the golden fleece-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃We　know　that　the　ancient　Aztecan　priests　were　adepts　in　magic；〃　observed　the　professor；　〃and　it's　natural　that　some　of　their　learning　should　have　descended　to　their　posterity。　　We　have　been　clever　in　giving　names　to　such　phenomena；　but　we　know　perhaps　even　less　about　their　esoteric　meaning　than　the　Aztecans　did。　　I　should　judge　that　Miriam　would　be　what　is　called　a　good　'subject。'　　Kamaiakan　discovered　that　fact；　and　as　for　what　followed；　we　can　only　infer　it　from　the　results。　　I　was　always　an　admirer　of　Kamaiakan；　but　I　must　say　I　am　the　better　resigned　to　his　departure；　from　the　reflection　that　Miriam　will　henceforth　be　undisturbed　in　the　possession　of　her　own　individuality。〃

〃As　near　as　I　could　make　out；　she　called　herself　Semitzin；〃　put　in　Freeman。

〃Semitzin？〃　repeated　the　general。　　〃Why；　if　I'm　not　mistaken；　there　are　accounts　of　an　Aztecan　princess　of　that　name；　an　ancestress　of　my　wife's　family；　in　some　old　documents　that　I　have　in　a　box；　at　home。〃

〃That　would　only　add　the　marvel　of　heredity　to　the　other　marvels；〃　said　Meschines。　　〃Suppose　we　leave　the　things　we　can't　understand；　and　come　to　those　we　can？〃

〃I　have　something　to　say；　General　Trednoke；〃　said　Freeman。

〃I　think　I　have　already　guessed　what　it　may　be；　Mr。　Freeman；〃　returned　the　general；　gravely。　　〃Old　people　have　eyes；　and　hearts　too；　as　well　as　young　ones。〃

〃Come；　Trednoke；〃　interposed　the　professor；　with　a　chuckle；　〃your　eyes　might　not　have　seen　so　much；　if　I　hadn't　held　the　lantern。〃

〃I　love　your　daughter；　and　I　told　her　so　yesterday　morning；〃　went　on　Freeman；　after　a　pause。　　〃I　meant　to　tell　you　on　my　return。　　I　know　I　don't　appear　desirable　as　a　son…in…law。　　But　I　came　here　on　a　commission〃

〃Meschines　and　I　have　talked　it　all　over；〃　the　general　said。　　〃When　an　old　West…Pointer　and　a　professor　of　physics　get　together；　they　are　sometimes　able　to　put　two　and　two　together。　　And；　to　tell　the　truth；　I　received　a　letter　from　a　member　of　your　syndicate；　who　is　also　an　acquaintance　of　mine；　which　explained　your　position。　　Under　the　circumstances；　I　consider　your　course　to　have　been　honorable。　　You　and　I　were　both　in　search　of　the　same　thing；　and　now；　as　it　appears；　nature　has　sent　an　earthquake　to　do　our　affair　for　us。　　No　operations　of　ours　could　have　achieved　such　a　result　as　last　night's　disturbance　did；　and　if　that　do　not　prove　effective；　nothing　else　will。〃

〃If　it　turns　out　well；　I　was　promised　a　share　in　the　benefits；〃　said　Freeman；　〃and　that　would　put　me　in　a　rather　better　condition；　from　a　worldly　point　of　view。〃

〃After　all；〃　interrupted　Meschines；　〃you　found　your　way　to　the　spot　from　which　the　waters　broke　forth；　and　may　fairly　be　entitled　to　the　credit　of　the　discovery。Eh；　Trednoke？　　At　any　rate；　we　found　nothing。　　Yes；　I　think　they'll　have　to　admit　you　to　partnership；　Harvey：　and　Miriam　too；　who；　by　the　way；　seems　to　be　the　only　one　who　actually　penetrated　into　this　cave　you　speak　of。　　Maybe　the　removal　of　the　chest　pulled　the　plug　out　of　the　bung…hole；　as　it　were：　the　escape　of　confined　air　through　such　a　vent　would　be　apt　to　draw　water　along　with　it。　　By　the　way；　let's　have　a　look　at　this　same　chest：　it　looks　solid　enough　to　hold　something　valuable。〃

〃I　would　like；　in　the　first　place；　to　hear　what　General　Trednoke　has　to　say　about　what　I　have　told　him；〃　said　Freeman；　clearing　his　throat。

〃Miriam；〃　said　the　general；　〃do　you　wish　to　be　married　to　this　young　man？〃

The　old　soldier　was　sitting　with　her　hand　in　his；　and　he　turned　to　her　as　he　spoke。　　She　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck；　and　pressed　her　face　against　his　shoulder。　　〃He　is　to　me　what　you　were　to　mamma；〃　she　said；　so　that　only　he　could　hear。

