the oregon trail-第38部分

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about　before　me　and　showing　his　　teeth。　　I　called　him；　but　he　only　growled　the　more。　　I　looked　at　him　　well。　　He　was　fat　and　sleek；　just　such　a　dog　as　I　wanted。　　〃My　　friend；〃　thought　I；　〃you　shall　pay　for　this！　　I　will　have　you　eaten　　this　very　morning！〃　I　intended　that　day　to　give　the　Indians　a　feast；　by　way　of　conveying　　a　favorable　impression　of　my　character　and　dignity；　and　a　white　dog　　is　the　dish　which　the　customs　of　the　Dakota　prescribe　for　all　　occasions　of　formality　and　importance。　　I　consulted　Reynal；　he　soon　　discovered　that　an　old　woman　in　the　next　lodge　was　owner　of　the　white　　dog。　　I　took　a　gaudy　cotton　handkerchief；　and　laying　it　on　the　　ground；　arranged　some　vermilion；　beads；　and　other　trinkets　upon　it。　　　Then　the　old　squaw　was　summoned。　　I　pointed　to　the　dog　and　to　the　　handkerchief。　　She　gave　a　scream　of　delight；　snatched　up　the　prize；　　and　vanished　with　it　into　her　lodge。　　For　a　few　more　trifles　I　　engaged　the　services　of　two　other　squaws；　each　of　whom　took　the　white　　dog　by　one　of　his　paws；　and　led　him　away　behind　the　lodges；　while　he　　kept　looking　up　at　them　with　a　face　of　innocent　surprise。　　Having　　killed　him　they　threw　him　into　a　fire　to　singe；　then　chopped　him　up　　and　put　him　into　two　large　kettles　to　boil。　　Meanwhile　I　told　Raymond　　to　fry　in　buffalo…fat　what　little　flour　we　had　left；　and　also　to　make　　a　kettle　of　tea　as　an　additional　item　of　the　repast。　The　Big　Crow's　squaw　was　set　briskly　at　work　sweeping　out　the　lodge　　for　the　approaching　festivity。　　I　confided　to　my　host　himself　the　　task　of　inviting　the　guests；　thinking　that　I　might　thereby　shift　from　　my　own　shoulders　the　odium　of　fancied　neglect　and　oversight。　When　feasting　is　in　question；　one　hour　of　the　day　serves　an　Indian　as　　well　as　another。　　My　entertainment　came　off　about　eleven　o'clock。　　At　　that　hour；　Reynal　and　Raymond　walked　across　the　area　of　the　village；　　to　the　admiration　of　the　inhabitants；　carrying　the　two　kettles　of　　dog…meat　slung　on　a　pole　between　them。　　These　they　placed　in　the　　center　of　the　lodge；　and　then　went　back　for　the　bread　and　the　tea。　　　Meanwhile　I　had　put　on　a　pair　of　brilliant　moccasins；　and　substituted　　for　my　old　buckskin　frock　a　coat　which　I　had　brought　with　me　in　view　　of　such　public　occasions。　　I　also　made　careful　use　of　the　razor；　an　　operation　which　no　man　will　neglect　who　desires　to　gain　the　good　　opinion　of　Indians。　　Thus　attired；　I　seated　myself　between　Reynal　and　　Raymond　at　the　head　of　the　lodge。　　Only　a　few　minutes　elapsed　before　　all　the　guests　had　come　in　and　were　seated　on　the　ground；　wedged　　together　in　a　close　circle　around　the　lodge。　　Each　brought　with　him　a　　wooden　bowl　to　hold　his　share　of　the　repast。　　When　all　were　　assembled；　two　of　the　officials　called　〃soldiers〃　by　the　white　men；　　came　forward　with　ladles　made　of　the　horn　of　the　Rocky　Mountain　　sheep；　and　began　to　distribute　the　feast；　always　assigning　a　double　　share　to　the　old　men　and　chiefs。　　The　dog　vanished　with　astonishing　　celerity；　and　each　guest　turned　his　dish　bottom　upward　to　show　that　　all　was　gone。　　Then　the　bread　was　distributed　in　its　turn；　and　　finally　the　tea。　　As　the　soldiers　poured　it　out　into　the　same　wooden　　bowls　that　had　served　for　the　substantial　part　of　the　meal；　I　thought　　it　had　a　particularly　curious　and　uninviting　color。　〃Oh！〃　said　Reynal；　〃there　was　not　tea　enough；　so　I　stirred　some　soot　　in　the　kettle；　to　make　it　look　strong。