the oregon trail-第53部分

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f　his　horse；　who　gave　a　violent　leap。　　The　Indian　　laughed　and　spurred　harder　than　before。　　At　this　the　horse　shot　away　　like　an　arrow；　amid　the　screams　and　laughter　of　the　squaws；　and　the　　ejaculations　of　the　men；　who　exclaimed：　〃Washtay！Good！〃　at　the　　potent　effect　of　my　gift。　　The　Indian　had　no　saddle；　and　nothing　in　　place　of　a　bridle　except　a　leather　string　tied　round　the　horse's　jaw。　　　The　animal　was　of　course　wholly　uncontrollable；　and　stretched　away　at　　full　speed　over　the　prairie；　till　he　and　his　rider　vanished　behind　a　　distant　swell。　　I　never　saw　the　man　again；　but　I　presume　no　harm　came　　to　him。　　An　Indian　on　horseback　has　more　lives　than　a　cat。　The　village　encamped　on　a　scorching　prairie；　close　to　the　foot　of　the　　mountains。　　The　beat　was　most　intense　and　penetrating。　　The　coverings　　of　the　lodges　were　raised　a　foot　or　more　from　the　ground；　in　order　to　　procure　some　circulation　of　air；　and　Reynal　thought　proper　to　lay　　aside　his　trapper's　dress　of　buckskin　and　assume　the　very　scanty　　costume　of　an　Indian。　　Thus　elegantly　attired；　he　stretched　himself　　in　his　lodge　on　a　buffalo　robe；　alternately　cursing　the　heat　and　　puffing　at　the　pipe　which　he　and　I　passed　between　us。　　There　was　　present　also　a　select　circle　of　Indian　friends　and　relatives。　　A　　small　boiled　puppy　was　served　up　as　a　parting　feast；　to　which　was　　added；　by　way　of　dessert；　a　wooden　bowl　of　gooseberries；　from　the　　mountains。　〃Look　there；〃　said　Reynal；　pointing　out　of　the　opening　of　his　lodge；　　〃do　you　see　that　line　of　buttes　about　fifteen　miles　off？　　Well；　now；　　do　you　see　that　farthest　one；　with　the　white　speck　on　the　face　of　it？　　　Do　you　think　you　ever　saw　it　before？〃　〃It　looks　to　me；〃　said　I；　〃like　the　hill　that　we　were　camped　under　　when　we　were　on　Laramie　Creek；　six　or　eight　weeks　ago。〃　〃You've　hit　it；〃　answered　Reynal。　〃Go　and　bring　in　the　animals；　Raymond；〃　said　I：　〃we'll　camp　there　to…　night；　and　start　for　the　Fort　in　the　morning。〃　The　mare　and　the　mule　were　soon　before　the　lodge。　　We　saddled　them；　　and　in　the　meantime　a　number　of　Indians　collected　about　us。　　The　　virtues　of　Pauline；　my　strong；　fleet；　and　hardy　little　mare；　were　　well　known　in　camp；　and　several　of　the　visitors　were　mounted　upon　　good　horses　which　they　had　brought　me　as　presents。　　I　promptly　　declined　their　offers；　since　accepting　them　would　have　involved　the　　necessity　of　transferring　poor　Pauline　into　their　barbarous　hands。　　　We　took　leave　of　Reynal；　but　not　of　the　Indians；　who　are　accustomed　　to　dispense　with　such　superfluous　ceremonies。　　Leaving　the　camp　we　　rode　straight　over　the　prairie　toward　the　white…faced　bluff；　whose　　pale　ridges　swelled　gently　against　the　horizon；　like　a　cloud。　　An　　Indian　went　with　us；　whose　name　I　forget；　though　the　ugliness　of　his　　face　and　the　ghastly　width　of　his　mouth　dwell　vividly　in　my　　recollection。　　The　antelope　were　numerous；　but　we　did　not　heed　them。　　　We　rode　directly　toward　our　destination；　over　the　arid　plains　and　　barren　hills；　until；　late　in　the　afternoon；　half　spent　with　heat；　　thirst；　and　fatigue；　we　saw　a　gladdening　sight；　the　long　line　of　　trees　and　the　deep　gulf　that　mark　the　course　of　Laramie　Creek。　　　Passing　through　the　growth　of　huge　dilapidated　old　cottonwood　trees　　that　bordered　the　creek；　we　rode　across　to　the　other　side。　The　rapid　and　foaming　waters　were　filled　with　fish　playing　and　　splashing　in　the　shallows。　　