the oregon trail-第40部分

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rious　　sport。　　A　shaggy　buffalo　bull　bounded　out　from　a　neighboring　hollow；　　and　close　behind　him　came　a　slender　Indian　boy；　riding　without　　stirrups　or　saddle　and　lashing　his　eager　little　horse　to　full　speed。　　　Yard　after　yard　he　drew　closer　to　his　gigantic　victim；　though　the　　bull；　with　his　short　tail　erect　and　his　tongue　lolling　out　a　foot　　from　his　foaming　jaws；　was　straining　his　unwieldy　strength　to　the　　utmost。　　A　moment　more　and　the　boy　was　close　alongside　of　him。　　It　　was　our　friend　the　Hail…Storm。　　He　dropped　the　rein　on　his　horse's　　neck　and　jerked　an　arrow　like　lightning　from　the　quiver　at　his　　shoulder。　〃I　tell　you；〃　said　Reynal；　〃that　in　a　year's　time　that　boy　will　match　　the　best　hunter　in　the　village。　　There　he　has　given　it　to　him！　and　　there　goes　another！　　You　feel　well；　now；　old　bull；　don't　you；　with　　two　arrows　stuck　in　your　lights？　　There；　he　has　given　him　another！　　　Hear　how　the　Hail…Storm　yells　when　he　shoots！　　Yes；　jump　at　him；　try　　it　again；　old　fellow！　　You　may　jump　all　day　before　you　get　your　horns　　into　that　pony！〃　The　bull　sprang　again　and　again　at　his　assailant；　but　the　horse　kept　　dodging　with　wonderful　celerity。　　At　length　the　bull　followed　up　his　　attack　with　a　furious　rush；　and　the　Hail…Storm　was　put　to　flight；　the　　shaggy　monster　following　close　behind。　　The　boy　clung　in　his　seat　　like　a　leech；　and　secure　in　the　speed　of　his　little　pony；　looked　　round　toward　us　and　laughed。　　In　a　moment　he　was　again　alongside　of　　the　bull；　who　was　now　driven　to　complete　desperation。　　His　eyeballs　　glared　through　his　tangled　mane；　and　the　blood　flew　from　his　mouth　　and　nostrils。　　Thus；　still　battling　with　each　other；　the　two　enemies　　disappeared　over　the　hill。　Many　of　the　Indians　rode　at　full　gallop　toward　the　spot。　　We　followed　　at　a　more　moderate　pace；　and　soon　saw　the　bull　lying　dead　on　the　side　　of　the　hill。　　The　Indians　were　gathered　around　him；　and　several　　knives　were　already　at　work。　　These　little　instruments　were　plied　　with　such　wonderful　address　that　the　twisted　sinews　were　cut　apart；　　the　ponderous　bones　fell　asunder　as　if　by　magic；　and　in　a　moment　the　　vast　carcass　was　reduced　to　a　heap　of　bloody　ruins。　　The　surrounding　　group　of　savages　offered　no　very　attractive　spectacle　to　a　civilized　　eye。　　Some　were　cracking　the　huge　thigh…bones　and　devouring　the　　marrow　within；　others　were　cutting　away　pieces　of　the　liver　and　other　　approved　morsels；　and　swallowing　them　on　the　spot　with　the　appetite　　of　wolves。　　The　faces　of　most　of　them；　besmeared　with　blood　from　ear　　to　ear；　looked　grim　and　horrible　enough。　　My　friend　the　White　Shield　　proffered　me　a　marrowbone；　so　skillfully　laid　open　that　all　the　rich　　substance　within　was　exposed　to　view　at　once。　　Another　Indian　held　　out　a　large　piece　of　the　delicate　lining　of　the　paunch；　but　these　　courteous　offerings　I　begged　leave　to　decline。　　I　noticed　one　little　　boy　who　was　very　busy　with　his　knife　about　the　jaws　and　throat　of　the　　buffalo；　from　which　he　extracted　some　morsel　of　peculiar　delicacy。　　　It　is　but　fair　to　say　that　only　certain　parts　of　the　animal　are　　considered　eligible　in　these　extempore　banquets。　　The　Indians　would　　look　with　abhorrence　on　anyone　who　should　partake　indiscriminately　of　　the　newly　killed　carcass。　We　encamped　that　night；　and　marched　westward　through　the　greater　part　　of　the　following　day。　　On　the　next　morning　we　again　resumed　our　　journey。　　