the oregon trail-第34部分

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dark　all　around；〃　and　again　he　　descended　and　sat　down　by　my　side。　　Some　ten　minutes　elapsed。　〃Go　up　again；〃　said　I；　〃and　take　another　look；〃　and　he　clambered　up　　the　precipice。　　〃Well；　how　is　it？〃　〃Just　the　same；　only　I　see　one　little　bright　spot　over　the　top　of　the　　mountain。　The　rain　by　this　time　had　begun　to　abate；　and　going　down　to　the　　bottom　of　the　ravine；　we　loosened　the　animals；　who　were　standing　up　　to　their　knees　in　water。　　Leading　them　up　the　rocky　throat　of　the　　ravine；　we　reached　the　plain　above。　　〃Am　I；〃　I　thought　to　myself；　　〃the　same　man　who　a　few　months　since；　was　seated；　a　quiet　student　of　　BELLES…LETTRES；　in　a　cushioned　arm…chair　by　a　sea…coal　fire？〃　All　around　us　was　obscurity；　but　the　bright　spot　above　the　　mountaintops　grew　wider　and　ruddier；　until　at　length　the　clouds　drew　　apart；　and　a　flood　of　sunbeams　poured　down　from　heaven；　streaming　　along　the　precipices；　and　involving　them　in　a　thin　blue　haze；　as　soft　　and　lovely　as　that　which　wraps　the　Apennines　on　an　evening　in　spring。　　　Rapidly　the　clouds　were　broken　and　scattered；　like　routed　legions　of　　evil　spirits。　　The　plain　lay　basking　in　sunbeams　around　us；　a　rainbow　　arched　the　desert　from　north　to　south；　and　far　in　front　a　line　of　　woods　seemed　inviting　us　to　refreshment　and　repose。　　When　we　reached　　them；　they　were　glistening　with　prismatic　dewdrops；　and　enlivened　by　　the　song　and　flutterings　of　a　hundred　birds。　　Strange　winged　insects；　　benumbed　by　the　rain；　were　clinging　to　the　leaves　and　the　bark　of　the　　trees。　Raymond　kindled　a　fire　with　great　difficulty。　　The　animals　turned　　eagerly　to　feed　on　the　soft　rich　grass；　while　I；　wrapping　myself　in　　my　blanket；　lay　down　and　gazed　on　the　evening　landscape。　　The　　mountains；　whose　stern　features　had　lowered　upon　us　with　so　gloomy　　and　awful　a　frown；　now　seemed　lighted　up　with　a　serene；　benignant　　smile；　and　the　green　waving　undulations　of　the　plain　were　gladdened　　with　the　rich　sunshine。　　Wet；　ill；　and　wearied　as　I　was；　my　spirit　　grew　lighter　at　the　view；　and　I　drew　from　it　an　augury　of　good　for　my　　future　prospects。　When　morning　came；　Raymond　awoke；　coughing　violently；　though　I　had　　apparently　received　no　injury。　　We　mounted；　crossed　the　little　　stream；　pushed　through　the　trees；　and　began　our　journey　over　the　　plain　beyond。　　And　now；　as　we　rode　slowly　along；　we　looked　anxiously　　on　every　hand　for　traces　of　the　Indians；　not　doubting　that　the　　village　had　passed　somewhere　in　that　vicinity；　but　the　scanty　　shriveled　grass　was　not　more　than　three　or　four　inches　high；　and　the　　ground　was　of　such　unyielding　hardness　that　a　host　might　have　marched　　over　it　and　left　scarcely　a　trace　of　its　passage。　　Up　hill　and　down　　hill；　and　clambering　through　ravines；　we　continued　our　journey。　　As　　we　were　skirting　the　foot　of　a　hill　I　saw　Raymond；　who　was　some　rods　　in　advance；　suddenly　jerking　the　reins　of　his　mule。　　Sliding　from　his　　seat；　and　running　in　a　crouching　posture　up　a　hollow；　he　disappeared；　　and　then　in　an　instant　I　heard　the　sharp　quick　crack　of　his　rifle。　　A　　wounded　antelope　came　running　on　three　legs　over　the　hill。　　I　lashed　　Pauline　and　made　after　him。　　My　fleet　little　mare　soon　brought　me　by　　his　side；　and　after　leaping　and　bounding　for　a　few　moments　in　vain；　　he　stood　still；　as　if　despairing　of　escape。　　His　glistening　eyes　　turned　up　toward　my　face　with　so　piteous　a　look　that　it　was　with　　feelings　of　infinite　compunction　that　I　shot　him　through　the　head　　with　a　pistol。　　