the oregon trail-第52部分

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estic　utensils；　harness；　and　weapons。　　Squaws　were　　screaming　to　one　another；　horses　rearing　and　plunging　dogs　yelping；　　eager　to　be　disburdened　of　their　loads；　while　the　fluttering　of　　feathers　and　the　gleam　of　barbaric　ornaments　added　liveliness　to　the　　scene。　　The　small　children　ran　about　amid　the　crowd；　while　many　of　　the　boys　were　scrambling　among　the　overhanging　rocks；　and　standing；　　with　their　little　bows　in　their　hands；　looking　down　upon　a　restless　　throng。　　In　contrast　with　the　general　confusion；　a　circle　of　old　men　　and　warriors　sat　in　the　midst；　smoking　in　profound　indifference　and　　tranquillity。　　The　disorder　at　length　subsided。　　The　horses　were　　driven　away　to　feed　along　the　adjacent　valley；　and　the　camp　assumed　　an　air　of　listless　repose。　　It　was　scarcely　past　noon；　a　vast　white　　canopy　of　smoke　from　a　burning　forest　to　the　eastward　overhung　the　　place；　and　partially　obscured　the　sun；　yet　the　heat　was　almost　　insupportable。　　The　lodges　stood　crowded　together　without　order　in　　the　narrow　space。　　Each　was　a　perfect　hothouse；　within　which　the　lazy　　proprietor　lay　sleeping。　　The　camp　was　silent　as　death。　　Nothing　　stirred　except　now　and　then　an　old　woman　passing　from　lodge　to　lodge。　　　The　girls　and　young　men　sat　together　in　groups　under　the　pine　trees　　upon　the　surrounding　heights。　　The　dogs　lay　panting　on　the　ground；　　too　lazy　even　to　growl　at　the　white　man。　　At　the　entrance　of　the　　meadow　there　was　a　cold　spring　among　the　rocks；　completely　　overshadowed　by　tall　trees　and　dense　undergrowth。　　In　this　cold　and　　shady　retreat　a　number　of　girls　were　assembled；　sitting　together　on　　rocks　and　fallen　logs；　discussing　the　latest　gossip　of　the　village；　　or　laughing　and　throwing　water　with　their　hands　at　the　intruding　　Meneaska。　　The　minutes　seemed　lengthened　into　hours。　　I　lay　for　a　　long　time　under　a　tree；　studying　the　Ogallalla　tongue；　with　the　　zealous　instructions　of　my　friend　the　Panther。　　When　we　were　both　　tired　of　this　I　went　and　lay　down　by　the　side　of　a　deep；　clear　pool　　formed　by　the　water　of　the　spring。　　A　shoal　of　little　fishes　of　about　　a　pin's　length　were　playing　in　it；　sporting　together；　as　it　seemed；　　very　amicably；　but　on　closer　observation；　I　saw　that　they　were　　engaged　in　a　cannibal　warfare　among　themselves。　　Now　and　then　a　small　　one　would　fall　a　victim；　and　immediately　disappear　down　the　maw　of　　his　voracious　conqueror。　　Every　moment；　however；　the　tyrant　of　the　　pool；　a　monster　about　three　inches　long；　with　staring　goggle　eyes；　　would　slowly　issue　forth　with　quivering　fins　and　tail　from　under　the　　shelving　bank。　　The　small　fry　at　this　would　suspend　their　　hostilities；　and　scatter　in　a　panic　at　the　appearance　of　overwhelming　　force。　〃Soft…hearted　philanthropists；〃　thought　I；　〃may　sigh　long　for　their　　peaceful　millennium；　for　from　minnows　up　to　men；　life　is　an　incessant　　battle。〃　Evening　approached　at　last；　the　tall　mountain…tops　around　were　still　　gay　and　bright　in　sunshine；　while　our　deep　glen　was　completely　　shadowed。　　I　left　the　camp　and　ascended　a　neighboring　hill；　whose　　rocky　summit　commanded　a　wide　view　over　the　surrounding　wilderness。　　　The　sun　was　still　glaring　through　the　stiff　pines　on　the　ridge　of　the　　western　mountain。　　In　a　moment　he　was　gone；　and　as　the　landscape　　rapidly　darkened；　I　turned　again　toward　the　village。　　As　I　descended　　the　hill；　the　howling　of　wolves　and　the　barking　of　foxes　came　up　out　　of　the　dim　woods　from　far　and　near。　　