the oregon trail-第14部分

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ling　in　the　boughs　of　three　old　half…dead　trees　　above。　　Shaw；　like　a　patriarch；　sat　on　his　saddle　in　the　entrance；　　with　a　pipe　in　his　mouth；　and　his　arms　folded；　contemplating；　with　　cool　satisfaction；　the　piles　of　meat　that　we　flung　on　the　ground　　before　him。　　A　dark　and　dreary　night　succeeded；　but　the　sun　rose　with　　heat　so　sultry　and　languid　that　the　captain　excused　himself　on　that　　account　from　waylaying　an　old　buffalo　bull；　who　with　stupid　gravity　　was　walking　over　the　prairie　to　drink　at　the　river。　　So　much　for　the　　climate　of　the　Platte！　But　it　was　not　the　weather　alone　that　had　produced　this　sudden　　abatement　of　the　sportsmanlike　zeal　which　the　captain　had　always　　professed。　　He　had　been　out　on　the　afternoon　before；　together　with　　several　members　of　his　party；　but　their　hunting　was　attended　with　no　　other　result　than　the　loss　of　one　of　their　best　horses；　severely　　injured　by　Sorel；　in　vainly　chasing　a　wounded　bull。　　The　captain；　　whose　ideas　of　hard　riding　were　all　derived　from　transatlantic　　sources；　expressed　the　utmost　amazement　at　the　feats　of　Sorel；　who　　went　leaping　ravines；　and　dashing　at　full　speed　up　and　down　the　sides　　of　precipitous　hills；　lashing　his　horse　with　the　recklessness　of　a　　Rocky　Mountain　rider。　　Unfortunately　for　the　poor　animal　he　was　the　　property　of　R。；　against　whom　Sorel　entertained　an　unbounded　aversion。　　　The　captain　himself；　it　seemed；　had　also　attempted　to　〃run〃　a　　buffalo；　but　though　a　good　and　practiced　horseman；　he　had　soon　given　　over　the　attempt；　being　astonished　and　utterly　disgusted　at　the　　nature　of　the　ground　he　was　required　to　ride　over。　Nothing　unusual　occurred　on　that　day；　but　on　the　following　morning　　Henry　Chatillon；　looking　over　the　oceanlike　expanse；　saw　near　the　　foot　of　the　distant　hills　something　that　looked　like　a　band　of　　buffalo。　　He　was　not　sure；　he　said；　but　at　all　events；　if　they　were　　buffalo；　there　was　a　fine　chance　for　a　race。　　Shaw　and　I　at　once　　determined　to　try　the　speed　of　our　horses。　〃Come；　captain；　we'll　see　which　can　ride　hardest；　a　Yankee　or　an　　Irishman。〃　But　the　captain　maintained　a　grave　and　austere　countenance。　　He　　mounted　his　led　horse；　however；　though　very　slowly；　and　we　set　out　at　　a　trot。　　The　game　appeared　about　three　miles　distant。　　As　we　　proceeded　the　captain　made　various　remarks　of　doubt　and　indecision；　　and　at　length　declared　he　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　such　a　　breakneck　business；　protesting　that　he　had　ridden　plenty　of　steeple…　chases　in　his　day；　but　he　never　knew　what　riding　was　till　he　found　　himself　behind　a　band　of　buffalo　day　before　yesterday。　　〃I　am　　convinced；〃　said　the　captain；　〃that；　'running'　is　out　of　the　　question。*　　Take　my　advice　now　and　don't　attempt　it。　　It's　dangerous；　　and　of　no　use　at　all。〃

*The　method　of　hunting　called　〃running〃　consists　in　attacking　the　　buffalo　on　horseback　and　shooting　him　with　bullets　or　arrows　when　at　　full…speed。　　In　〃approaching；〃　the　hunter　conceals　himself　and　crawls　　on　the　ground　toward　the　game；　or　lies　in　wait　to　kill　them。

