the oregon trail-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　of　his　children；　of　whom　he　was　extremely　　fond。　　To　have　refused　him　this　would　have　been　gross　inhumanity。　　We　　abandoned　our　plan　of　joining　Smoke's　village；　and　of　proceeding　with　　it　to　the　rendezvous；　and　determined　to　meet　The　Whirlwind；　and　go　in　　his　company。　I　had　been　slightly　ill　for　several　weeks；　but　on　the　third　night　　after　reaching　Fort　Laramie　a　violent　pain　awoke　me；　and　I　found　　myself　attacked　by　the　same　disorder　that　occasioned　such　heavy　　losses　to　the　army　on　the　Rio　Grande。　　In　a　day　and　a　half　I　was　　reduced　to　extreme　weakness；　so　that　I　could　not　walk　without　pain　　and　effort。　　Having　within　that　time　taken　six　grains　of　opium；　　without　the　least　beneficial　effect；　and　having　no　medical　adviser；　　nor　any　choice　of　diet；　I　resolved　to　throw　myself　upon　Providence　　for　recovery；　using；　without　regard　to　the　disorder；　any　portion　of　　strength　that　might　remain　to　me。　　So　on　the　20th　of　June　we　set　out　　from　Fort　Laramie　to　meet　The　Whirlwind's　village。　　Though　aided　by　　the　high…bowed　〃mountain　saddle；〃　I　could　scarcely　keep　my　seat　on　　horseback。　　Before　we　left　the　fort　we　hired　another　man；　a　long…　haired　Canadian；　with　a　face　like　an　owl's；　contrasting　oddly　enough　　with　Delorier's　mercurial　countenance。　　This　was　not　the　only　re…　enforcement　to　our　party。　　A　vagrant　Indian　trader；　named　Reynal；　　joined　us；　together　with　his　squaw　Margot；　and　her　two　nephews；　our　　dandy　friend；　The　Horse；　and　his　younger　brother；　The　Hail　Storm。　　　Thus　accompanied；　we　betook　ourselves　to　the　prairie；　leaving　the　　beaten　trail；　and　passing　over　the　desolate　hills　that　flank　the　　bottoms　of　Laramie　Creek。　　In　all；　Indians　and　whites；　we　counted　　eight　men　and　one　woman。　Reynal；　the　trader；　the　image　of　sleek　and　selfish　complacency；　　carried　The　Horse's　dragoon　sword　in　his　hand；　delighting　apparently　　in　this　useless　parade；　for；　from　spending　half　his　life　among　　Indians；　he　had　caught　not　only　their　habits　but　their　ideas。　　　Margot；　a　female　animal　of　more　than　two　hundred　pounds'　weight；　was　　couched　in　the　basket　of　a　travail；　such　as　I　have　before　described；　　besides　her　ponderous　bulk；　various　domestic　utensils　were　attached　　to　the　vehicle；　and　she　was　leading　by　a　trail…rope　a　packhorse；　who　　carried　the　covering　of　Reynal's　lodge。　　Delorier　walked　briskly　by　　the　side　of　the　cart；　and　Raymond　came　behind；　swearing　at　the　spare　　horses；　which　it　was　his　business　to　drive。　　The　restless　young　　Indians；　their　quivers　at　their　backs；　and　their　bows　in　their　hand；　　galloped　over　the　hills；　often　starting　a　wolf　or　an　antelope　from　　the　thick　growth　of　wild…sage　bushes。　　Shaw　and　I　were　in　keeping　　with　the　rest　of　the　rude　cavalcade；　having　in　the　absence　of　other　　clothing　adopted　the　buckskin　attire　of　the　trappers。　　Henry　　Chatillon　rode　in　advance　of　the　whole。　　Thus　we　passed　hill　after　　hill　and　hollow　after　hollow；　a　country　arid；　broken　and　so　parched　　by　the　sun　that　none　of　the　plants　familiar　to　our　more　favored　soil　　would　flourish　upon　it；　though　there　were　multitudes　of　strange　　medicinal　herbs；　more　especially　the　absanth；　which　covered　every　　declivity；　and　cacti　were　hanging　like　reptiles　at　the　edges　of　every　　ravine。　　At　length　we　ascended　a　high　hill；　our　horses　treading　upon　　pebbles　of　flint；　agate；　and　rough　jasper；　until；　gaining　the　top；　we　　looked　down　on　the　wild　bottoms　of　Laramie　Creek；　which　far　below　us　　wound　like　a　writhing　snake　from　side　to　side　of　the　narrow　interval；　　amid　a　growth　of　shattered　cotton…wood　and　ash　trees。　　