the oregon trail-第46部分

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ut　Rouleau　and　Saraphin　only　laughed　at　the　danger。　　On　the　　morning　preceding　that　on　which　they　were　to　leave　the　camp；　we　could　　all　discern　faint　white　columns　of　smoke　rising　against　the　dark　base　　of　the　Medicine…Bow。　　Scouts　were　out　immediately；　and　reported　that　　these　proceeded　from　an　Arapahoe　camp；　abandoned　only　a　few　hours　　before。　　Still　the　two　trappers　continued　their　preparations　for　　departure。　Saraphin　was　a　tall；　powerful　fellow；　with　a　sullen　and　sinister　　countenance。　　His　rifle　had　very　probably　drawn　other　blood　than　that　　of　buffalo　or　even　Indians。　　Rouleau　had　a　broad　ruddy　face　marked　　with　as　few　traces　of　thought　or　care　as　a　child's。　　His　figure　was　　remarkably　square　and　strong；　but　the　first　joints　of　both　his　feet　　were　frozen　off；　and　his　horse　had　lately　thrown　and　trampled　upon　　him；　by　which　he　had　been　severely　injured　in　the　chest。　　But　nothing　　could　check　his　inveterate　propensity　for　laughter　and　gayety。　　He　　went　all　day　rolling　about　the　camp　on　his　stumps　of　feet；　talking　　and　singing　and　frolicking　with　the　Indian　women；　as　they　were　　engaged　at　their　work。　　In　fact　Rouleau　had　an　unlucky　partiality　for　　squaws。　　He　always　had　one　whom　he　must　needs　bedizen　with　beads；　　ribbons；　and　all　the　finery　of　an　Indian　wardrobe；　and　though　he　was　　of　course　obliged　to　leave　her　behind　him　during　his　expeditions；　yet　　this　hazardous　necessity　did　not　at　all　trouble　him；　for　his　　disposition　was　the　very　reverse　of　jealous。　　If　at　any　time　he　had　　not　lavished　the　whole　of　the　precarious　profits　of　his　vocation　upon　　his　dark　favorite；　he　always　devoted　the　rest　to　feasting　his　　comrades。　　If　liquor　was　not　to　be　hadand　this　was　usually　the　　casestrong　coffee　was　substituted。　　As　the　men　of　that　region　are　　by　no　means　remarkable　for　providence　or　self…restraint；　whatever　was　　set　before　them　on　these　occasions；　however　extravagant　in　price；　or　　enormous　in　quantity；　was　sure　to　be　disposed　of　at　one　sitting。　　　Like　other　trappers；　Rouleau's　life　was　one　of　contrast　and　variety。　　　It　was　only　at　certain　seasons；　and　for　a　limited　time；　that　he　was　　absent　on　his　expeditions。　　For　the　rest　of　the　year　he　would　be　　lounging　about　the　fort；　or　encamped　with　his　friends　in　its　　vicinity；　lazily　hunting　or　enjoying　all　the　luxury　of　inaction；　but　　when　once　in　pursnit　of　beaver；　he　was　involved　in　extreme　privations　　and　desperate　perils。　　When　in　the　midst　of　his　game　and　his　enemies；　　hand　and　foot；　eye　and　ear；　are　incessantly　active。　　Frequently　he　　must　content　himself　with　devouring　his　evening　meal　uncooked；　lest　　the　light　of　his　fire　should　attract　the　eyes　of　some　wandering　　Indian；　and　sometimes　having　made　his　rude　repast；　he　must　leave　his　　fire　still　blazing；　and　withdraw　to　a　distance　under　cover　of　the　　darkness；　that　his　disappointed　enemy；　drawn　thither　by　the　light；　　may　find　his　victim　gone；　and　be　unable　to　trace　his　footsteps　in　the　　gloom。　　This　is　the　life　led　by　scores　of　men　in　the　Rocky　Mountains　　and　their　vicinity。　　I　once　met　a　trapper　whose　breast　was　marked　　with　the　scars　of　six　bullets　and　arrows；　one　of　his　arms　broken　by　a　　shot　and　one　of　his　knees　shattered；　yet　still；　with　the　undaunted　　mettle　of　New　England；　from　which　part　of　the　country　he　had　come；　he　　continued　to　follow　his　perilous　occupation。　　