the oregon trail-第36部分

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　discernible。　　They　were　evidently　buffalo；　and　we　　hailed　the　sight　as　a　good　augury；　for　where　the　buffalo　were；　there　　too　the　Indians　would　probably　be　found。　　We　hoped　on　that　very　night　　to　reach　the　village。　　We　were　anxious　to　do　so　for　a　double　reason；　　wishing　to　bring　our　wearisome　journey　to　an　end；　and　knowing；　　moreover；　that　though　to　enter　the　village　in　broad　daylight　would　be　　a　perfectly　safe　experiment；　yet　to　encamp　in　its　vicinity　would　be　　dangerous。　　But　as　we　rode　on；　the　sun　was　sinking；　and　soon　was　　within　half　an　hour　of　the　horizon。　　We　ascended　a　hill　and　looked　　round　us　for　a　spot　for　our　encampment。　　The　prairie　was　like　a　　turbulent　ocean；　suddenly　congealed　when　its　waves　were　at　the　　highest；　and　it　lay　half　in　light　and　half　in　shadow；　as　the　rich　　sunshine；　yellow　as　gold；　was　pouring　over　it。　　The　rough　bushes　of　　the　wild　sage　were　growing　everywhere；　its　dull　pale　green　　overspreading　hill　and　hollow。　　Yet　a　little　way　before　us；　a　bright　　verdant　line　of　grass　was　winding　along　the　plain；　and　here　and　there　　throughout　its　course　water　was　glistening　darkly。　　We　went　down　to　　it；　kindled　a　fire；　and　turned　our　horses　loose　to　feed。　　It　was　a　　little　trickling　brook；　that　for　some　yards　on　either　bank　turned　the　　barren　prairie　into　fertility；　and　here　and　there　it　spread　into　deep　　pools；　where　the　beaver　had　dammed　it　up。　We　placed　our　last　remaining　piece　of　the　antelope　before　a　scanty　　fire；　mournfully　reflecting　on　our　exhausted　stock　of　provisions。　　　Just　then　an　enormous　gray　hare；　peculiar　to　these　prairies；　came　　jumping　along；　and　seated　himself　within　fifty　yards　to　look　at　us。　　　I　thoughtlessly　raised　my　rifle　to　shoot　him；　but　Raymond　called　out　　to　me　not　to　fire　for　fear　the　report　should　reach　the　ears　of　the　　Indians。　　That　night　for　the　first　time　we　considered　that　the　danger　　to　which　we　were　exposed　was　of　a　somewhat　serious　character；　and　to　　those　who　are　unacquainted　with　Indians；　it　may　seem　strange　that　our　　chief　apprehensions　arose　from　the　supposed　proximity　of　the　people　　whom　we　intended　to　visit。　　Had　any　straggling　party　of　these　　faithful　friends　caught　sight　of　us　from　the　hill…top；　they　would　　probably　have　returned　in　the　night　to　plunder　us　of　our　horses　and　　perhaps　of　our　scalps。　　But　we　were　on　the　prairie；　where　the　GENIUS　　LOCI　is　at　war　with　all　nervous　apprehensions；　and　I　presume　that　　neither　Raymond　nor　I　thought　twice　of　the　matter　that　evening。　While　he　was　looking　after　the　animals；　I　sat　by　the　fire　engaged　in　　the　novel　task　of　baking　bread。　　The　utensils　were　of　the　most　simple　　and　primitive　kind；　consisting　of　two　sticks　inclining　over　the　bed　　of　coals；　one　end　thrust　into　the　ground　while　the　dough　was　twisted　　in　a　spiral　form　round　the　other。　　Under　such　circumstances　all　the　　epicurean　in　a　man's　nature　is　apt　to　awaken　within　him。　　I　revisited　　in　fancy　the　far　distant　abodes　of　good　fare；　not　indeed　Frascati's；　　or　the　Trois　Freres　Provencaux；　for　that　were　too　extreme　a　flight；　　but　no　other　than　the　homely　table　of　my　old　friend　and　host；　Tom　　Crawford；　of　the　White　Mountains。　　By　a　singular　revulsion；　Tom　　himself；　whom　I　well　remember　to　have　looked　upon　as　the　　impersonation　of　all　that　is　wild　and　backwoodsman…like；　now　appeared　　before　me　as　the　ministering　angel　of　comfort　and　good　living。　　