hidden；　the　whole　attitude　one　of　listlessness　and　dejection。　As　I　looked；　there　came　a　long　tremulous　sigh；　and　the　head　drooped　lower　and　lower；　as　if　in　a　growing　hopelessness。
  The　revulsion　of　feeling　was　so　great　that　for　the　moment　I　was　dazed　as　by　a　sudden　blow。　There　had　been　time　during　the　walk　from　the　gaol　for　enough　of　wild　and　whirling　thoughts　as　to　what　should　greet　me　in　that　hut；　and　now　the　slight　figure　by　the　fire；　the　exquisite　melancholy　of　its　posture；　its　bent　head；　the　weeping　I　could　divine；　…　I　had　but　one　thought；　to　comfort　her　as　quickly　as　I　might。　Diccon's　hand　was　upon　my　arm；　but　I　shook　it　off；　and　pushing　the　door　open　crossed　the　uneven　and　noisy　floor　to　the　fire；　and　bent　over　the　lonely　figure　beside　it。　〃Jocelyn；〃　I　said；　〃I　have　kept　tryst。〃
  As　I　spoke；　I　laid　my　hand　upon　the　bowed　and　covered　head。　It　was　raised；　the　cloak　was　drawn　aside；　and　there　looked　me　in　the　eyes　the　Italian。
  As　if　it　had　been　the　Gorgon's　gaze；　I　was　turned　to　stone。　The　filmy　eyes；　the　smile　that　would　have　been　mocking　had　it　not　been　so　very　faint；　the　pallor；　the　malignance；　…　I　stared　and　stared；　and　my　heart　grew　cold　and　sick。
  It　was　but　for　a　minute；　then　a　warning　cry　from　Diccon　roused　me。　I　sprang　backward　until　the　width　　of　the　hearth　was　between　me　and　the　Italian；　then　wheeled　and　found　myself　face　to　face　with　the　King's　late　favorite。　Behind　him　was　an　open　door；　and　beyond　it　a　small　inner　room；　dimly　lighted。　He　stood　and　looked　at　me　with　an　insolence　and　a　triumph　most　intolerable。　His　drawn　sword　was　in　his　hand；　the　jeweled　hilt　blazing　in　the　firelight；　and　on　his　dark；　superb　face　a　taunting　smile。　I　met　it　with　one　as　bold；　at　least；　but　I　said　no　word；　good　or　bad。　In　the　cabin　of　the　George　I　had　sworn　to　myself　that　thenceforward　my　sword　should　speak　for　me　to　this　gentleman。
  〃You　came；〃　he　said。　〃I　thought　you　would。〃
  I　glanced　around　the　hut；　seeking　for　a　weapon。　Seeing　nothing　more　promising　than　the　thick；　half…consumed　torch；　I　sprang　to　it　and　wrested　it　from　the　socket。　Diccon　caught　up　a　piece　of　rusted　iron　from　the　hearth；　and　together　we　faced　my　lord's　drawn　sword　and　a　small；　sharp；　and　strangely　shaped　dagger　that　the　Italian　drew　from　a　velvet　sheath。
  My　lord　laughed；　reading　my　thoughts。　〃You　are　mistaken；〃　he　declared　coolly。　〃I　am　content　that　Captain　Percy　knows　I　do　not　fear　to　fight　him。　This　time　I　play　to　win。〃　Turning　toward　the　outer　door；　he　raised　his　hand　with　a　gesture　of　command。
  In　an　instant　the　room　was　filled。　The　red…brown　figures；　naked　save　for　the　loincloth　and　the　headdress；　the　impassive　faces　dashed　with　black；　the　ruthless　eyes　…　I　knew　now　why　Master　Edward　Sharpless　had　gone　to　the　forest；　and　what　service　had　been　bought　with　that　silver　cup。　The　Paspaheghs　and　I　were　old　enemies；　doubtless　they　would　find　their　task　a　pleasant　one。
  〃My　own　knaves；　unfortunately；　were　out　of　the　　way；　sent　home　on　the　Santa　Teresa；〃　said　my　lord；　still　smiling。　〃I　am　not　yet　so　poor　that　I　cannot　hire　others。　True；　Nicolo　might　have　done　the　work　just　now；　when　you　bent　over　him　so　lovingly　and　spoke　so　softly；　but　the　river　might　give　up　your　body　to　tell　strange　tales。　I　have　heard　that　the　Indians　are　more　ingenious；　and　leave　no　such　witness　anywhere。〃
