the oregon trail-第39部分

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iting　for　the　　time　of　departure。　　Each　warrior　sat　on　the　ground　by　the　decaying　　embers　of　his　fire；　unmoved　amid　all　the　confusion；　while　he　held　in　　his　hand　the　long　trail…rope　of　his　horse。　As　their　preparations　were　completed；　each　family　moved　off　the　　ground。　　The　crowd　was　rapidly　melting　away。　　I　could　see　them　　crossing　the　river；　and　passing　in　quick　succession　along　the　profile　　of　the　hill　on　the　farther　bank。　　When　all　were　gone；　I　mounted　and　　set　out　after　them；　followed　by　Raymond；　and　as　we　gained　the　summit；　　the　whole　village　came　in　view　at　once；　straggling　away　for　a　mile　or　　more　over　the　barren　plains　before　us。　　Everywhere　the　iron　points　of　　lances　were　glittering。　　The　sun　never　shone　upon　a　more　strange　　array。　　Here　were　the　heavy…laden　pack　horses；　some　wretched　old　　women　leading　them；　and　two　or　three　children　clinging　to　their　　backs。　　Here　were　mules　or　ponies　covered　from　head　to　tail　with　　gaudy　trappings；　and　mounted　by　some　gay　young　squaw；　grinning　　bashfulness　and　pleasure　as　the　Meneaska　looked　at　her。　　Boys　with　　miniature　bows　and　arrows　were　wandering　over　the　plains；　little　　naked　children　were　running　along　on　foot；　and　numberless　dogs　were　　scampering　among　the　feet　of　the　horses。　　The　young　braves；　gaudy　　with　paint　and　feathers；　were　riding　in　groups　among　the　crowd；　and　　often　galloping；　two　or　three　at　once　along　the　line；　to　try　the　　speed　of　their　horses。　　Here　and　there　you　might　see　a　rank　of　sturdy　　pedestrians　stalking　along　in　their　white　buffalo　robes。　　These　were　　the　dignitaries　of　the　village；　the　old　men　and　warriors；　to　whose　　age　and　experience　that　wandering　democracy　yielded　a　silent　　deference。　　With　the　rough　prairie　and　the　broken　hills　for　its　　background；　the　restless　scene　was　striking　and　picturesque　beyond　　description。　　Days　and　weeks　made　me　familiar　with　it；　but　never　　impaired　its　effect　upon　my　fancy。　As　we　moved　on　the　broken　column　grew　yet　more　scattered　and　　disorderly；　until；　as　we　approached　the　foot　of　a　hill；　I　saw　the　old　　men　before　mentioned　seating　themselves　in　a　line　upon　the　ground；　in　　advance　of　the　whole。　　They　lighted　a　pipe　and　sat　smoking；　laughing；　　and　telling　stories；　while　the　people；　stopping　as　they　successively　　came　up；　were　soon　gathered　in　a　crowd　behind　them。　　Then　the　old　men　　rose；　drew　their　buffalo　robes　over　their　shoulders；　and　strode　on　as　　before。　　Gaining　the　top　of　the　hill；　we　found　a　very　steep　declivity　　before　us。　　There　was　not　a　minute's　pause。　　The　whole　descended　in　a　　mass；　amid　dust　and　confusion。　　The　horses　braced　their　feet　as　they　　slid　down；　women　and　children　were　screaming；　dogs　yelping　as　they　　were　trodden　upon；　while　stones　and　earth　went　rolling　to　the　bottom。　　　In　a　few　moments　I　could　see　the　village　from　the　summit；　spreading　　again　far　and　wide　over　the　plain　below。　At　our　encampment　that　afternoon　I　was　attacked　anew　by　my　old　　disorder。　　In　half　an　hour　the　strength　that　I　had　been　gaining　for　a　　week　past　had　vanished　again；　and　I　became　like　a　man　in　a　dream。　　　But　at　sunset　I　lay　down　in　the　Big　Crow's　lodge　and　slept；　totally　　unconscious　till　the　morning。　　The　first　thing　that　awakened　me　was　a　　hoarse　flapping　over　my　head；　and　a　sudden　light　that　poured　in　upon　　me。　　The　camp　was　breaking　up；　and　the　squaws　were　moving　the　　covering　from　the　lodge。　　I　arose　and　shook　off　my　blanket　with　the　　feeling　of　perfect　health；　but　scarcely　had　I　gained　my　feet　when　a　　sense　of　my　helpless　condition　was　once　more　forced　upon　me；　and　I　　found　myself　scarcely　able　to　stand。　　Raymond　had　brought　up　Pauline　　and　the　mule；　and　I　stooped　to　raise　my　saddle　from　the　ground。　　My　　strength　was　quite　inadequate　to　the　task。　　〃You　must　saddle　her；〃　　said　I　to　Raymond；　as　I　sat　down　again　on　a　pile　of　buffalo　robes：

