the oregon trail-第24部分

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；　　several　Crow　war　parties　were　known　to　be　in　the　vicinity；　and　one　of　　them；　that　passed　here　some　time　before；　had　peeled　the　bark　from　a　　neighboring　tree；　and　engraved　upon　the　white　wood　certain　　hieroglyphics；　to　signify　that　they　had　invaded　the　territories　of　　their　enemies；　the　Dakota；　and　set　them　at　defiance。　　One　morning　a　　thick　mist　covered　the　whole　country。　　Shaw　and　Henry　went　out　to　　ride；　and　soon　came　back　with　a　startling　piece　of　intelligence；　they　　had　found　within　rifle…shot　of　our　camp　the　recent　trail　of　about　　thirty　horsemen。　　They　could　not　be　whites；　and　they　could　not　be　　Dakota；　since　we　knew　no　such　parties　to　be　in　the　neighborhood；　　therefore　they　must　be　Crows。　　Thanks　to　that　friendly　mist；　we　had　　escaped　a　hard　battle；　they　would　inevitably　have　attacked　us　and　our　　Indian　companions　had　they　seen　our　camp。　　Whatever　doubts　we　might　　have　entertained；　were　quite　removed　a　day　or　two　after；　by　two　or　　three　Dakota；　who　came　to　us　with　an　account　of　having　hidden　in　a　　ravine　on　that　very　morning；　from　whence　they　saw　and　counted　the　　Crows；　they　said　that　they　followed　them；　carefully　keeping　out　of　　sight；　as　they　passed　up　Chugwater；　that　here　the　Crows　discovered　　five　dead　bodies　of　Dakota；　placed　according　to　the　national　custom　　in　trees；　and　flinging　them　to　the　ground；　they　held　their　guns　　against　them　and　blew　them　to　atoms。　If　our　camp　were　not　altogether　safe；　still　it　was　comfortable　　enough；　at　least　it　was　so　to　Shaw；　for　I　was　tormented　with　illness　　and　vexed　by　the　delay　in　the　accomplishment　of　my　designs。　　When　a　　respite　in　my　disorder　gave　me　some　returning　strength；　I　rode　out　　well…armed　upon　the　prairie；　or　bathed　with　Shaw　in　the　stream；　or　　waged　a　petty　warfare　with　the　inhabitants　of　a　neighborhood　prairie…　dog　village。　　Around　our　fire　at　night　we　employed　ourselves　in　　inveighing　against　the　fickleness　and　inconstancy　of　Indians；　and　　execrating　The　Whirlwind　and　all　his　village。　　At　last　the　thing　grew　　insufferable。　〃To…morrow　morning；〃　said　I；　〃I　will　start　for　the　fort；　and　see　if　I　　can　hear　any　news　there。〃　　Late　that　evening；　when　the　fire　had　sunk　　low；　and　all　the　camp　were　asleep；　a　loud　cry　sounded　from　the　　darkness。　　Henry　started　up；　recognized　the　voice；　replied　to　it；　and　　our　dandy　friend；　The　Horse；　rode　in　among　us；　just　returned　from　his　　mission　to　the　village。　　He　coolly　picketed　his　mare；　without　saying　　a　word；　sat　down　by　the　fire　and　began　to　eat；　but　his　imperturbable　　philosophy　was　too　much　for　our　patience。　　Where　was　the　village？　　about　fifty　miles　south　of　us；　it　was　moving　slowly　and　would　not　　arrive　in　less　than　a　week；　and　where　was　Henry's　squaw？　coming　as　　fast　as　she　could　with　Mahto…Tatonka；　and　the　rest　of　her　brothers；　　but　she　would　never　reach　us；　for　she　was　dying；　and　asking　every　　moment　for　Henry。　　Henry's　manly　face　became　clouded　and　downcast；　he　　said　that　if　we　were　willing　he　would　go　in　the　morning　to　find　her；　　at　which　Shaw　offered　to　accompany　him。　We　saddled　our　horses　at　sunrise。　　Reynal　protested　vehemently　　against　being　left　alone；　with　nobody　but　the　two　Canadians　and　the　　young　Indians；　when　enemies　were　in　the　neighborhood。　　Disregarding　　his　complaints；　we　left　him；　and　coming　to　the　mouth　of　Chugwater；　　separated；　Shaw　and　Henry　turning　to　the　right；　up　the　bank　of　the　　stream；　while　I　made　for　the　fort。　