〃Then　be　to　him　what　she　was　to　me；〃　answered　the　general；　kissing　her。　　〃Ah　me；　little　girl！　　I　am　old；　but　perhaps　this　is　the　right　way　for　me　to　grow　young　again。　　Well；　if　you　are　of　the　same　mind　six　months　hence〃

〃Worse；　it　will　be　much　worse；　then；〃　murmured　the　professor。　　〃Better　make　it　three。〃

The　chest　was　made　of　some　alloy　of　steel　and　nickel；　impervious　to　rust；　and　very　hard。　　It　resisted　all　gentle　methods　of　attack；　and　it　was　finally　found　necessary　to　force　the　lock　with　a　charge　of　powder。　　Within　was　found　another　case；　which　was　pried　open　with　the　point　of　the　general's　bowie…knife。

It　was　filled　to　the　brim　with　precious　stones；　most　of　them　removed　from　their　settings。　　But　such　of　the　gold…work　as　remained　showed　the　jewels　to　be　of　ancient　Aztecan　origin。　　There　was　value　enough　in　the　box　to　buy　and　stock　a　dozen　ranches　as　big　as　the　general's；　and　leave　heirlooms　enough　to　decorate　a　family　larger　than　that　of　the　most　fruitful　of　the　ancient　patriarchs。

〃I　call　that　quite　a　respectable　dowry；〃　remarked　Meschines。　　〃Upon　my　soul；　Miriam；　if　I　had　known　what　you　had　up　your　sleeve；　I　should　have　thought　twice　before　allowing　a　'civil　engineer'do　you　remember？to　run　off　with　you　so　easily。〃


At　dawn；　they　prepared　the　body　of　old　Kamaiakan　for　its　interment。　　In　doing　this；　the　professor　noted　the　peculiar　appearance　of　the　corpse。

〃The　flesh　is　absolutely　withered；〃　said　he；　〃especially　those　parts　which　were　uncovered。　　It　must　have　been　subjected　to　the　action　of　some　destructive　vapor　or　gas；　fatal　not　only　to　breathe；　but　to　come　in　contact　with。　　I　have　heard　of　poisonous　emanations　proceeding　from　the　ground　in　these　regions；　but　I　never　saw　an　instance　of　their　effects　before。　　That　skull　that　you　say　you　found；　Harvey；　was　probably　that　of　a　victim　of　the　same　cause。　　But　it　is　strange　that　Miriam；　who　must　have　remained　some　time　in　the　very　midst　of　it；　should　have　escaped　without　a　mark；　or　even　any　inconvenience。〃

〃Kamaiakan　ascribed　it　to　the　magic　of　the　Golden　Fleece；〃　said　Freeman。

〃Well；〃　rejoined　the　other；　〃he　may　have　been　right；　but；　for　my　part；　the　only　magic　that　I　can　find　in　it　lies　in　the　fact　that　it　is　made　of　pure　wool；　which　undoubtedly　possesses　remarkable　sanative　properties；　or　maybe　the　fiery　soul　of　Semitzin　was　powerful　enough　to　repel　all　harmful　influences。　　The　poor　old　fellow　himself；　being　clad　in　cotton；　and　with　no　soul　but　his　own；　was　destroyed。　　Let　us　wrap　him　in　his　blanket；　and　bid　him　farewelland　with　him；　I　hope；　to　all　that　is　uncanny　and　abnormal　in　the　lives　of　you　young　folks！〃


The　last　rites　having　been　paid　to　the　dead；　the　party　mounted　their　horses　and　rode　out　of　the　gorge　on　to　the　long　levels　of　the　desert。

〃Who　come　yonder？〃　said　Freeman。

〃A　couple　of　Mexicans；　I　think；〃　said　the　general。

〃One　of　them　is　a　woman；〃　said　Meschines。

〃They　look　very　weary；〃　remarked　Freeman。

Miriam　fixed　her　eyes　on　the　approaching　pair　for　a　moment；　and　then　said；　〃They　are　Senor　de　Mendoza　and　Grace　Parsloe。〃

And　so；　indeed；　they　were；　and　thus；　in　this　lonely　spot；　all　the　dramatis　personae　of　this　history　found　themselves　united。

