the oregon trail-第55部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s；　though　clumsy　in　appearance　and　extremely　large；　are　　incredibly　fierce　and　active。　　The　swell　of　the　prairie　concealed　the　　black　object　from　our　view。　　Immediately　after　it　appeared　again。　　　But　now　it　seemed　quite　near　to　us；　and　as　we　looked　at　it　in　　astonishment；　it　suddenly　separated　into　two　parts；　each　of　which　　took　wing　and　flew　away。　　We　stopped　our　horses　and　looked　round　at　　Henry；　whose　face　exhibited　a　curious　mixture　of　mirth　and　　mortification。　　His　hawk's　eye　had　been　so　completely　deceived　by　the　　peculiar　atmosphere　that　he　had　mistaken　two　large　crows　at　the　　distance　of　fifty　rods　for　a　grizzly　bear　a　mile　off。　　To　the　　journey's　end　Henry　never　heard　the　last　of　the　grizzly　bear　with　　wings。　In　the　afternoon　we　came　to　the　foot　of　a　considerable　hill。　　As　we　　ascended　it　Rouville　began　to　ask　questions　concerning　our　conditions　　and　prospects　at　home；　and　Shaw　was　edifying　him　with　a　minute　　account　of　an　imaginary　wife　and　child；　to　which　he　listened　with　　implicit　faith。　　Reaching　the　top　of　the　hill　we　saw　the　windings　of　　Horse　Creek　on　the　plains　below　us；　and　a　little　on　the　left　we　could　　distinguish　the　camp　of　Bisonette　among　the　trees　and　copses　along　　the　course　of　the　stream。　　Rouville's　face　assumed　just　then　a　most　　ludicrously　blank　expression。　　We　inquired　what　was　the　matter；　when　　it　appeared　that　Bisonette　had　sent　him　from　this　place　to　Fort　　Laramie　with　the　sole　object　of　bringing　back　a　supply　of　tobacco。　　　Our　rattle…brain　friend；　from　the　time　of　his　reaching　the　Fort　up　to　　the　present　moment；　had　entirely　forgotten　the　object　of　his　journey；　　and　had　ridden　a　dangerous　hundred　miles　for　nothing。　　Descending　to　　Horse　Creek　we　forded　it；　and　on　the　opposite　bank　a　solitary　Indian　　sat　on　horseback　under　a　tree。　　He　said　nothing；　but　turned　and　led　　the　way　toward　the　camp。　　Bisonette　had　made　choice　of　an　admirable　　position。　　The　stream；　with　its　thick　growth　of　trees；　inclosed　on　　three　sides　a　wide　green　meadow；　where　about　forty　Dakota　lodges　were　　pitched　in　a　circle；　and　beyond　them　half　a　dozen　lodges　of　the　　friendly　Cheyenne。　　Bisonette　himself　lived　in　the　Indian　manner。　　　Riding　up　to　his　lodge；　we　found　him　seated　at　the　head　of　it；　　surrounded　by　various　appliances　of　comfort　not　common　on　the　　prairie。　　His　squaw　was　near　him；　and　rosy　children　were　scrambling　　about　in　printed…calico　gowns；　Paul　Dorion　also；　with　his　leathery　　face　and　old　white　capote；　was　seated　in　the　lodge；　together　with　　Antoine　Le　Rouge；　a　half…breed　Pawnee；　Sibille；　a　trader；　and　several　　other　white　men。　〃It　will　do　you　no　harm；〃　said　Bisonette；　〃to　stay　here　with　us　for　a　　day　or　two；　before　you　start　for　the　Pueblo。〃　We　accepted　the　invitation；　and　pitched　our　tent　on　a　rising　ground　　above　the　camp　and　close　to　the　edge　of　the　trees。　　Bisonette　soon　　invited　us　to　a　feast；　and　we　suffered　abundance　of　the　same　sort　of　　attention　from　his　Indian　associates。　　The　reader　may　possibly　　recollect　that　when　I　joined　the　Indian　village；　beyond　the　Black　　Hills；　I　found　that　a　few　families　were　absent；　having　declined　to　　pass　the　mountains　along　with　the　rest。　　The　Indians　in　Bisonette's　　camp　consisted　of　these　very　families；　and　many　of　them　came　to　me　　that　evening　to　inquire　after　their　relatives　and　friends。　　