the golden fleece-第7部分

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〃I'm　not　savage；〃　replied　Freeman。　　〃I　am　bored。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know　as　I　can　blame　you；〃　said　Grace；　still　more　softly：　she　fancied　he　was　referring　to　Miriam。　　〃I　don't　much　like　Spanish　mixtures　myself。〃

〃One　has　to　take　what　one　can　get；〃　said　Freeman；　referring　to　Don　Miguel。

〃But　it's　all　right　now；〃　rejoined　she；　meaning　that　Freeman　and　herself　were　reconciled　after　their　quarrel。

〃If　you　are　satisfied；　I　am；〃　observed　Freeman；　too　indifferent　to　care　what　she　meant。

〃Only；　you　mustn't　take　that　poor　young　man　too　seriously；〃　she　went　on：　〃these　Mexicans　are　absurdly　demonstrative；　but　they　don't　mean　anything。〃

〃He　won't；　if　he　values　his　skin；〃　said　Freeman；　meaning　that　if　Don　Miguel　attempted　to　interfere　between　himself　and　Miriam　he　would　wring　his　neck。

〃He　won't；　I　promise　you；〃　said　Grace；　sparkling　with　pleasure。

〃I　don't　quite　see　how　you　can　help　it；〃　returned　Freeman。

〃I　should　hope　I　could　manage　a　creature　like　that！〃　murmured　she；　smiling。

〃Well；〃　said　Freeman；　after　a　pause；　for　Grace's　seeming　change　of　attitude　puzzled　him　a　little；〃I'm　glad　you　look　at　it　that　way。　　I　don't　wish　to　be　meddled　with；　that's　all。〃

〃You　shan't　be；〃　she　whispered；　and　then；　just　when　they　were　approaching　the　point　where　their　eyes　might　have　been　opened；　in　came　General　Trednoke。　　The　group　round　the　Golden　Fleece　broke　up。

The　general　wore　his　riding…dress；　and　his　bearing　was　animated；　though　he　was　covered　with　dust。

〃I　was　wondering　what　had　become　of　you　all；〃　he　said；　as　the　others　gathered　about　him。　　〃I　have　been　taking　a　canter　to　the　eastward。　　Kamaiakan　said　this　morning　that　one　of　the　boys　had　brought　news　of　a　cloud…burst　in　that　direction。　　I　rode　far　enough　to　ascertain　that　there　has　really　been　something　of　the　kind；　and　I　think　it　has　affected　the　arroyo　on　the　farther　side　of　the　little　sierra。　　Now；　I　don't　know　how　you　gentlemen　feel；　but　it　occurred　to　me　that　it　might　be　interesting　to　make　up　a　little　party　of　exploration　to…morrow。　　Would　you　like　to　try　it；　Meschines？〃

〃To　be　sure　I　should！〃　the　professor　replied。　　〃I　imagine　I　can　stand　as　much　of　the　desert　as　you　can！　　And　I　want　to　catch　a　sidewinder。〃

〃Good！　　And　you；　Mr。　Freeman？〃

〃It　would　suit　me　exactly；〃　said　the　latter。　　〃In　fact；　I　had　been　intending　to　gratify　my　curiosity　by　making　some　such　expedition　on　my　own　account。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　the　general；　eying　him　with　some　intentness。　　〃Well；　we　may　be　able　to　show　you　something　more　curious　than　you　anticipate。And　now；　Senor　de　Mendoza；　there　is　only　you　left。　　May　we　count　on　your　company　into　the　desert？〃

But　the　Mexican；　with　a　bow　and　a　grimace；　excused　himself。　　Scientific　curiosity　was　an　unknown　emotion　to　him；　but　he　foresaw　an　opportunity　to　have　Grace　all　to　himself；　and　he　meant　to　improve　it。　　He　also　wished　leisure　to　think　over　some　plan　for　getting　rid　of　Senor　Freeman；　in　whom　he　scented　a　rival；　and　who；　whether　a　rival　or　not；　had　behaved　to　him　with　a　lack　of　consideration　in　the　presence　of　ladies。