  Before　the　words　were　out　of　his　mouth　I　had　sprung　upon　him；　and　had　caught　him　by　the　sword　wrist　and　the　throat。　He　strove　to　free　his　hand；　to　withdraw　himself　from　my　grasp。　Locked　together；　we　struggled　backward　and　forward　in　what　seemed　a　blaze　of　lights　and　a　roaring　as　of　mighty　waters。　Red　hands　caught　at　me；　sharp　knives　panted　to　drink　my　blood；　but　so　fast　we　turned　and　writhed；　now　he　uppermost；　now　I；　that　for　very　fear　of　striking　the　wrong　man　hands　and　knives　could　not　be　bold。　I　heard　Diccon　fighting；　and　knew　that　there　would　be　howling　tomorrow　among　the　squaws　of　the　Paspaheghs。　With　all　his　might　my　lord　strove　to　bend　the　sword　against　me；　and　at　last　did　cut　me　across　the　arm；　causing　the　blood　to　flow　freely。　It　made　a　pool　upon　the　floor；　and　once　my　foot　slipped　in　it；　and　I　stumbled　and　almost　fell。
  Two　of　the　Paspaheghs　were　silent　for　evermore。　Diccon　had　the　knife　of　the　first　to　fall；　and　it　ran　red。　The　Italian；　quick　and　sinuous　as　a　serpent；　kept　beside　my　lord　and　me；　striving　to　bring　his　dagger　to　his　master's　aid。　We　two　panted　hard；　before　our　eyes　blood；　within　our　ears　the　sea。　The　noise　of　the　other　combatants　suddenly　fell。　The　hush　could　only　mean　that　Diccon　was　dead　or　taken。　I　could　not　look　behind　to　see。　With　an　access　of　fury　I　drove　　my　antagonist　toward　a　corner　of　the　hut；　…　the　corner；　so　it　chanced；　in　which　the　panther　had　taken　up　its　quarters。　With　his　heel　he　struck　the　beast　out　of　his　way；　then　made　a　last　desperate　effort　to　throw　me。　I　let　him　think　he　was　about　to　succeed；　gathered　my　forces　and　brought　him　crashing　to　the　ground。　The　sword　was　in　my　hand　and　shortened；　the　point　was　at　his　throat；　when　my　arm　was　jerked　backwards。　A　moment；　and　half　a　dozen　hands　had　dragged　me　from　the　man　beneath　me；　and　a　supple　savage　had　passed　a　thong　of　deerskin　around　my　arms　and　pinioned　them　to　my　sides。　The　game　was　up；　there　remained　only　to　pay　the　forfeit　without　a　grimace。
  Diccon　was　not　dead；　pinioned；　like　myself；　and　breathing　hard；　he　leaned　sullenly　against　the　wall；　they　that　he　had　slain　at　his　feet。　My　lord　rose；　and　stood　over　against　me。　His　rich　doublet　was　torn　and　dragged　away　at　the　neck；　and　my　blood　stained　his　hand　and　arm。　A　smile　was　upon　the　face　that　had　made　him　master　of　a　kingdom's　master。
  〃The　game　was　long；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　have　won　at　last。　A　long　good…night　to　you；　Captain　Percy；　and　a　dreamless　sleep！〃
  There　was　a　swift　backward　movement　of　the　Indians；　and　a　loud　〃The　panther；　sir！　Have　a　care！〃　from　Diccon。　I　turned。　The　panther；　maddened　by　the　noise　and　light；　the　shifting　figures；　the　blocked　doors；　the　sight　and　smell　of　blood；　the　blow　that　had　been　dealt　it；　was　crouching　for　a　spring。　The　red…brown　hair　was　bristling；　the　eyes　were　terrible。　I　was　before　it；　but　those　glaring　eyes　had　marked　me　not。　It　passed　me　like　a　bar　from　a　catapult；　and　the　man　whose　heel　it　had　felt　was　full　in　its　path。　One　of　its　forefeet　sank　in　the　velvet　of　the　doublet；　the　　claws　of　the　other　entered　the　flesh　below　the　temple；　and　tore　downwards　and　across。　With　a　cry　as　awful　as　the　panther's　scream　the　Italian　threw　himself　upon　the　beast　and　buried　his　poniard　in　its　neck。　The　panther　and　the　man　it　had　attacked　went　down　together。
