CHAPTER I IN WHICH THROW AMBS-ACE THE work of the day being over , sat down upon doorstep , pipe in hand , to rest awhile in the cool of the evening .
Death is not more still than is in the hour when the sun has sunk away , and it is black beneath the trees , and the stars brighten slowly and softly , one by one .
The birds that sing all day have hushed , and the horned owls , the monster frogs , and that strange and ominous fowl ( if fowl it be , and not , as assert , a spirit damned ) which call the whippoorwill , are yet silent .
Later the wolf will howl and the panther scream , but now there is no sound .
The winds are laid , and the restless leaves droop and are quiet .
The low lap of the water among the reeds is like the breathing of .
marked the light die from the broad bosom of , leaving 's hue .
Awhile ago , and for many evenings , had been crimson , -- .
A week before , a great meteor had shot through the night , blood-red and bearded , drawing a slow-fading fiery trail across the heavens ; and the moon had risen that same night blood-red , and upon its disk there was drawn in shadow a thing most marvelously like a scalping knife .
Wherefore , the following day being Sunday , , , exhorted to be on guard , and in prayer besought that no sedition or rebellion might raise its head amongst .
Afterward , in , between the services , began to tell of divers portents which had observed , and to recount old tales of how distressed in the Starving Time .
laughed to scorn , but began to weep and cower , and , though laughed too , thought of , and how ever held , and more especially that , in a most deep distrust ; telling that watched while slept , that might teach wiliness to , and how to bide its time to a cat crouched before a mousehole .
thought of the terms now kept with ; of how came and went familiarly amongst , spying out weakness , and losing the salutary awe which had struck into souls ; of how many were employed as to bring down deer for ; of how , breaking the law , and that not secretly , gave knives and arms , a soldier 's bread , in exchange for pelts and pearls ; of how was forever sending smooth messages ; of how lips smiled and eyes frowned .
That afternoon , as rode through the lengthening shadows , , rose from behind a fallen tree that sprawled across path , and made offer to bring meat from the moon of corn to the moon of stags in exchange for a gun .
There was scant love between and , -- it was answer enough when told name .
left standing , still as a carved stone , in the heavy shadow of the trees , and , spurring horse ( sent from , the year before , by ) , was soon at , -- .
When had had supper , called from , and soundly flogged both , having in mind a saying of 's , namely , “ who strikes first oft-times strikes last . ”
Upon the afternoon of which now speak , in the midsummer of the year of grace 1621 , as sat upon doorstep , long pipe between teeth and eyes upon the pallid stream below , thoughts were busy with these matters , -- so busy that did not see a horse and emerge from the dimness of into , nor knew , until voice came up , that , , was without and would speak to .
went down to the gate , and , unbarring it , gave hand and led the horse within .
“ ! ” said , with a laugh , as dismounted .
“ Who else , think , in this or any other hundred , now bars gate when the sun goes down ? ”
“ It is sunset gun , ” answered briefly , fastening horse as spoke .
put arm about shoulder , for were , and together went up to , and , when had brought a pipe , sat down side by side upon the doorstep .
“ Of what were dreaming ? ” asked presently , when had made for a great cloud of smoke .
“ called twice . ”
“ was wishing for 's times and 's laws . ”
laughed , and touched knee with hand , white and smooth as a woman 's , and with a green jewel upon the forefinger .
“ ! ” cried .
“ !
Why , what wilt do when gettest to ?
Make it too hot to hold ?
Or take out letters of marque against ? ”
“ am not there yet , ” said dryly .
“ In the meantime would like a commission against -- . ”
laughed , then sighed , and , sinking chin into hand and softly tapping foot against the ground , fell into a reverie .
“ would were alive , ” said presently .
“ So do , ” answered softly .
“ So do I. ” Locking hands behind head , raised quiet face to the evening star .
“ Brave and wise and gentle , ” mused .
“ If did not think to meet again , beyond that star , could not smile and speak calmly , , as do now . ”
“ ' T is a strange thing , ” said , as refilled pipe .
“ Love for , love for if be worth having , love for horse and dog , understand .
But wedded love !
to tie a burden around one 's neck because ' t is pink and white , or clear bronze , and shaped with elegance !
Faugh ! ”
“ Yet came with half a mind to persuade to that very burden ! ” cried , with another laugh .
“ Thanks for pains , ” said , blowing blue rings into the air .
“ have ridden to-day from , ” went on .
“ was , i ' faith , that cared to leave gates ; and met -- -- flocking to .
Not a mile of the way but encountered , , and , dressed in Sunday bravery and making full tilt for .
And !
have seen less crowded . ”
“ There was more passing than usual , ” said ; “ but was busy in , and did not attend .
What 's the lodestar ? ”
“ The star that draws all , -- some to ruin , some to bliss ineffable , . ”
“ Humph !
have come , then ? ”
nodded .
“ There 's , with a goodly lading . ”
“ Videlicet , some , warranted honest by , ” muttered .
“ This business hath been of ' management , as very well know , ” rejoined , with some heat .
“ word is good : therefore hold chaste .
That are fair can testify , having seen leave . ”
“ Fair and chaste , ” said , “ but meanly born . ”
“ grant that , ” answered .
“ But after all , what of it ?
must not be .
is new and must be peopled , nor will those who come after look too curiously into the lineage of those to whom owes birth .
What in need is a loosening of the bonds which tie to , to , and a tightening of those which bind to .
put hand to the plough , but turn heads and look to and fleshpots . '
T is and -- be that or -- that make of , that bind with chains of gold to .
Wherefore , when at midday met good rowing down from to , to offer aid to in press of business to-morrow , gave Godspeed , and thought a fruitful errand and one pleasing to . ”
“ Amen , ” yawned .
“ love , and call .
withers are unwrung . ”
rose to feet , and began to pace the greensward before the door .
eyes followed trim figure , richly though sombrely clad , then fell with a sudden dissatisfaction upon own stained and frayed apparel .
“ , ” said presently , coming to a stand before , “ have ever an hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco in hand ?
If not , ” -- “ have the weed , ” replied .
“ What then ? ”
“ Then at dawn drop down with the tide to , and secure for . ”