the oregon trail-第37部分

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s　fought　with　and　wore　the　　same　rude　garments　of　skins。　Great　changes　are　at　hand　in　that　region。　　With　the　stream　of　　emigration　to　Oregon　and　California；　the　buffalo　will　dwindle　away；　　and　the　large　wandering　communities　who　depend　on　them　for　support　　must　be　broken　and　scattered。　　The　Indians　will　soon　be　corrupted　by　　the　example　of　the　whites；　abased　by　whisky；　and　overawed　by　military　　posts；　so　that　within　a　few　years　the　traveler　may　pass　in　tolerable　　security　through　their　country。　　Its　danger　and　its　charm　will　have　　disappeared　together。　As　soon　as　Raymond　and　I　discovered　the　village　from　the　gap　in　the　　hills；　we　were　seen　in　our　turn；　keen　eyes　were　constantly　on　the　　watch。　　As　we　rode　down　upon　the　plain　the　side　of　the　village　　nearest　us　was　darkened　with　a　crowd　of　naked　figures　gathering　　around　the　lodges。　　Several　men　came　forward　to　meet　us。　　I　could　　distinguish　among　them　the　green　blanket　of　the　Frenchman　Reynal。　　　When　we　came　up　the　ceremony　of　shaking　hands　had　to　be　gone　through　　with　in　due　form；　and　then　all　were　eager　to　know　what　had　become　of　　the　rest　of　my　party。　　I　satisfied　them　on　this　point；　and　we　all　　moved　forward　together　toward　the　village。　〃You've　missed　it；〃　said　Reynal；　〃if　you'd　been　here　day　before　　yesterday；　you'd　have　found　the　whole　prairie　over　yonder　black　with　　buffalo　as　far　as　you　could　see。　　There　were　no　cows；　though；　nothing　　but　bulls。　　We　made　a　'surround'　every　day　till　yesterday。　　See　the　　village　there；　don't　that　look　like　good　living？〃　In　fact　I　could　see；　even　at　that　distance；　that　long　cords　were　　stretched　from　lodge　to　lodge；　over　which　the　meat；　cut　by　the　squaws　　into　thin　sheets；　was　hanging　to　dry　in　the　sun。　　I　noticed　too　that　　the　village　was　somewhat　smaller　than　when　I　had　last　seen　it；　and　I　　asked　Reynal　the　cause。　　He　said　that　the　old　Le　Borgne　had　felt　too　　weak　to　pass　over　the　mountains；　and　so　had　remained　behind　with　all　　his　relations；　including　Mahto…Tatonka　and　his　brothers。　　The　　Whirlwind　too　had　been　unwilling　to　come　so　far；　because；　as　Reynal　　said；　he　was　afraid。　　Only　half　a　dozen　lodges　had　adhered　to　him；　　the　main　body　of　the　village　setting　their　chief's　authority　at　　naught；　and　taking　the　course　most　agreeable　to　their　inclinations。　〃What　chiefs　are　there　in　the　village　now？〃　said　I。　〃Well；〃　said　Reynal；　〃there's　old　Red…Water；　and　the　Eagle…Feather；　　and　the　Big　Crow；　and　the　Mad　Wolf　and　the　Panther；　and　the　White　　Shield；　andwhat's　his　name？the　half…breed　Cheyenne。〃　By　this　time　we　were　close　to　the　village；　and　I　observed　that　while　　the　greater　part　of　the　lodges　were　very　large　and　neat　in　their　　appearance；　there　was　at　one　side　a　cluster　of　squalid；　miserable　　huts。　　I　looked　toward　them；　and　made　some　remark　about　their　　wretched　appearance。　　But　I　was　touching　upon　delicate　ground。　〃My　squaw's　relations　live　in　those　lodges；〃　said　Reynal　very　warmly；　　〃and　there　isn't　a　better　set　in　the　whole　village。〃　〃Are　there　any　chiefs　among　them？〃　asked　I。　〃Chiefs？〃　said　Reynal；　〃yes；　plenty！〃　〃What　are　their　names？〃　I　inquired。　〃Their　names？　　Why；　there's　the　Arrow…Head。　　If　he　isn't　a　chief　he　　ought　to　be　one。　　And　there's　the　Hail…Storm。　　He's　nothing　but　a　　boy；　to　be　sure；　but　he's　bound　to　be　a　chief　one　of　these　days！〃　Just　then　we　passed　between　two　of　the　lodges；　and　entered　the　great　　area　of　the　village。　　