the oregon trail-第31部分

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o　Indians　would　meet　　at　the　rendezvous；　and　said　moreover　that　it　would　be　easy　to　convey　　our　cart　and　baggage　through　the　Black　Hills。　　In　saying　this；　he　　told　as　usual　an　egregious　falsehood。　　Neither　he　nor　any　white　man　　with　us　had　ever　seen　the　difficult　and　obscure　defiles　through　which　　the　Indians　intended　to　make　their　way。　　I　passed　them　afterward；　and　　had　much　ado　to　force　my　distressed　horse　along　the　narrow　ravines；　　and　through　chasms　where　daylight　could　scarcely　penetrate。　　Our　cart　　might　as　easily　have　been　conveyed　over　the　summit　of　Pike's　Peak。　　　Anticipating　the　difficulties　and　uncertainties　of　an　attempt　to　　visit　the　rendezvous；　we　recalled　the　old　proverb　about　〃A　bird　in　　the　hand；〃　and　decided　to　follow　the　village。　Both　camps；　the　Indians'　and　our　own；　broke　up　on　the　morning　of　the　　1st　of　July。　　I　was　so　weak　that　the　aid　of　a　potent　auxiliary；　a　　spoonful　of　whisky　swallowed　at　short　intervals；　alone　enabled　me　to　　sit　on　my　hardy　little　mare　Pauline　through　the　short　journey　of　that　　day。　　For　half　a　mile　before　us　and　half　a　mile　behind；　the　prairie　　was　covered　far　and　wide　with　the　moving　throng　of　savages。　　The　　barren；　broken　plain　stretched　away　to　the　right　and　left；　and　far　in　　front　rose　the　gloomy　precipitous　ridge　of　the　Black　Hills。　　We　　pushed　forward　to　the　head　of　the　scattered　column；　passing　the　　burdened　travaux；　the　heavily　laden　pack　horses；　the　gaunt　old　women　　on　foot；　the　gay　young　squaws　on　horseback；　the　restless　children　　running　among　the　crowd；　old　men　striding　along　in　their　white　　buffalo　robes；　and　groups　of　young　warriors　mounted　on　their　best　　horses。　　Henry　Chatillon；　looking　backward　over　the　distant　prairie；　　exclaimed　suddenly　that　a　horseman　was　approaching；　and　in　truth　we　　could　just　discern　a　small　black　speck　slowly　moving　over　the　face　of　　a　distant　swell；　like　a　fly　creeping　on　a　wall。　　It　rapidly　grew　　larger　as　it　approached。　〃White　man；　I　b'lieve；〃　said　Henry；　〃look　how　he　ride！　　Indian　never　　ride　that　way。　　Yes；　he　got　rifle　on　the　saddle　before　him。〃　The　horseman　disappeared　in　a　hollow　of　the　prairie；　but　we　soon　saw　　him　again；　and　as　he　came　riding　at　a　gallop　toward　us　through　the　　crowd　of　Indians；　his　long　hair　streaming　in　the　wind　behind　him；　we　　recognized　the　ruddy　face　and　old　buckskin　frock　of　Jean　Gras　the　　trapper。　　He　was　just　arrived　from　Fort　Laramie；　where　he　had　been　on　　a　visit；　and　said　he　had　a　message　for　us。　　A　trader　named　Bisonette；　　one　of　Henry's　friends；　was　lately　come　from　the　settlements；　and　　intended　to　go　with　a　party　of　men　to　La　Bonte's　Camp；　where；　as　Jean　　Gras　assured　us；　ten　or　twelve　villages　of　Indians　would　certainly　　assemble。　　Bisonette　desired　that　we　would　cross　over　and　meet　him　　there；　and　promised　that　his　men　should　protect　our　horses　and　　baggage　while　we　went　among　the　Indians。　　Shaw　and　I　stopped　our　　horses　and　held　a　council；　and　in　an　evil　hour　resolved　to　go。　For　the　rest　of　that　day's　journey　our　course　and　that　of　the　Indians　　was　the　same。　　In　less　than　an　hour　we　came　to　where　the　high　barren　　prairie　terminated；　sinking　down　abruptly　in　steep　descent；　and　　standing　on　these　heights；　we　saw　below　us　a　great　level　meadow。　　　Laramie　Creek　bounded　it　on　the　left；　sweeping　along　in　the　shadow　of　　the　declivities；　and　passing　with　its　shallow　and　rapid　current　just　　below　us。　　