the oregon trail-第22部分

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airie　Cock；　a　noted　beau；　came　in　at　the　gate　with　a　　bevy　of　young　girls；　with　whom　he　began　to　dance　in　the　area；　leading　　them　round　and　round　in　a　circle；　while　he　jerked　up　from　his　chest　a　　succession　of　monotonous　sounds；　to　which　they　kept　time　in　a　rueful　　chant。　　Outside　the　gate　boys　and　young　men　were　idly　frolicking；　and　　close　by；　looking　grimly　upon　them；　stood　a　warrior　in　his　robe；　with　　his　face　painted　jet…black；　in　token　that　he　had　lately　taken　a　　Pawnee　scalp。　　Passing　these；　the　tall　dark　lodges　rose　between　us　　and　the　red　western　sky。　　We　repaired　at　once　to　the　lodge　of　Old　　Smoke　himself。　　It　was　by　no　means　better　than　the　others；　indeed；　it　　was　rather　shabby；　for　in　this　democratic　community；　the　chief　never　　assumes　superior　state。　　Smoke　sat　cross…legged　on　a　buffalo　robe；　　and　his　grunt　of　salutation　as　we　entered　was　unusually　cordial；　out　　of　respect　no　doubt　to　Shaw's　medical　character。　　Seated　around　the　　lodge　were　several　squaws；　and　an　abundance　of　children。　　The　　complaint　of　Shaw's　patients　was；　for　the　most　part；　a　severe　　inflammation　of　the　eyes；　occasioned　by　exposure　to　the　sun；　a　　species　of　disorder　which　he　treated　with　some　success。　　He　had　　brought　with　him　a　homeopathic　medicine　chest；　and　was；　I　presume；　　the　first　who　introduced　that　harmless　system　of　treatment　among　the　　Ogallalla。　　No　sooner　had　a　robe　been　spread　at　the　head　of　the　lodge　　for　our　accommodation；　and　we　had　seated　ourselves　upon　it；　than　a　　patient　made　her　appearance；　the　chief's　daughter　herself；　who；　to　do　　her　justice；　was　the　best…looking　girl　in　the　village。　　Being　on　　excellent　terms　with　the　physician；　she　placed　herself　readily　under　　his　hands；　and　submitted　with　a　good　grace　to　his　applications；　　laughing　in　his　face　during　the　whole　process；　for　a　squaw　hardly　　knows　how　to　smile。　　This　case　dispatched；　another　of　a　different　　kind　succeeded。　　A　hideous；　emaciated　old　woman　sat　in　the　darkest　　corner　of　the　lodge　rocking　to　and　fro　with　pain　and　hiding　her　eyes　　from　the　light　by　pressing　the　palms　of　both　hands　against　her　face。　　　At　Smoke's　command；　she　came　forward；　very　unwillingly；　and　exhibited　　a　pair　of　eyes　that　had　nearly　disappeared　from　excess　of　　inflammation。　　No　sooner　had　the　doctor　fastened　his　grips　upon　her　　than　she　set　up　a　dismal　moaning；　and　writhed　so　in　his　grasp　that　he　　lost　all　patience；　but　being　resolved　to　carry　his　point；　he　　succeeded　at　last　in　applying　his　favorite　remedies。　〃It　is　strange；〃　he　said；　when　the　operation　was　finished；　〃that　I　　forgot　to　bring　any　Spanish　flies　with　me；　we　must　have　something　　here　to　answer　for　a　counter…irritant！〃　So；　in　the　absence　of　better；　he　seized　upon　a　red…hot　brand　from　the　　fire；　and　clapped　it　against　the　temple　of　the　old　squaw；　who　set　up　　an　unearthly　howl；　at　which　the　rest　of　the　family　broke　out　into　a　　laugh。　During　these　medical　operations　Smoke's　eldest　squaw　entered　the　　lodge；　with　a　sort　of　stone　mallet　in　her　hand。　　I　had　observed　some　　time　before　a　litter　of　well…grown　black　puppies；　comfortably　nestled　　among　some　buffalo　robes　at　one　side；　but　this　newcomer　speedily　　disturbed　their　enjoyment；　for　seizing　one　of　them　by　the　hind　paw；　　she　dragged　him　out；　and　carrying　him　to　the　entrance　of　the　lodge；　　hammered　him　on　the　head　till　she　killed　him。　　