rezanov-第28部分

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white；　their　tiles　so　red。　　The　trees　were　blossoming　pink　and　white　in　the　orchards；　the　lightest　breeze　rippled　the　green　of　the　fields；　and　into　this　valley　came　neither　the　winds　nor　the　fogs　of　the　ocean。

The　priests　and　their　guests　of　honor　sat　on　the　long　corridor　beside　the　church；　the　soldiers；　sailors；　and　Indians　of　Presidio　and　Mission　forming　the　other　three　sides　of　a　hollow　square。　　The　Indian　women　were　a　blaze　of　color。　　The　ladies　on　the　corridor　wore　their　mantillas；　jewels；　and　the　gay…　est　of　artificial　flowers。　　There　were　as　many　fans　as　women。　　Rezanov　sat　between　Father　Abella　and　the　Commandante；　and　not　being　in　the　best　of　tempers　had　never　looked　more　imposing　and　re…　mote。　　Concha；　leaning　against　one　of　the　pillars；　stole　a　glance　at　him　and　wondered　miserably　if　this　haughty　European　had　really　sought　her　hand；　if　it　were　not　a　girl's　foolish　dream。　　But　Concha's　humble　moments　at　this　period　of　her　life　were　rare；　and　she　drew　herself　up　proudly；　the　blood　of　the　proudest　race　in　Europe　shaking　angrily　in　her　veins。　　A　moment　later；　in　response　to　a　power　greater　than　any　within　herself；　she　turned　again。　The　attention　of　the　hosts　and　guests　was　riveted　upon　the　preliminary　antics　of　the　Indian　dancers；　and　Rezanov　seized　the　opportunity　to　lean　forward　unobserved　and　gaze　at　the　girl　whom　it　seemed　to　him　he　saw　for　the　first　time　in　the　full　splendor　of　her　beauty。　　She　wore　a　large　mantilla　of　white　Spanish　lace。　　In　the　fashion　of　the　day　it　rose　at　the　back　almost　from　the　hem　of　her　gown　to　de…　scend　in　a　point　over　the　high　comb　to　her　eyes。　The　two　points　of　the　width　were　gathered　at　her　breast；　defining　the　outlines　of　her　superb　figure；　and　fastened　with　one　large　Castilian　rose　sur…　rounded　by　its　mass　of　tiny　sharp　buds　and　dull　green　leaves。　　As　the　familiar　scent　assailed　Rez…　anov's　nostrils　they　tingled　and　expanded。　　His　lids　were　lifted　and　his　eyes　glowing　as　he　finally　compelled　her　glance；　and　her　own　eyes　opened　with　an　eager　flash；　her　lips　parted　and　her　should…　ers　lost　their　haughty　poise。　　For　a　moment　their　gaze　lingered　in　a　perfect　understanding；　his　ill…　humor　vanished；　and　he　leaned　back　with　a　compli…　mentary　remark　as　Father　Abella　directed　his　atten…　tion　to　the　most　agile　of　the　Indians。

The　swart　natives　of　both　sexes　with　their　thick　features　and　long　hair　were　even　more　hideous　than　usual　in　bandeaux　of　bright　feathers；　scant　gar…　ments　made　from　the　breasts　of　water…fowls；　rattling　strings　of　shells；　and　tattooing　on　arm　and　leg　no　longer　concealed　by　the　decorous　Mission　smock。　　Rezanov　had　that　day　sent　them　presents　of　glass　beads　and　ribbons；　and　in　these　they　took　such　extravagant　pride　that　for　some　time　their　dancing　was　almost　automatic。

But　soon　their　blood　warmed；　and　after　the　first　dance；　which　was　merely　a　series　of　measured　springs　on　the　part　of　the　men　and　a　beating　of　time　by　the　women；　a　large　straw　figure　symbolizing　an　entire　hostile　tribe　was　brought　in；　and　about　this　pranced　the　men　with　savage　cries　and　gestures；　ad…　vancing；　attacking；　retreating；　finally　piercing　it　with

their　arrows　and　marching　it　off　with　sharp　yells　of　triumph　that　reverberated　among　the　hills；　the　women　never　varying　from　a　loud　monotonous　chant。