We　sat　on　horseback；　waiting　and　looking　on；　while　the　　whole　savage　array　went　pouring　past　us；　hurrying　down　the　descent　　and　spreading　themselves　over　the　meadow　below。　　In　a　few　moments　the　　plain　was　swarming　with　the　moving　multitude；　some　just　visible；　like　　specks　in　the　distance；　others　still　passing　on；　pressing　down；　and　　fording　the　stream　with　bustle　and　confusion。　　On　the　edge　of　the　　heights　sat　half　a　dozen　of　the　elder　warriors；　gravely　smoking　and　　looking　down　with　unmoved　faces　on　the　wild　and　striking　spectacle。　Up　went　the　lodges　in　a　circle　on　the　margin　of　the　stream。　　For　the　　sake　of　quiet　we　pitched　our　tent　among　some　trees　at　half　a　mile's　　distance。　　In　the　afternoon　we　were　in　the　village。　　The　day　was　a　　glorious　one；　and　the　whole　camp　seemed　lively　and　animated　in　　sympathy。　　Groups　of　children　and　young　girls　were　laughing　gayly　on　　the　outside　of　the　lodges。　　The　shields；　the　lances；　and　the　bows　　were　removed　from　the　tall　tripods　on　which　they　usually　hung　before　　the　dwellings　of　their　owners。　　The　warriors　were　mounting　their　　horses；　and　one　by　one　riding　away　over　the　prairie　toward　the　　neighboring　hills。　Shaw　and　I　sat　on　the　grass　near　the　lodge　of　Reynal。　　An　old　woman；　　with　true　Indian　hospitality；　brought　a　bowl　of　boiled　venison　and　　placed　it　before　us。　　We　amused　ourselves　with　watching　half　a　dozen　　young　squaws　who　were　playing　together　and　chasing　each　other　in　and　　out　of　one　of　the　lodges。　　Suddenly　the　wild　yell　of　the　war…whoop　　came　pealing　from　the　hills。　　A　crowd　of　horsemen　appeared；　rushing　　down　their　sides　and　riding　at　full　speed　toward　the　village；　each　　warrior's　long　hair　flying　behind　him　in　the　wind　like　a　ship's　　streamer。　　As　they　approached；　the　confused　throng　assumed　a　regular　　order；　and　entering　two　by　two；　they　circled　round　the　area　at　full　　gallop；　each　warrior　singing　his　war　song　as　he　rode。　　Some　of　their　　dresses　were　splendid。　　They　wore　superb　crests　of　feathers　and　close　　tunics　of　antelope　skins；　fringed　with　the　scalp…locks　of　their　　enemies；　their　shields　too　were　often　fluttering　with　the　war　eagle's　　feathers。　　All　had　bows　and　arrows　at　their　back；　some　carried　long　　lances；　and　a　few　were　armed　with　guns。　　The　White　Shield；　their　　partisan；　rode　in　gorgeous　attire　at　their　head；　mounted　on　a　black…　and…white　horse。　　Mahto…Tatonka　and　his　brothers　took　no　part　in　this　　parade；　for　they　were　in　mourning　for　their　sister；　and　were　all　　sitting　in　their　lodges；　their　bodies　bedaubed　from　head　to　foot　with　　white　clay；　and　a　lock　of　hair　cut　from　each　of　their　foreheads。　The　warriors　circled　three　times　round　the　village；　and　as　each　　distinguished　champion　passed；　the　old　women　would　scream　out　his　　name　in　honor　of　his　bravery；　and　to　incite　the　emulation　of　the　　younger　warriors。　　Little　urchins；　not　two　years　old；　followed　the　　warlike　pageant　with　glittering　eyes；　and　looked　with　eager　wonder　　and　admiration　at　those　whose　honors　were　proclaimed　by　the　public　　voice　of　the　village。　　Thus　early　is　the　lesson　of　war　instilled　into　　the　mind　of　an　Indian；　and　such　are　the　stimulants　which　incite　his　　thirst　for　martial　renown。　The　procession　rode　out　of　the　village　as　it　had　entered　it；　and　in　　half　an　hour　all　the　warriors　had　returned　again；　dropping　quietly　　in；　singly　or　in　parties　of　two　or　three。　As　the　sun　rose　next　morning　we　looked　across　the　meadow；　and　could　　see　the　lodges　leveled　and　the　Indians　gathering　together　in　　preparation　to　leave　the　camp。　　