the oregon trail-第17部分

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must　　have　encountered　strange　vicissitudes。　　Imported；　perhaps；　originally　　from　England；　then；　with　the　declining　fortunes　of　their　owners；　　borne　across　the　Alleghenies　to　the　remote　wilderness　of　Ohio　or　　Kentucky；　then　to　Illinois　or　Missouri；　and　now　at　last　fondly　stowed　　away　in　the　family　wagon　for　the　interminable　journey　to　Oregon。　　But　　the　stern　privations　of　the　way　are　little　anticipated。　　The　　cherished　relic　is　soon　flung　out　to　scorch　and　crack　upon　the　hot　　prairie。　We　resumed　our　journey；　but　we　had　gone　scarcely　a　mile；　when　R。　　called　out　from　the　rear：　〃We'll　camp　here。〃　〃Why　do　you　want　to　camp？　　Look　at　the　sun。　　It　is　not　three　o'clock　　yet。〃　〃We'll　camp　here！〃　This　was　the　only　reply　vouchsafed。　　Delorier　was　in　advance　with　his　　cart。　　Seeing　the　mule…wagon　wheeling　from　the　track；　he　began　to　　turn　his　own　team　in　the　same　direction。　〃Go　on；　Delorier；〃　and　the　little　cart　advanced　again。　　As　we　rode　　on；　we　soon　heard　the　wagon　of　our　confederates　creaking　and　jolting　　on　behind　us；　and　the　driver；　Wright；　discharging　a　furious　volley　of　　oaths　against　his　mules；　no　doubt　venting　upon　them　the　wrath　which　　he　dared　not　direct　against　a　more　appropriate　object。　Something　of　this　sort　had　frequently　occurred。　　Our　English　friend　　was　by　no　means　partial　to　us；　and　we　thought　we　discovered　in　his　　conduct　a　deliberate　intention　to　thwart　and　annoy　us；　especially　by　　retarding　the　movements　of　the　party；　which　he　knew　that　we；　being　　Yankees；　were　anxious　to　quicken。　　Therefore；　he　would　insist　on　　encamping　at　all　unseasonable　hours；　saying　that　fifteen　miles　was　a　　sufficient　day's　journey。　　Finding　our　wishes　systematically　　disregarded；　we　took　the　direction　of　affairs　into　our　own　hands。　　　Keeping　always　in　advance；　to　the　inexpressible　indignation　of　R。；　we　　encamped　at　what　time　and　place　we　thought　proper；　not　much　caring　　whether　the　rest　chose　to　follow　or　not。　　They　always　did　so；　　however；　pitching　their　tents　near　ours；　with　sullen　and　wrathful　　countenances。　Traveling　together　on　these　agreeable　terms　did　not　suit　our　tastes；　　for　some　time　we　had　meditated　a　separation。　　The　connection　with　　this　party　had　cost　us　various　delays　and　inconveniences；　and　the　　glaring　want　of　courtesy　and　good　sense　displayed　by　their　virtual　　leader　did　not　dispose　us　to　bear　these　annoyances　with　much　　patience。　　We　resolved　to　leave　camp　early　in　the　morning；　and　push　　forward　as　rapidly　as　possible　for　Fort　Laramie；　which　we　hoped　to　　reach；　by　hard　traveling；　in　four　or　five　days。　　The　captain　soon　　trotted　up　between　us；　and　we　explained　our　intentions。　〃A　very　extraordinary　proceeding；　upon　my　word！〃　he　remarked。　　Then　　he　began　to　enlarge　upon　the　enormity　of　the　design。　　The　most　　prominent　impression　in　his　mind　evidently　was　that　we　were　acting　a　　base　and　treacherous　part　in　deserting　his　party；　in　what　he　　considered　a　very　dangerous　stage　of　the　journey。　　To　palliate　the　　atrocity　of　our　conduct；　we　ventured　to　suggest　that　we　were　only　　four　in　number　while　his　party　still　included　sixteen　men；　and　as；　　moreover；　we　were　to　go　forward　and　they　were　to　follow；　at　least　a　　full　proportion　of　the　perils　he　apprehended　would　fall　upon　us。　　But　　the　austerity　of　the　captain's　features　would　not　relax。　　〃A　very　　extraordinary　proceeding；　gentlemen！〃　and　repeating　this；　he　rode　off　　to　confer　with　his　principal。　