the oregon trail-第32部分

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　I　could　against　　such　a　contingency；　I　resolved　that　I　would　not　under　any　　circumstances　attempt　to　leave　the　country　until　my　object　was　　completely　gained。　And　where　were　the　Indians？　　They　were　assembled　in　great　numbers　at　　a　spot　about　twenty　miles　distant；　and　there　at　that　very　moment　they　　were　engaged　in　their　warlike　ceremonies。　　The　scarcity　of　buffalo　in　　the　vicinity　of　La　Bonte's　Camp；　which　would　render　their　supply　of　　provisions　scanty　and　precarious；　had　probably　prevented　them　from　　assembling　there；　but　of　all　this　we　knew　nothing　until　some　weeks　　after。　Shaw　lashed　his　horse　and　galloped　forward；　I；　though　much　more　vexed　　than　he；　was　not　strong　enough　to　adopt　this　convenient　vent　to　my　　feelings；　so　I　followed　at　a　quiet　pace；　but　in　no　quiet　mood。　　We　　rode　up　to　a　solitary　old　tree；　which　seemed　the　only　place　fit　for　　encampment。　　Half　its　branches　were　dead；　and　the　rest　were　so　　scantily　furnished　with　leaves　that　they　cast　but　a　meager　and　　wretched　shade；　and　the　old　twisted　trunk　alone　furnished　sufficient　　protection　from　the　sun。　　We　threw　down　our　saddles　in　the　strip　of　　shadow　that　it　cast；　and　sat　down　upon　them。　　In　silent　indignation　　we　remained　smoking　for　an　hour　or　more；　shifting　our　saddles　with　　the　shifting　shadow；　for　the　sun　was　intolerably　hot。

CHAPTER　XIII　HUNTING　INDIANS

At　last　we　had　reached　La　Bonte's　Camp；　toward　which　our　eyes　had　　turned　so　long。　　Of　all　weary　hours；　those　that　passed　between　noon　　and　sunset　of　the　day　when　we　arrived　there　may　bear　away　the　palm　of　　exquisite　discomfort。　　I　lay　under　the　tree　reflecting　on　what　course　　to　pursue；　watching　the　shadows　which　seemed　never　to　move；　and　the　　sun　which　remained　fixed　in　the　sky；　and　hoping　every　moment　to　see　　the　men　and　horses　of　Bisonette　emerging　from　the　woods。　　Shaw　and　　Henry　had　ridden　out　on　a　scouting　expedition；　and　did　not　return　　until　the　sun　was　setting。　　There　was　nothing　very　cheering　in　their　　faces　nor　in　the　news　they　brought。　〃We　have　been　ten　miles　from　here；〃　said　Shaw。　　〃We　climbed　the　　highest　butte　we　could　find；　and　could　not　see　a　buffalo　or　Indian；　　nothing　but　prairie　for　twenty　miles　around　us。〃　Henry's　horse　was　quite　disabled　by　clambering　up　and　down　the　sides　　of　ravines；　and　Shaw's　was　severely　fatigued。　After　supper　that　evening；　as　we　sat　around　the　fire；　I　proposed　to　　Shaw　to　wait　one　day　longer　in　hopes　of　Bisonette's　arrival；　and　if　　he　should　not　come　to　send　Delorier　with　the　cart　and　baggage　back　to　　Fort　Laramie；　while　we　ourselves　followed　The　Whirlwind's　village　and　　attempted　to　overtake　it　as　it　passed　the　mountains。　　Shaw；　not　　having　the　same　motive　for　hunting　Indians　that　I　had；　was　averse　to　　the　plan；　I　therefore　resolved　to　go　alone。　　This　design　I　adopted　　very　unwillingly；　for　I　knew　that　in　the　present　state　of　my　health　　the　attempt　would　be　extremely　unpleasant；　and；　as　I　considered；　　hazardous。　　I　hoped　that　Bisonette　would　appear　in　the　course　of　the　　following　day；　and　bring　us　some　information　by　which　to　direct　our　　course；　and　enable　me　to　accomplish　my　purpose　by　means　less　　objectionable。　The　rifle　of　Henry　Chatillon　was　necessary　for　the　subsistence　of　the　　party　in　my　absence；　so　I　called　Raymond；　and　ordered　him　to　prepare　　to　set　out　with　me。　　Raymond　rolled　his　eyes　vacantly　about；　but　at　　length；　having　succeeded　in　grappling　with　the　idea；　he　withdrew　to　　his　bed　under　the　cart。　　