the oregon trail-第33部分

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　worn　an　　aspect　of　more　dreary　and　forlorn　barrenness。　　There　were　abrupt　　broken　hills；　deep　hollows；　and　wide　plains；　but　all　alike　glared　　with　an　insupportable　whiteness　under　the　burning　sun。　　The　country；　　as　if　parched　by　the　heat；　had　cracked　into　innumerable　fissures　and　　ravines；　that　not　a　little　impeded　our　progress。　　Their　steep　sides　　were　white　and　raw；　and　along　the　bottom　we　several　times　discovered　　the　broad　tracks　of　the　terrific　grizzly　bear；　nowhere　more　abundant　　than　in　this　region。　　The　ridges　of　the　hills　were　hard　as　rock；　and　　strewn　with　pebbles　of　flint　and　coarse　red　jasper；　looking　from　　them；　there　was　nothing　to　relieve　the　desert　uniformity　of　the　　prospect；　save　here　and　there　a　pine…tree　clinging　at　the　edge　of　a　　ravine；　and　stretching　out　its　rough；　shaggy　arms。　　Under　the　　scorching　heat　these　melancholy　trees　diffused　their　peculiar　　resinous　odor　through　the　sultry　air。　　There　was　something　in　it；　as　　I　approached　them；　that　recalled　old　associations；　the　pine…clad　　mountains　of　New　England；　traversed　in　days　of　health　and　buoyancy；　　rose　like　a　reality　before　my　fancy。　　In　passing　that　arid　waste　I　　was　goaded　with　a　morbid　thirst　produced　by　my　disorder；　and　I　　thought　with　a　longing　desire　on　the　crystal　treasure　poured　in　such　　wasteful　profusion　from　our　thousand　hills。　　Shutting　my　eyes；　I　more　　than　half　believed　that　I　heard　the　deep　plunging　and　gurgling　of　　waters　in　the　bowels　of　the　shaded　rocks。　　I　could　see　their　dark　ice　　glittering　far　down　amid　the　crevices；　and　the　cold　drops　trickling　　from　the　long　green　mosses。　When　noon　came；　we　found　a　little　stream；　with　a　few　trees　and　　bushes；　and　here　we　rested　for　an　hour。　　Then　we　traveled　on；　guided　　by　the　sun；　until；　just　before　sunset；　we　reached　another　stream；　　called　Bitter　Cotton…wood　Creek。　　A　thick　growth　of　bushes　and　old　　storm…beaten　trees　grew　at　intervals　along　its　bank。　　Near　the　foot　　of　one　of　the　trees　we　flung　down　our　saddles；　and　hobbling　our　　horses　turned　them　loose　to　feed。　　The　little　stream　was　clear　and　　swift；　and　ran　musically　on　its　white　sands。　　Small　water　birds　were　　splashing　in　the　shallows；　and　filling　the　air　with　their　cries　and　　flutterings。　　The　sun　was　just　sinking　among　gold　and　crimson　clouds　　behind　Mount　Laramie。　　I　well　remember　how　I　lay　upon　a　log　by　the　　margin　of　the　water；　and　watched　the　restless　motions　of　the　little　　fish　in　a　deep　still　nook　below。　　Strange　to　say；　I　seemed　to　have　　gained　strength　since　the　morning；　and　almost　felt　a　sense　of　　returning　health。　We　built　our　fire。　　Night　came；　and　the　wolves　began　to　howl。　　One　　deep　voice　commenced；　and　it　was　answered　in　awful　responses　from　the　　hills；　the　plains；　and　the　woods　along　the　stream　above　and　below　us。　　　Such　sounds　need　not　and　do　not　disturb　one's　sleep　upon　the　prairie。　　　We　picketed　the　mare　and　the　mule　close　at　our　feet；　and　did　not　wake　　until　daylight。　　Then　we　turned　them　loose；　still　hobbled；　to　feed　　for　an　hour　before　starting。　　We　were　getting　ready　our　morning's　　meal；　when　Raymond　saw　an　antelope　at　half　a　mile's　distance；　and　　said　he　would　go　and　shoot　it。　〃Your　business；〃　said。　　I；　〃is　to　look　after　the　animals。　　I　am　too　　weak　to　do　much；　if　anything　happens　to　them；　and　you　must　keep　　within　sight　of　the　camp。〃　Raymond　promised；　and　set　out　with　his　rifle　in　his　hand。　　