the golden fleece-第9节

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〃To　you　only；　Semitzin；　is　known　the　place　of　concealment　of　the　treasure　which；　in　the　old　times；　you　and　I　hid　in　the　desert。　　I　indeed　remember　the　event；　and　somewhat　of　the　region　of　the　hiding；　but　I　cannot　put　my　hand　upon　the　very　spot。　　I　have　tried　to　discover　it；　but　when　I　approach　it　my　mind　becomes　confused　between　the　present　and　the　past；　and　I　am　lost。〃

〃I　remember　it　well；〃　said　Semitzin。　　〃We　rode　across　the　desert；　carrying　the　treasure　on　mules。　　The　air　was　still；　and　the　heat　very　heavy。　　The　desert　descended　in　a　great　hollow：　you　told　me　it　was　where；　in　former　days；　the　ocean　had　been。　　At　last　there　were　rocky　hills　before　us；　we　rode　towards　a　great　rock　shaped　like　the　pyramid　on　which　the　sacrifices　were　held　in　Tenochtitlan。　　We　passed　round　its　base；　and　entered　a　deep　and　narrow　valley；　that　seemed　to　have　been　ploughed　out　of　the　heart　of　the　earth　and　to　descend　into　it。　　Then　　But　what　is　it　you　wish　to　do　with　this　treasure；　Kamaiakan？〃

〃It　belongs　to　your　race；　princess；　and　was　hidden　that　the　murderers　of　Montezuma　might　not　seize　it。　　I　was　bound　by　an　oath；　after　the　peril　was　past；　to　restore　it　to　the　rightful　owners。　　But　our　country　remained　under　the　rule　of　the　conquerors；　and　my　life　went　out。　　But　now　the　conquerors　have　been　conquered　in　their　turn；　and　Miriam　is　the　last　inheritor　of　your　blood。　　When　I　have　delivered　to　her　this　trust；　my　work　will　be　done；　and　I　can　return　to　the　world　which　you　inhabit。　　The　time　is　come；　and　only　by　your　help　can　the　restitution　be　made。〃

〃Was　there；　then；　a　time　fixed？〃

〃The　stars　tell　me　so。　　And　other　events　make　it　certain　that　there　must　be　no　delay。　　The　general　has　it　in　mind　to　discover　the　gates　through　which　the　waters　under…ground　may　arise　and　again　form　the　sea　which　flowed　hereabouts　in　the　ancient　times。　　Now；　this　sea　will　fill　the　ravine　in　which　the　treasure　lies；　and　make　it　forever　unattainable。　　A　youth　has　also　come　here　who　is　skilled　in　the　sciences；　and　whom　the　general　will　ask　to　help　him　in　the　thing　he　is　to　attempt。〃

〃Who　is　this　youth？〃　asked　Semitzin。

〃He　is　of　the　new　people　who　inherit　this　land：　his　name　is　Freeman。〃

〃There　is　something　in　meI　know　not　whatthat　seems　to　tell　me　I　have　been　near　such　a　one。　　Can　it　be　so？〃

〃The　other　self；　who　now　sleeps；　knows　of　him；〃　replied　the　ancient　Indian。　　〃He　is　a　well…looking　youth；　and　I　think　he　has　a　desire　towards　her　we　call　Miriam。〃

〃And　does　she　love　him？〃　inquired　the　princess。

〃A　maiden's　heart　is　a　riddle；　even　to　herself；〃　said　Kamaiakan。

〃But　there　is　a　sympathy　that　makes　me　feel　her　heart　in　my　own；〃　rejoined　Semitzin。　　〃Love　is　a　thing　that　pierces　through　time；　and　through　barriers　which　separate　the　mind　and　memory　of　the　past　from　the　present。　　Ias　you　know；　Kamaiakanwas　never　wedded；　the　fate　of　our　people；　and　my　early　end；　kept　that　from　me。　　But　the　thought　of　that　youth　is　here；〃she　put　her　hand　on　her　bosom；〃and　it　seems　to　me　that；　were　we　to　meet；　I　should　know　him。　　Perhaps；　were　that　to　be；　Miriam　and　I　might　thus　come　to　be　aware　of　each　other；　and　live　henceforth　one　life。〃