He　was　a　heavy…molded　fellow；　with　a　broad　　face　exactly　like　an　owl's；　expressing　the　most　impenetrable　　stupidity　and　entire　self…confidence。　　As　for　his　good　qualities；　he　　had　a　sort　of　stubborn　fidelity；　an　insensibility　to　danger；　and　a　　kind　of　instinct　or　sagacity；　which　sometimes　led　him　right；　where　　better　heads　than　his　were　at　a　loss。　　Besides　this；　he　knew　very　　well　how　to　handle　a　rifle　and　picket　a　horse。　Through　the　following　day　the　sun　glared　down　upon　us　with　a　　pitiless；　penetrating　heat。　　The　distant　blue　prairie　seemed　　quivering　under　it。　　The　lodge　of　our　Indian　associates　was　baking　in　　the　rays；　and　our　rifles；　as　they　leaned　against　the　tree；　were　too　　hot　for　the　touch。　　There　was　a　dead　silence　through　our　camp　and　all　　around　it；　unbroken　except　by　the　hum　of　gnats　and　mosquitoes。　　The　　men；　resting　their　foreheads　on　their　arms；　were　sleeping　under　the　　cart。　　The　Indians　kept　close　within　their　lodge　except　the　newly　　married　pair；　who　were　seated　together　under　an　awning　of　buffalo　　robes；　and　the　old　conjurer；　who；　with　his　hard；　emaciated　face　and　　gaunt　ribs；　was　perched　aloft　like　a　turkey…buzzard　among　the　dead　　branches　of　an　old　tree；　constantly　on　the　lookout　for　enemies。　　He　　would　have　made　a　capital　shot。　　A　rifle　bullet；　skillfully　planted；　　would　have　brought　him　tumbling　to　the　ground。　　Surely；　I　thought；　　there　could　be　no　more　harm　in　shooting　such　a　hideous　old　villain；　　to　see　how　ugly　he　would　look　when　he　was　dead；　than　in　shooting　the　　detestable　vulture　which　he　resembled。　　We　dined；　and　then　Shaw　　saddled　his　horse。　〃I　will　ride　back；〃　said　he；　〃to　Horseshoe　Creek；　and　see　if　　Bisonette　is　there。〃　〃I　would　go　with　you；〃　I　answered；　〃but　I　must　reserve　all　the　　strength　I　have。〃　The　afternoon　dragged　away　at　last。　　I　occupied　myself　in　cleaning　my　　rifle　and　pistols；　and　making　other　preparations　for　the　journey。　　　After　supper；　Henry　Chatillon　and　I　lay　by　the　fire；　discussing　the　　properties　of　that　admirable　weapon；　the　rifle；　in　the　use　of　which　　he　could　fairly　outrival　Leatherstocking　himself。　It　was　late　before　I　wrapped　myself　in　my　blanket　and　lay　down　for　　the　night；　with　my　head　on　my　saddle。　　Shaw　had　not　returned；　but　　this　gave　no　uneasiness；　for　we　presumed　that　he　had　fallen　in　with　　Bisonette；　and　was　spending　the　night　with　him。　　For　a　day　or　two　　past　I　had　gained　in　strength　and　health；　but　about　midnight　an　　attack　of　pain　awoke　me；　and　for　some　hours　I　felt　no　inclination　to　　sleep。　　The　moon　was　quivering　on　the　broad　breast　of　the　Platte；　　nothing　could　be　heard　except　those　low　inexplicable　sounds；　like　　whisperings　and　footsteps；　which　no　one　who　has　spent　the　night　alone　　amid　deserts　and　forests　will　be　at　a　loss　to　understand。　　As　I　was　　falling　asleep；　a　familiar　voice；　shouting　from　the　distance；　awoke　　me　again。　　A　rapid　step　approached　the　camp；　and　Shaw　on　foot；　with　　his　gun　in　his　hand；　hastily　entered。　〃Where's　your　horse？〃　said　I；　raising　myself　on　my　elbow。　〃Lost！〃　said　Shaw。　　〃Where's　Delorier？〃　〃There；〃　I　replied；　pointing　to　a　confused　mass　of　blankets　and　　buffalo　robes。　Shaw　touched　them　with　the　butt　of　his　gun；　and　up　sprang　our　　faithful　Canadian。　〃Come；　Delorier；　stir　up　the　fire；　and　get　me　something　to　eat。〃　〃Where's　Bisonette？〃　asked　I。　〃The　Lord　knows；　there's　nobody　at　Horseshoe　Creek。