the golden fleece-第13章

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〃It　was　thus　that　we　rode　before；　Kamaiakan；〃　remarked　the　younger　of　the　two　travellers。　　〃Yonder　bright　star　stood　as　it　does　now；　and　the　hour　of　the　night　was　the　same。　　But　this　shaking　of　the　earth　makes　me　fear　for　the　safety　of　that　youth。　　The　sands　of　the　desert　may　have　swept　over　him；　or　he　may　have　perished　in　the　hills。〃

〃The　purposes　of　the　gods　cannot　be　altered；　Semitzin；〃　replied　the　old　Indian；　who　perhaps　would　not　have　much　regretted　such　a　calamity　as　she　suggested：　it　would　be　a　simple　solution　of　difficulties　which　might　otherwise　prove　embarrassing。　　〃It　is　my　prayer；　at　all　events；　that　the　entrance　to　the　treasure　may　not　be　closed。〃

〃I　care　nothing　for　the　treasure；　unless　I　may　share　it　with　him；〃　she　returned。　　〃Since　we　spoke　together　beside　the　fountain；　I　have　seen　him。　　He　looked　upon　me　doubtfully；　being；　perhaps；　perplexed　because　of　these　features　of　the　child　Miriam；　which　I　am　compelled　to　wear。〃

〃Truly；　princess；　what　is　he；　that　you　should　think　of　him？〃　muttered　Kamaiakan。

〃He　satisfies　my　heart；〃　was　the　reply。

〃And　I　am　resolved　never　again　to　give　up　this　mortal　habitation　to　her　you　call　its　rightful　owner。　　I　will　never　again　leave　this　world；　which　I　enjoy；　for　the　unknown　darkness　out　of　which　you　called　me。〃

〃Princess；　the　gods　do　not　permit　such　dealings。　　They　may；　indeed；　suffer　you　to　live　again；　but　you　must　return　as　an　infant；　in　flesh　and　bones　of　your　own。〃

〃The　gods　have　permitted　me　to　return　as　I　have　returned；　and　you　well　know；　Kamaiakan；　that；　except　you　use　your　art　to　banish　me　and　restore　Miriam；　there　is　nothing　else　that　can　work　a　change。〃

〃Murder　is　not　lawful；　Semitzin；　and　to　do　as　you　desire　would　be　an　act　not　different　from　murder。〃

〃On　my　head　be　it；　then！〃　exclaimed　the　princess。　　〃Would　it　be　less　a　murder　to　send　me　back　to　nothingness　than　to　let　her　remain　there？　　Mine　is　the　stronger　spirit；　and　has　therefore　the　better　right　to　live。　　I　ask　of　you　only　to　do　nothing。　　None　need　ever　know　that　Miriam　has　vanished　and　that　Semitzin　lives　in　her　place。　　I　wear　her　body　and　her　features；　and　I　am　content　to　wear　her　name　also；　if　it　must　be　so。〃

Kamaiakan　was　silent。　　He　may　well　be　pardoned　for　feeling　troubled　in　the　presence　of　a　situation　which　had　perhaps　never　before　confronted　a　human　being。　　Two　women；　both　tenants　of　the　same　body；　both　in　love　with　the　same　man；　and　therefore　rivals　of　each　other；　and　each　claiming　a　right　to　existence：　it　was　a　difficult　problem。　　The　old　Indian　heartily　wished　that　a　separate　tenement　might　be　provided　for　each　of　these　two　souls；　that　they　might　fight　out　their　quarrel　in　the　ordinary　way。　　But　his　magic　arts　did　not　extend　to　the　creation　of　flesh　and　blood。　　At　the　same　time；　he　could　not　but　feel　to　blame　for　having　brought　this　strenuous　spirit　of　Semitzin　once　more　into　the　world；　and　he　was　fain　to　admit　that　her　claim　was　not　without　justification。　　His　motives　had　been　excellent；　but　he　had　not　foreseen　the　consequences　in　which　the　act　was　to　land　him。　　Yet　he　more　shrank　from　wronging　Miriam　than　from　disappointing　Semitzin。

But　the　latter　was　not　to　be　put　off　by　silence。

〃There　has　been　a　change　since　you　and　I　last　spoke　together；〃　she　said。　　〃I　am　aware　of　it；　though　I　know　not　how；　but；　in　some　manner；　the　things　which　Miriam　has　done　are　perceptible　to　me。　　When　I　was　here　before；　she　did　but　lean　towards　this　youth；　now　she　has　given　herself　to　him。　　She　means　to　be　united　to　him；　and；　if　I　again　should　vanish；　I　should　never　again　find　my　way　back。　　But　it　shall　not　be　so；　and　there　is　a　way；　Kamaiakan；　by　which　I　can　surely　prevent　it；　even　though　you　refuse　to　aid　me。〃

〃Indeed；　princess；　I　think　you　mistake　regarding　the　love　of　Miriam　for　this　young　man；　they　have　seen　little　of　each　other；　and　it　may　be；　as　you　yourself　said；　that　he　has　perished　in　the　wilderness。〃

