rezanov-第39节
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e ugly country； often far ahead of his caravan； splash… ing through bogs and streams； fording rivers with… out ferries； camping at night in forests so dense the cold never escaped their embrace； muffled to the eyes in furs as he made his way past valleys whose eter… nal ice fields chilled the country for miles about； sometimes able to procure a little fresh milk and butter； oftener not； occasionally passing a caravan returning for furs； generally seeing nothing but a stray reindeer for hours together； once meeting the post and finding much for himself that in nowise dampened his spirit。
But on the eighth day the rains began： a fine steady mist； then in torrents as endless。 Wrapped in bearskins at night within the shelter of a tent or of some wayside hut； and closely covered by day； Rezanov at first merely cursed the inconvenience of the rain； but while crossing the river Allach Juni； his guides without consulting him having taken him miles out of his way in order to avoid the hamlet of the same name where the small…pox was raging； but where there was a government ferry； his horse lost his footing in the rapid； swollen current and fell。 Rezanov managed to retain his seat； and pulled the frightened； plunging beast to its feet while his Cos… sacks were still shouting their consternation。 But he was soaked to the skin； his personal luggage was in the same condition； and they did not reach a hut where a fire could be made until nine hours later。 It was then that the seeds of malaria； accumulated during the last three years in unsanitary ports and sown deep by exceptional hardships； but which he believed had taken themselves off during his six weeks in California； stirred more vigorously than in Sitka or Okhotsk。 He rode on the next day in a burning fever。 Jon； minding Langsdorff's instruc… tions； doctored himnot without difficultyfrom the medicine chest； and for a day or two the fever seemed broken。 But Jon； sick with apprehension； implored him to turn back。 He might as well have implored the sky to turn blue。
〃How do you think men accomplish things in this world？〃 asked Rezanov angrily。 〃By turning back and going to bed every time they have a mi… graine？〃
〃No； Excellency；〃 said the man humbly。 〃But health is necessary to the accomplishment of every… thing； and if the body is eaten up with fever〃
〃What are drugs for？ Give me the whole damned pharmacopeia if you choose； but don't talk to me about turning back。〃
〃Very well； Excellency；〃 said Jon； with a sigh。
The next day he and one of the Cossack guard caught him as he fell from his horse unconscious。 A Yakhut hut； miserable as it was； offered in the persistent downpour a better shelter than the tent。 They carried him into it； and his bedding at least was almost as luxurious as had he been in St。 Petersburg。 Jon； at his wits' end； remembered the' practice of Langsdorff in similar cases； and used the lancet； a heroic treatment he would never have accomplished had his master been conscious。 The fever ebbed； and in a few days Rezanov was able to continue the journey by shorter stages； although heavy with an intolerable lassitude。 But his will sustained him until he reached Yakutsk； not at the end of twenty…two days； but of thirty…three。 Here he succumbed immediately； and although his sick… bed was in the comfortable home of the agent of the Company； and he had medical attendance of a sort； his fever and convalescence lasted for eight weeks。 Then； in spite of the supplications of his friends； chief among whom was his faithful Jon； and the prohibition of the doctor； he began the sec… ond stage of his journey。
The road from Yakutsk to Irkutsk； some two thousand six hundred versts； or fifteen hundred and fifty English miles； lay for the most part alternately on and along the river Lena in a southeasterly di… rection； there being no attempt to cross Siberia at any point in a straight line。 By this time the river was frozen； and the only concession Rezanov would make to his enfeebled frame was an arrangement to cover the entire journey by private sledge instead of employing the swifter course of post sledge on the long stretches and horseback on the shorter cuts。
