the oregon trail-第3部分

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ent。　　In　　fact；　the　prairie　was　his　congenial　element。　　Henry　Chatillon　was　of　　a　different　stamp。　　When　we　were　at　St。　Louis；　several　gentlemen　of　　the　Fur　Company　had　kindly　offered　to　procure　for　us　a　hunter　and　　guide　suited　for　our　purposes；　and　on　coming　one　afternoon　to　the　　office；　we　found　there　a　tall　and　exceedingly　well…dressed　man　with　a　　face　so　open　and　frank　that　it　attracted　our　notice　at　once。　　We　were　　surprised　at　being　told　that　it　was　he　who　wished　to　guide　us　to　the　　mountains。　　He　was　born　in　a　little　French　town　near　St。　Louis；　and　　from　the　age　of　fifteen　years　had　been　constantly　in　the　neighborhood　　of　the　Rocky　Mountains；　employed　for　the　most　part　by　the　Company　to　　supply　their　forts　with　buffalo　meat。　　As　a　hunter　he　had　but　one　　rival　in　the　whole　region；　a　man　named　Cimoneau；　with　whom；　to　the　　honor　of　both　of　them；　he　was　on　terms　of　the　closest　friendship。　　He　　had　arrived　at　St。　Louis　the　day　before；　from　the　mountains；　where　he　　had　remained　for　four　years；　and　he　now　only　asked　to　go　and　spend　a　　day　with　his　mother　before　setting　out　on　another　expedition。　　His　　age　was　about　thirty；　he　was　six　feet　high；　and　very　powerfully　and　　gracefully　molded。　　The　prairies　had　been　his　school；　he　could　　neither　read　nor　write；　but　he　had　a　natural　refinement　and　delicacy　　of　mind　such　as　is　rarely　found；　even　in　women。　　His　manly　face　was　a　　perfect　mirror　of　uprightness；　simplicity；　and　kindness　of　heart；　he　　had；　moreover；　a　keen　perception　of　character　and　a　tact　that　would　　preserve　him　from　flagrant　error　in　any　society。　　Henry　had　not　the　　restless　energy　of　an　Anglo…American。　　He　was　content　to　take　things　　as　he　found　them；　and　his　chief　fault　arose　from　an　excess　of　easy　　generosity；　impelling　him　to　give　away　too　profusely　ever　to　thrive　　in　the　world。　　Yet　it　was　commonly　remarked　of　him；　that　whatever　he　　might　choose　to　do　with　what　belonged　to　himself；　the　property　of　　others　was　always　safe　in　his　hands。　　His　bravery　was　as　much　　celebrated　in　the　mountains　as　his　skill　in　hunting；　but　it　is　　characteristic　of　him　that　in　a　country　where　the　rifle　is　the　chief　　arbiter　between　man　and　man；　Henry　was　very　seldom　involved　in　　quarrels。　　Once　or　twice；　indeed；　his　quiet　good…nature　had　been　　mistaken　and　presumed　upon；　but　the　consequences　of　the　error　were　so　　formidable　that　no　one　was　ever　known　to　repeat　it。　　No　better　　evidence　of　the　intrepidity　of　his　temper　could　be　wished　than　the　　common　report　that　he　had　killed　more　than　thirty　grizzly　bears。　　He　　was　a　proof　of　what　unaided　nature　will　sometimes　do。　　I　have　never；　　in　the　city　or　in　the　wilderness；　met　a　better　man　than　my　noble　and　　true…hearted　friend；　Henry　Chatillon。　We　were　soon　free　of　the　woods　and　bushes；　and　fairly　upon　the　broad　　prairie。　　Now　and　then　a　Shawanoe　passed　us；　riding　his　little　shaggy　　pony　at　a　〃lope〃；　his　calico　shirt；　his　gaudy　sash；　and　the　gay　　handkerchief　bound　around　his　snaky　hair　fluttering　in　the　wind。　　At　　noon　we　stopped　to　rest　not　far　from　a　little　creek　replete　with　　frogs　and　young　turtles。　　There　had　been　an　Indian　encampment　at　the　　place；　and　the　framework　of　their　lodges　still　remained；　enabling　us　　very　easily　to　gain　a　shelter　from　the　sun；　by　merely　spreading　one　　or　two　blankets　over　them。　　