Читать книгу Class-Room Plays from Canadian History - Alexander Maitland Stephen - Страница 8

Table of Contents

[Illustration:

“A savage could think

of no greater cruelty”

]

Characters:
	Henry Hudson
	His Son
	Leader of the Mutineers
	Two Sailors
Properties:
	Table
	Two Chairs
	Maps, including one large wall map
	Short Rope

Time: The spring of 1611.

Scene: Interior of Henry Hudson’s cabin. Door L. C. Table and two chairs R. C. There are maps and charts upon the table, while a large wall map shows fragmentary outlines of the eastern coast of North America. Henry Hudson is seated at the table. By his side stands his little son, who is listening eagerly to his father.

Hudson.In a few more days we shall set sail for the Spice Islands. By steering north and westward, we shall find the passage which will lead us to the Pacific Ocean. This morning I felt a warm spring wind blowing off shore. This will revive the courage of our men.

His Son.I hope that it will make our sick men well again. It is harder for them, isn’t it, father?

Hudson.Yes, my son, the time seems very long to them. I do not feel so much for the others. They lack understanding. Sometimes they lose faith.

His Son.I overhear them talking when I am going about the ship. They say cruel things about you, father. They say you are mad—and selfish!

Hudson.Selfish! They cannot say that—surely they do not say that!

His Son.They say that you do not care for their lives. If they all perished, you would still sail on through these wild seas until you satisfied yourself about the North-West Passage.

Hudson.Without paying the price, we cannot gain great prizes in this life. If there is danger, there is also glory.

His Son.They say, too, that there is no passage to China—only frozen seas and mountains of ice to destroy our ship. Now that the way is clear, they want to go home to England.

Hudson.I know. They do not love me, because they are blind. However, if we can only start out to sea again, they will be busy. They will forget. [Drawing the lad to him.] Sometimes I feel sorry that you came into these dangers with me.

His Son.But I am glad to be with you, father. It would have been lonely at home without you. I am not afraid.

Hudson.In England the spring flowers are blooming now. The little country lanes near our home are ringing with the song of birds. A soft, green veil of leaves is covering all the hills with beauty, while here there are only ice-bound shores and grey seas. I would not blame you if your heart turned homeward.

His Son.But, father, beyond these cold seas there are flowers and perfumes! You have told me about the Spice Islands, where the sun is shining on the palms and the moon fills all the nights with magic. I want to see China and India.

Hudson.[Rising.] By God’s grace, you shall ... and there may be fair lands to see before we win through to the Indies. [Pointing to a place on the wall map.] I have told you about the great river which I found when I visited my friend, Captain Smith. It was broad and like an arm of the sea, so that I thought it might lead to China. It ran through one of the most beautiful countries I have ever seen.

His Son.Tell me about the red men, father.

Hudson.[Once more pointing to the map.] See, this is where Captain John Smith lives! That is Jamestown. I sailed from Amsterdam and touched the new land away north of Smith’s colony. Storms had taken away our foremast. I landed, and our men cut down a great tree to make a new mast. Then I searched the shores again until I found a channel that cut into the land towards the north-west. The red men met us there, and we had a fight.

His Son.What are they like, father?

Hudson.They are savages dressed in the skins of wild animals and, on their heads, they wear the bright feathers of birds. Their hair is black and shiny—very straight—not wavy like yours. Their skin is the colour of a copper pot that has not been cleaned for a long time. They killed one of our men in the battle.

His Son.Are they good fighters?

Hudson.Like wolves and other wild creatures, they fight best in packs. They soon saw that it was best to be friendly. Then they brought strange and lovely fruits to us and we gave them beads and knives in exchange. Then we sailed up the great channel until we found that it was not a strait but a very large river.

His Son.Did the savages follow you?

Hudson.No. They went back to their villages. However, we found many of them at places along the banks of the river. At one village, we had a great feast with them.

His Son.Did they take you into their houses?

Hudson.Their chief took me to his home, which was a hut built of bark, without doors or windows. The smoke escaped through a hole in the roof and we sat on skins laid upon the bare earth. It was a great feast.

His Son.What is their food, father? Is it like ours?

Hudson.You would not care for it. Roast dog may be very good if you do not know that it is dog.

His Son.Roast dog?

Hudson.Aye, roast dog! However, our men had helped to kill some wild pigeons, and these we preferred to the fat dog which our friends were eating. Then we had soup—very good, indeed—made of corn and beans.

His Son.Did you give them presents?

Hudson.Yes, yes, many presents. I have shown you some of the furs and trinkets of copper which they gave to us. They have a rich country—a good land which we may visit together some day.

His Son.Is their place as beautiful as England?

Hudson.Every country has its own beauty. There the autumn is a lovely season. Blue haze hangs over the hills and drifts through the valleys. The sunshine comes sifting through this haze like yellow gold. The trees, with the first frost, are clothed in garments of gold and crimson. The forests blaze with colours of the sunset. It is not like England.

His Son.Father, I heard one of our men say that he would give the world to be back in England to see the spring come in. He was cursing you because he would not see it this year. When he saw me, he quit his oaths, but he looked as if he wanted to kill me.

Hudson.I will not have you treated this way. I shall teach them better manners. I have a mind to call the crew together to tell them how cowardly they are. Ungrateful wretches! I have befriended them one and all.

Footsteps are heard without. The leader of the mutineers enters swiftly, and stands silent near the door.

Well, sir, what do you wish? What is your errand?

Mutineer.[Boldly.] I have been sent to have a word with you in private, Master Hudson.

Hudson.You have been sent? By whom? Pray what is the meaning of this?

Mutineer.The men are all of one mind, sir. We are all for England, and no more of this wild venture.

Hudson.[Sternly.] Do you know that this is mutiny?

Mutineer.Nay, we only wish to reason with you. A word in private may change everything. Will you send the young master on deck so that we may talk more freely?

Hudson.[To his Son.] You may go, my lad.

[When the boy is passing the mutineer, the man suddenly draws his sword, and places its point at the boy’s breast.

Mutineer.[To Hudson, who has started forward.] Remain where you are! One step more and your son shall die!

Hudson.Put up that sword, sir. I will have you hanged for this.

Mutineer.I have thought of that. We are desperate men, and are ready to kill you if we are forced to it. You, Master Hudson, are under arrest. If you resist, your son’s life is the forfeit. [Calling.] Ho, there! [Two sailors enter, carrying ropes.] Bind this madman securely. He likes these cold seas. He shall have his fill of them.

[The men bind Hudson’s hands to his sides.

Hudson.What is this evil in your mind? Is it murder?

Mutineer.Nay, we shall not kill you. We shall give you a boat in which to go to China. Meanwhile we shall take the ship back to England.

Hudson.Wretch! You cannot mean to do this thing! A savage could think of no greater cruelty.

Mutineer.[Pointing to the door with his sword.] Up, sir, to the deck!

[Hudson’s son springs to his father’s side.

Hudson.Never fear, my lad! God will have us in His keeping!

[Hudson and his Son go out through the door, followed by sailors with drawn swords.