　　　　　〃Et　hoec　etiam　fortasse　meminisse　juvabit。〃

I　thought；　while　with　a　painful　effort　I　raised　myself　into　the　　saddle。　　Half　an　hour　after；　even　the　expectation　that　Virgil's　line　　expressed　seemed　destined　to　disappointment。　　As　we　were　passing　over　　a　great　plain；　surrounded　by　long　broken　ridges；　I　rode　slowly　in　　advance　of　the　Indians；　with　thoughts　that　wandered　far　from　the　time　　and　from　the　place。　　Suddenly　the　sky　darkened；　and　thunder　began　to　　mutter。　　Clouds　were　rising　over　the　hills；　as　dreary　and　dull　as　the　　first　forebodings　of　an　approaching　calamity；　and　in　a　moment　all　　around　was　wrapped　in　shadow。　　I　looked　behind。　　The　Indians　had　　stopped　to　prepare　for　the　approaching　storm；　and　the　dark；　dense　　mass　of　savages　stretched　far　to　the　right　and　left。　　Since　the　first　　attack　of　my　disorder　the　effects　of　rain　upon　me　had　usually　been　　injurious　in　the　extreme。　　I　had　no　strength　to　spare；　having　at　that　　moment　scarcely　enough　to　keep　my　seat　on　horseback。　　Then；　for　the　　first　time；　it　pressed　upon　me　as　a　strong　probability　that　I　might　　never　leave　those　deserts。　　〃Well；〃　thought　I　to　myself；　〃a　prairie　　makes　quick　and　sharp　work。　　Better　to　die　here；　in　the　saddle　to　the　　last；　than　to　stifle　in　the　hot　air　of　a　sick　chamber；　and　a　thousand　　times　better　than　to　drag　out　life；　as　many　have　done；　in　the　　helpless　inaction　of　lingering　disease。〃　　So；　drawing　the　buffalo　　robe　on　which　I　sat　over　my　head；　I　waited　till　the　storm　should　　come。　　It　broke　at　last　with　a　sudden　burst　of　fury；　and　passing　away　　as　rapidly　as　it　came；　left　the　sky　clear　again。　　My　reflections　　served　me　no　other　purpose　than　to　look　back　upon　as　a　piece　of　　curious　experience；　for　the　rain　did　not　produce　the　ill　effects　that　　I　had　expected。　　We　encamped　within　an　hour。　　Having　no　change　of　　clothes；　I　contrived　to　borrow　a　curious　kind　of　substitute　from　　Reynal：　and　this　done；　I　went　home；　that　is；　to　the　Big　Crow's　lodge　　to　make　the　entire　transfer　that　was　necessary。　　Half　a　dozen　squaws　　were　in　the　lodge；　and　one　of　them　taking　my　arm　held　it　against　her　　own；　while　a　general　laugh　and　scream　of　admiration　were　raised　at　　the　contrast　in　the　color　of　the　skin。　Our　encampment　that　afternoon　was　not　far　distant　from　a　spur　of　the　　Black　Hills；　whose　ridges；　bristling　with　fir　trees；　rose　from　the　　plains　a　mile　or　two　on　our　right。　　That　they　might　move　more　rapidly　　toward　their　proposed　hunting…grounds；　the　Indians　determined　to　　leave　at　this　place　their　stock　of　dried　meat　and　other　superfluous　　articles。　　Some　left　even　their　lodges；　and　contented　themselves　with　　carrying　a　few　hides　to　make　a　shelter　from　the　sun　and　rain。　　Half　　the　inhabitants　set　out　in　the　afternoon；　with　loaded　pack　horses；　　toward　the　mountains。　　Here　they　suspended　the　dried　meat　upon　trees；　　where　the　wolves　and　grizzly　bears　could　not　get　at　it。　　All　returned　　at　evening。　　Some　of　the　young　men　declared　that　they　had　heard　the　　reports　of　guns　among　the　mountains　to　the　eastward；　and　many　　surmises　were　thrown　out　as　to　the　origin　of　these　sounds。　　