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e him； with no longer any fear of the wolves； but with absolute confidence in the quick appearance of less cowardly foes。 There was wood enough and to spare； when the fire sank low and the hungry eyes gleamed nearer； I fed it again； and the flame leaped up and mocked the eyes。
No human enemy came upon us。 The fire blazed and roared； and the man who lay in its rosy glare raved on； crying out now and then at the top of his voice； but on that night of all nights； of all years； light and voice drew no savage band to put out the one and silence the other forever。
Hours passed； and as it drew toward midnight Diccon sank into a stupor。 I knew that the end was not far away。 The wolves were gone at last； and my fire was dying down。 He needed my touch upon his breast no longer； and I went to the stream and bathed my hands and forehead； and then threw myself face downward upon the bank。 In a little while the desolate murmur of the water became intolerable； and I rose and went back to the fire； and to the man whom； as God lives； I loved as a brother。
He was conscious。 Pale and cold and nigh gone as he was； there came a light to his eyes and a smile to his lips when I knelt beside him。 〃You did not go？〃 he breathed。
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃I did not go。〃
For a few minutes he lay with closed eyes； when he again opened them upon my face； there were in their depths a question and an appeal。 I bent over him； and asked him what he would have。
〃You know；〃 he whispered。 〃If you can 。 。 。 I would not go without it。〃
〃Is it that？〃 I asked。 〃I forgave you long ago。〃
〃I meant to kill you。 I was mad because you struck me before the lady； and because I had betrayed my trust。 An you had not caught my hand； I should be your murderer。〃 He spoke with long intervals between the words； and the death dew was on his forehead。
〃Remember it not； Diccon；〃 I entreated。 〃I too was to blame。 And I see not that night for other nights； … for other nights and days； Diccon。〃
He smiled； but there was still in his face a shadowy eagerness。 〃You said you would never strike me again；〃 he went on； 〃and that I was man of yours no more forever … and you gave me my freedom in the paper which I tore。〃 He spoke in gasps； with his eyes upon mine。 〃I'll be gone in a few minutes now。 If I might go as your man still； and could tell the Lord Jesus Christ that my master on earth forgave； and took back； it would be a hand in the dark。 I have spent my life in gathering darkness for myself at the last。〃
I bent lower over him； and took his hand in mine。 〃Diccon； my man；〃 I said。
A brightness came into his face； and he faintly pressed my hand。 I slipped my arm beneath him and raised him a little higher to meet his death。 He was smiling now； and his mind was not quite clear。 〃Do you mind； sir；〃 he asked； 〃how green and strong and sweet smelled the pines that May day； when we found Virginia； so many years ago？〃
〃Ay； Diccon；〃 I answered。 〃Before we saw the land； the fragance told us we were near it。〃
〃I smell it now；〃 he went on； 〃and the bloom of the grape； and the May…time flowers。 And can you not hear； sir； the whistling and the laughter and the sound of the falling trees； that merry time when Smith made axemen of all our fine gentlemen？〃
〃Ay； Diccon；〃 I said。 〃And the sound of the water that was dashed down the sleeve of any that were caught in an oath。〃
He laughed like a little child。 〃It is well that I was n't a gentleman； and had not those trees to fell； or I should have been as wet as any merman。 。 。 。 And Pocahontas； the little maid 。 。 。 and how blue the sky was； and how glad we were what time the Patience and Deliverance came in！〃
His voice failed； and for a minute I thought he was gone； but he had been a strong man； and life slipped not easily from him。 When his eyes opened again he knew me not； but thought he was in some tavern； and struck with his hand upon the ground as upon a table； and called for the drawer。
Around him were only the stillness and the shadows of the night； but to his vision men sat and drank with him； diced and swore and told wild tales of this or that。 For a time he talked loudly and at random of the vile quality of the drink； and his viler luck at the dice； then he began to tell a story。 As he told it； his senses seemed to steady； and he spoke with coherence and like a shadow of himself。
〃And you call that a great thing； William Host？〃 he demanded。 〃I can tell a true tale worth two such lies； my masters。 （Robin tapster； more ale！ And move less like a slug； or my tankard and your ear will cry； 'Well met！'） It was between Ypres and Courtrai； friends； and it's nigh fifteen years ago。 There were fields in which nothing was sowed because they were ploughed with the hoofs of war horses； and ditches in which dead men were thrown； and dismal marshes； and roads that were no roads at all； but only sloughs。 And there was a great stone house； old and ruinous； with tall poplars shivering in the rain and mist。 Into this house there threw themselves a band of Dutch and English； and hard on their heels came two hundred Spaniards。 All day they besieged that house； … smoke and flame and thunder and shouting and the crash of masonry； … and when eventide was come we； the Dutch and the English； thought that Death was not an hour behind。〃
He paused； and made a gesture of raising a tankard to his lips。 His eyes were bright； his voice was firm。 The memory of that old day and its mortal strife had wrought upon him like wine。
〃There was one amongst us；〃 he said； 〃he was our captain； and it's of him I am going to tell the story。 Robin tapster； bring me no more ale； but good mulled wine！ It's cold and getting dark； and I have to drink to a brave man besides〃 …
With the old bold laugh in his eyes； he raised himself； for the moment as strong as I that held him。 〃Drink to that Englishman； all of ye！〃 he cried； 〃and not in filthy ale； but in good； gentlemanly sack！ I'll pay the score。 Here's to him； brave hearts！ Here's to my master！〃
With his hand at his mouth； and his story untold； he fell back。 I held him in my arms until the brief struggle was over； and then laid his body down upon the earth。
It might have been one of the clock。 For a little while I sat beside him； with my head bowed in my hands。 Then I straightened his limbs and crossed his hands upon his breast； and kissed him upon the brow； and left him lying dead in the forest。
It was hard going through the blackness of the night…time woods。 Once I was nigh sucked under in a great swamp； and once I stumbled into some hole or pit in the earth； and for a time thought that I had broken my leg。 The night was very dark； and sometimes when I could not see the stars； I lost my way； and went to the right or the left； or even back upon my track。 Though I heard the wolves； they did not come nigh me。 Just before daybreak； I crouched behind a log； and watched a party of savages file past like shadows of the night。
At last the dawn came； and I could press on more rapidly。 For two days and two nights I had not slept； for a day and a night I had not tasted food。 As the sun climbed the heavens； a thousand black spots； like summer gnats； danced between his face and my weary eye