Thus　shaded；　we　sat　upon　our　saddles；　and　　Shaw　for　the　first　time　lighted　his　favorite　Indian　pipe；　while　　Delorier　was　squatted　over　a　hot　bed　of　coals；　shading　his　eyes　with　　one　hand；　and　holding　a　little　stick　in　the　other；　with　which　he　　regulated　the　hissing　contents　of　the　frying…pan。　　The　horses　were　　turned　to　feed　among　the　scattered　bushes　of　a　low　oozy　meadow。　　A　　drowzy　springlike　sultriness　pervaded　the　air；　and　the　voices　of　ten　　thousand　young　frogs　and　insects；　just　awakened　into　life；　rose　in　　varied　chorus　from　the　creek　and　the　meadows。　Scarcely　were　we　seated　when　a　visitor　approached。　　This　was　an　old　　Kansas　Indian；　a　man　of　distinction；　if　one　might　judge　from　his　　dress。　　His　head　was　shaved　and　painted　red；　and　from　the　tuft　of　　hair　remaining　on　the　crown　dangled　several　eagles'　feathers；　and　the　　tails　of　two　or　three　rattlesnakes。　　His　cheeks；　too；　were　daubed　　with　vermilion；　his　ears　were　adorned　with　green　glass　pendants；　a　　collar　of　grizzly　bears'　claws　surrounded　his　neck；　and　several　large　　necklaces　of　wampum　hung　on　his　breast。　　Having　shaken　us　by　the　hand　　with　a　cordial　grunt　of　salutation；　the　old　man；　dropping　his　red　　blanket　from　his　shoulders；　sat　down　cross…legged　on　the　ground。　　In　　the　absence　of　liquor　we　offered　him　a　cup　of　sweetened　water；　at　　which　he　ejaculated　〃Good！〃　and　was　beginning　to　tell　us　how　great　a　　man　he　was；　and　how　many　Pawnees　he　had　killed；　when　suddenly　a　　motley　concourse　appeared　wading　across　the　creek　toward　us。　　They　　filed　past　in　rapid　succession；　men；　women；　and　children；　some　were　　on　horseback；　some　on　foot；　but　all　were　alike　squalid　and　wretched。　　　Old　squaws；　mounted　astride　of　shaggy；　meager　little　ponies；　with　　perhaps　one　or　two　snake…eyed　children　seated　behind　them；　clinging　　to　their　tattered　blankets；　tall　lank　young　men　on　foot；　with　bows　　and　arrows　in　their　hands；　and　girls　whose　native　ugliness　not　all　　the　charms　of　glass　beads　and　scarlet　cloth　could　disguise；　made　up　　the　procession；　although　here　and　there　was　a　man　who；　like　our　　visitor；　seemed　to　hold　some　rank　in　this　respectable　community。　　　They　were　the　dregs　of　the　Kansas　nation；　who；　while　their　betters　　were　gone　to　hunt　buffalo；　had　left　the　village　on　a　begging　　expedition　to　Westport。　When　this　ragamuffin　horde　had　passed；　we　caught　our　horses；　saddled；　　harnessed；　and　resumed　our　journey。　　Fording　the　creek；　the　low　roofs　　of　a　number　of　rude　buildings　appeared；　rising　from　a　cluster　of　　groves　and　woods　on　the　left；　and　riding　up　through　a　long　lane；　amid　　a　profusion　of　wild　roses　and　early　spring　flowers；　we　found　the　log…　church　and　school…houses　belonging　to　the　Methodist　Shawanoe　Mission。　　　The　Indians　were　on　the　point　of　gathering　to　a　religious　meeting。　　　Some　scores　of　them；　tall　men　in　half…civilized　dress；　were　seated　on　　wooden　benches　under　the　trees；　while　their　horses　were　tied　to　the　　sheds　and　fences。　　Their　chief；　Parks；　a　remarkably　large　and　　athletic　man；　was　just　arrived　from　Westport；　where　he　owns　a　trading　　establishment。　　Beside　this；　he　has　a　fine　farm　and　a　considerable　　number　of　slaves。　　Indeed　the　Shawanoes　have　made　greater　progress　in　　agriculture　than　any　other　tribe　on　the　Missouri　frontier；　and　both　　in　appearance　and　in　character　form　a　marked　contrast　to　our　late　　acquaintance；　the　Kansas。　A　few　hours'　ride　brought　us　to　the　banks　of　the　river　Kansas。　　　Traversing　the　woods　that　lined　it；　and　plowing　through　the　deep　　sand；　we　encamped　not　far　from　the　bank；　at　the　Lower　Delaware　　crossing。　　