the oregon trail-第29部分

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call　him　forth。　　　Mahto…Tatonka　moved　haughtily　away；　all　made　way　for　him；　but　his　　hour　of　reckoning　was　near。　One　hot　day；　five　or　six　years　ago；　numerous　lodges　of　Smoke's　　kinsmen　were　gathered　around　some　of　the　Fur　Company's　men；　who　were　　trading　in　various　articles　with　them；　whisky　among　the　rest。　　Mahto…　Tatonka　was　also　there　with　a　few　of　his　people。　　As　he　lay　in　his　　own　lodge；　a　fray　arose　between　his　adherents　and　the　kinsmen　of　his　　enemy。　　The　war…whoop　was　raised；　bullets　and　arrows　began　to　fly；　　and　the　camp　was　in　confusion。　　The　chief　sprang　up；　and　rushing　in　a　　fury　from　the　lodge　shouted　to　the　combatants　on　both　sides　to　cease。　　　Instantlyfor　the　attack　was　preconcertedcame　the　reports　of　two　　or　three　guns；　and　the　twanging　of　a　dozen　bows；　and　the　savage　hero；　　mortally　wounded；　pitched　forward　headlong　to　the　ground。　　Rouleau　　was　present；　and　told　me　the　particulars。　　The　tumult　became　general；　　and　was　not　quelled　until　several　had　fallen　on　both　sides。　　When　we　　were　in　the　country　the　feud　between　the　two　families　was　still　　rankling；　and　not　likely　soon　to　cease。　Thus　died　Mahto…Tatonka；　but　he　left　behind　him　a　goodly　army　of　　descendants；　to　perpetuate　his　renown　and　avenge　his　fate。　　Besides　　daughters　he　had　thirty　sons；　a　number　which　need　not　stagger　the　　credulity　of　those　who　are　best　acquainted　with　Indian　usages　and　　practices。　　We　saw　many　of　them；　all　marked　by　the　same　dark　　complexion　and　the　same　peculiar　cast　of　features。　　Of　these　our　　visitor；　young　Mahto…Tatonka；　was　the　eldest；　and　some　reported　him　　as　likely　to　succeed　to　his　father's　honors。　　Though　he　appeared　not　　more　than　twenty…one　years　old；　he　had　oftener　struck　the　enemy；　and　　stolen　more　horses　and　more　squaws　than　any　young　man　in　the　village。　　　We　of　the　civilized　world　are　not　apt　to　attach　much　credit　to　the　　latter　species　of　exploits；　but　horse…stealing　is　well　known　as　an　　avenue　to　distinction　on　the　prairies；　and　the　other　kind　of　　depredation　is　esteemed　equally　meritorious。　　Not　that　the　act　can　　confer　fame　from　its　own　intrinsic　merits。　　Any　one　can　steal　a　　squaw；　and　if　he　chooses　afterward　to　make　an　adequate　present　to　her　　rightful　proprietor；　the　easy　husband　for　the　most　part　rests　　content；　his　vengeance　falls　asleep；　and　all　danger　from　that　quarter　　is　averted。　　Yet　this　is　esteemed　but　a　pitiful　and　mean…spirited　　transaction。　　The　danger　is　averted；　but　the　glory　of　the　achievement　　also　is　lost。　　Mahto…Tatonka　proceeded　after　a　more　gallant　and　　dashing　fashion。　　Out　of　several　dozen　squaws　whom　he　had　stolen；　he　　could　boast　that　he　had　never　paid　for　one；　but　snapping　his　fingers　　in　the　face　of　the　injured　husband；　had　defied　the　extremity　of　his　　indignation；　and　no　one　yet　had　dared　to　lay　the　finger　of　violence　　upon　him。　　He　was　following　close　in　the　footsteps　of　his　father。　　　The　young　men　and　the　young　squaws；　each　in　their　way；　admired　him。　　　The　one　would　always　follow　him　to　war；　and　he　was　esteemed　to　have　　unrivaled　charm　in　the　eyes　of　the　other。　　Perhaps　his　impunity　may　　excite　some　wonder。　　An　arrow　shot　from　a　ravine；　a　stab　given　in　the　　dark；　require　no　great　valor；　and　are　especially　suited　to　the　Indian　　genius；　but　Mahto…Tatonka　had　a　strong　protection。　　It　was　not　alone　　his　courage　and　audacious　will　that　enabled　him　to　career　so　　dashingly　among　his　compeers。　　