Hansford: A Tale of Bacon's Rebellion Part 24

"With my sincere thanks to my n.o.ble friend," said Hansford, "for his obliging offer, I would not accept it if I could. Unconscious of having done any thing to warrant this detention, I am not willing to acknowledge its justice, by submitting to a qualified imprisonment."

"It is well," said Berkeley, haughtily; "we will see whether your pride is proof against an ignominious death. Disarm him and hold him in close custody until my farther pleasure shall be known."

As he said this, Hansford was disarmed, and led away under a strong guard to the apartment which Colonel Temple reluctantly designated as the place of his confinement.

Meantime Berkenhead had remained at the gate, guarded by two of the soldiers of the Governor; while old Giles, with a light heart, had found his way back to his old stand by the kitchen door, and was detailing to his astonished cronies the unlucky ventures, and the providential deliverance, which he had experienced. But we must forbear entering into a detailed account of the old man's sermon, merely contenting ourselves with announcing, that such was the effect produced, that at the next baptizing day, old Elder Snivel was refreshed by a perfect pentecost of converts, who attributed their "new birf" to the wrestling of "brudder Giles."

We return to Berkenhead, who, at the command of Col. Ludwell, was escorted, under the guard before mentioned, into the presence of Sir William Berkeley. The dogged and insolent demeanour of the man was even more displeasing to the Governor than the quiet and resolute manner of Hansford, and in a loud, threatening voice, he cried,

"Here comes another hemp-pulling knave. 'Fore G.o.d, the colony will have to give up the cultivation of tobacco, and engage in raising hemp, for we are like to have some demand for it. Hark ye, sir knave-do you know the nature of the message which you have aided in bearing from the traitor Bacon to myself?"

"Not I, your honour-no more than my carbine knows whether it is loaded or not. It's little the General takes an old soldier like me into his counsels; but I only know it is my duty to obey, if I were sent to the devil with a message," and the villain looked archly at the Governor.

"Your language is something of the most insolent," said Sir William.

"But tell me instantly, did you have no conversation with Major Hansford on your way hither, and if so, what was it?"

"Little else than abuse, your honour," returned Berkenhead, "and a threat that I would be beat over the head if I didn't hold my tongue; and as I didn't care to converse at such a disadvantage, I was e'en content to keep my own counsel for the rest of the way."

"Do you, or do you not, consider Bacon and his followers to be engaged in rebellion against the government?"

"Rebellion, your honour!" cried the renegade. "Why, was it not your honour's self that sent us after these salvages? An' I thought there was any other design afloat, I would soon show them who was the rebel. It is not the first time that I have done the State some service by betraying treason."

"Look ye," said the Governor, eyeing the fellow keenly, "if I mistake not, you are an old acquaintance. Is your name Berkenhead?"

"The same, at your honour's service."

"And didn't you betray the servile plot of 1662, and get your liberty and a reward for it?"

"Yes, your honour, but I wouldn't have you think that it was for the reward I did it?"

"Oh, never mind your motives. If you are Judas, you are welcome to your thirty pieces of silver," said the Governor, with a sneer of contempt.

"But to make the a.n.a.logy complete, you should be hanged for your service."

"No, faith," said the shrewd villain, quickly. "Judas hanged himself, and it would be long ere ever I sought the apostle's elder tree.[41] And besides, his was the price of innocent blood, and mine was not. Look at my hand, your honour, and you will see what kind of blood I shed."

Berkeley looked at the fellow's hand, and saw it stained with the crimson life-blood of the young Indian. With a thrill of horror, he cried, "What blood is that, you infernal villain?"

"Only fresh from the veins of one of these painted red-skins," returned Berkenhead. "And red enough he was when I left him; but, forsooth, he reckons that the paint cost him full dear. He left his mark on Major Hansford, though, before he left."

"Where did this happen?" said Berkeley, astonished.

"Oh, not far from here. The red devil was a friend at the hall here, too, or as much so as their b.l.o.o.d.y hearts will let any of them be.

Colonel Temple, there, knows him, and I have seen him when I lived in Gloucester. A fine looking fellow, too; and if his skin and his heart had been both white, there would have been few better and braver dare-devils than young Manteo."

As he p.r.o.nounced the name, a wild shriek rent the air, and the distracted Mamalis rushed into the porch. Her long hair was all dishevelled and flying loosely over her shoulders, her eye was that of a maniac in his fury, and tossing her bare arms aloft, she shrieked, in a wild, harsh voice,

"And who are you, that dare to spill the blood of kings? Look to it that your own flows not less freely in your veins."

Berkenhead turned pale with fright, and shrinking from the enraged girl, muttered, "the devil!"-while Temple, in a low voice, whispered to the Governor the necessary explanation, "She is his sister."

"Yes, his sister!" cried the girl, wildly, for she had overheard the words. "His only sister!-and my blood now flows in no veins but my own.

