the oregon trail-第10部分

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ing　to　no　particular　nation　　or　clime。　　He　was　possessed　with　an　active　devil　that　had　driven　him　　over　land　and　sea；　to　no　great　purpose；　as　it　seemed；　for　although　he　　had　the　usual　complement　of　eyes　and　ears；　the　avenues　between　these　　organs　and　his　brain　appeared　remarkably　narrow　and　untrodden。　　His　　energy　was　much　more　conspicuous　than　his　wisdom；　but　his　predominant　　characteristic　was　a　magnanimous　ambition　to　exercise　on　all　　occasions　an　awful　rule　and　supremacy；　and　this　propensity　equally　　displayed　itself；　as　the　reader　will　have　observed；　whether　the　　matter　in　question　was　the　baking　of　a　hoe…cake　or　a　point　of　　international　law。　　When　such　diverse　elements　as　he　and　the　easy…　tempered　captain　came　in　contact；　no　wonder　some　commotion　ensued；　R。　　rode　roughshod；　from　morning　till　night；　over　his　military　ally。　At　noon　the　sky　was　clear　and　we　set　out；　trailing　through　mud　and　　slime　six　inches　deep。　　That　night　we　were　spared　the　customary　　infliction　of　the　shower　bath。　On　the　next　afternoon　we　were　moving　slowly　along；　not　far　from　a　　patch　of　woods　which　lay　on　the　right。　　Jack　C。　rode　a　little　in　　advance；