The　camp　was　glowing　with　a　　multitude　of　fires；　and　alive　with　dusky　naked　figures；　whose　tall　　shadows　flitted　among　the　surroundings　crags。　I　found　a　circle　of　smokers　seated　in　their　usual　place；　that　is；　on　　the　ground　before　the　lodge　of　a　certain　warrior；　who　seemed　to　be　　generally　known　for　his　social　qualities。　　I　sat　down　to　smoke　a　　parting　pipe　with　my　savage　friends。　　That　day　was　the　1st　of　August；　　on　which　I　had　promised　to　meet　Shaw　at　Fort　Laramie。　　The　Fort　was　　less　than　two　days'　journey　distant；　and　that　my　friend　need　not　　suffer　anxiety　on　my　account；　I　resolved　to　push　forward　as　rapidly　　as　possible　to　the　place　of　meeting。　　I　went　to　look　after　the　Hail…　Storm；　and　having　found　him；　I　offered　him　a　handful　of　hawks'…bells　　and　a　paper　of　vermilion；　on　condition　that　he　would　guide　me　in　the　　morning　through　the　mountains　within　sight　of　Laramie　Creek。　The　Hail…Storm　ejaculated　〃How！〃　and　accepted　the　gift。　　Nothing　more　　was　said　on　either　side；　the　matter　was　settled；　and　I　lay　down　to　　sleep　in　Kongra…Tonga's　lodge。　Long　before　daylight　Raymond　shook　me　by　the　shoulder。　〃Everything　is　ready；〃　he　said。　I　went　out。　　The　morning　was　chill；　damp；　and　dark；　and　the　whole　　camp　seemed　asleep。　　The　Hail…Storm　sat　on　horseback　before　the　　lodge；　and　my　mare　Pauline　and　the　mule　which　Raymond　rode　were　　picketed　near　it。　　We　saddled　and　made　our　other　arrangements　for　the　　journey；　but　before　these　were　completed　the　camp　began　to　stir；　and　　the　lodge…coverings　fluttered　and　rustled　as　the　squaws　pulled　them　　down　in　preparation　for　departure。　　Just　as　the　light　began　to　appear　　we　left　the　ground；　passing　up　through　a　narrow　opening　among　the　　rocks　which　led　eastward　out　of　the　meadow。　　Gaining　the　top　of　this　　passage；　I　turned　round　and　sat　looking　back　upon　the　camp；　dimly　　visible　in　the　gray　light　of　the　morning。　　All　was　alive　with　the　　bustle　of　preparation。　　I　turned　away；　half　unwilling　to　take　a　final　　leave　of　my　savage　associates。　　We　turned　to　the　right；　passing　among　　the　rocks　and　pine　trees　so　dark　that　for　a　while　we　could　scarcely　　see　our　way。　　The　country　in　front　was　wild　and　broken；　half　hill；　　half　plain；　partly　open　and　partly　covered　with　woods　of　pine　and　　oak。　　Barriers　of　lofty　mountains　encompassed　it；　the　woods　were　　fresh　and　cool　in　the　early　morning；　the　peaks　of　the　mountains　were　　wreathed　with　mist；　and　sluggish　vapors　were　entangled　among　the　　forests　upon　their　sides。　　At　length　the　black　pinnacle　of　the　　tallest　mountain　was　tipped　with　gold　by　the　rising　sun。　　About　that　　time　the　Hail…Storm；　who　rode　in　front　gave　a　low　exclamation。　　Some　　large　animal　leaped　up　from　among　the　bushes；　and　an　elk；　as　I　　thought；　his　horns　thrown　back　over　his　neck；　darted　past　us　across　　the　open　space；　and　bounded　like　a　mad　thing　away　among　the　adjoining　　pines。　　Raymond　was　soon　out　of　his　saddle；　but　before　he　could　fire；　　the　animal　was　full　two　hundred　yards　distant。　　The　ball　struck　its　　mark；　though　much　too　low　for　mortal　effect。　　The　elk；　however；　　wheeled　in　its　flight；　and　ran　at　full　speed　among　the　trees；　nearly　　at　right　angles　to　his　former　course。　　I　fired　and　broke　his　　shoulder；　still　he　moved　on；　limping　down　into　the　neighboring　woody　　hollow；　whither　the　young　Indian　followed　and　killed　him。　　When　we　　reached　the　spot　we　discovered　him　to　be　no　elk；　but　a　black…tailed　　deer；　an　animal　nearly　twice　the　size　of　the　common　deer；　and　quite　　unknown　to　the　East。　　