Читать книгу Scouting for Boys - Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell - Страница 42

Scene:

In the jungle, Virginia, in 1607.

Enter:

A band of Red Indians, R., scouting. The leading scout suddenly signals to the others to halt and hide, and remains himself keenly looking ahead. The Patrol Leader creeps nearer to him, and they speak in a loud whisper.

Patrol Leader (Eagle's Wing). Ho! Silver Fox! What dost thou see?

Silver Fox (the leading scout). My leader, I saw but just now a strange figure ahead—but for the moment I see it not. There was an Indian, one of the hated Assock tribe, and close by him was a being who looked like a man yet not a man. He wore no feathers, no war paint. But his body was all hidden in skins or cloths, and his head was covered with a huge kind of protector. He had, it is true, two arms and legs, but his face was of a horrible colour—not bronze like ours, but an awful white, like that of a dead man, and half covered with a bush of hair.

Eagle's Wing. It must be either a medicine man or devil.

Silver Fox (still gazing ahead). Look there, he moves! (Patrol Leader springs forward and crouches near Silver Fox.) Close to yonder birch tree. What is it he carries? A heavy shining staff of iron. See he is pointing at those ducks with it. Ah!

(Report of gun in the distance.)

Patrol Leader. Scouts! There is the devil before us. He spits fire and smoke from an iron staff.

Silver Fox. Aye, and see how the birds fall dead before him.

Patrol Leader. Yes, he is a very devil. What a prize for us if we can kill him and take his scalp.

Scouts. Nay, nay. He is a devil. He will kill us!

Silver Fox. Yes, that is true. There is a saying, "Let dogs that sleep lie sleeping, then they harm you not." Let us leave this devil so he harm us not.

Scouts. Aye, aye.

Eagle's Wing. Scouts! What woman's talk is this? Are ye no longer scouts and warriors when ye see a foe? The worse the foe the greater the glory of defeating him. Are four Sioux scouts afraid of one, even though he be the devil himself? Begone to your lodges, but never call yourselves warriors more. Ye be dogs! Curs but to harbour such thoughts. For me I am going to have that scalp—devil or no devil, I am going to have that scalp!

Princess Pocahontas.

Silver Fox. Pardon, my leader! I am no cur. Any man I will fight, but a witch or the devil is more than I had thought on. But if you mean to face him, why, then, so do I.

Scouts. Ay, and so do all of us.

Eagle's Wing. 'Tis well, my scouts. But soft, he is coming this way. What luck! Better than scalping him, we will catch him alive, and present him living to our King. Hide. Hide yourselves. Lie close around his path, and, when I give the call, then rush upon him and secure him. (All hide, R.)

(Enter Capt. John Smith, L., accompanied by Indian guide, who is tied to Smith's left arm by his wrist by means of a garter—coloured tape).

Smith. How now, my untruthful friend? You have just told me that there are no Indians in this part of the country, and here are footmarks of several quite fresh, and see where the grass quite newly trod down is still giving out juice. They must be quite close by. Lucky that I have thee tied to me, else could you run away and leave me guideless; but whatever befalls us now we share the risks together. How like you that, my red cocksparrow? (An arrow whizzes past.) Ha! They're not far off. Behold, they come, but they'll find one Briton is stouter stuff than the foes that they're accustomed to.

(The Red Indians are heard shouting their war cries without. Arrows fly past. John Smith fires, loads, and fires again, talking all the time, while his native guide crouches back alarmed.)

Smith (laughing). Ha! ha! They like not my rifle-fire. They run, the dogs! Another bites the dust. (Patting his rifle.) Well done, thou trusty Bess—thou art a good lass! There! Have at them again. (Fires.) Good; another falls! But now they rally and come on again—their leader gives them heart. Well, and we will give them lead. (Fires again. To his guide, who is very frightened.) Cheer up. Gadzooks, but I like their leader—that last ball struck him, still he fainteth not. He leads them on again. By my head! but we shall yet have a decent fight of it. Aid me, St. George, and let me show what stuff an Englishman is made of. (As he presses forward the guide in his fear slips down and accidentally drags Smith down with him.) How now—fool? You have undone me.

