the oregon trail-第8部分

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rods　farther　on；　we　emerged　upon　a　little　　level　grassy　nook　among　the　brushwood；　and　by　an　extraordinary　　dispensation　of　fortune；　the　weeds　and　floating　sticks；　which　　elsewhere　covered　the　pool；　seemed　to　have　drawn　apart；　and　left　a　　few　yards　of　clear　water　just　in　front　of　this　favored　spot。　　We　　sounded　it　with　a　stick；　it　was　four　feet　deep；　we　lifted　a　specimen　　in　our　cupped　hands；　it　seemed　reasonably　transparent；　so　we　decided　　that　the　time　for　action　was　arrived。　　But　our　ablutions　were　　suddenly　interrupted　by　ten　thousand　punctures；　like　poisoned　　needles；　and　the　humming　of　myriads　of　over…grown　mosquitoes；　rising　　in　all　directions　from　their　native　mud　and　slime　and　swarming　to　the　　feast。　　We　were　fain　to　beat　a　retreat　with　all　possible　speed。　We　made　toward　the　tents；　much　refreshed　by　the　bath　which　the　heat　　of　the　weather；　joined　to　our　prejudices；　had　rendered　very　　desirable。　〃What's　the　matter　with　the　captain？　look　at　him！〃　said　Shaw。　　The　　captain　stood　alone　on　the　prairie；　swinging　his　hat　violently　around　　his　head；　and　lifting　first　one　foot　and　then　the　other；　without　　moving　from　the　spot。　　First　he　looked　down　to　the　ground　with　an　air　　of　supreme　abhorrence；　then　he　gazed　upward　with　a　perplexed　and　　indignant　countenance；　as　if　trying　to　trace　the　flight　of　an　unseen　　enemy。　　We　called　to　know　what　was　the　matter；　but　he　replied　only　by　　execrations　directed　against　some　unknown　object。　　We　approached；　　when　our　ears　were　saluted　by　a　droning　sound；　as　if　twenty　bee…hives　　had　been　overturned　at　once。　　The　air　above　was　full　of　large　black　　insects；　in　a　state　of　great　commotion；　and　multitudes　were　flying　　about　just　above　the　tops　of　the　grass　blades。　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　called　the　captain；　observing　us　recoil。　　〃The　　brutes　won't　sting。〃　At　this　I　knocked　one　down　with　my　hat；　and　discovered　him　to　be　no　　other　than　a　〃dorbug〃；　and　looking　closer；　we　found　the　ground　　thickly　perforated　with　their　holes。　We　took　a　hasty　leave　of　this　flourishing　colony；　and　walking　up　the　　rising　ground　to　the　tents；　found　Delorier's　fire　still　glowing　　brightly。　　We　sat　down　around　it；　and　Shaw　began　to　expatiate　on　the　　admirable　facilities　for　bathing　that　we　had　discovered；　and　　recommended　the　captain　by　all　means　to　go　down　there　before　　breakfast　in　the　morning。　　The　captain　was　in　the　act　of　remarking　　that　he　couldn't　have　believed　it　possible；　when　he　suddenly　　interrupted　himself；　and　clapped　his　hand　to　his　cheek；　exclaiming　　that　〃those　infernal　humbugs　were　at　him　again。〃　　In　fact；　we　began　　to　hear　sounds　as　if　bullets　were　humming　over　our　heads。　　In　a　　moment　something　rapped　me　sharply　on　the　forehead；　then　upon　the　　neck；　and　immediately　I　felt　an　indefinite　number　of　sharp　wiry　claws　　in　active　motion；　as　if　their　owner　were　bent　on　pushing　his　　explorations　farther。　　I　seized　him；　and　dropped　him　into　the　fire。　　　Our　party　speedily　broke　up；　and　we　adjourned　to　our　respective　　tents；　where；　closing　the　opening　fast；　we　hoped　to　be　exempt　from　　invasion。　　But　all　precaution　was　fruitless。　　The　dorbugs　hummed　　through　the　tent；　and　marched　over　our　faces　until　day…light；　when；　　opening　our　blankets；　we　found　several　dozen　clinging　there　with　the　　utmost　tenacity。　　The　first　object　that　met　our　eyes　in　the　morning　　was　Delorier；　who　seemed　to　be　apostrophizing　his　frying…pan；　which　　he　held　by　the　handle　at　arm's　length。　　