The weather was now intensely cold； the river winding； the delays many； but there were adequate stations for the benefit and accommodation of trav… elers every hundred versts or less。 Rezanov felt so invigorated by the long hours in the open after the barbarous closeness of his sick room； that at the end of a fortnight he was again possessed with all his old ardor of desire to reach the end of his jour… ney。 He vowed he was well again； abandoned his comfortable sledge； and pushed on in the common manner。 In the wretched post sledges he was often exposed to the full violence of a Siberian winter； and although the horseback exercise stirred his blood and refreshed him for the moment； he suffered in reaction and was several times forced to remain two nights instead of one at a station。 But he was muf… fled in sables to his very eyes； and the road was diverting； often beautiful； with its Gothic moun… tains； its white plains set with villages and farms； the high thin crosses above the open or swelling domes of the little churches。 Sometimes the Lena narrowed until its frozen surface looked like a mass of ice that had ground its way between perpendicu… lar walls or overhanging masses of rock that awaited the next convulsion of nature to close the pass alto… gether。 Then the dogs trotted past caves and grot… tos； left the abrupt and craggy banks； crossed level plains once more； where herds of cattle grazed in the summertime； now a vast uncheckered expanse of white。 The Government and Company agents fawned upon him； the best of horses and beds； food and wine； were eagerly placed at the disposal of the favorite of the Tsar。 Rezanov's spirit； always of the finest temper； suffered no eclipse for many days。 He reveled in the belief that his sorely tried body was regenerating its old vigors。
From Wercholensk to Katschuk the journey was so winding by river that it consumed more than twice the time of the land route； which although only thirty versts in extent was one of the most difficult in Siberia。 Rezanov chose the latter with… out hesitation； and would listen to no discussion from the Commissary of the little town or from his distracted Jon： the journey from Yakutsk had now lasted five weeks and the servant's watchful eye noted signs of exhaustion。
The hills were very high and very steep； the roads but a name in summer。 Had not the snow been soft and thin； the horses could not have made the ascent at all； and； as it was； the riders were forced to walk the greater part of the way and drag their unwilling steeds behind them。 They were twelve hours covering the thirty versts； and at Katschuk Rezanov succumbed for two days； while Jon scoured the country in search of a telega； as sometimes hap… pened there was a long stretch of country without snow； and sledges； by far the most comfortable method of travel in Siberia； could not be used。 The rest of the journey； but one hundred and ninety… six versts； must be made by land。 Rezanov admit… ted that he was too weary to ride； and refused to travel in the post carriage。 On the third day the servant managed to hire a telega from a superior farmer and they started immediately； the heavy lug… gage having been consigned to a merchant vessel at Yakutsk。
Rezanov stood the telega exactly half a day。 Little larger than an armchair and far lighter； it was drawn by horses that galloped up and down hill and across the intervening valleys with no change of gait； and over a road so rough that the little vehicle seemed to be propelled by a succession of earthquakes。 Rezanov； in a fever which he at… tributed to rage； dismissed the telega at a village and awaited the coming of Jon； who followed on horseback with the personal luggage。
It was a village of wooden houses built in the Russian fashion； and inhabited by a dignified tribe wearing long white garments bordered with fur。 They spoke Russian； a language little heard farther north and east in Siberia； and when Rezanov de… clined their hospitality they dispatched a courier at once to the Governor…General of Irkutsk acquaint… ing him with the condition of the Chamberlain and of his imminent arrival。 In consequence； when Rezanov drew rein two days later and looked down upon the city of Irkutsk with its pleasant squares and great stone buildings beside the shining river； the gilded domes and crosses of its thirty churches and convents glittering in the sun； the whole pic… ture beckoning to the delirious brain of the traveler like some mirage of the desert； his appearance was the signal for a salute from the fort； and the Gov… ernor…General； privy counselor and senator de Pestel； accompanied by the civil governor； the com… mandant； the archbishop； and a military escort； sal… lied forth and led the guest； with the formality of officials and the compassionate tenderness of men； into the capital。
For three weeks longer Rezanov lay in the pal… ace of the Governor。 Between fever and lassitude； his iron will seemed alternately to melt in the fiery furnace of his body； then； a cooling but still viscous and formless ma