〃Then　why　did　you　come　out　with　us？　　What　do　you　mean　to　do？〃　〃I　shall　'approach；'〃　replied　the　captain。　〃You　don't　mean　to　'approach'　with　your　pistols；　do　you？　　We　have　all　　of　us　left　our　rifles　in　the　wagons。〃　The　captain　seemed　staggered　at　the　suggestion。　　In　his　　characteristic　indecision；　at　setting　out；　pistols；　rifles；　〃running〃　　and　〃approaching〃　were　mingled　in　an　inextricable　medley　in　his　　brain。　　He　trotted　on　in　silence　between　us　for　a　while；　but　at　　length　he　dropped　behind　and　slowly　walked　his　horse　back　to　rejoin　　the　party。　　Shaw　and　I　kept　on；　when　lo！　as　we　advanced；　the　band　of　　buffalo　were　transformed　into　certain　clumps　of　tall　bushes；　dotting　　the　prairie　for　a　considerable　distance。　　At　this　ludicrous　　termination　of　our　chase；　we　followed　the　example　of　our　late　ally；　　and　turned　back　toward　the　party。　　We　were　skirting　the　brink　of　a　　deep　ravine；　when　we　saw　Henry　and　the　broad…chested　pony　coming　　toward　us　at　a　gallop。　〃Here's　old　Papin　and　Frederic；　down　from　Fort　Laramie！〃　shouted　　Henry；　long　before　he　came　up。　　We　had　for　some　days　expected　this　　encounter。　　Papin　was　the　bourgeois　of　Fort　Laramie。　　He　had　come　　down　the　river　with　the　buffalo　robes　and　the　beaver；　the　produce　of　　the　last　winter's　trading。　　I　had　among　our　baggage　a　letter　which　I　　wished　to　commit　to　their　hands；　so　requesting　Henry　to　detain　the　　boats　if　he　could　until　my　return；　I　set　out　after　the　wagons。　　They　　were　about　four　miles　in　advance。　　In　half　an　hour　I　overtook　them；　　got　the　letter；　trotted　back　upon　the　trail；　and　looking　carefully；　　as　I　rode；　saw　a　patch　of　broken；　storm…blasted　trees；　and　moving　　near　them　some　little　black　specks　like　men　and　horses。　　Arriving　at　　the　place；　I　found　a　strange　assembly。　　The　boats；　eleven　in　number；　　deep…laden　with　the　skins；　hugged　close　to　the　shore；　to　escape　being　　borne　down　by　the　swift　current。　　The　rowers；　swarthy　ignoble　　Mexicans；　turned　their　brutish　faces　upward　to　look；　as　I　reached　the　　bank。　　Papin　sat　in　the　middle　of　one　of　the　boats　upon　the　canvas　　covering　that　protected　the　robes。　　He　was　a　stout；　robust　fellow；　　with　a　little　gray　eye；　that　had　a　peculiarly　sly　twinkle。　　　〃Frederic〃　also　stretched　his　tall　rawboned　proportions　close　by　the　　bourgeois；　and　〃mountain…men〃　completed　the　group；　some　lounging　in　　the　boats；　some　strolling　on　shore；　some　attired　in　gayly　painted　　buffalo　robes；　like　Indian　dandies；　some　with　hair　saturated　with　red　　paint；　and　beplastered　with　glue　to　their　temples；　and　one　bedaubed　　with　vermilion　upon　his　forehead　and　each　cheek。　　They　were　a　mongrel　　race；　yet　the　French　blood　seemed　to　predominate；　in　a　few；　indeed；　　might　be　seen　the　black　snaky　eye　of　the　Indian　half…breed；　and　one　　and　all；　they　seemed　to　aim　at　assimilating　themselves　to　their　　savage　associates。　I　shook　hands　with　the　bourgeois；　and　delivered　the　letter；　then　the　　boats　swung　round　into　the　stream　and　floated　away。　　They　had　reason　　for　haste；　for　already　the　voyage　from　Fort　Laramie　had　occupied　a　　full　month；　and　the　river　was　growing　daily　more　shallow。　　Fifty　　times　a　day　the　boats　had　been　aground；　indeed；　those　who　navigate　　the　Platte　invariably　spend　half　their　time　upon　sand…bars。　　Two　of　　these　boats；　the　property　of　private　traders；　afterward　separating　　from　the　rest；　got　hopelessly　involved　in　the　shallows；　not　very　far　　from　the　Pawnee　villages；　and　were　soon　surrounded　by　a　swarm　of　the　　inhabitants。　　They　carried　off　everything　that　they　considered　　valuable；　including　most　of　the　robes；　and　amused　themselves　by　tying　　up　the　men　left　on　guard　and　soundly　whipping　them　with　sticks。　We　encamped　that　night　upon　the　bank　of　the　river。　　Among　the　　emigrants　there　was　an　overgrown　boy；　some　eighteen　years　old；　with　a　　head　as　round　and　about　as　large　as　a　pumpkin；　and　fever…and…ague　　fits　had　dyed　his　face　of　a　corresponding　color。　　