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！
〃To you only； Semitzin； is known the place of concealment of the treasure which； in the old times； you and I hid in the desert。 I indeed remember the event； and somewhat of the region of the hiding； but I cannot put my hand upon the very spot。 I have tried to discover it； but when I approach it my mind becomes confused between the present and the past； and I am lost。〃
〃I remember it well；〃 said Semitzin。 〃We rode across the desert； carrying the treasure on mules。 The air was still； and the heat very heavy。 The desert descended in a great hollow： you told me it was where； in former days； the ocean had been。 At last there were rocky hills before us； we rode towards a great rock shaped like the pyramid on which the sacrifices were held in Tenochtitlan。 We passed round its base； and entered a deep and narrow valley； that seemed to have been ploughed out of the heart of the earth and to descend into it。 Then But what is it you wish to do with this treasure； Kamaiakan？〃
〃It belongs to your race； princess； and was hidden that the murderers of Montezuma might not seize it。 I was bound by an oath； after the peril was past； to restore it to the rightful owners。 But our country remained under the rule of the conquerors； and my life went out。 But now the conquerors have been conquered in their turn； and Miriam is the last inheritor of your blood。 When I have delivered to her this trust； my work will be done； and I can return to the world which you inhabit。 The time is come； and only by your help can the restitution be made。〃
〃Was there； then； a time fixed？〃
〃The stars tell me so。 And other events make it certain that there must be no delay。 The general has it in mind to discover the gates through which the waters under…ground may arise and again form the sea which flowed hereabouts in the ancient times。 Now； this sea will fill the ravine in which the treasure lies； and make it forever unattainable。 A youth has also come here who is skilled in the sciences； and whom the general will ask to help him in the thing he is to attempt。〃
〃Who is this youth？〃 asked Semitzin。
〃He is of the new people who inherit this land： his name is Freeman。〃
〃There is something in meI know not whatthat seems to tell me I have been near such a one。 Can it be so？〃
〃The other self； who now sleeps； knows of him；〃 replied the ancient Indian。 〃He is a well…looking youth； and I think he has a desire towards her we call Miriam。〃
〃And does she love him？〃 inquired the princess。
〃A maiden's heart is a riddle； even to herself；〃 said Kamaiakan。
〃But there is a sympathy that makes me feel her heart in my own；〃 rejoined Semitzin。 〃Love is a thing that pierces through time； and through barriers which separate the mind and memory of the past from the present。 Ias you know； Kamaiakanwas never wedded； the fate of our people； and my early end； kept that from me。 But the thought of that youth is here；〃she put her hand on her bosom；〃and it seems to me that； were we to meet； I should know him。 Perhaps； were that to be； Miriam and I might thus come to be aware of each other； and live henceforth one life。〃
〃Such matters are beyond my knowledge；〃 said the Indian； shaking his head。 〃The gods know what will be。 It is for us； now； to regain the treasure。 Are you willing； my princess； to accompany me thither？〃
〃I am ready。 Shall it be now？〃
〃Not now； but soon。 I will call you when the moment comes。 The place is but a ride of two or three hours from here。 None must know of our departure； for there are some here whom I do not trust。 We must go by night。 You will wear the garments you now have on； without which all might miscarry。〃
〃How can the garments affect the result； Kamaiakan？〃
〃A powerful spell is laid upon them； princess。 Moreover； the characters wrought upon them； with gold thread and jewels； are mystical； and the substance of the garment itself has a virtue to preserve the wearer from evil。 It is the same that was worn by you when the treasure was hidden； and it may be； Semitzin； that without its magic aid your spirit could not know itself in this world as now it can。〃
As he spoke the last words； a low sound； wandering and muttering with an inward note； came palpitating on their ears through the night air。 It seemed to approach from no direction that could be identified； yet it was at first remote； and then came nearer； and in a moment trembled around them； and shivered in the solid earth beneath their feet； and in another instant it had passed on； and was subdued slowly into silence in the shadowy distance。 No one who has once heard that sound can mistake it for any other； or ever can forget it。 The air had suddenly become close and tense； and now a long breeze swept like a sigh through the garden； dying away in a long…drawn wail； and out of the west came a hollow murmur； like that of a mighty wave breaking upon the shore of the ocean。
