the oregon trail-第41部分

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eela　grew　impatient；　and　　walking　out　to　the　middle　of　the　village　stood　with　his　robe　wrapped　　close　around　him；　and　harangued　the　people　in　a　loud；　sharp　voice。　　　Now；　he　said；　when　they　were　on　an　enemy's　hunting…grounds；　was　not　　the　time　to　behave　like　children；　they　ought　to　be　more　active　and　　united　than　ever。　　His　speech　had　some　effect。　　The　delinquents　took　　down　their　lodges　and　loaded　their　pack　horses；　and　when　the　sun　　rose；　the　last　of　the　men；　women；　and　children　had　left　the　deserted　　camp。　This　movement　was　made　merely　for　the　purpose　of　finding　a　better　and　　safer　position。　　So　we　advanced　only　three　or　four　miles　up　the　　little　stream；　before　each　family　assumed　its　relative　place　in　the　　great　ring　of　the　village；　and　all　around　the　squaws　were　actively　at　　work　in　preparing　the　camp。　　But　not　a　single　warrior　dismounted　from　　his　horse。　　All　the　men　that　morning　were　mounted　on　inferior　　animals；　leading　their　best　horses　by　a　cord；　or　confiding　them　to　　the　care　of　boys。　　In　small　parties　they　began　to　leave　the　ground　　and　ride　rapidly　away　over　the　plains　to　the　westward。　　I　had　taken　　no　food　that　morning；　and　not　being　at　all　ambitious　of　further　　abstinence；　I　went　into　my　host's　lodge；　which　his　squaws　had　erected　　with　wonderful　celerity；　and　sat　down　in　the　center；　as　a　gentle　hint　　that　I　was　hungry。　　A　wooden　bowl　was　soon　set　before　me；　filled　with　　the　nutritious　preparation　of　dried　meat　called　pemmican　by　the　　northern　voyagers　and　wasna　by　the　Dakota。　　Taking　a　handful　to　break　　my　fast　upon；　I　left　the　lodge　just　in　time　to　see　the　last　band　of　　hunters　disappear　over　the　ridge　of　the　neighboring　hill。　　I　mounted　　Pauline　and　galloped　in　pursuit；　riding　rather　by　the　balance　than　by　　any　muscular　strength　that　remained　to　me。　　From　the　top　of　the　hill　　I　could　overlook　a　wide　extent　of　desolate　and　unbroken　prairie；　over　　which；　far　and　near；　little　parties　of　naked　horsemen　were　rapidly　　passing。　　I　soon　came　up　to　the　nearest；　and　we　had　not　ridden　a　mile　　before　all　were　united　into　one　large　and　compact　body。　　All　was　　haste　and　eagerness。　　Each　hunter　was　whipping　on　his　horse；　as　if　　anxious　to　be　the　first　to　reach　the　game。　　In　such　movements　among　　the　Indians　this　is　always　more　or　less　the　case；　but　it　was　　especially　so　in　the　present　instance；　because　the　head　chief　of　the　　village　was　absent；　and　there　were　but　few　〃soldiers；〃　a　sort　of　　Indian　police；　who　among　their　other　functions　usually　assumed　the　　direction　of　a　buffalo　hunt。　　No　man　turned　to　the　right　hand　or　to　　the　left。　　We　rode　at　a　swift　canter　straight　forward；　uphill　and　　downhill；　and　through　the　stiff；　obstinate　growth　of　the　endless　　wild…sage　bushes。　　For　an　hour　and　a　half　the　same　red　shoulders；　the　　same　long　black　hair　rose　and　fell　with　the　motion　of　the　horses　　before　me。　　Very　little　was　said；　though　once　I　observed　an　old　man　　severely　reproving　Raymond　for　having　left　his　rifle　behind　him；　when　　there　was　some　probability　of　encountering　an　enemy　before　the　day　　was　over。　　As　we　galloped　across　a　plain　thickly　set　with　sagebushes；　　the　foremost　riders　vanished　suddenly　from　sight；　as　if　diving　into　　the　earth。　　The　arid　soil　was　cracked　into　a　deep　ravine。　　Down　we　　all　went　in　succession　and　galloped　in　a　line　along　the　bottom；　until　　we　found　a　point　where；　one　by　one；　the　horses　could　scramble　out。　　　