the oregon trail-第67部分

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d；　saying　that　he　could　not　find　　him；　but　had　shot　a　buzzard　instead。　　Being　required　to　produce　the　　bird　in　proof　of　his　assertion　he　said　he　believed　he　was　not　quite　　dead；　but　he　must　be　hurt；　from　the　swiftness　with　which　he　flew　off。　〃If　you　want；〃　said　Tete　Rouge；　〃I'll　go　and　get　one　of　his　feathers；　　I　knocked　off　plenty　of　them　when　I　shot　him。〃　Just　opposite　our　camp　was　another　island　covered　with　bushes；　and　　behind　it　was　a　deep　pool　of　water；　while　two　or　three　considerable　　streams　course'd　over　the　sand　not　far　off。　　I　was　bathing　at　this　　place　in　the　afternoon　when　a　white　wolf；　larger　than　the　largest　　Newfoundland　dog；　ran　out　from　behind　the　point　of　the　island；　and　　galloped　leisurely　over　the　sand　not　half　a　stone's　throw　distant。　　I　　could　plainly　see　his　red　eyes　and　the　bristles　about　his　snout；　he　　was　an　ugly　scoundrel；　with　a　bushy　tail；　large　head；　and　a　most　　repulsive　countenance。　　Having　neither　rifle　to　shoot　nor　stone　to　　pelt　him　with；　I　was　looking　eagerly　after　some　missile　for　his　　benefit；　when　the　report　of　a　gun　came　from　the　camp；　and　the　ball　　threw　up　the　sand　just　beyond　him；　at　this　he　gave　a　slight　jump；　and　　stretched　away　so　swiftly　that　he　soon　dwindled　into　a　mere　speck　on　　the　distant　sand…beds。　　The　number　of　carcasses　that　by　this　time　　were　lying　about　the　prairie　all　around　us　summoned　the　wolves　from　　every　quarter；　the　spot　where　Shaw　and　Henry　had　hunted　together　soon　　became　their　favorite　resort；　for　here　about　a　dozen　dead　buffalo　　were　fermenting　under　the　hot　sun。　　I　used　often　to　go　over　the　river　　and　watch　them　at　their　meal；　by　lying　under　the　bank　it　was　easy　to　　get　a　full　view　of　them。　　Three　different　kinds　were　present；　there　　were　the　white　wolves　and　the　gray　wolves；　both　extremely　large；　and　　besides　these　the　small　prairie　wolves；　not　much　bigger　than　　spaniels。　　They　would　howl　and　fight　in　a　crowd　around　a　single　　carcass；　yet　they　were　so　watchful；　and　their　senses　so　acute；　that　I　　never　was　able　to　crawl　within　a　fair　shooting　distance；　whenever　I　　attempted　it；　they　would　all　scatter　at　once　and　glide　silently　away　　through　the　tall　grass。　　The　air　above　this　spot　was　always　full　of　　buzzards　or　black　vultures；　whenever　the　wolves　left　a　carcass　they　　would　descend　upon　it；　and　cover　it　so　densely　that　a　rifle…bullet　　shot　at　random　among　the　gormandizing　crowd　would　generally　strike　　down　two　or　three　of　them。　　These　birds　would　now　be　sailing　by　　scores　just　about　our　camp；　their　broad　black　wings　seeming　half　　transparent　as　they　expanded　them　against　the　bright　sky。　　The　wolves　　and　the　buzzards　thickened　about　us　with　every　hour；　and　two　or　three　　eagles　also　came　into　the　feast。　　I　killed　a　bull　within　rifle…shot　　of　the　camp；　that　night　the　wolves　made　a　fearful　howling　close　at　　hand；　and　in　the　morning　the　carcass　was　completely　hollowed　out　by　　these　voracious　feeders。　After　we　had　remained　four　days　at　this　camp　we　prepared　to　leave　it。　　　We　had　for　our　own　part　about　five　hundred　pounds　of　dried　meat；　and　　the　California　men　had　prepared　some　three　hundred　more；　this　　consisted　of　the　fattest　and　choicest　parts　of　eight　or　nine　cows；　a　　very　small　quantity　only　being　taken　from　each；　and　the　rest　　abandoned　to　the　wolves。　　The　pack　animals　were　laden；　the　horses　　were　saddled；　and　the　mules　harnessed　to　the　cart。　　