by　the　window；　I　knew　that　she　was　weeping；　though　her　pride　strove　to　keep　that　knowledge　from　me。　My　heart　ached　for　her；　and　I　knew　not　how　to　comfort　her。　At　last　she　turned。　A　pasty　and　stoup　of　wine　were　upon　the　table。
  〃You　are　tired　and　shaken；〃　I　said；　〃and　you　may　need　all　your　strength。　Come；　eat　and　drink。〃
  〃For　to…morrow　we　die；〃　she　added；　and　broke　into　tremulous　laughter。　Her　lashes　were　still　wet；　but　her　pride　and　daring　had　returned。　She　drank　the　wine　I　poured　for　her；　and　we　spoke　of　indifferent　things；　…　of　the　game　that　afternoon；　of　the　Indian　Nantauquas；　of　the　wild　night　that　clouds　and　wind　portended。　Supper　over；　I　called　Angela　to　bear　her　company；　and　I　myself　went　out　into　the　night；　and　down　the　street　toward　the　guest　house。
  CHAPTER　XVIII　　IN　WHICH　WE　GO　OUT　INTO　THE　NIGHT
  THE　guest　house　was　aflame　with　lights。　As　I　neared　it；　there　was　borne　to　my　ears　a　burst　of　drunken　shouts　accompanied　by　a　volley　of　musketry。　My　lord　was　pursuing　with　a　vengeance　our　senseless　fashion　of　wasting　in　drinking　bouts　powder　that　would　have　been　better　spent　against　the　Indians。　The　noise　increased。　The　door　was　flung　open；　and　there　issued　a　tide　of　drawers　and　servants　headed　by　mine　host　himself；　and　followed　by　a　hail　of　such　minor　breakables　as　the　house　contained　and　by　Olympian　laughter。
  I　made　my　way　past　the　indignant　host　and　his　staff；　and　standing　upon　the　threshold　looked　at　the　riot　within。　The　long　room　was　thick　with　the　smoke　of　tobacco　and　the　smoke　of　powder；　through　which　the　many　torches　burned　yellow。　Upon　the　great　table　wine　had　been　spilt；　and　dripped　to　swell　a　red　pool　upon　the　floor。　Underneath　the　table；　still　grasping　his　empty　tankard；　lay　the　first　of　my　lord's　guests　to　fall；　an　up…river　Burgess　with　white　hair。　The　rest　of　the　company　were　fast　reeling　to　a　like　fate。　Young　Hamor　had　a　fiddle；　and；　one　foot　upon　a　settle；　the　other　upon　the　table；　drew　across　it　a　fast　and　furious　bow。　Master　Pory；　arrived　at　the　maudlin　stage；　alternately　sang　a　slow　and　melancholy　ditty　and　wiped　the　tears　from　his　eyes　with　elaborate　care。　　Master　Edward　Sharpless；　now　in　a　high　voice；　now　in　an　undistinguishable　murmur；　argued　some　imaginary　case。　Peaceable　Sherwood　was　drunk；　and　Giles　Allen；　and　Pettiplace　Clause。　Captain　John　Martin；　sitting　with　outstretched　legs；　called　now　for　a　fresh　tankard；　which　he　emptied　at　a　gulp；　now　for　his　pistols；　which；　as　fast　as　my　lord's　servants　brought　them　to　him　new　primed；　he　discharged　at　the　ceiling。　The　loud　wind　rattled　doors　and　windows；　and　made　the　flame　of　the　torches　stream　sideways。　The　music　grew　madder　and　madder；　the　shots　more　frequent；　the　drunken　voices　thicker　and　louder。
  The　master　of　the　feast　carried　his　wine　better　than　did　his　guests；　or　had　drunk　less；　but　his　spirit　too　was　quite　without　bounds。　A　color　burned　in　his　cheeks；　a　wicked　light　in　his　eyes；　he　laughed　to　himself。　In　the　gray　smoke　cloud　he　saw　me　not；　or　saw　me　only　as　one　of　the　many　who　thronged　the　doorway　and　stared　at　the　revel　within。　He　raised　his　silver　cup　with　a　slow　and　wavering　hand。　〃Drink；　you　dogs！〃　he　chanted。　〃Drink　to　the　Santa　Teresa！　Drink　to　to…morrow　night！　Drink　to　a　proud　lady　within　my　arms　and　an　enemy　in　my　power！〃
