powder and shot？
Before the dawning we had heard from all save the remoter settlements。 The blow had been struck； and the hurt was deep。 But it was not beyond remedy； thank God！ It is known what measures we took for our protection； and how soon the wound to the colony was healed； and what vengeance we meted out to those who had set upon us in the dark； and had failed to reach the heart。 These things belong to history； and I am but telling my own story； … mine and another's。
In the chill and darkness of the hour before dawn something like quiet fell upon the distracted； breathless town。 There was a pause in the coming of the boats。 The wounded and the dying had been cared for； and the noise of the women and the children was stilled at last。 All was well at the palisade； the strong party encamped upon the neck reported the forest beyond them as still as death。
In the Governor's house was held a short council； subdued and quiet； for we were all of one mind and our words were few。 It was decided that the George should sail at once with the tidings； and with an appeal for arms and powder and a supply of men。 The Esperance would still be with us； besides the Hope…in…God and the Tiger； the Margaret and John would shortly come in； being already overdue。
〃My Lord Carnal goes upon the George； gentlemen；〃 said Master Pory。 〃He sent but now to demand if she sailed to…morrow。 He is ill； and would be at home。〃
One or two glanced at me； but I sat with a face like stone； and the Governor； rising； broke up the council。
I left the house； and the street that was lit with torches and noisy with going to and fro； and went down to the river。 Rolfe had been detained by the Governor； West commanded the party at the neck。 There were great fires burning along the river bank； and men watching for the incoming boats； but I knew of a place where no guard was set； and where one or two canoes were moored。 There was no firelight there； and no one saw me when I entered a canoe and cut the rope and pushed off from the land。
Well…nigh a day and a night had passed since Lady Wyatt had told me that which made for my heart a night…time indeed。 I believed my wife to be dead； … yea； I trusted that she was dead。 I hoped that it had been quickly over； … one blow。 。 。 。 Better that； oh； better that a thousand times； than that she should have been carried off to some village； saved to…day to die a thousand deaths to…morrow。
But I thought that there might have been left； lying on the dead leaves of the forest； that fair shell from which the soul had flown。 I knew not where to go； … to the north； to the east； to the west； … but go I must。 I had no hope of finding that which I went to seek； and no thought but to take up that quest。 I was a soldier； and I had stood to my post； but now the need was past； and I could go。 In the hall at the Governor's house； I had written a line of farewell to Rolfe； and had given the paper into the hand of a trusty fellow； charging him not to deliver it for two hours to come。
I rowed two miles downstream through the quiet darkness； … so quiet after the hubbub of the town。 When I turned my boat to the shore the day was close at hand。 The stars were gone； and a pale； cold light； more desolate than the dark； streamed from the east across which ran； like a faded blood stain； a smear of faint red。 Upon the forest the mist lay heavy。 When I drove the boat in amongst the sedge and reeds below the bank； I could see only the trunks of the nearest trees； hear only the sullen cry of some river bird that I had disturbed。
Why I was at some pains to fasten the boat to a sycamore that dipped a pallid arm into the stream I do not know。 I never thought to come back to the sycamore； I never thought to bend to an oar again； to behold again the river that the trees and the mist hid from me before I had gone twenty yards into the forest。
CHAPTER XXXIX IN WHICH WE LISTEN TO A SONG
IT was like a May morning； so mild was the air； so gay the sunshine； when the mist had risen。 Wild flowers were blooming； and here and there unfolding leaves made a delicate fretwork against a deep blue sky。 The wind did not blow； everywhere were stillness soft and sweet； dewy freshness； careless peace。
Hour after hour I walked slowly through the woodland； pausing now and then to look from side to side。 It was idle going； wandering in a desert with no guiding star。 The place where I would be might lie to the east； to the west。 In the wide enshrouding forest I might have passed it by。 I believed not that I had done so。 Surely； surely I should have known； surely the voice that lived only in my heart would have called to me to stay。
Beside a newly felled tree； in a glade starred with small white flowers； I came upon the bodies of a man and a boy； so hacked； so hewn； so robbed of all comeliness； that at the sight the heart stood still and the brain grew sick。 Farther on was a clearing； and in its midst the charred and blackened walls of what had been a home。 I crossed the freshly turned earth； and looked in at the cabin door with the stillness and the sunshine。 A woman lay dead upon the floor； her outstretched hand clenched upon the foot of a cradle。 I entered the room； and； looking within the cradle； found that the babe had not been spared。 Taking up the little waxen body with the blood upon its innocent breast； I laid it within the mother's arms； and went my way over the sunny doorstep and the earth that had been made ready for planting。 A white butterfly … the first of the year … fluttered before me； then rose through a mist of green and passed from my sight。
The sun climbed higher into the deep blue sky。 Save where grew pines or cedars there were no shadowy places in the forest。 The slight green of uncurling leaves； the airy scarlet of the maples； the bare branches of the tardier trees； opposed no barrier to the sunlight。 It streamed into the world below the treetops； and lay warm upon the dead leaves and the green moss and the fragile wild flowers。 There was a noise of birds； and a fox barked。 All was lightness； gayety； and warmth； the sap was running； the heyday of the spring at hand。 Ah！ to be riding with her； to be going home through the fairy forest； the sunshine； and the singing！ 。 。 。 The happy miles to Weyanoke； the smell of the sassafras in its woods； the house all lit and trimmed。 The fire kindled； the wine upon the table 。 。 。 Diccon's welcoming face； and his hand upon Black Lamoral's bridle； the minister； too； maybe； with his great heart and his kindly eyes； her hand in mine； her head upon my breast …
The vision faded。 Never； never； never for me a home…coming such as that； so deep； so dear； so sweet。 The men who were my friends； the woman whom I loved； had gone into a far country。 This world was not their home。 They had crossed the threshold while I lagged behind。 The door was shut； and without were the night and I。
With the fading of the vision came a sudden consciousness of a presence in the forest other than my own。 I turned sharply； and saw an Indian walking with me； step for step； but with a space between us of earth and brown tree trunks and drooping b