But the stream runs more fiercely as the channel is more narrow. Look to it-look to it!" And, with another wild shriek, the maddened girl rushed again into the house. It required all the tender care of Virginia Temple to pacify the poor creature. She reasoned, she prayed, she endeavoured to console her; but her reasons, her prayers, her sweet words of consolation, were all lost upon the heart of the Indian maiden, who nourished but one fearful, fatal idea-revenge!

FOOTNOTES:

[40] This was indeed true, and renders the conduct of Berkeley entirely inexplicable.

[41] The name given to the tree on which Judas hanged himself.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

"His flight was madness."

_Macbeth._

Yes, Virginia! She who had so much reason for consolation herself, forgot her own sorrows for the time, in administering the oil of consolation to the poor, wounded, broken-hearted savage girl. She had been sitting at the window of the little parlour, where she could witness the whole scene, and hear the whole interview between the Governor and Hansford; and oh! how her heart had sunk within her as she heard the harsh sentence of the stern old knight, which condemned her n.o.ble, friendless lover to imprisonment, perhaps to death; and yet, a maiden modesty restrained her from yielding to the impulse of the moment, to throw herself at the feet of Berkeley, confess her love, and implore his pardon. Alas! ill-fated maiden, it would have been in vain-as she too truly, too fatally discovered afterwards.

The extraordinary appearance and conduct of Mamalis broke up for the present any further conference with Berkenhead, who-his mendacity having established his innocence in the minds of the loyalists-walked off with a swaggering gait, rather elated than otherwise with the result of his interview. Alfred Bernard followed him until they turned an angle of the house, and stood beneath the shade of one of the broad oaks, which spread its protecting branches over the yard.

Meantime the Governor, with such of his council as had attended him to Windsor Hall, retired to the study of the old Colonel, which had been fitted up both for the chamber of his most distinguished guest and for the deliberations of the council. The subject which now engaged their attention was one of more importance than any that had ever come before them since the commencement of the dissensions in Virginia. The mission of Hansford, while it had failed of producing the effect which he so ardently desired, had, notwithstanding, made a strong impression upon the mind of the Governor. He saw too plainly that it would be vain to resist the attack of Bacon, at the head of five hundred men, among whom were to be ranked the very chivalry of Virginia; while his own force consisted merely of his faithful adherents in the council, and about fifty mercenary troops, whose sympathies with the insurgents were strongly suspected.

"I see," said the old man, gloomily, as he took his seat at the council-board, "that I must seek some other refuge. I am hunted like a wild beast from place to place, through a country that was once my own, and by those who were once the loving subjects of my king."

"Remain here!" said the impulsive old Temple. "The people of Gloucester will yet rally around your standard, when they see open treason is contemplated; and should they still refuse, zounds, we may yet offer resistance with my servants and slaves."

"My dear friend," said Berkeley, sorrowfully, "if all Virginians were like yourself, there would have been no rebellion-there would have been no difficulty in suppressing one, if attempted. But alas! the loyalty of the people of Gloucester has already been weighed in the balance and found wanting. No, I have acted hastily, foolishly, blindly. I have warmed this serpent into life by my forbearance and indulgence, and must at last be the victim of its venom and my folly. Oh! that I had refused the commission, which armed this traitor with legal power. I have put a sword into the hands of an enemy, and may be the first to fall by it."

"It is useless to repine over the past," said Philip Ludwell, kindly; "but the power of these rebels cannot last long. The people who are loyal at heart will fall from their support, and military aid will be received from England ere long. Then the warmed reptile may be crushed."

"To my mind," said Ballard, "it were better to repair the evil that has been done by retracing our steps, rather than to proceed further. When a man is over his depth, he had better return to the sh.o.r.e than to attempt to cross the unfathomable stream."

"Refrain from enigmas, if you please," said Berkeley, coldly, "and tell me to what you refer."

"Simply," replied Ballard, firmly, "that all this evil has resulted from your following the jesuitical counsel of a boy, rather than the prudent caution of your advisers. My honoured sir, forgive me if I say it is now your duty to acquiesce in the request of Major Hansford, and withdraw your proclamation."

"And succ.u.mb to traitors!" cried Berkeley. "Never while G.o.d gives me breath to reiterate it. He who would treat with a traitor, is himself but little better than a traitor."

The flush which mounted to the brow of Ballard attested his indignation at this grave charge; but before he had time to utter the retort which rose to his lips, Berkeley added,

"Forgive me, Ballard, for my haste. But the bare idea of making terms with these audacious rebels roused my very blood. No, no! I can die in defence of my trust, but I cannot, will not yield it."

"But it is not yielding," said Ballard.

"Nay-no more of that," interrupted Berkeley; "let us devise some other means. I have it," he added, after a pause. "Accomac is still true to my interest, and divided from the mainland by the bay, is difficult of access. There will I pitch my tent, and sound my defiance-and when aid shall come from England, these proud and insolent traitors shall feel the power of my vengeance the more for this insult to my weakness."