Being　　fatigued　and　drowsy　I　began　to　doze；　and　my　thoughts；　following　the　　same　train　of　association；　assumed　another　form。　　Half…dreaming；　I　　saw　myself　surrounded　with　the　mountains　of　New　England；　alive　with　　water…falls；　their　black　crags　tinctured　with　milk…white　mists。　　For　　this　reverie　I　paid　a　speedy　penalty；　for　the　bread　was　black　on　one　　side　and　soft　on　the　other。　For　eight　hours　Raymond　and　I；　pillowed　on　our　saddles；　lay　　insensible　as　logs。　　Pauline's　yellow　head　was　stretched　over　me　when　　I　awoke。　　I　got　up　and　examined　her。　　Her　feet　indeed　were　bruised　　and　swollen　by　the　accidents　of　yesterday；　but　her　eye　was　brighter；　　her　motions　livelier；　and　her　mysterious　malady　had　visibly　abated。　　　We　moved　on；　hoping　within　an　hour　to　come　in　sight　of　the　Indian　　village；　but　again　disappointment　awaited　us。　　The　trail　disappeared；　　melting　away　upon　a　hard　and　stony　plain。　　Raymond　and　I　separating；　　rode　from　side　to　side；　scrutinizing　every　yard　of　ground；　until　at　　length　I　discerned　traces　of　the　lodge…poles　passing　by　the　side　of　a　　ridge　of　rocks。　　We　began　again　to　follow　them。　〃What　is　that　black　spot　out　there　on　the　prairie？〃　〃It　looks　like　a　dead　buffalo；〃　answered　Raymond。　We　rode　out　to　it；　and　found　it　to　be　the　huge　carcass　of　a　bull　　killed　by　the　Indians　as　they　had　passed。　　Tangled　hair　and　scraps　of　　hide　were　scattered　all　around；　for　the　wolves　had　been　making　merry　　over　it；　and　had　hollowed　out　the　entire　carcass。　　It　was　covered　　with　myriads　of　large　black　crickets；　and　from　its　appearance　must　　certainly　have　lain　there　for　four　or　five　days。　　The　sight　was　a　　most　disheartening　one；　and　I　observed　to　Raymond　that　the　Indians　　might　still　be　fifty　or　sixty　miles　before　us。　　But　he　shook　his　　head；　and　replied　that　they　dared　not　go　so　far　for　fear　of　their　　enemies；　the　Snakes。　Soon　after　this　we　lost　the　trail　again；　and　ascended　a　neighboring　　ridge；　totally　at　a　loss。　　Before　us　lay　a　plain　perfectly　flat；　　spreading　on　the　right　and　left；　without　apparent　limit；　and　bounded　　in　front　by　a　long　broken　line　of　hills；　ten　or　twelve　miles　distant。　　　All　was　open　and　exposed　to　view；　yet　not　a　buffalo　nor　an　Indian　was　　visible。　〃Do　you　see　that？〃　said　Raymond；　〃Now　we　had　better　turn　round。〃　But　as　Raymond's　bourgeois　thought　otherwise；　we　descended　the　hill　　and　began　to　cross　the　plain。　　We　had　come　so　far　that　I　knew　　perfectly　well　neither　Pauline's　limbs　nor　my　own　could　carry　me　back　　to　Fort　Laramie。　　I　considered　that　the　lines　of　expediency　and　　inclination　tallied　exactly；　and　that　the　most　prudent　course　was　to　　keep　forward。　　The　ground　immediately　around　us　was　thickly　strewn　　with　the　skulls　and　bones　of　buffalo；　for　here　a　year　or　two　before　　the　Indians　had　made　a　〃surround〃；　yet　no　living　game　presented　　itself。　　At　length；　however；　an　antelope　sprang　up　and　gazed　at　us。　　　We　fired　together；　and　by　a　singular　fatality　we　both　missed；　　although　the　animal　stood；　a　fair　mark；　within　eighty　yards。　　This　　ill　success　might　perhaps　be　charged　to　our　own　eagerness；　for　by　　this　time　we　had　no　provision　left　except　a　little　flour。　　We　could　　discern　several　small　lakes；　or　rather　extensive　pools　of　water；　　glistening　in　the　distance。　　As　we　approached　them；　wolves　and　　antelopes　bounded　away　through　the　tall　grass　that　grew　in　their　　vicinity；　and　flocks　of　large　white　plover　flew　screaming　over　their　　surface。　　Having　failed　of　the　antelope；　Raymond　tried　his　hand　at　　the　birds　with　the　same　ill　success。　　