As　we　gained　the　farther　bank；　our　horses　　turned　eagerly　to　drink；　and　we；　kneeling　on　the　sand；　followed　their　　example。　　We　had　not　gone　far　before　the　scene　began　to　grow　　familiar。　〃We　are　getting　near　home；　Raymond；〃　said　I。　There　stood　the　Big　Tree　under　which　we　had　encamped　so　long；　there　　were　the　white　cliffs　that　used　to　look　down　upon　our　tent　when　it　　stood　at　the　bend　of　the　creek；　there　was　the　meadow　in　which　our　　horses　had　grazed　for　weeks；　and　a　little　farther　on；　the　prairie…dog　　village　where　I　had　beguiled　many　a　languid　hour　in　persecuting　the　　unfortunate　inhabitants。　〃We　are　going　to　catch　it　now；〃　said　Raymond；　turning　his　broad；　　vacant　face　up　toward　the　sky。　In　truth；　the　landscape；　the　cliffs　and　the　meadow；　the　stream　and　　the　groves　were　darkening　fast。　　Black　masses　of　cloud　were　swelling　　up　in　the　south；　and　the　thunder　was　growling　ominously。　〃We　will　camp　here；〃　I　said；　pointing　to　a　dense　grove　of　trees　lower　　down　the　stream。　　Raymond　and　I　turned　toward　it；　but　the　Indian　　stopped　and　called　earnestly　after　us。　　When　we　demanded　what　was　the　　matter；　he　said　that　the　ghosts　of　two　warriors　were　always　among　　those　trees；　and　that　if　we　slept　there；　they　would　scream　and　throw　　stones　at　us　all　night；　and　perhaps　steal　our　horses　before　morning。　　　Thinking　it　as　well　to　humor　him；　we　left　behind　us　the　haunt　of　　these　extraordinary　ghosts；　and　passed　on　toward　Chugwater；　riding　at　　full　gallop；　for　the　big　drops　began　to　patter　down。　　Soon　we　came　in　　sight　of　the　poplar　saplings　that　grew　about　the　mouth　of　the　little　　stream。　　We　leaped　to　the　ground；　threw　off　our　saddles；　turned　our　　horses　loose；　and　drawing　our　knives；　began　to　slash　among　the　bushes　　to　cut　twigs　and　branches　for　making　a　shelter　against　the　rain。　　　Bending　down　the　taller　saplings　as　they　grew；　we　piled　the　young　　shoots　upon　them；　and　thus　made　a　convenient　penthouse；　but　all　our　　labor　was　useless。　　The　storm　scarcely　touched　us。　　Half　a　mile　on　　our　right　the　rain　was　pouring　down　like　a　cataract；　and　the　thunder　　roared　over　the　prairie　like　a　battery　of　cannon；　while　we　by　good　　fortune　received　only　a　few　heavy　drops　from　the　skirt　of　the　passing　　cloud。　　The　weather　cleared　and　the　sun　set　gloriously。　　Sitting　　close　under　our　leafy　canopy；　we　proceeded　to　discuss　a　substantial　　meal　of　wasna　which　Weah…Washtay　had　given　me。　　The　Indian　had　　brought　with　him　his　pipe　and　a　bag　of　shongsasha；　so　before　lying　　down　to　sleep；　we　sat　for　some　time　smoking　together。　　Previously；　　however；　our　wide…mouthed　friend　had　taken　the　precaution　of　　carefully　examining　the　neighborhood。　　He　reported　that　eight　men；　　counting　them　on　his　fingers；　had　been　encamped　there　not　long　　before。　　Bisonette；　Paul　Dorion；　Antoine　Le　Rouge；　Richardson；　and　　four　others；　whose　names　he　could　not　tell。　　All　this　proved　strictly　　correct。　　By　what　instinct　he　had　arrived　at　such　accurate　　conclusions；　I　am　utterly　at　a　loss　to　divine。　It　was　still　quite　dark　when　I　awoke　and　called　Raymond。　　The　Indian　　was　already　gone；　having　chosen　to　go　on　before　us　to　the　Fort。　　　Setting　out　after　him；　we　rode　for　some　time　in　complete　darkness；　　and　when　the　sun　at　length　rose；　glowing　like　a　fiery　ball　of　copper；　　we　were　ten　miles　distant　from　the　Fort。　　At　length；　from　the　broken　　summit　of　a　tall　sandy　bluff　we　could　see　Fort　Laramie；　miles　before　　us；　standing　by　the　side　of　the　stream　like　a　little　gray　speck　in　　the　midst　of　the　bounding　desolation。　　