rezanov-第32部分

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ross　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　violent　ex…　clamation；　his　face　very　red。　　There　was　no　one　whose　good　opinion　he　valued　as　he　did　that　of　this　brilliant；　dissipated；　disinterested　old　genius；　and　he　felt　like　a　schoolboy。　　But　although　he　started　for　the　door；　he　recovered　half…way；　and　reseating　himself　joined　in　the　laughter　of　the　little　man　who　was　rocking　back　and　forth　on　his　bench；　his　weaz…　ened　leg　clasped　against　his　shrunken　chest。

〃How　on　earth　was　I　to　know　all　your　domestic　arrangements？〃　he　said　testily。　　〃God　knows　I　found　them　limited　enough　last　winter；　but　it　never　occurred　to　me　there　was　any　mysterious　process　involved　in　converting　corn　into　meal。　　Is　it　quite　useless；　then？〃

〃Oh；　no；　we　can　boil　or　roast　it。　　It　will　dispose　of　what　teeth　we　have　left；　but　that　will　serve　the　good　purpose　of　reminding　us　always　of　your　ex…　cellency's　interest　in　our　welfare。〃

Rezanov　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Give　the　corn　to　the　natives。　　It　is　farinaceous　at　all　events。　　And　you　can　have　nothing　to　say　against　the　flour　I　have　brought；　and　the　peas；　beans；　tallow；　butter；　barley；　salt；　and　salted　meatsin　all　to　the　value　of　twenty…four　thousand　Spanish　dollars。〃

The　Chief…Manager's　head　nodded　with　the　vigor　and　rapidity　of　a　mechanical　toy。　　〃It　is　a　God…send；　a　God…send。　　If　you　did　no　more　than　that　you　would　have　earned　our　everlasting　gratitude。　　It　will　make　us　over；　give　us　renewed　courage　in　this　cursed　ex…　istence。　　Are　you　not　going　to　get　me　out　of　it？〃

Rezanov　shook　his　head　with　a　smile。　　〃Literally　you　are　the　whole　Company。　　As　long　as　I　live　here　you　stayalthough　when　I　reach　St。　Peters…　burg　I　shall　see　that　you　receive　every　possible　re…　ward　and　honor。〃

Baranhov　lifted　his　shoulders　to　his　ears　in　quiz…　zical　resignation。　　〃I　suppose　it　matters　little　where　the　last　few　years　left　me　are　spent；　and　I　can　hang　the　medals　on　the　walls　to　console　me　when　I　have　rheumatism；　and　shout　my　titles　from　the　top　of　the　fort　when　the　Kolosh　are　yelling　at　the　barri…　cades。〃

〃You　must　make　yourself　more　comfortable；〃　said　Rezanov　emphatically。　　〃You　are　wrong　to　carry　your　honesty　and　enthusiasm　to　the　point　of　living　like　the　promuschleniki。　　Take　enough　of　their　time　to　build　you　a　comfortable　dwelling；　and　I　will　send　you；　on　my　own　account；　far　more　sub…　stantial　rewards　than　orders　and　titles。　　Build　a　big　house；　for　that　matter。　　I　shall　be　here　more　or　lesswhen　I　am　not　in　California。〃　　And　he　told　Baranhov　of　his　proposed　marriage　with　the　daugh…　ter　of　Don　Jose　Arguello。

The　Chief…Manager　listened　to　this　confidence　with　an　even　livelier　satisfaction　than　to　the　list　of　the　Juno's　cargo。

〃We　shall　have　California　yet！〃　he　cried；　his　eyes　snapping　like　live　coals　under　the　black　thatch　of　wig。　　〃Absorption　or　the　bayonet。　　It　matters　little。　Ten　years　from　now　and　we　shall　have　a　line　of　settlements　as　far　south　as　San　Diego。　　My　plan　was　to　feel　my　way　down　the　northern　coast　of　California　with　a　colony；　which　should　buy　a　tract　of　land　from　the　natives　and　engage　immediately　in　otter　huntingsomewhere　between　Cape　Mendo…　cino　and　Drake's　Bay。　　The　Spanish　have　no　settle…　ments　above　San　Francisco　and　are　too　weak　to　drive　us　out。　　They　would　rage　and　bluster　and　do　nothing。　　Then　quietly　push　forward；　building　forts　and　ships。　　But　you　have　taken　hold　in　the　grand　manner　and　will　accomplish　in　ten　years　what　would　have　taken　me　fifty。　　Marry　this　girl；　use　your　ad…　vantage　over　the　entire　familywhose　influence　I　well　knowand　that　great　personal　power　with　which　the　Almighty　has　been　so　lavish；　and　you　will　have　the　whole　weakly　garrisoned　country　un…　der　your　foot　before　they　know　where　they　are；　and　the　Russian　settlers　pouring　in。　　Spain　cannot　come　to　the　rescue　while　this　devil　Bonaparte　is　alive；　and　he　is　young；　and　like　yourself　a　favorite　of　destiny。　　Those　damned　Bostonians　inherit　the　grabbing　instincts　of　the　too　paternal　race　they　have　just　rejected；　but　there　are　thousands　of　miles　of　desert　between　California　and　their　own　western　outposts；　hundreds　of　savage　tribes　to　exterminate。　By　the　time　they　are　in　a　position　to　attempt　the　occupation　of　California　we　shall　be　so　securely　en…　trenched　they　will　either　let　us　alone　or　send　troops　that　would　be　half　dead　by　the　time　they　reach　us。　　As　to　ships；　we　could　soon　build　enough　at　Ok…　hotsk　and　Petropaulovsky　for　our　purpose。　　For　the　matter　of　that；　if　your　gifted　tongue　impressed　the　Tsar　with　the　riches　of　California　there　would　always　be　war　ships　on　her　coast。〃　　He　leaned　for…　ward　and　caught　the　strong　shoulders　above　him　in　hands　that　looked　like　a　tangle　of　baked　nerves；　and　shook　them　vigorously。　　〃You　are　a　great　boy！〃　he　said　with　a　sort　of　quizzical　solemnity。　　〃A　great　boy。　　This　damned；　God…forsaken；　pestilential；　de…　moralizing；　brutalizing　factory　for　enriching　a　few　with　the　very　life　blood　and　vitals　of　thousands　that　will　suffer　and　starve　and　never　be　heard　of〃　（all　his　language　cannot　be　recorded）；　〃will　make　two　or　three　reputations　by　the　way。　　Mine　will　be　one；　although　I'll　get　nothing　else。　　Shelikov　is　safe；　but　you　will