Superb　naked　figures　stood　silently　gazing　on　　us。　〃Where's　the　Bad　Wound's　lodge？〃　said　I　to　Reynal。　〃There；　you've　missed　it　again！　　The　Bad　Wound　is　away　with　The　　Whirlwind。　　If　you　could　have　found　him　here；　and　gone　to　live　in　his　　lodge；　he　would　have　treated　you　better　than　any　man　in　the　village。　　　But　there's　the　Big　Crow's　lodge　yonder；　next　to　old　Red…Water's。　　　He's　a　good　Indian　for　the　whites；　and　I　advise　you　to　go　and　live　　with　him。〃　〃Are　there　many　squaws　and　children　in　his　lodge？〃　said　I。　〃No；　only　one　squaw　and　two　or　three　children。　　He　keeps　the　rest　in　　a　separate　lodge　by　themselves。〃　So；　still　followed　by　a　crowd　of　Indians；　Raymond　and　I　rode　up　to　　the　entrance　of　the　Big　Crow's　lodge。　　A　squaw　came　out　immediately　　and　took　our　horses。　　I　put　aside　the　leather　nap　that　covered　the　　low　opening；　and　stooping；　entered　the　Big　Crow's　dwelling。　　There　I　　could　see　the　chief　in　the　dim　light；　seated　at　one　side；　on　a　pile　　of　buffalo　robes。　　He　greeted　me　with　a　guttural　〃How；　cola！〃　　I　　requested　Reynal　to　tell　him　that　Raymond　and　I　were　come　to　live　　with　him。　　The　Big　Crow　gave　another　low　exclamation。　　If　the　reader　　thinks　that　we　were　intruding　somewhat　cavalierly；　I　beg　him　to　　observe　that　every　Indian　in　the　village　would　have　deemed　himself　　honored　that　white　men　should　give　such　preference　to　his　　hospitality。　The　squaw　spread　a　buffalo　robe　for　us　in　the　guest's　place　at　the　　head　of　the　lodge。　　Our　saddles　were　brought　in；　and　scarcely　were　we　　seated　upon　them　before　the　place　was　thronged　with　Indians；　who　came　　crowding　in　to　see　us。　　The　Big　Crow　produced　his　pipe　and　filled　it　　with　the　mixture　of　tobacco　and　shongsasha；　or　red　willow　bark。　　　Round　and　round　it　passed；　and　a　lively　conversation　went　forward。　　　Meanwhile　a　squaw　placed　before　the　two　guests　a　wooden　bowl　of　　boiled　buffalo　meat；　but　unhappily　this　was　not　the　only　banquet　　destined　to　be　inflicted　on　us。　　Rapidly；　one　after　another；　boys　and　　young　squaws　thrust　their　heads　in　at　the　opening；　to　invite　us　to　　various　feasts　in　different　parts　of　the　village。　　For　half　an　hour　　or　more　we　were　actively　engaged　in　passing　from　lodge　to　lodge；　　tasting　in　each　of　the　bowl　of　meat　set　before　us；　and　inhaling　a　　whiff　or　two　from　our　entertainer's　pipe。　　A　thunderstorm　that　had　　been　threatening　for　some　time　now　began　in　good　earnest。　　We　crossed　　over　to　Reynal's　lodge；　though　it　hardly　deserved　this　name；　for　it　　consisted　only　of　a　few　old　buffalo　robes；　supported　on　poles；　and　　was　quite　open　on　one　side。　　Here　we　sat　down；　and　the　Indians　　gathered　round　us。　〃What　is　it；〃　said　I；　〃that　makes　the　thunder？〃　〃It's　my　belief；〃　said　Reynal；　〃that　it　is　a　big　stone　rolling　over　　the　sky。〃　〃Very　likely；〃　I　replied；　〃but　I　want　to　know　what　the　Indians　think　　about　it。〃　So　he　interpreted　my　question；　which　seemed　to　produce　some　doubt　and　　debate。　　There　was　evidently　a　difference　of　opinion。　　At　last　old　　Mene…Seela；　or　Red…Water；　who　sat　by　himself　at　one　side；　looked　up　　with　his　withered　face；　and　said　he　had　always　known　what　the　thunder　　was。　　It　was　a　great　black　bird；　and　once　he　had　seen　it；　in　a　dream；　　swooping　down　from　the　Black　Hills；　with　its　loud　roaring　wings；　and　　when　it　flapped　them　over　a　lake；　they　struck　lightning　from　the　　water。　〃The　thunder　is　bad；〃　said　another　old　man；　who　sat　muffled　in　his　　buffalo　robe；　〃he　killed　my　brother　last　summer。