the oregon trail-第64部分

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s；　and　turning　as　they　ran；　attempt　to　gore　my　　horse；　but　as　they　were　already　at　full　speed　there　was　no　force　in　　their　onset；　and　as　Pauline　ran　faster　than　they；　they　were　always　　thrown　behind　her　in　the　effort。　　I　soon　began　to　distinguish　cows　　amid　the　throng。　　One　just　in　front　of　me　seemed　to　my　liking；　and　I　　pushed　close　to　her　side。　　Dropping　the　reins　I　fired；　holding　the　　muzzle　of　the　gun　within　a　foot　of　her　shoulder。　　Quick　as　lightning　　she　sprang　at　Pauline；　the　little　mare　dodged　the　attack；　and　I　lost　　sight　of　the　wounded　animal　amid　the　tumultuous　crowd。　　Immediately　　after　I　selected　another；　and　urging　forward　Pauline；　shot　into　her　　both　pistols　in　succession。　　For　a　while　I　kept　her　in　view；　but　in　　attempting　to　load　my　gun；　lost　sight　of　her　also　in　the　confusion。　　　Believing　her　to　be　mortally　wounded　and　unable　to　keep　up　with　the　　herd；　I　checked　my　horse。　　The　crowd　rushed　onward。　　The　dust　and　　tumult　passed　away；　and　on　the　prairie；　far　behind　the　rest；　I　saw　a　　solitary　buffalo　galloping　heavily。　　In　a　moment　I　and　my　victim　were　　running　side　by　side。　　My　firearms　were　all　empty；　and　I　had　in　my　　pouch　nothing　but　rifle　bullets；　too　large　for　the　pistols　and　too　　small　for　the　gun。　　I　loaded　the　latter；　however；　but　as　often　as　I　　leveled　it　to　fire；　the　little　bullets　would　roll　out　of　the　muzzle　　and　the　gun　returned　only　a　faint　report　like　a　squib；　as　the　powder　　harmlessly　exploded。　　I　galloped　in　front　of　the　buffalo　and　　attempted　to　turn　her　back；　but　her　eyes　glared；　her　mane　bristled；　　and　lowering　her　head；　she　rushed　at　me　with　astonishing　fierceness　　and　activity。　　Again　and　again　I　rode　before　her；　and　again　and　again　　she　repeated　her　furious　charge。　　But　little　Pauline　was　in　her　　element。　　She　dodged　her　enemy　at　every　rush；　until　at　length　the　　buffalo　stood　still；　exhausted　with　her　own　efforts；　she　panted；　and　　her　tongue　hung　lolling　from　her　jaws。　Riding　to　a　little　distance　I　alighted；　thinking　to　gather　a　handful　　of　dry　grass　to　serve　the　purpose　of　wadding；　and　load　the　gun　at　my　　leisure。　　No　sooner　were　my　feet　on　the　ground　than　the　buffalo　came　　bounding　in　such　a　rage　toward　me　that　I　jumped　back　again　into　the　　saddle　with　all　possible　dispatch。　　After　waiting　a　few　minutes　more；　　I　made　an　attempt　to　ride　up　and　stab　her　with　my　knife；　but　the　　experiment　proved　such　as　no　wise　man　would　repeat。　　At　length；　　bethinking　me　of　the　fringes　at　the　seams　of　my　buckskin　pantaloons；　　I　jerked　off　a　few　of　them；　and　reloading　my　gun；　forced　them　down　　the　barrel　to　keep　the　bullet　in　its　place；　then　approaching；　I　shot　　the　wounded　buffalo　through　the　heart。　　Sinking　to　her　knees；　she　　rolled　over　lifeless　on　the　prairie。　　To　my　astonishment；　I　found　　that　instead　of　a　fat　cow　I　had　been　slaughtering　a　stout　yearling　　bull。　　No　longer　wondering　at　the　fierceness　he　had　shown；　I　opened　　his　throat　and　cutting　out　his　tongue；　tied　it　at　the　back　of　my　　saddle。　　My　mistake　was　one　which　a　more　experienced　eye　than　mine　　might　easily　make　in　the　dust　and　confusion　of　such　a　chase。　Then　for　the　first　time　I　had　leisure　to　look　at　the　scene　around　me。　　　The　prairie　in　front　was　darkened　with　the　retreating　multitude；　and　　on　the　other　hand　the　buffalo　came　filing　up　in　endless　unbroken　　columns　from　the　low　plains　upon　the　river。　　The　Arkansas　was　three　　or　four　miles　distant。　　