CHAPTER　IV。

General　Trednoke's　household　went　early　to　bed。　　As　there　was　more　accommodation　in　the　old　house　than　sufficed　for　its　present　inhabitants；　it　followed　that　each　of　them　had　a　regal　allowance　of　rooms。　　And　when　Grace　Parsloe　became　one　of　the　occupants；　she　was　allotted　two　commodious　apartments　at　the　extremity　of　the　left　wing。　　They　communicated；　through　long　windows；　with　the　veranda　in　front；　and　by　means　of　doors　with　the　passage；　or　hall；　traversing　the　house　from　end　to　end。　　If；　therefore；　she　happened　to　be　sleepless；　she　might　issue　forth　into　the　garden；　and　wander　about　there　without　let　or　hinderance　until　she　was　ready　to　accept　the　wooing　of　the　god　of　dreams；　or；　if　supernatural　terrors　daunted　her；　she　could　in　a　few　seconds　transfer　herself　and　her　fears　to　Miriam's　chamber；　which　occupied　the　same　position　in　the　right　wing　that　hers　did　in　the　left。

The　night；　as　is　customary　in　that　climate；　where　the　atmosphere　is　pure　and　evaporation　rapid；　was　cool　and　still。　　By　ten　o'clock　there　was　no　sound　to　indicate　that　any　person　was　awake；　though；　to　an　acute　ear；　the　rise　and　fall　of　regular　breathing；　or　even　an　occasional　snore；　might　have　given　evidence　of　slumber。　　At　the　back　of　the　house；　the　Indian　retainers　were　lapped　in　silence。　　They　were　a　harmless　people；　somewhat　disposed；　perhaps；　to　small　pilferings；　in　an　amiable　and　loyal　way；　but　incapable　of　anything　seriously　criminal。　　There　were　no　locks　on　the　doors；　and　most　of　them　stood　ajar。　　Tramps　and　burglars　were　unknown。

Miriam；　having　put　on　her　night…dress；　stood　a　few　minutes　at　her　window；　gazing　out　on　the　soft　darkness　of　the　garden。　　All　there　was　peacefulness　and　fragrance。　　The　leaves　of　the　plants　hung　motionless；　the　blossoms　seemed　to　hush　themselves　to　the　enjoyment　of　their　own　sweetness。　　The　sky　was　clear；　but　there　was　no　moon。　　A　beautiful　planet；　however；　bright　enough　to　cast　a　shadow；　hung　in　the　southwestern　sky；　and　its　mysterious　light　touched　Miriam's　face；　and　cast　a　dim　rectangle　of　radiance　on　the　white　matting　that　carpeted　the　floor　of　her　room。　　It　was　the　planet　Venus；the　star　of　love。　　Miriam　thought　it　would　be　a　pleasant　place　to　live　in。　　But　one　need　not　journey　to　Venus　to　find　a　world　where　love　is　the　ruling　passion。　　Circumstances　over　which　she　has　no　control　may　cause　such　a　world　to　come　into　existence　in　a　girl's　heart。

She　left　the　window　at　last；　and　got　into　bed；　where　she　soon　presented　an　image　of　perfect　repose。　　Meanwhile；　in　a　dark　corner　of　the　court…yard　at　the　rear；　a　dark；　pyramidal　object　abode　without　motion。　　It　might　have　been　taken　for　a　heap　of　blankets　piled　up　there。　　But　if　you　examined　it　more　narrowly　you　would　have　detected　in　it　the　vague　outlines　of　a　human　figure；　squatting　on　its　haunches；　with　its　head　resting　on　its　knees；　and　its　arms　clasped　round　them；somewhat　as　figures　sit　in　Egyptian　hieroglyphics；　or　like　Aztecan　mummies　in　the　tomb。　　So　still　was　it；　it　might　itself　have　been　a　mummy。　　But　ever　and　anon　a　blinking　of　the　narrow　eyes　in　the　bronze　countenance　told　that　it　was　no　mummy；　but　a　living　creature。　　In　fact；　it　was　none　other　than　the　aged　and　austere　Kamaiakan；　who；　for　reasons　best　known　to　himself；　chose　to　spend　the　hours　usually　devoted　to　rest　in　an　attitude　that　no　European　or　white　American　could　have　maintained　with　comfort　longer　than　five　minutes。

An　hourtwo　hourspassed　away。　　Then　Kamaiakan　noiselessly　arose；　peered　about　him　cautiously　for　a　few　moments；　and　passed　out　of　the　court…yard　through　the　open　gate。　　He　turned　to　the　left；　and；　stealing　beneath　Miriam's　windows；　paused　there　for　an　instant　and　made　certain　gestures　with　his　arms。　　Anon　he　continued　his　way　to　the　garden；　and　was　soon　concealed　by　the　thick　shrubbery。