〃　Fortunately　an　Indian's　palate　is　not　very　discriminating。　　The　tea　　was　well　sweetened；　and　that　was　all　they　cared　for。　Now　the　former　part　of　the　entertainment　being　concluded；　the　time　　for　speech…making　was　come。　　The　Big　Crow　produced　a　flat　piece　of　　wood　on　which　he　cut　up　tobacco　and　shongsasha；　and　mixed　them　in　due　　proportions。　　The　pipes　were　filled　and　passed　from　hand　to　hand　　around　the　company。　　Then　I　began　my　speech；　each　sentence　being　　interpreted　by　Reynal　as　I　went　on；　and　echoed　by　the　whole　audience　　with　the　usual　exclamations　of　assent　and　approval。　　As　nearly　as　I　　can　recollect；　it　was　as　follows：　I　had　come；　I　told　them；　from　a　country　so　far　distant；　that　at　the　　rate　they　travel；　they　could　not　reach　it　in　a　year。　〃Howo　how！〃　〃There　the　Meneaska　were　more　numerous　than　the　blades　of　grass　on　　the　prairie。　　The　squaws　were　far　more　beautiful　than　any　they　had　　ever　seen；　and　all　the　men　were　brave　warriors。〃　〃How！　how！　how！〃　Here　I　was　assailed　by　sharp　twinges　of　conscience；　for　I　fancied　I　　could　perceive　a　fragrance　of　perfumery　in　the　air；　and　a　vision　rose　　before　me　of　white　kid　gloves　and　silken　mustaches　with　the　mild　and　　gentle　countenances　of　numerous　fair…haired　young　men。　　But　I　　recovered　myself　and　began　again。　〃While　I　was　living　in　the　Meneaska　lodges；　I　had　heard　of　the　　Ogallalla；　how　great　and　brave　a　nation　they　were；　how　they　loved　the　　whites；　and　how　well　they　could　hunt　the　buffalo　and　strike　their　　enemies。　　I　resolved　to　come　and　see　if　all　that　I　heard　was　true。〃　〃How！　how！　how！　how！〃　〃As　I　had　come　on　horseback　through　the　mountains；　I　had　been　able　to　　bring　them　only　a　very　few　presents。〃　〃How！〃　〃But　I　had　enough　tobacco　to　give　them　all　a　small　piece。　　They　might　　smoke　it；　and　see　how　much　better　it　was　than　the　tobacco　which　they　　got　from　the　traders。〃　〃How！　how！　how！〃　〃I　had　plenty　of　powder；　lead；　knives；　and　tobacco　at　Fort　Laramie。　　　These　I　was　anxious　to　give　them；　and　if　any　of　them　should　come　to　　the　fort　before　I　went　away；　I　would　make　them　handsome　presents。〃　〃How！　howo　how！　how！〃　Raymond　then　cut　up　and　distributed　among　them　two　or　three　pounds　of　　tobacco；　and　old　Mene…Seela　began　to　make　a　reply。　　It　was　quite　　long；　but　the　following　was　the　pith　of　it：　〃He　had　always　loved　the　whites。　　They　were　the　wisest　people　on　　earth。　　He　believed　they　could　do　everything；　and　he　was　always　glad　　when　any　of　them　came　to　live　in　the　Ogallalla　lodges。　　It　was　true　I　　had　not　made　them　many　presents；　but　the　reason　of　it　was　plain。　　It　　was　clear　that　I　liked　them；　or　I　never　should　have　come　so　far　to　　find　their　village。〃　Several　other　speeches　of　similar　import　followed；　and　then　this　more　　serious　matter　being　disposed　of；　there　was　an　interval　of　smoking；　　laughing；　and　conversation；　but　old　Mene…Seela　suddenly　interrupted　　it　with　a　loud　voice：　〃Now　is　a　good　time；〃　he　said；　〃when　all　the　old　men　and　chiefs　are　　here　together；　to　decide　what　the　people　shall　do。　　We　came　over　the　　mountain　to　make　our　lodges　for　next　year。　　Our　old　ones　are　good　for　　nothing；　they　are　rotten　and　worn　out。　　But　we　have　been　　disappointed。　　We　have　killed　buffalo　bulls　enough；　but　we　have　found　　no　herds　of　cows；　and　the　skins　of　bulls　are　too　thick　and　heavy　for　　our　squaws　to　make　lodges　of。　　There　must　be　plenty　of　cows　about　the　　Medicine…Bow　Mountain。　　We　ought　to　go　there。　　To　be　sure　it　is　　farther　westward　than　we　have　ever　been　before；　and　perhaps　the　　Snakes　will　attack　us；　for　those　hunting…grounds　belong　to　them。　　