He　wore　an　old　　white　hat；　tied　under　his　chin　with　a　handkerchief；　his　body　was　　short　and　stout；　but　his　legs　of　disproportioned　and　appalling　　length。　　I　observed　him　at　sunset；　breasting　the　hill　with　gigantic　　strides；　and　standing　against　the　sky　on　the　summit；　like　a　colossal　　pair　of　tongs。　　In　a　moment　after　we　heard　him　screaming　frantically　　behind　the　ridge；　and　nothing　doubting　that　he　was　in　the　clutches　of　　Indians　or　grizzly　bears；　some　of　the　party　caught　up　their　rifles　　and　ran　to　the　rescue。　　His　outcries；　however；　proved　but　an　　ebullition　of　joyous　excitement；　he　had　chased　two　little　wolf　pups　　to　their　burrow；　and　he　was　on　his　knees；　grubbing　away　like　a　dog　at　　the　mouth　of　the　hole；　to　get　at　them。　Before　morning　he　caused　more　serious　disquiet　in　the　camp。　　It　was　　his　turn　to　hold　the　middle　guard；　but　no　sooner　was　he　called　up；　　than　he　coolly　arranged　a　pair　of　saddle…bags　under　a　wagon；　laid　his　　head　upon　them；　closed　his　eyes；　opened　his　mouth　and　fell　asleep。　　　The　guard　on　our　side　of　the　camp；　thinking　it　no　part　of　his　duty　to　　look　after　the　cattle　of　the　emigrants；　contented　himself　with　　watching　our　own　horses　and　mules；　the　wolves；　he　said；　were　　unusually　noisy；　but　still　no　mischief　was　anticipated　until　the　sun　　rose；　and　not　a　hoof　or　horn　was　in　sight！　　The　cattle　were　gone！　　　While　Tom　was　quietly　slumbering；　the　wolves　had　driven　them　away。　Then　we　reaped　the　fruits　of　R。's　precious　plan　of　traveling　in　　company　with　emigrants。　　To　leave　them　in　their　distress　was　not　to　　be　thought　of；　and　we　felt　bound　to　wait　until　the　cattle　could　be　　searched　for；　and；　if　possible；　recovered。　　But　the　reader　may　be　　curious　to　know　what　punishment　awaited　the　faithless　Tom。　　By　the　　wholesome　law　of　the　prairie；　he　who　falls　asleep　on　guard　is　　condemned　to　walk　all　day　leading　his　horse　by　the　bridle；　and　we　　found　much　fault　with　our　companions　for　not　enforcing　such　a　　sentence　on　the　offender。　　Nevertheless　had　he　been　of　our　party；　I　　have　no　doubt　he　would　in　like　manner　have　escaped　scot…free。　　But　　the　emigrants　went　farther　than　mere　forebearance；　they　decreed　that　　since　Tom　couldn't　stand　guard　without　falling　asleep；　he　shouldn't　　stand　guard　at　all；　and　henceforward　his　slumbers　were　unbroken。　　　Establishing　such　a　premium　on　drowsiness　could　have　no　very　　beneficial　effect　upon　the　vigilance　of　our　sentinels；　for　it　is　far　　from　agreeable；　after　riding　from　sunrise　to　sunset；　to　feel　your　　slumbers　interrupted　by　the　butt　of　a　rifle　nudging　your　side；　and　a　　sleepy　voice　growling　in　your　ear　that　you　must　get　up；　to　shiver　and　　freeze　for　three　weary　hours　at　midnight。　〃Buffalo！　buffalo！〃　　It　was　but　a　grim　old　bull；　roaming　the　prairie　　by　himself　in　misanthropic　seclusion；　but　there　might　be　more　behind　　the　hills。　　Dreading　the　monotony　and　languor　of　the　camp；　Shaw　and　I　　saddled　our　horses；　buckled　our　holsters　in　their　places；　and　set　out　　with　Henry　Chatillon　in　search　of　the　game。　　Henry；　not　intending　to　　take　part　in　the　chase；　but　merely　conducting　us；　carried　his　rifle　　with　him；　while　we　left　ours　behind　as　incumbrances。　　We　rode　for　　some　five　or　six　miles；　and　saw　no　living　thing　but　wolves；　snakes；　　and　prairie　dogs。　〃This　won't　do　at　all；〃　said　Shaw。　〃What　won't　do？〃　〃There's　no　wood　about　here　to　make　a　litter　for　the　wounded　man；　I　　have　an　idea　that　one　of　us　will　need　some