the oregon trail-第18部分

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red　Dollar！〃　　And　laying　on　the　lash　with　good　will；　he　galloped　　forward；　and　I　rode　by　his　side。　　Not　long　after；　a　black　speck　　became　visible　on　the　prairie；　full　two　miles　off。　　It　grew　larger　　and　larger；　it　assumed　the　form　of　a　man　and　horse；　and　soon　we　could　　discern　a　naked　Indian；　careering　at　full　gallop　toward　us。　　When　　within　a　furlong　he　wheeled　his　horse　in　a　wide　circle；　and　made　him　　describe　various　mystic　figures　upon　the　prairie；　and　Henry　　immediately　compelled　Five　Hundred　Dollar　to　execute　similar　　evolutions。　　〃It　IS　Old　Smoke's　village；〃　said　he；　interpreting　these　　signals；　〃didn't　I　say　so？〃　As　the　Indian　approached　we　stopped　to　wait　for　him；　when　suddenly　he　　vanished；　sinking；　as　it　were；　into　the　earth。　　He　had　come　upon　one　　of　the　deep　ravines　that　everywhere　intersect　these　prairies。　　In　an　　instant　the　rough　head　of　his　horse　stretched　upward　from　the　edge　　and　the　rider　and　steed　came　scrambling　out；　and　hounded　up　to　us；　a　　sudden　jerk　of　the　rein　brought　the　wild　panting　horse　to　a　full　　stop。　　Then　followed　the　needful　formality　of　shaking　hands。　　I　　forget　our　visitor's　name。　　He　was　a　young　fellow；　of　no　note　in　his　　nation；　yet　in　his　person　and　equipments　he　was　a　good　specimen　of　a　　Dakota　warrior　in　his　ordinary　traveling　dress。　　Like　most　of　his　　people；　he　was　nearly　six　feet　high；　lithely　and　gracefully；　yet　　strongly　proportioned；　and　with　a　skin　singularly　clear　and　delicate。　　　He　wore　no　paint；　his　head　was　bare；　and　his　long　hair　was　gathered　　in　a　clump　behind；　to　the　top　of　which　was　attached　transversely；　　both　by　way　of　ornament　and　of　talisman；　the　mystic　whistle；　made　of　　the　wingbone　of　the　war　eagle；　and　endowed　with　various　magic　　virtues。　　From　the　back　of　his　head　descended　a　line　of　glittering　　brass　plates；　tapering　from　the　size　of　a　doubloon　to　that　of　a　half…　dime；　a　cumbrous　ornament；　in　high　vogue　among　the　Dakotas；　and　for　　which　they　pay　the　traders　a　most　extravagant　price；　his　chest　and　　arms　were　naked；　the　buffalo　robe；　worn　over　them　when　at　rest；　had　　fallen　about　his　waist；　and　was　confined　there　by　a　belt。　　This；　with　　the　gay　moccasins　on　his　feet；　completed　his　attire。　　For　arms　he　　carried　a　quiver　of　dogskin　at　his　back；　and　a　rude　but　powerful　bow　　in　his　hand。　　His　horse　had　no　bridle；　a　cord　of　hair；　lashed　around　　his　jaw；　served　in　place　of　one。　　The　saddle　was　of　most　singular　　construction；　it　was　made　of　wood　covered　with　raw　hide；　and　both　　pommel　and　cantle　rose　perpendicularly　full　eighteen　inches；　so　that　　the　warrior　was　wedged　firmly　in　his　seat；　whence　nothing　could　　dislodge　him　but　the　bursting　of　the　girths。　Advancing　with　our　new　companion；　we　found　more　of　his　people　seated　　in　a　circle　on　the　top　of　a　hill；　while　a　rude　procession　came　　straggling　down　the　neighboring　hollow；　men；　women；　and　children；　　with　horses　dragging　the　lodge…poles　behind　them。　　All　that　morning；　　as　we　moved　forward；　tall　savages　were　stalking　silently　about　us。　　　At　noon　we　reached　Horse　Creek；　and　as　we　waded　through　the　shallow　　water；　we　saw　a　wild　and　striking　scene。　　The　main　body　of　the　　Indians　had　arrived　before　us。　　On　the　farther　bank　stood　a　large　and　　strong　man；　nearly　naked；　holding　a　white　horse　by　a　long　cord；　and　　eyeing　us　as　we　approached。　　This　was　the　chief；　whom　Henry　called　　〃Old　Smoke。