To　some　of　the　children　　of　cities　it　may　seem　strange　that　men　with　no　object　in　view　should　　continue　to　follow　a　life　of　such　hardship　and　desperate　adventure；　　yet　there　is　a　mysterious；　restless　charm　in　the　basilisk　eye　of　　danger；　and　few　men　perhaps　remain　long　in　that　wild　region　without　　learning　to　love　peril　for　its　own　sake；　and　to　laugh　carelessly　in　　the　face　of　death。　On　the　last　day　of　our　stay　in　this　camp；　the　trappers　were　ready　for　　departure。　　When　in　the　Black　Hills　they　had　caught　seven　beaver；　and　　they　now　left　their　skins　in　charge　of　Reynal；　to　be　kept　until　their　　return。　　Their　strong；　gaunt　horses　were　equipped　with　rusty　Spanish　　bits　and　rude　Mexican　saddles；　to　which　wooden　stirrups　were　　attached；　while　a　buffalo　robe　was　rolled　up　behind　them；　and　a　　bundle　of　beaver　traps　slung　at　the　pommel。　　These；　together　with　　their　rifles；　their　knives；　their　powder…horns　and　bullet…pouches；　　flint　and　steel　and　a　tincup；　composed　their　whole　traveling　　equipment。　　They　shook　hands　with　us　and　rode　away；　Saraphin　with　his　　grim　countenance；　like　a　surly　bulldog's；　was　in　advance；　but　　Rouleau；　clambering　gayly　into　his　seat；　kicked　his　horse's　sides；　　flourished　his　whip　in　the　air；　and　trotted　briskly　over　the　prairie；　　trolling　forth　a　Canadian　song　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　　Reynal　　looked　after　them　with　his　face　of　brutal　selfishness。　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃if　they　are　killed；　I　shall　have　the　beaver。　　　They'll　fetch　me　fifty　dollars　at　the　fort；　anyhow。〃　This　was　the　last　I　saw　of　them。　We　had　been　for　five　days　in　the　hunting　camp；　and　the　meat；　which　　all　this　time　had　hung　drying　in　the　sun；　was　now　fit　for　　transportation。　　Buffalo　hides　also　had　been　procured　in　sufficient　　quantities　for　making　the　next　season's　lodges；　but　it　remained　to　　provide　the　long　slender　poles　on　which　they　were　to　be　supported。　　　These　were　only　to　be　had　among　the　tall　pine　woods　of　the　Black　　Hills；　and　in　that　direction　therefore　our　next　move　was　to　be　made。　　　It　is　worthy　of　notice　that　amid　the　general　abundance　which　during　　this　time　had　prevailed　in　the　camp　there　were　no　instances　of　　individual　privation；　for　although　the　hide　and　the　tongue　of　the　　buffalo　belong　by　exclusive　right　to　the　hunter　who　has　killed　it；　　yet　anyone　else　is　equally　entitled　to　help　himself　from　the　rest　of　　the　carcass。　　Thus；　the　weak；　the　aged；　and　even　the　indolent　come　in　　for　a　share　of　the　spoils；　and　many　a　helpless　old　woman；　who　would　　otherwise　perish　from　starvation；　is　sustained　in　profuse　abundance。　On　the　25th　of　July；　late　in　the　afternoon；　the　camp　broke　up；　with　　the　usual　tumult　and　confusion；　and　we　were　all　moving　once　more；　on　　horseback　and　on　foot；　over　the　plains。　　We　advanced；　however；　but　a　　few　miles。　　The　old　men；　who　during　the　whole　march　had　been　stoutly　　striding　along　on　foot　in　front　of　the　people；　now　seated　themselves　　in　a　circle　on　the　ground；　while　all　the　families；　erecting　their　　lodges　in　the　prescribed　order　around　them；　formed　the　usual　great　　circle　of　the　camp；　meanwhile　these　village　patriarchs　sat　smoking　　and　talking。　　I　threw　my　bridle　to　Raymond；　and　sat　down　as　usual　　along　with　them。　　There　was　none　of　that　reserve　and　apparent　dignity　　which　an　Indian　always　assumes　when　in　council；　or　in　the　presence　of　　white　men　whom　he　distrusts。　　The　party；　on　the　contrary；　was　an　　extremely　merry　one；　and　as　in　a　social　circle　of　a　quite　different　　character；　〃if　there　was　not　much　wit；　there　was　at　least　a　great　　deal　of　laughter。