the oregon trail-第35部分

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　we　mounted　and　on　our　way　before　the　momentary　glow　　passed。　　Again　I　hung　as　usual　in　my　seat；　scarcely　able　to　hold　　myself　erect。　〃Look　yonder；〃　said　Raymond；　〃you　see　that　big　hollow　there；　the　　Indians　must　have　gone　that　way；　if　they　went　anywhere　about　here。〃　We　reached　the　gap；　which　was　like　a　deep　notch　cut　into　the　mountain　　ridge；　and　here　we　soon　discerned　an　ant…hill　furrowed　with　the　mark　　of　a　lodge…pole。　　This　was　quite　enough；　there　could　be　no　doubt　now。　　　As　we　rode　on；　the　opening　growing　narrower；　the　Indians　had　been　　compelled　to　march　in　closer　order；　and　the　traces　became　numerous　　and　distinct。　　The　gap　terminated　in　a　rocky　gateway；　leading　into　a　　rough　passage　upward；　between　two　precipitous　mountains。　　Here　grass　　and　weeds　were　bruised　to　fragments　by　the　throng　that　had　passed　　through。　　We　moved　slowly　over　the　rocks；　up　the　passage；　and　in　this　　toilsome　manner　we　advanced　for　an　hour　or　two；　bare　precipices；　　hundreds　of　feet　high；　shooting　up　on　either　hand。　　Raymond；　with　his　　hardy　mule；　was　a　few　rods　before　me；　when　we　came　to　the　foot　of　an　　ascent　steeper　than　the　rest；　and　which　I　trusted　might　prove　the　　highest　point　of　the　defile。　　Pauline　strained　upward　for　a　few　　yards；　moaning　and　stumbling；　and　then　came　to　a　dead　stop；　unable　to　　proceed　further。　　I　dismounted；　and　attempted　to　lead　her；　but　my　own　　exhausted　strength　soon　gave　out；　so　I　loosened　the　trail…rope　from　　her　neck；　and　tying　it　round　my　arm；　crawled　up　on　my　hands　and　　knees。　　I　gained　the　top；　totally　exhausted；　the　sweat　drops　　trickling　from　my　forehead。　　Pauline　stood　like　a　statue　by　my　side；　　her　shadow　falling　upon　the　scorching　rock；　and　in　this　shade；　for　　there　was　no　other；　I　lay　for　some　time；　scarcely　able　to　move　a　　limb。　　All　around　the　black　crags；　sharp　as　needles　at　the　top；　stood　　glowing　in　the　sun；　without　a　tree；　or　a　bush；　or　a　blade　of　grass；　　to　cover　their　precipitous　sides。　　The　whole　scene　seemed　parched　　with　a　pitiless；　insufferable　heat。　After　a　while　I　could　mount　again；　and　we　moved　on；　descending　the　　rocky　defile　on　its　western　side。　　Thinking　of　that　morning's　　journey；　it　has　sometimes　seemed　to　me　that　there　was　something　　ridiculous　in　my　position；　a　man；　armed　to　the　teeth；　but　wholly　　unable　to　fight；　and　equally　so　to　run　away；　traversing　a　dangerous　　wilderness；　on　a　sick　horse。　　But　these　thoughts　were　retrospective；　　for　at　the　time　I　was　in　too　grave　a　mood　to　entertain　a　very　lively　　sense　of　the　ludicrous。　Raymond's　saddle…girth　slipped；　and　while　I　proceeded　he　was　stopping　　behind　to　repair　the　mischief。　　I　came　to　the　top　of　a　little　　declivity；　where　a　most　welcome　sight　greeted　my　eye；　a　nook　of　fresh　　green　grass　nestled　among　the　cliffs；　sunny　clumps　of　bushes　on　one　　side；　and　shaggy　old　pine　trees　leaning　forward　from　the　rocks　on　the　　other。　　A　shrill；　familiar　voice　saluted　me；　and　recalled　me　to　days　　of　boyhood；　that　of　the　insect　called　the　〃locust〃　by　New　England　　schoolboys；　which　was　fast　clinging　among　the　heated　boughs　of　the　　old　pine　trees。　　Then；　too；　as　I　passed　the　bushes；　the　low　sound　of　　falling　water　reached　my　ear。　　Pauline　turned　of　her　own　accord；　and　　pushing　through　the　boughs　we　found　a　black　rock；　over…arched　by　the　　cool　green　canopy。　　An　icy　stream　was　pouring　from　its　side　into　a　　wide　basin　of　white　sand；　from　whence　it　had　no　visible　outlet；　but　　filtered　through　into　the　soil　below。　　