Their　course　lay　to　the　westward。　　We　　turned　toward　the　north　with　our　men；　the　four　trappers　following　us；　　with　the　Indian　family　of　Moran。　　We　traveled　until　night。　　I　　suffered　not　a　little　from　pain　and　weakness。　　We　encamped　among　some　　trees　by　the　side　of　a　little　brook；　and　here　during　the　whole　of　the　　next　day　we　lay　waiting　for　Bisonette；　but　no　Bisonette　appeared。　　　Here　also　two　of　our　trapper　friends　left　us；　and　set　out　for　the　　Rocky　Mountains。　　On　the　second　morning；　despairing　of　Bisonette's　　arrival　we　resumed　our　journey；　traversing　a　forlorn　and　dreary　　monotony　of　sun…scorched　plains；　where　no　living　thing　appeared　save　　here　and　there　an　antelope　flying　before　us　like　the　wind。　　When　noon　　came　we　saw　an　unwonted　and　most　welcome　sight；　a　rich　and　luxuriant　　growth　of　trees；　marking　the　course　of　a　little　stream　called　　Horseshoe　Creek。　　We　turned　gladly　toward　it。　　There　were　lofty　and　　spreading　trees；　standing　widely　asunder；　and　supporting　a　thick　　canopy　of　leaves；　above　a　surface　of　rich；　tall　grass。　　The　stream　　ran　swiftly；　as　clear　as　crystal；　through　the　bosom　of　the　wood；　　sparkling　over　its　bed　of　white　sand　and　darkening　again　as　it　　entered　a　deep　cavern　of　leaves　and　boughs。　　I　was　thoroughly　　exhausted；　and　flung　myself　on　the　ground；　scarcely　able　to　move。　　　All　that　afternoon　I　lay　in　the　shade　by　the　side　of　the　stream；　and　　those　bright　woods　and　sparkling　waters　are　associated　in　my　mind　　with　recollections　of　lassitude　and　utter　prostration。　　When　night　　came　I　sat　down　by　the　fire；　longing；　with　an　intensity　of　which　at　　this　moment　I　can　hardly　conceive；　for　some　powerful　stimulant。　In　the　morning　as　glorious　a　sun　rose　upon　us　as　ever　animated　that　　desolate　wilderness。　　We　advanced　and　soon　were　surrounded　by　tall　　bare　hills；　overspread　from　top　to　bottom　with　prickly…pears　and　　other　cacti；　that　seemed　like　clinging　reptiles。　　A　plain；　flat　and　　hard；　and　with　scarcely　the　vestige　of　grass；　lay　before　us；　and　a　　line　of　tall　misshapen　trees　bounded　the　onward　view。　　There　was　no　　sight　or　sound　of　man　or　beast；　or　any　living　thing；　although　behind　　those　trees　was　the　long…looked…for　place　of　rendezvous；　where　we　　fondly　hoped　to　have　found　the　Indians　congregated　by　thousands。　　We　　looked　and　listened　anxiously。　　We　pushed　forward　with　our　best　　speed；　and　forced　our　horses　through　the　trees。　　There　were　copses　of　　some　extent　beyond；　with　a　scanty　stream　creeping　through　their　　midst；　and　as　we　pressed　through　the　yielding　branches；　deer　sprang　　up　to　the　right　and　left。　　At　length　we　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　　prairie　beyond。　　Soon　we　emerged　upon　it；　and　saw；　not　a　plain　　covered　with　encampments　and　swarming　with　life；　but　a　vast　unbroken　　desert　stretching　away　before　us　league　upon　league；　without　a　bush　　or　a　tree　or　anything　that　had　life。　　We　drew　rein　and　gave　to　the　　winds　our　sentiments　concerning　the　whole　aboriginal　race　of　America。　　　Our　journey　was　in　vain　and　much　worse　than　in　vain。　　For　myself；　I　　was　vexed　and　disappointed　beyond　measure；　as　I　well　knew　that　a　　slight　aggravation　of　my　disorder　would　render　this　false　step　　irrevocable；　and　make　it　quite　impossible　to　accomplish　effectively　　the　design　which　had　led　me　an　arduous　journey　of　between　three　and　　four　thousand　miles。　　To　fortify　myself　as　well　as　I　could　against　　such　a　contingency；　I　resolved　that　I　would　not　under　any　　circumstances　attempt　t