CHAPTER XLII
CONCERNING THE SONG OF A DEAD MAN
Long after the singing was died away I (like one dazed) could think ofnought but this accursed song, these words the which had haunted mysick-bed and methought no more than the outcome of my own feveredimagination; thus my mind running on this and very full of troubledperplexity, I suffered my lady to bring me within our refuge, but withmy ears on the stretch as expectant to hear again that strange, deepvoice sing these words I had heard chanted by a dead man in my dreams.
Being come within our third cave (or kitchen) my lady shows me a smallcord that dangled in certain shadowy corner, and pulling on this cord,down falls a rope-ladder and hangs suspended; and I knew this forAdam's "ladder of cords" whereby he had been wont to mount into hisfourth (and secret) cavern, as mentioned in his chronicle.
"Here lieth safety, Martin," says my lady, "for as Master Penfeatherwrites in his journal 'one resolute man lying upon the hidden ledge'(up yonder) 'may withstand a whole army so long as his shot last.' Andyou are very resolute and so am I!"
"True!" says I, "True!" Yet, even as I spake, stood all tense andrigid, straining my ears to catch again the words of this hateful song.But now my dear lady catches my hand and, peering up at me in thedimness, presently draws me into the outer cave where the moon made aglory.
"O Martin!" says she, looking up at me with troubled eyes, "DearMartin, what is it?"
"Aye--what?" quoth I, wiping sweat from me. "God knoweth. But youheard? That song? The words--"
"I heard a man singing, Martin. But what of it--we are safe here!Ah--why are you so strange?"
"Damaris," says I, joying in the comfort of her soft, strong arms aboutme, "dear love of mine, here is thing beyond my understanding, forthese were words I dreamed sung to me by a dead man--the manHumphrey--out beyond the reef--"
"Nay, but dear Martin, this was a real voice. 'Tis some shipwreckedmariner belike, some castaway--"
"Aye--but did you--mark these words, Damaris?"
"Nay--O my dear, how should I--at such a moment!"
"They were all--of Black Bartlemy! And what should this mean, thinkyou?"
"Nay, dear love, never heed!" says she, clasping me the closer.
"Aye, but I must, Damaris, for--in a while this singing shall comeagain mayhap and--if it doth--I know what 'twill be!"
"O Martin--Martin, what do you mean?"
"I mean 'twill be about the poor Spanish lady," says I, and catching upmy belt where it hung, I buckled it about me.
"Ah--what would you do, Martin?"
"I'm for Deliverance."
"Then will I come also."
"No!" says I, catching her in fierce arms, "No! You are minehenceforth and more precious than life to me. So must you bide here--Icharge you by our love. For look now, 'tis in my mind Tressady and hispirates are upon us at last, those same rogues that dogged the'Faithful Friend' over seas. Howbeit I must find out who or what is itis that sings this hateful--" I stopped, all at once, for the voice wascome again, nearer, louder than before, and singing the very words Ihad been hearkening for and dreading to hear:
"There's a fine Spanish dame, And Joanna's her name, Shall follow wherever ye go: 'Till your black heart shall feel Yow cursed steel: Black Bartlemy--Bartlemy ho!"
"You heard!" says I, clapping hand on knife, "You heard?"
"Yes--yes," she whispered, her embrace tightening until I might feelher soft body all a-tremble against mine. "But you are safe--here,Martin!"
"So safe," says I, "that needs must I go and find out this thing--nay,never fear, beloved, life hath become so infinite precious that I shallbe a very coward--a craven for your sake. Here shall be no fighting,Damaris, but go I must. Meanwhile do you wait me in the secret caveand let down the ladder only to my whistle."
But now, and lying all trembling in my embrace, she brake intopassionate weeping, and I powerless to comfort her.
"Farewell happiness!" she sobbed. "Only, Martin, dear Martin,whatsoever may chance, know and remember always that I loved and shalllove you to the end of time."
Then (and all suddenly) she was her sweet, calm self again, andbringing me my chain-shirt, insisted I must don it there and thenbeneath my fine doublet, the which (to please her) I did. Then shebrought me one of the arquebuses, but this I put by as too cumbersome,taking one of the pistols in its stead. So, armed with this togetherwith my hatchet and trusty knife, I stepped from the cave and shebeside me. And now I saw she had dried her tears and the hand claspingmine was firm and resolute, so that my love and wonder grew.
"Damaris," I cried, casting me on my knees before her, "O God, how I dolove thee!" And, kneeling thus, I clasped her slender loveliness,kissing the robes that covered her; and so, rising to my feet I hastedaway. Yet in a little I turned to see her watching me but with handsclasped as one in prayer. Now, beholding her thus, I was seized of asudden great desire to go back to give her that promise and swear thatoath she sought of me, viz., that I would forego my vengeance and allthought thereof, forgetting past wrongs in the wonder of her love.But, even as I stood hesitating, she waved her hand in farewell and wasgone into the cave.