Lines　of　tall　　cliffs；　white　as　chalk；　shut　in　this　green　strip　of　woods　and　meadow　　land；　into　which　we　descended　and　encamped　for　the　night。　　In　the　　morning　we　passed　a　wide　grassy　plain　by　the　river；　there　was　a　grove　　in　front；　and　beneath　its　shadows　the　ruins　of　an　old　trading　fort　of　　logs。　　The　grove　bloomed　with　myriads　of　wild　roses；　with　their　sweet　　perfume　fraught　with　recollections　of　home。　　As　we　emerged　from　the　　trees；　a　rattlesnake；　as　large　as　a　man's　arm；　and　more　than　four　　feet　long；　lay　coiled　on　a　rock；　fiercely　rattling　and　hissing　at　us；　　a　gray　hare；　double　the　size　of　those　in　New　England；　leaped　up　from　　the　tall　ferns；　curlew　were　screaming　over　our　heads；　and　a　whole　　host　of　little　prairie　dogs　sat　yelping　at　us　at　the　mouths　of　their　　burrows　on　the　dry　plain　beyond。　　Suddenly　an　antelope　leaped　up　from　　the　wild…sage　bushes；　gazed　eagerly　at　us；　and　then；　erecting　his　　white　tail；　stretched　away　like　a　greyhound。　　The　two　Indian　boys　　found　a　white　wolf；　as　large　as　a　calf　in　a　hollow；　and　giving　a　　sharp　yell；　they　galloped　after　him；　but　the　wolf　leaped　into　the　　stream　and　swam　across。　　Then　came　the　crack　of　a　rifle；　the　bullet　　whistling　harmlessly　over　his　head；　as　he　scrambled　up　the　steep　　declivity；　rattling　down　stones　and　earth　into　the　water　below。　　　Advancing　a　little；　we　beheld　on　the　farther　bank　of　the　stream；　a　　spectacle　not　common　even　in　that　region；　for；　emerging　from　among　　the　trees；　a　herd　of　some　two　hundred　elk　came　out　upon　the　meadow；　　their　antlers　clattering　as　they　walked　forward　in　dense　throng。　　　Seeing　us；　they　broke　into　a　run；　rushing　across　the　opening　and　　disappearing　among　the　trees　and　scattered　groves。　　On　our　left　was　a　　barren　prairie；　stretching　to　the　horizon；　on　our　right；　a　deep　gulf；　　with　Laramie　Creek　at　the　bottom。　　We　found　ourselves　at　length　at　　the　edge　of　a　steep　descent；　a　narrow　valley；　with　long　rank　grass　　and　scattered　trees　stretching　before　us　for　a　mile　or　more　along　the　　course　of　the　stream。　　Reaching　the　farther　end；　we　stopped　and　　encamped。　　An　old　huge　cotton…wood　tree　spread　its　branches　　horizontally　over　our　tent。　　Laramie　Creek；　circling　before　our　camp；　　half　inclosed　us；　it　swept　along　the　bottom　of　a　line　of　tall　white　　cliffs　that　looked　down　on　us　from　the　farther　bank。　　There　were　　dense　copses　on　our　right；　the　cliffs；　too；　were　half　hidden　by　　shrubbery；　though　behind　us　a　few　cotton…wood　trees；　dotting　the　　green　prairie；　alone　impeded　the　view；　and　friend　or　enemy　could　be　　discerned　in　that　direction　at　a　mile's　distance。　　Here　we　resolved　　to　remain　and　await　the　arrival　of　The　Whirlwind；　who　would　certainly　　pass　this　way　in　his　progress　toward　La　Bonte's　Camp。　　To　go　in　　search　of　him　was　not　expedient；　both　on　account　of　the　broken　and　　impracticable　nature　of　the　country　and　the　uncertainty　of　his　　position　and　movements；　besides；　our　horses　were　almost　worn　out；　and　　I　was　in　no　condition　to　travel。　　We　had　good　grass；　good　water；　　tolerable　fish　from　the　stream；　and　plenty　of　smaller　game；　such　as　　antelope　and　deer；　though　no　buffalo。　　There　was　one　little　drawback　　to　our　satisfactiona　certain　extensive　tract　of　bushes　and　dried　　grass；　just　behind　us；　which　it　was　by　no　means　advisable　to　enter；　　since　it　sheltered　a　numerous　brood　of　rattlesnakes。　　