Raymond　skinned　and　cut　him　up；　and　we　hung　the　　forequarters　to　our　saddles；　much　rejoiced　that　our　exhausted　stock　　of　provisions　was　renewed　in　such　good　time。　Gaining　the　top　of　a　hill；　we　could　see　along　the　cloudy　verge　of　the　　prairie　before　us　lines　of　trees　and　shadowy　groves　that　marked　the　　course　of　Laramie　Creek。　　Some　time　before　noon　we　reached　its　banks　　and　began　anxiously　to　search　them　for　footprints　of　the　Indians。　　We　　followed　the　stream　for　several　miles；　now　on　the　shore　and　now　　wading　in　the　water；　scrutinizing　every　sand…bar　and　every　muddy　　bank。　　So　long　was　the　search　that　we　began　to　fear　that　we　had　left　　the　trail　undiscovered　behind　us。　　At　length　I　heard　Raymond　　shouting；　and　saw　him　jump　from　his　mule　to　examine　some　object　under　　the　shelving　bank。　　I　rode　up　to　his　side。　　It　was　the　clear　and　　palpable　impression　of　an　Indian　moccasin。　　Encouraged　by　this　we　　continued　our　search；　and　at　last　some　appearances　on　a　soft　surface　　of　earth　not　far　from　the　shore　attracted　my　eye；　and　going　to　　examine　them　I　found　half　a　dozen　tracks；　some　made　by　men　and　some　　by　children。　　Just　then　Raymond　observed　across　the　stream　the　mouth　　of　a　small　branch　entering　it　from　the　south。　　He　forded　the　water；　　rode　in　at　the　opening；　and　in　a　moment　I　heard　him　shouting　again；　　so　I　passed　over　and　joined　him。　　The　little　branch　had　a　broad　sandy　　bed；　along　which　the　water　trickled　in　a　scanty　stream；　and　on　either　　bank　the　bushes　were　so　close　that　the　view　was　completely　　intercepted。　　I　found　Raymond　stooping　over　the　footprints　of　three　　or　four　horses。　　Proceeding　we　found　those　of　a　man；　then　those　of　a　　child；　then　those　of　more　horses；　and　at　last　the　bushes　on　each　bank　　were　beaten　down　and　broken；　and　the　sand　plowed　up　with　a　multitude　　of　footsteps；　and　scored　across　with　the　furrows　made　by　the　lodge…　poles　that　had　been　dragged　through。　　It　was　now　certain　that　we　had　　found　the　trail。　　I　pushed　through　the　bushes；　and　at　a　little　　distance　on　the　prairie　beyond　found　the　ashes　of　a　hundred　and　fifty　　lodge　fires；　with　bones　and　pieces　of　buffalo　robes　scattered　around　　them；　and　in　some　instances　the　pickets　to　which　horses　had　been　　secured　still　standing　in　the　ground。　　Elated　by　our　success　we　　selected　a　convenient　tree；　and　turning　the　animals　loose；　prepared　　to　make　a　meal　from　the　fat　haunch　of　our　victim。　Hardship　and　exposure　had　thriven　with　me　wonderfully。　　I　had　gained　　both　health　and　strength　since　leaving　La　Bonte's　Camp。　　Raymond　and　　I　made　a　hearty　meal　together　in　high　spirits；　for　we　rashly　presumed　　that　having　found　one　end　of　the　trail　we　should　have　little　　difficulty　in　reaching　the　other。　　But　when　the　animals　were　led　in　　we　found　that　our　old　ill　luck　had　not　ceased　to　follow　us　close。　　As　　I　was　saddling　Pauline　I　saw　that　her　eye　was　as　dull　as　lead；　and　　the　hue　of　her　yellow　coat　visibly　darkened。　　I　placed　my　foot　in　the　　stirrup　to　mount；　when　instantly　she　staggered　and　fell　flat　on　her　　side。　　Gaining　her　feet　with　an　effort　she　stood　by　the　fire　with　a　　drooping　head。　　Whether　she　had　been　bitten　by　a　snake　or　poisoned　by　　some　noxious　plant　or　attacked　by　a　sudden　disorder；　it　was　hard　to　　say；　but　at　all　events　her　sickness　was　sufficiently　ill…timed　and　　unfortunate。　　I　succeeded　in　a　second　attempt　to　mount　her；　and　with　　a　slow　pace　we　moved　forward　on　the　trail　of　the　Indians。　　