There　was　a　peaceful　interlude；　during　which　the　men；　holding　bow　and　arrow　aloft；　hopped　up　and　down　on　one　spot；　the　women　hopping　beside　them　and　snapping　thumb　and　forefinger　on　the　body；　still　singing　in　the　same　high　measured　voice。　　But　while　they　danced　a　great　bonfire　was　laid　and　kindled。　　The　gyrations　lasted　a　few　minutes　longer；　then　the　chief　seized　a　live　ember　and　swallowed　it。　His　example　was　immediately　followed　by　his　tribe；　and；　whether　to　relieve　discomfort　or　with　energies　but　quickened；　they　executed　a　series　of　incredible　handsprings　and　acrobatic　capers。　　When　they　finally　whirled　away　on　toes　and　finger　tips；　another　chief；　in　the　horns　and　hide　of　a　deer；　rushed　in；　pursued　by　a　party　of　hunters。　　For　several　mo…　ments　he　perfectly　simulated　a　hunted　animal　lurking　and　dodging　in　high　grass；　behind　trees；　venturing　to　the　brink　of　a　stream　to　drink；　search…　ing　eagerly　for　his　mate；　and　when　he　finally　escaped　it　was　amidst　the　most　enthusiastic　plaudits　as　yet　evoked。

After　an　hour　of　this　varied　performance；　the　square　was　enlarged　by　several　mounted　vaqueros　galloping　about　with　warning　cries　and　much　flour…　ishing　of　lassos。　　They　were　the　cattle　herders　of　the　Mission　ranch　just　over　the　hills；　and　were　in　gala　attire　of　black　glazed　sombrero　with　silver　cord；　white　shirt　open　at　the　throat；　short　black　vel…　vet　trousers　laced　with　silver；　red　sash　and　high　yel…　low　boots。　　Four；　pistol　in　hand；　stationed　them…　selves　in　front　of　the　corridor；　while　the　others　rode　out　and　in　again；　dragging　a　bear　and　a　bull；　with　hind　legs　attached　by　two　yards　of　rope。　　The　cap…　tors　left　the　captives　in　the　middle　of　the　square；　and　without　more　ado　the　serious　sport　of　the　day　began。　　The　bull；　with　stomach　empty　and　hide　in…　flamed；　rushed　at　the　bear；　furious　from　captivity；　with　such　a　roar　that　the　Indian　women　screamed　and　even　the　men　shuffled　their　feet　uneasily。　　But　neither　combatant　was　interested　in　aught　but　the　other。　　The　one　sought　to　gore；　his　enemy　to　strike　or　hug。　　The　vaqueros　teased　them　with　arrows　and　cries；　the　dust　flew；　for　a　few　moments　there　was　but　a　heaving；　panting；　lashing　bulk　in　the　middle　of　the　arena；　and　then　the　bull；　his　tongue　torn　out；　rolled　on　his　back；　and　another　was　driven　in　before　the　victor　could　wreak　his　unsated　ven…　geance　among　the　spectators。　　The　bear；　dragging　the　dead　bull；　rushed　at　the　living；　who；　unmartial　at　first；　stiffened　to　the　defensive　as　he　saw　a　bulk　of　wiry　fur　set　with　eyes　of　fire；　almost　upon　him。　He　sprang　aside；　lowered　his　horn　and　caught　the　bear　in　the　chest。　　But　the　victor　was　a　compact　mass　of　battle　and　momentum。　　His　onslaught　flung　the　bear　over　backward；　and　quickly　disen…　gaging　himself　he　made　another　leap　at　his　equally　agile　enemy。　　This　time　the　battle　was　longer　and　more　various；　for　the　bull　was　smaller；　more　active　and　dexterous。　　Twice　he　almost　had　the　bear　on　his　horns；　but　was　rolled；　only　saving　his　neck　and　back　from　the　fury　of　the　mountain　beast　by　such　kick…　ing　and　leaping　that　both　combatants　were　indis…　tinguishable　from　the　whirlwind　of　dust。　　Out　of　this　they　would　emerge　to　stand　panting　in　front　of　each　other　with　tongues　pendant　and　red　eyes　rolling。　　Finally　the　bear；　nearly　exhausted；　made　a　sudden　charge；　the　bull　leaped　aside；　backed　again　with　incredible　swiftness；　caught　the　bear　in　the　belly；　tossed　him　so　high　that　he　met　the　hard　earth　with　a　loud　cracking　of　bone。　　The　vaqueros　circled　about　the　maddened　bull；　set　his　hide　thick　with　ar…　rows；　tripped　him　with　the　lasso。　　A　wiry　little　Mexican　in　yellow；　galloping　in　on　his　mustang；　ad…　ministered　the　coup　de　grace　amidst　the　wild　applause　of　the　spectators；　whose　shouting　and　clapping　and　stamping　might　have　been　heard　by　the　envious　guard　at　the　Presidio　and　Yerba　Buena。