〃The earthquake！〃 whispered Kamaiakan； rising to his feet。 And then he pointed to the stone basin。 〃Look！ the spring！〃
〃It is gone！〃 exclaimed Semitzin。
And； in truth； the water； with a strange； sucking noise； disappeared through the bottom of the basin； leaving the glistening cavity which had held it； green with slimy water…weed； empty。
〃The time is near； indeed！〃 muttered the Indian。 〃The second shock may cause the waters from which this spring came to rise as no living man has seen them rise； and make the sea return； and the treasure be lost。 In a few days all may be over。 But you； princess； must vanish： though the shock was but slight； some one might be awakened； and were you to be discovered； our plans might go wrong。〃
〃Must I depart so soon？〃 said Semitzin； regretfully。 〃The earth is beautiful； Kamaiakan： the smell of the flowers is sweet； and the stars in the sky are bright。 To feel myself alive； to breathe； to walk； to see； are sweet。 Perhaps I have no other conscious life than this。 I would like to remain as I am： I would like to see the sun shine； and to hear the birds sing； and to see the men and women who live in this age。 Is there no way of keeping me here？〃
〃I cannot tell； it may be；but it must not be now； Semitzin；〃 the old man replied； with a troubled look。 〃The ways of the gods are not our ways。 She whose body you inhabitshe has her life to live。〃
〃But is that girl more worthy to live than I？ You have called me into being again： you have made me know how pleasant this world is。 Miriam sleeps： she need never know； she need never awake again。 You were faithful to me in the old time： have you more care for her than for me？ I feel all the power and thirst of youth in me： the gods did not let me live out my life： may they not intend that I shall take it up again now？ Besides； I wear Miriam's body： could I not seem to others to be Miriam indeed？ How could they guess the truth？〃
〃I will think of what you say； princess；〃 said Kamaiakan。 〃Something may perhaps be done； but it must be done gradually： you would need much instruction in the ways of the new world before you could safely enter into its life。 Leave that to me。 I am loyal as ever： is it not to fulfil the oath made to you that I am here？ and what would Miriam be to me； were she not your inheritor？ Be satisfied for the present： in a few days we will meet and speak again。〃
〃The power is yours； Kamaiakan： it is well to argue； when with a word you can banish me forever！ Yet what if I were to say that； unless you consent to the thing I desire； I will not show you where the treasure lies？〃
〃Princess Semitzin！〃 exclaimed the Indian； 〃remember that it is not against me； but against the gods； that you would contend。 The gods know that I have no care for treasure。 But they will not forgive a broken oath； and they will not hold that one guiltless through whom it is brought to naught？〃
〃Well； we shall meet again；〃 answered Semitzin； after a pause。 〃But do you remember that you； too； are not free from responsibility in this matter。 You have called me back： see to it that you do me justice。〃 She waved her hands with a gesture of adieu； turned； and left the enclosure。 Kamaiakan sank down again beside the empty bowl of the fountain。
Semitzin returned along the path by which she had come； towards the house。 As she turned round one of the corners； she saw a man's figure before her； strolling slowly along in the same direction in which she was going。 In a few moments he heard her light footfall； and； facing about； confronted her。 She continued to advance until she was within arm's reach of him： then she paused； and gazed steadfastly in his face。 He was the first human being； save Kamaiakan； that she had seen since her eyes closed upon the world of Tenochtitlan； three hundred years before。
The young man looked upon her with manifest surprise。 It was too dark to distinguish anything clearly； but it did not take him long to surmise that the figure was that of a woman； and her countenance； though changed in aspect by the head…dress she were； yet had features which； he knew； he had seen before。 But could it be Miriam Trednoke who was abroad at such an hour and in such a costume？ He did not recognize the Golden Fleece； but it was evident enough that she was c