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！
ll were surrounded by a high wall； enclosing a gar… den where the Castilian roses grew even more lux… uriantly than at the Presidio。 The walls； like the houses； were white； and on those of Don Juan Moraga； a cousin of Dona Ignacia Arguello； the roses had been trained to form a border along the top in a fashion that reminded Rezanov of the pink edged walls of Fiesole。
The white red…tiled church and the long line of rooms adjoining were built of adobe with no effort at grandeur； but with a certain noble simplicity of outline that harmonized not only with the lofty re… serve of the hills but with the innocent hope of creat… ing a soul in the lowest of human bipeds。 The Indians of San Francisco were as immedicable as they were hideous； but the fathers belabored them with sticks and heaven with prayer； and had so far succeeded that if as yet they had sown piety no higher than the knees； they had trained some twelve hundred pairs of hands to useful service。
On the right was a graveyard； with little in it as yet but rose trees； behind the church and the many spacious rooms built for the consolation of virtue in the wilderness was a large building surrounding a court。 Girls and young widows occupied the cells on the north side； and the work rooms on the east； while the youths； under the sharp eye of a lay brother； were opposite。 All lived a life of unwill… ing industry： cleaning and combing wool； spinning； weaving； manufacturing chocolate； grinding corn between stones； making shoes； fashioning the simple garments worn by priest and Indian。 Between the main group of buildings and the natural rampart of the 〃San Bruno Mountains〃 was the Rancheria； where the Indian families lived in eight long rows of isolated huts。
In spite of vigilance an Indian escaped now and again to the mountains； where he could lie naked in the sun and curse the fetich of civilization。 As the Russians approached； a friar； with deer…skin armor over his cassock； was tugging at a recalcitrant mule； while a body…guard of four Indians stood ready to attend him down the coast in search of an enviable brother。 The mule； as if in sympathy with the fugitive； had planted his four feet in the earth and lifted his voice in derision； while the young friar； a recruit at the Mission； and far from enamored of his task； strained at the rope； and an Indian pelted the hindquarters with stones。 Suddenly； the mule flung out his heels； the enemy in the rear sprawled； the rope flew loose； the beast with a loud bray fled toward the willows of Dolores。 But the young priest was both agile and angry。 With a flying leap he reached the heaving back。 The mule acknowl… edged himself conquered。 The body…guard trotted on their own feet； and the party disappeared round a bend of the hills。
Rezanov laughed heartily and even the glum vis… age of Father Abella relaxed。
〃It is a common sight； Excellency；〃 he said。 〃We are thankful to have a younger friar for such fatiguing work。 Many a time have I belabored stubborn mules and bestrode bucking mustangs while searching for one of these ungrateful but no doubt chosen creatures。 It is the will of God； and we make no complaint； but we are very willing； Father Landaeta and I； that youth should cool its ardor in so certain a fashion while we attend to the more reasonable duties at home。〃
They were dismounted at the door of the church。 The horses were led off by waiting Indians。 The soldiers on guard saluted and stepped aside； and the party entered。 Two priests in handsome vest… ments stood before the altar； but the long dim nave was empty。 The Russians had been told that a mass would be said in their honor； and they marched down the church and bent their knees with as much ceremony as had they been of the faith of their hosts。 When the short mass was over； Rezanov bethought himself of Concha's re… quest； and whispering its purport to Father Abella was led to a double iron hoop stuck with tallow dips in various stages of petition。 Rezanov lit a candle and fastened it in an empty socket。 Then with a whimsical twist of his mouth he lit and adjusted another。
〃No doubt she has some fervent wish； like all children；〃 he thought apologetically。 〃And whether this will help her to realize it or not； at least it will be interesting to watch her eyesand mouth when I tell her。 Will she melt； or flash； or receive my offering at her shrine as a matter of course？ I'll surprise her to…night in the middle of a dance。〃
He deposited a gold piece among the candles on the table and followed Father Abella through a side door。 A corridor ran behind the long line of rooms designed not only for priests but for travellers al… ways sure of a welcome at these hospitable Mis… sions。 Father Abella shuffled ahead； halted on the threshold of a large room； and ceremoniously in… vited his guests to enter。 Two other priests stood before a table set with wine and delicate confec… tions； their hands concealed in their wide brown sleeves； but their unmatched physiognomiesthe one lean and jovial； the other plump and resigned alight with the same smile of welcome。 Father Abella mentioned them as his coadjutor Father Martin Landaeta； and their guest Father Jose Uria of San Jose； and then the three； with the scant rites of genuine hospitality； applied themselves to the tick… ling of palates long unused to ambrosial living。 Re… sponding ingenuously to the glow of their home… made wines； they begged Rezanov to accept the Mis… sion； burn it； plunder it； above all； to plan his own day。
〃I hope that I am to see every detail of your great work；〃 replied the diplomatic guest of honor。 〃But at your own leisure。 Meanwhile； I beg that you will order one of your Indians to bring in the little presents I venture to offer as a token of my respect。 You may have heard that the presents of his Im… perial Majesty were refused by the Mikado of Japan。 I reserved many of them for possible use in our own possessions； particularly a piece of cloth of gold。 This I had intended for our church at New Archangel； but finding the priests there more in need of punishment than reward； I concluded to bring it here and offer it as a manifest of my ad… miration for what the great Franciscan Order of the Most Holy Church of Rome has accomplished in the Californias。 Have I been too presump… tuous？〃
The priests all wore the eager expressions of chil… dren。
〃Could we not see them first？〃 asked Father Lan… daeta of his superior； and Father Abella sent a ser… vant with an order to unload the horse and bring in the presents。
Not a vestige of reserve lingered。 Priests and guests sat about the table eating and drinking and chatting as were they old friends reunited； and Rezanov extracted much of the information he de… sired。 The white population〃gente de razon〃 of Alta California； the peculiar province of the Franciscansthe Jesuits having been the first to invade Baja California； and with little success numbered about two thousand； the Christianized Indians about twenty thousand。 There were nine… teen Missions and four Presidial districtsSan Diego； close to the border of Baja California； Santa Barbara； Monterey； and San Francisco。 Each Mis… sion had an immense grant of land