But　　we　must　have　new　lodges　at　any　rate；　our　old　ones　will　not　serve　for　　another　year。　　We　ought　not　to　be　afraid　of　the　Snakes。　　Our　warriors　　are　brave；　and　they　are　all　ready　for　war。　　Besides；　we　have　three　　white　men　with　their　rifles　to　help　us。〃　I　could　not　help　thinking　that　the　old　man　relied　a　little　too　much　　on　the　aid　of　allies；　one　of　whom　was　a　coward；　another　a　blockhead；　　and　the　third　an　invalid。　　This　speech　produced　a　good　deal　of　　debate。　　As　Reynal　did　not　interpret　what　was　said；　I　could　only　　judge　of　the　meaning　by　the　features　and　gestures　of　the　speakers。　　　At　the　end　of　it；　however；　the　greater　number　seemed　to　have　fallen　　in　with　Mene…Seela's　opinion。　　A　short　silence　followed；　and　then　the　　old　man　struck　up　a　discordant　chant；　which　I　was　told　was　a　song　of　　thanks　for　the　entertainment　I　had　given　them。　〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃let　us　go　and　give　the　white　men　a　chance　to　　breathe。〃　So　the　company　all　dispersed　into　the　open　air；　and　for　some　time　the　　old　chief　was　walking　round　the　village；　singing　his　song　in　praise　　of　the　feast；　after　the　usual　custom　of　the　nation。　At　last　the　day　drew　to　a　close；　and　as　the　sun　went　down　the　horses　　came　trooping　from　the　surrounding　plains　to　be　picketed　before　the　　dwellings　of　their　respective　masters。　　Soon　within　the　great　circle　　of　lodges　appeared　another　concentric　circle　of　restless　horses；　and　　here　and　there　fires　were　glowing　and　flickering　amid　the　gloom　of　　the　dusky　figures　around　them。　　I　went　over　and　sat　by　the　lodge　of　　Reynal。　　The　Eagle…Feather；　who　was　a　son　of　Mene…Seela；　and　brother　　of　my　host　the　Big　Crow；　was　seated　there　already；　and　I　asked　him　if　　the　village　would　move　in　the　morning。　　He　shook　his　head；　and　said　　that　nobody　could　tell；　for　since　old　Mahto…Tatonka　had　died；　the　　people　had　been　like　children　that　did　not　know　their　own　minds。　　　They　were　no　better　than　a　body　without　a　head。　　So　I；　as　well　as　the　　Indians　themselves；　fell　asleep　that　night　without　knowing　whether　we　　should　set　out　in　the　morning　toward　the　country　of　the　Snakes。　At　daybreak；　however；　as　I　was　coming　up　from　the　river　after　my　　morning's　ablutions；　I　saw　that　a　movement　was　contemplated。　　Some　of　　the　lodges　were　reduced　to　nothing　but　bare　skeletons　of　poles；　the　　leather　covering　of　others　was　flapping　in　the　wind　as　the　squaws　　were　pulling　it　off。　　One　or　two　chiefs　of　note　had　resolved；　it　　seemed；　on　moving；　and　so　having　set　their　squaws　at　work；　the　　example　was　tacitly　followed　by　the　rest　of　the　village。　　One　by　one　　the　lodges　were　sinking　down　in　rapid　succession；　and　where　the　great　　circle　of　the　village　had　been　only　a　moment　before；　nothing　now　　remained　but　a　ring　of　horses　and　Indians；　crowded　in　confusion　　together。　　The　ruins　of　the　lodges　were　spread　over　the　ground；　　together　with　kettles；　stone　mallets；　great　ladles　of　horn；　buffalo　　robes；　and　cases　of　painted　hide；　filled　with　dried　meat。　　Squaws　　bustled　about　in　their　busy　preparations；　the　old　hags　screaming　to　　one　another　at　the　stretch　of　their　leathern　lungs。　　The　shaggy　　horses　were　patiently　standing　while　the　lodge…poles　were　lashed　to　　their　sides；　and　the　baggage　piled　upon　their　backs。　　The　dogs；　with　　their　tongues　lolling　out；　lay　lazily　panting；　and　waiting　for　the　　time　of　departure。　　Each　warrior　sat　on　the　ground　by　the　decaying　　embers　of　his　fir