It　appeared　that　he　had　left　　it　at　night　by　the　fire；　and　the　bottom　was　now　covered　with　dorbugs；　　firmly　imbedded。　　Multitudes　beside；　curiously　parched　and　shriveled；　　lay　scattered　among　the　ashes。　The　horses　and　mules　were　turned　loose　to　feed。　　We　had　just　taken　　our　seats　at　breakfast；　or　rather　reclined　in　the　classic　mode；　when　　an　exclamation　from　Henry　Chatillon；　and　a　shout　of　alarm　from　the　　captain；　gave　warning　of　some　casualty；　and　looking　up；　we　saw　the　　whole　band　of　animals；　twenty…three　in　number；　filing　off　for　the　　settlements；　the　incorrigible　Pontiac　at　their　head；　jumping　along　　with　hobbled　feet；　at　a　gait　much　more　rapid　than　graceful。　　Three　or　　four　of　us　ran　to　cut　them　off；　dashing　as　best　we　might　through　the　　tall　grass；　which　was　glittering　with　myriads　of　dewdrops。　　After　a　　race　of　a　mile　or　more；　Shaw　caught　a　horse。　　Tying　the　trail…rope　by　　way　of　bridle　round　the　animal's　jaw；　and　leaping　upon　his　back；　he　　got　in　advance　of　the　remaining　fugitives；　while　we；　soon　bringing　　them　together；　drove　them　in　a　crowd　up　to　the　tents；　where　each　man　　caught　and　saddled　his　own。　　Then　we　heard　lamentations　and　curses；　　for　half　the　horses　had　broke　their　hobbles；　and　many　were　seriously　　galled　by　attempting　to　run　in　fetters。　It　was　late　that　morning　before　we　were　on　the　march；　and　early　in　　the　afternoon　we　were　compelled　to　encamp；　for　a　thunder…gust　came　up　　and　suddenly　enveloped　us　in　whirling　sheets　of　rain。　　With　much　ado；　　we　pitched　our　tents　amid　the　tempest；　and　all　night　long　the　thunder　　bellowed　and　growled　over　our　heads。　　In　the　morning；　light　peaceful　　showers　succeeded　the　cataracts　of　rain；　that　had　been　drenching　us　　through　the　canvas　of　our　tents。　　About　noon；　when　there　were　some　　treacherous　indications　of　fair　weather；　we　got　in　motion　again。　Not　a　breath　of　air　stirred　over　the　free　and　open　prairie；　the　　clouds　were　like　light　piles　of　cotton；　and　where　the　blue　sky　was　　visible；　it　wore　a　hazy　and　languid　aspect。　　The　sun　beat　down　upon　　us　with　a　sultry　penetrating　heat　almost　insupportable；　and　as　our　　party　crept　slowly　along　over　the　interminable　level；　the　horses　hung　　their　heads　as　they　waded　fetlock　deep　through　the　mud；　and　the　men　　slouched　into　the　easiest　position　upon　the　saddle。　　At　last；　toward　　evening；　the　old　familiar　black　heads　of　thunderclouds　rose　fast　　above　the　horizon；　and　the　same　deep　muttering　of　distant　thunder　　that　had　become　the　ordinary　accompaniment　of　our　afternoon's　journey　　began　to　roll　hoarsely　over　the　prairie。　　Only　a　few　minutes　elapsed　　before　the　whole　sky　was　densely　shrouded；　and　the　prairie　and　some　　clusters　of　woods　in　front　assumed　a　purple　hue　beneath　the　inky　　shadows。　　Suddenly　from　the　densest　fold　of　the　cloud　the　flash　　leaped　out；　quivering　again　and　again　down　to　the　edge　of　the　　prairie；　and　at　the　same　instant　came　the　sharp　burst　and　the　long　　rolling　peal　of　the　thunder。　　A　cool　wind；　filled　with　the　smell　of　　rain；　just　then　overtook　us；　leveling　the　tall　grass　by　the　side　of　　the　path。　〃Come　on；　we　must　ride　for　it！〃　shouted　Shaw；　rushing　past　at　full　　speed；　his　led　horse　snorting　at　his　side。　　The　whole　party　broke　　into　full　gallop；　and　made　for　the　trees　in　front。　　Passing　these；　we　　found　beyond　them　a　meadow　which　they　half　inclosed。　　We　rode　pell…　mell　upon　the　ground；　leaped　from　horseback；　tore　off　our　saddles；　　and　in　a　moment　each　man　was　kneeling　at　his　horse's　feet。　　