Soon　after　we　came　upon　a　wide　shallow　stream；　and　as　we　rode　swiftly　　over　the　hard　sand…beds　and　through　the　thin　sheets　of　rippling　　water；　many　of　the　savage　horsemen　threw　themselves　to　the　ground；　　knelt　on　the　sand；　snatched　a　hasty　draught；　and　leaping　back　again　　to　their　seats；　galloped　on　again　as　before。　Meanwhile　scouts　kept　in　advance　of　the　party；　and　now　we　began　to　　see　them　on　the　ridge　of　the　hills；　waving　their　robes　in　token　that　　buffalo　were　visible。　　These　however　proved　to　be　nothing　more　than　　old　straggling　bulls；　feeding　upon　the　neighboring　plains；　who　would　　stare　for　a　moment　at　the　hostile　array　and　then　gallop　clumsily　off。　　　At　length　we　could　discern　several　of　these　scouts　making　their　　signals　to　us　at　once；　no　longer　waving　their　robes　boldly　from　the　　top　of　the　hill；　but　standing　lower　down；　so　that　they　could　not　be　　seen　from　the　plains　beyond。　　Game　worth　pursuing　had　evidently　been　　discovered。　　The　excited　Indians　now　urged　forward　their　tired　horses　　even　more　rapidly　than　before。　　Pauline；　who　was　still　sick　and　　jaded；　began　to　groan　heavily；　and　her　yellow　sides　were　darkened　　with　sweat。　　As　we　were　crowding　together　over　a　lower　intervening　　hill；　I　heard　Reynal　and　Raymond　shouting　to　me　from　the　left；　and　　looking　in　that　direction；　I　saw　them　riding　away　behind　a　party　of　　about　twenty　mean…looking　Indians。　　These　were　the　relatives　of　　Reynal's　squaw　Margot；　who；　not　wishing　to　take　part　in　the　general　　hunt；　were　riding　toward　a　distant　hollow；　where　they　could　discern　a　　small　band　of　buffalo　which　they　meant　to　appropriate　to　themselves。　　　I　answered　to　the　call　by　ordering　Raymond　to　turn　back　and　follow　　me。　　He　reluctantly　obeyed；　though　Reynal；　who　had　relied　on　his　　assistance　in　skinning；　cutting　up；　and　carrying　to　camp　the　buffalo　　that　he　and　his　party　should　kill；　loudly　protested　and　declared　that　　we　should　see　no　sport　if　we　went　with　the　rest　of　the　Indians。　　　Followed　by　Raymond　I　pursued　the　main　body　of　hunters；　while　Reynal　　in　a　great　rage　whipped　his　horse　over　the　hill　after　his　ragamuffin　　relatives。　　The　Indians；　still　about　a　hundred　in　number；　rode　in　a　　dense　body　at　some　distance　in　advance。　　They　galloped　forward；　and　a　　cloud　of　dust　was　flying　in　the　wind　behind　them。　　I　could　not　　overtake　them　until　they　had　stopped　on　the　side　of　the　hill　where　　the　scouts　were　standing。　　Here；　each　hunter　sprang　in　haste　from　the　　tired　animal　which　he　had　ridden；　and　leaped　upon　the　fresh　horse　　that　he　had　brought　with　him。　　There　was　not　a　saddle　or　a　bridle　in　　the　whole　party。　　A　piece　of　buffalo　robe　girthed　over　the　horse's　　back　served　in　the　place　of　the　one；　and　a　cord　of　twisted　hair　　lashed　firmly　round　his　lower　jaw　answered　for　the　other。　　Eagle　　feathers　were　dangling　from　every　mane　and　tail；　as　insignia　of　　courage　and　speed。　　As　for　the　rider；　he　wore　no　other　clothing　than　　a　light　cincture　at　his　waist；　and　a　pair　of　moccasins。　　He　had　a　　heavy　whip；　with　a　handle　of　solid　elk…horn；　and　a　lash　of　knotted　　bull…hide；　fastened　to　his　wrist　by　an　ornamental　band。　　His　bow　was　　in　his　hand；　and　his　quiver　of　otter　or　panther　skin　hung　at　his　　shoulder。　　Thus　equipped；　some　thirty　of　the　hunters　galloped　away　　toward　the　left；　in　order　to　make　a　circuit　under　cover　of　the　hills；　　that　the　buffalo　might　be　assailed　on　both　sides　at　once。　　The　rest　　impatiently　waited　until　time　enough　had　elapsed　for　their　companions　　to　reach　the　required　position。　　