〃　　Just　behind　him　his　youngest　and　favorite　squaw　sat　　astride　of　a　fine　mule；　it　was　covered　with　caparisons　of　whitened　　skins；　garnished　with　blue　and　white　beads；　and　fringed　with　little　　ornaments　of　metal　that　tinkled　with　every　movement　of　the　animal。　　　The　girl　had　a　light　clear　complexion；　enlivened　by　a　spot　of　　vermilion　on　each　cheek；　she　smiled；　not　to　say　grinned；　upon　us；　　showing　two　gleaming　rows　of　white　teeth。　　In　her　hand；　she　carried　　the　tall　lance　of　her　unchivalrous　lord；　fluttering　with　feathers；　　his　round　white　shield　hung　at　the　side　of　her　mule；　and　his　pipe　was　　slung　at　her　back。　　Her　dress　was　a　tunic　of　deerskin；　made　　beautifully　white　by　means　of　a　species　of　clay　found　on　the　prairie；　　and　ornamented　with　beads；　arrayed　in　figures　more　gay　than　tasteful；　　and　with　long　fringes　at　all　the　seams。　　Not　far　from　the　chief　stood　　a　group　of　stately　figures；　their　white　buffalo　robes　thrown　over　　their　shoulders；　gazing　coldly　upon　us；　and　in　the　rear；　for　several　　acres；　the　ground　was　covered　with　a　temporary　encampment；　men；　　women；　and　children　swarmed　like　bees；　hundreds　of　dogs；　of　all　sizes　　and　colors；　ran　restlessly　about；　and；　close　at　hand；　the　wide　　shallow　stream　was　alive　with　boys；　girls；　and　young　squaws；　　splashing；　screaming；　and　laughing　in　the　water。　　At　the　same　time　a　　long　train　of　emigrant　wagons　were　crossing　the　creek；　and　dragging　　on　in　their　slow；　heavy　procession；　passed　the　encampment　of　the　　people　whom　they　and　their　descendants；　in　the　space　of　a　century；　　are　to　sweep　from　the　face　of　the　earth。　The　encampment　itself　was　merely　a　temporary　one　during　the　heat　of　　the　day。　　None　of　the　lodges　were　erected；　but　their　heavy　leather　　coverings；　and　the　long　poles　used　to　support　them；　were　scattered　　everywhere　around；　among　weapons；　domestic　utensils；　and　the　rude　　harness　of　mules　and　horses。　　The　squaws　of　each　lazy　warrior　had　　made　him　a　shelter　from　the　sun；　by　stretching　a　few　buffalo　robes；　　or　the　corner　of　a　lodge…covering　upon　poles；　and　here　he　sat　in　the　　shade；　with　a　favorite　young　squaw；　perhaps；　at　his　side；　glittering　　with　all　imaginable　trinkets。　　Before　him　stood　the　insignia　of　his　　rank　as　a　warrior；　his　white　shield　of　bull…hide；　his　medicine　bag；　　his　bow　and　quiver；　his　lance　and　his　pipe；　raised　aloft　on　a　tripod　　of　three　poles。　　Except　the　dogs；　the　most　active　and　noisy　tenants　　of　the　camp　were　the　old　women；　ugly　as　Macbeth's　witches；　with　their　　hair　streaming　loose　in　the　wind；　and　nothing　but　the　tattered　　fragment　of　an　old　buffalo　robe　to　hide　their　shriveled　wiry　limbs。　　　The　day　of　their　favoritism　passed　two　generations　ago；　now　the　　heaviest　labors　of　the　camp　devolved　upon　them；　they　were　to　harness　　the　horses；　pitch　the　lodges；　dress　the　buffalo　robes；　and　bring　in　　meat　for　the　hunters。　　With　the　cracked　voices　of　these　hags；　the　　clamor　of　dogs；　the　shouting　and　laughing　of　children　and　girls；　and　　the　listless　tranquillity　of　the　warriors；　the　whole　scene　had　an　　effect　too　lively　and　picturesque　ever　to　be　forgotten。　We　stopped　not　far　from　the　Indian　camp；　and　having　invited　some　of　　the　chiefs　and　warriors　to　dinner；　placed　before　them　a　sumptuous　　repast　of　biscuit　and　coffee。　　Squatted　in　a　half　circle　on　the　　ground；　they　soon　disposed　of　it。　　As　we　rode　forward　on　the　　afternoon　journey；　several　of　our　late　guests　accompanied　us。　　Among　　the　rest　was　a　huge　bloated　savage　of　more　than　three　hundred　pounds'　　weight；　christened　La　Cochon；　in　consideration　of　his　preposterous　　dimensions　and　certain　corresponding　traits　of　his　character。　　