The　　animals　had　passed　across　the　stream；　and　were　feeding　among　the　long　　grass　on　the　other　side；　much　tormented　by　the　attacks　of　the　　numerous　large　green…headed　flies。　　As　I　watched　them；　I　saw　them　go　　down　into　a　hollow；　and　as　several　minutes　elapsed　without　their　　reappearing；　I　waded　through　the　stream　to　look　after　them。　　To　my　　vexation　and　alarm　I　discovered　them　at　a　great　distance；　galloping　　away　at　full　speed；　Pauline　in　advance；　with　her　hobbles　broken；　and　　the　mule；　still　fettered；　following　with　awkward　leaps。　　I　fired　my　　rifle　and　shouted　to　recall　Raymond。　　In　a　moment　he　came　running　　through　the　stream；　with　a　red　handkerchief　bound　round　his　head。　　I　　pointed　to　the　fugitives；　and　ordered　him　to　pursue　them。　　Muttering　　a　〃Sacre！〃　between　his　teeth；　he　set　out　at　full　speed；　still　　swinging　his　rifle　in　his　hand。　　I　walked　up　to　the　top　of　a　hill；　　and　looking　away　over　the　prairie；　could　just　distinguish　the　　runaways；　still　at　full　gallop。　　Returning　to　the　fire；　I　sat　down　at　　the　foot　of　a　tree。　　Wearily　and　anxiously　hour　after　hour　passed　　away。　　The　old　loose　bark　dangling　from　the　trunk　behind　me　flapped　　to　and　fro　in　the　wind；　and　the　mosquitoes　kept　up　their　incessant　　drowsy　humming；　but　other　than　this；　there　was　no　sight　nor　sound　of　　life　throughout　the　burning　landscape。　　The　sun　rose　higher　and　　higher；　until　the　shadows　fell　almost　perpendicularly；　and　I　knew　　that　it　must　be　noon。　　It　seemed　scarcely　possible　that　the　animals　　could　be　recovered。　　If　they　were　not；　my　situation　was　one　of　　serious　difficulty。　　Shaw；　when　I　left　him　had　decided　to　move　that　　morning；　but　whither　he　had　not　determined。　　To　look　for　him　would　be　　a　vain　attempt。　　Fort　Laramie　was　forty　miles　distant；　and　I　could　　not　walk　a　mile　without　great　effort。　　Not　then　having　learned　the　　sound　philosophy　of　yielding　to　disproportionate　obstacles；　I　　resolved　to　continue　in　any　event　the　pursuit　of　the　Indians。　　Only　　one　plan　occurred　to　me；　this　was　to　send　Raymond　to　the　fort　with　an　　order　for　more　horses；　while　I　remained　on　the　spot；　awaiting　his　　return；　which　might　take　place　within　three　days。　　But　the　adoption　　of　this　resolution　did　not　wholly　allay　my　anxiety；　for　it　involved　　both　uncertainty　and　danger。　　To　remain　stationary　and　alone　for　　three　days；　in　a　country　full　of　dangerous　Indians；　was　not　the　most　　flattering　of　prospects；　and　protracted　as　my　Indian　hunt　must　be　by　　such　delay；　it　was　not　easy　to　foretell　its　ultimate　result。　　　Revolving　these　matters；　I　grew　hungry；　and　as　our　stock　of　　provisions；　except　four　or　five　pounds　of　flour；　was　by　this　time　　exhausted；　I　left　the　camp　to　see　what　game　I　could　find。　　Nothing　　could　be　seen　except　four　or　five　large　curlew；　which；　with　their　　loud　screaming；　were　wheeling　over　my　head；　and　now　and　then　　alighting　upon　the　prairie。　　I　shot　two　of　them；　and　was　about　　returning；　when　a　startling　sight　caught　my　eye。　　A　small；　dark　　object；　like　a　human　head；　suddenly　appeared；　and　vanished　among　the　　thick　hushes　along　the　stream　below。　　In　that　country　every　stranger　　is　a　suspected　enemy。　　Instinctively　I　threw　forward　the　muzzle　of　my　　rifle。　　In　a　moment　the　bushes　were　violently　shaken；　two　heads；　but　　not　human　heads；　protruded；　and　to　my　great　joy　I　recognized　the　　downcast；　disconsolate　countenance　of　the　black　mule　and　the　yellow　　visage　of　Pauline。　　Raymond　came　upon　the　mule；　pale　and　haggard；　　complaining　of　a　fiery　pain　in　his　chest。　　