〃Such　matters　are　beyond　my　knowledge；〃　said　the　Indian；　shaking　his　head。　　〃The　gods　know　what　will　be。　　It　is　for　us；　now；　to　regain　the　treasure。　　Are　you　willing；　my　princess；　to　accompany　me　thither？〃

〃I　am　ready。　　Shall　it　be　now？〃

〃Not　now；　but　soon。　　I　will　call　you　when　the　moment　comes。　　The　place　is　but　a　ride　of　two　or　three　hours　from　here。　　None　must　know　of　our　departure；　for　there　are　some　here　whom　I　do　not　trust。　　We　must　go　by　night。　　You　will　wear　the　garments　you　now　have　on；　without　which　all　might　miscarry。〃

〃How　can　the　garments　affect　the　result；　Kamaiakan？〃

〃A　powerful　spell　is　laid　upon　them；　princess。　　Moreover；　the　characters　wrought　upon　them；　with　gold　thread　and　jewels；　are　mystical；　and　the　substance　of　the　garment　itself　has　a　virtue　to　preserve　the　wearer　from　evil。　　It　is　the　same　that　was　worn　by　you　when　the　treasure　was　hidden；　and　it　may　be；　Semitzin；　that　without　its　magic　aid　your　spirit　could　not　know　itself　in　this　world　as　now　it　can。〃

As　he　spoke　the　last　words；　a　low　sound；　wandering　and　muttering　with　an　inward　note；　came　palpitating　on　their　ears　through　the　night　air。　　It　seemed　to　approach　from　no　direction　that　could　be　identified；　yet　it　was　at　first　remote；　and　then　came　nearer；　and　in　a　moment　trembled　around　them；　and　shivered　in　the　solid　earth　beneath　their　feet；　and　in　another　instant　it　had　passed　on；　and　was　subdued　slowly　into　silence　in　the　shadowy　distance。　　No　one　who　has　once　heard　that　sound　can　mistake　it　for　any　other；　or　ever　can　forget　it。　　The　air　had　suddenly　become　close　and　tense；　and　now　a　long　breeze　swept　like　a　sigh　through　the　garden；　dying　away　in　a　long…drawn　wail；　and　out　of　the　west　came　a　hollow　murmur；　like　that　of　a　mighty　wave　breaking　upon　the　shore　of　the　ocean。

〃The　earthquake！〃　whispered　Kamaiakan；　rising　to　his　feet。　　And　then　he　pointed　to　the　stone　basin。　　〃Look！　the　spring！〃

〃It　is　gone！〃　exclaimed　Semitzin。

And；　in　truth；　the　water；　with　a　strange；　sucking　noise；　disappeared　through　the　bottom　of　the　basin；　leaving　the　glistening　cavity　which　had　held　it；　green　with　slimy　water…weed；　empty。

〃The　time　is　near；　indeed！〃　muttered　the　Indian。　　〃The　second　shock　may　cause　the　waters　from　which　this　spring　came　to　rise　as　no　living　man　has　seen　them　rise；　and　make　the　sea　return；　and　the　treasure　be　lost。　　In　a　few　days　all　may　be　over。　　But　you；　princess；　must　vanish：　though　the　shock　was　but　slight；　some　one　might　be　awakened；　and　were　you　to　be　discovered；　our　plans　might　go　wrong。〃

〃Must　I　depart　so　soon？〃　said　Semitzin；　regretfully。　　〃The　earth　is　beautiful；　Kamaiakan：　the　smell　of　the　flowers　is　sweet；　and　the　stars　in　the　sky　are　bright。　　To　feel　myself　alive；　to　breathe；　to　walk；　to　see；　are　sweet。　　Perhaps　I　have　no　other　conscious　life　than　this。　　I　would　like　to　remain　as　I　am：　　I　would　like　to　see　the　sun　shine；　and　to　hear　the　birds　sing；　and　to　see　the　men　and　women　who　live　in　this　age。　　Is　there　no　way　of　keeping　me　here？〃

