the oregon trail-第2部分

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　join　the　camp　on　the　prairie；　and　stopped　in　the　　principal　street。　　A　multitude　of　healthy　children's　faces　were　　peeping　out　from　under　the　covers　of　the　wagons。　　Here　and　there　a　　buxom　damsel　was　seated　on　horseback；　holding　over　her　sunburnt　face　　an　old　umbrella　or　a　parasol；　once　gaudy　enough　but　now　miserably　　faded。　　The　men；　very　sober…looking　countrymen；　stood　about　their　　oxen；　and　as　I　passed　I　noticed　three　old　fellows；　who；　with　their　　long　whips　in　their　hands；　were　zealously　discussing　the　doctrine　of　　regeneration。　　The　emigrants；　however；　are　not　all　of　this　stamp。　　　Among　them　are　some　of　the　vilest　outcasts　in　the　country。　　I　have　　often　perplexed　myself　to　divine　the　various　motives　that　give　　impulse　to　this　strange　migration；　but　whatever　they　may　be；　whether　　an　insane　hope　of　a　better　condition　in　life；　or　a　desire　of　shaking　　off　restraints　of　law　and　society；　or　mere　restlessness；　certain　it　　is　that　multitudes　bitterly　repent　the　journey；　and　after　they　have　　reached　the　land　of　promise　are　happy　enough　to　escape　from　it。　In　the　course　of　seven　or　eight　days　we　had　brought　our　preparations　　near　to　a　close。　　Meanwhile　our　friends　had　completed　theirs；　and　　becoming　tired　of　Westport；　they　told　us　that　they　would　set　out　in　　advance　and　wait　at　the　crossing　of　the　Kansas　till　we　should　come　　up。　　Accordingly　R。　and　the　muleteers　went　forward　with　the　wagon　and　　tent；　while　the　captain　and　his　brother；　together　with　Sorel；　and　a　　trapper　named　Boisverd；　who　had　joined　them；　followed　with　the　band　　of　horses。　　The　commencement　of　the　journey　was　ominous；　for　the　　captain　was　scarcely　a　mile　from　Westport；　riding　along　in　state　at　　the　head　of　his　party；　leading　his　intended　buffalo　horse　by　a　rope；　　when　a　tremendous　thunderstorm　came　on；　and　drenched　them　all　to　the　　skin。　　They　hurried　on　to　reach　the　place；　about　seven　miles　off；　　where　R。　was　to　have　had　the　camp　in　readiness　to　receive　them。　　But　　this　prudent　person；　when　he　saw　the　storm　approaching；　had　selected　　a　sheltered　glade　in　the　woods；　where　he　pitched　his　tent；　and　was　　sipping　a　comfortable　cup　of　coffee；　while　the　captain　galloped　for　　miles　beyond　through　the　rain　to　look　for　him。　　At　length　the　storm　　cleared　away；　and　the　sharp…eyed　trapper　succeeded　in　discovering　his　　tent：　R。　had　by　this　time　finished　his　coffee；　and　was　seated　on　a　　buffalo　robe　smoking　his　pipe。　　The　captain　was　one　of　the　most　easy…　tempered　men　in　existence；　so　he　bore　his　ill…luck　with　great　　composure；　shared　the　dregs　of　the　coffee　with　his　brother；　and　lay　　down　to　sleep　in　his　wet　clothes。　We　ourselves　had　our　share　of　the　deluge。　　We　were　leading　a　pair　of　　mules　to　Kansas　when　the　storm　broke。　　Such　sharp　and　incessant　　flashes　of　lightning；　such　stunning　and　continuous　thunder；　I　have　　never　known　before。　　The　woods　were　completely　obscured　by　the　　diagonal　sheets　of　rain　that　fell　with　a　heavy　roar；　and　rose　in　　spray　from　the　ground；　and　the　streams　rose　so　rapidly　that　we　could　　hardly　ford　them。　　At　length；　looming　through　the　rain；　we　saw　the　　log…house　of　Colonel　Chick；　who　received　us　with　his　usual　bland　　hospitality；　while　his　wife；　who；　though　a　little　soured　and　　stiffened　by　too　frequent　attendance　on　camp…meetings；　was　not　behind　　him　in　hospitable　feeling；　supplied　us　with　the　means　of　repairing　　our　drenched　and　bedraggled　condition。　　