She was curious concerning the musket
I carried; and when, in an open space in the wood, we saw an eagle
perched upon a blasted pine, she demanded my pistol. I took it
from my belt and gave it to her, with a laugh. "I will eat all of your
killing," I said.
She aimed the weapon. "A wager!" she declared. "There be
mercers in Jamestown? If I hit, thou 'lt buy me a pearl hatband?"
"Two."
She fired, and the bird rose with a scream of wrath and sailed
away. But two or three feathers came floating to the ground, and
when Diccon had brought them to her she pointed triumphantly to
the blood upon them. "You said two!" she cried.
The sun rose higher, and the heat of the day set in. Mistress Percy's
interest in forest bloom and creature flagged. Instead of laughter,
we had sighs at the length of way; the vines slid from her lap, and
she took the faded flowers from her head and cast them aside. She
talked no more, and by and by I felt her head droop against my
shoulder.
"Madam is asleep," said Diccon's voice behind me.
"Ay," I answered. "She'll find a jack of mail but a hard pillow. And
look to her that she does not fall."
"I had best walk beside you, then," he said.
I nodded, and he dismounted, and throwing the mare's bridle over
his arm strode on beside us, with his hand upon the frame of the
pillion.
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