the oregon trail-第16部分

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and　my　horse's　trail…rope　　tied　loosely　to　my　arm；　lay　waiting　the　arrival　of　the　party；　　speculating　meanwhile　on　the　extent　of　the　injuries　Pontiac　had　　received。　　At　length　the　white　wagon　coverings　rose　from　the　verge　of　　the　plain。　　By　a　singular　coincidence；　almost　at　the　same　moment　two　　horsemen　appeared　coming　down　from　the　hills。　　They　were　Shaw　and　　Henry；　who　had　searched　for　me　a　while　in　the　morning；　but　well　　knowing　the　futility　of　the　attempt　in　such　a　broken　country；　had　　placed　themselves　on　the　top　of　the　highest　hill　they　could　find；　and　　picketing　their　horses　near　them；　as　a　signal　to　me；　had　laid　down　　and　fallen　asleep。　　The　stray　cattle　had　been　recovered；　as　the　　emigrants　told　us；　about　noon。　　Before　sunset；　we　pushed　forward　　eight　miles　farther。

JUNE　7；　1846。Four　men　are　missing；　R。；　Sorel　and　two　emigrants。　　　They　set　out　this　morning　after　buffalo；　and　have　not　yet　made　their　　appearance；　whether　killed　or　lost；　we　cannot　tell。

I　find　the　above　in　my　notebook；　and　well　remember　the　council　held　　on　the　occasion。　　Our　fire　was　the　scene　of　it；　or　the　palpable　　superiority　of　Henry　Chatillon's　experience　and　skill　made　him　the　　resort　of　the　whole　camp　upon　every　question　of　difficulty。　　He　was　　molding　bullets　at　the　fire；　when　the　captain　drew　near；　with　a　　perturbed　and　care…worn　expression　of　countenance；　faithfully　　reflected　on　the　heavy　features　of　Jack；　who　followed　close　behind。　　　Then　emigrants　came　straggling　from　their　wagons　toward　the　common　　center；　various　suggestions　were　made　to　account　for　the　absence　of　　the　four　men；　and　one　or　two　of　the　emigrants　declared　that　when　out　　after　the　cattle　they　had　seen　Indians　dogging　them；　and　crawling　　like　wolves　along　the　ridges　of　the　hills。　　At　this　time　the　captain　　slowly　shook　his　head　with　double　gravity；　and　solemnly　remarked：　〃It's　a　serious　thing　to　be　traveling　through　this　cursed　　wilderness〃；　an　opinion　in　which　Jack　immediately　expressed　a　　thorough　coincidence。　　Henry　would　not　commit　himself　by　declaring　　any　positive　opinion。　〃Maybe　he　only　follow　the　buffalo　too　far；　maybe　Indian　kill　him；　　maybe　he　got　lost；　I　cannot　tell！〃　With　this　the　auditors　were　obliged　to　rest　content；　the　emigrants；　　not　in　the　least　alarmed；　though　curious　to　know　what　had　become　of　　their　comrades；　walked　back　to　their　wagons　and　the　captain　betook　　himself　pensively　to　his　tent。　　Shaw　and　I　followed　his　example。　〃It　will　be　a　bad　thing　for　our　plans；〃　said　he　as　we　entered；　〃if　　these　fellows　don't　get　back　safe。　　The　captain　is　as　helpless　on　the　　prairie　as　a　child。　　We　shall　have　to　take　him　and　his　brother　in　　tow；　they　will　hang　on　us　like　lead。〃　〃The　prairie　is　a　strange　place；〃　said　I。　　〃A　month　ago　I　should　have　　thought　it　rather　a　startling　affair　to　have　an　acquaintance　ride　out　　in　the　morning　and　lose　his　scalp　before　night；　but　here　it　seems　the　　most　natural　thing　in　the　world；　not　that　I　believe　that　R。　has　lost　　his　yet。〃　If　a　man　is　constitutionally　liable　to　nervous　apprehensions；　a　tour　　on　the　distant　prairies　would　prove　the　best　prescription；　for　though　　when　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　Rocky　Mountains　he　may　at　times　find　　himself　placed　in　circumstances　of　some　danger；　I　believe　that　few　　ever　breathe　that　reckless　atmosphere　without　becoming　almost　　indifferent　to　any　evil　chance　that　may　befall　themselves　or　their　　friends。　Shaw　had　a　propensity　for　luxurious　indulgence。　　He　spread　his　　blanket　with　the　utmost　accuracy　on　the　ground；　picked　up　the　sticks　　and　stones　that　he　thought　might　interfere　with　his　comfort；　adjusted　　his　saddle　to　serve　as　a　pillow；　and　composed　himself　for　his　night's　　rest。　　I　had　the　first　guard　that　evening；　so；　taking　my　rifle；　I　　went　out　of　the　tent。　　It　was　perfectly　dark。　　A　brisk　wind　blew　down　　from　the　hills；　and　the　sparks　from　the　fire　were　streaming　over　the　　prairie。　　One　of　the　emigrants；　named　Morton；　was　my　companion；　and　　laying　our　rifles　on　the　grass；　we　sat　down　together　by　the　fire。　　　Morton　was　a　Kentuckian；　an　athletic　fellow；　with　a　fine　intelligent　　face；　and　in　his　manners　and　conversation　he　showed　the　essential　　characteristics　of　a　gentleman。　　Our　conversation　turned　on　the　　pioneers　of　his　gallant　native　State。　　The　three　hours　of　our　watch　　dragged　away　at　last；　and　we　went　to　call　up　the　relief。　R。's　guard　succeeded　mine。　　He　was　absent；　but　the　captain；　anxious　　lest　the　camp　should　be　left　defenseless；　had　volunteered　to　stand　in　　his　place；　so　I　went　to　wake　him　up。　　There　was　no　occasion　for　it；　　for　the　captain　had　been　awake　since　nightfall。　　A　fire　was　blazing　　outside　of　the　tent；　and　by　the　light　which　struck　through　the　　canvas；　I　saw　him　and　Jack　lying　on　their　backs；　with　their　eyes　wide　　open。　　The　captain　responded　instantly　to　my　call；　he　jumped　up；　　seized　the　double…barreled　rifle；　and　came　out　of　the　tent　with　an　　air　of　solemn　determination；　as　if　about　to　devote　himself　to　the　　safety　of　the　party。　　I　went　and　lay　down；　not　doubting　that　for　the　　next　three　hours　our　slumbers　would　be　guarded　with　sufficient　　vigilance。