By　good　luck；　we　found　a　meadow　of　fresh　grass；　and　a　large　pool　of　　rain…water　in　the　midst　of　it。　　We　encamped　here　at　sunset。　　Plenty　　of　buffalo　skulls　were　lying　around；　bleaching　in　the　sun；　and　　sprinkled　thickly　among　the　grass　was　a　great　variety　of　strange　　flowers。　　I　had　nothing　else　to　do；　and　so　gathering　a　handful；　I　sat　　down　on　a　buffalo　skull　to　study　them。　　Although　the　offspring　of　a　　wilderness；　their　texture　was　frail　and　delicate；　and　their　colors　　extremely　rich；　pure　white；　dark　blue；　and　a　transparent　crimson。　　　One　traveling　in　this　country　seldom　has　leisure　to　think　of　anything　　but　the　stern　features　of　the　scenery　and　its　accompaniments；　or　the　　practical　details　of　each　day's　journey。　　Like　them；　he　and　his　　thoughts　grow　hard　and　rough。　　But　now　these　flowers　suddenly　　awakened　a　train　of　associations　as　alien　to　the　rude　scene　around　me　　as　they　were　themselves；　and　for　the　moment　my　thoughts　went　back　to　　New　England。　　A　throng　of　fair　and　well…remembered　faces　rose；　　vividly　as　life；　before　me。　　〃There　are　good　things；〃　thought　I；　〃in　　the　savage　life；　but　what　can　it　offer　to　replace　those　powerful　and　　ennobling　influences　that　can　reach　unimpaired　over　more　than　three　　thousand　miles　of　mountains；　forests　and　deserts？〃　Before　sunrise　on　the　next　morning　our　tent　was　down；　we　harnessed　　our　best　horses　to　the　cart　and　left　the　camp。　　But　first　we　shook　　hands　with　our　friends　the　emigrants；　who　sincerely　wished　us　a　safe　　journey；　though　some　others　of　the　party　might　easily　have　been　　consoled　had　we　encountered　an　Indian　war　party　on　the　way。　　The　　captain　and　his　brother　were　standing　on　the　top　of　a　hill；　wrapped　　in　their　plaids；　like　spirits　of　the　mist；　keeping　an　anxious　eye　on　　the　band　of　horses　below。　　We　waved　adieu　to　them　as　we　rode　off　the　　ground。　　The　captain　replied　with　a　salutation　of　the　utmost　dignity；　　which　Jack　tried　to　imitate；　but　being　little　practiced　in　the　　gestures　of　polite　society；　his　effort　was　not　a　very　successful　one。　In　five　minutes　we　had　gained　the　foot　of　the　hills；　but　here　we　came　　to　a　stop。　　Old　Hendrick　was　in　the　shafts；　and　being　the　very　　incarnation　of　perverse　and　brutish　obstinacy；　he　utterly　refused　to　　move。　　Delorier　lashed　and　swore　till　he　was　tired；　but　Hendrick　　stood　like　a　rock；　grumbling　to　himself　and　looking　askance　at　his　　enemy；　until　he　saw　a　favorable　opportunity　to　take　his　revenge；　when　　he　struck　out　under　the　shaft　with　such　cool　malignity　of　intention　　that　Delorier　only　escaped　the　blow　by　a　sudden　skip　into　the　air；　　such　as　no　one　but　a　Frenchman　could　achieve。　　Shaw　and　he　then　　joined　forces；　and　lashed　on　both　sides　at　once。　　The　brute　stood　　still　for　a　while　till　he　could　bear　it　no　longer；　when　all　at　once　　he　began　to　kick　and　plunge　till　he　threatened　the　utter　demolition　　of　the　cart　and　harness。　　We　glanced　back　at　the　camp；　which　was　in　　full　sight。　　Our　companions；　inspired　by　emulation；　were　leveling　　their　tents　and　driving　in　their　cattle　and　horses。　〃Take　the　horse　out；〃　said　I。　I　took　the　saddle　from　Pontiac　and　put　it　upon　Hendrick；　the　former　　was　harnessed　to　the　cart　in　an　instant。　　〃Avance　donc！〃　cried　　Delorier。　　Pontiac　strode　up　the　hill；　twitching　the　little　cart　　after　him　as　if　it　were　a　feather's　weight；　and　though；　as　we　gained　　the　top；　we　saw　the　wagons　of　our　deserted　comrades　just　getting　into　　motion；　we　had　little　fear　that　they　could　overtake　us。　　