the oregon trail-第15部分

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　wood　about　here　to　make　a　litter　for　the　wounded　man；　I　　have　an　idea　that　one　of　us　will　need　something　of　the　sort　before　　the　day　is　over。〃　There　was　some　foundation　for　such　an　apprehension；　for　the　ground　　was　none　of　the　best　for　a　race；　and　grew　worse　continually　as　we　　proceeded；　indeed　it　soon　became　desperately　bad；　consisting　of　　abrupt　hills　and　deep　hollows；　cut　by　frequent　ravines　not　easy　to　　pass。　　At　length；　a　mile　in　advance；　we　saw　a　band　of　bulls。　　Some　　were　scattered　grazing　over　a　green　declivity；　while　the　rest　were　　crowded　more　densely　together　in　the　wide　hollow　below。　　Making　a　　circuit　to　keep　out　of　sight；　we　rode　toward　them　until　we　ascended　a　　hill　within　a　furlong　of　them；　beyond　which　nothing　intervened　that　　could　possibly　screen　us　from　their　view。　　We　dismounted　behind　the　　ridge　just　out　of　sight；　drew　our　saddle…girths；　examined　our　　pistols；　and　mounting　again　rode　over　the　hill；　and　descended　at　a　　canter　toward　them；　bending　close　to　our　horses'　necks。　　Instantly　　they　took　the　alarm；　those　on　the　hill　descended；　those　below　　gathered　into　a　mass；　and　the　whole　got　in　motion；　shouldering　each　　other　along　at　a　clumsy　gallop。　　We　followed；　spurring　our　horses　to　　full　speed；　and　as　the　herd　rushed；　crowding　and　trampling　in　terror　　through　an　opening　in　the　hills；　we　were　close　at　their　heels；　half　　suffocated　by　the　clouds　of　dust。　　But　as　we　drew　near；　their　alarm　　and　speed　increased；　our　horses　showed　signs　of　the　utmost　fear；　　bounding　violently　aside　as　we　approached；　and　refusing　to　enter　　among　the　herd。　　The　buffalo　now　broke　into　several　small　bodies；　　scampering　over　the　hills　in　different　directions；　and　I　lost　sight　　of　Shaw；　neither　of　us　knew　where　the　other　had　gone。　　Old　Pontiac　　ran　like　a　frantic　elephant　up　hill　and　down　hill；　his　ponderous　　hoofs　striking　the　prairie　like　sledge…hammers。　　He　showed　a　curious　　mixture　of　eagerness　and　terror；　straining　to　overtake　the　panic…　stricken　herd；　but　constantly　recoiling　in　dismay　as　we　drew　near。　　　The　fugitives；　indeed；　offered　no　very　attractive　spectacle；　with　　their　enormous　size　and　weight；　their　shaggy　manes　and　the　tattered　　remnants　of　their　last　winter's　hair　covering　their　backs　in　　irregular　shreds　and　patches；　and　flying　off　in　the　wind　as　they　ran。　　　At　length　I　urged　my　horse　close　behind　a　bull；　and　after　trying　in　　vain；　by　blows　and　spurring；　to　bring　him　alongside；　I　shot　a　bullet　　into　the　buffalo　from　this　disadvantageous　position。　　At　the　report；　　Pontiac　swerved　so　much　that　I　was　again　thrown　a　little　behind　the　　game。　　The　bullet；　entering　too　much　in　the　rear；　failed　to　disable　　the　bull；　for　a　buffalo　requires　to　be　shot　at　particular　points；　or　　he　will　certainly　escape。　　The　herd　ran　up　a　hill；　and　I　followed　in　　pursuit。　　As　Pontiac　rushed　headlong　down　on　the　other　side；　I　saw　　Shaw　and　Henry　descending　the　hollow　on　the　right；　at　a　leisurely　　gallop；　and　in　front；　the　buffalo　were　just　disappearing　behind　the　　crest　of　the　next　hill；　their　short　tails　erect；　and　their　hoofs　　twinkling　through　a　cloud　of　dust。　At　that　moment；　I　heard　Shaw　and　Henry　shouting　to　me；　but　the　　muscles　of　a　stronger　arm　than　mine　could　not　have　checked　at　once　　the　furious　course　of　Pontiac；　whose　mouth　was　as　insensible　as　　leather。　　