the oregon trail-第21部分

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the　horse　are　　piled　various　articles　of　luggage；　the　basket　also　is　well　filled　　with　domestic　utensils；　or；　quite　as　often；　with　a　litter　of　puppies；　　a　brood　of　small　children；　or　a　superannuated　old　man。　　Numbers　of　　these　curious　vehicles；　called；　in　the　bastard　language　of　the　　country　travaux　were　now　splashing　together　through　the　stream。　　　Among　them　swam　countless　dogs；　often　burdened　with　miniature　　travaux；　and　dashing　forward　on　horseback　through　the　throng　came　the　　superbly　formed　warriors；　the　slender　figure　of　some　lynx…eyed　boy；　　clinging　fast　behind　them。　　The　women　sat　perched　on　the　pack　　saddles；　adding　not　a　little　to　the　load　of　the　already　overburdened　　horses。　　The　confusion　was　prodigious。　　The　dogs　yelled　and　howled　in　　chorus；　the　puppies　in　the　travaux　set　up　a　dismal　whine　as　the　water　　invaded　their　comfortable　retreat；　the　little　black…eyed　children；　　from　one　year　of　age　upward；　clung　fast　with　both　hands　to　the　edge　　of　their　basket；　and　looked　over　in　alarm　at　the　water　rushing　so　　near　them；　sputtering　and　making　wry　mouths　as　it　splashed　against　　their　faces。　　Some　of　the　dogs；　encumbered　by　their　loads；　were　　carried　down　by　the　current；　yelping　piteously；　and　the　old　squaws　　would　rush　into　the　water；　seize　their　favorites　by　the　neck；　and　　drag　them　out。　　As　each　horse　gained　the　bank；　he　scrambled　up　as　he　　could。　　Stray　horses　and　colts　came　among　the　rest；　often　breaking　　away　at　full　speed　through　the　crowd；　followed　by　the　old　hags；　　screaming　after　their　fashion　on　all　occasions　of　excitement。　　Buxom　　young　squaws；　blooming　in　all　the　charms　of　vermilion；　stood　here　and　　there　on　the　bank；　holding　aloft　their　master's　lance；　as　a　signal　to　　collect　the　scattered　portions　of　his　household。　　In　a　few　moments　　the　crowd　melted　away；　each　family；　with　its　horses　and　equipage；　　filing　off　to　the　plain　at　the　rear　of　the　fort；　and　here；　in　the　　space　of　half　an　hour；　arose　sixty　or　seventy　of　their　tapering　　lodges。　　Their　horses　were　feeding　by　hundreds　over　the　surrounding　　prairie；　and　their　dogs　were　roaming　everywhere。　　The　fort　was　full　　of　men；　and　the　children　were　whooping　and　yelling　incessantly　under　　the　walls。　These　newcomers　were　scarcely　arrived；　when　Bordeaux　was　running　　across　the　fort；　shouting　to　his　squaw　to　bring　him　his　spyglass。　　　The　obedient　Marie；　the　very　model　of　a　squaw；　produced　the　　instrument；　and　Bordeaux　hurried　with　it　up　to　the　wall。　　Pointing　it　　to　the　eastward；　he　exclaimed；　with　an　oath；　that　the　families　were　　coming。　　But　a　few　moments　elapsed　before　the　heavy　caravan　of　the　　emigrant　wagons　could　be　seen；　steadily　advancing　from　the　hills。　　　They　gained　the　river；　and　without　turning　or　pausing　plunged　in；　　they　passed　through；　and　slowly　ascending　the　opposing　bank；　kept　　directly　on　their　way　past　the　fort　and　the　Indian　village；　until；　　gaining　a　spot　a　quarter　of　a　mile　distant；　they　wheeled　into　a　　circle。　　For　some　time　our　tranquillity　was　undisturbed。　　The　　emigrants　were　preparing　their　encampment；　but　no　sooner　was　this　　accomplished　than　Fort　Laramie　was　fairly　taken　by　storm。　　A　crowd　of　　broad…brimmed　hats；　thin　visages；　and　staring　eyes　appeared　suddenly　　at　the　gate。　　Tall　awkward　men；　in　brown　homespun；　women　with　　cadaverous　faces　and　long　lank　figures　came　thronging　in　together；　　and；　as　if　inspired　by　the　very　demon　of　curiosity；　ransacked　every　　nook　and　corner　of　the　fort。　　