rezanov-第35部分

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ason　for　my　detention；　you　will　be…　lieve　that　I　am　dead。　　There　would　be　but　one　in…　supportable　drop　in　the　bitterness　of　death；　the　doubt　of　your　faith　in　my　word　and　my　love。　　Are　you　too　much　of　a　woman　to　curb　your　imagination　in　a　long　unbroken　silence？〃

〃I　have　learned　so　much　that　one　lesson　more　is　no　tax　on　my　faith。　　And　I　no　longer　live　in　a　world　of　little　things。　　I　promise　you　that　I　shall　never　falter　nor　doubt。〃

He　bent　his　head　and　kissed　her　for　the　first　time　without　passion；　but　solemnly；　as　had　their　nuptials　indeed　been　accomplished；　and　the　greater　mystery　of　spiritual　union　isolated　them　for　a　moment　in　that　twilight　region　where　the　mortal　part　did　not　enter。

As　they　left　the　church　they　saw　that　all　the　In…　dians　of　the　Mission　and　neighborhood；　in　a　gala　of　color；　had　gathered　to　cheer　the　Russians　as　they　rode　away。　　Concha　was　to　return　as　she　had　come；　beside　the　carreta　of　her　mother；　and　as　Rezanov　mounted　his　horse　she　stood　staring　with　unseeing　eyes　on　the　brilliant；　animated　scene。　　Suddenly　she　heard　a　suppressed　sob；　and　felt　a　touch　on　her　skirt。　　She　looked　round　and　saw　Rosa；　kneeling　close　to　the　church。　　For　a　moment　she　continued　to　stare；　hardly　comprehending；　in　the　intense　con…　centration　of　her　faculties；　that　tangible　beings；　other　than　herself　and　Rezanov；　still　moved　on　the　earth。　　Then　her　mind　relaxed。　　She　was　normal　in　a　normal　world　once　more。　　She　stooped　and　patted　the　hands　clasping　her　skirts。

〃Poor　Rosa！〃　she　said。　　〃Poor　Rosa！〃


Over　the　intense　green　of　islands　and　hills　were　long　banners　of　yellow　and　purple　mist；　where　the　wild　flowers　were　lifting　their　heads。　　The　whole　quivering　bay　was　as　green　as　the　land；　but　far　away　the　mountains　of　the　east　were　pink。　　Where　there　was　a　patch　of　verdure　on　the　sand　hills　the　warm　golden　red　of　the　poppy　flaunted　in　the　sun…　shine。　　All　nature　was　in　gala　attire　like　the　Cali…　fornians　themselves；　as　the　Juno　under　full　sail　sped　through　〃The　Mouth　of　the　Gulf　of　the　Faral…　lones。〃　　Fort　San　Joaquin　saluted　with　seven　guns；　the　Juno　returned　the　compliment　with　nine。　　The　Commandante；　his　family　and　guests；　stood　on　the　hill　above　the　fort；　cheering；　waving　sombreros　and　handkerchiefs。　　Wind　and　tide　carried　the　ship　rapidly　out　the　straits。　　Rezanov　dropped　the　cocked　hat　he　had　been　waving　and　raised　his　field…　glass。　　Concha；　as　ever；　stood　a　little　apart。　　As　the　ship　grew　smaller　and　the　company　turned　toward　the　Presidio；　she　advanced　to　the　edge　of　the　bluff。　　The　wind　lifted　her　loosened　mantilla；　billowing　it　out　on　one　side；　and　as　she　stood　with　her　hands　pressed　against　her　heart；　she　might；　save　for　her　empty　arms；　have　been　the　eidolon　of　the　Madonna　di　San　Sisto。　　In　her　eyes　was　the　same　expression　of　vague　arrested　horror　as　she　looked　out　on　that　world　of　menacing　imperfections　the　blind　forces　of　nature　and　man　had　created；　her　body　was　instinct　with　the　same　nervous　leashed　im…　potent　energy。