It　led　us　　up　a　hill　and　over　a　dreary　plain；　and　here；　to　our　great　　mortification；　the　traces　almost　disappeared；　for　the　ground　was　hard　　as　adamant；　and　if　its　flinty　surface　had　ever　retained　the　print　of　　a　hoof；　the　marks　had　been　washed　away　by　the　deluge　of　yesterday。　　　An　Indian　village；　in　its　disorderly　march；　is　scattered　over　the　　prairie；　often　to　the　width　of　full　half　a　mile；　so　that　its　trail　is　　nowhere　clearly　marked；　and　the　task　of　following　it　is　made　doubly　　wearisome　and　difficult。　　By　good　fortune　plenty　of　large　ant…hills；　　a　yard　or　more　in　diameter；　were　scattered　over　the　plain；　and　these　　were　frequently　broken　by　the　footprints　of　men　and　horses；　and　　marked　by　traces　of　the　lodge…poles。　　The　succulent　leaves　of　the　　prickly…pear；　also　bruised　from　the　same　causes；　helped　a　little　to　　guide　us；　so　inch　by　inch　we　moved　along。　　Often　we　lost　the　trail　　altogether；　and　then　would　recover　it　again；　but　late　in　the　　afternoon　we　found　ourselves　totally　at　fault。　　We　stood　alone　　without　clew　to　guide　us。　　The　broken　plain　expanded　for　league　after　　league　around　us；　and　in　front　the　long　dark　ridge　of　mountains　was　　stretching　from　north　to　south。　　Mount　Laramie；　a　little　on　our　　right；　towered　high　above　the　rest　and　from　a　dark　valley　just　beyond　　one　of　its　lower　declivities；　we　discerned　volumes　of　white　smoke　　slowly　rolling　up　into　the　clear　air。　〃I　think；〃　said　Raymond；　〃some　Indians　must　be　there。　　Perhaps　we　had　　better　go。〃　　But　this　plan　was　not　rashly　to　be　adopted；　and　we　　determined　still　to　continue　our　search　after　the　lost　trail。　　Our　　good　stars　prompted　us　to　this　decision；　for　we　afterward　had　reason　　to　believe；　from　information　given　us　by　the　Indians；　that　the　smoke　　was　raised　as　a　decoy　by　a　Crow　war　party。　Evening　was　coming　on；　and　there　was　no　wood　or　water　nearer　than　the　　foot　of　the　mountains。　　So　thither　we　turned；　directing　our　course　　toward　the　point　where　Laramie　Creek　issues　forth　upon　the　prairie。　　　When　we　reached　it　the　bare　tops　of　the　mountains　were　still　　brightened　with　sunshine。　　The　little　river　was　breaking　with　a　　vehement　and　angry　current　from　its　dark　prison。　　There　was　something　　in　the　near　vicinity　of　the　mountains；　in　the　loud　surging　of　the　　rapids；　wonderfully　cheering　and　exhilarating；　for　although　once　as　　familiar　as　home　itself；　they　had　been　for　months　strangers　to　my　　experience。　　There　was　a　rich　grass…plot　by　the　river's　bank；　　surrounded　by　low　ridges；　which　would　effectually　screen　ourselves　　and　our　fire　from　the　sight　of　wandering　Indians。　　Here　among　the　　grass　I　observed　numerous　circles　of　large　stones；　which；　as　Raymond　　said；　were　traces　of　a　Dakota　winter　encampment。　　We　lay　down　and　did　　not　awake　till　the　sun　was　up。　　A　large　rock　projected　from　the　　shore；　and　behind　it　the　deep　water　was　slowly　eddying　round　and　　round。　　The　temptation　was　irresistible。　　I　threw　off　my　clothes；　　leaped　in；　suffered　myself　to　be　borne　once　round　with　the　current；　　and　then；　seizing　the　strong　root　of　a　water　plant；　drew　myself　to　　the　shore。　　The　effect　was　so　invigorating　and　refreshing　that　I　　mistook　it　for　returning　health。　　〃Pauline；〃　thought　I；　as　I　led　the　　little　mare　up　to　be　saddled；　〃only　thrive　as　I　do；　and　you　and　I　　will　have　sport　yet　among　the　buffalo　beyond　these　mountains。〃　　But　　scarcely　were　we　mounted　and　on　our　way　before　the　momentary　glow　　passed。　　Again　I　hung　as　usual　in　my　seat；　sca