the oregon trail-第4部分

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d　that　of　the　Delawares。　　We　crossed　it　on　　the　following　day；　rafting　over　our　horses　and　equipage　with　much　　difficulty；　and　unloading　our　cart　in　order　to　make　our　way　up　the　　steep　ascent　on　the　farther　bank。　　It　was　a　Sunday　moming；　warm；　　tranquil　and　bright；　and　a　perfect　stillness　reigned　over　the　rough　　inclosures　and　neglected　fields　of　the　Delawares；　except　the　　ceaseless　hum　and　chirruping　of　myriads　of　insects。　　Now　and　then；　an　　Indian　rode　past　on　his　way　to　the　meeting…house；　or　through　the　　dilapidated　entrance　of　some　shattered　log…house　an　old　woman　might　　be　discerned；　enjoying　all　the　luxury　of　idleness。　　There　was　no　　village　bell；　for　the　Delawares　have　none；　and　yet　upon　that　forlorn　　and　rude　settlement　was　the　same　spirit　of　Sabbath　repose　and　　tranquillity　as　in　some　little　New　England　village　among　the　　mountains　of　New　Hampshire　or　the　Vermont　woods。　Having　at　present　no　leisure　for　such　reflections；　we　pursued　our　　journey。　　A　military　road　led　from　this　point　to　Fort　Leavenworth；　　and　for　many　miles　the　farms　and　cabins　of　the　Delawares　were　　scattered　at　short　intervals　on　either　hand。　　The　little　rude　　structures　of　logs；　erected　usually　on　the　borders　of　a　tract　of　　woods；　made　a　picturesque　feature　in　the　landscape。　　But　the　scenery　　needed　no　foreign　aid。　　Nature　had　done　enough　for　it；　and　the　　alteration　of　rich　green　prairies　and　groves　that　stood　in　clusters　　or　lined　the　banks　of　the　numerous　little　streams；　had　all　the　　softened　and　polished　beauty　of　a　region　that　has　been　for　centuries　　under　the　hand　of　man。　　At　that　early　season；　too；　it　was　in　the　　height　of　its　freshness　and　luxuriance。　　The　woods　were　flushed　with　　the　red　buds　of　the　maple；　there　were　frequent　flowering　shrubs　　unknown　in　the　east；　and　the　green　swells　of　the　prairies　were　　thickly　studded　with　blossoms。　Encamping　near　a　spring　by　the　side　of　a　hill；　we　resumed　our　journey　　in　the　morning；　and　early　in　the　afternoon　had　arrived　within　a　few　　miles　of　Fort　Leavenworth。　　The　road　crossed　a　stream　densely　　bordered　with　trees；　and　running　in　the　bottom　of　a　deep　woody　　hollow。　　We　were　about　to　descend　into　it；　when　a　wild　and　confused　　procession　appeared；　passing　through　the　water　below；　and　coming　up　　the　steep　ascent　toward　us。　　We　stopped　to　let　them　pass。　　They　were　　Delawares；　just　returned　from　a　hunting　expedition。　　All；　both　men　　and　women；　were　mounted　on　horseback；　and　drove　along　with　them　a　　considerable　number　of　pack　mules；　laden　with　the　furs　they　had　　taken；　together　with　the　buffalo　robes；　kettles；　and　other　articles　　of　their　traveling　equipment；　which　as　well　as　their　clothing　and　　their　weapons；　had　a　worn　and　dingy　aspect；　as　if　they　had　seen　hard　　service　of　late。　　At　the　rear　of　the　party　was　an　old　man；　who；　as　he　　came　up；　stopped　his　horse　to　speak　to　us。　　He　rode　a　little　tough　　shaggy　pony；　with　mane　and　tail　well　knotted　with　burrs；　and　a　rusty　　Spanish　bit　in　its　mouth；　to　which；　by　way　of　reins；　was　attached　a　　string　of　raw　hide。　　His　saddle；　robbed　probably　from　a　Mexican；　had　　no　covering；　being　merely　a　tree　of　the　Spanish　form；　with　a　piece　of　　grizzly　bear's　skin　laid　over　it；　a　pair　of　rude　wooden　stirrups　　attached；　and　in　the　absence　of　girth；　a　thong　of　hide　passing　around　　the　horse's　belly。　　The　rider's　dark　features　and　keen　snaky　eyes　　were　unequivocally　Indian。　　