(Indians rush in from all sides and spring on to Smith, and after a severe struggle capture and bind his arms behind his back. He stands panting and smiling. The Indians stand back to either side while Eagle's Wing—with one arm bleeding—addresses him.)

Eagle's Wing. So, devil, we have thee caught at last. Four good warriors hast thou sent to their happy hunting grounds, but our turn has come and we have thee fast—a prize for kings—and for our King.

Captain John Smith.

Smith. Well, 'twas a good fight, and you deserve to win for facing rifle-fire, which you had never seen before. I should like to shake you by the hand had I a hand free to do it with. But by St. George, had it not been for this white-livered knave who dragged me down, there would have been more of you to join your hunting-party down below. But who is this who comes?

(Scouts chorus heard without "Ingonyama," etc. Scouts all raise their hands and join in the chorus, looking off to the R.)

(Enter King Powhattan, R., w'th his chiefs and warriors.)

King. How now! Eagle's Wing, what have you here?

Eagle's Wing. My lord, we have just fought and foiled a very devil. We killed him not in order that you, our liege, might have him to see and question and to kill yourself. (Brings gun.) He used the lightning and the thunder of Heaven with this engine, so that he killeth those he hateth. Four of us lie yonder stricken dead therewith. He is a very devil.

King to Smith. So! What be you? Devil or witch or Indian painted white? What do you here?

Smith. Hail, King! I am no witch nor devil—nothing but a man—an Englishman, which is something more than a mere man. I came across the seas. Five moons it took me; so far away my country is. But here I am, and where I am there follow others. And we come to tell you of a greater King than thou. Our King who is now to be your king also.

King (very angry). What! a greater King than I? Knave, how dare you, whether devil or no—how dare thou speak like this?

King. Aye, I have heard of these white folk. Art not afraid?

Smith. Nay. I have faced the seas and storms, the anger of the elements, beside which the rage of men is very small. (Laughing.) Forget not—I am an Englishman—an Englishman knows not fear.

King. Ho! Say you so? We'll soon put that beyond all question by a proof. (Draws dagger, rushes on Smith with a yell, as if to stab him, and stops the knife only as it touches Smith's breast. Smith does not flinch.) Ah!

Smith. A joke was it. (Laughs.) By St. George, I thought you meant to kill me.

(Enter Princess Pocahontas (the King's daughter.) R. Aside.)

What is this strange being? A man, yet not a red man. He has a noble look. Alas! that he should fall into my father's power, for he will surely slay him.

King to Smith. And thou wert not afraid?

Smith. Nay. Why should I be? I have long ago thought out how to meet my fate. Death and I have looked at each other face to face before now, and death has a kindly smile for anyone who has never wilfully done ill to a fellow creature; to such an one he is no longer a dreaded demon, but a kindly host.

King Powhattan.

King. Well! he'll have a guest before long now; for since you say he is a friend of yours it proves that you are, as my people first told me, some kind of witch or devil yourself. Therefore, it will be well for the land that we do slay thee. Besides, I have not seen a man's red blood for many days, and I am tired of the blood of the Assocks. (Pocahontas shrinks down, holding her ears.) I shall dearly like to see how looks the blood of a white half-man, half-devil. But first I want to see him cower, and squeal for mercy; for therein lies the joy of killing. (Calls to his Warriors.) Ho! there! Stretch out this devil on the ground, and let him learn that death is not the joy he thinks it is. (They drag Smith down, and lay him on his back on the ground, C. One holds his feet, but the rest, finding that he does not struggle, stand back; two prepare to use their battle-axes on him, while the rest dance weird dances, singing Ingonyama chorus round him. The executioners make false blows at his head—but he never flinches.)

Pocahontas (kneeling beside the King. R.). Oh! King—I have not often asked for gifts from you—and now I pray you, on my bended knee, to grant me this request. I have no slave to guard me when I walk abroad. It is not seemly that I take a young brave of our tribe, and the old ones are so very old and slow. Now here; a slave of whom one may be proud—one strange to see, yet strong and great and brave. Ah! give him to thy child instead of unto death.