They　were　　not　a　little　mortified　to　learn　that　while　they；　from　their　own　　timidity　and　indolence；　were　almost　in　a　starving　condition；　the　rest　　of　the　village　had　provided　their　lodges　for　the　next　season；　laid　in　　a　great　stock　of　provisions；　and　were　living　in　abundance　and　luxury。　　　Bisonette's　companions　had　been　sustaining　themselves　for　some　time　　on　wild　cherries；　which　the　squaws　pounded　up；　stones　and　all；　and　　spread　on　buffalo　robes；　to　dry　in　the　sun；　they　were　then　eaten　　without　further　preparation；　or　used　as　an　ingredient　in　various　　delectable　compounds。　On　the　next　day　the　camp　was　in　commotion　with　a　new　arrival。　　A　　single　Indian　had　come　with　his　family　the　whole　way　from　the　　Arkansas。　　As　he　passed　among　the　lodges　he　put　on　an　expression　of　　unusual　dignity　and　importance；　and　gave　out　that　he　had　brought　　great　news　to　tell　the　whites。　　Soon　after　the　squaws　had　erected　his　　lodge；　he　sent　his　little　son　to　invite　all　the　white　men；　and　all　　the　most　distinguished　Indians；　to　a　feast。　　The　guests　arrived　and　　sat　wedged　together；　shoulder　to　shoulder；　within　the　hot　and　　suffocating　lodge。　　The　Stabber；　for　that　was　our　entertainer's　name；　　had　killed　an　old　buffalo　bull　on　his　way。　　This　veteran's　boiled　　tripe；　tougher　than　leather；　formed　the　main　item　of　the　repast。　　For　　the　rest；　it　consisted　of　wild　cherries　and　grease　boiled　together　in　　a　large　copper　kettle。　　The　feast　was　distributed；　and　for　a　moment　　all　was　silent；　strenuous　exertion；　then　each　guest；　with　one　or　two　　exceptions；　however；　turned　his　wooden　dish　bottom　upward　to　prove　　that　he　had　done　full　justice　to　his　entertainer's　hospitality。　　The　　Stabber　next　produced　his　chopping　board；　on　which　he　prepared　the　　mixture　for　smoking；　and　filled　several　pipes；　which　circulated　among　　the　company。　　This　done；　he　seated　himself　upright　on　his　couch；　and　　began　with　much　gesticulation　to　tell　his　story。　　I　will　not　repeat　　his　childish　jargon。　　It　was　so　entangled；　like　the　greater　part　of　　an　Indian's　stories；　with　absurd　and　contradictory　details；　that　it　　was　almost　impossible　to　disengage　from　it　a　single　particle　of　　truth。　　All　that　we　could　gather　was　the　following：　He　had　been　on　the　Arkansas；　and　there　he　had　seen　six　great　war　　parties　of　whites。　　He　had　never　believed　before　that　the　whole　world　　contained　half　so　many　white　men。　　They　all　had　large　horses；　long　　knives；　and　short　rifles；　and　some　of　them　were　attired　alike　in　the　　most　splendid　war　dresses　he　had　ever　seen。　　From　this　account　it　was　　clear　that　bodies　of　dragoons　and　perhaps　also　of　volunteer　cavalry　　had　been　passing　up　the　Arkansas。　　The　Stabber　had　also　seen　a　great　　many　of　the　white　lodges　of　the　Meneaska；　drawn　by　their　long…horned　　buffalo。　　These　could　be　nothing　else　than　covered　ox…wagons　used　no　　doubt　in　transporting　stores　for　the　troops。　　Soon　after　seeing　this；　　our　host　had　met　an　Indian　who　had　lately　come　from　among　the　　Comanches。　　The　latter　had　told　him　that　all　the　Mexicans　had　gone　　out　to　a　great　buffalo　hunt。　　That　the　Americans　had　hid　themselves　　in　a　ravine。　　When　the　Mexicans　had　shot　away　all　their　arrows；　the　　Americans　had　fired　their　guns；　raised　their　war…whoop；　rushed　out；　　and　killed　them　all。　　We　could　only　infer　from　this　that　war　had　been　　declared　with　Mexico；　and　a　battle　fought　in　which　the　Americans　were　　victorious。　　When；　some　weeks　after；　we　arrived　at　the　Pueblo；　we　　heard　of　General　Kearny's　march　up　the　Arkansas　and　of　General　　Taylor's　victories　at　Matamoras。　