We　began　to　cut　him　up；　the　reports　of　the　　rifles　had　reached　the　ears　of　the　Indians；　and　before　our　task　was　　finished　several　of　them　came　to　the　spot。　　Leaving　the　hide　of　the　　deer　to　the　Hail…Storm；　we　hung　as　much　of　the　meat　as　we　wanted　　behind　our　saddles；　left　the　rest　to　the　Indians；　and　resumed　our　　journey。　　Meanwhile　the　village　was　on　its　way；　and　had　gone　so　far　　that　to　get　in　advance　of　it　was　impossible。　　Therefore　we　directed　　our　course　so　as　to　strike　its　line　of　march　at　the　nearest　point。　　　In　a　short　time；　through　the　dark　trunks　of　the　pines；　we　could　see　　the　figures　of　the　Indians　as　they　passed。　　Once　more　we　were　among　　them。　　They　were　moving　with　even　more　than　their　usual　　precipitation；　crowded　close　together　in　a　narrow　pass　between　rocks　　and　old　pine　trees。　　We　were　on　the　eastern　descent　of　the　mountain；　　and　soon　came　to　a　rough　and　difficult　defile；　leading　down　a　very　　steep　declivity。　　The　whole　swarm　poured　down　together；　filling　the　　rocky　passageway　like　some　turbulent　mountain　stream。　　The　mountains　　before　us　were　on　fire；　and　had　been　so　for　weeks。　　The　view　in　front　　was　obscured　by　a　vast　dim　sea　of　smoke　and　vapor；　while　on　either　　hand　the　tall　cliffs；　bearing　aloft　their　crest　of　pines；　thrust　　their　heads　boldly　through　it；　and　the　sharp　pinnacles　and　broken　　ridges　of　the　mountains　beyond　them　were　faintly　traceable　as　through　　a　veil。　　The　scene　in　itself　was　most　grand　and　imposing；　but　with　　the　savage　multitude；　the　armed　warriors；　the　naked　children；　the　　gayly　appareled　girls；　pouring　impetuously　down　the　heights；　it　would　　have　formed　a　noble　subject　for　a　painter；　and　only　the　pen　of　a　　Scott　could　have　done　it　justice　in　description。　We　passed　over　a　burnt　tract　where　the　ground　was　hot　beneath　the　　horses'　feet；　and　between　the　blazing　sides　of　two　mountains。　　Before　　long　we　had　descended　to　a　softer　region；　where　we　found　a　succession　　of　little　valleys　watered　by　a　stream；　along　the　borders　of　which　　grew　abundance　of　wild　gooseberries　and　currants；　and　the　children　　and　many　of　the　men　straggled　from　the　line　of　march　to　gather　them　　as　we　passed　along。　　Descending　still　farther；　the　view　changed　　rapidly。　　The　burning　mountains　were　behind　us；　and　through　the　open　　valleys　in　front　we　could　see　the　ocean…like　prairie；　stretching　　beyond　the　sight。　　After　passing　through　a　line　of　trees　that　skirted　　the　brook；　the　Indians　filed　out　upon　the　plains。　　I　was　thirsty　and　　knelt　down　by　the　little　stream　to　drink。　　As　I　mounted　again　I　very　　carelessly　left　my　rifle　among　the　grass；　and　my　thoughts　being　　otherwise　absorbed；　I　rode　for　some　distance　before　discovering　its　　absence。　　As　the　reader　may　conceive；　I　lost　no　time　in　turning　about　　and　galloping　back　in　search　of　it。　　Passing　the　line　of　Indians；　I　　watched　every　warrior　as　he　rode　by　me　at　a　canter；　and　at　length　　discovered　my　rifle　in　the　hands　of　one　of　them；　who；　on　my　　approaching　to　claim　it；　immediately　gave　it　up。　　Having　no　other　　means　of　acknowledging　the　obligation；　I　took　off　one　of　my　spurs　and　　gave　it　to　him。　　He　was　greatly　delighted；　looking　upon　it　as　a　　distinguished　mark　of　favor；　and　immediately　held　out　his　foot　for　me　　to　buckle　it　on。　　As　soon　as　I　had　done　so；　he　struck　it　with　force　　into　the　side　of　his　horse；　who　gave　a　violent　leap。　　The　Indian　　laughed　and　spurred　harder　than　before。　　At　this