  The　wine　that　had　made　him　mad　had　maddened　those　others；　also。　In　that　hour　they　were　dead　to　honor。　With　shameless　laughter　and　as　little　spilling　as　might　be；　they　raised　their　tankards　as　my　lord　raised　his。　A　stone　thrown　by　some　one　behind　me　struck　the　cup　from　my　lord's　hand；　sending　it　clattering　to　the　floor　and　dashing　him　with　the　red　wine。　Master　Pory　roared　with　drunken　laughter。　〃Cup　and　lip　missed　that　time！〃　he　cried。
  The　man　who　had　thrown　the　stone　was　Jeremy　Sparrow。　For　one　instant　I　saw　his　great　figure；　and　　the　wrathful　face　beneath　his　shock　of　grizzled　hair；　the　next　he　had　made　his　way　through　the　crowd　of　gaping　menials　and　was　gone。
  My　lord　stared　foolishly　at　the　stains　upon　his　hands；　at　the　fallen　goblet　and　the　stone　beside　it。　〃Cogged　dice；〃　he　said　thickly；　〃or　I　had　not　lost　that　throw！　I'll　drink　that　toast　by　myself　to…morrow　night；　when　the　ship　does　n't　rock　like　this　d　…　d　floor；　and　the　sea　has　no　stones　to　throw。　More　wine；　Giles！　To　my　Lord　High　Admiral；　gentlemen！　To　his　Grace　of　Buckingham！　May　he　shortly　howl　in　hell；　and　looking　back　to　Whitehall　see　me　upon　the　King's　bosom！　The　King　's　a　good　king；　gentlemen！　He　gave　me　this　ruby。　D'　ye　know　what　I　had　of　him　last　year？　I〃　…
  I　turned　and　left　the　door　and　the　house。　I　could　not　thrust　a　fight　upon　a　drunken　man。
  Ten　yards　away；　suddenly　and　without　any　warning　of　his　approach；　I　found　beside　me　the　Indian　Nantauquas。　〃I　have　been　to　the　woods　to　hunt；〃　he　said；　in　the　slow　musical　English　Rolfe　had　taught　him。　〃I　knew　where　a　panther　lodged；　and　to…day　I　laid　a　snare；　and　took　him　in　it。　I　brought　him　to　my　brother's　house；　and　caged　him　there。　When　I　have　tamed　him；　I　shall　give　him　to　the　beautiful　lady。〃
  He　expected　no　answer；　and　I　gave　him　none。　There　are　times　when　an　Indian　is　the　best　company　in　the　world。
  Just　before　we　reached　the　market　place　we　had　to　pass　the　mouth　of　a　narrow　lane　leading　down　to　the　river。　The　night　was　very　dark；　though　the　stars　still　shone　through　rifts　in　the　ever　moving　clouds。　The　Indian　and　I　walked　rapidly　on；　…　my　footfalls　sounding　clear　and　sharp　on　the　frosty　ground；　he　as　noiseless　　as　a　shadow。　We　had　reached　the　further　side　of　the　lane；　when　he　put　forth　an　arm　and　plucked　from　the　blackness　a　small　black　figure。
  In　the　middle　of　the　square　was　kept　burning　a　great　brazier　filled　with　pitched　wood。　It　was　the　duty　of　the　watch　to　keep　it　flaming　from　darkness　to　dawn。　We　found　it　freshly　heaped　with　pine；　and　its　red　glare　lit　a　goodly　circle。　The　Indian；　pinioning　the　wrists　of　his　captive　with　his　own　hand　of　steel；　dragged　him　with　us　into　this　circle　of　light。
  〃Looking　for　simples　once　more；　learned　doctor？〃　I　demanded。
  He　mowed　and　jabbered；　twisting　this　way　and　that　in　the　grasp　of　the　Indian。