The　storm；　clearing　away　at　　about　sunset；　opened　a　noble　prospect　from　the　porch　of　the　colonel's　　house；　which　stands　upon　a　high　hill。　　The　sun　streamed　from　the　　breaking　clouds　upon　the　swift　and　angry　Missouri；　and　on　the　immense　　expanse　of　luxuriant　forest　that　stretched　from　its　banks　back　to　the　　distant　bluffs。　Returning　on　the　next　day　to　Westport；　we　received　a　message　from　the　　captain；　who　had　ridden　back　to　deliver　it　in　person；　but　finding　　that　we　were　in　Kansas；　had　intrusted　it　with　an　acquaintance　of　his　　named　Vogel；　who　kept　a　small　grocery　and　liquor　shop。　　Whisky　by　the　　way　circulates　more　freely　in　Westport　than　is　altogether　safe　in　a　　place　where　every　man　carries　a　loaded　pistol　in　his　pocket。　　As　we　　passed　this　establishment；　we　saw　Vogel's　broad　German　face　and　　knavish…looking　eyes　thrust　from　his　door。　　He　said　he　had　something　　to　tell　us；　and　invited　us　to　take　a　dram。　　Neither　his　liquor　nor　　his　message　was　very　palatable。　　The　captain　had　returned　to　give　us　　notice　that　R。；　who　assumed　the　direction　of　his　party；　had　　determined　upon　another　route　from　that　agreed　upon　between　us；　and　　instead　of　taking　the　course　of　the　traders；　to　pass　northward　by　　Fort　Leavenworth；　and　follow　the　path　marked　out　by　the　dragoons　in　　their　expedition　of　last　summer。　　To　adopt　such　a　plan　without　　consulting　us；　we　looked　upon　as　a　very　high…handed　proceeding；　but　　suppressing　our　dissatisfaction　as　well　as　we　could；　we　made　up　our　　minds　to　join　them　at　Fort　Leavenworth；　where　they　were　to　wait　for　　us。　Accordingly；　our　preparation　being　now　complete；　we　attempted　one　　fine　morning　to　commence　our　journey。　　The　first　step　was　an　　unfortunate　one。　　No　sooner　were　our　animals　put　in　harness；　than　the　　shaft　mule　reared　and　plunged；　burst　ropes　and　straps；　and　nearly　　flung　the　cart　into　the　Missouri。　　Finding　her　wholly　uncontrollable；　　we　exchanged　her　for　another；　with　which　we　were　furnished　by　our　　friend　Mr。　Boone　of　Westport；　a　grandson　of　Daniel　Boone；　the　　pioneer。　　This　foretaste　of　prairie　experience　was　very　soon　followed　　by　another。　　Westport　was　scarcely　out　of　sight；　when　we　encountered　　a　deep　muddy　gully；　of　a　species　that　afterward　became　but　too　　familiar　to　us；　and　here　for　the　space　of　an　hour　or　more　the　car　　stuck　fast。

CHAPTER　II　BREAKING　THE　ICE

Both　Shaw　and　myself　were　tolerably　inured　to　the　vicissitudes　of　　traveling。　　We　had　experienced　them　under　various　forms；　and　a　birch　　canoe　was　as　familiar　to　us　as　a　steamboat。　　The　restlessness；　the　　love　of　wilds　and　hatred　of　cities；　natural　perhaps　in　early　years　to　　every　unperverted　son　of　Adam；　was　not　our　only　motive　for　　undertaking　the　present　journey。　　My　companion　hoped　to　shake　off　the　　effects　of　a　disorder　that　had　impaired　a　constitution　originally　　hardy　and　robust；　and　I　was　anxious　to　pursue　some　inquiries　relative　　to　the　character　and　usages　of　the　remote　Indian　nations；　being　　already　familiar　with　many　of　the　border　tribes。　Emerging　from　the　mud…hole　where　we　last　took　leave　of　the　reader；　we　　pursued　our　way　for　some　time　along　the　narrow　track；　in　the　　checkered　sunshine　and　shadow　of　the　woods；　till　at　length；　issuing　　forth　into　the　broad　light；　we　left　behind　us　the　farthest　outskirts　　of　that　great　forest；　that　once　spread　unbroken　from　the　western　　plains　to　the　shore　of　the　Atlantic。　　Looking　over　an　intervening　　belt　of　shrubbery；　we　saw　the　green；　oceanlike　expanse　of　prairie；　　stretching　swell　over　swell　to　the　horizon。　