I　took　charge　of　the　　animals　while　he　kneeled　down　by　the　side　of　the　stream　to　drink。　　He　　had　kept　the　runaways　in　sight　as　far　as　the　Side　Fork　of　Laramie　　Creek；　a　distance　of　more　than　ten　miles；　and　here　with　great　　difficulty　he　had　succeeded　in　catching　them。　　I　saw　that　he　was　　unarmed；　and　asked　him　what　he　had　done　with　his　rifle。　　It　had　　encumbered　him　in　his　pursuit；　and　he　had　dropped　it　on　the　prairie；　　thinking　that　he　could　find　it　on　his　return；　but　in　this　he　had　　failed。　　The　loss　might　prove　a　very　formidable　one。　　I　was　too　much　　rejoiced　however　at　the　recovery　of　the　animals　to　think　much　about　　it；　and　having　made　some　tea　for　Raymond　in　a　tin　vessel　which　we　had　　brought　with　us；　I　told　him　that　I　would　give　him　two　hours　for　　resting　before　we　set　out　again。　　He　had　eaten　nothing　that　day；　but　　having　no　appetite；　he　lay　down　immediately　to　sleep。　　I　picketed　the　　animals　among　the　richest　grass　that　I　could　find；　and　made　fires　of　　green　wood　to　protect　them　from　the　flies；　then　sitting　down　again　by　　the　tree；　I　watched　the　slow　movements　of　the　sun；　begrudging　every　　moment　that　passed。　The　time　I　had　mentioned　expired；　and　I　awoke　Raymond。　　We　saddled　　and　set　out　again；　but　first　we　went　in　search　of　the　lost　rifle；　and　　in　the　course　of　an　hour　Raymond　was　fortunate　enough　to　find　it。　　　Then　we　turned　westward；　and　moved　over　the　hills　and　hollows　at　a　　slow　pace　toward　the　Black　Hills。　　The　heat　no　longer　tormented　us；　　for　a　cloud　was　before　the　sun。　　Yet　that　day　shall　never　be　marked　　with　white　in　my　calendar。　　The　air　began　to　grow　fresh　and　cool；　the　　distant　mountains　frowned　more　gloomily；　there　was　a　low　muttering　of　　thunder；　and　dense　black　masses　of　cloud　rose　heavily　behind　the　　broken　peaks。　　At　first　they　were　gayly　fringed　with　silver　by　the　　afternoon　sun；　but　soon　the　thick　blackness　overspread　the　whole　sky；　　and　the　desert　around　us　was　wrapped　in　deep　gloom。　　I　scarcely　　heeded　it　at　the　time；　but　now　I　cannot　but　feel　that　there　was　an　　awful　sublimity　in　the　hoarse　murmuring　of　the　thunder；　in　the　somber　　shadows　that　involved　the　mountains　and　the　plain。　　The　storm　broke。　　　It　came　upon　us　with　a　zigzag　blinding　flash；　with　a　terrific　crash　　of　thunder；　and　with　a　hurricane　that　howled　over　the　prairie；　　dashing　floods　of　water　against　us。　　Raymond　looked　round；　and　cursed　　the　merciless　elements。　　There　seemed　no　shelter　near；　but　we　　discerned　at　length　a　deep　ravine　gashed　in　the　level　prairie；　and　　saw　half　way　down　its　side　an　old　pine　tree；　whose　rough　horizontal　　boughs　formed　a　sort　of　penthouse　against　the　tempest。　　We　found　a　　practicable　passage；　and　hastily　descending；　fastened　our　animals　to　　some　large　loose　stones　at　the　bottom；　then　climbing　up；　we　drew　our　　blankets　over　our　heads；　and　seated　ourselves　close　beneath　the　old　　tree。　　Perhaps　I　was　no　competent　judge　of　time；　but　it　seemed　to　me　　that　we　were　sitting　there　a　full　hour；　while　around　us　poured　a　　deluge　of　rain；　through　which　the　rocks　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　　gulf　were　barely　visible。　　The　first　burst　of　the　tempest　soon　　subsided；　but　the　rain　poured　steadily。　　At　length　Raymond　grew　　impatient；　and　scrambling　out　of　the　ravine；　he　gained　the　level　　prairie　above。　〃What　does　the　weather　look　like？〃　asked　I；　from　my　seat　under　the　　tree。　〃It　looks　bad；〃　he　answered；　〃dark　all　around；〃　and　again　he　　descended　and　sat　down　by　my　side。　　Some　ten　minutes　elapsed。　〃Go　up