the oregon trail-第58部分

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noiter　　us；　he　had　circled　half　round　the　camp；　and　then　galloped　back　full　　speed　for　the　Pueblo。　　What　made　him　so　shy　of　us　we　could　not　　conceive。　　After　an　hour's　ride　we　reached　the　edge　of　a　hill；　from　　which　a　welcome　sight　greeted　us。　　The　Arkansas　ran　along　the　valley　　below；　among　woods　and　groves；　and　closely　nestled　in　the　midst　of　　wide　cornfields　and　green　meadows　where　cattle　were　grazing　rose　the　　low　mud　walls　of　the　Pueblo。

CHAPTER　XXI　THE　PUEBLO　AND　BENT'S　FORT

We　approached　the　gate　of　the　Pueblo。　　It　was　a　wretched　species　of　　fort　of　most　primitive　construction；　being　nothing　more　than　a　large　　square　inclosure；　surrounded　by　a　wall　of　mud；　miserably　cracked　and　　dilapidated。　　The　slender　pickets　that　surmounted　it　were　half　broken　　down；　and　the　gate　dangled　on　its　wooden　hinges　so　loosely；　that　to　　open　or　shut　it　seemed　likely　to　fling　it　down　altogether。　　Two　or　　three　squalid　Mexicans；　with　their　broad　hats；　and　their　vile　faces　　overgrown　with　hair；　were　lounging　about　the　bank　of　the　river　in　　front　of　it。　　They　disappeared　as　they　saw　us　approach；　and　as　we　　rode　up　to　the　gate　a　light　active　little　figure　came　out　to　meet　us。　　　It　was　our　old　friend　Richard。　　He　had　come　from　Fort　Laramie　on　a　　trading　expedition　to　Taos；　but　finding；　when　he　reached　the　Pueblo；　　that　the　war　would　prevent　his　going　farther；　he　was　quietly　waiting　　till　the　conquest　of　the　country　should　allow　him　to　proceed。　　He　　seemed　to　consider　himself　bound　to　do　the　honors　of　the　place。　　　Shaking　us　warmly　by　the　hands；　he　led　the　way　into　the　area。　Here　we　saw　his　large　Santa　Fe　wagons　standing　together。　　A　few　　squaws　and　Spanish　women；　and　a　few　Mexicans；　as　mean　and　miserable　　as　the　place　itself；　were　lazily　sauntering　about。　　Richard　conducted　　us　to　the　state　apartment　of　the　Pueblo；　a　small　mud　room；　very　　neatly　finished；　considering　the　material；　and　garnished　with　a　　crucifix；　a　looking…glass；　a　picture　of　the　Virgin；　and　a　rusty　horse　　pistol。　　There　were　no　chairs；　but　instead　of　them　a　number　of　chests　　and　boxes　ranged　about　the　room。　　There　was　another　room　beyond；　less　　sumptuously　decorated；　and　here　three　or　four　Spanish　girls；　one　of　　them　very　pretty；　were　baking　cakes　at　a　mud　fireplace　in　the　corner。　　　They　brought　out　a　poncho；　which　they　spread　upon　the　floor　by　way　of　　table…cloth。　　A　supper；　which　seemed　to　us　luxurious；　was　soon　laid　　out　upon　it；　and　folded　buffalo　robes　were　placed　around　it　to　　receive　the　guests。　　Two　or　three　Americans；　besides　ourselves；　were　　present。　　We　sat　down　Turkish　fashion；　and　began　to　inquire　the　news。　　　Richard　told　us　that；　about　three　weeks　before；　General　Kearny's　army　　had　left　Bent's　Fort　to　march　against　Santa　Fe；　that　when　last　heard　　from　they　were　approaching　the　mountainous　defiles　that　led　to　the　　city。　　One　of　the　Americans　produced　a　dingy　newspaper；　containing　an　　account　of　the　battles　of　Palo　Alto　and　Resaca　de　la　Palma。　　While　we　　were　discussing　these　matters；　the　doorway　was　darkened　by　a　tall；　　shambling　fellow；　who　stood　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets　taking　a　　leisurely　survey　of　the　premises　before　he　entered。　　He　wore　brown　　homespun　pantaloons；　much　too　short　for　his　legs；　and　a　pistol　and　　bowie　knife　stuck　in　his　belt。　　His　head　and　one　eye　were　enveloped　　in　a　huge　bandage　of　white　linen。　　