Dismayed　at　this　invasion；　we　withdrew　　in　all　speed　to　our　chamber；　vainly　hoping　that　it　might　prove　an　　inviolable　sanctuary。　　The　emigrants　prosecuted　their　investigations　　with　untiring　vigor。　　They　penetrated　the　rooms　or　rather　dens；　　inhabited　by　the　astonished　squaws。　　They　explored　the　apartments　of　　the　men；　and　even　that　of　Marie　and　the　bourgeois。　　At　last　a　　numerous　deputation　appeared　at　our　door；　but　were　immediately　　expelled。　　Being　totally　devoid　of　any　sense　of　delicacy　or　　propriety；　they　seemed　resolved　to　search　every　mystery　to　the　　bottom。　Having　at　length　satisfied　their　curiosity；　they　next　proceeded　to　　business。　　The　men　occupied　themselves　in　procuring　supplies　for　　their　onward　journey；　either　buying　them　with　money　or　giving　in　　exchange　superfluous　articles　of　their　own。　The　emigrants　felt　a　violent　prejudice　against　the　French　Indians；　as　　they　called　the　trappers　and　traders。　　They　thought；　and　with　some　　justice；　that　these　men　bore　them　no　good　will。　　Many　of　them　were　　firmly　persuaded　that　the　French　were　instigating　the　Indians　to　　attack　and　cut　them　off。　　On　visiting　the　encampment　we　were　at　once　　struck　with　the　extraordinary　perplexity　and　indecision　that　　prevailed　among　the　emigrants。　　They　seemed　like　men　totally　out　of　　their　elements；　bewildered　and　amazed；　like　a　troop　of　school…boys　　lost　in　the　woods。　　It　was　impossible　to　be　long　among　them　without　　being　conscious　of　the　high　and　bold　spirit　with　which　most　of　them　　were　animated。　　But　the　FOREST　is　the　home　of　the　backwoodsman。　　On　　the　remote　prairie　he　is　totally　at　a　loss。　　He　differs　much　from　the　　genuine　〃mountain　man；〃　the　wild　prairie　hunter；　as　a　Canadian　　voyageur；　paddling　his　canoe　on　the　rapids　of　the　Ottawa；　differs　　from　an　American　sailor　among　the　storms　of　Cape　Horn。　　Still　my　　companion　and　I　were　somewhat　at　a　loss　to　account　for　this　perturbed　　state　of　mind。　　It　could　not　be　cowardice；　these　men　were　of　the　same　　stock　with　the　volunteers　of　Monterey　and　Buena　Vista。　　Yet；　for　the　　most　part；　they　were　the　rudest　and　most　ignorant　of　the　frontier　　population；　they　knew　absolutely　nothing　of　the　country　and　its　　inhabitants；　they　had　already　experienced　much　misfortune；　and　　apprehended　more；　they　had　seen　nothing　of　mankind；　and　had　never　put　　their　own　resources　to　the　test。　A　full　proportion　of　suspicion　fell　upon　us。　　Being　strangers　we　were　　looked　upon　as　enemies。　　Having　occasion　for　a　supply　of　lead　and　a　　few　other　necessary　articles；　we　used　to　go　over　to　the　emigrant　　camps　to　obtain　them。　　After　some　hesitation；　some　dubious　glances；　　and　fumbling　of　the　hands　in　the　pockets；　the　terms　would　be　agreed　　upon；　the　price　tendered；　and　the　emigrant　would　go　off　to　bring　the　　article　in　question。　　After　waiting　until　our　patience　gave　out；　we　　would　go　in　search　of　him；　and　find　him　seated　on　the　tongue　of　his　　wagon。　〃Well；　stranger；〃　he　would　observe；　as　he　saw　us　approach；　〃I　reckon　　I　won't　trade！〃　Some　friend　of　his　followed　him　from　the　scene　of　the　bargain　and　　suggested　in　his　ear；　that　clearly　we　meant　to　cheat　him；　and　he　had　　better　have　nothing　to　do　with　us。　This　timorous　mood　of　the　emigrants　was　doubly　unfortunate；　as　it　　exposed　them　to　real　danger。　　Assume；　in　the　presence　of　Indians　a　　bold　bearing；　self…confident　yet　vigilant；　and　you　will　find　them　　tolerably　safe　neighbors。　　