As　the　party　on　the　corridor　broke；　Rezanov　found　no　difficulty　in　reaching　Concha's　side；　for　even　Dona　Ignacia　was　chattering　wildly　with　sev…　eral　other　good　dames　who　renewed　their　youth　briefly　at　the　bull…fight。

〃Did　you　enjoy　that？〃　he　asked　curiously。

〃I　did　not　look　at　it。　　I　never　do。　　But　I　know　that　you　were　not　affronted。　　You　never　took　your　eyes　from　those　dreadful　beasts。〃

〃I　am　exhilarated　to　know　that　you　watched　me。　Yes；　at　a　bull…fight　the　primitive　man　in　me　has　its　way；　although　I　have　the　grace　to　be　ashamed　of　myself　afterward。　　In　that　I　am　at　least　one　degree　more　civilized　than　your　race；　which　never　repents。〃

The　door　of　one　of　the　smaller　rooms　stood　open；　and　as　they　took　advantage　of　this　oversight　with　a　singular　concert　of　motive；　he　clasped　both　her　hands　in　his。　　〃Are　you　angry　with　me？〃　he　asked　softly。　　He　dared　not　close　the　door；　but　his　back　was　square　against　it；　and　the　other　guests　were　moving　down　to　the　refectory。

〃For　liking　such　horrid　sport？〃

〃We　have　no　time　to　waste　in　coquetry。〃

Her　eyes　melted；　but　she　could　not　resist　planting　a　dart。　　〃Not　nowI　quite　understand：　love　could　never　be　first　with　you。　　And　two　years　are　not　so　long。　　They　quickly　pass　when　one　is　busy。　　I　shall　find　occupation；　and　you　will　have　no　time　for　long…　ings　and　regrets。〃

They　were　not　yet　alone；　women　were　talking　in　their　light；　high　voices　not　a　yard　away。　　The　hin…　drance；　and　her　new　loveliness　in　the　soft　mantilla；　the　pink　of　the　roses　reflected　in　her　throat；　the　provocative　curl　of　her　mouth；　sent　the　blood　to　his　head。

〃You　have　only　to　say　the　word；〃　he　said　hoarsely；　〃and　the　Juno　will　sail　to…night。〃

Never　before　had　she　seen　his　face　so　unmasked。　Her　voice　shook　in　triumph　and　response。

〃Would　you？　　Would　you？〃

〃Say　the　word！〃

〃You　would　sacrifice　allthe　Companyyour　careeryour　Sitkans？〃

〃Alleverything。〃　　His　own　voice　shook　with　more　than　passion；　for　even　in　that　moment　he　counted　the　cost；　but　he　did　not　care。

But　Concha　detected　that　second　break　in　his　voice；　and　turned　her　head　sadly。

〃You　would　not　say　that　to…morrow。　　I　hate　my…　self　that　I　made　you　say　it　now。　　I　love　you　enough　to　wait　forever；　but　I　have　not　the　courage　to　hand　you　over　to　your　enemies。〃

〃You　are　strangely　far…sighted　for　a　young　girl。〃　And　between　admiration　and　pique；　his　ardor　suf…　fered　a　chill。

〃I　am　no　longer　a　young　girl。　　In　these　last　days　it　has　seemed　to　me　that　secrets　locked　in　my　brain；　secrets　of　women　long　dead；　but　of　whose　essence　I　am；　have　come　forth　to　the　light。　　I　have　suffered　in　anticipation。　　My　mind　has　flownflownI　have　lived　those　two　years　until　they　are　twenty；　thirty；　and　I　have　lived　on　into　old　age　here　by　the　sea；　watching；　watching〃

She　had　dropped　all　pretence　of　coquetry　and　was　speaking　with　a　passionate　forlornness。　　But　before　he　could　interrupt　her；　take　advantage　of　the　retreating　voices　that　left　them　alone　at　last；　she　had　drawn　herself　up　and　moved　a　step　away。　　〃Do　not　think；　however；〃　she　said　proudly；　〃that　I　am　really　as　weak　and　silly　as　that。　　It　was　only　a　mood。　　Should　you　not　return　I　should　grieve；　yes；　and　should　I　live　as　l