the oregon trail-第13部分

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al　arrows；　while　his　companion　　galloped　away　and　brought　in　the　news　to　his　party。　　The　panic…　stricken　emigrants　remained　for　several　days　in　camp；　not　daring　even　　to　send　out　in　quest　of　the　dead　body。　The　reader　will　recollect　Turner；　the　man　whose　narrow　escape　was　　mentioned　not　long　since。　　We　heard　that　the　men；　whom　the　entreaties　　of　his　wife　induced　to　go　in　search　of　him；　found　him　leisurely　　driving　along　his　recovered　oxen；　and　whistling　in　utter　contempt　of　　the　Pawnee　nation。　　His　party　was　encamped　within　two　miles　of　us；　　but　we　passed　them　that　morning；　while　the　men　were　driving　in　the　　oxen；　and　the　women　packing　their　domestic　utensils　and　their　　numerous　offspring　in　the　spacious　patriarchal　wagons。　　As　we　looked　　back　we　saw　their　caravan　dragging　its　slow　length　along　the　plain；　　wearily　toiling　on　its　way；　to　found　new　empires　in　the　West。　Our　New　England　climate　is　mild　and　equable　compared　with　that　of　the　　Platte。　　This　very　morning；　for　instance；　was　close　and　sultry；　the　　sun　rising　with　a　faint　oppressive　heat；　when　suddenly　darkness　　gathered　in　the　west；　and　a　furious　blast　of　sleet　and　hail　drove　　full　in　our　faces；　icy　cold；　and　urged　with　such　demoniac　vehemence　　that　it　felt　like　a　storm　of　needles。　　It　was　curious　to　see　the　　horses；　they　faced　about　in　extreme　displeasure；　holding　their　tails　　like　whipped　dogs；　and　shivering　as　the　angry　gusts；　howling　louder　　than　a　concert　of　wolves；　swept　over　us。　　Wright's　long　train　of　　mules　came　sweeping　round　before　the　storm　like　a　flight　of　brown　　snowbirds　driven　by　a　winter　tempest。　　Thus　we　all　remained　　stationary　for　some　minutes；　crouching　close　to　our　horses'　necks；　　much　too　surly　to　speak；　though　once　the　captain　looked　up　from　　between　the　collars　of　his　coat；　his　face　blood…red；　and　the　muscles　　of　his　mouth　contracted　by　the　cold　into　a　most　ludicrous　grin　of　　agony。　　He　grumbled　something　that　sounded　like　a　curse；　directed　as　　we　believed；　against　the　unhappy　hour　when　he　had　first　thought　of　　leaving　home。　　The　thing　was　too　good　to　last　long；　and　the　instant　　the　puffs　of　wind　subsided　we　erected　our　tents；　and　remained　in　camp　　for　the　rest　of　a　gloomy　and　lowering　day。　　The　emigrants　also　　encamped　near　at　hand。　　We；　being　first　on　the　ground；　had　　appropriated　all　the　wood　within　reach；　so　that　our　fire　alone　blazed　　cheerfully。　　Around　it　soon　gathered　a　group　of　uncouth　figures；　　shivering　in　the　drizzling　rain。　　Conspicuous　among　them　were　two　or　　three　of　the　half…savage　men　who　spend　their　reckless　lives　in　　trapping　among　the　Rocky　Mountains；　or　in　trading　for　the　Fur　Company　　in　the　Indian　villages。　　They　were　all　of　Canadian　extraction；　their　　hard；　weather…beaten　faces　and　bushy　mustaches　looked　out　from　　beneath　the　hoods　of　their　white　capotes　with　a　bad　and　brutish　　expression；　as　if　their　owner　might　be　the　willing　agent　of　any　　villainy。　　And　such　in　fact　is　the　character　of　many　of　these　men。　On　the　day　following　we　overtook　Kearsley's　wagons；　and　　thenceforward；　for　a　week　or　two；　we　were　fellow…travelers。　　One　good　　effect；　at　least；　resulted　from　the　alliance；　it　materially　　diminished　the　serious　fatigue　of　standing　guard；　for　the　party　being　　now　more　numerous；　there　were　longer　intervals　between　each　man's　　turns　of　duty。

CHAPTER　VII　THE　BUFFALO

