rezanov-第3章
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allop over the hill behind the fort to the more ambitious enclosure； and； in the square； confer with another group that seemed to be in a corresponding state of excitement。 A few moments later a deputation of officers； accompanied by a priest in the brown habit of the Franciscan order； started on horseback for the beach。 Rezanov or… dered Lieutenant Davidov and Dr。 Langsdorff to the shore as his representatives。
The Spaniards wore the undress uniform of black and scarlet in which they had been surprised； but their peaked straw hats were decorated with cords of gold or silver； the tassels hanging low on the broad brim； their high deer…skin boots were gaily embroidered； and bristled with immense silver spurs。 The commanding officer alone had invested himself with a gala serape； a square of red cloth with a bound and embroidered slit for the head。 Leading the rapid procession； his left hand resting significantly on his sword； he was a fine specimen of the young California grandee； dark and dashing and reckless； lithe of figure； thoroughbred； ardent。 His eyes were sparkling at the prospect of excite… ment； not only had the Russians； by their nefarious appropriation of the northwestern corner of the continent and a recent piratical excursion in pursuit of otter； inspired the Spanish Government with a profound disapproval and mistrust； but a rumor had run up the coast that made every sea…gull look like the herald of a hostile fleet。 This was young Arguello's first taste of command； and life was dull on the northern peninsula； he would have wel… comed a declaration of war。
Davidov and Langsdorff had come to shore in one of the JUNO'S canoes。 The conversation was held in Latin between the two men of learning。
〃Who are you and whence come you？〃 asked the priest。
Langsdorff； who had been severely drilled by the plenipotentiary as to text； replied with a profound bow： 〃We are Russians engaged in completing the circumnavigation of the globe。 It was our inten… tion to go directly to Monterey and present our offi… cial documents； as well as our respects； to your illus… trious Governor； but owing to contrary winds and a resultant scarcity of provisions； we were under the necessity of putting into the nearest harbor。 The Juno is navigated by Lieutenant Davidov and Lieutenant Khovstov； of the Imperial Navy of Rus… sia； by gracious permission associated with the Ma… rine of the Russo…American Company。〃 He paused a moment； and then swept out his trump card with a magnificent flourish： 〃Our expedition is in com… mand of His Excellency； Privy Counsellor and Grand Chamberlain Baron Rezanov； late Ambas… sador to the Court of Japan； Plenipotentiary of the Russo…American Company； Imperial Inspector of the extreme eastern and northwestern American dominions of His Imperial Majesty； Alexander the First； Emperor of all the Russias； whose representa… tives in these waters he is。〃
The Spaniards were properly impressed as the priest translated with the glibness of the original； but Arguello； who announced himself as Com… mandante ad interim of the Presidio of San Fran… cisco during the absence of his father at Monterey； nodded sagely several times； and then held a short conference in Spanish with the interpreter。 The priest turned to the Russians with a smile as diplo… matic as that which Rezanov had drilled upon the ugly ingenuous countenance of his medicine man。
〃Our illustrious Governor； Don Jose Arrillaga； received word from the court of Spain； now quite two years ago； of the sailing in 1803 from Kron… stadt of the ships Nadeshda and Neva； in command of Captain Krusenstern and Captain Lisiansky； the former having on board the illustrious Ambassador to Japan； the Privy Counsellor and Chamberlain de Rezanov。 It was expected that these ships would touch at more than one of His Most Holy Catholic Majesty's vast dominions； and all viceroys and gobernador proprietarios were alike instructed to re… ceive the exalted representatives of the mighty Em… peror of Russia with hospitality and respect。 But we cannot understand why his excellency comes to us so late and in so small a ship； rather than in the state with which he sailed from Europe。〃
〃The explanation is simple； my father。 The original ships； from a variety of circumstances； were； upon our arrival at Kamchatka； at the con… clusion of the embassy to Japan； under the neces… sity of returning at once to Europe。 His Imperial Majesty； Alexander the First； ordered the Cham… berlain and plenipotentiary； the representative of imperial power in the Russo…American possessions； to remove to the Juno for the purpose of visiting the Kurile and Aleutian Islands； Kadiak and the northwestern coast of America。〃 The Tsar had never heard of the Juno； but as Rezanov was prac… tically his august self in these far…away waters； there was enough of truth in this statement to ap… pease the conscience of a subordinate。
The Spaniards were satisfied。 Lieutenant Ar… guello begged that the emissaries would return to the ship and invite the Chamberlain and his party to come at once to the Presidio and do it the honor to partake of the poor hospitality it afforded。 An officer galloped furiously for horses。
A few moments later they were still more deeply impressed by the appearance of their distinguished visitor as he stood erect in the boat that brought him to shore。 In full uniform of dark green and gold lace； with cocked hat and the splendid order of St。 Ann on his breast； Rezanov was by far the finest specimen of a man the Californians； themselves of ampler build than their European ancestors； had ever beheld。 Of commanding stature and physique； with an air of highest breeding and repose； he looked both a man of the great world and an intol… erant leader of men。 His long oval face was thin and somewhat lined； the mouth heavily moulded and closely set； suggestive of sarcasm and humor； the nose long； with arching and flexible nostrils。 His eyes； seldom widely opened； were light blue； very keen； usually cold。 Like many other men of his position in Europe； he had discarded wig and queue and wore his short fair hair unpowdered。
It was a singularly imposing but hardly attractive presence； thought young Arguello； until Rezanov； after stepping on shore and bowing formally； sud… denly smiled and held out his hand。 Then the im… pressionable Spaniard 〃melted like a woman；〃 as he told his sister； Concha； and would have embraced the stranger on either cheek had not awe lingered to temper his enthusiasm。 But Rezanov never made a stauncher friend than Louis Arguello； who vowed to the last of his days that the one man who had fulfilled his ideal of the grand seigneur was he that sailed in from the North on that fateful April morning of 1806。
II
As Rezanov； heading the procession with young Arguello； entered the wide gates of the Presidio； he received an impression memorably different from that which led earlier travelers to describe it in… clemently as a large square surrounded by mud houses； thatched with reeds。 It is true that the walls were of adobe and the roofs of tule； nor was there a tree on the sand hills encircling the stronghold。 But in this early springtimethe summer of the peninsulathe hills showed patches of verdure； and all the low white buildings were covered by a net… work of soft dull green and archaic pink。 The Cas… tilian rose； full and fluted； and of a chaste and pene… trating fragrance； hung singly and in clusters on the pillars of the dwellings； on the barracks and chapel； from the very roofs； bloomed upon bushes as high as young trees。 The Presidio was as delicately per… fumed as a lady's bower； and its cannon faced the ever…changing hues of water and island and hill。
As the party approached； heads of all ages ap… peared between the vines； and there was a low mur… mur of irrepressible curiosity and delight。
〃We do not see many strangers in this lonely land；〃 said Arguello apologetically。 〃And never before have we had so distinguished a guest as your excellency。 It was always a gala day when ever a Boston skipper came in with a few bales of goods and a complexion like the hides we sold him。 Now； alas！ they are no longer permitted to enter our ports。 Governor Arri
