The Knight Of The Golden Melice, John Turvill Adams [the reading list TXT] 📗
- Author: John Turvill Adams
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Things, He Murmured To Himself.
Spikeman Took The Hand.
"Now This Is Like Thyself, Philip," He Said--"A Brave Soldier--True As
A Toledo Blade--One Who Loves His Friend, And Hates His Enemy,
Although This Latter Part Should Not Be So. Thou Art Journeying, I
See, To The Knight's Place. Mayst Thou Find In Him A Patron, But It
Will Do No Harm To Say--Be On Thy Guard; One Old Friend Is Better Than
A Dozen New."
He Turned Away, And The Soldier, As He Looked After Him, Said--
"There Is Truth In Thy Words, But Thou Art Ignorant That The Knight
And I Were Friends Long Before I Knew Thee."
Chapter VI (Nature I Court In Her Sequestered Haunts, By Mountain, Meadow, Streamlet, Grove Or Cell, Where The Poised Lark His Evening Ditty Chaunts, And Health, And Peace, And Contemplation Dwell.)
Smollett.
So Long Had The Soldier Been Delayed By His Interviews With Prudence
And The Assistant, That It Was Not Until Past Noon That He Reached The
Knight's Residence. It Was A Large, Irregularly Built Log-Cabin, Or
Cottage, Covered With Thatch, Resembling Somewhat, Except In The Last
Particular, And In Being Larger, The Log-Cabins One Meets In The New
Settlements Of The West, With A Sort Of Piazza Or Porch, Which Seemed
To Have Been Lately Built, Running Across The Front. Such Was The Rude
Exterior; Though The Interior, As We Shall Presently See, When We
Enter The Building, Was Furnished In A Style Indicating Both Wealth
And Refinement.
The House Stood Near The Bottom Of A Hill, Upon A Piece Of Cleared
Land Of Perhaps Half A Dozen Acres, Upon Which Not The Vestige Of A
Stump Was To Be Seen. The Ground Sloped Gently Away From The Building
To The Southeast, Until It Met A Small Stream, Which Meandered At The
Base Of The Hill, And Running In An Easterly Direction, Was Lost To
Sight In The Forest. In Front Of The House, At The Distance Of A Rod,
Bubbled Up A Bright Spring, Which, Dashing Down The Declivity, Fell
Into The First-Mentioned Stream. Except This Cultivated Spot, Which
Had Been An Old Corn-Field Of The Natives, Selected By Them For The
Fertility Of The Soil, Its Advantage Of Water, And The Favorable Slope
Of The Land, Which Enabled It To Engross More Than A Common Share Of
The Genial Heat Of The Sun, And Expedite The Maturing Of Its Harvests,
All Was One Unbroken Extent Of Forest. In The Soft Autumnal Days, When
The Maize Leaves Rustled Yellow On Their Stalks, It Must Have Looked
To The Soaring Eagle, Gazing From His "Pride Of Place," Like A Vast
Nest In A Green Leafy Frame.
Around This Building, At Some Little Distance, Viz., At The Edge Of
The Encircling Forest, Were Scattered Some Four Or Five Wigwams, Or
Indian Lodges, Made Of The Bark Of Trees, From Some Of Which Smoke
Curled Lazily Up Into The Blue Sky, Imparting Assurance Thereby Of
Their Being Inhabited, Though The Presence Of Some Naked Children Near
The Entrances, Who Were Shooting With Little Bows At Marks, And
Amusing Themselves In Other Ways, Made Any Such Indication
Unnecessary.
As The Soldier Drew Near, He Heard More And More Distinctly Musical
Sounds, And Presently Could Distinguish The Tinkling Of A Guitar,
Accompanied By A Female Voice. He Stopped And Listened. The Air Was
Slow And Solemn, The Notes Were Soft And Clear, And The Words Sweet,
But Not English. There Was A Rich Luxuriance, Yet Pathos In The Music,
Like The Utterances Of A Spirit Whose Hopes Were Mingled With
Reminiscences Of Joys Which It Had Lost. How Long Philip Listened, He
Knew Not, So Entranced Was He By The Sounds. It Was A Long Time Since
He Had Heard Such Delicious Strains, And The Effect Upon Him Was
Therefore The Greater. Suddenly They Ceased, As If His Approach Had
Been Discovered, And Immediately Thereafter, A Man Stepped Out Upon
The Piazza. Philip Recognized Him At Once As The Young Man To Whom
Prudence Had Sent A Message, And Whom He Himself Had Called Master
Arundel.