Our　tent　was　erected　for　the　first　time　on　a　meadow　close　　to　the　woods；　and　the　camp　preparations　being　complete　we　began　to　　think　of　supper。　　An　old　Delaware　woman；　of　some　three　hundred　　pounds'　weight；　sat　in　the　porch　of　a　little　log…house　close　to　the　　water；　and　a　very　pretty　half…breed　girl　was　engaged；　under　her　　superintendence；　in　feeding　a　large　flock　of　turkeys　that　were　　fluttering　and　gobbling　about　the　door。　　But　no　offers　of　money；　or　　even　of　tobacco；　could　induce　her　to　part　with　one　of　her　favorites；　　so　I　took　my　rifle；　to　see　if　the　woods　or　the　river　could　furnish　us　　anything。　　A　multitude　of　quails　were　plaintively　whistling　in　the　　woods　and　meadows；　but　nothing　appropriate　to　the　rifle　was　to　be　　seen；　except　three　buzzards；　seated　on　the　spectral　limbs　of　an　old　　dead　sycamore；　that　thrust　itself　out　over　the　river　from　the　dense　　sunny　wall　of　fresh　foliage。　　Their　ugly　heads　were　drawn　down　　between　their　shoulders；　and　they　seemed　to　luxuriate　in　the　soft　　sunshine　that　was　pouring　from　the　west。　　As　they　offered　no　　epicurean　temptations；　I　refrained　from　disturbing　their　enjoyment；　　but　contented　myself　with　admiring　the　calm　beauty　of　the　sunset；　for　　the　river；　eddying　swiftly　in　deep　purple　shadows　between　the　　impending　woods；　formed　a　wild　but　tranquillizing　scene。　When　I　returned　to　the　camp　I　found　Shaw　and　an　old　Indian　seated　on　　the　ground　in　close　conference；　passing　the　pipe　between　them。　　The　　old　man　was　explaining　that　he　loved　the　whites；　and　had　an　especial　　partiality　for　tobacco。　　Delorier　was　arranging　upon　the　ground　our　　service　of　tin　cups　and　plates；　and　as　other　viands　were　not　to　be　　had；　he　set　before　us　a　repast　of　biscuit　and　bacon；　and　a　large　pot　　of　coffee。　　Unsheathing　our　knives；　we　attacked　it；　disposed　of　the　　greater　part；　and　tossed　the　residue　to　the　Indian。　　Meanwhile　our　　horses；　now　hobbled　for　the　first　time；　stood　among　the　trees；　with　　their　fore…legs　tied　together；　in　great　disgust　and　astonishment。　　　They　seemed　by　no　means　to　relish　this　foretaste　of　what　was　before　　them。　　Mine；　in　particular；　had　conceived　a　moral　aversion　to　the　　prairie　life。　　One　of　them；　christened　Hendrick；　an　animal　whose　　strength　and　hardihood　were　his　only　merits；　and　who　yielded　to　　nothing　but　the　cogent　arguments　of　the　whip；　looked　toward　us　with　　an　indignant　countenance；　as　if　he　meditated　avenging　his　wrongs　with　　a　kick。　　The　other；　Pontiac；　a　good　horse；　though　of　plebeian　　lineage；　stood　with　his　head　drooping　and　his　mane　hanging　about　his　　eyes；　with　the　grieved　and　sulky　air　of　a　lubberly　boy　sent　off　to　　school。　　Poor　Pontiac！　his　forebodings　were　but　too　just；　for　when　I　　last　heard　from　him；　he　was　under　the　lash　of　an　Ogallalla　brave；　on　　a　war　party　against　the　Crows。　As　it　grew　dark；　and　the　voices　of　the　whip…poor…wills　succeeded　the　　whistle　of　the　quails；　we　removed　our　saddles　to　the　tent；　to　serve　　as　pillows；　spread　our　blankets　upon　the　ground；　and　prepared　to　　bivouac　for　the　first　time　that　season。　　Each　man　selected　the　place　　in　the　tent　which　he　was　to　occupy　for　the　journey。　　To　Delorier；　　however；　was　assigned　the　cart；　into　which　he　could　creep　in　wet　　weather；　and　find　a　much　better　shelter　than　his　bourgeois　enjoyed　in　　the　tent。　The　river　Kansas　at　this　point　forms　the　boundary　line　between　the　　country　of　the　Shawanoes　and　that　of　the　Delawares。　　We　crossed　it　on　　the　following　day；　rafting　over　our　horses　and　equipage