the oregon trail-第27部分

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g　stories　of　　their　adventures；　and　I　defy　the　annals　of　chivalry　to　furnish　the　　record　of　a　life　more　wild　and　perilous　than　that　of　a　Rocky　Mountain　　trapper。　With　this　efficient　re…enforcement　the　agitation　of　Reynal's　nerves　　subsided。　　He　began　to　conceive　a　sort　of　attachment　to　our　old　　camping　ground；　yet　it　was　time　to　change　our　quarters；　since　　remaining　too　long　on　one　spot　must　lead　to　certain　unpleasant　　results　not　to　be　borne　with　unless　in　a　case　of　dire　necessity。　　The　　grass　no　longer　presented　a　smooth　surface　of　turf；　it　was　trampled　　into　mud　and　clay。　　So　we　removed　to　another　old　tree；　larger　yet；　　that　grew　by　the　river　side　at　a　furlong's　distance。　　Its　trunk　was　　full　six　feet　in　diameter；　on　one　side　it　was　marked　by　a　party　of　　Indians　with　various　inexplicable　hieroglyphics；　commemorating　some　　warlike　enterprise；　and　aloft　among　the　branches　were　the　remains　of　　a　scaffolding；　where　dead　bodies　had　once　been　deposited；　after　the　　Indian　manner。　〃There　comes　Bull…Bear；〃　said　Henry　Chatillon；　as　we　sat　on　the　grass　　at　dinner。　　Looking　up；　we　saw　several　horsemen　coming　over　the　　neighboring　hill；　and　in　a　moment　four　stately　young　men　rode　up　and　　dismounted。　　One　of　them　was　Bull…Bear；　or　Mahto…Tatonka；　a　compound　　name　which　he　inherited　from　his　father；　the　most　powerful　chief　in　　the　Ogallalla　band。　　One　of　his　brothers　and　two　other　young　men　　accompanied　him。　　We　shook　hands　with　the　visitors；　and　when　we　had　　finished　our　mealfor　this　is　the　orthodox　manner　of　entertaining　　Indians；　even　the　best　of　themwe　handed　to　each　a　tin　cup　of　coffee　　and　a　biscuit；　at　which　they　ejaculated　from　the　bottom　of　their　　throats；　'How！　how！〃　a　monosyllable　by　which　an　Indian　contrives　to　　express　half　the　emotions　that　he　is　susceptible　of。　　Then　we　lighted　　the　pipe；　and　passed　it　to　them　as　they　squatted　on　the　ground。　〃Where　is　the　village？〃　〃There；〃　said　Mahto…Tatonka；　pointing　southward；　〃it　will　come　in　two　　days。〃　〃Will　they　go　to　the　war？〃　〃Yes。〃　No　man　is　a　philanthropist　on　the　prairie。　　We　welcomed　this　news　　most　cordially；　and　congratulated　ourselves　that　Bordeaux's　　interested　efforts　to　divert　The　Whirlwind　from　his　congenial　　vocation　of　bloodshed　had　failed　of　success；　and　that　no　additional　　obstacles　would　interpose　between　us　and　our　plan　of　repairing　to　the　　rendezvous　at　La　Bonte's　Camp。　For　that　and　several　succeeding　days；　Mahto…Tatonka　and　his　friends　　remained　our　guests。　　They　devoured　the　relics　of　our　meals；　they　　filled　the　pipe　for　us　and　also　helped　us　to　smoke　it。　　Sometimes　　they　stretched　themselves　side　by　side　in　the　shade；　indulging　in　　raillery　and　practical　jokes　ill　becoming　the　dignity　of　brave　and　　aspiring　warriors；　such　as　two　of　them　in　reality　were。　Two　days　dragged　away；　and　on　the　morning　of　the　third　we　hoped　　confidently　to　see　the　Indian　village。　　It　did　not　come；　so　we　rode　　out　to　look　for　it。　　In　place　of　the　eight　hundred　Indians　we　　expected；　we　met　one　solitary　savage　riding　toward　us　over　the　　prairie；　who　told　us　that　the　Indians　had　changed　their　plans；　and　　would　not　come　within　three　days；　still　he　persisted　that　they　were　　going　to　the　war。　　Taking　along　with　us　this　messenger　of　evil　　tidings；　we　retraced　our　footsteps　to　the　camp；　amusing　ourselves　by　　the　way　with　execrating　Indian　inconstancy。　　