He Was A Fair-Haired Youth Of Some Twenty-Three Or Four Years, With
That Clear, Bright Complexion So Common Among The English, And Which
They Owe To Their Foggy Climate And Habit Of Exercise In The Open Air.
Dark Blue Eyes Looked Out Joyously From A Handsome Face, Which Would
Have Been Effeminate, So Delicate Were The Features And Rosy The Tint
Of The Cheeks, But For A Brown Moustache, Which Shaded The Lip, And
Redeemed It From The Imputation. His Doublet And Hose Were Of A Dark
Green Cloth, As Was Also The Cap He Held In His Hand, And He Wore
Boots Made Of Yellow Leather, Reaching Above The Knee, And Full At The
Top. Around His Neck Was A White Band, Like Those Worn By The
Wealthier Colonists. This Young Gentleman First Spoke.
"Ha! Achilles, Or Coeur De Lion From Captivity," Or To Fashion My
Speech More Into The Humor Of This New World, "O, Daniel From The
Lion's Den, Greatly Doth My Heart Rejoice At Thy Deliverance."
"Welcome, Good Philip," He Added, In A More Natural Tone, Betraying
Some Sympathy, And Taking Him At The Same Time By The Hand; "Welcome
To Your Friends."
The Tired Soldier Sank Down Upon A Bench Before He Was Able To Speak.
"Thy Tongue Is Dry, And Moves Slowly, And, Now That I Regard Thee More
Closely, Art Pale. We Must Cheer Up Thy Drooping Spirit"
"Having Thus Spoken, The Young Man Entered The House, And Presently
Returned With A Flagon And Drinking Cups.
"Drink, Man," Said Arundel, Filling A Cup With Wine, "And Wash All
Sorrow Out Of Thine Heart. The Suns That Ripened The Grapes Out Of
Which This Juice Was Crushed, Were Bright And Joyous. May They Impart
Their Own Happiness And Vigor Unto Thee."
The Soldier Put The Cup To His Lips, Nor Withdrew It Until The
Contents Were Drained.
"I Feel," He Said, "The Good Wine Tingling Through All My Veins, And
Am A New Man Again."
"Fill Once More," Said The Young Man, Suiting The Action To The Word;
"One Shower Is Not Enough For So Thirsty A Soil."
The Soldier Did Not Refuse, And Having Drank A Second Time, He Felt
Refreshed.
"Pleasant Enough Quarters, Master Arundel," He Said, Looking Around;
"And I See Ye Have Some Red-Skins Camped Near By."
"They Are The Knight's Particular Friends, Whose Society It Seems To
Be His Sovereign Pleasure To Cultivate. He Has Persuaded Them To
Gather Round Him, Forming What May Be Called His Body-Guard."
"Or Outposts Of The Main Garrison. Well, For Runners Or Scouts They
May Answer, But For Hand-To-Hand Action, They Are Naught. But Where Is
Sir Christopher?"
"He Started On A Hunt This Morning, Our Larder Having Run Low. Hark!"
He Added, As Suddenly The Blast Of A Bugle Was Heard Echoing Through
The Forest, "That Is The Sound Wherewith He Is Accustomed To Announce
His Approach, And You Will Presently See Him Coming Out Of The Wood."
Sure Enough, In A Few Moments The Tall Form Of The Knight, Arrayed In
A Deer-Skin Hunting-Shirt, With Leggins Of The Same Material, And "A
Piece" In His Hand, Was Seen Emerging Into The Open Space. He Was
Followed By A Couple Of Indians, Each Of Whom Bore On His Shoulders A
Deer.
"Quecheco," The Two White Men Heard Him Say, As He Came Out Of The
Bushes, "Carry Thou Thy Deer To My Lodge, And Do Thou, Pococke, Divide
Thine With Thy Brother Quecheco." After Speaking These Words He
Advanced Toward Them.
"So, Ho, Philip," Cried Sir Christopher, "Again Under My Banner. Fate
Hath Decreed Us I Think For Buenas Camaradas, And For My Part I
Heartily Rejoice Thereat. A Braver Heart Than Thine Never Beat Under
Steel Corselet, Or Truer Hand Wielded A Sharp Sword."