King. Nay! nay! my child. If you don't like the scene, withdraw, for he shall die. 'Tis sport for me to see how long he lasts before he cries for mercy. And when he does he dies. (To Warriors.) Now stand him up, and try some new device to make him quail.

(Pocahontas shrinks back. They raise Smith, and he stands boldly facing them.)

King. Death now comes to thee, and thou hast no chance of escaping him. Art thou not now afraid of him?

John Smith. Nay. Why should I be? We men are born not for ourselves but as a help to others; and if we act thus loyally we know our God will have us in his care both now and after death.

King. But after death you're dead!

John Smith. Not so. A Christian lives again.

King to Smith. Well now your hour has come. I know not what has brought you to this land, but you shall know that witch or no, your spells can have no power on me; and you will die, and I shall smile to see you die.

Smith. What brought me here was duty to my King and God and countrymen; to spread his powerful sway over all the earth, that you and yours may know of God, that trade may spread to carry peace and wealth throughout the world. If you accept these views all will be well; if you accept them not then do your worst, but use your haste; our mission is to clean the world! Kill me, but that will not avail, for where I fall a thousand more will come. Know this, O Savage King, a Briton's word is trusted over all the world; his first care is for others—not himself; he sticks to friend through thick and thin; he's loyal to his King. And though you threat with death or pains, he'll do his duty to the end.

Warrior.

King (springs angrily forward). I'll hear no more. You offer terms to ME, the King! Down, dog, upon your knees, and meet the death you feign to smile at. (To Warriors.) Strike, strike, and smash this vermin from my path.

(Princess Pocahontas, who has been cowering in the background, runs forward and places herself close in front of Capt. John Smith, so as to protect him from the Warriors, who are preparing, R. and BACK, to rush at him with their spears and axes).

Princess Pocahontas. Hold! Warriors—I am your Princess, and to get at him you have to kill me first. (To King.) O King—I call you no more "Father." O King your rule has been a time of blood and murder. I was too young to think before, but now I know that all your works are cruel, bad, not just. (Warriors lower their weapons, and whisper among themselves, as if saying, "Yes. She's quite right.") And I have been obedient as your child till now. But now my eyes are opened, and I see that as King you are neither just nor kind towards your tribe—or other men.

To bring it home to you, I swear that if you slay this man you also slay your daughter! For I'll not leave him thus to die alone. (To Warriors.) Now, braves, come on and do your work.

(They hang back.)

How now—you never feared an enemy, so why fear me?

Eagle's Wing (bowing). Nay, sweet Princess, it may not be. We care not what of men we kill in fighting for our land, but this we cannot do—to raise a hand against a woman, and she our own Princess.

King (furious). How now! What talk is this? Ye speak as though you had no King and no commands. Slay on—strike true, and spare not man nor maid, for she no longer is a child of mine.

(Braves still hesitate.)

Ye will not? Dogs, wouldst have me do it for myself? I will, and, what is more, I'll slay you Eagle's Wing for this, and you too——

(Enter a warrior scout, L., who rushes up to the King and kneels while shots are heard outside.)

Scout. O King! There be more white devils over there. They're pressing on, and none can stand against them.

King to Warriors. Stand firm, and kill these devils as they come. To every brave who takes a white man's scalp I'll give the noblest feather for his head. Stand firm! Bend well your bows.

(While the King and Warriors are looking off L. towards the fight, Pocahontas takes Smith R., draws a dagger and cuts John Smith's arms lose. He shakes hands with her. Taking the dagger, he rushes to the King, and seizing his hair with one hand, and threatening him with the dagger with the other, he leads him C.)

Smith. Now yield thee, King, as prisoner, or I will send thee quick to other hunting grounds. (To Warriors who rush forward to rescue the King.) Nay, stand you there: another step, and lo! your King will die. (A pause. All stand quite still.) I will not harm if he lists to me. (Leads King to front, C., and then lets go his hold of him. Warriors remain at back. Distant noise of fighting, cries and shots heard all the time. Warriors keep looking off to see how the fight is going on.)