　　　　　The　livelong　day　he　had　not　spoke；

when　suddenly　he　faced　about；　pointed　to　the　woods；　and　roared　out　to　　his　brother：　〃O　Bill！　here's　a　cow！〃　The　captain　instantly　galloped　forward；　and　he　and　Jack　made　a　vain　　attempt　to　capture　the　prize；　but　the　cow；　with　a　well…grounded　　distrust　of　their　intentions；　took　refuge　among　the　trees。　　R。　joined　　them；　and　they　soon　drove　her　out。　　We　watched　their　evolutions　as　　they　galloped　around　here；　trying　in　vain　to　noose　her　with　their　　trail…ropes；　which　they　had　converted　into　lariettes　for　the　　occasion。　　At　length　they　resorted　to　milder　measures；　and　the　cow　　was　driven　along　with　the　party。　　Soon　after　the　usual　thunderstorm　　came　up；　the　wind　blowing　with　such　fury　that　the　streams　of　rain　　flew　almost　horizontally　along　the　prairie；　roaring　like　a　cataract。　　　The　horses　turned　tail　to　the　storm；　and　stood　hanging　their　heads；　　bearing　the　infliction　with　an　air　of　meekness　and　resignation；　while　　we　drew　our　heads　between　our　shoulders；　and　crouched　forward；　so　as　　to　make　our　backs　serve　as　a　pent…house　for　the　rest　of　our　persons。　　　Meanwhile　the　cow；　taking　advantage　of　the　tumult；　ran　off；　to　the　　great　discomfiture　of　the　captain；　who　seemed　to　consider　her　as　his　　own　especial　prize；　since　she　had　been　discovered　by　Jack。　　In　　defiance　of　the　storm；　he　pulled　his　cap　tight　over　his　brows；　jerked　　a　huge　buffalo　pistol　from　his　holster；　and　set　out　at　full　speed　　after　her。　　This　was　the　last　we　saw　of　them　for　some　time；　the　mist　　and　rain　making　an　impenetrable　veil；　but　at　length　we　heard　the　　captain's　shout；　and　saw　him　looming　through　the　tempest；　the　picture　　of　a　Hibernian　cavalier；　with　his　cocked　pistol　held　aloft　for　　safety's　sake；　and　a　countenance　of　anxiety　and　excitement。　　The　cow　　trotted　before　him；　but　exhibited　evident　signs　of　an　intention　to　　run　off　again；　and　the　captain　was　roaring　to　us　to　head　her。　　But　　the　rain　had　got　in　behind　our　coat　collars；　and　was　traveling　over　　our　necks　in　numerous　little　streamlets；　and　being　afraid　to　move　our　　heads；　for　fear　of　admitting　more；　we　sat　stiff　and　immovable；　　looking　at　the　captain　askance；　and　laughing　at　his　frantic　　movements。　　At　last　the　cow　made　a　sudden　plunge　and　ran　off；　the　　captain　grasped　his　pistol　firmly；　spurred　his　horse；　and　galloped　　after；　with　evident　designs　of　mischief。　　In　a　moment　we　heard　the　　faint　report；　deadened　by　the　rain；　and　then　the　conqueror　and　his　　victim　reappeared；　the　latter　shot　through　the　body；　and　quite　　helpless。　　Not　long　after　the　storm　moderated　and　we　advanced　again。　　　The　cow　walked　painfully　along　under　the　charge　of　Jack；　to　whom　the　　captain　had　committed　her；　while　he　himself　rode　forward　in　his　old　　capacity　of　vedette。　　We　were　approaching　a　long　line　of　trees；　that　　followed　a　stream　stretching　across　our　path；　far　in　front；　when　we　　beheld　the　vedette　galloping　toward　us；　apparently　much　excited；　but　　with　a　broad　grin　on　his　face。　〃Let　that　cow　drop　behind！〃　he　shouted　to　us；　〃here's　her　owners！〃　　　And　in　fact；　as　we　approached　the　line　of　trees；　a　large　white　　object；　like　a　tent；　was　visible　behind　them。　　On　approaching；　　however；　we　found；　instead　of　the　expected　Mormon　camp；　nothing　but　　the　lonely　prairie；　and　a　large　white　rock　standing　by　the　path。　　The　　cow　therefore　resumed　her　place　in　our　procession。　　She　walked　on　　until　we　encamped；　when　R。　firmly　approaching　with　his　enormous　　English　double…barreled　rifle；　calmly　and　deliberately　took　aim　at　　her　heart；　and　discharged　into　it　first　one　bullet　and　then　the　　other。　　She　was　then　butchered　on　the　most　approved　principles　of　　woodcraft；　and　furnished　a　very　welcome　item　to　our　somewhat　limited　　bill　of　fare。　In　a　day　or　two　more　we　reached　the　river　called　the　〃Big　Blue。〃　　By　　titles　equally　elegant；　almost　all　the　streams　of　this　region　are　　designated。　　We　had　struggled　through　ditches　and　little　brooks　all　　that　morning；　but　on　traversing　the　dense　woods　that　lined　the　banks　　of　the　Blue；　we　found　more　formidable　difficulties　awaited　us；　for　　the　stream；　swollen　by　the　rains；　was　wide；　deep；　and　rapid。　No　sooner　were　we　on　the　spot　than　R。　had　flung　off　his　clothes；　and　　was　swimming　across；　or　splashing　through　the　shallows；　with　the　end　　of　a　rope　between　his　teeth。　　We　all　looked　on　in　admiration；　　wondering　what　might　be　the　design　of　this　energetic　preparation；　but　　soon　we　heard　him　shouting：　〃Give　that　rope　a　turn　round　that　stump！　　　You；　Sorel：　do　you　hear？　　Look　sharp　now；　Boisverd！　　Come　over　to　　this　side；　some　of　you；　and　help　me！〃　　The　men　to　whom　these　orders　　were　directed　paid　not　the　least　attention　to　them；　though　they　were　　poured　out　without　pause　or　intermission。　　Henry　Chatillon　directed　　the　work；　and　it　proceeded　quietly　and　rapidly。　　R。's　sharp　brattling　　voice　might　have　been　heard　incessantly；　and　he　was　leaping　about　　with　the　utmost　activity；　multiplying　himself；　after　the　manner　of　　great　commanders；　as　if　his　universal　presence　and　supervision　were　　of　the　last　necessity。　　His　commands　were　rather　amusingly　　inconsistent；　for　when　he　saw　that　the　men　would　not　do　as　he　told　　them；　he　wisely　accommodated　himself　to　circumstances；　and　with　the　　utmost　vehemence　ordered　them　to　do　precisely　that　which　they　were　at　　the　time　engaged　upon；　no　doubt　recollecting　the　story　of　Mahomet　and　　the　refractory　mountain。　　Shaw　smiled　significantly；　R。　observed　it；　　and；　approaching　with　a　countenance　of　lofty　indignation；　began　to　　vapor　a　little；　but　was　instantly　reduced　to　silence。　The　raft　was　at　length　complete。　　We　piled　our　goods　upon　it；　with　　the　exception　of　our　guns；　which　each　man　chose　to　retain　in　his　own　　keeping。　　Sorel；　Boisverd；　Wright　and　Delorier　took　their　stations　at　　the　four　corners；　to　hold　it　together；　and　swim　across　with　it；　and　　in　a　moment　more；　all　our　earthly　possessions　were　floating　on　the　　turbid　waters　of　the　Big　Blue。　　We　sat　on　the　bank；　anxiously　　watching　the　result；　until　we　saw　the　raft　safe　landed　in　a　little　　cove　far　down　on　the　opposite　bank。　　The　empty　wagons　were　easily　　passed　across；　and　then　each　man　mounting　a　horse；　we　rode　through　　the　stream；　the　stray　animals　following　of　their　own　accord。