While　I　filled　a　tin　cup　at　　the　spring；　Pauline　was　eagerly　plunging　her　head　deep　in　the　pool。　　　Other　visitors　had　been　there　before　us。　　All　around　in　the　soft　soil　　were　the　footprints　of　elk；　deer；　and　the　Rocky　Mountain　sheep；　and　　the　grizzly　bear　too　had　left　the　recent　prints　of　his　broad　foot；　　with　its　frightful　array　of　claws。　　Among　these　mountains　was　his　　home。　Soon　after　leaving　the　spring　we　found　a　little　grassy　plain；　　encircled　by　the　mountains；　and　marked；　to　our　great　joy；　with　all　　the　traces　of　an　Indian　camp。　　Raymond's　practiced　eye　detected　　certain　signs　by　which　he　recognized　the　spot　where　Reynal's　lodge　　had　been　pitched　and　his　horses　picketed。　　I　approached；　and　stood　　looking　at　the　place。　　Reynal　and　I　had；　I　believe；　hardly　a　feeling　　in　common。　　I　disliked　the　fellow；　and　it　perplexed　me　a　good　deal　to　　understand　why　I　should　look　with　so　much　interest　on　the　ashes　of　　his　fire；　when　between　him　and　me　there　seemed　no　other　bond　of　　sympathy　than　the　slender　and　precarious　one　of　a　kindred　race。　In　half　an　hour　from　this　we　were　clear　of　the　mountains。　　There　was　　a　plain　before　us；　totally　barren　and　thickly　peopled　in　many　parts　　with　the　little　prairie　dogs；　who　sat　at　the　mouths　of　their　burrows　　and　yelped　at　us　as　we　passed。　　The　plain；　as　we　thought；　was　about　　six　miles　wide；　but　it　cost　us　two　hours　to　cross　it。　　Then　another　　mountain　range　rose　before　us；　grander　and　more　wild　than　the　last　　had　been。　　Far　out　of　the　dense　shrubbery　that　clothed　the　steeps　for　　a　thousand　feet　shot　up　black　crags；　all　leaning　one　way；　and　　shattered　by　storms　and　thunder　into　grim　and　threatening　shapes。　　As　　we　entered　a　narrow　passage　on　the　trail　of　the　Indians；　they　　impended　frightfully　on　one　side；　above　our　heads。　Our　course　was　through　dense　woods；　in　the　shade　and　twinkling　　sunlight　of　overhanging　boughs。　　I　would　I　could　recall　to　mind　all　　the　startling　combinations　that　presented　themselves；　as　winding　from　　side　to　side　of　the　passage；　to　avoid　its　obstructions；　we　could　see；　　glancing　at　intervals　through　the　foliage；　the　awful　forms　of　the　　gigantic　cliffs；　that　seemed　at　times　to　hem　us　in　on　the　right　and　　on　the　left；　before　us　and　behind！　　Another　scene　in　a　few　moments　　greeted　us；　a　tract　of　gray　and　sunny　woods；　broken　into　knolls　and　　hollows；　enlivened　by　birds　and　interspersed　with　flowers。　　Among　the　　rest　I　recognized　the　mellow　whistle　of　the　robin；　an　old　familiar　　friend　whom　I　had　scarce　expected　to　meet　in　such　a　place。　　Humble…　bees　too　were　buzzing　heavily　about　the　flowers；　and　of　these　a　　species　of　larkspur　caught　my　eye；　more　appropriate；　it　should　seem；　　to　cultivated　gardens　than　to　a　remote　wilderness。　　Instantly　it　　recalled　a　multitude　of　dormant　and　delightful　recollections。　Leaving　behind　us　this　spot　and　its　associations；　a　sight　soon　　presented　itself；　characteristic　of　that　warlike　region。　　In　an　open　　space；　fenced　in　by　high　rocks；　stood　two　Indian　forts；　of　a　square　　form；　rudely　built　of　sticks　and　logs。　　They　were　somewhat　ruinous；　　having　probably　been　constructed　the　year　before。　　Each　might　have　　contained　about　twenty　men。　　Perhaps　in　this　gloomy　spot　some　party　　had　been　beset　by　their　enemies；　and　those　scowling　rocks　and　blasted　　trees　might　not　long　since　have　looked　down　on　a　conflict　　unchronicled　and　unknown。　　