rezanov-第38节
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s ruling passion for many years before he met Concha Arguello； and； although it might mate very comfortably with love； it was not to be expected that it would remain submerged beyond the first enthusiasm； nor even assume the position of the 〃party of the second part。〃 Rezanov was Rezanov。 He was also in that interval between youth and age when the brain rules if it is ever to rule at all。 That the ardor of his nature had awakened refreshed after a long sleep was but just proved； as well as the revival of his early ideals and capacity for genu… ine love； but the complexities； the manifold inter… ests and desires of the ego had been growing and developing these many years； and no mere mortal that has given up his life for a considerable period to the thirst for dominance can ever； save in a brief exaltation； sacrifice it to anything so normal as the demands of sex and spirit。 For good or ill； the man who has burned with ambition； exulted in the exercise of power； bitterly resented the temporary victories of rivals and enemies； fought with all the resources of brain and character against failure； is in a class apart from humanity in the mass。 Reza… nov loved Concha Arguello to the very depths of his soul； but he had lived beyond the time when even she could engage successfully with the ruth… less forces that had molded into immutable shape the Rezanov she knew。 Her place was second； and it is probable that she would have loved him less had it been otherwise； she； in spite of her fine intel… lect and strong will； being all woman； as he； despite his depth of intuition； was all man。 Equality is possible in no relation or condition of life。 When woman subjugates man the conquered will enjoy a sense of revenge proportionate to the meanness of his state。
It is possible that had Concha awaited Rezanov in St。 Petersburg her attraction would have focused his desires irresistibly； but his mind had resigned itself to the prospect of separation for a definite period； and while it had not relegated her image to the background； her part in his life had been settled there among many future possibilities； and all the foreground was crowded with the impatient sym… bols of the intervening time。 Moreover； he well knew that the savor would be gone from his happi… ness with the woman were the taste of another fail… ure acrid in his mouth。
As he realized that the die was cast； the sanguine… ness of his temperament rushed to do battle against apprehension and self…accusing。 After all； he was rarely balked of his way； accustomed to ride down obstacles； to the amiable cooperation of fate。 He could arrive in Okhotsk late in September or early in October。 Captain D'Wolf； who had been de… tained at Sitka during his absence by the same in… difference that had operated against the completion of the Avos； would precede him and order that all be in readiness at Okhotsk both for the ships and his journey to Yakutsk。 He could proceed at once； and； no doubt； with twice the number or horses needed； would make the first and most difficult stage of the journey in the usual time； and with no great embarrassment from the rains。 From Yakutsk to Irkutsk the greater part of the travel was by water in any case； and after that the land was flat for the most part and bridges were more numerous。 The governor of every town in Siberia would be his obsequious servant； the entire resources of the country would be at his disposal。 He was sound in health again； as resistant against hardships as when he had sailed from Kronstadt。 And God knew； he thought with a sigh； his will and purpose had never been stronger。
XXVI
Rezanov disembarked from the Juno at Okhotsk during the first days of October。 Had it not been for a touch of fever that had returned in the filth and warm dampness of Sitka； he would have felt almost as buoyant in mind and body as in those days when California had gone to his head。 The Juno had touched at Kadiak； Oonalaska； and others of the more important settlements； and he had found his schools and libraries in good condition； seals and otters rapidly increasing； in their immunity from indiscriminate slaughter； new and stronger forts threatening the nefarious Bostonian and Bri… ton。 At Okhotsk he learned that the embassy of Count Golofkin to China had failed as signally as his own； and this alone would have put him in the best of tempers even had he not found his arma… ment and caravan awaiting him； facilitating his im… mediate departure。 He wrote a gay letter to Con… cha； giving her the painful story of the naturalist attached to the Golofkin embassy； Dr。 Redovsky； who had remained in the East animated by the same scientific enthusiasm as that of his colleague； the good Langsdorff； parted some time since from his too exacting master。 Rezanov had written Concha many letters during his detention in Sitka； and left them with Baranhov to send at the first opportun… ity。 The Chief…Manager； deeply interested in the romance of the mighty Chamberlain with whom he alone dared to take a liberty； vowed to guard all that came to his care and sooner or later to send them to California。 Rezanov had also written com… prehensively to the Tsar and the directors of the Russian…American Company； adroitly placing his marriage in the light of a diplomatic maneuver； and painting California in colors the more vivid and en… ticing for the sullen clouds and roaring winds； the dripping forests and eternal snows of that derelict corner of Earth where he had been stranded so long。 He had also； when Langsdorff announced his intention to start upon a difficult journey in the in… terest of science； provided him not only with letters of recommendation； but with all the comforts pro… curable in a land where the word comfort was the stock in trade of the local satirist。 But Langsdorff； although punctiliously acknowledging the favors； never quite forgave the indifference of a mere am… bassador and chamberlain； rejoicing in the dignity of an honorary membership in the St。 Petersburg Academy of Sciences； to the supreme division of natural history。
The first stage of the journeyfrom Okhotsk to Yakutskwas about six hundred and fifty English miles； not as the crow flew； but over the Stanovoi mountains in a southwesterly direction to the Maya； by this river's wavering course to the Youdoma； then northwest to the Aldan； and south beside the Lena。 The beaten track lay entirely alongside the rivers at this season； upon their surface in winter； and in addition to these great streams there were many too unimportant for the map； but as erratic in course and as irresistible in energy after the first rains of autumn。
Captain D'Wolf had proved himself capable and faithful； and a caravan of forty horses had been in Okhotsk a week； twenty for immediate use； twenty for relief； or substitutes in almost certain emer… gency。 As there were but one or two stations of any importance between Okhotsk and Yakutsk； and as a week might pass without the shelter of so much as a hut； it was necessary to take tents and bearskin beds for the Chamberlain； his Cossack guard； valet… de…chambre； cook and other servants； one set of fine blankets and linen； cooking utensils； axes； arms； tinder…boxes； provisions for the entire trip； besides a great quantity of personal luggage。
Rezanov lost no time。 He had changed his origi… nal plan and dispatched Davidov on the Avos from Oonalaska。 Guns and provisions awaited the Juno at Okhotsk； and in less than a week after his ar… rival Rezanov was able to start on his long journey with a mind at rest。 Although the almost extrava… gant delight that his body had taken in the com… forts of his manager's home； after ten weeks on the Juno； warned him that he might be in a better con… dition to begin a journey of ten thousand versts； he hearkened neither to the hint nor to the insistence of his host。 His impatient energy and stern will； combined with the passionate wish to accomplish the double object of his journey； returning in the least possible time to California with his treaty and the consent of the Pope and King to his marriage； would have carried him out of Okhotsk in forty… eight hours had disease declared itself。 Nor were there any inducements aside from a comfortable bed and refined fare； in the flat； unhealthy town with its everlasting rattle of chains； and the hideous physiognomies of criminals always at work to the rumbling accompaniment of Cossack oaths。
For the first week the exercise he loved best and the long days in the crisp open air renewed his vigor； and he even looked forward to the four months of what was then the severest traveling in the world； in a boyish spirit of adventure。 He re… flected that he might as well give his brain a relief from the constant revolving of schemes and plans for the advancement of his country； his company； and himself； and let his thoughts have their car… nival of anticipation with the unparalleled happiness and success that awaited him in the future。 There was no possible doubt of the acquiescence and assist… ance of the Tsar； and no man ever looked down a fairer perspective than he； as he galloped over the ugly country； often far ahead of his caravan； splash… ing through bogs and streams； fording rivers