It　was　the　17th　of　July；　unless　my　notebook　misleads　me。　　　At　noon　we　stopped　by　some　pools　of　rain…water；　and　in　the　afternoon　　again　set　forward。　　This　double　movement　was　contrary　to　the　usual　　practice　of　the　Indians；　but　all　were　very　anxious　to　reach　the　　hunting　ground；　kill　the　necessary　number　of　buffalo；　and　retreat　as　　soon　as　possible　from　the　dangerous　neighborhood。　　I　pass　by　for　the　　present　some　curious　incidents　that　occurred　during　these　marches　and　　encampments。　　Late　in　the　afternoon　of　the　last…mentioned　day　we　came　　upon　the　banks　of　a　little　sandy　stream；　of　which　the　Indians　could　　not　tell　the　name；　for　they　were　very　ill　acquainted　with　that　part　　of　the　country。　　So　parched　and　arid　were　the　prairies　around　that　　they　could　not　supply　grass　enough　for　the　horses　to　feed　upon；　and　　we　were　compelled　to　move　farther　and　farther　up　the　stream　in　search　　of　ground　for　encampment。　　The　country　was　much　wilder　than　before。　　　The　plains　were　gashed　with　ravines　and　broken　into　hollows　and　steep　　declivities；　which　flanked　our　course；　as；　in　long…scattered　array；　　the　Indians　advanced　up　the　side　of　the　stream。　　Mene…Seela　consulted　　an　extraordinary　oracle　to　instruct　him　where　the　buffalo　were　to　be　　found。　　When　he　with　the　other　chiefs　sat　down　on　the　grass　to　smoke　　and　converse；　as　they　often　did　during　the　march；　the　old　man　picked　　up　one　of　those　enormous　black…and…green　crickets；　which　the　Dakota　　call　by　a　name　that　signifies　〃They　who　point　out　the　buffalo。〃　　The　　Root…Diggers；　a　wretched　tribe　beyond　the　mountains；　turn　them　to　　good　account　by　making　them　into　a　sort　of　soup；　pronounced　by　　certain　unscrupulous　trappers　to　be　extremely　rich。　　Holding　the　　bloated　insect　respectfully　between　his　fingers　and　thumb；　the　old　　Indian　looked　attentively　at　him　and　inquired；　〃Tell　me；　my　father；　　where　must　we　go　to…morrow　to　find　the　buffalo？〃　　The　cricket　twisted　　about　his　long　horns　in　evident　embarrassment。　　At　last　he　pointed；　　or　seemed　to　point；　them　westward。　　Mene…Seela；　dropping　him　gently　　on　the　grass；　laughed　with　great　glee；　and　said　that　if　we　went　that　　way　in　the　morning　we　should　be　sure　to　kill　plenty　of　game。　Toward　evening　we　came　upon　a　fresh　green　meadow；　traversed　by　the　　stream；　and　deep…set　among　tall　sterile　bluffs。　　The　Indians　　descended　its　steep　bank；　and　as　I　was　at　the　rear；　I　was　one　of　the　　last　to　reach　this　point。　　Lances　were　glittering；　feathers　　fluttering；　and　the　water　below　me　was　crowded　with　men　and　horses　　passing　through；　while　the　meadow　beyond　was　swarming　with　the　　restless　crowd　of　Indians。　　The　sun　was　just　setting；　and　poured　its　　softened　light　upon　them　through　an　opening　in　the　hills。　I　remarked　to　Reynal　that　at　last　we　had　found　a　good　camping…ground。　〃Oh；　it　is　very　good；〃　replied　he　ironically；　〃especially　if　there　is　　a　Snake　war　party　about；　and　they　take　it　into　their　heads　to　shoot　　down　at　us　from　the　top　of　these　hills。　　It　is　no　plan　of　mine；　　camping　in　such　a　hole　as　this！〃　The　Indians　also　seemed　apprehensive。　　High　up　on　the　top　of　the　　tallest　bluff；　conspicuous　in　the　bright　evening　sunlight；　sat　a　　naked　warrior　on　horseback；　looking　around；　as　it　seemed；　over　the　　neighboring　country；　and　Raymond　told　me　that　many　of　the　young　men　　had　gone　out　in　different　directions　as　scouts。　The　shadows　had　reached　to　the　very　summit　of　the　bluffs　before　the　　lodges　were　erected　and　the　village　reduced　again　to　quiet　and　order。　　　