When　we　came　in　sight　of　　our　little　white　tent　under　the　big　tree；　we　saw　that　it　no　longer　　stood　alone。　　A　huge　old　lodge　was　erected　close　by　its　side；　　discolored　by　rain　and　storms；　rotted　with　age；　with　the　uncouth　　figures　of　horses　and　men；　and　outstretched　hands　that　were　painted　　upon　it；　well…nigh　obliterated。　　The　long　poles　which　supported　this　　squalid　habitation　thrust　themselves　rakishly　out　from　its　pointed　　top；　and　over　its　entrance　were　suspended　a　〃medicine…pipe〃　and　　various　other　implements　of　the　magic　art。　　While　we　were　yet　at　a　　distance；　we　observed　a　greatly　increased　population　of　various　　colors　and　dimensions；　swarming　around　our　quiet　encampment。　　Moran；　　the　trapper；　having　been　absent　for　a　day　or　two；　had　returned；　it　　seemed；　bringing　all　his　family　with　him。　　He　had　taken　to　himself　a　　wife　for　whom　he　had　paid　the　established　price　of　one　horse。　　This　　looks　cheap　at　first　sight；　but　in　truth　the　purchase　of　a　squaw　is　a　　transaction　which　no　man　should　enter　into　without　mature　　deliberation；　since　it　involves　not　only　the　payment　of　the　first　　price；　but　the　formidable　burden　of　feeding　and　supporting　a　　rapacious　horde　of　the　bride's　relatives；　who　hold　themselves　　entitled　to　feed　upon　the　indiscreet　white　man。　　They　gather　round　　like　leeches；　and　drain　him　of　all　he　has。　Moran；　like　Reynal；　had　not　allied　himself　to　an　aristocratic　circle。　　　His　relatives　occupied　but　a　contemptible　position　in　Ogallalla　　society；　for　among　those　wild　democrats　of　the　prairie；　as　among　us；　　there　are　virtual　distinctions　of　rank　and　place；　though　this　great　　advantage　they　have　over　us；　that　wealth　has　no　part　in　determining　　such　distinctions。　　Moran's　partner　was　not　the　most　beautiful　of　her　　sex；　and　he　had　the　exceedingly　bad　taste　to　array　her　in　an　old　　calico　gown　bought　from　an　emigrant　woman；　instead　of　the　neat　and　　graceful　tunic　of　whitened　deerskin　worn　ordinarily　by　the　squaws。　　　The　moving　spirit　of　the　establishment；　in　more　senses　than　one；　was　　a　hideous　old　hag　of　eighty。　　Human　imagination　never　conceived　　hobgoblin　or　witch　more　ugly　than　she。　　You　could　count　all　her　ribs　　through　the　wrinkles　of　the　leathery　skin　that　covered　them。　　Her　　withered　face　more　resembled　an　old　skull　than　the　countenance　of　a　　living　being；　even　to　the　hollow；　darkened　sockets；　at　the　bottom　of　　which　glittered　her　little　black　eyes。　　Her　arms　had　dwindled　away　　into　nothing　but　whipcord　and　wire。　　Her　hair；　half　black；　half　gray；　　hung　in　total　neglect　nearly　to　the　ground；　and　her　sole　garment　　consisted　of　the　remnant　of　a　discarded　buffalo　robe　tied　round　her　　waist　with　a　string　of　hide。　　Yet　the　old　squaw's　meager　anatomy　was　　wonderfully　strong。　　She　pitched　the　lodge；　packed　the　horses；　and　　did　the　hardest　labor　of　the　camp。　　From　morning　till　night　she　　bustled　about　the　lodge；　screaming　like　a　screech…owl　when　anything　　displeased　her。　　Then　there　was　her　brother；　a　〃medicine…man；〃　or　　magician；　equally　gaunt　and　sinewy　with　herself。　　His　mouth　spread　　from　ear　to　ear；　and　his　appetite；　as　we　had　full　occasion　to　learn；　　was　ravenous　in　proportion。　　The　other　inmates　of　the　lodge　were　a　　young　bride　and　bridegroom；　the　latter　one　of　those　idle；　good…for　　nothing　fellows　who　infest　an　Indian　village　as　well　as　more　　civilized　communities。　　He　was　fit　neither　for　hunting　nor　for　war；　　and　one　might　infer　as　much　from　the　stolid　unmeaning　expression　of　　his　face。　　The　happy　pair　had　just　entered　upon　the　honeymoon。　　