the oregon trail-第30部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


a　few　　seconds；　and　eagerly　demanded　meat。　　This　we　refused；　telling　him　to　　wait　until　morning；　but　he　begged　so　eagerly　that　we　gave　him　a　small　　piece；　which　he　devoured；　tearing　it　like　a　dog。　　He　said　he　must　　have　more。　　We　told　him　that　his　life　was　in　danger　if　he　ate　so　　immoderately　at　first。　　He　assented；　and　said　he　knew　he　was　a　fool　　to　do　so；　but　he　must　have　meat。　　This　we　absolutely　refused；　to　the　　great　indignation　of　the　senseless　squaws；　who；　when　we　were　not　　watching　him；　would　slyly　bring　dried　meat　and　POMMES　BLANCHES；　and　　place　them　on　the　ground　by　his　side。　　Still　this　was　not　enough　for　　him。　　When　it　grew　dark　he　contrived　to　creep　away　between　the　legs　　of　the　horses　and　crawl　over　to　the　Indian　village；　about　a　furlong　　down　the　stream。　　Here　he　fed　to　his　heart's　content；　and　was　brought　　back　again　in　the　morning；　when　Jean　Gras；　the　trapper；　put　him　on　　horseback　and　carried　him　to　the　fort。　　He　managed　to　survive　the　　effects　of　his　insane　greediness；　and　though　slightly　deranged　when　　we　left　this　part　of　the　country；　he　was　otherwise　in　tolerable　　health；　and　expressed　his　firm　conviction　that　nothing　could　ever　　kill　him。　When　the　sun　was　yet　an　hour　high；　it　was　a　gay　scene　in　the　village。　　　The　warriors　stalked　sedately　among　the　lodges；　or　along　the　margin　　of　the　streams；　or　walked　out　to　visit　the　bands　of　horses　that　were　　feeding　over　the　prairie。　　Half　the　village　population　deserted　the　　close　and　heated　lodges　and　betook　themselves　to　the　water；　and　here　　you　might　see　boys　and　girls　and　young　squaws　splashing；　swimming；　　and　diving　beneath　the　afternoon　sun；　with　merry　laughter　and　　screaming。　　But　when　the　sun　was　just　resting　above　the　broken　peaks；　　and　the　purple　mountains　threw　their　prolonged　shadows　for　miles　over　　the　prairie；　when　our　grim　old　tree；　lighted　by　the　horizontal　rays；　　assumed　an　aspect　of　peaceful　repose；　such　as　one　loves　after　scenes　　of　tumult　and　excitement；　and　when　the　whole　landscape　of　swelling　　plains　and　scattered　groves　was　softened　into　a　tranquil　beauty；　then　　our　encampment　presented　a　striking　spectacle。　　Could　Salvator　Rosa　　have　transferred　it　to　his　canvas；　it　would　have　added　new　renown　to　　his　pencil。　　Savage　figures　surrounded　our　tent；　with　quivers　at　　their　backs；　and　guns；　lances；　or　tomahawks　in　their　hands。　　Some　sat　　on　horseback；　motionless　as　equestrian　statues；　their　arms　crossed　on　　their　breasts；　their　eyes　fixed　in　a　steady　unwavering　gaze　upon　us。　　　Some　stood　erect；　wrapped　from　head　to　foot　in　their　long　white　robes　　of　buffalo　hide。　　Some　sat　together　on　the　grass；　holding　their　　shaggy　horses　by　a　rope；　with　their　broad　dark　busts　exposed　to　view　　as　they　suffered　their　robes　to　fall　from　their　shoulders。　　Others　　again　stood　carelessly　among　the　throng；　with　nothing　to　conceal　the　　matchless　symmetry　of　their　forms；　and　I　do　not　exaggerate　when　I　say　　that　only　on　the　prairie　and　in　the　Vatican　have　I　seen　such　　faultless　models　of　the　human　figure。　　See　that　warrior　standing　by　　the　tree；　towering　six　feet　and　a　half　in　stature。　　Your　eyes　may　　trace　the　whole　of　his　graceful　and　majestic　height；　and　discover　no　　defect　or　blemish。　　With　his　free　and　noble　attitude；　with　the　bow　in　　his　hand；　and　the　quiver　at　his　back；　he　might　seem；　but　for　his　　face；　the　Pythian　Apollo　himself。　　