(Smith standing L., facing King, C. Pocahontas, R., Warriors, back.)

Smith. If you would live in peace, your only way is now to join with us. Our God is stronger than your idols, and our King is king of many tribes far greater and more powerful than your own. But if you join with us your wicked ways must cease; no more to kill your people for no crime, no more to steal their goods or beasts, no more to make them slaves against their will. Beneath the British flag all men are free. (Warriors whisper among themselves. Smith turns to them.) What say you? Will you join and serve our King, and live in peace, or will you go on being slaves of cruel chiefs, to live a life of fear and poverty?

Eagle's Wing. Nay. We should like to join you well, but we have aye been faithful to our King, and what he says, why that is what we'll do.

Smith. You're right in being faithful to your King. Now, King, what say you? Will you join our mighty King with all your braves, or will you face his power and be destroyed?

King (sullenly). You talk as though you were a king yourself and conqueror, instead of but a prisoner in my hands. You must be mad or very brave, since I could kill thee at one stroke.

Smith. Well, mad or brave, it matters not; but there are others just as mad or brave out there, who even now (points off L.) are pressing back your men; and were your men to kill off all of us, a thousand more will come for each one killed, and in the end you too would meet your fate. Know this, that Britain, once she puts her hand to the plough for doing noble work, does not withdraw, but presses on till peace and justice are set up, and cruel wrongs redressed. You would yourself remain as King among your people, but beneath the friendly wing of Britain's world-wide power.

King to Warriors. My braves! I never asked your will before; but ye have heard what this brave man has said. What think ye? Should we yield or fight this white man's power?

Eagle's Wing. My King, we all say "yield," and join this mighty power, whereby we shall ourselves be strong.

Pocahontas (kneeling to King, R.). Once more I call thee Father, and I pray, for all the wives and children of our tribe, that you will take this noble man's advice, and bring true peace at last into our land. (Kisses King's hands and remains kneeling while he speaks.)

King. 'Tis well. Fair, sir, we yield; and on our oath we swear allegiance to your King for aye and ever, weal or woe. We will be true (holding up right hand in scout's sign).

Warriors (holding up right hands in scout's salute). We will be true.

Smith (taking St. George's flag from under his coat, and tying it on to a scout's staff, holds it aloft.) Behold your flag—the flag of St. George and Merry England!

Warriors salute and sing Ingonyama Chorus. Band plays "Rule Britannia!"

Curtain.

DRESSES.

Warriors.—Band or tape round head, with plait of hair over ear, and four goose feathers with black tips.

Naked body coloured red brick dust colour.

Trousers: light-coloured if possible, with strips of coloured rag and goose feathers stitched all down the outside seam of the leg.

Bare feet.

Bow and arrows and staff.

King.—Like warriors, but with red blanket or shawl over one shoulder, and headdress made of linen band with goose feathers, some upright in it and continued down the back.

Pocahontas.—Headdress band of linen, with three upright goose feathers and two drooping on each side; also a plait of hair over each shoulder.

Brass curtain-rings tied with thread round each ear as earrings.

Necklace of beads, also bracelets.

A skirt.

Coloured short petticoat under it.

Bare feet.

John Smith.—Big hat with pheasant's tails feathers.

Beard and moustache and long hair of tow or crepe hair. Could all be stitched to hat if desired. Steel gorget or wide soft linen collar; long brown or yellow coat, with big belt.

Bagging knickerbockers.

Stockings.

Shoes with big buckles.

Old-fashioned flint-lock gun.

Scenery.—Strips of brown paper, 1 ft. to 1-1/2 ft. wide, and 2 ft. to 3 ft. wide at the bottom will represent trees if stuck up on the back wall, and marked with charcoal and chalk to represent rough bark.

SCOUTING FOR BOYS.

PART II.

will be published on January 30th, 1908.