Even　Tete　Rouge　　was　ready　at　last；　and　slowly　moving　from　the　ground；　we　resumed　our　　journey　eastward。　　When　we　had　advanced　about　a　mile；　Shaw　missed　a　　valuable　hunting　knife　and　turned　back　in　search　of　it；　thinking　that　　he　had　left　it　at　the　camp。　　He　approached　the　place　cautiously；　　fearful　that　Indians　might　be　lurking　about；　for　a　deserted　camp　is　　dangerous　to　return　to。　　He　saw　no　enemy；　but　the　scene　was　a　wild　　and　dreary　one；　the　prairie　was　overshadowed　by　dull；　leaden　clouds；　　for　the　day　was　dark　and　gloomy。　　The　ashes　of　the　fires　were　still　　smoking　by　the　river　side；　the　grass　around　them　was　trampled　down　by　　men　and　horses；　and　strewn　with　all　the　litter　of　a　camp。　　Our　　departure　had　been　a　gathering　signal　to　the　birds　and　beasts　of　　prey；　Shaw　assured　me　that　literally　dozens　of　wolves　were　prowling　　about　the　smoldering　fires；　while　multitudes　were　roaming　over　the　　prairie　around；　they　all　fled　as　he　approached；　some　running　over　the　　sand…beds　and　some　over　the　grassy　plains。　　The　vultures　in　great　　clouds　were　soaring　overhead；　and　the　dead　bull　near　the　camp　was　　completely　blackened　by　the　flock　that　had　alighted　upon　it；　they　　flapped　their　broad　wings；　and　stretched　upward　their　crested　heads　　and　long　skinny　necks；　fearing　to　remain；　yet　reluctant　to　leave　　their　disgusting　feast。　　As　he　searched　about　the　fires　he　saw　the　　wolves　seated　on　the　distant　hills　waiting　for　his　departure。　　Having　　looked　in　vain　for　his　knife；　he　mounted　again；　and　left　the　wolves　　and　the　vultures　to　banquet　freely　upon　the　carrion　of　the　camp。

CHAPTER　XXVI　DOWN　THE　ARKANSAS

In　the　summer　of　1846　the　wild　and　lonely　banks　of　the　Upper　Arkansas　　beheld　for　the　first　time　the　passage　of　an　army。　　General　Kearny；　on　　his　march　to　Santa　Fe；　adopted　this　route　in　preference　to　the　old　　trail　of　the　Cimarron。　　When　we　came　down　the　main　body　of　the　troops　　had　already　passed　on；　Price's　Missouri　regiment；　however；　was　still　　on　the　way；　having　left　the　frontier　much　later　than　the　rest；　and　　about　this　time　we　began　to　meet　them　moving　along　the　trail；　one　or　　two　companies　at　a　time。　　No　men　ever　embarked　upon　a　military　　expedition　with　a　greater　love　for　the　work　before　them　than　the　　Missourians；　but　if　discipline　and　subordination　be　the　criterion　of　　merit；　these　soldiers　were　worthless　indeed。　　Yet　when　their　exploits　　have　rung　through　all　America；　it　would　be　absurd　to　deny　that　they　　were　excellent　irregular　troops。　　Their　victories　were　gained　in　the　　teeth　of　every　established　precedent　of　warfare；　they　were　owing　to　a　　singular　combination　of　military　qualities　in　the　men　themselves。　　　Without　discipline　or　a　spirit　of　subordination；　they　knew　how　to　　keep　their　ranks　and　act　as　one　man。　　Doniphan's　regiment　marched　　through　New　Mexico　more　like　a　band　of　free　companions　than　like　the　　paid　soldiers　of　a　modern　government。　　When　General　Taylor　　complimented　Doniphan　on　his　success　at　Sacramento　and　elsewhere；　the　　colonel's　reply　very　well　illustrates　the　relations　which　subsisted　　between　the　officers　and　men　of　his　command：　〃I　don't　know　anything　of　the　maneuvers。　　The　boys　kept　coming　to　me；　　to　let　them　charge；　and　when　I　saw　a　good　opportunity；　I　told　them　　they　might　go。　　They　were　off　like　a　shot；　and　that's　all　I　know　　about　it。〃　The　backwoods　lawyer　was　better　fitted　to　conciliate　the　good…will　　than　to　command　the　obedience　of　his　men。　　There　were　many　serving　　under　him；　who　both　from　character　and　education　could　better　have　　held　command　than　he。　