the oregon trail-第57部分

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ly　shattered　by　Shaw's　bullet。　　As　　Delorier　held　him　out　at　arm's　length　with　an　exulting　grin　his　tail；　　which　still　kept　slowly　writhing　about；　almost　touched　the　ground；　　and　the　body　in　the　largest　part　was　as　thick　as　a　stout　man's　arm。　　　He　had　fourteen　rattles；　but　the　end　of　his　tail　was　blunted；　as　if　　he　could　once　have　boasted　of　many　more。　　From　this　time　till　we　　reached　the　Pueblo　we　killed　at　least　four　or　five　of　these　snakes　　every　day　as　they　lay　coiled　and　rattling　on　the　hot　sand。　　Shaw　was　　the　St。　Patrick　of　the　party；　and　whenever　he　or　any　one　else　killed　　a　snake　he　always　pulled　off　his　tail　and　stored　it　away　in　his　　bullet…pouch；　which　was　soon　crammed　with　an　edifying　collection　of　　rattles；　great　and　small。　　Delorier；　with　his　whip；　also　came　in　for　　a　share　of　the　praise。　　A　day　or　two　after　this　he　triumphantly　　produced　a　small　snake　about　a　span　and　a　half　long；　with　one　infant　　rattle　at　the　end　of　his　tail。　We　forded　the　South　Fork　of　the　Platte。　　On　its　farther　bank　were　the　　traces　of　a　very　large　camp　of　Arapahoes。　　The　ashes　of　some　three　　hundred　fires　were　visible　among　the　scattered　trees；　together　with　　the　remains　of　sweating　lodges；　and　all　the　other　appurtenances　of　a　　permanent　camp。　　The　place　however　had　been　for　some　months　deserted。　　　A　few　miles　farther　on　we　found　more　recent　signs　of　Indians；　the　　trail　of　two　or　three　lodges；　which　had　evidently　passed　the　day　　before；　where　every　foot…print　was　perfectly　distinct　in　the　dry；　　dusty　soil。　　We　noticed　in　particular　the　track　of　one　moccasin；　upon　　the　sole　of　which　its　economical　proprietor　had　placed　a　large　patch。　　　These　signs　gave　us　but　little　uneasiness；　as　the　number　of　the　　warriors　scarcely　exceeded　that　of　our　own　party。　　At　noon　we　rested　　under　the　walls　of　a　large　fort；　built　in　these　solitudes　some　years　　since　by　M。　St。　Vrain。　　It　was　now　abandoned　and　fast　falling　into　　ruin。　　The　walls　of　unbaked　bricks　were　cracked　from　top　to　bottom。　　　Our　horses　recoiled　in　terror　from　the　neglected　entrance；　where　the　　heavy　gates　were　torn　from　their　hinges　and　flung　down。　　The　area　　within　was　overgrown　with　weeds；　and　the　long　ranges　of　apartments；　　once　occupied　by　the　motley　concourse　of　traders；　Canadians；　and　　squaws；　were　now　miserably　dilapidated。　　Twelve　miles　further　on；　　near　the　spot　where　we　encamped；　were　the　remains　of　still　another　　fort；　standing　in　melancholy　desertion　and　neglect。　Early　on　the　following　morning　we　made　a　startling　discovery。　　We　　passed　close　by　a　large　deserted　encampment　of　Arapahoes。　　There　were　　about　fifty　fires　still　smouldering　on　the　ground；　and　it　was　evident　　from　numerous　signs　that　the　Indians　must　have　left　the　place　within　　two　hours　of　our　reaching　it。　　Their　trail　crossed　our　own　at　right　　angles；　and　led　in　the　direction　of　a　line　of　hills　half　a　mile　on　　our　left。　　There　were　women　and　children　in　the　party；　which　would　　have　greatly　diminished　the　danger　of　encountering　them。　　Henry　　Chatillon　examined　the　encampment　and　the　trail　with　a　very　　professional　and　businesslike　air。　〃Supposing　we　had　met　them；　Henry？〃　said　I。　〃Why；〃　said　he；　〃we　hold　out　our　hands　to　them；　and　give　them　all　　we've　got；　they　take　away　everything；　and　then　I　believe　they　no　kill　　us。　　Perhaps；〃　added　he；　looking　up　with　a　quiet；　unchanged　face；　　〃perhaps　we　no　let　them　rob　us。　　