Added　to　this；　I　rode　him　that　morning　with　a　common　　snaffle；　having　the　day　before；　for　the　benefit　of　my　other　horse；　　unbuckled　from　my　bridle　the　curb　which　I　ordinarily　used。　　A　　stronger　and　hardier　brute　never　trod　the　prairie；　but　the　novel　　sight　of　the　buffalo　filled　him　with　terror；　and　when　at　full　speed　　he　was　almost　incontrollable。　　Gaining　the　top　of　the　ridge；　I　saw　　nothing　of　the　buffalo；　they　had　all　vanished　amid　the　intricacies　of　　the　hills　and　hollows。　　Reloading　my　pistols；　in　the　best　way　I　　could；　I　galloped　on　until　I　saw　them　again　scuttling　along　at　the　　base　of　the　hill；　their　panic　somewhat　abated。　　Down　went　old　Pontiac　　among　them；　scattering　them　to　the　right　and　left；　and　then　we　had　　another　long　chase。　　About　a　dozen　bulls　were　before　us；　scouring　　over　the　hills；　rushing　down　the　declivities　with　tremendous　weight　　and　impetuosity；　and　then　laboring　with　a　weary　gallop　upward。　　Still　　Pontiac；　in　spite　of　spurring　and　beating；　would　not　close　with　them。　　　One　bull　at　length　fell　a　little　behind　the　rest；　and　by　dint　of　much　　effort　I　urged　my　horse　within　six　or　eight　yards　of　his　side。　　His　　back　was　darkened　with　sweat；　he　was　panting　heavily；　while　his　　tongue　lolled　out　a　foot　from　his　jaws。　　Gradually　I　came　up　abreast　　of　him；　urging　Pontiac　with　leg　and　rein　nearer　to　his　side；　then　　suddenly　he　did　what　buffalo　in　such　circumstances　will　always　do；　he　　slackened　his　gallop；　and　turning　toward　us；　with　an　aspect　of　　mingled　rage　and　distress；　lowered　his　huge　shaggy　head　for　a　charge。　　　Pontiac　with　a　snort；　leaped　aside　in　terror；　nearly　throwing　me　to　　the　ground；　as　I　was　wholly　unprepared　for　such　an　evolution。　　I　　raised　my　pistol　in　a　passion　to　strike　him　on　the　head；　but　thinking　　better　of　it　fired　the　bullet　after　the　bull；　who　had　resumed　his　　flight；　then　drew　rein　and　determined　to　rejoin　my　companions。　　It　　was　high　time。　　The　breath　blew　hard　from　Pontiac's　nostrils；　and　the　　sweat　rolled　in　big　drops　down　his　sides；　I　myself　felt　as　if　　drenched　in　warm　water。　　Pledging　myself　（and　I　redeemed　the　pledge）　　to　take　my　revenge　at　a　future　opportunity；　I　looked　round　for　some　　indications　to　show　me　where　I　was；　and　what　course　I　ought　to　　pursue；　I　might　as　well　have　looked　for　landmarks　in　the　midst　of　the　　ocean。　　How　many　miles　I　had　run　or　in　what　direction；　I　had　no　idea；　　and　around　me　the　prairie　was　rolling　in　steep　swells　and　pitches；　　without　a　single　distinctive　feature　to　guide　me。　　I　had　a　little　　compass　hung　at　my　neck；　and　ignorant　that　the　Platte　at　this　point　　diverged　considerably　from　its　easterly　course；　I　thought　that　by　　keeping　to　the　northward　I　should　certainly　reach　it。　　So　I　turned　　and　rode　about　two　hours　in　that　direction。　　The　prairie　changed　as　I　　advanced；　softening　away　into　easier　undulations；　but　nothing　like　　the　Platte　appeared；　nor　any　sign　of　a　human　being；　the　same　wild　　endless　expanse　lay　around　me　still；　and　to　all　appearance　I　was　as　　far　from　my　object　as　ever。　　I　began　now　to　consider　myself　in　danger　　of　being　lost；　and　therefore；　reining　in　my　horse；　summoned　the　　scanty　share　of　woodcraft　that　I　possessed　（if　that　term　he　　applicable　upon　the　prairie）　to　extricate　me。　　Looking　round；　it　　occurred　to　me　that　the　buffalo　might　prove　my　best　guides。　　I　soon　　found　one　of　the　paths　made　by　them　in　their　passage　to　the　river；　it　　ran　nearly　at　right　angles　to　my　course；　but　turning　my　horse's　head　　in　the　direction　it　indicated；　his　freer　gait　and　erected　ears　　assured　me　that　I　was　right。　