I　stopped　my　horse；　and　sat　　for　a　moment　looking　down　upon　it。　　It　seemed　to　me　the　very　center　　of　comfort　and　civilization。　　We　were　not　long　in　approaching　it；　for　　we　rode　at　speed　the　greater　part　of　the　way。　　Laramie　Creek　still　　intervened　between　us　and　the　friendly　walls。　　Entering　the　water　at　　the　point　where　we　had　struck　upon　the　bank；　we　raised　our　feet　to　　the　saddle　behind　us；　and　thus；　kneeling　as　it　were　on　horseback；　　passed　dry…shod　through　the　swift　current。　　As　we　rode　up　the　bank；　a　　number　of　men　appeared　in　the　gateway。　　Three　of　them　came　forward　to　　meet　us。　　In　a　moment　I　distinguished　Shaw；　Henry　Chatillon　followed　　with　his　face　of　manly　simplicity　and　frankness；　and　Delorier　came　　last；　with　a　broad　grin　of　welcome。　　The　meeting　was　not　on　either　　side　one　of　mere　ceremony。　　For　my　own　part；　the　change　was　a　most　　agreeable　one　from　the　society　of　savages　and　men　little　better　than　　savages；　to　that　of　my　gallant　and　high…minded　companion　and　our　　noble…hearted　guide。　　My　appearance　was　equally　gratifying　to　Shaw；　　who　was　beginning　to　entertain　some　very　uncomfortable　surmises　　concerning　me。　Bordeaux　greeted　me　very　cordially；　and　shouted　to　the　cook。　　This　　functionary　was　a　new　acquisition；　having　lately　come　from　Fort　　Pierre　with　the　trading　wagons。　　Whatever　skill　he　might　have　　boasted；　he　had　not　the　most　promising　materials　to　exercise　it　upon。　　　He　set　before　me；　however；　a　breakfast　of　biscuit；　coffee；　and　salt　　pork。　　It　seemed　like　a　new　phase　of　existence；　to　be　seated　once　　more　on　a　bench；　with　a　knife　and　fork；　a　plate　and　teacup；　and　　something　resembling　a　table　before　me。　　The　coffee　seemed　delicious；　　and　the　bread　was　a　most　welcome　novelty；　since　for　three　weeks　I　had　　eaten　scarcely　anything　but　meat；　and　that　for　the　most　part　without　　salt。　　The　meal　also　had　the　relish　of　good　company；　for　opposite　to　　me　sat　Shaw　in　elegant　dishabille。　　If　one　is　anxious　thoroughly　to　　appreciate　the　value　of　a　congenial　companion；　he　has　only　to　spend　a　　few　weeks　by　himself　in　an　Ogallalla　village。　　And　if　he　can　contrive　　to　add　to　his　seclusion　a　debilitating　and　somewhat　critical　illness；　　his　perceptions　upon　this　subject　will　be　rendered　considerably　more　　vivid。　Shaw　had　been　upward　of　two　weeks　at　the　Fort。　　I　found　him　　established　in　his　old　quarters；　a　large　apartment　usually　occupied　　by　the　absent　bourgeois。　　In　one　corner　was　a　soft　and　luxuriant　pile　　of　excellent　buffalo　robes；　and　here　I　lay　down。　　Shaw　brought　me　　three　books。　〃Here；〃　said　he；　〃is　your　Shakespeare　and　Byron；　and　here　is　the　Old　　Testament；　which　has　as　much　poetry　in　it　as　the　other　two　put　　together。〃　I　chose　the　worst　of　the　three；　and　for　the　greater　part　of　that　day　　lay　on　the　buffalo　robes；　fairly　reveling　in　the　creations　of　that　　resplendent　genius　which　has　achieved　no　more　signal　triumph　than　　that　of　half　beguiling　us　to　forget　the　pitiful　and　unmanly　character　　of　its　possessor。

CHAPTER　XX　THE　LONELY　JOURNEY

On　the　day　of　my　arrival　at　Fort　Laramie；　Shaw　and　I　were　lounging　on　　two　buffalo　robes　in　the　large　apartment　hospitably　assigned　to　us；　　Henry　Chatillon　also　was　present；　busy　about　the　harness　and　weapons；　　which　had　been　brought　into　the　room；　and　two　or　three　Indians　were　　crouching　on　the　floor；　eyeing　us　with　their　fixed；　unwavering　gaze。　〃I　have　been　well　off　here；〃　said　Shaw；　〃in　all　respects　but　one；　　there　is　no　good　shongsasha　to　be