For　my　　part；　I　was　in　hopes　that　Shaw　and　Henry　Chatillon　were　coming　to　　join　us。　　I　would　have　welcomed　them　cordially；　for　I　had　no　other　　companions　than　two　brutish　white　men　and　five　hundred　savages。　　I　　little　suspected　that　at　that　very　moment　my　unlucky　comrade　was　　lying　on　a　buffalo　robe　at　Fort　Laramie；　fevered　with　ivy　poison；　and　　solacing　his　woes　with　tobacco　and　Shakespeare。　As　we　moved　over　the　plains　on　the　next　morning；　several　young　men　　were　riding　about　the　country　as　scouts；　and　at　length　we　began　to　　see　them　occasionally　on　the　tops　of　the　hills；　shaking　their　robes　　as　a　signal　that　they　saw　buffalo。　　Soon　after；　some　bulls　came　in　　sight。　　Horsemen　darted　away　in　pursuit；　and　we　could　see　from　the　　distance　that　one　or　two　of　the　buffalo　were　killed。　　Raymond　　suddenly　became　inspired。　　I　looked　at　him　as　he　rode　by　my　side；　his　　face　had　actually　grown　intelligent！　〃This　is　the　country　for　me！〃　he　said；　〃if　I　could　only　carry　the　　buffalo　that　are　killed　here　every　month　down　to　St。　Louis　I'd　make　　my　fortune　in　one　winter。　　I'd　grow　as　rich　as　old　Papin；　or　　Mackenzie　either。　　I　call　this　the　poor　man's　market。　　When　I'm　　hungry　I　have　only　got　to　take　my　rifle　and　go　out　and　get　better　　meat　than　the　rich　folks　down　below　can　get　with　all　their　money。　　　You　won't　catch　me　living　in　St。　Louis　another　winter。〃　〃No；〃　said　Reynal；　〃you　had　better　say　that　after　you　and　your　　Spanish　woman　almost　starved　to　death　there。　　What　a　fool　you　were　　ever　to　take　her　to　the　settlements。〃　〃Your　Spanish　woman？〃　said　I；　〃I　never　heard　of　her　before。　　Are　you　　married　to　her？〃　〃No；〃　answered　Raymond；　again　looking　intelligent；　〃the　priests　don't　　marry　their　women；　and　why　should　I　marry　mine？〃　This　honorable　mention　of　the　Mexican　clergy　introduced　the　subject　　of　religion；　and　I　found　that　my　two　associates；　in　common　with　other　　white　men　in　the　country；　were　as　indifferent　to　their　future　welfare　　as　men　whose　lives　are　in　constant　peril　are　apt　to　be。　　Raymond　had　　never　heard　of　the　Pope。　　A　certain　bishop；　who　lived　at　Taos　or　at　　Santa　Fe；　embodied　his　loftiest　idea　of　an　ecclesiastical　dignitary。　　　Reynal　observed　that　a　priest　had　been　at　Fort　Laramie　two　years　ago；　　on　his　way　to　the　Nez　Perce　mission；　and　that　he　had　confessed　all　　the　men　there　and　given　them　absolution。　　〃I　got　a　good　clearing　out　　myself　that　time；〃　said　Reynal；　〃and　I　reckon　that　will　do　for　me　　till　I　go　down　to　the　settlements　again。〃　Here　he　interrupted　himself　with　an　oath　and　exclaimed：　〃Look！　look！　　　The　Panther　is　running　an　antelope！〃　The　Panther；　on　his　black　and　white　horse；　one　of　the　best　in　the　　village；　came　at　full　speed　over　the　hill　in　hot　pursuit　of　an　　antelope　that　darted　away　like　lightning　before　him。　　The　attempt　was　　made　in　mere　sport　and　bravado；　for　very　few　are　the　horses　that　can　　for　a　moment　compete　in　swiftness　with　this　little　animal。　　The　　antelope　ran　down　the　hill　toward　the　main　body　of　the　Indians　who　　were　moving　over　the　plain　below。　　Sharp　yells　were　given　and　　horsemen　galloped　out　to　intercept　his　flight。　　At　this　he　turned　　sharply　to　the　left　and　scoured　away　with　such　incredible　speed　that　　he　distanced　all　his　pursuers　and　even　the　vaunted　horse　of　the　　Panther　himself。　　A　few　moments　after　we　witnessed　a　more　serious　　sport。　　A　shaggy　buffalo　bull　bounded　out　from　a　neighboring　hollow；　　and　close　behind　him　ca