Such　a　figure　rose　before　the　　imagination　of　West；　when　on　first　seeing　the　Belvidere　in　the　　Vatican；　he　exclaimed；　〃By　God；　a　Mohawk！〃　When　the　sky　darkened　and　the　stars　began　to　appear；　when　the　prairie　　was　involved　in　gloom　and　the　horses　were　driven　in　and　secured　　around　the　camp；　the　crowd　began　to　melt　away。　　Fires　gleamed　around；　　duskily　revealing　the　rough　trappers　and　the　graceful　Indians。　　One　　of　the　families　near　us　would　always　be　gathered　about　a　bright　　blaze；　that　displayed　the　shadowy　dimensions　of　their　lodge；　and　sent　　its　lights　far　up　among　the　masses　of　foliage　above；　gilding　the　dead　　and　ragged　branches。　　Withered　witchlike　hags　flitted　around　the　　blaze；　and　here　for　hour　after　hour　sat　a　circle　of　children　and　　young　girls；　laughing　and　talking；　their　round　merry　faces　glowing　in　　the　ruddy　light。　　We　could　hear　the　monotonous　notes　of　the　drum　from　　the　Indian　village；　with　the　chant　of　the　war　song；　deadened　in　the　　distance；　and　the　long　chorus　of　quavering　yells；　where　the　war　dance　　was　going　on　in　the　largest　lodge。　　For　several　nights；　too；　we　could　　hear　wild　and　mournful　cries；　rising　and　dying　away　like　the　　melancholy　voice　of　a　wolf。　　They　came　from　the　sisters　and　female　　relatives　of　Mahto…Tatonka；　who　were　gashing　their　limbs　with　knives；　　and　bewailing　the　death　of　Henry　Chatillon's　squaw。　　The　hour　would　　grow　late　before　all　retired　to　rest　in　the　camp。　　Then　the　embers　of　　the　fires　would　be　glowing　dimly；　the　men　would　be　stretched　in　their　　blankets　on　the　ground；　and　nothing　could　be　heard　but　the　restless　　motions　of　the　crowded　horses。　I　recall　these　scenes　with　a　mixed　feeling　of　pleasure　and　pain。　　At　　this　time　I　was　so　reduced　by　illness　that　I　could　seldom　walk　　without　reeling　like　a　drunken　man；　and　when　I　rose　from　my　seat　upon　　the　ground　the　landscape　suddenly　grew　dim　before　my　eyes；　the　trees　　and　lodges　seemed　to　sway　to　and　fro；　and　the　prairie　to　rise　and　　fall　like　the　swells　of　the　ocean。　　Such　a　state　of　things　is　by　no　　means　enviable　anywhere。　　In　a　country　where　a　man's　life　may　at　any　　moment　depend　on　the　strength　of　his　arm；　or　it　may　be　on　the　　activity　of　his　legs；　it　is　more　particularly　inconvenient。　　Medical　　assistance　of　course　there　was　none；　neither　had　I　the　means　of　　pursuing　a　system　of　diet；　and　sleeping　on　a　damp　ground；　with　an　　occasional　drenching　from　a　shower；　would　hardly　be　recommended　as　　beneficial。　　I　sometimes　suffered　the　extremity　of　languor　and　　exhaustion；　and　though　at　the　time　I　felt　no　apprehensions　of　the　　final　result；　I　have　since　learned　that　my　situation　was　a　critical　　one。　Besides　other　formidable　inconveniences　I　owe　it　in　a　great　measure　　to　the　remote　effects　of　that　unlucky　disorder　that　from　deficient　　eyesight　I　am　compelled　to　employ　the　pen　of　another　in　taking　down　　this　narrative　from　my　lips；　and　I　have　learned　very　effectually　that　　a　violent　attack　of　dysentery　on　the　prairie　is　a　thing　too　serious　　for　a　joke。　　I　tried　repose　and　a　very　sparing　diet。　　For　a　long　　time；　with　exemplary　patience；　I　lounged　about　the　camp；　or　at　the　　utmost　staggered　over　to　the　Indian　village；　and　walked　faint　and　　dizzy　among　the　lodges。　　It　would　not　do；　and　I　bethought　me　of　　starvation。　　During　five　days　I　sustained　life　on　one　small　biscuit　a　　day。　　At　the　end　of　that　time　I　was　weaker　than　before；　but　the　　disorder　seemed　shaken　in　its　stronghold　and　very　gradually　I　began　　to　resume　a　less　rigid　diet。　　