It　was　a　mild；　calm　spring　day；　a　day　when　one　is　more　disposed　to　　musing　and　reverie　than　to　action；　and　the　softest　part　of　his　nature　　is　apt　to　gain　the　ascendency。　　I　rode　in　advance　of　the　party；　as　we　　passed　through　the　shrubbery；　and　as　a　nook　of　green　grass　offered　a　　strong　temptation；　I　dismounted　and　lay　down　there。　　All　the　trees　　and　saplings　were　in　flower；　or　budding　into　fresh　leaf；　the　red　　clusters　of　the　maple…blossoms　and　the　rich　flowers　of　the　Indian　　apple　were　there　in　profusion；　and　I　was　half　inclined　to　regret　　leaving　behind　the　land　of　gardens　for　the　rude　and　stern　scenes　of　　the　prairie　and　the　mountains。　Meanwhile　the　party　came　in　sight　from　out　of　the　bushes。　　Foremost　　rode　Henry　Chatillon；　our　guide　and　hunter；　a　fine　athletic　figure；　　mounted　on　a　hardy　gray　Wyandotte　pony。　　He　wore　a　white　blanket…　coat；　a　broad　hat　of　felt；　moccasins；　and　pantaloons　of　deerskin；　　ornamented　along　the　seams　with　rows　of　long　fringes。　　His　knife　was　　stuck　in　his　belt；　his　bullet…pouch　and　powder…horn　hung　at　his　side；　　and　his　rifle　lay　before　him；　resting　against　the　high　pommel　of　his　　saddle；　which；　like　all　his　equipments；　had　seen　hard　service；　and　　was　much　the　worse　for　wear。　　Shaw　followed　close；　mounted　on　a　　little　sorrel　horse；　and　leading　a　larger　animal　by　a　rope。　　His　　outfit；　which　resembled　mine；　had　been　provided　with　a　view　to　use　　rather　than　ornament。　　It　consisted　of　a　plain；　black　Spanish　saddle；　　with　holsters　of　heavy　pistols；　a　blanket　rolled　up　behind　it；　and　　the　trail…rope　attached　to　his　horse's　neck　hanging　coiled　in　front。　　　He　carried　a　double…barreled　smooth…bore；　while　I　boasted　a　rifle　of　　some　fifteen　pounds'　weight。　　At　that　time　our　attire；　though　far　　from　elegant；　bore　some　marks　of　civilization；　and　offered　a　very　　favorable　contrast　to　the　inimitable　shabbiness　of　our　appearance　on　　the　return　journey。　　A　red　flannel　shirt；　belted　around　the　waist　　like　a　frock；　then　constituted　our　upper　garment；　moccasins　had　　supplanted　our　failing　boots；　and　the　remaining　essential　portion　of　　our　attire　consisted　of　an　extraordinary　article；　manufactured　by　a　　squaw　out　of　smoked　buckskin。　　Our　muleteer；　Delorier；　brought　up　the　　rear　with　his　cart；　waddling　ankle…deep　in　the　mud；　alternately　　puffing　at　his　pipe；　and　ejaculating　in　his　prairie　patois：　'Sacre　　enfant　de　garce！〃　as　one　of　the　mules　would　seem　to　recoil　before　　some　abyss　of　unusual　profundity。　　The　cart　was　of　the　kind　that　one　　may　see　by　scores　around　the　market…place　in　Montreal；　and　had　a　　white　covering　to　protect　the　articles　within。　　These　were　our　　provisions　and　a　tent；　with　ammunition；　blankets；　and　presents　for　　the　Indians。　We　were　in　all　four　men　with　eight　animals；　for　besides　the　spare　　horses　led　by　Shaw　and　myself；　an　additional　mule　was　driven　along　　with　us　as　a　reserve　in　case　of　accident。　After　this　summing　up　of　our　forces；　it　may　not　be　amiss　to　glance　at　　the　characters　of　the　two　men　who　accompanied　us。　Delorier　was　a　Canadian；　with　all　the　characteristics　of　the　true　　Jean　Baptiste。　　Neither　fatigue；　exposure；　nor　hard　labor　could　ever　　impair　his　cheerfulness　and　gayety；　or　his　obsequious　politeness　to　　his　bourgeois；　and　when　night　came　he　would　sit　down　by　the　fire；　　smoke　his　pipe；　and　tell　stories　with　the　utmost　contentment。　　In　　fact；　the　prairie　was　his　congenial　element。　　Henry　Chatillon　was　of　　a　different　stamp。