Maybe　before　they　come　near；　we　have　　a　chance　to　get　into　a　ravine；　or　under　the　bank　of　the　river；　then；　　you　know；　we　fight　them。〃　About　noon　on　that　day　we　reached　Cherry　Creek。　　Here　was　a　great　　abundance　of　wild　cherries；　plums；　gooseberries；　and　currants。　　The　　stream；　however；　like　most　of　the　others　which　we　passed；　was　dried　　up　with　the　heat；　and　we　had　to　dig　holes　in　the　sand　to　find　water　　for　ourselves　and　our　horses。　　Two　days　after；　we　left　the　banks　of　　the　creek　which　we　had　been　following　for　some　time；　and　began　to　　cross　the　high　dividing　ridge　which　separates　the　waters　of　the　　Platte　from　those　of　the　Arkansas。　　The　scenery　was　altogether　　changed。　　In　place　of　the　burning　plains　we　were　passing　now　through　　rough　and　savage　glens　and　among　hills　crowned　with　a　dreary　growth　　of　pines。　　We　encamped　among　these　solitudes　on　the　night　of　the　16th　　of　August。　　A　tempest　was　threatening。　　The　sun　went　down　among　　volumes　of　jet…black　cloud；　edged　with　a　bloody　red。　　But　in　spite　of　　these　portentous　signs；　we　neglected　to　put　up　the　tent；　and　being　　extremely　fatigued；　lay　down　on　the　ground　and　fell　asleep。　　The　　storm　broke　about　midnight；　and　we　erected　the　tent　amid　darkness　and　　confusion。　　In　the　morning　all　was　fair　again；　and　Pike's　Peak；　white　　with　snow；　was　towering　above　the　wilderness　afar　off。　We　pushed　through　an　extensive　tract　of　pine　woods。　　Large　black　　squirrels　were　leaping　among　the　branches。　　From　the　farther　edge　of　　this　forest　we　saw　the　prairie　again；　hollowed　out　before　us　into　a　　vast　basin；　and　about　a　mile　in　front　we　could　discern　a　little　black　　speck　moving　upon　its　surface。　　It　could　be　nothing　but　a　buffalo。　　　Henry　primed　his　rifle　afresh　and　galloped　forward。　　To　the　left　of　　the　animal　was　a　low　rocky　mound；　of　which　Henry　availed　himself　in　　making　his　approach。　　After　a　short　time　we　heard　the　faint　report　of　　the　rifle。　　The　bull；　mortally　wounded　from　a　distance　of　nearly　　three　hundred　yards；　ran　wildly　round　and　round　in　a　circle。　　Shaw　　and　I　then　galloped　forward；　and　passing　him　as　he　ran；　foaming　with　　rage　and　pain；　we　discharged　our　pistols　into　his　side。　　Once　or　　twice　he　rushed　furiously　upon　us；　but　his　strength　was　rapidly　　exhausted。　　Down　he　fell　on　his　knees。　　For　one　instant　he　glared　up　　at　his　enemies　with　burning　eyes　through　his　black　tangled　mane；　and　　then　rolled　over　on　his　side。　　Though　gaunt　and　thin；　he　was　larger　　and　heavier　than　the　largest　ox。　　Foam　and　blood　flew　together　from　　his　nostrils　as　he　lay　bellowing　and　pawing　the　ground；　tearing　up　　grass　and　earth　with　his　hoofs。　　His　sides　rose　and　fell　like　a　vast　　pair　of　bellows；　the　blood　spouting　up　in　jets　from　the　bullet…holes。　　　Suddenly　his　glaring　eyes　became　like　a　lifeless　jelly。　　He　lay　　motionless　on　the　ground。　　Henry　stooped　over　him；　and　making　an　　incision　with　his　knife；　pronounced　the　meat　too　rank　and　tough　for　　use；　so；　disappointed　in　our　hopes　of　an　addition　to　our　stock　of　　provisions；　we　rode　away　and　left　the　carcass　to　the　wolves。　In　the　afternoon　we　saw　the　mountains　rising　like　a　gigantic　wall　at　　no　great　distance　on　our　right。　　〃Des　sauvages！　des　sauvages！〃　　exclaimed　Delorier；　looking　round　with　a　frightened　face；　and　　pointing　with　his　whip　toward　the　foot　of　the　mountains。　　In　fact；　we　　could　see　at　a　distance　a　number　of　little　black　specks；　like　　horsemen　in　rapid　motion。　　