〃I　believe　he　lives；〃　she　answered：　　〃I　should　know　it；　were　it　otherwise。　　But　if　I　cannot　have　him；　neither　shall　she。　　I　have　told　you　already　that；　unless　you　swear　to　me　not　to　put　forth　your　power　upon　me　to　dismiss　me；　I　will　not　lead　you　to　the　treasure。　　But　that　is　not　enough；　for　men　deceive；　and　you　are　a　man。　　But　if　at　any　time　hereafter　I　feel　within　me　those　pangs　that　tell　me　you　are　about　to　separate　me　from　this　world；　at　that　moment；　Kamaiakan；　I　will　drive　this　knife　through　the　heart　of　Miriam！　　If　I　cannot　keep　her　body；　at　least　it　shall　be　but　a　corpse　when　I　leave　it。　　You　know　Semitzin；　and　you　know　that　she　will　keep　her　word！〃

She　reined　in　her　horse；　as　she　spoke；　and　sat　gazing　upon　her　companion　with　flashing　eyes。　　The　Indian；　after　a　pause；　made　a　gesture　of　gloomy　resignation。　　〃It　shall　be　as　you　say；　then；　Semitzin；　and　upon　your　head　be　it！　　Henceforth；　Miriam　is　no　more。　　But　do　you　beware　of　the　vengeance　of　the　gods；　whose　laws　you　have　defied。〃

〃Let　the　gods　deal　with　me　as　they　will；〃　replied　the　Aztecan。　　〃A　day　of　happiness　with　the　man　I　love　is　worth　an　age　of　punishment。〃

Kamaiakan　made　no　answer；　and　the　two　rode　forward　in　silence。

It　was　midnight；　and　a　bright　star；　nearly　in　the　zenith；　seemed　to　hang　precisely　above　the　summit　of　the　great　white　pyramid　at　the　mouth　of　the　gorge。

〃It　was　here　that　we　stopped；〃　observed　Semitzin。　　〃We　tied　our　horses　among　the　shrubbery　round　yonder　point。　　Thence　we　must　go　on　foot。　　Follow　me。〃

She　struck　her　heels　against　her　horse's　sides；　and　went　forward。　　The　long　ride　seemed　to　have　wearied　her　not　a　whit。　　The　lean　and　wiry　Indian　had　already　betrayed　symptoms　of　fatigue；　but　the　young　princess　appeared　as　fresh　as　when　she　started。　　Not　once　had　she　even　taken　a　draught　from　her　canteen；　and　yet　she　was　closely　clad；　from　head　to　foot；　in　the　doublet　and　leggings　of　the　Golden　Fleece。　　One　might　have　thought　it　had　some　magic　virtue　to　preserve　its　wearer's　vitality；　and　possibly；　as　is　sometimes　seen　in　trance；　the　energy　and　concentration　of　the　spirit　reacted　upon　the　body。

She　turned　the　corner　of　the　pyramid；　but　had　not　ridden　far　when　an　object　lying　in　her　path　caused　her　to　halt　and　spring　from　the　saddle。　　Kamaiakan　also　dismounted　and　came　forward。

The　dead　body　of　a　mustang　lay　on　the　ground；　crushed　beneath　the　weight　of　a　fragment　of　rock；　which　had　evidently　fallen　upon　it　from　a　height。　　He　had　apparently　been　dead　for　some　hours。　　He　was　without　either　saddle　or　bridle。

〃Do　you　know　him？〃　demanded　Semitzin。

〃It　is　Diego；〃　replied　Kamaiakan。　　〃I　know　him　by　the　white　star　on　his　muzzle。　　He　was　ridden　by　the　Senor　Freeman。　　They　must　have　come　here　before　the　earthquake。　　And　there　lie　the　saddle　and　the　bridle。　　But　where　is　Senor　Freeman？〃

〃He　can　be　nowhere　else　than　in　this　valley；〃　said　Semitzin；　confidently。　　〃I　knew　that　I　should　find　him　here。　　Through　all　the　centuries；　and　across　all　spaces；　we　were　destined　to　meet。　　His　horse　was　killed；　but　he　has　escaped。　　I　shall　save　him。　　Could　Miriam　have　done　this？　　Is　he　not　mine　by　right？〃

〃It　is　at　least　certain；　princess；〃　responded　the　old　man　rather　dryly；　〃that　had　it　not　been　for　Miriam　you　would　never　have　met　the　Senor　Freeman　at　all。〃

〃I　thank　her　for　so　much；　and　some　time；　perhaps；　I　will　reward　her　by　permitting　her　to　have　a　glimpse　of　him　for　an　hour；or；　at　least；　a　minute。　　But　not　now；　Kamaiakan；　not　till　I　am　well　assured　that　no　thought　but　of　me　can　ever　find　its　way　into　his　heart。　　Come；　let　us　go　forward。　　We　will　find　the　treasure；　and　I　will　give　it　to　my　lord　and　lover。〃