〃I　cannot　tell；　it　may　be；but　it　must　not　be　now；　Semitzin；〃　the　old　man　replied；　with　a　troubled　look。　　〃The　ways　of　the　gods　are　not　our　ways。　　She　whose　body　you　inhabitshe　has　her　life　to　live。〃

〃But　is　that　girl　more　worthy　to　live　than　I？　　You　have　called　me　into　being　again：　you　have　made　me　know　how　pleasant　this　world　is。　　Miriam　sleeps：　she　need　never　know；　she　need　never　awake　again。　　You　were　faithful　to　me　in　the　old　time：　have　you　more　care　for　her　than　for　me？　　I　feel　all　the　power　and　thirst　of　youth　in　me：　the　gods　did　not　let　me　live　out　my　life：　may　they　not　intend　that　I　shall　take　it　up　again　now？　　Besides；　I　wear　Miriam's　body：　could　I　not　seem　to　others　to　be　Miriam　indeed？　　How　could　they　guess　the　truth？〃

〃I　will　think　of　what　you　say；　princess；〃　said　Kamaiakan。　　〃Something　may　perhaps　be　done；　but　it　must　be　done　gradually：　you　would　need　much　instruction　in　the　ways　of　the　new　world　before　you　could　safely　enter　into　its　life。　　Leave　that　to　me。　　I　am　loyal　as　ever：　is　it　not　to　fulfil　the　oath　made　to　you　that　I　am　here？　and　what　would　Miriam　be　to　me；　were　she　not　your　inheritor？　　Be　satisfied　for　the　present：　in　a　few　days　we　will　meet　and　speak　again。〃

〃The　power　is　yours；　Kamaiakan：　it　is　well　to　argue；　when　with　a　word　you　can　banish　me　forever！　　Yet　what　if　I　were　to　say　that；　unless　you　consent　to　the　thing　I　desire；　I　will　not　show　you　where　the　treasure　lies？〃

〃Princess　Semitzin！〃　exclaimed　the　Indian；　〃remember　that　it　is　not　against　me；　but　against　the　gods；　that　you　would　contend。　　The　gods　know　that　I　have　no　care　for　treasure。　　But　they　will　not　forgive　a　broken　oath；　and　they　will　not　hold　that　one　guiltless　through　whom　it　is　brought　to　naught？〃

〃Well；　we　shall　meet　again；〃　answered　Semitzin；　after　a　pause。　　〃But　do　you　remember　that　you；　too；　are　not　free　from　responsibility　in　this　matter。　　You　have　called　me　back：　see　to　it　that　you　do　me　justice。〃　　She　waved　her　hands　with　a　gesture　of　adieu；　turned；　and　left　the　enclosure。　　Kamaiakan　sank　down　again　beside　the　empty　bowl　of　the　fountain。

Semitzin　returned　along　the　path　by　which　she　had　come；　towards　the　house。　　As　she　turned　round　one　of　the　corners；　she　saw　a　man's　figure　before　her；　strolling　slowly　along　in　the　same　direction　in　which　she　was　going。　　In　a　few　moments　he　heard　her　light　footfall；　and；　facing　about；　confronted　her。　　She　continued　to　advance　until　she　was　within　arm's　reach　of　him：　then　she　paused；　and　gazed　steadfastly　in　his　face。　　He　was　the　first　human　being；　save　Kamaiakan；　that　she　had　seen　since　her　eyes　closed　upon　the　world　of　Tenochtitlan；　three　hundred　years　before。

The　young　man　looked　upon　her　with　manifest　surprise。　　It　was　too　dark　to　distinguish　anything　clearly；　but　it　did　not　take　him　long　to　surmise　that　the　figure　was　that　of　a　woman；　and　her　countenance；　though　changed　in　aspect　by　the　head…dress　she　were；　yet　had　features　which；　he　knew；　he　had　seen　before。　　But　could　it　be　Miriam　Trednoke　who　was　abroad　at　such　an　hour　and　in　such　a　costume？　　He　did　not　recognize　the　Golden　Fleece；　but　it　was　evident　enough　that　she　was　c