Four　days　on　the　Platte；　and　yet　no　buffalo！　　Last　year's　signs　of　　them　were　provokingly　abundant；　and　wood　being　extremely　scarce；　we　　found　an　admirable　substitute　in　bois　de　vache；　which　burns　exactly　　like　peat；　producing　no　unpleasant　effects。　　The　wagons　one　morning　　had　left　the　camp；　Shaw　and　I　were　already　on　horseback；　but　Henry　　Chatillon　still　sat　cross…legged　by　the　dead　embers　of　the　fire；　　playing　pensively　with　the　lock　of　his　rifle；　while　his　sturdy　　Wyandotte　pony　stood　quietly　behind　him；　looking　over　his　head。　　At　　last　he　got　up；　patted　the　neck　of　the　pony　（whom；　from　an　　exaggerated　appreciation　of　his　merits；　he　had　christened　〃Five　　Hundred　Dollar〃）；　and　then　mounted　with　a　melancholy　air。　〃What　is　it；　Henry？〃　〃Ah；　I　feel　lonesome；　I　never　been　here　before；　but　I　see　away　yonder　　over　the　buttes；　and　down　there　on　the　prairie；　blackall　black　with　　buffalo！〃　In　the　afternoon　he　and　I　left　the　party　in　search　of　an　antelope；　　until　at　the　distance　of　a　mile　or　two　on　the　right；　the　tall　white　　wagons　and　the　little　black　specks　of　horsemen　were　just　visible；　so　　slowly　advancing　that　they　seemed　motionless；　and　far　on　the　left　　rose　the　broken　line　of　scorched；　desolate　sand…hills。　　The　vast　　plain　waved　with　tall　rank　grass　that　swept　our　horses'　bellies；　it　　swayed　to　and　fro　in　billows　with　the　light　breeze；　and　far　and　near　　antelope　and　wolves　were　moving　through　it；　the　hairy　backs　of　the　　latter　alternately　appearing　and　disappearing　as　they　bounded　　awkwardly　along；　while　the　antelope；　with　the　simple　curiosity　　peculiar　to　them；　would　often　approach　as　closely；　their　little　horns　　and　white　throats　just　visible　above　the　grass　tops；　as　they　gazed　　eagerly　at　us　with　their　round　black　eyes。　I　dismounted；　and　amused　myself　with　firing　at　the　wolves。　　Henry　　attentively　scrutinized　the　surrounding　landscape；　at　length　he　gave　　a　shout；　and　called　on　me　to　mount　again；　pointing　in　the　direction　　of　the　sand…hills。　　A　mile　and　a　half　from　us；　two　minute　black　　specks　slowly　traversed　the　face　of　one　of　the　bare　glaring　　declivities；　and　disappeared　behind　the　summit。　　〃Let　us　go！〃　cried　　Henry；　belaboring　the　sides　of　Five　Hundred　Dollar；　and　I　following　　in　his　wake；　we　galloped　rapidly　through　the　rank　grass　toward　the　　base　of　the　hills。　From　one　of　their　openings　descended　a　deep　ravine；　widening　as　it　　issued　on　the　prairie。　　We　entered　it；　and　galloping　up；　in　a　moment　　were　surrounded　by　the　bleak　sand…hills。　　Half　of　their　steep　sides　　were　bare；　the　rest　were　scantily　clothed　with　clumps　of　grass；　and　　various　uncouth　plants；　conspicuous　among　which　appeared　the　reptile…　like　prickly…pear。　　They　were　gashed　with　numberless　ravines；　and　as　　the　sky　had　suddenly　darkened；　and　a　cold　gusty　wind　arisen；　the　　strange　shrubs　and　the　dreary　hills　looked　doubly　wild　and　desolate。　　　But　Henry's　face　was　all　eagerness。　　He　tore　off　a　little　hair　from　　the　piece　of　buffalo　robe　under　his　saddle；　and　threw　it　up；　to　show　　the　course　of　the　wind。　　It　blew　directly　before　us。　　The　game　were　　therefore　to　windward；　and　it　was　necessary　to　make　our　best　speed　to　　get　around　them。　We　scrambled　from　this　ravine；　and　galloping　away　through　the　　hollows；　soon　found　another；　winding　like　a　snake　among　the　hills；　　and　so　deep　that　it　completely　concealed　us。　　We　rode　up　the　bottom　　of　it；　glancing　through　the　shrubbery　at　its　edge；　till　Henry　　abruptly　jerked　his　rein；　and　slid　out　of　his　saddle。　　