〃　Shaw　had　gone　back　to　the　spot　where　we　had　encamped　two　days　before；　　and　finding　nothing　there　but　the　ashes　of　our　fires；　he　had　tied　his　　horse　to　the　tree　while　he　bathed　in　the　stream。　　Something　startled　　his　horse；　who　broke　loose；　and　for　two　hours　Shaw　tried　in　vain　to　　catch　him。　　Sunset　approached；　and　it　was　twelve　miles　to　camp。　　So　　he　abandoned　the　attempt；　and　set　out　on　foot　to　join　us。　　The　　greater　part　of　his　perilous　and　solitary　work　was　performed　in　　darkness。　　His　moccasins　were　worn　to　tatters　and　his　feet　severely　　lacerated。　　He　sat　down　to　eat；　however；　with　the　usual　equanimity　of　　his　temper　not　at　all　disturbed　by　his　misfortune；　and　my　last　　recollection　before　falling　asleep　was　of　Shaw；　seated　cross…legged　　before　the　fire；　smoking　his　pipe。　　The　horse；　I　may　as　well　mention　　here；　was　found　the　next　morning　by　Henry　Chatillon。　When　I　awoke　again　there　was　a　fresh　damp　smell　in　the　air；　a　gray　　twilight　involved　the　prairie；　and　above　its　eastern　verge　was　a　　streak　of　cold　red　sky。　　I　called　to　the　men；　and　in　a　moment　a　fire　　was　blazing　brightly　in　the　dim　morning　light；　and　breakfast　was　　getting　ready。　　We　sat　down　together　on　the　grass；　to　the　last　　civilized　meal　which　Raymond　and　I　were　destined　to　enjoy　for　some　　time。　〃Now；　bring　in　the　horses。〃　My　little　mare　Pauline　was　soon　standing　by　the　fire。　　She　was　a　　fleet；　hardy；　and　gentle　animal；　christened　after　Paul　Dorion；　from　　whom　I　had　procured　her　in　exchange　for　Pontiac。　　She　did　not　look　as　　if　equipped　for　a　morning　pleasure　ride。　　In　front　of　the　black；　　high…bowed　mountain　saddle；　holsters；　with　heavy　pistols；　were　　fastened。　　A　pair　of　saddle　bags；　a　blanket　tightly　rolled；　a　small　　parcel　of　Indian　presents　tied　up　in　a　buffalo　skin；　a　leather　bag　of　　flour；　and　a　smaller　one　of　tea　were　all　secured　behind；　and　a　long　　trail…rope　was　wound　round　her　neck。　　Raymond　had　a　strong　black　　mule；　equipped　in　a　similar　manner。　　We　crammed　our　powder…horns　to　　the　throat；　and　mounted。　〃I　will　meet　you　at　Fort　Laramie　on　the　1st　of　August；〃　said　I　to　　Shaw。　〃That　is；〃　replied　he；　〃if　we　don't　meet　before　that。　　I　think　I　　shall　follow　after　you　in　a　day　or　two。〃　This　in　fact　he　attempted；　and　he　would　have　succeeded　if　he　had　not　　encountered　obstacles　against　which　his　resolute　spirit　was　of　no　　avail。　　Two　days　after　I　left　him　he　sent　Delorier　to　the　fort　with　　the　cart　and　baggage；　and　set　out　for　the　mountains　with　Henry　　Chatillon；　but　a　tremendons　thunderstorm　had　deluged　the　prairie；　and　　nearly　obliterated　not　only　our　trail　but　that　of　the　Indians　　themselves。　　They　followed　along　the　base　of　the　mountains；　at　a　loss　　in　which　direction　to　go。　　They　encamped　there；　and　in　the　morning　　Shaw　found　himself　poisoned　by　ivy　in　such　a　manner　that　it　was　　impossible　for　him　to　travel。　　So　they　turned　back　reluctantly　toward　　Fort　Laramie。　　Shaw's　limbs　were　swollen　to　double　their　usual　size；　　and　he　rode　in　great　pain。　　They　encamped　again　within　twenty　miles　　of　the　fort；　and　reached　it　early　on　the　following　morning。　　Shaw　lay　　serionsly　ill　for　a　week；　and　remained　at　the　fort　till　I　rejoined　　him　some　time　after。　To　return　to　my　own　story。　　We　shook　hands　with　our　friends；　rode　out　　upon　the　prairie；　and　clambering　the　sandy　hollows　that　were　　channeled　in　the　sides　of　the　hills　gained　the　high　plains　above。　　If　　a　curse　had　been　pronounced　upon　the　land　it　could　not　have　worn　an　　aspect　of　more　dreary　and　forlorn　barrenness。　　There　were　abrupt　　broken　hills；　deep　hollo