Henry　Chatillon；　with　Shaw　and　myself；　　galloped　toward　them　to　reconnoiter；　when　to　our　amusement　we　saw　the　　supposed　Arapahoes　resolved　into　the　black　tops　of　some　pine　trees　　which　grew　along　a　ravine。　　The　summits　of　these　pines；　just　visible　　above　the　verge　of　the　prairie；　and　seeming　to　move　as　we　ourselves　　were　advancing；　looked　exactly　like　a　line　of　horsemen。　We　encamped　among　ravines　and　hollows；　through　which　a　little　brook　　was　foaming　angrily。　　Before　sunrise　in　the　morning　the　snow…covered　　mountains　were　beautifully　tinged　with　a　delicate　rose　color。　　A　　noble　spectacle　awaited　us　as　we　moved　forward。　　Six　or　eight　miles　　on　our　right；　Pike's　Peak　and　his　giant　brethren　rose　out　of　the　　level　prairie；　as　if　springing　from　the　bed　of　the　ocean。　　From　their　　summits　down　to　the　plain　below　they　were　involved　in　a　mantle　of　　clouds；　in　restless　motion；　as　if　urged　by　strong　winds。　　For　one　　instant　some　snowy　peak；　towering　in　awful　solitude；　would　be　　disclosed　to　view。　　As　the　clouds　broke　along　the　mountain；　we　could　　see　the　dreary　forests；　the　tremendous　precipices；　the　white　patches　　of　snow；　the　gulfs　and　chasms　as　black　as　night；　all　revealed　for　an　　instant；　and　then　disappearing　from　the　view。　　One　could　not　but　　recall　the　stanza　of　〃Childe　Harold〃：

　　　　　Morn　dawns；　and　with　it　stern　Albania's　hills；　　　　　　Dark　Suli's　rocks；　and　Pindus'　inland　peak；　　　　　　Robed　half　in　mist；　bedewed　with　snowy　rills；　　　　　　Array'd　in　many　a　dun　and　purple　streak；　　　　　　Arise；　and；　as　the　clouds　along　them　break；　　　　　　Disclose　the　dwelling　of　the　mountaineer：　　　　　　Here　roams　the　wolf；　the　eagle　whets　his　beak；　　　　　　Birds；　beasts　of　prey；　and　wilder　men　appear；　　　　　　And　gathering　storms　around　convulse　the　closing　year。

Every　line　save　one　of　this　description　was　more　than　verified　here。　　　There　were　no　〃dwellings　of　the　mountaineer〃　among　these　heights。　　　Fierce　savages；　restlessly　wandering　through　summer　and　winter；　alone　　invade　them。　　〃Their　hand　is　against　every　man；　and　every　man's　hand　　against　them。〃　On　the　day　after；　we　had　left　the　mountains　at　some　distance。　　A　　black　cloud　descended　upon　them；　and　a　tremendous　explosion　of　　thunder　followed；　reverberating　among　the　precipices。　　In　a　few　　moments　everything　grew　black　and　the　rain　poured　down　like　a　　cataract。　　We　got　under　an　old　cotton…wood　tree　which　stood　by　the　　side　of　a　stream；　and　waited　there　till　the　rage　of　the　torrent　had　　passed。　The　clouds　opened　at　the　point　where　they　first　had　gathered；　and　the　　whole　sublime　congregation　of　mountains　was　bathed　at　once　in　warm　　sunshine。　　They　seemed　more　like　some　luxurious　vision　of　Eastern　　romance　than　like　a　reality　of　that　wilderness；　all　were　melted　　together　into　a　soft　delicious　blue；　as　voluptuous　as　the　sky　of　　Naples　or　the　transparent　sea　that　washes　the　sunny　cliffs　of　Capri。　　　On　the　left　the　whole　sky　was　still　of　an　inky　blackness；　but　two　　concentric　rainbows　stood　in　brilliant　relief　against　it；　while　far　　in　front　the　ragged　cloud　still　streamed　before　the　wind；　and　the　　retreating　thunder　muttered　angrily。　Through　that　afternoon　and　the　next　morning　we　were　passing　down　the　　banks　of　the　stream　called　La　Fontaine　qui　Bouille；　from　the　boiling　　spring　whose　waters　flow　into　it。　　When　we　stopped　at　noon；　we　were　　within　six　or　eight　miles　of　the　Pueblo。　　Setting　out　again；　we　found　　by　the　fresh　tracks　that　a　horseman　had　just　been　out　to　reconnoiter　　us；　he　had　circled　half　round　the　camp；　and　then　galloped　back　full　　speed　for　the　Pueblo。