Then　riding　upward　in　a　body；　we　　gained　the　ridge　of　the　hill；　and　for　the　first　time　came　in　sight　of　　the　buffalo　on　the　plain　beyond。　They　were　a　band　of　cows；　four　or　five　hundred　in　number；　who　were　　crowded　together　near　the　bank　of　a　wide　stream　that　was　soaking　　across　the　sand…beds　of　the　valley。　　This　was　a　large　circular　basin；　　sun…scorched　and　broken；　scantily　covered　with　herbage　and　　encompassed　with　high　barren　hills；　from　an　opening　in　which　we　could　　see　our　allies　galloping　out　upon　the　plain。　　The　wind　blew　from　that　　direction。　　The　buffalo　were　aware　of　their　approach；　and　had　begun　　to　move；　though　very　slowly　and　in　a　compact　mass。　　I　have　no　further　　recollection　of　seeing　the　game　until　we　were　in　the　midst　of　them；　　for　as　we　descended　the　hill　other　objects　engrossed　my　attention。　　　Numerous　old　bulls　were　scattered　over　the　plain；　and　ungallantly　　deserting　their　charge　at　our　approach；　began　to　wade　and　plunge　　through　the　treacherous　quick…sands　or　the　stream；　and　gallop　away　　toward　the　hills。　　One　old　veteran　was　struggling　behind　all　the　rest　　with　one　of　his　forelegs；　which　had　been　broken　by　some　accident；　　dangling　about　uselessly　at　his　side。　　His　appearance；　as　he　went　　shambling　along　on　three　legs；　was　so　ludicrous　that　I　could　not　help　　pausing　for　a　moment　to　look　at　him。　　As　I　came　near；　he　would　try　to　　rush　upon　me；　nearly　throwing　himself　down　at　every　awkward　attempt。　　　Looking　up；　I　saw　the　whole　body　of　Indians　full　a　hundred　yards　in　　advance。　　I　lashed　Pauline　in　pursuit　and　reached　them　just　in　time；　　for　as　we　mingled　among　them；　each　hunter；　as　if　by　a　common　impulse；　　violently　struck　his　horse；　each　horse　sprang　forward　convulsively；　　and　scattering　in　the　charge　in　order　to　assail　the　entire　herd　at　　once；　we　all　rushed　headlong　upon　the　buffalo。　　We　were　among　them　in　　an　instant。　　Amid　the　trampling　and　the　yells　I　could　see　their　dark　　figures　running　hither　and　thither　through　clouds　of　dust；　and　the　　horsemen　darting　in　pursuit。　　While　we　were　charging　on　one　side；　our　　companions　had　attacked　the　bewildered　and　panic…stricken　herd　on　the　　other。　　The　uproar　and　confusion　lasted　but　for　a　moment。　　The　dust　　cleared　away；　and　the　buffalo　could　be　seen　scattering　as　from　a　　common　center；　flying　over　the　plain　singly；　or　in　long　files　and　　small　compact　bodies；　while　behind　each　followed　the　Indians；　lashing　　their　horses　to　furious　speed；　forcing　them　close　upon　their　prey；　　and　yelling　as　they　launched　arrow　after　arrow　into　their　sides。　　The　　large　black　carcasses　were　strewn　thickly　over　the　ground。　　Here　and　　there　wounded　buffalo　were　standing；　their　bleeding　sides　feathered　　with　arrows；　and　as　I　rode　past　them　their　eyes　would　glare；　they　　would　bristle　like　gigantic　cats；　and　feebly　attempt　to　rush　up　and　　gore　my　horse。　I　left　camp　that　morning　with　a　philosophic　resolution。　　Neither　I　　nor　my　horse　were　at　that　time　fit　for　such　sport；　and　I　had　　determined　to　remain　a　quiet　spectator；　but　amid　the　rush　of　horses　　and　buffalo；　the　uproar　and　the　dust；　I　found　it　impossible　to　sit　　still；　and　as　four　or　five　buffalo　ran　past　me　in　a　line；　I　drove　　Pauline　in　pursuit。　　We　went　plunging　close　at　their　heels　through　　the　water　and　the　quick…sands；　and　clambering　the　bank；　chased　them　　through　the　wild…sage　bushes　that　covered　the　rising　ground　beyond。　　　But　neither　her　native　spirit　nor　the　blows　of　the　knotted