  When　the　Indians　had　unlocked　that　dread　embrace　and　had　thrust　aside　the　dead　brute；　there　emerged　from　the　dimness　of　the　inner　room　Master　Edward　Sharpless；　gray　with　fear；　trembling　in　every　limb；　to　take　the　reins　that　had　fallen　from　my　lord's　hands。　The　King's　minion　lay　in　his　blood；　a　ghastly　spectacle；　unconscious　now；　but　with　life　before　him；　…　life　through　which　to　pass　a　nightmare　vision。　The　face　out　of　which　had　looked　that　sullen；　proud；　and　wicked　spirit　had　been　one　of　great　beauty；　it　had　brought　him　exceeding　wealth　and　power　beyond　measure；　the　King　had　loved　to　look　upon　it；　and　it　had　come　to　this。　He　lived；　and　I　was　to　die：　better　my　death　than　his　life。　In　every　heart　there　are　dark　depths；　whence　at　times　ugly　things　creep　into　the　daylight；　but　at　least　I　could　drive　back　that　unmanly　triumph；　and　bid　it　never　come　again。　I　would　have　killed　him；　but　I　would　not　have　had　him　thus。
  The　Italian　was　upon　his　knees　beside　his　master：　even　such　a　creature　could　love。　From　his　skeleton　throat　came　a　low；　prolonged；　croaking　sound；　and　his　bony　hands　strove　to　wipe　away　the　blood。　The　Paspaheghs　drew　around　us　closer　and　closer；　and　the　werowance　clutched　me　by　the　shoulder。　I　shook　him　off。　〃Give　the　word；　Sharpless；〃　I　said；　〃or　nod；　if　thou　art　too　frightened　to　speak。　Murder　is　too　stern　a　stuff　for　such　a　base　kitchen　knave　as　thou　to　deal　in。〃
  White　and　shaking；　he　would　not　meet　my　eyes；　but　beckoned　the　werowance　to　him；　and　began　to　whisper　vehemently；　pointing　now　to　the　man　upon　the　floor；　now　to　the　town；　now　to　the　forest。　The　Indian　listened；　nodded；　and　glided　back　to　his　fellows。
  〃The　white　men　upon　the　Powhatan　are　many；〃　he　said　in　his　own　tongue；　〃but　they　build　not　their　wigwams　upon　the　banks　of　the　Pamunkey。　1　　The　singing　birds　of　the　Pamunkey　tell　no　tales。　The　pine　splinters　will　burn　as　brightly　there；　and　the　white　men　will　smell　them　not。　We　will　build　a　fire　at　Uttamussac；　between　the　red　hills；　before　the　temple　and　the　graves　of　the　kings。〃　There　was　a　murmur　of　assent　from　his　braves。
  Uttamussac！　They　would　probably　make　a　two　days'　journey　of　it。　We　had　that　long；　then；　to　live。
  Captors　and　captives；　we　presently　left　the　hut。　On　the　threshold　I　looked　back；　past　the　poltroon　whom　I　had　flung　into　the　river　one　midsummer　day；　to　that　prone　and　bleeding　figure。　As　I　looked；　it　groaned　and　moved。　The　Indians　behind　me　forced　me　on；　a　moment；　and　we　were　out　beneath　the　stars。　They　shone　so　very　brightly；　there　was　one　…　large；　steadfast；　golden　…　just　over　the　dark　town　behind　us；　over　the　Governor's　house。　Did　she　sleep　or　did　she　wake？　Sleeping　or　waking；　I　prayed　God　to　keep　her