He　wore　a　buckskin　frock；　which；　like　his　　fringed　leggings；　was　well　polished　and　blackened　by　grease　and　long　　service；　and　an　old　handkerchief　was　tied　around　his　head。　　Resting　　on　the　saddle　before　him　lay　his　rifle；　a　weapon　in　the　use　of　which　　the　Delawares　are　skillful；　though　from　its　weight；　the　distant　　prairie　Indians　are　too　lazy　to　carry　it。　〃Who's　your　chief？〃　he　immediately　inquired。　Henry　Chatillon　pointed　to　us。　　The　old　Delaware　fixed　his　eyes　　intently　upon　us　for　a　moment；　and　then　sententiously　remarked：　〃No　good！　　Too　young！〃　　With　this　flattering　comment　he　left　us；　and　　rode　after　his　people。　This　tribe；　the　Delawares；　once　the　peaceful　allies　of　William　Penn；　　the　tributaries　of　the　conquering　Iroquois；　are　now　the　most　　adventurous　and　dreaded　warriors　upon　the　prairies。　　They　make　war　　upon　remote　tribes　the　very　names　of　which　were　unknown　to　their　　fathers　in　their　ancient　seats　in　Pennsylvania；　and　they　push　these　　new　quarrels　with　true　Indian　rancor；　sending　out　their　little　war　　parties　as　far　as　the　Rocky　Mountains；　and　into　the　Mexican　　territories。　　Their　neighbors　and　former　confederates；　the　Shawanoes；　　who　are　tolerable　farmers；　are　in　a　prosperous　condition；　but　the　　Delawares　dwindle　every　year；　from　the　number　of　men　lost　in　their　　warlike　expeditions。　Soon　after　leaving　this　party；　we　saw；　stretching　on　the　right；　the　　forests　that　follow　the　course　of　the　Missouri；　and　the　deep　woody　　channel　through　which　at　this　point　it　runs。　　At　a　distance　in　front　　were　the　white　barracks　of　Fort　Leavenworth；　just　visible　through　the　　trees　upon　an　eminence　above　a　bend　of　the　river。　　A　wide　green　　meadow；　as　level　as　a　lake；　lay　between　us　and　the　Missouri；　and　upon　　this；　close　to　a　line　of　trees　that　bordered　a　little　brook；　stood　　the　tent　of　the　captain　and　his　companions；　with　their　horses　feeding　　around　it；　but　they　themselves　were　invisible。　　Wright；　their　　muleteer；　was　there；　seated　on　the　tongue　of　the　wagon；　repairing　his　　harness。　　Boisverd　stood　cleaning　his　rifle　at　the　door　of　the　tent；　　and　Sorel　lounged　idly　about。　　On　closer　examination；　however；　we　　discovered　the　captain's　brother；　Jack；　sitting　in　the　tent；　at　his　　old　occupation　of　splicing　trail…ropes。　　He　welcomed　us　in　his　broad　　Irish　brogue；　and　said　that　his　brother　was　fishing　in　the　river；　and　　R。　gone　to　the　garrison。　　They　returned　before　sunset。　　Meanwhile　we　　erected　our　own　tent　not　far　off；　and　after　supper　a　council　was　　held；　in　which　it　was　resolved　to　remain　one　day　at　Fort　Leavenworth；　　and　on　the　next　to　bid　a　final　adieu　to　the　frontier：　or　in　the　　phraseology　of　the　region；　to　〃jump　off。〃　　Our　deliberations　were　　conducted　by　the　ruddy　light　from　a　distant　swell　of　the　prairie；　　where　the　long　dry　grass　of　last　summer　was　on　fire。

CHAPTER　III　FORT　LEAVENWORTH

On　the　next　morning　we　rode　to　Fort　Leavenworth。　　Colonel；　now　　General；　Kearny；　to　whom　I　had　had　the　honor　of　an　introduction　when　　at　St。　Louis；　was　just　arrived；　and　received　us　at　his　headquarters　　with　the　high…bred　courtesy　habitual　to　him。　　Fort　Leavenworth　is　in　　fact　no　fort；　being　without　defensive　works；　except　two　block…houses。　　　No　rumors　of　war　had　as　yet　disturbed　its　tranquillity。　　In　the　　square　grassy　area；　surrounded　by　barracks　and　the　quarters　of　the　　officers；　the　men　were　passing　and　repassing；　or　lounging　among　the　　trees；　although　not　many　weeks　afterward　it　presented　a　different　　scene；　for　here　the　very　off…scourings　of　the　frontier　were　　congregated；　to　be　marshaled　for　the　expedition　against　Santa　Fe。　