〃　Reynal；　at　my　request；　asked　for　an　explanation；　but　the　old　man　　remained　doggedly　silent；　and　would　not　look　up。　　Some　time　after　I　　learned　how　the　accident　occurred。　　The　man　who　was　killed　belonged　　to　an　association　which；　among　other　mystic　functions；　claimed　the　　exclusive　power　and　privilege　of　fighting　the　thunder。　　Whenever　a　　storm　which　they　wished　to　avert　was　threatening；　the　thunder…　fighters　would　take　their　bows　and　arrows；　their　guns；　their　magic　　drum；　and　a　sort　of　whistle；　made　out　of　the　wingbone　of　the　war　　eagle。　　Thus　equipped；　they　would　run　out　and　fire　at　the　rising　　cloud；　whooping；　yelling；　whistling；　and　beating　their　drum；　to　　frighten　it　down　again。　　One　afternoon　a　heavy　black　cloud　was　coming　　up；　and　they　repaired　to　the　top　of　a　hill；　where　they　brought　all　　their　magic　artillery　into　play　against　it。　　But　the　undaunted　　thunder；　refusing　to　be　terrified；　kept　moving　straight　onward；　and　　darted　out　a　bright　flash　which　struck　one　of　the　party　dead；　as　he　　was　in　the　very　act　of　shaking　his　long　iron…pointed　lance　against　　it。　　The　rest　scattered　and　ran　yelling　in　an　ecstasy　of　　superstitious　terror　back　to　their　lodges。　The　lodge　of　my　host　Kongra…Tonga；　or　the　Big　Crow；　presented　a　　picturesque　spectacle　that　evening。　　A　score　or　more　of　Indians　were　　seated　around　in　a　circle；　their　dark　naked　forms　just　visible　by　the　　dull　light　of　the　smoldering　fire　in　the　center；　the　pipe　glowing　　brightly　in　the　gloom　as　it　passed　from　hand　to　hand　round　the　lodge。　　　Then　a　squaw　would　drop　a　piece　of　buffalo…fat　on　the　dull　embers。　　　Instantly　a　bright　glancing　flame　would　leap　up；　darting　its　clear　　light　to　the　very　apex　of　the　tall　conical　structure；　where　the　tops　　of　the　slender　poles　that　supported　its　covering　of　leather　were　　gathered　together。　　It　gilded　the　features　of　the　Indians；　as　with　　animated　gestures　they　sat　around　it；　telling　their　endless　stories　　of　war　and　hunting。　　It　displayed　rude　garments　of　skins　that　hung　　around　the　lodge；　the　bow；　quiver；　and　lance　suspended　over　the　　resting…place　of　the　chief；　and　the　rifles　and　powder…horns　of　the　　two　white　guests。　　For　a　moment　all　would　be　bright　as　day；　then　the　　flames　would　die　away；　and　fitful　flashes　from　the　embers　would　　illumine　the　lodge；　and　then　leave　it　in　darkness。　　Then　all　the　　light　would　wholly　fade；　and　the　lodge　and　all　within　it　be　involved　　again　in　obscurity。　As　I　left　the　lodge　next　morning；　I　was　saluted　by　howling　and　　yelling　from　all　around　the　village；　and　half　its　canine　population　　rushed　forth　to　the　attack。　　Being　as　cowardly　as　they　were　　clamorous；　they　kept　jumping　around　me　at　the　distance　of　a　few　　yards；　only　one　little　cur；　about　ten　inches　long；　having　spirit　　enough　to　make　a　direct　assault。　　He　dashed　valiantly　at　the　leather　　tassel　which　in　the　Dakota　fashion　was　trailing　behind　the　heel　of　my　　moccasin；　and　kept　his　hold；　growling　and　snarling　all　the　while；　　though　every　step　I　made　almost　jerked　him　over　on　his　back。　　As　I　　knew　that　the　eyes　of　the　whole　village　were　on　the　watch　to　see　if　I　　showed　any　sign　of　apprehension；　I　walked　forward　without　looking　to　　the　right　or　left；　surrounded　wherever　I　went　by　this　magic　circle　of　　dogs。　　When　I　came　to　Reynal's　lodge　I　sat　down　by　it；　on　which　the　　dogs　dispersed　growling　to　their　respective　quarters。　　Only　one　large　　white　one　remained；　who　kept　running　about　before　me　and　showing　his　　teeth。　　I　called　him；　but　he　only　growled　the　more。　　I　looked　at　hi