〃The　　Hog〃　bestrode　a　little　white　pony；　scarce　able　to　bear　up　under　the　　enormous　burden；　though；　by　way　of　keeping　up　the　necessary　stimulus；　　the　rider　kept　both　feet　in　constant　motion；　playing　alternately　　against　his　ribs。　　The　old　man　was　not　a　chief；　he　never　had　ambition　　enough　to　become　one；　he　was　not　a　warrior　nor　a　hunter；　for　he　was　　too　fat　and　lazy：　but　he　was　the　richest　man　in　the　whole　village。　　　Riches　among　the　Dakotas　consist　in　horses；　and　of　these　The　Hog　had　　accumulated　more　than　thirty。　　He　had　already　ten　times　as　many　as　he　　wanted；　yet　still　his　appetite　for　horses　was　insatiable。　　Trotting　　up　to　me　he　shook　me　by　the　hand；　and　gave　me　to　understand　that　he　　was　a　very　devoted　friend；　and　then　he　began　a　series　of　most　earnest　　signs　and　gesticulations；　his　oily　countenance　radiant　with　smiles；　　and　his　little　eyes　peeping　out　with　a　cunning　twinkle　from　between　　the　masses　of　flesh　that　almost　obscured　them。　　Knowing　nothing　at　　that　time　of　the　sign　language　of　the　Indians；　I　could　only　guess　at　　his　meaning。　　So　I　called　on　Henry　to　explain　it。　The　Hog；　it　seems；　was　anxious　to　conclude　a　matrimonial　bargain。　　He　　said　he　had　a　very　pretty　daughter　in　his　lodge；　whom　he　would　give　　me；　if　I　would　give　him　my　horse。　　These　flattering　overtures　I　chose　　to　reject；　at　which　The　Hog；　still　laughing　with　undiminished　good　　humor；　gathered　his　robe　about　his　shoulders；　and　rode　away。　Where　we　encamped　that　night；　an　arm　of　the　Platte　ran　between　high　　bluffs；　it　was　turbid　and　swift　as　heretofore；　but　trees　were　growing　　on　its　crumbling　banks；　and　there　was　a　nook　of　grass　between　the　　water　and　the　hill。　　Just　before　entering　this　place；　we　saw　the　　emigrants　encamping　at　two　or　three　miles'　distance　on　the　right；　　while　the　whole　Indian　rabble　were　pouring　down　the　neighboring　hill　　in　hope　of　the　same　sort　of　entertainment　which　they　had　experienced　　from　us。　　In　the　savage　landscape　before　our　camp；　nothing　but　the　　rushing　of　the　Platte　broke　the　silence。　　Through　the　ragged　boughs　　of　the　trees；　dilapidated　and　half　dead；　we　saw　the　sun　setting　in　　crimson　behind　the　peaks　of　the　Black　Hills；　the　restless　bosom　of　　the　river　was　suffused　with　red；　our　white　tent　was　tinged　with　it；　　and　the　sterile　bluffs；　up　to　the　rocks　that　crowned　them；　partook　of　　the　same　fiery　hue。　　It　soon　passed　away；　no　light　remained；　but　that　　from　our　fire；　blazing　high　among　the　dusky　trees　and　bushes。　　We　lay　　around　it　wrapped　in　our　blankets；　smoking　and　conversing　until　a　　late　hour；　and　then　withdrew　to　our　tent。　We　crossed　a　sun…scorched　plain　on　the　next　morning；　the　line　of　old　　cotton…wood　trees　that　fringed　the　bank　of　the　Platte　forming　its　　extreme　verge。　　Nestled　apparently　close　beneath　them；　we　could　　discern　in　the　distance　something　like　a　building。　　As　we　came　　nearer；　it　assumed　form　and　dimensions；　and　proved　to　be　a　rough　　structure　of　logs。　　It　was　a　little　trading　fort；　belonging　to　two　　private　traders；　and　originally　intended；　like　all　the　forts　of　the　　country；　to　form　a　hollow　square；　with　rooms　for　lodging　and　storage　　opening　upon　the　area　within。　　Only　two　sides　of　it　had　been　　completed；　the　place　was　now　as　ill…fitted　for　the　purposes　of　　defense　as　any　of　those　little　log…houses；　which　upon　our　constantly　　shifting　frontier　have　been　so　often　successfully　maintai