The　　hobbles　were　adjusted；　and　the　animals　turned　loose；　then；　as　the　　wagons　came　wheeling　rapidly　to　the　spot；　we　seized　upon　the　tent…　poles；　and　just　as　the　storm　broke；　we　were　prepared　to　receive　it。　　　It　came　upon　us　almost　with　the　darkness　of　night；　the　trees；　which　　were　close　at　hand；　were　completely　shrouded　by　the　roaring　torrents　　of　rain。　We　were　sitting　in　the　tent；　when　Delorier；　with　his　broad　felt　hat　　hanging　about　his　ears；　and　his　shoulders　glistening　with　rain；　　thrust　in　his　head。　〃Voulez…vous　du　souper；　tout　de　suite？　　I　can　make　a　fire；　sous　la　　charetteI　b'lieve　soI　try。〃　〃Never　mind　supper；　man；　come　in　out　of　the　rain。〃　Delorier　accordingly　crouched　in　the　entrance；　for　modesty　would　not　　permit　him　to　intrude　farther。　Our　tent　was　none　of　the　best　defense　against　such　a　cataract。　　The　　rain　could　not　enter　bodily；　but　it　beat　through　the　canvas　in　a　fine　　drizzle；　that　wetted　us　just　as　effectively。　　We　sat　upon　our　saddles　　with　faces　of　the　utmost　surliness；　while　the　water　dropped　from　the　　vizors　of　our　caps；　and　trickled　down　our　cheeks。　　My　india…rubber　　cloak　conducted　twenty　little　rapid　streamlets　to　the　ground；　and　　Shaw's　blanket…coat　was　saturated　like　a　sponge。　　But　what　most　　concerned　us　was　the　sight　of　several　puddles　of　water　rapidly　　accumulating；　one　in　particular；　that　was　gathering　around　the　tent…　pole；　threatened　to　overspread　the　whole　area　within　the　tent；　　holding　forth　but　an　indifferent　promise　of　a　comfortable　night's　　rest。　　Toward　sunset；　however；　the　storm　ceased　as　suddenly　as　it　　began。　　A　bright　streak　of　clear　red　sky　appeared　above　the　western　　verge　of　the　prairie；　the　horizontal　rays　of　the　sinking　sun　streamed　　through　it　and　glittered　in　a　thousand　prismatic　colors　upon　the　　dripping　groves　and　the　prostrate　grass。　　The　pools　in　the　tent　　dwindled　and　sunk　into　the　saturated　soil。　But　all　our　hopes　were　delusive。　　Scarcely　had　night　set　in；　when　the　　tumult　broke　forth　anew。　　The　thunder　here　is　not　like　the　tame　　thunder　of　the　Atlantic　coast。　　Bursting　with　a　terrific　crash　　directly　above　our　heads；　it　roared　over　the　boundless　waste　of　　prairie；　seeming　to　roll　around　the　whole　circle　of　the　firmament　　with　a　peculiar　and　awful　reverberation。　　The　lightning　flashed　all　　night；　playing　with　its　livid　glare　upon　the　neighboring　trees；　　revealing　the　vast　expanse　of　the　plain；　and　then　leaving　us　shut　in　　as　by　a　palpable　wall　of　darkness。　It　did　not　disturb　us　much。　　Now　and　then　a　peal　awakened　us；　and　　made　us　conscious　of　the　electric　battle　that　was　raging；　and　of　the　　floods　that　dashed　upon　the　stanch　canvas　over　our　heads。　　We　lay　　upon　india…rubber　cloths；　placed　between　our　blankets　and　the　soil。　　　For　a　while　they　excluded　the　water　to　admiration；　but　when　at　length　　it　accumulated　and　began　to　run　over　the　edges；　they　served　equally　　well　to　retain　it；　so　that　toward　the　end　of　the　night　we　were　　unconsciously　reposing　in　small　pools　of　rain。　On　finally　awaking　in　the　morning　the　prospect　was　not　a　cheerful　　one。　　The　rain　no　longer　poured　in　torrents；　but　it　pattered　with　a　　quiet　pertinacity　upon　the　strained　and　saturated　canvas。　　We　　disengaged　ourselves　from　our　blankets；　every　fiber　of　which　　glistened　with　little　beadlike　drops　of　water；　and　looked　out　in　vain　　hope　of　discovering　some　token　of　fair　weather。　　The　clouds；　in　lead…　colored　volumes；　rested　upon　the　dismal　verge　of　the　prairie；　or