Having　completed　his　observations；　　he　came　slouching　in　and　sat　down　on　a　chest。　　Eight　or　ten　more　of　　the　same　stamp　followed；　and　very　coolly　arranging　themselves　about　　the　room；　began　to　stare　at　the　company。　　Shaw　and　I　looked　at　each　　other。　　We　were　forcibly　reminded　of　the　Oregon　emigrants；　though　　these　unwelcome　visitors　had　a　certain　glitter　of　the　eye；　and　a　　compression　of　the　lips；　which　distinguished　them　from　our　old　　acquaintances　of　the　prairie。　　They　began　to　catechise　us　at　once；　　inquiring　whence　we　had　come；　what　we　meant　to　do　next；　and　what　were　　our　future　prospects　in　life。　The　man　with　the　bandaged　head　had　met　with　an　untoward　accident　a　　few　days　before。　　He　was　going　down　to　the　river　to　bring　water；　and　　was　pushing　through　the　young　willows　which　covered　the　low　ground；　　when　he　came　unawares　upon　a　grizzly　bear；　which；　having　just　eaten　a　　buffalo　bull；　had　lain　down　to　sleep　off　the　meal。　　The　bear　rose　on　　his　hind　legs；　and　gave　the　intruder　such　a　blow　with　his　paw　that　he　　laid　his　forehead　entirely　bare；　clawed　off　the　front　of　his　scalp；　　and　narrowly　missed　one　of　his　eyes。　　Fortunately　he　was　not　in　a　　very　pugnacious　mood；　being　surfeited　with　his　late　meal。　　The　man's　　companions；　who　were　close　behind；　raised　a　shout　and　the　bear　walked　　away；　crushing　down　the　willows　in　his　leisurely　retreat。　These　men　belonged　to　a　party　of　Mormons；　who；　out　of　a　well…grounded　　fear　of　the　other　emigrants；　had　postponed　leaving　the　settlements　　until　all　the　rest　were　gone。　　On　account　of　this　delay　they　did　not　　reach　Fort　Laramie　until　it　was　too　late　to　continue　their　journey　to　　California。　　Hearing　that　there　was　good　land　at　the　head　of　the　　Arkansas；　they　crossed　over　under　the　guidance　of　Richard；　and　were　　now　preparing　to　spend　the　winter　at　a　spot　about　half　a　mile　from　　the　Pueblo。　When　we　took　leave　of　Richard；　it　was　near　sunset。　　Passing　out　of　　the　gate；　we　could　look　down　the　little　valley　of　the　Arkansas；　a　　beautiful　scene；　and　doubly　so　to　our　eyes；　so　long　accustomed　to　　deserts　and　mountains。　　Tall　woods　lined　the　river；　with　green　　meadows　on　either　hand；　and　high　bluffs；　quietly　basking　in　the　　sunlight；　flanked　the　narrow　valley。　　A　Mexican　on　horseback　was　　driving　a　herd　of　cattle　toward　the　gate；　and　our　little　white　tent；　　which　the　men　had　pitched　under　a　large　tree　in　the　meadow；　made　a　　very　pleasing　feature　in　the　scene。　　When　we　reached　it；　we　found　　that　Richard　had　sent　a　Mexican　to　bring　us　an　abundant　supply　of　　green　corn　and　vegetables；　and　invite　us　to　help　ourselves　to　　whatever　we　wished　from　the　fields　around　the　Pueblo。　The　inhabitants　were　in　daily　apprehensions　of　an　inroad　from　more　　formidable　consumers　than　ourselves。　　Every　year　at　the　time　when　the　　corn　begins　to　ripen；　the　Arapahoes；　to　the　number　of　several　　thousands；　come　and　encamp　around　the　Pueblo。　　The　handful　of　white　　men；　who　are　entirely　at　the　mercy　of　this　swarm　of　barbarians；　　choose　to　make　a　merit　of　necessity；　they　come　forward　very　　cordially；　shake　them　by　the　hand；　and　intimate　that　the　harvest　is　　entirely　at　their　disposal。　　The　Arapahoes　take　them　at　their　word；　　help　themselves　most　liberally；　and　usually　turn　their　horses　into　　the　cornfields　afterward。　　They　have　the　foresight；　however；　to　leave　　enough　of　the　crops　untouched　to　serve　as　an　inducement　for　planting　　the　fields　again　for　their　benefit　in　the　next　spring。　