Passing　through　the　garrison；　we　rode　toward　the　Kickapoo　village；　　five　or　six　miles　beyond。　　The　path；　a　rather　dubious　and　uncertain　　one；　led　us　along　the　ridge　of　high　bluffs　that　bordered　the　　Missouri；　and　by　looking　to　the　right　or　to　the　left；　we　could　enjoy　　a　strange　contrast　of　opposite　scenery。　　On　the　left　stretched　the　　prairie；　rising　into　swells　and　undulations；　thickly　sprinkled　with　　groves；　or　gracefully　expanding　into　wide　grassy　basins　of　miles　in　　extent；　while　its　curvatures；　swelling　against　the　horizon；　were　　often　surmounted　by　lines　of　sunny　woods；　a　scene　to　which　the　　freshness　of　the　season　and　the　peculiar　mellowness　of　the　atmosphere　　gave　additional　softness。　　Below　us；　on　the　right；　was　a　tract　of　　ragged　and　broken　woods。　　We　could　look　down　on　the　summits　of　the　　trees；　some　living　and　some　dead；　some　erect；　others　leaning　at　every　　angle；　and　others　still　piled　in　masses　together　by　the　passage　of　a　　hurricane。　　Beyond　their　extreme　verge；　the　turbid　waters　of　the　　Missouri　were　discernible　through　the　boughs；　rolling　powerfully　　along　at　the　foot　of　the　woody　declivities　of　its　farther　bank。　The　path　soon　after　led　inland；　and　as　we　crossed　an　open　meadow　we　　saw　a　cluster　of　buildings　on　a　rising　ground　before　us；　with　a　crowd　　of　people　surrounding　them。　　They　were　the　storehouse；　cottage；　and　　stables　of　the　Kickapoo　trader's　establishment。　　Just　at　that　moment；　　as　it　chanced；　he　was　beset　with　half　the　Indians　of　the　settlement。　　　They　had　tied　their　wretched；　neglected　little　ponies　by　dozens　along　　the　fences　and　outhouses；　and　were　either　lounging　about　the　place；　　or　crowding　into　the　trading　house。　　Here　were　faces　of　various　　colors；　red；　green；　white；　and　black；　curiously　intermingled　and　　disposed　over　the　visage　in　a　variety　of　patterns。　　Calico　shirts；　　red　and　blue　blankets；　brass　ear…rings；　wampum　necklaces；　appeared　in　　profusion。　　The　trader　was　a　blue…eyed　open…faced　man　who　neither　in　　his　manners　nor　his　appearance　betrayed　any　of　the　roughness　of　the　　frontier；　though　just　at　present　he　was　obliged　to　keep　a　lynx　eye　on　　his　suspicious　customers；　who；　men　and　women；　were　climbing　on　his　　counter　and　seating　themselves　among　his　boxes　and　bales。　The　village　itself　was　not　far　off；　and　sufficiently　illustrated　the　　condition　of　its　unfortunate　and　self…abandoned　occupants。　　Fancy　to　　yourself　a　little　swift　stream；　working　its　devious　way　down　a　woody　　valley；　sometimes　wholly　hidden　under　logs　and　fallen　trees；　　sometimes　issuing　forth　and　spreading　into　a　broad；　clear　pool；　and　　on　its　banks　in　little　nooks　cleared　away　among　the　trees；　miniature　　log…houses　in　utter　ruin　and　neglect。　　A　labyrinth　of　narrow；　　obstructed　paths　connected　these　habitations　one　with　another。　　　Sometimes　we　met　a　stray　calf；　a　pig　or　a　pony；　belonging　to　some　of　　the　villagers；　who　usually　lay　in　the　sun　in　front　of　their　　dwellings；　and　looked　on　us　with　cold；　suspicious　eyes　as　we　　approached。　　Farther　on；　in　place　of　the　log…huts　of　the　Kickapoos；　　we　found　the　pukwi　lodges　of　their　neighbors；　the　Pottawattamies；　　whose　condition　seemed　no　better　than　theirs。　Growing　tired　at　last；　and　exhausted　by　the　excessive　heat　and　　sultriness　of　the　day；　we　returned　to　our　friend；　the　trader。　　By　　this　time　the　crowd　around　him　had　dispersed；　and　left　him　at　　leisure。　　He　invi