〃Shall　we　bring　the　pack…horse　with　us？〃　asked　the　Indian。

〃Yes；　if　he　can　find　his　way　among　these　rocks。　　The　earthquake　has　made　changes　here。　　See　how　the　water　pours　from　this　spring！　　It　has　already　made　a　stream　down　the　valley。　　It　shall　guide　us　whither　we　are　going。〃

Leaving　their　own　horses；　they　advanced　with　the　mule。　　But　the　trail；　rough　enough　at　best；　was　now　well…nigh　impassable。　　Masses　of　rock　had　fallen　from　above；　large　fissures　and　crevasses　had　been　formed　in　the　floor　of　the　gorge；　from　some　of　which　steaming　vapors　escaped；　while　others　gave　forth　streams　of　water。　　The　darkness　added　to　the　difficulties　of　the　way；　for；　although　the　sky　was　now　clear；　the　gloom　was　deceptive；　and　things　distant　seemed　near。　　Occasionally　a　heavy；　irregular　sound　would　break　the　stillness；　as　some　projection　of　a　cliff　became　loosened　and　tumbled　down　the　steep　declivity。

Semitzin；　however；　held　on　her　way　fearlessly　and　without　hesitation；　and　the　Indian；　with　the　pack…horse；　followed　as　best　he　might；　now　and　then　losing　sight　for　a　moment　of　the　slight；　grayish　figure　in　front　of　him。　　At　length　she　disappeared　behind　the　jutting　profile　of　a　great　promontory　which　formed　a　main　angle　of　the　gorge。　　When　he　came　up　with　her；　she　was　kneeling　beside　the　prostrate　form　of　a　man；　supporting　his　head　upon　her　knee。

Kamaiakan　approached；　and　looked　at　the　face　of　the　man；　which　was　pale；　the　eyes　were　closed。　　A　streak　of　blood；　from　a　wound　on　the　head；　descended　over　the　right　side　of　the　forehead。

〃Is　he　dead？〃　the　Indian　asked。

〃He　is　not　dead；〃　replied　Semitzin。　　〃A　flying　stone　has　struck　him；　but　his　heart　beats：　he　will　be　well　again。〃　　She　poured　some　water　from　her　canteen　over　his　face；　and　bent　her　ear　over　his　lips。　　〃He　breathes；〃　she　said。　　Slipping　one　arm　beneath　his　neck；　she　loosened　the　shirt　at　his　throat　and　then　stooped　and　kissed　him。　　〃Be　alive　for　me；　love；〃　she　murmured。　　〃My　life　is　yours。〃

This　exhortation　seemed　to　have　some　effect。　　The　man　stirred　slightly；　and　emitted　a　sigh。　　Presently　he　muttered；　〃I　can　lick　himyet！〃

〃He　will　live；　princess；〃　remarked　Kamaiakan。　　〃But　where　is　the　treasure？〃

〃My　treasure　is　here！〃　was　her　reply；　and　again　she　bent　to　kiss　the　half…conscious　man；　who　knew　not　of　his　good　fortune。　　After　an　interval　she　added；　〃It　is　in　the　hollow　beneath　that　archway。　　Go　down　three　paces：　on　the　wall　at　the　left　you　will　feel　a　ring。　　Pull　it　outwards；　and　the　stone　will　give　way。　　Behind　it　lies　the　chest　in　which　the　jewels　are。　　But　remember　your　promise！〃

Kamaiakan　peered　into　the　hollow；　shook　his　head　as　one　who　loves　not　his　errand；　and　stepped　in。　　The　black　shadow　swallowed　him　up。　　Semitzin　paid　no　further　attention　to　him；　but　was　absorbed　in　ministering　to　her　patient；　whose　strength　was　every　moment　being　augmented；　though　he　was　not　yet　aware　of　his　position。　　But　all　at　once　a　choking　sound　came　from　within　the　cave；　and　in　a　few　moments　Kamaiakan　staggered　up　out　of　the　shadow；　and　sank　down　across　the　threshold　of　the　arch。

〃Semitzin；〃　he　gasped；　in　a　faint　voice；　〃the　curse　of　the　gods　is　upon　the　spot！　　The　air　within　is　poisonous。　　It　withers　the　limbs　and　stops　the　breath。　　No　one　may　touch　the　treasure　and　live。　　Let　us　go！〃

〃The　gods　do　not　love　those　who　fear；〃　replied　the　princess；　contemptuously。　　〃But　the　treasure　is　mine；　and　it　may　well　be　that　no　other　hand　may　touch　it。　　Fold　that　blanket；　and　lay　it　beneath　his　head。　　I　will　bring　the　jewels。〃

〃Do　not　attempt　it：　it　will　be　death！〃　exclaimed　the　old　man。

〃Shall　a　princess　come　to　her　lover　empty…handed？　　Do　you　watch　beside　him　while　I　go。　　Ah；　if　your　Miriam　were　here；　I　would　not　fear　to　have　him　choose　between　us！