His　enemies　did　not　forget　that　he　was　　one　of　thirty　warlike　brethren；　all　growing　up　to　manhood。　　Should　　they　wreak　their　anger　upon　him；　many　keen　eyes　would　be　ever　upon　　them；　many　fierce　hearts　would　thirst　for　their　blood。　　The　avenger　　would　dog　their　footsteps　everywhere。　　To　kill　Mahto…Tatonka　would　be　　no　better　than　an　act　of　suicide。　Though　he　found　such　favor　in　the　eyes　of　the　fair；　he　was　no　dandy。　　　As　among　us　those　of　highest　worth　and　breeding　are　most　simple　in　　manner　and　attire；　so　our　aspiring　young　friend　was　indifferent　to　　the　gaudy　trappings　and　ornaments　of　his　companions。　　He　was　content　　to　rest　his　chances　of　success　upon　his　own　warlike　merits。　　He　never　　arrayed　himself　in　gaudy　blanket　and　glittering　necklaces；　but　left　　his　statue…like　form；　limbed　like　an　Apollo　of　bronze；　to　win　its　way　　to　favor。　　His　voice　was　singularly　deep　and　strong。　　It　sounded　from　　his　chest　like　the　deep　notes　of　an　organ。　　Yet　after　all；　he　was　but　　an　Indian。　　See　him　as　he　lies　there　in　the　sun　before　our　tent；　　kicking　his　heels　in　the　air　and　cracking　jokes　with　his　brother。　　　Does　he　look　like　a　hero？　　See　him　now　in　the　hour　of　his　glory；　when　　at　sunset　the　whole　village　empties　itself　to　behold　him；　for　to…　morrow　their　favorite　young　partisan　goes　out　against　the　enemy。　　His　　superb　headdress　is　adorned　with　a　crest　of　the　war　eagle's　feathers；　　rising　in　a　waving　ridge　above　his　brow；　and　sweeping　far　behind　him。　　　His　round　white　shield　hangs　at　his　breast；　with　feathers　radiating　　from　the　center　like　a　star。　　His　quiver　is　at　his　back；　his　tall　　lance　in　his　hand；　the　iron　point　flashing　against　the　declining　sun；　　while　the　long　scalp…locks　of　his　enemies　flutter　from　the　shaft。　　　Thus；　gorgeous　as　a　champion　in　his　panoply；　he　rides　round　and　round　　within　the　great　circle　of　lodges；　balancing　with　a　graceful　buoyancy　　to　the　free　movements　of　his　war　horse；　while　with　a　sedate　brow　he　　sings　his　song　to　the　Great　Spirit。　　Young　rival　warriors　look　　askance　at　him；　vermilion…cheeked　girls　gaze　in　admiration；　boys　　whoop　and　scream　in　a　thrill　of　delight；　and　old　women　yell　forth　his　　name　and　proclaim　his　praises　from　lodge　to　lodge。　Mahto…Tatonka；　to　come　back　to　him；　was　the　best　of　all　our　Indian　　friends。　　Hour　after　hour　and　day　after　day；　when　swarms　of　savages　　of　every　age；　sex；　and　degree　beset　our　camp；　he　would　lie　in　our　　tent；　his　lynx　eye　ever　open　to　guard　our　property　from　pillage。　The　Whirlwind　invited　us　one　day　to　his　lodge。　　The　feast　was　　finished；　and　the　pipe　began　to　circulate。　　It　was　a　remarkably　large　　and　fine　one；　and　I　expressed　my　admiration　of　its　form　and　　dimensions。　〃If　the　Meneaska　likes　the　pipe；〃　asked　The　Whirlwind；　〃why　does　he　　not　keep　it？〃　Such　a　pipe　among　the　Ogallalla　is　valued　at　the　price　of　a　horse。　　A　　princely　gift；　thinks　the　reader；　and　worthy　of　a　chieftain　and　a　　warrior。　　The　Whirlwind's　generosity　rose　to　no　such　pitch。　　He　gave　　me　the　pipe；　confidently　expecting　that　I　in　return　should　make　him　a　　present　of　equal　or　superior　value。　　This　is　the　implied　condition　of　　every　gift　among　the　Indians　as　among　the　Orientals；　and　should　it　　not　be　complied　with　the　present　is　usually　reclaimed　by　the　giver。　　　So　I　arranged　upon　a　gaudy　calico　handkerchief；　an　assortment　of　　vermilion；　tobacco；　knives；　and　gunpowder；　and　summoning　the　chief　to　　camp；　assured　him　of　my　friendship　and　begged　his　acceptance　of　a　　slight　token　of　it。　　