As　the　sun　was　setting　that　evening　a　great　crowd　gathered　on　the　　plain　by　the　side　of　our　tent；　to　try　the　speed　of　their　horses。　　　These　were　of　every　shape；　size；　and　color。　　Some　came　from　　California；　some　from　the　States；　some　from　among　the　mountains；　and　　some　from　the　wild　bands　of　the　prairie。　　They　were　of　every　hue　white；　black；　red；　and　gray；　or　mottled　and　clouded　with　a　strange　　variety　of　colors。　　They　all　had　a　wild　and　startled　look；　very　　different　from　the　staid　and　sober　aspect　of　a　well…bred　city　steed。　　　Those　most　noted　for　swiftness　and　spirit　were　decorated　with　eagle…　feathers　dangling　from　their　manes　and　tails。　　Fifty　or　sixty　Dakotas　　were　present；　wrapped　from　head　to　foot　in　their　heavy　robes　of　　whitened　hide。　　There　were　also　a　considerable　number　of　the　　Cheyenne；　many　of　whom　wore　gaudy　Mexican　ponchos　swathed　around　　their　shoulders；　but　leaving　the　right　arm　bare。　　Mingled　among　the　　crowd　of　Indians　were　a　number　of　Canadians；　chiefly　in　the　employ　of　　Bisonette；　men；　whose　home　is　in　the　wilderness；　and　who　love　the　　camp　fire　better　than　the　domestic　hearth。　　They　are　contented　and　　happy　in　the　midst　of　hardship；　privation；　and　danger。　　Their　　cheerfulness　and　gayety　is　irrepressible；　and　no　people　on　earth　　understand　better　how　〃to　daff　the　world　aside　and　bid　it　pass。〃　　　Besides　these；　were　two　or　three　half…breeds；　a　race　of　rather　　extraordinary　composition；　being　according　to　the　common　saying　half　　Indian；　half　white　man；　and　half　devil。　　Antoine　Le　Rouge　was　the　　most　conspicuous　among　them；　with　his　loose　pantaloons　and　his　　fluttering　calico　skirt。　　A　handkerchief　was　bound　round　his　head　to　　confine　his　black　snaky　hair；　and　his　small　eyes　twinkled　beneath　it；　　with　a　mischievous　luster。　　He　had　a　fine　cream…colored　horse　whose　　speed　he　must　needs　try　along　with　the　rest。　　So　he　threw　off　the　　rude　high…peaked　saddle；　and　substituting　a　piece　of　buffalo　robe；　　leaped　lightly　into　his　seat。　　The　space　was　cleared；　the　word　was　　given；　and　he　and　his　Indian　rival　darted　out　like　lightning　from　　among　the　crowd；　each　stretching　forward　over　his　horse's　neck　and　　plying　his　heavy　Indian　whip　with　might　and　main。　　A　moment；　and　both　　were　lost　in　the　gloom；　but　Antoine　soon　came　riding　back　victorious；　　exultingly　patting　the　neck　of　his　quivering　and　panting　horse。　About　midnight；　as　I　lay　asleep；　wrapped　in　a　buffalo　robe　on　the　　ground　by　the　side　of　our　cart；　Raymond　came　up　and　woke　me。　　　Something　he　said；　was　going　forward　which　I　would　like　to　see。　　　Looking　down　into　camp　I　saw；　on　the　farther　side　of　it；　a　great　　number　of　Indians　gathered　around　a　fire；　the　bright　glare　of　which　　made　them　visible　through　the　thick　darkness；　while　from　the　midst　of　　them　proceeded　a　loud；　measured　chant　which　would　have　killed　　Paganini　outright；　broken　occasionally　by　a　burst　of　sharp　yells。　　I　　gathered　the　robe　around　me；　for　the　night　was　cold；　and　walked　down　　to　the　spot。　　The　dark　throng　of　Indians　was　so　dense　that　they　　almost　intercepted　the　light　of　the　flame。　　As　I　was　pushing　among　　them　with　but　little　ceremony；　a　chief　interposed　himself；　and　I　was　　given　to　understand　that　a　white　man　must　not　approach　the　scene　of　　their　solemnities　too　closely。　　By　passing　round　to　the　other　side；　　where　there　was　a　little　opening　in　the　crowd；　I　could　see　clearly　　what　was　going　forward；　without　intruding　my　unhallowed　presence　into　　the　inner　circle。　　The　society　of　the　〃S