No　sooner　had　I　done　so　than　the　same　　detested　symptoms　revisited　me；　my　old　enemy　resumed　his　pertinacious　　assaults；　yet　not　with　his　former　violence　or　constancy；　and　though　　before　I　regained　any　fair　portion　of　my　ordinary　strength　weeks　had　　elapsed；　and　months　passed　before　the　disorder　left　me；　yet　thanks　to　　old　habits　of　activity；　and　a　merciful　Providence；　I　was　able　to　　sustain　myself　against　it。　I　used　to　lie　languid　and　dreamy　before　our　tent　and　muse　on　the　past　　and　the　future；　and　when　most　overcome　with　lassitude；　my　eyes　turned　　always　toward　the　distant　Black　Hills。　　There　is　a　spirit　of　energy　　and　vigor　in　mountains；　and　they　impart　it　to　all　who　approach　their　　presence。　　At　that　time　I　did　not　know　how　many　dark　superstitions　　and　gloomy　legends　are　associated　with　those　mountains　in　the　minds　　of　the　Indians；　but　I　felt　an　eager　desire　to　penetrate　their　hidden　　recesses；　to　explore　the　awful　chasms　and　precipices；　the　black　　torrents；　the　silent　forests；　that　I　fancied　were　concealed　there。

CHAPTER　XII　ILL　LUCK

A　Canadian　came　from　Fort　Laramie；　and　brought　a　curious　piece　of　　intelligence。　　A　trapper；　fresh　from　the　mountains；　had　become　　enamored　of　a　Missouri　damsel　belonging　to　a　family　who　with　other　　emigrants　had　been　for　some　days　encamped　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　　fort。　　If　bravery　be　the　most　potent　charm　to　win　the　favor　of　the　　fair；　then　no　wooer　could　be　more　irresistible　than　a　Rocky　Mountain　　trapper。　　In　the　present　instance；　the　suit　was　not　urged　in　vain。　　　The　lovers　concerted　a　scheme；　which　they　proceeded　to　carry　into　　effect　with　all　possible　dispatch。　　The　emigrant　party　left　the　fort；　　and　on　the　next　succeeding　night　but　one　encamped　as　usual；　and　　placed　a　guard。　　A　little　after　midnight　the　enamored　trapper　drew　　near；　mounted　on　a　strong　horse　and　leading　another　by　the　bridle。　　　Fastening　both　animals　to　a　tree；　he　stealthily　moved　toward　the　　wagons；　as　if　he　were　approaching　a　band　of　buffalo。　　Eluding　the　　vigilance　of　the　guard；　who　was　probably　half　asleep；　he　met　his　　mistress　by　appointment　at　the　outskirts　of　the　camp；　mounted　her　on　　his　spare　horse；　and　made　off　with　her　through　the　darkness。　　The　　sequel　of　the　adventure　did　not　reach　our　ears；　and　we　never　learned　　how　the　imprudent　fair　one　liked　an　Indian　lodge　for　a　dwelling；　and　　a　reckless　trapper　for　a　bridegroom。　At　length　The　Whirlwind　and　his　warriors　determined　to　move。　　They　　had　resolved　after　all　their　preparations　not　to　go　to　the　rendezvous　　at　La　Bonte's　Camp；　but　to　pass　through　the　Black　Hills　and　spend　a　　few　weeks　in　hunting　the　buffalo　on　the　other　side；　until　they　had　　killed　enough　to　furnish　them　with　a　stock　of　provisions　and　with　　hides　to　make　their　lodges　for　the　next　season。　　This　done；　they　were　　to　send　out　a　small　independent　war　party　against　the　enemy。　　Their　　final　determination　left　us　in　some　embarrassment。　　Should　we　go　to　　La　Bonte's　Camp；　it　was　not　impossible　that　the　other　villages　would　　prove　as　vacillating　and　indecisive　as　The　Whirlwinds；　and　that　no　　assembly　whatever　would　take　place。　　Our　old　companion　Reynal　had　　conceived　a　liking　for　us；　or　rather　for　our　biscuit　and　coffee；　and　　for　the　occasional　small　presents　which　we　made　him。　　He　was　very　　anxious　that　we　should　go　with　the　village　which　he　himself　intended　　to　accompany。　　He　declared　he　was　certain　that　no　Indians　would　meet　　at　the　rendezvous；　and　said　moreover　that　it　would　be　easy　to　convey　　our　cart