I　turned　and　moved　slowly　toward　it。　　A　long　　time　passed　before；　far　down　in　the　distance；　I　distinguished　the　　white　covering　of　the　cart　and　the　little　black　specks　of　horsemen　　before　and　behind　it。　　Drawing　near；　I　recognized　Shaw's　elegant　　tunic；　the　red　flannel　shirt；　conspicuous　far　off。　　I　overtook　the　　party；　and　asked　him　what　success　he　had　met　with。　　He　had　assailed　a　　fat　cow；　shot　her　with　two　bullets；　and　mortally　wounded　her。　　But　　neither　of　us　were　prepared　for　the　chase　that　afternoon；　and　Shaw；　　like　myself；　had　no　spare　bullets　in　his　pouch；　so　he　abandoned　the　　disabled　animal　to　Henry　Chatillon；　who　followed；　dispatched　her　with　　his　rifle；　and　loaded　his　horse　with　her　meat。　We　encamped　close　to　the　river。　　The　night　was　dark；　and　as　we　lay　　down　we　could　hear　mingled　with　the　howling　of　wolves　the　hoarse　　bellowing　of　the　buffalo；　like　the　ocean　beating　upon　a　distant　　coast。

CHAPTER　XXV　THE　BUFFALO　CAMP

No　one　in　the　camp　was　more　active　than　Jim　Gurney；　and　no　one　half　　so　lazy　as　Ellis。　　Between　these　two　there　was　a　great　antipathy。　　　Ellis　never　stirred　in　the　morning　until　he　was　compelled　to；　but　Jim　　was　always　on　his　feet　before　daybreak；　and　this　morning　as　usual　the　　sound　of　his　voice　awakened　the　party。　〃Get　up；　you　booby！　up　with　you　now；　you're　fit　for　nothing　but　　eating　and　sleeping。　　Stop　your　grumbling　and　come　out　of　that　　buffalo　robe　or　I'll　pull　it　off　for　you。〃　Jim's　words　were　interspersed　with　numerous　expletives；　which　gave　　them　great　additional　effect。　　Ellis　drawled　out　something　in　a　nasal　　tone　from　among　the　folds　of　his　buffalo　robe；　then　slowly　disengaged　　himself；　rose　into　sitting　posture；　stretched　his　long　arms；　yawned　　hideously；　and　finally；　raising　his　tall　person　erect；　stood　staring　　round　him　to　all　the　four　quarters　of　the　horizon。　　Delorier's　fire　　was　soon　blazing；　and　the　horses　and　mules；　loosened　from　their　　pickets；　were　feeding　in　the　neighboring　meadow。　　When　we　sat　down　to　　breakfast　the　prairie　was　still　in　the　dusky　light　of　morning；　and　as　　the　sun　rose　we　were　mounted　and　on　our　way　again。　〃A　white　buffalo！〃　exclaimed　Munroe。　〃I'll　have　that　fellow；〃　said　Shaw；　〃if　I　run　my　horse　to　death　after　　him。〃　He　threw　the　cover　of　his　gun　to　Delorier　and　galloped　out　upon　the　　prairie。　〃Stop；　Mr。　Shaw；　stop！〃　called　out　Henry　Chatillon；　〃you'll　run　down　　your　horse　for　nothing；　it's　only　a　white　ox。〃　But　Shaw　was　already　out　of　hearing。　　The　ox；　who　had　no　doubt　　strayed　away　from　some　of　the　government　wagon　trains；　was　standing　　beneath　some　low　hills　which　bounded　the　plain　in　the　distance。　　Not　　far　from　him　a　band　of　veritable　buffalo　bulls　were　grazing；　and　　startled　at　Shaw's　approach；　they　all　broke　into　a　run；　and　went　　scrambling　up　the　hillsides　to　gain　the　high　prairie　above。　　One　of　　them　in　his　haste　and　terror　involved　himself　in　a　fatal　catastrophe。　　　Along　the　foot　of　the　hills　was　a　narrow　strip　of　deep　marshy　soil；　　into　which　the　bull　plunged　and　hopelessly　entangled　himself。　　We　all　　rode　up　to　the　spot。　　The　huge　carcass　was　half　sunk　in　the　mud；　　which　flowed　to　his　very　chin；　and　his　shaggy　mane　was　outspread　upon　　the　surface。　　As　we　came　near　the　bull　began　to　struggle　with　　convulsive　strength；　he　writhed　to　and　fro；　and　in　the　energy　of　his　　fright　and　desperation　would　lift　himself　for　a　moment　half　out　of　　the　slough；　while　the　reluctant　mire　returned　a　sucking　sound　as　he　　strained　to　drag　his　limbs　from　its　tenacious　depths。　　