A　cry　was　suddenly　raised；　and　men；　women；　and　children　came　running　　out　with　animated　faces；　and　looked　eagerly　through　the　opening　on　　the　hills　by　which　the　stream　entered　from　the　westward。　　I　could　　discern　afar　off　some　dark；　heavy　masses；　passing　over　the　sides　of　a　　low　hill。　　They　disappeared；　and　then　others　followed。　　These　were　　bands　of　buffalo　cows。　　The　hunting…ground　was　reached　at　last；　and　　everything　promised　well　for　the　morrow's　sport。　　Being　fatigued　and　　exhausted；　I　went　and　lay　down　in　Kongra…Tonga's　lodge；　when　Raymond　　thrust　in　his　head；　and　called　upon　me　to　come　and　see　some　sport。　　A　　number　of　Indians　were　gathered；　laughing；　along　the　line　of　lodges　　on　the　western　side　of　the　village；　and　at　some　distance；　I　could　　plainly　see　in　the　twilight　two　huge　black　monsters　stalking；　heavily　　and　solemnly；　directly　toward　us。　　They　were　buffalo　bulls。　　The　wind　　blew　from　them　to　the　village；　and　such　was　their　blindness　and　　stupidity　that　they　were　advancing　upon　the　enemy　without　the　least　　consciousness　of　his　presence。　　Raymond　told　me　that　two　men　had　　hidden　themselves　with　guns　in　a　ravine　about　twenty　yards　in　front　　of　us。　　The　two　bulls　walked　slowly　on；　heavily　swinging　from　side　to　　side　in　their　peculiar　gait　of　stupid　dignity。　　They　approached　　within　four　or　five　rods　of　the　ravine　where　the　Indians　lay　in　　ambush。　　Here　at　last　they　seemed　conscious　that　something　was　wrong；　　for　they　both　stopped　and　stood　perfectly　still；　without　looking　　either　to　the　right　or　to　the　left。　　Nothing　of　them　was　to　be　seen　　but　two　huge　black　masses　of　shaggy　mane；　with　horns；　eyes；　and　nose　　in　the　center；　and　a　pair　of　hoofs　visible　at　the　bottom。　　At　last　　the　more　intelligent　of　them　seemed　to　have　concluded　that　it　was　　time　to　retire。　　Very　slowly；　and　with　an　air　of　the　gravest　and　most　　majestic　deliberation；　he　began　to　turn　round；　as　if　he　were　　revolving　on　a　pivot。　　Little　by　little　his　ugly　brown　side　was　　exposed　to　view。　　A　white　smoke　sprang　out；　as　it　were　from　the　　ground；　a　sharp　report　came　with　it。　　The　old　bull　gave　a　very　　undignified　jump　and　galloped　off。　　At　this　his　comrade　wheeled　about　　with　considerable　expedition。　　The　other　Indian　shot　at　him　from　the　　ravine；　and　then　both　the　bulls　were　running　away　at　full　speed；　　while　half　the　juvenile　population　of　the　village　raised　a　yell　and　　ran　after　them。　　The　first　bull　was　soon　stopped；　and　while　the　crowd　　stood　looking　at　him　at　a　respectable　distance；　he　reeled　and　rolled　　over　on　his　side。　　The　other；　wounded　in　a　less　vital　part；　galloped　　away　to　the　hills　and　escaped。　In　half　an　hour　it　was　totally　dark。　　I　lay　down　to　sleep；　and　ill　as　　I　was；　there　was　something　very　animating　in　the　prospect　of　the　　general　hunt　that　was　to　take　place　on　the　morrow。

CHAPTER　XV　THE　HUNTING　CAMP

Long　before　daybreak　the　Indians　broke　up　their　camp。　　The　women　of　　Mene…Seela's　lodge　were　as　usual　among　the　first　that　were　ready　for　　departure；　and　I　found　the　old　man　himself　sitting　by　the　embers　of　　the　decayed　fire；　over　which　he　was　warming　his　withered　fingers；　as　　the　morning　was　very　chilly　and　damp。　　The　preparations　for　moving　　were　even　more　confused　and　disorderly　than　usual。　　While　some　　families　were　leaving　the　ground　the　lodges　of　others　were　still　　standing　untouched。　　At　this　old　Mene…Seela　grew　impatient；　and　　walking　out　to　the　middle　of　the　village　stood　with　his　robe　wrapped　　clos