Taking　leave　for　a　while　of　my　friend　and　the　unfortunate　squaw；　I　　will　relate　by　way　of　episode　what　I　saw　and　did　at　Fort　Laramie。　　It　　was　not　more　than　eighteen　miles　distant；　and　I　reached　it　in　three　　hours；　a　shriveled　little　figure；　wrapped　from　head　to　foot　in　a　　dingy　white　Canadian　capote；　stood　in　the　gateway；　holding　by　a　cord　　of　bull's　hide　a　shaggy　wild　horse；　which　he　had　lately　caught。　　His　　sharp　prominent　features；　and　his　little　keen　snakelike　eyes；　looked　　out　from　beneath　the　shadowy　hood　of　the　capote；　which　was　drawn　over　　his　head　exactly　like　the　cowl　of　a　Capuchin　friar。　　His　face　was　　extremely　thin　and　like　an　old　piece　of　leather；　and　his　mouth　spread　　from　ear　to　ear。　　Extending　his　long　wiry　hand；　he　welcomed　me　with　　something　more　cordial　than　the　ordinary　cold　salute　of　an　Indian；　　for　we　were　excellent　friends。　　He　had　made　an　exchange　of　horses　to　　our　mutual　advantage；　and　Paul；　thinking　himself　well…treated；　had　　declared　everywhere　that　the　white　man　had　a　good　heart。　　He　was　a　　Dakota　from　the　Missouri；　a　reputed　son　of　the　half…breed　　interpreter；　Pierre　Dorion；　so　often　mentioned　in　Irving's　〃Astoria。〃　　　He　said　that　he　was　going　to　Richard's　trading　house　to　sell　his　　horse　to　some　emigrants　who　were　encamped　there；　and　asked　me　to　go　　with　him。　　We　forded　the　stream　together；　Paul　dragging　his　wild　　charge　behind　him。　　As　we　passed　over　the　sandy　plains　beyond；　he　　grew　quite　communicative。　　Paul　was　a　cosmopolitan　in　his　way；　he　had　　been　to　the　settlements　of　the　whites；　and　visited　in　peace　and　war　　most　of　the　tribes　within　the　range　of　a　thousand　miles。　　He　spoke　a　　jargon　of　French　and　another　of　English；　yet　nevertheless　he　was　a　　thorough　Indian；　and　as　he　told　of　the　bloody　deeds　of　his　own　people　　against　their　enemies；　his　little　eye　would　glitter　with　a　fierce　　luster。　　He　told　how　the　Dakota　exterminated　a　village　of　the　Hohays　　on　the　Upper　Missouri；　slaughtering　men；　women；　and　children；　and　how　　an　overwhelming　force　of　them　cut　off　sixteen　of　the　brave　Delawares；　　who　fought　like　wolves　to　the　last；　amid　the　throng　of　their　enemies。　　　He　told　me　also　another　story；　which　I　did　not　believe　until　I　had　it　　confirmed　from　so　many　independent　sources　that　no　room　was　left　for　　doubt。　　I　am　tempted　to　introduce　it　here。　Six　years　ago　a　fellow　named　Jim　Beckwith；　a　mongrel　of　French；　　American；　and　negro　blood；　was　trading　for　the　Fur　Company；　in　a　very　　large　village　of　the　Crows。　　Jim　Beckwith　was　last　summer　at　St。　　Louis。　　He　is　a　ruffian　of　the　first　stamp；　bloody　and　treacherous；　　without　honor　or　honesty；　such　at　least　is　the　character　he　bears　　upon　the　prairie。　　Yet　in　his　case　all　the　standard　rules　of　　character　fail；　for　though　he　will　stab　a　man　in　his　sleep；　he　will　　also　perform　most　desperate　acts　of　daring；　such；　for　instance；　as　　the　following：　While　he　was　in　the　Crow　village；　a　Blackfoot　war　　party；　between　thirty　and　forty　in　number　came　stealing　through　the　　country；　killing　stragglers　and　carrying　off　horses。　　The　Crow　　warriors　got　upon　their　trail　and　pressed　them　so　closely　that　they　　could　not　escape；　at　which　the　Blackfeet；　throwing　up　a　semicircular　　breastwork　of　logs　at　the　foot　of　a　precipice；　coolly　awaited　their　　approach。　　The　logs　and　sticks；　piled　four　or　five　high；　protected　　them　in　front。　　The　Crows　might　have　swept　over　the　breastwork　and　　exterminated　their　enemies；　but　though　out…numbering　them　tenfold；　　they　did　not　dream　of　storming　the　little　fortification。　　