The　human　race　in　this　part　of　the　world　is　separated　into　three　　divisions；　arranged　in　the　order　of　their　merits；　white　men；　Indians；　　and　Mexicans；　to　the　latter　of　whom　the　honorable　title　of　〃whites〃　　is　by　no　means　conceded。　In　spite　of　the　warm　sunset　of　that　evening　the　next　morning　was　a　　dreary　and　cheerless　one。　　It　rained　steadily；　clouds　resting　upon　　the　very　treetops。　　We　crossed　the　river　to　visit　the　Mormon　　settlement。　　As　we　passed　through　the　water；　several　trappers　on　　horseback　entered　it　from　the　other　side。　　Their　buckskin　frocks　were　　soaked　through　by　the　rain；　and　clung　fast　to　their　limbs　with　a　most　　clammy　and　uncomfortable　look。　　The　water　was　trickling　down　their　　faces；　and　dropping　from　the　ends　of　their　rifles；　and　from　the　traps　　which　each　carried　at　the　pommel　of　his　saddle。　　Horses　and　all；　they　　had　a　most　disconsolate　and　woebegone　appearance；　which　we　could　not　　help　laughing　at；　forgetting　how　often　we　ourselves　had　been　in　a　　similar　plight。　After　half　an　hour's　riding　we　saw　the　white　wagons　of　the　Mormons　　drawn　up　among　the　trees。　　Axes　were　sounding；　trees　were　falling；　　and　log…huts　going　up　along　the　edge　of　the　woods　and　upon　the　　adjoining　meadow。　　As　we　came　up　the　Mormons　left　their　work　and　　seated　themselves　on　the　timber　around　us；　when　they　began　earnestly　　to　discuss　points　of　theology；　complain　of　the　ill…usage　they　had　　received　from　the　〃Gentiles；〃　and　sound　a　lamentation　over　the　loss　　of　their　great　temple　at　Nauvoo。　　After　remaining　with　them　an　hour　　we　rode　back　to　our　camp；　happy　that　the　settlements　had　been　　delivered　from　the　presence　of　such　blind　and　desperate　fanatics。　On　the　morning　after　this　we　left　the　Pueblo　for　Bent's　Fort。　　The　　conduct　of　Raymond　had　lately　been　less　satisfactory　than　before；　and　　we　had　discharged　him　as　soon　as　we　arrived　at　the　former　place；　so　　that　the　party；　ourselves　included；　was　now　reduced　to　four。　　There　　was　some　uncertainty　as　to　our　future　course。　　The　trail　between　　Bent's　Fort　and　the　settlements；　a　distance　computed　at　six　hundred　　miles；　was　at　this　time　in　a　dangerous　state；　for　since　the　passage　　of　General　Kearny's　army；　great　numbers　of　hostile　Indians；　chiefly　　Pawnees　and　Comanches；　had　gathered　about　some　parts　of　it。　　A　little　　after　this　time　they　became　so　numerous　and　audacious；　that　scarcely　　a　single　party；　however　large；　passed　between　the　fort　and　the　　frontier　without　some　token　of　their　hostility。　　The　newspapers　of　　the　time　sufficiently　display　this　state　of　things。　　Many　men　were　　killed；　and　great　numbers　of　horses　and　mules　carried　off。　　Not　long　　since　I　met　with　the　gentleman；　who；　during　the　autumn；　came　from　　Santa　Fe　to　Bent's　Fort；　when　he　found　a　party　of　seventy　men；　who　　thought　themselves　too　weak　to　go　down　to　the　settlements　alone；　and　　were　waiting　there　for　a　re…enforcement。　　Though　this　excessive　　timidity　fully　proves　the　ignorance　and　credulity　of　the　men；　it　may　　also　evince　the　state　of　alarm　which　prevailed　in　the　country。　　When　　we　were　there　in　the　month　of　August；　the　danger　had　not　become　so　　great。　　There　was　nothing　very　attractive　in　the　neighborhood。　　We　　supposed；　moreover；　that　we　might　wait　there　half　the　winter　without　　finding　any　party　to　go　down　with　us；　for　Mr。　Sublette　and　the　others　　whom　we　had　relied　upon　had；　as　Richard　told　us；　already　left　Bent's　　Fort。　　Thus　far　on　our　journey　Fortune　had　kindly　befriended　us。　　We　　resolved　therefore　to　take　advantage　of　her　gracious　mood　and　　trusting　for　a　continuance