CHAPTER　VI　THE　PLATTE　AND　THE　DESERT

We　were　now　arrived　at　the　close　of　our　solitary　journeyings　along　　the　St。　Joseph's　trail。　　On　the　evening　of　the　23d　of　May　we　encamped　　near　its　junction　with　the　old　legitimate　trail　of　the　Oregon　　emigrants。　　We　had　ridden　long　that　afternoon；　trying　in　vain　to　find　　wood　and　water；　until　at　length　we　saw　the　sunset　sky　reflected　from　　a　pool　encircled　by　bushes　and　a　rock　or　two。　　The　water　lay　in　the　　bottom　of　a　hollow；　the　smooth　prairie　gracefully　rising　in　oceanlike　　swells　on　every　side。　　We　pitched　our　tents　by　it；　not　however　before　　the　keen　eye　of　Henry　Chatillon　had　discerned　some　unusual　object　　upon　the　faintly…defined　outline　of　the　distant　swell。　　But　in　the　　moist；　hazy　atmosphere　of　the　evening；　nothing　could　be　clearly　　distinguished。　　As　we　lay　around　the　fire　after　supper；　a　low　and　　distant　sound；　strange　enough　amid　the　loneliness　of　the　prairie；　　reached　our　earspeals　of　laughter；　and　the　faint　voices　of　men　and　　women。　　For　eight　days　we　had　not　encountered　a　human　being；　and　this　　singular　warning　of　their　vicinity　had　an　effect　extremely　wild　and　　impressive。　About　dark　a　sallow…faced　fellow　descended　the　hill　on　horseback；　and　　splashing　through　the　pool　rode　up　to　the　tents。　　He　was　enveloped　in　　a　huge　cloak；　and　his　broad　felt　hat　was　weeping　about　his　ears　with　　the　drizzling　moisture　of　the　evening。　　Another　followed；　a　stout；　　square…built；　intelligent…looking　man；　who　announced　himself　as　　leader　of　an　emigrant　party　encamped　a　mile　in　advance　of　us。　　About　　twenty　wagons；　he　said；　were　with　him；　the　rest　of　his　party　were　on　　the　other　side　of　the　Big　Blue；　waiting　for　a　woman　who　was　in　the　　pains　of　child…birth；　and　quarreling　meanwhile　among　themselves。　These　were　the　first　emigrants　that　we　had　overtaken；　although　we　had　　found　abundant　and　melancholy　traces　of　their　progress　throughout　the　　whole　course　of　the　journey。　　Sometimes　we　passed　the　grave　of　one　　who　had　sickened　and　died　on　the　way。　　The　earth　was　usually　torn　up；　　and　covered　thickly　with　wolf…tracks。　　Some　had　escaped　this　　violation。　　One　morning　a　piece　of　plank；　standing　upright　on　the　　summit　of　a　grassy　hill；　attracted　our　notice；　and　riding　up　to　it　we　　found　the　following　words　very　roughly　traced　upon　it；　apparently　by　　a　red…hot　piece　of　iron：

　　　　　　　　　MARY　ELLIS　　　　　　DIED　MAY　7TH；　1845。　　　　　　　　Aged　two　months。

Such　tokens　were　of　common　occurrence；　nothing　could　speak　more　for　　the　hardihood；　or　rather　infatuation；　of　the　adventurers；　or　the　　sufferings　that　await　them　upon　the　journey。　We　were　late　in　breaking　up　our　camp　on　the　following　morning；　and　　scarcely　had　we　ridden　a　mile　when　we　saw；　far　in　advance　of　us；　　drawn　against　the　horizon；　a　line　of　objects　stretching　at　regular　　intervals　along　the　level　edge　of　the　prairie。　　An　intervening　swell　　soon　hid　them　from　sight；　until；　ascending　it　a　quarter　of　an　hour　　after；　we　saw　clo