But　in　the　meantime　my　ride　had　been　by　no　means　a　solitary　one。　　The　　whole　face　of　the　country　was　dotted　far　and　wide　with　countless　　hundreds　of　buffalo。　　They　trooped　along　in　files　and　columns；　bulls　　cows；　and　calves；　on　the　green　faces　of　the　declivities　in　front。　　　They　scrambled　away　over　the　hills　to　the　right　and　left；　and　far　　off；　the　pale　blue　swells　in　the　extreme　distance　were　dotted　with　　innumerable　specks。　　Sometimes　I　surprised　shaggy　old　bulls　grazing　　alone；　or　sleeping　behind　the　ridges　I　ascended。　　They　would　leap　up　　at　my　approach；　stare　stupidly　at　me　through　their　tangled　manes；　and　　then　gallop　heavily　away。　　The　antelope　were　very　numerous；　and　as　　they　are　always　bold　when　in　the　neighborhood　of　buffalo；　they　would　　approach　quite　near　to　look　at　me；　gazing　intently　with　their　great　　round　eyes；　then　suddenly　leap　aside；　and　stretch　lightly　away　over　　the　prairie；　as　swiftly　as　a　racehorse。　　Squalid；　ruffianlike　wolves　　sneaked　through　the　hollows　and　sandy　ravines。　　Several　times　I　　passed　through　villages　of　prairie　dogs；　who　sat；　each　at　the　mouth　　of　his　burrow；　holding　his　paws　before　him　in　a　supplicating　　attitude；　and　yelping　away　most　vehemently；　energetically　whisking　　his　little　tail　with　every　squeaking　cry　he　uttered。　　Prairie　dogs　　are　not　fastidious　in　their　choice　of　companions；　various　long；　　checkered　snakes　were　sunning　themselves　in　the　midst　of　the　village；　　and　demure　little　gray　owls；　with　a　large　white　ring　around　each　eye；　　were　perched　side　by　side　with　the　rightful　inhabitants。　　The　prairie　　teemed　with　life。　　Again　and　again　I　looked　toward　the　crowded　　hillsides；　and　was　sure　I　saw　horsemen；　and　riding　near；　with　a　　mixture　of　hope　and　dread；　for　Indians　were　abroad；　I　found　them　　transformed　into　a　group　of　buffalo。　　There　was　nothing　in　human　　shape　amid　all　this　vast　congregation　of　brute　forms。　When　I　turned　down　the　buffalo　path；　the　prairie　seemed　changed；　only　　a　wolf　or　two　glided　past　at　intervals；　like　conscious　felons；　never　　looking　to　the　right　or　left。　　Being　now　free　from　anxiety；　I　was　at　　leisure　to　observe　minutely　the　objects　around　me；　and　here；　for　the　　first　time；　I　noticed　insects　wholly　different　from　any　of　the　　varieties　found　farther　to　the　eastward。　　Gaudy　butterflies　fluttered　　about　my　horse's　head；　strangely　formed　beetles；　glittering　with　　metallic　luster；　were　crawling　upon　plants　that　I　had　never　seen　　before；　multitudes　of　lizards；　too；　were　darting　like　lightning　over　　the　sand。　I　had　run　to　a　great　distance　from　the　river。　　It　cost　me　a　long　ride　　on　the　buffalo　path　before　I　saw　from　the　ridge　of　a　sand…hill　the　　pale　surface　of　the　Platte　glistening　in　the　midst　of　its　desert　　valleys；　and　the　faint　outline　of　the　hills　beyond　waving　along　the　　sky。　　From　where　I　stood；　not　a　tree　nor　a　bush　nor　a　living　thing　　was　visible　throughout　the　whole　extent　of　the　sun…scorched　　landscape。　　In　half　an　hour　I　came　upon　the　trail；　not　far　from　the　　river；　and　seeing　that　the　party　had　not　yet　passed；　I　turned　　eastward　to　meet　them；　old　Pontiac's　long　swinging　trot　again　　assuring　me　that　I　was　right　in　doing　so。　　Having　been　slightly　ill　　on　leaving　camp　in　the　morning　six　or　seven　hours　of　rough　riding　had　　fatigued　me　extremely。　　I　soon　stopped；　therefore；　flung　my　saddle　on　　the　ground；　and　with　my　head　resting　on　it；　and　my　horse's　trail…rope　　tied　loosely　to　my　arm；　lay　waiting　the　arrival　of　the　party；　　speculatin