Henry　Chatillon　　again　dispatched　The　Horse　to　the　village；　with　a　message　to　his　　squaw　that　she　and　her　relatives　should　leave　the　rest　and　push　on　as　　rapidly　as　possible　to　our　camp。　Our　daily　routine　soon　became　as　regular　as　that　of　a　well…ordered　　household。　　The　weather…beaten　old　tree　was　in　the　center；　our　rifles　　generally　rested　against　its　vast　trunk；　and　our　saddles　were　flung　　on　the　ground　around　it；　its　distorted　roots　were　so　twisted　as　to　　form　one　or　two　convenient　arm…chairs；　where　we　could　sit　in　the　　shade　and　read　or　smoke；　but　meal…times　became；　on　the　whole；　the　　most　interesting　hours　of　the　day；　and　a　bountiful　provision　was　made　　for　them。　　An　antelope　or　a　deer　usually　swung　from　a　stout　bough；　　and　haunches　were　suspended　against　the　trunk。　　That　camp　is　　daguerreotyped　on　my　memory；　the　old　tree；　the　white　tent；　with　Shaw　　sleeping　in　the　shadow　of　it；　and　Reynal's　miserable　lodge　close　by　　the　bank　of　the　stream。　　It　was　a　wretched　oven…shaped　structure；　　made　of　begrimed　and　tattered　buffalo　hides　stretched　over　a　frame　of　　poles；　one　side　was　open；　and　at　the　side　of　the　opening　hung　the　　powder　horn　and　bullet　pouch　of　the　owner；　together　with　his　long　red　　pipe；　and　a　rich　quiver　of　otterskin；　with　a　bow　and　arrows；　for　　Reynal；　an　Indian　in　most　things　but　color；　chose　to　hunt　buffalo　　with　these　primitive　weapons。　　In　the　darkness　of　this　cavern…like　　habitation；　might　be　discerned　Madame　Margot；　her　overgrown　bulk　　stowed　away　among　her　domestic　implements；　furs；　robes；　blankets；　and　　painted　cases　of　PAR'　FLECHE；　in　which　dried　meat　is　kept。　　Here　she　　sat　from　sunrise　to　sunset；　a　bloated　impersonation　of　gluttony　and　　laziness；　while　her　affectionate　proprietor　was　smoking；　or　begging　　petty　gifts　from　us；　or　telling　lies　concerning　his　own　achievements；　　or　perchance　engaged　in　the　more　profitable　occupation　of　cooking　　some　preparation　of　prairie　delicacies。　　Reynal　was　an　adept　at　this　　work；　he　and　Delorier　have　joined　forces　and　are　hard　at　work　　together　over　the　fire；　while　Raymond　spreads；　by　way　of　tablecloth；　　a　buffalo　hide；　carefully　whitened　with　pipeclay；　on　the　grass　before　　the　tent。　　Here；　with　ostentatious　display；　he　arranges　the　teacups　　and　plates；　and　then；　creeping　on　all　fours　like　a　dog；　he　thrusts　　his　head　in　at　the　opening　of　the　tent。　　For　a　moment　we　see　his　　round　owlish　eyes　rolling　wildly；　as　if　the　idea　he　came　to　　communicate　had　suddenly　escaped　him；　then　collecting　his　scattered　　thoughts；　as　if　by　an　effort；　he　informs　us　that　supper　is　ready；　and　　instantly　withdraws。　When　sunset　came；　and　at　that　hour　the　wild　and　desolate　scene　would　　assume　a　new　aspect；　the　horses　were　driven　in。　　They　had　been　　grazing　all　day　in　the　neighboring　meadow；　but　now　they　were　picketed　　close　about　the　camp。　　As　the　prairie　darkened　we　sat　and　conversed　　around　the　fire；　until　becoming　drowsy　we　spread　our　saddles　on　the　　ground；　wrapped　our　blankets　around　us　and　lay　down。　　We　never　placed　　a　guard；　having　by　this　time　become　too　indolent；　but　Henry　Chatillon　　folded　his　loaded　rifle　in　the　same　blanket　with　himself；　observing　　that　he　always　took　it　to　bed　with　him　when　he　camped　in　that　place。　　　Henry　was　too　bold　a　man　to　use　such　a　precaution　without　good　cause。　　　We　had　a　hint　now　and　then　that　our　situation　was　none　of　the　safest；　　several　Crow　war　parties　were　known　to　be　in　the　vicinity；　and　one　of　　them；　that　passed　here　som