Such　a　　proceeding　would　be　altogether　repugnant　to　their　notions　of　warfare。　　　Whooping　and　yelling；　and　jumping　from　side　to　side　like　devils　　incarnate；　they　showered　bullets　and　arrows　upon　the　logs；　not　a　　Blackfoot　was　hurt；　but　several　Crows；　in　spite　of　their　leaping　and　　dodging；　were　shot　down。　　In　this　childish　manner　the　fight　went　on　　for　an　hour　or　two。　　Now　and　then　a　Crow　warrior　in　an　ecstasy　of　　valor　and　vainglory　would　scream　forth　his　war　song；　boasting　himself　　the　bravest　and　greatest　of　mankind；　and　grasping　his　hatchet；　would　　rush　up　and　strike　it　upon　the　breastwork；　and　then　as　he　retreated　　to　his　companions；　fall　dead　under　a　shower　of　arrows；　yet　no　　combined　attack　seemed　to　be　dreamed　of。　　The　Blackfeet　remained　　secure　in　their　intrenchment。　　At　last　Jim　Beckwith　lost　patience。　〃You　are　all　fools　and　old　women；〃　he　said　to　the　Crows；　〃come　with　　me；　if　any　of　you　are　brave　enough；　and　I　will　show　you　how　to　　fight。〃　He　threw　off　his　trapper's　frock　of　buckskin　and　stripped　himself　　naked　like　the　Indians　themselves。　　He　left　his　rifle　on　the　ground；　　and　taking　in　his　hand　a　small　light　hatchet；　he　ran　over　the　prairie　　to　the　right；　concealed　by　a　hollow　from　the　eyes　of　the　Blackfeet。　　　Then　climbing　up　the　rocks；　he　gained　the　top　of　the　precipice　behind　　them。　　Forty　or　fifty　young　Crow　warriors　followed　him。　　By　the　cries　　and　whoops　that　rose　from　below　he　knew　that　the　Blackfeet　were　just　　beneath　him；　and　running　forward；　he　leaped　down　the　rock　into　the　　midst　of　them。　　As　he　fell　he　caught　one　by　the　long　loose　hair　and　　dragging　him　down　tomahawked　him；　then　grasping　another　by　the　belt　　at　his　waist；　he　struck　him　also　a　stunning　blow；　and　gaining　his　　feet；　shouted　the　Crow　war…cry。　　He　swung　his　hatchet　so　fiercely　　around　him　that　the　astonished　Blackfeet　bore　back　and　gave　him　room。　　　He　might；　had　he　chosen；　have　leaped　over　the　breastwork　and　escaped；　　but　this　was　not　necessary；　for　with　devilish　yells　the　Crow　warriors　　came　dropping　in　quick　succession　over　the　rock　among　their　enemies。　　　The　main　body　of　the　Crows；　too；　answered　the　cry　from　the　front　and　　rushed　up　simultaneously。　　The　convulsive　struggle　within　the　　breastwork　was　frightful；　for　an　instant　the　Blackfeet　fought　and　　yelled　like　pent…up　tigers；　but　the　butchery　was　soon　complete；　and　　the　mangled　bodies　lay　piled　up　together　under　the　precipice。　　Not　a　　Blackfoot　made　his　escape。　As　Paul　finished　his　story　we　came　in　sight　of　Richard's　Fort。　　It　　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　plain；　a　disorderly　crowd　of　men　around　　it；　and　an　emigrant　camp　a　little　in　front。　〃Now；　Paul；〃　said　I；　〃where　are　your　Winnicongew　lodges？〃　〃Not　come　yet；〃　said　Paul；　〃maybe　come　to…morrow。〃　Two　large　villages　of　a　band　of　Dakota　had　come　three　hundred　miles　　from　the　Missouri；　to　join　in　the　war；　and　they　were　expected　to　　reach　Richard's　that　morning。　　There　was　as　yet　no　sign　of　their　　approach；　so　pushing　through　a　noisy；　drunken　crowd；　I　entered　an　　apartment　of　logs　and　mud；　the　largest　in　the　fort；　it　was　full　of　　men　of　various　races　and　complexions；　all　more　or　less　drunk。　　A　　company　of　California　emigrants；　it　seemed；　had　made　the　discovery　at　　this　late　day　that　they　had　encumbered　themselves　with　too　many　　supplies　for　their　journey。　　A　part；　therefore；　they　had　thrown　away　　or　sold　at　great　loss　to　the　traders；　but　had　determined　to　get　rid　　of