Ejaculating　HOW！　HOW！　he　folded　up　the　offerings　　and　withdrew　to　his　lodge。　Several　days　passed　and　we　and　the　Indians　remained　encamped　side　by　　side。　　They　could　not　decide　whether　or　not　to　go　to　war。　　Toward　　evening；　scores　of　them　would　surround　our　tent；　a　picturesque　group。　　　Late　one　afternoon　a　party　of　them　mounted　on　horseback　came　suddenly　　in　sight　from　behind　some　clumps　of　bushes　that　lined　the　bank　of　the　　stream；　leading　with　them　a　mule；　on　whose　back　was　a　wretched　negro；　　only　sustained　in　his　seat　by　the　high　pommel　and　cantle　of　the　　Indian　saddle。　　His　cheeks　were　withered　and　shrunken　in　the　hollow　　of　his　jaws；　his　eyes　were　unnaturally　dilated；　and　his　lips　seemed　　shriveled　and　drawn　back　from　his　teeth　like　those　of　a　corpse。　　When　　they　brought　him　up　before　our　tent；　and　lifted　him　from　the　saddle；　　he　could　not　walk　or　stand；　but　he　crawled　a　short　distance；　and　with　　a　look　of　utter　misery　sat　down　on　the　grass。　　All　the　children　and　　women　came　pouring　out　of　the　lodges　round　us；　and　with　screams　and　　cries　made　a　close　circle　about　him；　while　he　sat　supporting　himself　　with　his　hands；　and　looking　from　side　to　side　with　a　vacant　stare。　　　The　wretch　was　starving　to　death！　　For　thirty…three　days　he　had　　wandered　alone　on　the　prairie；　without　weapon　of　any　kind；　without　　shoes；　moccasins；　or　any　other　clothing　than　an　old　jacket　and　　pantaloons；　without　intelligence　and　skill　to　guide　his　course；　or　　any　knowledge　of　the　productions　of　the　prairie。　　All　this　time　he　　had　subsisted　on　crickets　and　lizards；　wild　onions；　and　three　eggs　　which　he　found　in　the　nest　of　a　prairie　dove。　　He　had　not　seen　a　　human　being。　　Utterly　bewildered　in　the　boundless；　hopeless　desert　　that　stretched　around　him；　offering　to　his　inexperienced　eye　no　mark　　by　which　to　direct　his　course；　he　had　walked　on　in　despair　till　he　　could　walk　no　longer；　and　then　crawled　on　his　knees　until　the　bone　　was　laid　bare。　　He　chose　the　night　for　his　traveling；　lying　down　by　　day　to　sleep　in　the　glaring　sun；　always　dreaming；　as　he　said；　of　the　　broth　and　corn　cake　he　used　to　eat　under　his　old　master's　shed　in　　Missouri。　　Every　man　in　the　camp；　both　white　and　red；　was　astonished　　at　his　wonderful　escape　not　only　from　starvation　but　from　the　grizzly　　bears　which　abound　in　that　neighborhood；　and　the　wolves　which　howled　　around　him　every　night。　Reynal　recognized　him　the　moment　the　Indians　brought　him　in。　　He　had　　run　away　from　his　master　about　a　year　before　and　joined　the　party　of　　M。　Richard；　who　was　then　leaving　the　frontier　for　the　mountains。　　He　　had　lived　with　Richard　ever　since；　until　in　the　end　of　May　he　with　　Reynal　and　several　other　men　went　out　in　search　of　some　stray　horses；　　when　he　got　separated　from　the　rest　in　a　storm；　and　had　never　been　　heard　of　up　to　this　time。　　Knowing　his　inexperience　and　helplessness；　　no　one　dreamed　that　he　could　still　be　living。　　The　Indians　had　found　　him　lying　exhausted　on　the　ground。　As　he　sat　there　with　the　Indians　gazing　silently　on　him；　his　haggard　　face　and　glazed　eye　were　disgusting　to　look　upon。　　Delorier　made　him　　a　bowl　of　gruel；　but　he　suffered　it　to　remain　untasted　before　him。　　　At　length　he　languidly　raised　the　spoon　to　his　lips；　again　he　did　so；　　and　again；　and　then　his　appetite　seemed　suddenly　inflamed　into　　madness；　for　he　seized　the　bowl；　swallowed　all　its　contents　in　a　few　　seconds；　and　eagerly　demanded　meat。　　This　we　refused；　telling　him　to　　wait　until　morning；　but