"I Thank You, Sir Christopher, For Your Good Opinion," Said The
Soldier, "But I Have Seen Little Service Since We Parted Among The
Turbans, Of Whom Somehow Your Wine Sets Me A Thinking, At All To My
Mind. As For Fighting These Naked Savages, Who Have Nothing But
Children's Bows And Stone Hatchets, While Our Men-At-Arms Are Clad In
Bullet-Proof Steel From Head To Heel, Methinks There Is Little Manhood
Required Therefor, And For What I Have Done In That Way, I Confess
Myself Somewhat Ashamed."
"It Doth Please Me To Hear Thee Speak Thus, Philip," Replied The
Knight. True Valor Is Ever Joined With Generosity, And Despises To
Take Advantage Of Superior Strength To Crush The Weaker. But Fear Not
That I Have Any Service Of The Kind For Thee. I Came Not Among These
Innocent Natives To Bring A Sword, But The Olive Branch Of Peace. I
Would See Them Peaceful, And United, And Happy, Not Broken Into
Hostile Clans, And Delighting In Murdering One Another."
"I Spoke Not," Said The Soldier, "As Desiring To Make Terms With You,
Sir Christopher, Well Knowing That You Would Ask Nothing Which An
Honest Man Would Be Unwilling To Perform, And Am Only Too Happy To
Enter Your Service."
"So Be It, Philip," Said The Knight. "Henceforth Be Here Thy Home."
"Truly," Exclaimed The Soldier, Stretching Out His Legs With A Sigh Of
Relief, "There Is Some Difference Between Lying In A Prison, Or Even
Talking With Master Spikeman In The Bushes, As I Did But Just Now, And
Being With Good Wine And Noble Gentlemen."
"Didst Meet On Thy Way That Most Puritanical Of Puritans, The Praying,
Cheating, Canting, Hypocritical, Long-Faced Master Spikeman?" Cried
Arundel. "I Wonder What New Mischief He Hath Now On Foot, For It Is
His Meat?"
"Master Miles Arundel," Said The Knight, "Thy Language Is Too
Intemperate To Be Excused Even By Thy Youth. Check The Bitterness Of
Thine Expression, And Know That He Who Rules His Own Spirit Is Greater
Than He Who Wins A Kingdom."
A Flash Of Haughty Resentment Lighted Up The Eyes Of The Young Man At
The Reproof, But As He Saw That No Offence Was Designed, He Answered:
"I Expect Never To Win A Kingdom, But As For This Villain--"
"Peace, I Entreat Thee, My Young Friend," Interrupted Sir Christopher.
"I Am Curious To Hear Of Philip's Treatment In His Confinement, If He
Will Favor Us With An Account Thereof?"
Hereupon The Soldier Recounted To Them All That Had Passed In His
Prison, Including His Interview With Spikeman, And Attack On The
Jailer, And Also The Conversation In The Wood, Except Those Parts
Which Had Relation To Prudence.
"I See Not," Said Arundel, Upon The Conclusion Of The Narrative, "Why
The Wily Assistant Should Be Thine Enemy, But He Clearly Is. Thou Art
Honored In This Respect As Well As I."
"My Mind Doth Misgive Me That You Are Right," Said Philip. "Away From
Him. He Seems An Arch Villain, Though In His Presence The Feeling
Changes, For He Hath A Tongue To Wile A Bird From The Bough."
"Be Sure I Am Not Mistaken. See Now Whether Sir Christopher Be Not Of
The Same Opinion."
Thus Appealed To, The Knight Answered:
"I Fear That Your Judgment, Master Arundel, Is Correct, Though Caring
Not To Enter Into The Reasons Which Have Forced Me To This Conclusion.
But We Will Endeavor To Use Such Caution That Any Mischievous Designs
Of His Shall Be Defeated. Happily My Homestead Is Not Comprised Within
The Limits Of The Colony, And The Sentence Of Banishment Is Complied
With, Philip Being Here."
Hereupon Sir Christopher Rose And Entered The House, And The Soldier
Took Advantage Of His Absence To Deliver The Message Of Prudence,
Which, As He Had Threatened, He Colored A Little. With All His Efforts
He Was Unable To Conceal The Interest Which He Felt For The Girl, But
The Young Man Good Naturedly Allowed Him To Suppose It Unnoticed. In A
Short Time The Knight Reappeared, And Invited Them In To Dinner.
The Apartment Which They Entered Opened Immediately Upon The Porch,
And Was A Room Some Twenty Feet Square, Constituting Somewhat More
Than A Quarter Of The Building. The Walls Were Merely Unhewn Logs,
Divested Of The Bark, And Filled In With A Tenacious Clay Resembling
Mortar. Against Them Were Nailed, Or Supported By Wooden Pegs, In
Divers
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