CHAPTER　VIII　TAKING　FRENCH　LEAVE

On　the　8th　of　June；　at　eleven　o'clock；　we　reached　the　South　Fork　of　　the　Platte；　at　the　usual　fording　place。　　For　league　upon　league　the　　desert　uniformity　of　the　prospect　was　almost　unbroken；　the　hills　were　　dotted　with　little　tufts　of　shriveled　grass；　but　betwixt　these　the　　white　sand　was　glaring　in　the　sun；　and　the　channel　of　the　river；　　almost　on　a　level　with　the　plain；　was　but　one　great　sand…bed；　about　　half　a　mile　wide。　　It　was　covered　with　water；　but　so　scantily　that　　the　bottom　was　scarcely　hidden；　for；　wide　as　it　is；　the　average　depth　　of　the　Platte　does　not　at　this　point　exceed　a　foot　and　a　half。　　　Stopping　near　its　bank；　we　gathered　bois　de　vache；　and　made　a　meal　of　　buffalo　meat。　　Far　off；　on　the　other　side；　was　a　green　meadow；　where　　we　could　see　the　white　tents　and　wagons　of　an　emigrant　camp；　and　just　　opposite　to　us　we　could　discern　a　group　of　men　and　animals　at　the　　water's　edge。　　Four　or　five　horsemen　soon　entered　the　river；　and　in　　ten　minutes　had　waded　across　and　clambered　up　the　loose　sand…bank。　　　They　were　ill…looking　fellows；　thin　and　swarthy；　with　care…worn；　　anxious　faces　and　lips　rigidly　compressed。　　They　had　good　cause　for　　anxiety；　it　was　three　days　since　they　first　encamped　here；　and　on　the　　night　of　their　arrival　they　had　lost　123　of　their　best　cattle；　driven　　off　by　the　wolves；　through　the　neglect　of　the　man　on　guard。　　This　　discouraging　and　alarming　calamity　was　not　the　first　that　had　　overtaken　them。　　Since　leaving　the　settlements；　they　had　met　with　　nothing　but　misfortune。　　Some　of　their　party　had　died；　one　man　had　　been　killed　by　the　Pawnees；　and　about　a　week　before；　they　had　been　　plundered　by　the　Dakotas　of　all　their　best　horses；　the　wretched　　animals　on　which　our　visitors　were　mounted　being　the　only　ones　that　　were　left。　　They　had　encamped；　they　told　us；　near　sunset；　by　the　side　　of　the　Platte；　and　their　oxen　were　scattered　over　the　meadow；　while　　the　band　of　horses　were　feeding　a　little　farther　off。　　Suddenly　the　　ridges　of　the　hills　were　alive　with　a　swarm　of　mounted　Indians；　at　　least　six　hundred　in　number；　who；　with　a　tremendous　yell；　came　　pouring　down　toward　the　camp；　rushing　up　within　a　few　rods；　to　the　　great　terror　of　the　emigrants；　but　suddenly　wheeling；　they　swept　　around　the　band　of　horses；　and　in　five　minutes　had　disappeared　with　　their　prey　through　the　openings　of　the　hills。　As　these　emigrants　were　telling　their　story；　we　saw　four　other　men　　approaching。　　They　proved　to　be　R。　and　his　companions；　who　had　　encountered　no　mischance　of　any　kind；　but　had　only　wandered　too　far　　in　pursuit　of　the　game。　　