〃　When　the　first　pipe　was　smoked　out；　I　rose　and　withdrew　to　the　lodge　　of　my　host。　　Here　I　was　stooping；　in　the　act　of　taking　off　my　powder…　horn　and　bullet…pouch；　when　suddenly；　and　close　at　hand；　pealing　loud　　and　shrill；　and　in　right　good　earnest；　came　the　terrific　yell　of　the　　war…whoop。　　Kongra…Tonga's　squaw　snatched　up　her　youngest　child；　and　　ran　out　of　the　lodge。　　I　followed；　and　found　the　whole　village　in　　confusion；　resounding　with　cries　and　yells。　　The　circle　of　old　men　in　　the　center　had　vanished。　　The　warriors　with　glittering　eyes　came　　darting；　their　weapons　in　their　hands；　out　of　the　low　opening　of　the　　lodges；　and　running　with　wild　yells　toward　the　farther　end　of　the　　village。　　Advancing　a　few　rods　in　that　direction；　I　saw　a　crowd　in　　furious　agitation；　while　others　ran　up　on　every　side　to　add　to　the　　confusion。　　Just　then　I　distinguished　the　voices　of　Raymond　and　　Reynal；　shouting　to　me　from　a　distance；　and　looking　back；　I　saw　the　　latter　with　his　rifle　in　his　hand；　standing　on　the　farther　bank　of　a　　little　stream　that　ran　along　the　outskirts　of　the　camp。　　He　was　　calling　to　Raymond　and　myself　to　come　over　and　join　him；　and　Raymond；　　with　his　usual　deliberate　gait　and　stolid　countenance；　was　already　　moving　in　that　direction。　This　was　clearly　the　wisest　course；　unless　we　wished　to　involve　　ourselves　in　the　fray；　so　I　turned　to　go；　but　just　then　a　pair　of　　eyes；　gleaming　like　a　snake's；　and　an　aged　familiar　countenance　was　　thrust　from　the　opening　of　a　neighboring　lodge；　and　out　bolted　old　　Mene…Seela；　full　of　fight；　clutching　his　bow　and　arrows　in　one　hand　　and　his　knife　in　the　other。　　At　that　instant　he　tripped　and　fell　　sprawling　on　his　face；　while　his　weapons　flew　scattering　away　in　　every　direction。　　The　women　with　loud　screams　were　hurrying　with　　their　children　in　their　arms　to　place　them　out　of　danger；　and　I　　observed　some　hastening　to　prevent　mischief；　by　carrying　away　all　the　　weapons　they　could　lay　hands　on。　　On　a　rising　ground　close　to　the　　camp　stood　a　line　of　old　women　singing　a　medicine　song　to　allay　the　　tumult。　　As　I　approached　the　side　of　the　brook　I　heard　gun…shots　　behind　me；　and　turning　back；　I　saw　that　the　crowd　had　separated　into　　two　lines　of　naked　warriors　confronting　each　other　at　a　respectful　　distance；　and　yelling　and　jumping　about　to　dodge　the　shot　of　their　　adversaries；　while　they　discharged　bullets　and　arrows　against　each　　other。　　At　the　same　time　certain　sharp；　humming　sounds　in　the　air　　over　my　head；　like　the　flight　of　beetles　on　a　summer　evening；　warned　　me　that　the　danger　was　not　wholly　confined　to　the　immediate　scene　of　　the　fray。　　So　wading　through　the　brook；　I　joined　Reynal　and　Raymond；　　and　we　sat　down　on　the　grass；　in　the　posture　of　an　armed　neutrality；　　to　watch　the　result。　Happily　it　may　be　for　ourselves；　though　quite　contrary　to　our　　expectation；　the　disturbance　was　quelled　almost　as　soon　as　it　had　　commenced。　　When　I　looked　again；　the　combatants　were　once　more　　mingled　together　in　a　mass。　　Though　yells　sounded；　occasionally　from　　the　throng；　the　firing　had　entirely　ceased；　and　I　observed　five　or　　six　persons　moving　busily　about；　as　if　acting　the　part　of　　peacemakers。　　One　of　the　village　heralds　or　criers　proclaimed　in　a　　loud　voice　something　which　my　two　companions　were　too　much　engrossed　　in　their　own　observations　to　translate　for　me。　　The　crowd　began　to　　disperse；　though　many　a　deep…set　black　eye　still　glittered　with　an　　unnatural　luster；　as　the　wa