XXV

The　white　rain　clouds；　rolling　as　ever　like　a　nervous　intruder　over　the　great　snow　peaks　behind　the　steep　hills　black　with　forest　that　rose　like　a　wall　back　of　the　little　settlement　of　Sitka；　parted　for　a　moment；　and　the　sun；　a　coy　disdainful　guest；　flung　a　glitter…　ing　mist　over　what　Nature　had　intended　to　be　one　of　the　most　enchanting　spots　on　earth；　until；　in　a　fit　of　ill…temperwith　one　of　the　gods；　no　doubt　she　gave　it　to　Niobe　as　a　permanent　outlet　for　her　discontent。　　When　it　does　not　rain　at　Sitka　it　pours；　and　when　once　in　a　way　she　draws　a　deep　breath　of　respite　and　lifts　her　grand　and　glorious　face　to　the　sun；　in　pathetic　gratitude　for　dear　infrequent　favor；　comes　a　wild　flurry　of　snow　or　a　close　white　fog　from　the　inland　waters；　and；　like　a　great　beauty　condemned　to　wear　a　veil　through　life；　she　can　but　stare　in　dumb　resentment　through　the　folds；　consol…　ing　herself　with　the　knowledge　that　could　the　world　but　see　it　must　surely　worship。　　Perhaps；　who　knows？　she　really　is　a　frozen　goddess；　condemned　to　the　veil　for　infidelity　to　him　imprisoned　in　the　great　volcano　across　the　soundwho　sends　up　a　column　of　light　once　in　a　way　to　dazzle　her　shrouded　eyes；　and　failing　that　batters　her　with　rock　and　stone　like　any　lover　of　the　slums。　　One　day　he　spat　forth　a　rock　like　a　small　hill；　and　big　enough　to　dominate　the　strip　of　lowland　at　least；　standing　out　on　the　edge　of　the　island　like　a　guard　at　the　gates；　and　never　a　part　of　the　alien　surface。　　Be…　tween　this　lofty　rock　and　the　forest　was　the　walled　settlement　of　New　Archangel；　that　Baranhov；　the　dauntless；　had　wrested　from　the　bloodthirsty　Kolosh　but　a　short　time　since　and　purposed　to　hold　in　the　interest　of　the　Russian…American　Company。　　His　log　hut；　painted　like　the　other　buildings　with　a　yel…　low　ochre　found　in　the　soil；　stood　on　the　rock；　and　his　glass　swept　the　forest　as　often　as　the　sea。

As　Rezanov；　on　the　second　of　July；　thirty…one　days　after　leaving　San　Francisco；　sailed　into　the　harbor　with　its　hundred　bits　of　volcanic　woodland　weeping　as　ever；　he　gave　a　whimsical　sigh　in　trib…　ute　to　the　gay　and　ever…changing　beauties　of　the　southern　land；　but　was　in　no　mood　for　sentimental　reminiscence。　　Natives；　paddling　eagerly　out　to　sea　in　their　bidarkas　to　be　the　first　to　bring　in　good　news　or　bad；　had　given　him　a　report　covering　the　period　of　his　absence　that　filled　him　with　dismay。　There　had　been　deaths　from　scurvy；　one　of　the　largest　ships　belonging　to　the　Company　had　been　wrecked　and　the　entire　cargo　lost；　of　a　hunting　party　of　three　hundred　Aleuts　in　one　hundred　and　forty　bidarkas；　which　had　gone　from　Sitka　to　Kadiak　in　November　of　the　preceding　year；　not　one　had　arrived　at　its　destination；　and　there　was　reason　to　believe　that　all　had　been　drowned　or　massacred；　and　the　Russians　and　Aleuts　at　Behring's　Bay　settle…　ment　had　been　exterminated　by　one　of　the　native　tribes。