Full　a　quarter　　of　a　mile　distant；　on　the　outline　of　the　farthest　hill；　a　long　　procession　of　buffalo　were　walking；　in　Indian　file；　with　the　utmost　　gravity　and　deliberation；　then　more　appeared；　clambering　from　a　　hollow　not　far　off；　and　ascending；　one　behind　the　other；　the　grassy　　slope　of　another　hill；　then　a　shaggy　head　and　a　pair　of　short　broken　　horns　appeared　issuing　out　of　a　ravine　close　at　hand；　and　with　a　　slow；　stately　step；　one　by　one；　the　enormous　brutes　came　into　view；　　taking　their　way　across　the　valley；　wholly　unconscious　of　an　enemy。　　　In　a　moment　Henry　was　worming　his　way；　lying　flat　on　the　ground；　　through　grass　and　prickly…pears；　toward　his　unsuspecting　victims。　　He　　had　with　him　both　my　rifle　and　his　own。　　He　was　soon　out　of　sight；　　and　still　the　buffalo　kept　issuing　into　the　valley。　　For　a　long　time　　all　was　silent。　　I　sat　holding　his　horse；　and　wondering　what　he　was　　about；　when　suddenly；　in　rapid　succession；　came　the　sharp　reports　of　　the　two　rifles；　and　the　whole　line　of　buffalo；　quickening　their　pace　　into　a　clumsy　trot；　gradually　disappeared　over　the　ridge　of　the　hill。　　　Henry　rose　to　his　feet；　and　stood　looking　after　them。　〃You　have　missed　them；〃　said　I。　〃Yes；〃　said　Henry；　〃let　us　go。〃　　He　descended　into　the　ravine；　loaded　　the　rifles；　and　mounted　his　horse。　We　rode　up　the　hill　after　the　buffalo。　　The　herd　was　out　of　sight　　when　we　reached　the　top；　but　lying　on　the　grass　not　far　off；　was　one　　quite　lifeless；　and　another　violently　struggling　in　the　death　agony。　〃You　see　I　miss　him！〃　remarked　Henry。　　He　had　fired　from　a　distance　　of　more　than　a　hundred　and　fifty　yards；　and　both　balls　had　passed　　through　the　lungsthe　true　mark　in　shooting　buffalo。　The　darkness　increased；　and　a　driving　storm　came　on。　　Tying　our　　horses　to　the　horns　of　the　victims；　Henry　began　the　bloody　work　of　　dissection；　slashing　away　with　the　science　of　a　connoisseur；　while　I　　vainly　endeavored　to　imitate　him。　　Old　Hendrick　recoiled　with　horror　　and　indignation　when　I　endeavored　to　tie　the　meat　to　the　strings　of　　raw　hide；　always　carried　for　this　purpose；　dangling　at　the　back　of　　the　saddle。　　After　some　difficulty　we　overcame　his　scruples；　and　　heavily　burdened　with　the　more　eligible　portions　of　the　buffalo；　we　　set　out　on　our　return。　　Scarcely　had　we　emerged　from　the　labyrinth　of　　gorges　and　ravines；　and　issued　upon　the　open　prairie；　when　the　　pricking　sleet　came　driving；　gust　upon　gust；　directly　in　our　faces。　　　It　was　strangely　dark；　though　wanting　still　an　hour　of　sunset。　　The　　freezing　storm　soon　penetrated　to　the　skin；　but　the　uneasy　trot　of　　our　heavy…gaited　horses　kept　us　warm　enough；　as　we　forced　them　　unwillingly　in　the　teeth　of　the　sleet　and　rain；　by　the　powerful　　suasion　of　our　Indian　whips。　　The　prairie　in　this　place　was　hard　and　　level。　　A　flourishing　colony　of　prairie　dogs　had　burrowed　into　it　in　　every　direction；　and　the　little　mounds　of　fresh　earth　around　their　　holes　were　about　as　numerous　as　the　hills　in　a　cornfield；　but　not　a　　yelp　was　to　be　heard；　not　the　nose　of　a　single　citizen　was　visible；　　all　had　retired　to　the　depths　of　their　burrows；　and　we　envied　them　　their　dry　and　comfortable　habitations。　　An　hour's　hard　riding　showed　　us　our　tent　dimly　looming　through　the　storm；　one　side　puffed　out　by　　the　force　of　the　wind；　and　the　other　collapsed　in　proportion；　while　　the　disconsolate　horses　stood　shivering　close　around；　and　the　wind　　kept　up　a　dismal　whistling　in　the　boughs　of　three　old　half…dead　trees　　above。　　Shaw；　like　a　patriarch；　sat　on　his　saddle　i