History　requires　us　to　follow　him。　　The　garden　extended　westward；　and　was　quite　a　spacious　enclosure：　one　not　familiar　with　its　winding　paths　might　easily　lose　himself　there　on　a　dark　night。　　But　Kamaiakan　knew　where　he　was　going；　and　the　way　thither。　　He　now　stalked　along　more　swiftly；　taking　one　turn　after　another；　brushing　aside　the　low…hanging　boughs；　and　passing　the　loveliest　flowers　without　a　glance。　　He　was　as　one　preoccupied　with　momentous　business。　　Presently　he　arrived　at　a　small　open　space；　remote　and　secluded。　　It　was　completely　surrounded　by　tall　shrubbery。　　In　the　centre　was　a　basin　of　stone；　evidently　very　ancient；　filled　to　the　brim　with　the　clear　water　of　a　spring；　which　bubbled　up　from　the　bottom；　and；　overflowing　by　way　of　a　gap　in　the　edge；　became　a　small　rivulet；　which　stole　away　in　the　direction　of　the　sea。　　Across　the　slightly　undulating　surface　of　the　basin　trembled　the　radiance　of　the　star。

Kamaiakan　knelt　down　beside　it；　and；　bending　over；　gazed　intently　into　the　water。　　Presently　he　dipped　his　hands　in　it；　and　sprinkled　shining　drops　over　his　own　gaunt　person；　and　over　the　ground　in　the　vicinity　of　the　spring。　　He　made　strange　movements　with　his　arms；　bowed　his　head　and　erected　it　again；　and　traced　curious　figures　on　the　ground　with　his　finger。　　It　appeared　as　if　the　venerable　Indian　had　solemnly　lost　his　senses　and　had　sought　out　this　lonely　spot　to　indulge　the　vagaries　of　his　insanity。　　If　so；　his　silence　and　deliberation　afforded　an　example　worthy　of　consideration　by　other　lunatics。

Suddenly　he　ceased　his　performance；　and　held　himself　in　a　listening　attitude。　　A　light；　measured　sound　was　audible；　accompanied　by　the　rustling　of　leaves。　　It　came　nearer。　　There　was　a　glimpse　of　whiteness　through　the　interstices　of　the　surrounding　foliage；　and　then　a　slender　figure；　clad　in　close…fitting　raiment；　entered　the　little　circle。　　It　wore　a　sort　of　tunic；　reaching　half…way　to　the　knees；　and　leggings　of　the　same　soft；　grayish…white　material。　　The　head　was　covered　with　a　sort　of　hood；　which　left　only　the　face　exposed；　and　this　too　might　be　covered　by　a　species　of　veil　or　mask；　which；　however；　was　now　fastened　back　on　the　headpiece；　after　the　manner　of　a　visor。　　The　front　of　the　tunic　was　embroidered　with　fantastic　devices　in　gold　thread；　brightened　here　and　there　with　precious　stones；　and　other　devices　appeared　on　the　hood。　　The　face　of　this　figure　was　pale　and　calm；　with　great　dark　eyes　beneath　black　brows。　　The　stature　was　no　greater　than　that　of　a　lad　of　fifteen；　but　the　bearing　was　composed　and　dignified。　　The　contours　of　the　figure；　however；　even　as　seen　by　that　dim　light；　were　those　of　neither　a　boy　nor　a　man。　　The　wearer　of　the　tunic　was　a　girl；　just　rounding　into　womanhood；　and　the　face　was　the　face　of　Miriam。

Yet　it　was　not　by　this　name　that　Kamaiakan　addressed　her。　　After　making　a　deep　obeisance；　touching　his　hand　to　her　foot　and　then　to　his　own　forehead　and　breast；　he　said；　in　a　language　that　was　neither　Spanish　nor　such　as　the　modern　Indians　of　Mexico　use；

〃Welcome；　Semitzin！　　May　this　night　be　the　beginning　of　high　things！〃

〃I　am　ready；〃　replied　the　other；　in　a　soft　and　low　voice；　but　with　a　certain　stateliness　of　utterance　unlike　the　usual　manner　of　General　Trednoke's　daughter：　　〃I　was　glad　to　hear　you　call；　and　to　see　again　the　stars　and　the　earth。　　Have　you　anything　to　tell？〃

〃There　are　events　which　may　turn　to　our　harm；　most　revered　p