  〃Loose　him；〃　I　said　to　the　latter；　〃but　let　him　not　come　too　near　you。　Why；　worthy　doctor；　in　so　wild　and　threatening　a　night；　when　fire　is　burning　and　wine　flowing　at　the　guest　house；　do　you　choose　to　crouch　here　in　the　cold　and　darkness？〃
  He　looked　at　me　with　his　filmy　eyes；　and　that　faint　smile　that　had　more　of　menace　in　it　than　a　panther's　snarl。　〃I　laid　in　wait　for　you；　it　is　true；　noble　sir；〃　he　said　in　his　thin；　dreamy　voice；　〃but　it　was　for　your　good。　I　would　give　you　warning；　sir。〃
  He　stood　with　his　mean　figure　bent　cringingly　forward；　and　with　his　hat　in　his　hand。　〃A　warning；　sir；〃　he　went　ramblingly　on。　〃Maybe　a　certain　one　has　made　me　his　enemy。　Maybe　I　cut　myself　loose　from　his　service。　Maybe　I　would　do　him　an　ill　turn。　I　can　tell　you　a　secret；　sir。〃　He　lowered　his　voice　and　looked　around；　as　if　in　fear　of　eavesdroppers。
  〃In　your　ear；　sir；〃　he　said。
  I　recoiled。　〃Stand　back；〃　I　cried；　〃or　you　will　cull　no　more　simples　this　side　of　hell！〃
  〃Hell！　〃　he　answered。　〃There's　no　such　place。　I　will　not　tell　my　secret　aloud。〃
  〃Nicolo　the　Italian！　Nicolo　the　Poisoner！　Nicolo　the　Black　Death！　I　am　coming　for　the　soul　you　sold　me。　There　is　a　hell！〃
  The　thundering　voice　came　from　underneath　our　feet。　With　a　sound　that　was　not　a　groan　and　not　a　screech；　the　Italian　reeled　back　against　the　heated　iron　of　the　brazier。　Starting　from　that　fiery　contact　with　an　unearthly　shriek；　he　threw　up　his　arms　and　dashed　away　into　the　darkness。　The　sound　of　his　madly　hurrying　footsteps　came　back　to　us　until　the　guest　house　had　swallowed　him　and　his　guilty　terrors。
  〃Can　the　preacher　play　the　devil　too？〃　I　asked；　as　Sparrow　came　up　to　us　from　the　other　side　of　the　fire。　〃I　could　have　sworn　that　that　voice　came　from　the　bowels　of　the　earth。　'T　is　the　strangest　gift！〃
  〃A　mere　trick；〃　he　said；　with　his　great　laugh；　〃but　it　has　served　me　well　on　more　occasions　than　one。　It　is　not　known　in　Virginia；　sir；　but　before　ever　the　word　of　the　Lord　came　to　me　to　save　poor　silly　souls　I　was　a　player。　Once　I　played　the　King's　ghost　in　Will　Shakespeare's　'Hamlet；'　and　then；　I　warrant　you；　I　spoke　from　the　cellarage　indeed。　I　so　frighted　players　and　playgoers　that　they　swore　it　was　witchcraft；　and　Burbage's　knees　did　knock　together　in　dead　earnest。　But　to　the　matter　in　hand。　When　I　had　thrown　yonder　stone；　I　walked　quietly　down　to　the　Governor's　house　and　looked　through　the　window。　The　Governor　hath　the　Company's　letters；　and　he　and　the　Council　…　all　save　the　reprobate　Pory　…　sit　there　staring　at　them　and　drumming　with　their　fingers　on　the　table。〃
  〃Is　Rolfe　of　the　Council？〃　I　asked。
  〃Ay；　he　was　speaking；　…　for　you；　I　suppose；　though　I　heard　not　the　words。　They　all　listened；　but　they　all　shook　their　heads。〃
  〃We　shall　know　in　the　morning；〃　I　said。　〃The　night　grows　wilder；　and　honest　folks　should　be　abed。　Nantauquas；　good…night。　When　will　you　have　tamed　your　panther？〃
  〃It　is　now　the　moon　of　cohonks；〃　answered　the　Indian。　〃When　the　moon　of　blossoms　is　here；　the　panther　shall　roll　at　the　beautiful　lady's　feet。〃
  〃The　moon　of　blossoms！〃　I　said。　〃The　moon　of　blossoms　is　a　long　way　off。　I　have　panthers　myself　to　tame　before　it　comes。　This　wil