Being　quite　conscious　　to　what　this　preparation　tended；　I　looked　through　a　hole　in　the　back　　of　the　lodge　to　see　the　next　steps　of　the　process。　　The　squaw；　　holding　the　puppy　by　the　legs；　was　swinging　him　to　and　fro　through　　the　blaze　of　a　fire；　until　the　hair　was　singed　off。　　This　done；　she　　unsheathed　her　knife　and　cut　him　into　small　pieces；　which　she　dropped　　into　a　kettle　to　boil。　　In　a　few　moments　a　large　wooden　dish　was　set　　before　us；　filled　with　this　delicate　preparation。　　We　felt　conscious　　of　the　honor。　　A　dog…feast　is　the　greatest　compliment　a　Dakota　can　　offer　to　his　guest；　and　knowing　that　to　refuse　eating　would　be　an　　affront；　we　attacked　the　little　dog　and　devoured　him　before　the　eyes　　of　his　unconscious　parent。　　Smoke　in　the　meantime　was　preparing　his　　great　pipe。　　It　was　lighted　when　we　had　finished　our　repast；　and　we　　passed　it　from　one　to　another　till　the　bowl　was　empty。　　This　done；　we　　took　our　leave　without　further　ceremony；　knocked　at　the　gate　of　the　　fort；　and　after　making　ourselves　known　were　admitted。　One　morning；　about　a　week　after　reaching　Fort　Laramie；　we　were　　holding　our　customary　Indian　levee；　when　a　bustle　in　the　area　below　　announced　a　new　arrival；　and　looking　down　from　our　balcony；　I　saw　a　　familiar　red　beard　and　mustache　in　the　gateway。　　They　belonged　to　the　　captain；　who　with　his　party　had　just　crossed　the　stream。　　We　met　him　　on　the　stairs　as　he　came　up；　and　congratulated　him　on　the　safe　　arrival　of　himself　and　his　devoted　companions。　　But　he　remembered　our　　treachery；　and　was　grave　and　dignified　accordingly；　a　tendency　which　　increased　as　he　observed　on　our　part　a　disposition　to　laugh　at　him。　　　After　remaining　an　hour　or　two　at　the　fort　he　rode　away　with　his　　friends；　and　we　have　heard　nothing　of　him　since。　　As　for　R。；　he　kept　　carefully　aloof。　　It　was　but　too　evident　that　we　had　the　unhappiness　　to　have　forfeited　the　kind　regards　of　our　London　fellow…traveler。

CHAPTER　X　THE　WAR　PARTIES

The　summer　of　1846　was　a　season　of　much　warlike　excitement　among　all　　the　western　bands　of　the　Dakota。　　In　1845　they　encountered　great　　reverses。　　Many　war　parties　had　been　sent　out；　some　of　them　had　been　　totally　cut　off；　and　others　had　returned　broken　and　disheartened；　so　　that　the　whole　nation　was　in　mourning。　　Among　the　rest；　ten　warriors　　had　gone　to　the　Snake　country；　led　by　the　son　of　a　prominent　　Ogallalla　chief；　called　The　Whirlwind。　　In　passing　over　Laramie　　Plains　they　encountered　a　superior　number　of　their　enemies；　were　　surrounded；　and　killed　to　a　man。　　Having　performed　this　exploit　the　　Snakes　became　alarmed；　dreading　the　resentment　of　the　Dakota；　and　　they　hastened　therefore　to　signify　their　wish　for　peace　by　sending　　the　scalp　of　the　slain　partisan；　together　with　a　small　parcel　of　　tobacco　attached；　to　his　tribesmen　and　relations。　　They　had　employed　　old　Vaskiss；　the　trader；　as　their　messenger；　and　the　scalp　was　the　　same　that　hung　in　our　room　at　the　fort。　　But　The　Whirlwind　proved　　inexorable。　　Though　his　character　hardly　corresponds　with　his　name；　　he　is　nevertheless　an　Indian；　and　hates　the　Snakes　with　his　whole　　soul。　　Long　before　the　scalp　arrived　he　had　made　his　preparations　for　　revenge。　　He　sent　messengers　with　presents　and　tobacco　to　all　the　　Dakota　within　three　hundred　miles；　proposing　a　grand　combination　to　　chastise　the　Snakes；　and　naming　a　place　and　time　of　rendezvous。　　The　　plan　was　readily　adopted　and　at　this　moment　many　villages；　probably　　embracing　in　the　whole　five　or　six　thousand　souls；　were　slowly　　creeping　over　the　prairies　and　tending　towards　the　common　center　at　　La　Bonte's　Camp；　on　the　Platte。　　