The　water　also　disappointed　us。　　　Its　muddy　margin　was　so　beaten　up　by　the　crowd　of　buffalo　that　our　　timorous　animals　were　afraid　to　approach。　　So　we　turned　away　and　　moved　toward　the　hills。　　The　rank　grass；　where　it　was　not　trampled　　down　by　the　buffalo；　fairly　swept　our　horses'　necks。　Again　we　found　the　same　execrable　barren　prairie　offering　no　clew　by　　which　to　guide　our　way。　　As　we　drew　near　the　hills　an　opening　　appeared；　through　which　the　Indians　must　have　gone　if　they　had　passed　　that　way　at　all。　　Slowly　we　began　to　ascend　it。　　I　felt　the　most　　dreary　forebodings　of　ill　success；　when　on　looking　round　I　could　　discover　neither　dent　of　hoof；　nor　footprint；　nor　trace　of　lodge…　pole；　though　the　passage　was　encumbered　by　the　ghastly　skulls　of　　buffalo。　　We　heard　thunder　muttering；　a　storm　was　coming　on。　As　we　gained　the　top　of　the　gap；　the　prospect　beyond　began　to　　disclose　itself。　　First；　we　saw　a　long　dark　line　of　ragged　clouds　　upon　the　horizon；　while　above　them　rose　the　peak　of　the　Medicine…Bow；　　the　vanguard　of　the　Rocky　Mountains；　then　little　by　little　the　plain　　came　into　view；　a　vast　green　uniformity；　forlorn　and　tenantless；　　though　Laramie　Creek　glistened　in　a　waving　line　over　its　surface；　　without　a　bush　or　a　tree　upon　its　banks。　　As　yet；　the　round　　projecting　shoulder　of　a　hill　intercepted　a　part　of　the　view。　　I　rode　　in　advance；　when　suddenly　I　could　distinguish　a　few　dark　spots　on　the　　prairie；　along　the　bank　of　the　stream。　〃Buffalo！〃　said　I。　　Then　a　sudden　hope　flashed　upon　me；　and　eagerly　　and　anxiously　I　looked　again。　〃Horses！〃　exclaimed　Raymond；　with　a　tremendous　oath；　lashing　his　mule　　forward　as　he　spoke。　　More　and　more　of　the　plain　disclosed　itself；　　and　in　rapid　succession　more　and　more　horses　appeared；　scattered　　along　the　river　bank；　or　feeding　in　bands　over　the　prairie。　　Then；　　suddenly；　standing　in　a　circle　by　the　stream；　swarming　with　their　　savage　inhabitants；　we　saw　rising　before　us　the　tall　lodges　of　the　　Ogallalla。　　Never　did　the　heart　of　wanderer　more　gladden　at　the　sight　　of　home　than　did　mine　at　the　sight　of　those　wild　habitations！

CHAPTER　XIV　THE　OGALLALLA　VILLAGE

Such　a　narrative　as　this　is　hardly　the　place　for　portraying　the　　mental　features　of　the　Indians。　　The　same　picture；　slightly　changed　　in　shade　and　coloring；　would　serve　with　very　few　exceptions　for　all　　the　tribes　that　lie　north　of　the　Mexican　territories。　　But　with　this　　striking　similarity　in　their　modes　of　thought；　the　tribes　of　the　lake　　and　ocean　shores；　of　the　forests　and　of　the　plains；　differ　greatly　in　　their　manner　of　life。　　Having　been　domesticated　for　several　weeks　　among　one　of　the　wildest　of　the　wild　hordes　that　roam　over　the　remote　　prairies；　I　had　extraordinary　opportunities　of　observing　them；　and　I　　flatter　myself　that　a　faithful　picture　of　the　scenes　that　passed　　daily　before　my　eyes　may　not　be　devoid　of　interest　and　value。　　These　　men　were　thorough　savages。　　Neither　their　manners　nor　their　ideas　　were　in　the　slightest　degree　modified　by　contact　with　civilization。　　　They　knew　nothing　of　the　power　and　real　character　of　the　white　men；　　and　their　children　would　scream　in　terror　at　the　sight　of　me。　　Their　　religion；　their　superstitions；　and　their　prejudices　were　the　same　　that　had　been　handed　down　to　them　from　immemorial　time。　　They　fought　　with　the　same　weapons　that　their　fathers　fought　with　and　wore　the　　same　rude　garments　of　skins。　Great　changes　are　at　hand　in　that　region。