They　　would　stretch　a　buffalo　robe　upon　poles；　so　as　to　protect　them　from　　the　fierce　rays　of　the　sun；　and　spreading　beneath　this　rough　canopy　a　　luxuriant　couch　of　furs；　would　sit　affectionately　side　by　side　for　　half　the　day；　though　I　could　not　discover　that　much　conversation　　passed　between　them。　　Probably　they　had　nothing　to　say；　for　an　　Indian's　supply　of　topics　for　conversation　is　far　from　being　copious。　　　There　were　half　a　dozen　children；　too；　playing　and　whooping　about　the　　camp；　shooting　birds　with　little　bows　and　arrows；　or　making　miniature　　lodges　of　sticks；　as　children　of　a　different　complexion　build　houses　　of　blocks。　A　day　passed；　and　Indians　began　rapidly　to　come　in。　　Parties　of　two　　or　three　or　more　would　ride　up　and　silently　seat　themselves　on　the　　grass。　　The　fourth　day　came　at　last；　when　about　noon　horsemen　　suddenly　appeared　into　view　on　the　summit　of　the　neighboring　ridge。　　　They　descended；　and　behind　them　followed　a　wild　procession；　hurrying　　in　haste　and　disorder　down　the　hill　and　over　the　plain　below；　horses；　　mules；　and　dogs；　heavily　burdened　travaux；　mounted　warriors；　squaws　　walking　amid　the　throng；　and　a　host　of　children。　　For　a　full　half…　hour　they　continued　to　pour　down；　and　keeping　directly　to　the　bend　of　　the　stream；　within　a　furlong　of　us；　they　soon　assembled　there；　a　dark　　and　confused　throng；　until；　as　if　by　magic；　150　tall　lodges　sprung　　up。　　On　a　sudden　the　lonely　plain　was　transformed　into　the　site　of　a　　miniature　city。　　Countless　horses　were　soon　grazing　over　the　meadows　　around　us；　and　the　whole　prairie　was　animated　by　restless　figures　　careening　on　horseback；　or　sedately　stalking　in　their　long　white　　robes。　　The　Whirlwind　was　come　at　last！　　One　question　yet　remained　to　　be　answered：　〃Will　he　go　to　the　war；　in　order　that　we；　with　so　　respectable　an　escort；　may　pass　over　to　the　somewhat　perilous　　rendezvous　at　La　Bonte's　Camp？〃　Still　this　remained　in　doubt。　　Characteristic　indecision　perplexed　　their　councils。　　Indians　cannot　act　in　large　bodies。　　Though　their　　object　be　of　the　highest　importance；　they　cannot　combine　to　attain　it　　by　a　series　of　connected　efforts。　　King　Philip；　Pontiac；　and　Tecumseh　　all　felt　this　to　their　cost。　　The　Ogallalla　once　had　a　war　chief　who　　could　control　them；　but　he　was　dead；　and　now　they　were　left　to　the　　sway　of　their　own　unsteady　impulses。　This　Indian　village　and　its　inhabitants　will　hold　a　prominent　place　　in　the　rest　of　the　narrative；　and　perhaps　it　may　not　be　amiss　to　　glance　for　an　instant　at　the　savage　people　of　which　they　form　a　part。　　　The　Dakota　（I　prefer　this　national　designation　to　the　unmeaning　　French　name；　Sioux）　range　over　a　vast　territory；　from　the　river　St。　　Peter's　to　the　Rocky　Mountains　themselves。　　They　are　divided　into　　several　independent　bands；　united　under　no　central　government；　and　　acknowledge　no　common　head。　　The　same　language；　usages；　and　　superstitions　form　the　sole　bond　between　them。　　They　do　not　unite　　even　in　their　wars。　　The　bands　of　the　east　fight　the　Ojibwas　on　the　　Upper　Lakes；　those　of　the　west　make　incessant　war　upon　the　Snake　　Indians　in　the　Rocky　Mountains。　　As　the　whole　people　is　divided　into　　bands；　so　each　band　is　divided　into　villages。　　Each　village　has　a　　chief；　who　is　honored　and　obeyed　only　so　far　as　his　personal　　qualities　may　command　respect　and　fear。　　Sometimes　he　is　a　mere　　nominal　chief；　sometimes　his　authority　is　little　short　of　absolute；　　and　his　fame　and　influence　reach　even　beyond　his　own