Yet　if　any　traces　of　bloodshed　remained　　they　were　completely　hidden　by　the　bushes　and　tall　rank　weeds。　Gradually　the　mountains　drew　apart；　and　the　passage　expanded　into　a　　plain；　where　again　we　found　traces　of　an　Indian　encampment。　　There　　were　trees　and　bushes　just　before　us；　and　we　stopped　here　for　an　　hour's　rest　and　refreshment。　　When　we　had　finished　our　meal　Raymond　　struck　fire；　and　lighting　his　pipe；　sat　down　at　the　foot　of　a　tree　to　　smoke。　　For　some　time　I　observed　him　puffing　away　with　a　face　of　　unusual　solemnity。　　Then　slowly　taking　the　pipe　from　his　lips；　he　　looked　up　and　remarked　that　we　had　better　not　go　any　farther。　〃Why　not？〃　asked　I。　He　said　that　the　country　was　becoming　very　dangerous；　that　we　were　　entering　the　range　of　the　Snakes；　Arapahoes　and　Grosventre　Blackfeet；　　and　that　if　any　of　their　wandering　parties　should　meet　us；　it　would　　cost　us　our　lives；　but　he　added；　with　a　blunt　fidelity　that　nearly　　reconciled　me　to　his　stupidity；　that　he　would　go　anywhere　I　wished。　　　I　told　him　to　bring　up　the　animals；　and　mounting　them　we　proceeded　　again。　　I　confess　that；　as　we　moved　forward；　the　prospect　seemed　but　　a　dreary　and　doubtful　one。　　I　would　have　given　the　world　for　my　　ordinary　elasticity　of　body　and　mind；　and　for　a　horse　of　such　　strength　and　spirit　as　the　journey　required。　Closer　and　closer　the　rocks　gathered　round　us；　growing　taller　and　　steeper；　and　pressing　more　and　more　upon　our　path。　　We　entered　at　　length　a　defile　which　I　never　had　seen　rivaled。　　The　mountain　was　　cracked　from　top　to　bottom；　and　we　were　creeping　along　the　bottom　of　　the　fissure；　in　dampness　and　gloom；　with　the　clink　of　hoofs　on　the　　loose　shingly　rocks；　and　the　hoarse　murmuring　of　a　petulant　brook　　which　kept　us　company。　　Sometimes　the　water；　foaming　among　the　　stones；　overspread　the　whole　narrow　passage；　sometimes；　withdrawing　　to　one　side；　it　gave　us　room　to　pass　dry…shod。　　Looking　up；　we　could　　see　a　narrow　ribbon　of　bright　blue　sky　between　the　dark　edges　of　the　　opposing　cliffs。　　This　did　not　last　long。　　The　passage　soon　widened；　　and　sunbeams　found　their　way　down；　flashing　upon　the　black　waters。　　　The　defile　would　spread　out　to　many　rods　in　width；　bushes；　trees；　and　　flowers　would　spring　by　the　side　of　the　brook；　the　cliffs　would　be　　feathered　with　shrubbery；　that　clung　in　every　crevice；　and　fringed　　with　trees；　that　grew　along　their　sunny　edges。　　Then　we　would　be　　moving　again　in　the　darkness。　　The　passage　seemed　about　four　miles　　long；　and　before　we　reached　the　end　of　it；　the　unshod　hoofs　of　our　　animals　were　lamentably　broken；　and　their　legs　cut　by　the　sharp　　stones。　　Issuing　from　the　mountain　we　found　another　plain。　　All　　around　it　stood　a　circle　of　lofty　precipices；　that　seemed　the　　impersonation　of　silence　and　solitude。　　Here　again　the　Indians　had　　encamped；　as　well　they　might；　after　passing　with　their　women；　　children　and　horses　through　the　gulf　behind　us。　　In　one　day　we　had　　made　a　journey　which　had　cost　them　three　to　accomplish。　The　only　outlet　to　this　amphitheater　lay　over　a　hill　some　two　hundred　　feet　high；　up　which　we　moved　with　difficulty。　　Looking　from　the　top；　　we　saw　that　at　last　we　were　free　of　the　mountains。　　The　prairie　　spread　before　us；　but　so　wild　and　broken　that　the　view　was　everywhere　　obstructed。　　Far　on　our　left　one　tall　hill　swelled　up　against　the　　sky；　on　the　smooth；　pale　green　surface　of　which　four　slowly　moving　　black　specks　were　discernible。　　They　were　evidently　buffalo；　and　we　　hailed　the　sight　as　a　good　augury；　for　where　the