They　said　they　had　seen　no　Indians；　but　only　　〃millions　of　buffalo〃；　and　both　R。　and　Sorel　had　meat　dangling　behind　　their　saddles。　The　emigrants　re…crossed　the　river；　and　we　prepared　to　follow。　　First　　the　heavy　ox…wagons　plunged　down　the　bank；　and　dragged　slowly　over　　the　sand…beds；　sometimes　the　hoofs　of　the　oxen　were　scarcely　wetted　　by　the　thin　sheet　of　water；　and　the　next　moment　the　river　would　be　　boiling　against　their　sides；　and　eddying　fiercely　around　the　wheels。　　　Inch　by　inch　they　receded　from　the　shore；　dwindling　every　moment；　　until　at　length　they　seemed　to　be　floating　far　in　the　very　middle　of　　the　river。　　A　more　critical　experiment　awaited　us；　for　our　little　　mule…cart　was　but　ill…fitted　for　the　passage　of　so　swift　a　stream。　　　We　watched　it　with　anxiety　till　it　seemed　to　be　a　little　motionless　　white　speck　in　the　midst　of　the　waters；　and　it　WAS　motionless；　for　it　　had　stuck　fast　in　a　quicksand。　　The　little　mules　were　losing　their　　footing；　the　wheels　were　sinking　deeper　and　deeper；　and　the　water　　began　to　rise　through　the　bottom　and　drench　the　goods　within。　　All　of　　us　who　had　remained　on　the　hither　bank　galloped　to　the　rescue；　the　　men　jumped　into　the　water；　adding　their　strength　to　that　of　the　　mules；　until　by　much　effort　the　cart　was　extricated；　and　conveyed　in　　safety　across。　As　we　gained　the　other　bank；　a　rough　group　of　men　surrounded　us。　　　They　were　not　robust；　nor　large　of　frame；　yet　they　had　an　aspect　of　　hardy　endurance。　　Finding　at　home　no　scope　for　their　fiery　energies；　　they　had　betaken　themselves　to　the　prairie；　and　in　them　seemed　to　be　　revived；　with　redoubled　force；　that　fierce　spirit　which　impelled　　their　ancestors；　scarce　more　lawless　than　themselves；　from　the　German　　forests；　to　inundate　Europe　and　break　to　pieces　the　Roman　empire。　　A　　fortnight　afterward　this　unfortunate　party　passed　Fort　Laramie；　while　　we　were　there。　　Not　one　of　their　missing　oxen　had　been　recovered；　　though　they　had　remained　encamped　a　week　in　search　of　them；　and　they　　had　been　compelled　to　abandon　a　great　part　of　their　baggage　and　　provisions；　and　yoke　cows　and　heifers　to　their　wagons　to　carry　them　　forward　upon　their　journey；　the　most　toilsome　and　hazardous　part　of　　which　lay　still　before　them。　It　is　worth　noticing　that　on　the　Platte　one　may　sometimes　see　the　　shattered　wrecks　of　ancient　claw…footed　tables；　well　waxed　and　　rubbed；　or　massive　bureaus　of　carved　oak。　　These；　many　of　them　no　　doubt　the　relics　of　ancestral　prosperity　in　the　colonial　time；　must　　have　encountered　strange　vicissitudes。　　Imported；　perhaps；　originally　　from　England；　then；　wit