But　your　safety　depends　on　the　respect　and　　fear　you　are　able　to　inspire。　　If　you　betray　timidity　or　indecision；　　you　convert　them　from　that　moment　into　insidious　and　dangerous　　enemies。　　The　Dakotas　saw　clearly　enough　the　perturbation　of　the　　emigrants　and　instantly　availed　themselves　of　it。　　They　became　　extremely　insolent　and　exacting　in　their　demands。　　It　has　become　an　　established　custom　with　them　to　go　to　the　camp　of　every　party；　at　it　　arrives　in　succession　at　the　fort；　and　demand　a　feast。　　Smoke's　　village　had　come　with　the　express　design；　having　made　several　days'　　journey　with　no　other　object　than　that　of　enjoying　a　cup　of　coffee　　and　two　or　three　biscuits。　　So　the　〃feast〃　was　demanded；　and　the　　emigrants　dared　not　refuse　it。　One　evening；　about　sunset；　the　village　was　deserted。　　We　met　old　men；　　warriors；　squaws；　and　children　in　gay　attire；　trooping　off　to　the　　encampment；　with　faces　of　anticipation；　and；　arriving　here；　they　　seated　themselves　in　a　semicircle。　　Smoke　occupied　the　center；　with　　his　warriors　on　either　hand；　the　young　men　and　boys　next　succeeded；　　and　the　squaws　and　children　formed　the　horns　of　the　crescent。　　The　　biscuit　and　coffee　were　most　promptly　dispatched；　the　emigrants　　staring　open…mouthed　at　their　savage　guests。　　With　each　new　emigrant　　party　that　arrived　at　Fort　Laramie　this　scene　was　renewed；　and　every　　day　the　Indians　grew　more　rapacious　and　presumptuous。　　One　evening　　they　broke　to　pieces；　out　of　mere　wantonness；　the　cups　from　which　　they　had　been　feasted；　and　this　so　exasperated　the　emigrants　that　　many　of　them　seized　their　rifles　and　could　scarcely　be　restrained　　from　firing　on　the　insolent　mob　of　Indians。　　Before　we　left　the　　country　this　dangerous　spirit　on　the　part　of　the　Dakota　had　mounted　　to　a　yet　higher　pitch。　　They　began　openly　to　threaten　the　emigrants　　with　destruction；　and　actually　fired　upon　one　or　two　parties　of　　whites。　　A　military　force　and　military　law　are　urgently　called　for　in　　that　perilous　region；　and　unless　troops　are　speedily　stationed　at　　Fort　Laramie；　or　elsewhere　in　the　neighborhood；　both　the　emigrants　　and　other　travelers　will　be　exposed　to　most　imminent　risks。　The　Ogallalla；　the　Brules；　and　other　western　bands　of　the　Dakota；　are　　thorough　savages；　unchanged　by　any　contact　with　civilization。　　Not　　one　of　them　can　speak　a　European　tongue；　or　has　ever　visited　an　　American　settlement。　　Until　within　a　year　or　two；　when　the　emigrants　　began　to　pass　through　their　country　on　the　way　to　Oregon；　they　had　　seen　no　whites　except　the　handful　employed　about　the　Fur　Company's　　posts。　　They　esteemed　them　a　wise　people；　inferior　only　to　　themselves；　living　in　leather　lodges；　like　their　own；　and　subsisting　　on　buffalo。　　But　when　the　swarm　of　MENEASKA；　with　their　oxen　and　　wagons；　began　to　invade　them；　their　astonishment　was　unbounded。　　They　　could　scarcely　believe　that　the　earth　contained　such　a　multitude　of　　white　men。　　Their　wonder　is　now　giving　way　to　indignation；　and　the　　result；　unless　vigilantly　guarded　against；　may　be　lamentable　in　the　　extreme。　But　to　glance　at　the　interior　of　a　lodge。　　Shaw　and　I　used　often　to　　visit　them。　　Indeed；　we　spent　most　of　our　evenings　in　the　Indian　　village；　Shaw's　assumption　of　the　medical　character　giving　us　a　fair　　pretext。　　As　a　sample　of　the　rest　I　will　describe　one　of　these　　visits。　　The　sun　had　just　set；　and　the　horses　were　driven　into　the　　corral。　　The　Prairie　Cock；　a　noted　beau；　came　in　at　the　gate　with　a　　bevy　of　young　girls；　with　whom　he　began　to　dan