At　the　battle　of　Sacramento　his　frontiersmen　fought　under　every　　possible　disadvantage。　　The　Mexicans　had　chosen　their　own　position；　　they　were　drawn　up　across　the　valley　that　led　to　their　native　city　of　　Chihuahua；　their　whole　front　was　covered　by　intrenchments　and　　defended　by　batteries　of　heavy　cannon；　they　outnumbered　the　invaders　　five　to　one。　　An　eagle　flew　over　the　Americans；　and　a　deep　murmur　　rose　along　their　lines。　　The　enemy's　batteries　opened；　long　they　　remained　under　fire；　but　when　at　length　the　word　was　given；　they　　shouted　and　ran　forward。　　In　one　of　the　divisions；　when　midway　to　the　　enemy；　a　drunken　officer　ordered　a　halt；　the　exasperated　men　　hesitated　to　obey。　〃Forward；　boys！〃　cried　a　private　from　the　ranks；　and　the　Americans；　　rushing　like　tigers　upon　the　enemy；　bounded　over　the　breastwork。　　　Four　hundred　Mexicans　were　slain　upon　the　spot　and　the　rest　fled；　　scattering　over　the　plain　like　sheep。　　The　standards；　cannon；　and　　baggage　were　taken；　and　among　the　rest　a　wagon　laden　with　cords；　　which　the　Mexicans；　in　the　fullness　of　their　confidence；　had　made　　ready　for　tying　the　American　prisoners。　Doniphan's　volunteers；　who　gained　this　victory；　passed　up　with　the　　main　army；　but　Price's　soldiers；　whom　we　now　met；　were　men　from　the　　same　neighborhood；　precisely　similar　in　character；　manner；　and　　appearance。　　One　forenoon；　as　we　were　descending　upon　a　very　wide　　meadow；　where　we　meant　to　rest　for　an　hour　or　two；　we　saw　a　dark　body　　of　horsemen　approaching　at　a　distance。　　In　order　to　find　water；　we　　were　obliged　to　turn　aside　to　the　river　bank；　a　full　half　mile　from　　the　trail。　　Here　we　put　up　a　kind　of　awning；　and　spreading　buffalo　　robes　on　the　ground；　Shaw　and　I　sat　down　to　smoke　beneath　it。　〃We　are　going　to　catch　it　now；〃　said　Shaw；　〃look　at　those　fellows；　　there'll　be　no　peace　for　us　here。〃　And　in　good　truth　about　half　the　volunteers　had　straggled　away　from　　the　line　of　march；　and　were　riding　over　the　meadow　toward　us。　〃How　are　you？〃　said　the　first　who　came　up；　alighting　from　his　horse　　and　throwing　himself　upon　the　ground。　　The　rest　followed　close；　and　a　　score　of　them　soon　gathered　about　us；　some　lying　at　full　length　and　　some　sitting　on　horseback。　　They　all　belonged　to　a　company　raised　in　　St。　Louis。　　There　were　some　ruffian　faces　among　them；　and　some　　haggard　with　debauchery；　but　on　the　whole　they　were　extremely　good…　looking　men；　superior　beyond　measure　to　the　ordinary　rank　and　file　of　　an　army。　　Except　that　they　were　booted　to　the　knees；　they　wore　their　　belts　and　military　trappings　over　the　ordinary　dress　of　citizens。　　　Besides　their　swords　and　holster　pistols；　they　carried　slung　from　　their　saddles　the　excellent　Springfield　carbines；　loaded　at　the　　breech。　　They　inquired　the　character　of　our　party；　and　were　anxious　　to　know　the　prospect　of　killing　buffalo；　and　the　chance　that　their　　horses　would　stand　the　journey　to　Santa　Fe。　　All　this　was　well　　enough；　but　a　moment　after　a　worse　visitation　came　upon　us。　〃How　are　you；　strangers？　whar　are　you　going　and　whar　are　you　from？〃　　said　a　fellow；　who　came　trotting　up　with　an　old　straw　hat　on　his　　head。　　He　was　dressed　in　the　coarsest　brown　homespun　cloth。　　His　face　　was　rather　sallow　from　fever…and…ague；　and　his　tall　figure；　though　　strong　and　sinewy　was　quite　thin；　and　had　besides　an　angular　look；　　which；　together　with　his　boorish　seat　on　horseback；　gave　him　an　　appearance　anything　bu