We　stimulated　　his　exertions　by　getting　behind　him　and　twisting　his　tail；　nothing　　would　do。　　There　was　clearly　no　hope　for　him。　　After　every　effort　his　　heaving　sides　were　more　deeply　imbedded　and　the　mire　almost　　overflowed　his　nostrils；　he　lay　still　at　length；　and　looking　round　at　　us　with　a　furious　eye；　seemed　to　resign　himself　to　his　fate。　　Ellis　　slowly　dismounted；　and　deliberately　leveling　his　boasted　yager；　shot　　the　old　bull　through　the　heart；　then　he　lazily　climbed　back　again　to　　his　seat；　pluming　himself　no　doubt　on　having　actually　killed　a　　buffalo。　　That　day　the　invincible　yager　drew　blood　for　the　first　and　　last　time　during　the　whole　journey。　The　morning　was　a　bright　and　gay　one；　and　the　air　so　clear　that　on　　the　farthest　horizon　the　outline　of　the　pale　blue　prairie　was　sharply　　drawn　against　the　sky。　　Shaw　felt　in　the　mood　for　hunting；　he　rode　in　　advance　of　the　party；　and　before　long　we　saw　a　file　of　bulls　　galloping　at　full　speed　upon　a　vast　green　swell　of　the　prairie　at　　some　distance　in　front。　　Shaw　came　scouring　along　behind　them；　　arrayed　in　his　red　shirt；　which　looked　very　well　in　the　distance；　he　　gained　fast　on　the　fugitives；　and　as　the　foremost　bull　was　　disappearing　behind　the　summit　of　the　swell；　we　saw　him　in　the　act　of　　assailing　the　hindmost；　a　smoke　sprang　from　the　muzzle　of　his　gun；　　and　floated　away　before　the　wind　like　a　little　white　cloud；　the　bull　　turned　upon　him；　and　just　then　the　rising　ground　concealed　them　both　　from　view。　We　were　moving　forward　until　about　noon；　when　we　stopped　by　the　side　　of　the　Arkansas。　　At　that　moment　Shaw　appeared　riding　slowly　down　the　　side　of　a　distant　hill；　his　horse　was　tired　and　jaded；　and　when　he　　threw　his　saddle　upon　the　ground；　I　observed　that　the　tails　of　two　　bulls　were　dangling　behind　it。　　No　sooner　were　the　horses　turned　　loose　to　feed　than　Henry；　asking　Munroe　to　go　with　him；　took　his　　rifle　and　walked　quietly　away。　　Shaw；　Tete　Rouge；　and　I　sat　down　by　　the　side　of　the　cart　to　discuss　the　dinner　which　Delorier　placed　　before　us；　we　had　scarcely　finished　when　we　saw　Munroe　walking　toward　　us　along　the　river　bank。　　Henry；　he　said；　had　killed　four　fat　cows；　　and　had　sent　him　back　for　horses　to　bring　in　the　meat。　　Shaw　took　a　　horse　for　himself　and　another　for　Henry；　and　he　and　Munroe　left　the　　camp　together。　　After　a　short　absence　all　three　of　them　came　back；　　their　horses　loaded　with　the　choicest　parts　of　the　meat；　we　kept　two　　of　the　cows　for　ourselves　and　gave　the　others　to　Munroe　and　his　　companions。　　Delorier　seated　himself　on　the　grass　before　the　pile　of　　meat；　and　worked　industriously　for　some　time　to　cut　it　into　thin　　broad　sheets　for　drying。　　This　is　no　easy　matter；　but　Delorier　had　　all　the　skill　of　an　Indian　squaw。　　Long　before　night　cords　of　raw　　hide　were　stretched　around　the　camp；　and　the　meat　was　hung　upon　them　　to　dry　in　the　sunshine　and　pure　air　of　the　prairie。　　Our　California　　companions　were　less　successful　at　the　work；　but　they　accomplished　it　　after　their　own　fashion；　and　their　side　of　the　camp　was　soon　　garnished　in　the　same　manner　as　our　own。　We　meant　to　remain　at　this　place　long　enough　to　prepare　provisions　　for　our　journey　to　the　frontier；　which　as　we　supposed　might　occupy　　about　a　month。　　Had　the　distance　been　twice　as　great　and　the　party　　ten　times　as　large；　the　unerring　rifle　of　Henry　Chatillon　would　have　　supplied　meat　enough　for　the　whole　within　two　days；　we　were　obliged