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upon his deeper resources of insolence； but the steady； contemptuous gaze of the man who had dealt with his kind often and successfully over… came his sodden spirit； and he turned sulkily and slouched off to his quarters to console himself with more brandy。 Rezanov shrugged his shoulders and went on to his tent。
There was no furniture in it as yet； and he was obliged to receive Davidov and Khostov standing； but this he preferred。 They followed him almost immediately； apprehensive and nervous； and before speaking he looked at them for a moment with his strong； penetrating gaze。 He well knew the power of his own personality； and that it was immeasur… ably enhanced by the fact that of all with whom he had to do in these benighted regions his will alone was never weakened by liquor。 These young men； clever； high…bred； with an honorable record not only in Russia； but in England and America； looked upon a hilarious night as the just reward of work well done by day。 Brandy was debited to their account by the 〃bucket〃 （a bucket being a trifle less than two gallons）； and they found little fault with life。 But the profligacy gave a commanding spirit like Rezanov's an advantage which they did not under… estimate for a moment； and they alternately hated and worshiped him。
〃I think you have an inkling of what I am going to ask you to do。〃 The Chamberlain brought out the euphemism with the utmost suavity。 〃I have made up my mind not to ignore the indignity to which Russia was subjected last year by Japan； but to inflict upon it such punishment as I find it in my power to compass。 It was my intention to build a flotilla here； but owing to the diseased condition and reduced numbers of the employees； that was im… possible； and I shall be obliged to content myself with the Juno and the Avos； whose keel； as you know； was laid in November； and is no doubt fin… ished long since。 These I shall fit with armaments in Okhotsk。 I shall place the enterprise I have spoken of in your charge； sailing with you from Sitka five days hence。 From Okhotsk I desire that you proceed to the Japanese settlements in the lower Kurile Islands； take possession of them and bring all stores and as many of the inhabitants as the vessels will accommodate； to Sitka； where Baran… hov will see that they are comfortably established on that large island in the harborwhich we shall call Japonskyand converted into good servants of the Company。 The excuse for this enterprise is that those islands were formally taken possession of by Shelikov； and although abandoned later； the fact remains that the Russian flag was the first to float over them。 The stores captured may not be worth much and the islands are of no particular use to us； but it is wise that Japan should have a taste of Russian power； and the consequences may be salutary in more ways than one。 I hope you will do me this great favor； for there is no one of your tried probity and skill to whom I can trust so deli… cate an enterprise。 I am doing it wholly upon my own responsibility； for although I wrote tentatively to the Tsar on this subject before I sailed for Cali… fornia； it is not yet time for a reply。 However； I take the consequences upon my own shoulders。 You shall not suffer in any way； for your orders are to obey mine while you remain in these waters。〃
He paused a moment； and then suddenly smiled into the unresponsive faces before him。 He held out his hand and shook their limp ones warmly。
〃Let me thank you here for all your inestimable services in the past； and particularly during our late hazardous voyages。 Be sure that whether you suc… ceed in this enterprise or not； your rewards shall be no less for what you have already done。 I shall make it a personal matter with the Tsar。 You shall have promotion and a substantial increase in pay； besides the orders and Imperial thanks you so richly deserve。 Lest anything happen to me on my home… ward journey； I shall write to St。 Petersburg before I leave。〃
The lieutenants； overcome as ever when he chose to put forth his full powers； assured him of their fidelity and； if with misgivings； vowed to mete out vengeance to the Japanese。 And although their misgivings were not unfounded； and they paid a high price in suffering and mortification； they ac… complished their object and in due course received the rewards the Chamberlain had promised them。
They did not retire； and Rezanov； noting their sudden hesitation and embarrassment； felt an in… stant thrill of apprehension。
〃What is it？〃 he demanded。 〃What has hap… pened？〃
〃Life has moved slowly in Sitka during your absence； Excellency；〃 replied Davidov。 〃There has been little work done on the Avos。 It will not be finished for a month or six weeks。〃
Then； had the young men been possessed by a not infrequent mood； they would have glowed with a sense of just satisfaction。 Rezanov felt himself turn so white that he wheeled about and left the tent。 A month or six weeks！ And the speed and safety of his journey across Siberia depended upon his making the greater part of it before the heavy autumn rains swelled the rivers and flooded the swamps。 Winter or summer the journey from Ok… hotsk to St。 Petersburg might be made in four months； with the wealth and influence at his com… mand； possibly in less； but in the deluge between he was liable to detentions lasting nearly as long again； to say nothing of illness caused by inevitable exposure。
He stood staring at the palisades for many min… utes。 The separation must be long enough； the dangers numerous enough if he started within the week； but at least he had in a measure accustomed himself to the idea of not seeing Concha again for 〃the best part of two years；〃 and the sanguineness of his temperament had led him to hope that the time might be reduced to eighteen months。 If he delayed too long； only by means of an unprece… dented run of good fortune would he reach St。 Petersburg but a month behind his calculations。 And the chances were in favor of four； or three at the best！ Never since the morning that the real nature of his feeling for Concha had declared itself had he yearned toward her as at that moment； never since the dictum of what she called their 〃tribunal〃 had he so rebelled against the long delay。 And yet he hesitated。 To leave Japan unpunished for the senseless humiliations to which it had subjected Russia in his person was not to be thought of； and yet did he leave without seeing the Avos finished； the two boats supplied with armaments at Okhotsk； and under way before he started across Siberia； he knew it was doubtful if the expedition took place before his return； in that case might never take place； for these two young men might have drifted elsewhere； and he knew no one else to whom he could entrust such a commission。 In spite of their idiosyncrasies he could rely upon them implicitly up to a certain point。 That point involved keeping them in sight until exactly the right moment and leaving nothing to their executive which could be certainly accomplished by himself alone。 Did he sail five days hence on the Juno one of the officers would be exposed for an indeterminate time to the temptations of Okhotsk； the ship；