Here　their　war…like　rites　were　to　be　　celebrated　with　more　than　ordinary　solemnity；　and　a　thousand　　warriors；　as　it　was　said；　were　to　set　out　for　the　enemy　country。　　The　　characteristic　result　of　this　preparation　will　appear　in　the　sequel。　I　was　greatly　rejoiced　to　hear　of　it。　　I　had　come　into　the　country　　almost　exclusively　with　a　view　of　observing　the　Indian　character。　　　Having　from　childhood　felt　a　curiosity　on　this　subject；　and　having　　failed　completely　to　gratify　it　by　reading；　I　resolved　to　have　　recourse　to　observation。　　I　wished　to　satisfy　myself　with　regard　to　　the　position　of　the　Indians　among　the　races　of　men；　the　vices　and　the　　virtues　that　have　sprung　from　their　innate　character　and　from　their　　modes　of　life；　their　government；　their　superstitions；　and　their　　domestic　situation。　　To　accomplish　my　purpose　it　was　necessary　to　　live　in　the　midst　of　them；　and　become；　as　it　were；　one　of　them。　　I　　proposed　to　join　a　village　and　make　myself　an　inmate　of　one　of　their　　lodges；　and　henceforward　this　narrative；　so　far　as　I　am　concerned；　　will　be　chiefly　a　record　of　the　progress　of　this　design　apparently　so　　easy　of　accomplishment；　and　the　unexpected　impediments　that　opposed　　it。　We　resolved　on　no　account　to　miss　the　rendezvous　at　La　Bonte's　Camp。　　　Our　plan　was　to　leave　Delorier　at　the　fort；　in　charge　of　our　equipage　　and　the　better　part　of　our　horses；　while　we　took　with　us　nothing　but　　our　weapons　and　the　worst　animals　we　had。　　In　all　probability　　jealousies　and　quarrels　would　arise　among　so　many　hordes　of　fierce　　impulsive　savages；　congregated　together　under　no　common　head；　and　　many　of　them　strangers；　from　remote　prairies　and　mountains。　　We　were　　bound　in　common　prudence　to　be　cautious　how　we　excited　any　feeling　of　　cupidity。　　This　was　our　plan；　but　unhappily　we　were　not　destined　to　　visit　La　Bonte's　Camp　in　this　manner；　for　one　morning　a　young　Indian　　came　to　the　fort　and　brought　us　evil　tidings。　　The　newcomer　was　a　　dandy　of　the　first　water。　　His　ugly　face　was　painted　with　vermilion；　　on　his　head　fluttered　the　tail　of　a　prairie　cock　（a　large　species　of　　pheasant；　not　found；　as　I　have　heard；　eastward　of　the　Rocky　　Mountains）；　in　his　ears　were　hung　pendants　of　shell；　and　a　flaming　　red　blanket　was　wrapped　around　him。　　He　carried　a　dragoon　sword　in　　his　hand；　solely　for　display；　since　the　knife；　the　arrow；　and　the　　rifle　are　the　arbiters　of　every　prairie　fight；　but　no　one　in　this　　country　goes　abroad　unarmed；　the　dandy　carried　a　bow　and　arrows　in　an　　otter…skin　quiver　at　his　back。　　In　this　guise；　and　bestriding　his　　yellow　horse　with　an　air　of　extreme　dignity；　The　Horse；　for　that　was　　his　name；　rode　in　at　the　gate；　turning　neither　to　the　right　nor　the　　left；　but　casting　glances　askance　at　the　groups　of　squaws　who；　with　　their　mongrel　progeny；　were　sitting　in　the　sun　before　their　doors。　　　The　evil　tidings　brought　by　The　Horse　were　of　the　following　import：　　The　squaw　of　Henry　Chatillon；　a　woman　with　whom　he　had　been　connected　　for　years　by　the　strongest　ties　which　in　that　country　exist　between　　the　sexes；　was　dangerously　ill。　　She　and　her　children　were　in　the　　village　of　The　Whirlwind；　at　the　distance　of　a　few　days'　journey。　　　Henry　was　anxious　to　see　the　woman　before　she　died；　and　provide　for　　the　safety　and　support　of　his　children；　of　whom　he　was　extremely　　fond。　　To　have　refused　him　this　would　have　been　gross　i