But　the　Juno　was　received　with　salvos　of　artil…　lery　from　the　fort；　and　cheered　by　the　entire　popu…　lation　of　the　settlement；　crowded　on　the　beach。　Baranhov；　looking　like　a　monkey　with　a　mummy's　head　in　which　only　a　pair　of　incomparably　shrewd　eyes　still　lived；　his　black　wig　fastened　on　his　bald；　red…fringed　pate　with　a　silk　handkerchief　tied　under　his　chin；　stood；　hands　on　hips；　shaking　with　excite…　ment　and　delight。　　The　bearded；　long…haired　priests；　in　full　canonicals　of　black　and　gold；　were　beside　the　Chief…Manager；　ready　to　escort　the　Chamberlain　to　the　chapel　at　the　head　of　the　solitary　street；　where　the　bells　were　pealing　and　a　mass　of　thanksgiving　was　to　be　said　for　his　safe　return。

But　it　was　some　time　before　Rezanov　could　reach　the　chapel　or　even　exchange　salutations　with　Baran…　hov。　　As　he　stepped　on　shore　he　was　surrounded；　almost　hustled　by　the　shouting　crowd　of　Russians；　many　of　them　convictsAleuts　and　Sitkans；　who　knelt　at　his　feet；　endeavored　to　kiss　his　hand；　his　garments；　in　their　hysterical　gratitude　for　the　food　he　had　brought　them。　　For　the　first　time　he　felt　reconciled　to　his　departure　from　California；　and　Concha's　image　faded　as　he　looked　at　the　tearful　faces　of　the　diseased；　ill…nourished　wretches　who　gave　their　mite　of　life　that　he　might　live　as　became　a　great　noble　of　the　Russian　Empire。　　But　although　he　tingled　with　pleasure　and　was　deeply　moved；　he　by　no　means　swelled　with　vanity；　for　he　was　far　too　clear…sighted　to　doubt　he　had　done　more　than　his　duty；　or　that　his　duty　was　more　than　begun。　He　made　them　a　little　speech；　giving　his　word　they　should　be　properly　fed　hereafter；　that　he　would　make　the　improvement　of　their　condition　as　well　as　that　of　all　the　employees　of　the　Company　throughout　this　vast　chain　of　settlements　on　the　Pacific；　the　chief　consideration　of　his　life；　and　they　believed　him　and　followed　him　to　the　chapel　rejoicing；　reconciled　for　once　to　their　lot。

After　the　service　Rezanov　went　up　to　the　hut　of　the　Chief…Manager；　a　habitation　that　leaked　winter　and　summer；　and　was　equally　deficient　in　light；　ven…　tilation　and　order。　　But　Baranhov　in　the　sixteen　years　of　his　exile　had　forgotten　the　bare　lineaments　of　comfort；　and　devoted　his　days　to　advancing　the　interests　of　the　Company；　his　nights；　save　when　sleep　overcame　him；　to　potations　that　would　have　buried　an　ordinary　man　under　Alaskan　snows　long　since。　　But　Baranhov　had　fourteen　years　more　of　good　service　in　him；　and　rescued　the　Company　from　insolvency　again　and　again；　nor　ever　played　into　the　hands　of　marauding　foreigners；　with　brain　on　fire　he　was　shrewder　than　the　soberest。

He　listened　with　deep　satisfaction　to　the　Cham…　berlain's　account　of　his　success　with　the　Californi…　ans　and　his　glowing　pictures　of　the　country；　nod…　ding　every　few　moments　with　emphatic　approval。　But　as　the　story　finished　his　wonderful　eyes　were　two　bubbling　springs　of　humor；　and　Rezanov；　who　knew　him　well；　recrossed　his　legs　nervously。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。　　〃What　have　I　done　now？　　Remember　that　you　have　been　in　this　busi…　ness　for　sixteen　years；　and　I　one〃

〃How　many　measures　of　corn　did　you　say　you　had　brought；　Excellency？〃

〃Two　hundred　and　ninety…four；〃　replied　Reza…　nov　proudly。

〃A　provision　that　exceeds　my　most　sanguine　hopes。　　The　only　thing　that　mitigates　my　satisfac…　tion　is　that　there　is　not　a　mill　in　the　settlement　to　grind　it。〃

Rezanov　sprang　to　his　feet　with　a　viole