Leaving　the　　trail；　we　struck　directly　across　the　country；　and　took　the　shortest　　cut　to　reach　the　main　stream　of　the　Platte。　　A　deep　ravine　suddenly　　intercepted　us。　　We　skirted　its　sides　until　we　found　them　less　　abrupt；　and　then　plunged　through　the　best　way　we　could。　　Passing　　behind　the　sandy　ravines　called　〃Ash　Hollow；〃　we　stopped　for　a　short　　nooning　at　the　side　of　a　pool　of　rain…water；　but　soon　resumed　our　　journey；　and　some　hours　before　sunset　were　descending　the　ravines　and　　gorges　opening　downward　upon　the　Platte　to　the　west　of　Ash　Hollow。　　　Our　horses　waded　to　the　fetlock　in　sand；　the　sun　scorched　like　fire；　　and　the　air　swarmed　with　sand…flies　and　mosquitoes。　At　last　we　gained　the　Platte。　　Following　it　for　about　five　miles；　we　　saw；　just　as　the　sun　was　sinking；　a　great　meadow；　dotted　with　　hundreds　of　cattle；　and　beyond　them　an　emigrant　encampment。　　A　party　　of　about　a　dozen　came　out　to　meet　us；　looking　upon　us　at　first　with　　cold　and　suspicious　faces。　　Seeing　four　men；　different　in　appearance　　and　equipment　from　themselves；　emerging　from　the　hills；　they　had　　taken　us　for　the　van　of　the　much…dreaded　Mormons；　whom　they　were　very　　apprehensive　of　encountering。　　We　made　known　our　true　character；　and　　then　they　greeted　us　cordially。　　They　expressed　much　surprise　that　so　　small　a　party　should　venture　to　traverse　that　region；　though　in　fact　　such　attempts　are　not　unfrequently　made　by　trappers　and　Indian　　traders。　　We　rode　with　them　to　their　camp。　　The　wagons；　some　fifty　in　　number；　with　here　and　there　a　tent　intervening；　were　arranged　as　　usual　in　a　circle；　in　the　area　within　the　best　horses　were　picketed；　　and　the　whole　circumference　was　glowing　with　the　dusky　light　of　the　　fires；　displaying　the　forms　of　the　women　and　children　who　were　　crowded　around　them。　　This　patriarchal　scene　was　curious　and　striking　　enough；　but　we　made　our　escape　from　the　place　with　all　possible　　dispatch；　being　tormented　by　the　intrusive　curiosity　of　the　men　who　　crowded　around　us。　　Yankee　curiosity　was　nothing　to　theirs。　　They　　demanded　our　names；　where　we　came　from；　where　we　were　going；　and　what　　was　our　business。　　The　last　query　was　particularly　embarrassing；　　since　traveling　in　that　country；　or　indeed　anywhere；　from　any　other　　motive　than　gain；　was　an　idea　of　which　they　took　no　cognizance。　　Yet　　they　were　fine…looking　fellows；　with　an　air　of　frankness；　generosity；　　and　even　courtesy；　having　come　from　one　of　the　least　barbarous　of　the　　frontier　counties。　We　passed　about　a　mile　beyond　them；　and　encamped。　　Being　too　few　in　　number　to　stand　guard　without　excessive　fatigue；　we　extinguished　our　　fire；　lest　it　should　attract　the　notice　of　wandering　Indians；　and　　picketing　our　horses　close　around　us；　slept　undisturbed　till　morning。　　　For　three　days　we　traveled　without　interruption；　and　on　the　evening　　of　the　third　encamped　by　the　well…known　spring　on　Scott's　Bluff。　Henry　Chatillon　and　I　rode　out　in　the　morning；　and　descending　the　　western　side　of　the　Bluff；　were　crossing　the　plain　beyond。　　Something　　that　seemed　to　me　a　file　of　buffalo　came　into　view；　descending　the　　hills　several　miles　before　us。　　But　Henry　reined　in　his　horse；　and　　keenly　peering　across　the　prairie　with　a　better　and　more　practiced　　eye；　soon　discovered　its　real　nature。　　〃Indians！〃　he　said。　　〃Old　　Smoke's　lodges；　I　b'lieve。　　Come！　let　us　go！　　Wah！　get　up；　now；　Five　　Hundred　Dollar！〃　　And　laying　on　the　lash　with　good　will；　he　galloped　　forward；　and　I　rode　by　his　side。