In　answer　to　the　obvious　question；　how　Grace　and　De　Mendoza　happened　to　be　there；　it　transpired　that；　left　to　their　own　devices；　they　had　undertaken　no　less　an　enterprise　than　to　discover　the　hidden　treasure。　　Grace　had　communicated　to　the　Mexican　such　bits　of　information　as　she　had　picked　up　and　such　surmises　as　she　had　formed；　and　he　had　been　able　to　supplement　her　knowledge　to　an　extent　that　seemed　to　justify　them　in　attempting　the　adventure；　not　to　mention　the　fact　that　Don　Miguel　（such　was　the　ardor　of　his　sentiment　for　Grace）　would；　had　she　desired　it；　have　gone　with　her　into　a　fiery　furnace　or　a　den　of　lions。　　Grace；　who　was　ambitious　as　well　as　romantic；　and　who　longed　for　the　power　and　independence　that　wealth　would　give；　was　all　alight　with　the　idea　of　capturing　the　hoard　of　Montezuma：　her　social　position　would　be　altered　at　a　stroke；　and　the　world　would　be　at　her　feet。　　Whether　she　would　then　have　rewarded　Don　Miguel　for　his　devotion；　is　possibly　open　to　doubt：　the　sudden　acquisition　of　boundless　wealth　has　been　known　to　turn　larger　heads　than　hers。　　Fortunately；　however；　this　temptation　was　withheld　from　her：　so　far　from　finding　the　treasure；　she　and　Don　Miguel　very　soon　lost　themselves　in　the　desert；　and　had　been　wandering　about　ever　since；　dolely　uncomfortable；　and　in　no　small　danger　of　losing　their　lives。　　They　were　already　at　the　end　of　their　last　resource　when　they　happened　to　encounter　the　other　party；　as　we　have　seen；　and　immeasurable　was　their　joy　at　the　unlooked…for　deliverance。　　So　there　was　another　halt；　to　enable　them　to　rest　and　recuperate；　and　it　was　not　until　the　evening　of　that　day　that　the　journey　was　finally　resumed。

Meanwhile；　Grace　had　time　to　think　over　all　that　happened；　and　to　arrive　at　certain　conclusions。　　She　was　at　bottom　a　good　girl；　though　liable　to　be　led　away　by　her　imagination；　her　vanity；　and　her　temperament。　　Don　Miguel's　best　qualities　had　revealed　themselves　to　her　in　the　desert：　he　had　always　thought　of　her　before　himself；　had　done　all　that　in　him　lay　to　save　her　from　fatigue　and　suffering；　and　had　stuck　to　her　faithfully　when　he　might　perhaps　have　increased　his　own　chances　of　escape　by　abandoning　her。　　Did　not　such　a　man　deserve　to　be　rewarded？especially　as　he　was　a　handsome　fellow；　of　good　family；　and　possessed　of　quite　a　respectable　income。　　Moreover；　Harvey　Freeman　was　now　beyond　her　reach：　he　was　going　to　marry　Miriam；　and　she　had　realized　that　her　own　brief　infatuation　for　him　had　had　no　very　deep　root　after　all。　　Accordingly；　she　smiled　encouragingly　upon　Don　Miguel；　and　before　they　set　out　on　their　homeward　ride　she　had　vouchsafed　him　the　bliss　of　knowing　that　he　might　call　her　his。

The　general；　as　her　guardian；　did　not　withhold　his　approval；　but　when　Grace　drew　him　aside　and　besought　him　never　to　reveal　to　her　intended　the　fact　that　she　had　once　been　a　shop…girl；　the　old　warrior　smiled。

〃You　can　depend　upon　me　to　keep　your　secret；　if　you　wish　it；　my　dear；〃　said　he；　〃but　I　warn　you　that　such　concealments　between　husband　and　wife　are　not　wise。　　He　loves　you　and　would　only　love　you　the　more　for　your　frankness　in　confessing　what　you　seem　to　consider　a　discreditable　episode：　though　I　for　my　part　am　free　to　tell　you　that　you　will　be　lucky　if　your　future　life　affords　you　the　opportunity　of　doing　anything　else　so　much　to　your　credit。　　But　the　chances　are　that　he　will　find　it　out　sooner　or　later；　and　that　may　not　be　so　agreeable；　either　to　him　or　to　you。　　Better　tell　him　all　now。〃

But　Grace　pictured　to　herself　the　aristocratic　pride　of　an　hidalgo　shocked　by　the　suggestion　of　the　plebeianism　of　trade；　and　she　would　not　consent　to　the　revelation。　　But　the　general's　prediction　was　fulfilled　sooner　than　might　have　been　expected。

For；　after　they　were　married；　Don　Miguel　decided　to　visit　the　Atlantic　coast　on　the　wedding　journey；　and　one　of　the　first　notable　places　they　reached　was；　of　course；　New　York。　　Don　Miguel　was　delighted；　and　was　never　weary　of　strolling　up　Fifth　Avenue　and　down　Broadway；　with　his　beautiful　wife　on　his　arm。　　He　marvelled　at　the　vast　white　pile　of　the　Fifth　Avenue　Hotel；　he　frowned　at　the　Worth　Monument；　he　stared　inexhaustibly　into　the　shop…windows；　he　exclaimed　with　admiration　at　the　stupendous　piles　of　masonry　which　contained　the　goods　of　New　York's　merchant　princes。　　It　seemed　to　be　his　opinion　that　the　possessors　of　so　much　palpable　wealth　must　be　the　true　aristocracy　of　the　country。

And　one　af