the oregon trail-第43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！


pe；　or　sometimes　to　assail　　straggling　buffalo；　on　foot；　an　attempt　in　which　we　met　with　rather　　indifferent　success。　　To　kill　a　bull　with　a　rifle…ball　is　a　difficult　　art；　in　the　secret　of　which　I　was　as　yet　very　imperfectly　initiated。　　　As　I　came　out　of　Kongra…Tonga's　lodge　one　morning；　Reynal　called　to　　me　from　the　opposite　side　of　the　village；　and　asked　me　over　to　　breakfast。　　The　breakfast　was　a　substantial　one。　　It　consisted　of　the　　rich；　juicy　hump…ribs　of　a　fat　cow；　a　repast　absolutely　unrivaled。　　　It　was　roasting　before　the　fire；　impaled　upon　a　stout　stick；　which　　Reynal　took　up　and　planted　in　the　ground　before　his　lodge；　when　he；　　with　Raymond　and　myself；　taking　our　seats　around　it；　unsheathed　our　　knives　and　assailed　it　with　good　will。　　It　spite　of　all　medical　　experience；　this　solid　fare；　without　bread　or　salt；　seemed　to　agree　　with　me　admirably。　〃We　shall　have　strangers　here　before　night；〃　said　Reynal。　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　I　asked。　〃I　dreamed　so。　　I　am　as　good　at　dreaming　as　an　Indian。　　There　is　the　　Hail…Storm；　he　dreamed　the　same　thing；　and　he　and　his　crony；　the　　Rabbit；　have　gone　out　on　discovery。〃　I　laughed　at　Reynal　for　his　credulity；　went　over　to　my　host's　lodge；　　took　down　my　rifle；　walked　out　a　mile　or　two　on　the　prairie；　saw　an　　old　bull　standing　alone；　crawled　up　a　ravine；　shot　him　and　saw　him　　escape。　　Then；　quite　exhausted　and　rather　ill…humored；　I　walked　back　　to　the　village。　　By　a　strange　coincidence；　Reynal's　prediction　had　　been　verified；　for　the　first　persons　whom　I　saw　were　the　two　　trappers；　Rouleau　and　Saraphin；　coming　to　meet　me。　　These　men；　as　the　　reader　may　possibly　recollect；　had　left　our　party　about　a　fortnight　　before。　　They　had　been　trapping　for　a　while　among　the　Black　Hills；　　and　were　now　on　their　way　to　the　Rocky　Mountains；　intending　in　a　day　　or　two　to　set　out　for　the　neighboring　Medicine　Bow。　　They　were　not　　the　most　elegant　or　refined　of　companions；　yet　they　made　a　very　　welcome　addition　to　the　limited　society　of　the　village。　　For　the　rest　　of　that　day　we　lay　smoking　and　talking　in　Reynal's　lodge。　　This　　indeed　was　no　better　than　a　little　hut；　made　of　hides　stretched　on　　poles；　and　entirely　open　in　front。　　It　was　well　carpeted　with　soft　　buffalo　robes；　and　here　we　remained；　sheltered　from　the　sun；　　surrounded　by　various　domestic　utensils　of　Madame　Margot's　household。　　　All　was　quiet　in　the　village。　　Though　the　hunters　had　not　gone　out　　that　day；　they　lay　sleeping　in　their　lodges；　and　most　of　the　women　　were　silently　engaged　in　their　heavy　tasks。　　A　few　young　men　were　　playing　a　lazy　game　of　ball　in　the　center　of　the　village；　and　when　　they　became　tired；　some　girls　supplied　their　place　with　a　more　　boisterous　sport。　　At　a　little　distance；　among　the　lodges；　some　　children　and　half…grown　squaws　were　playfully　tossing　up　one　of　their　　number　in　a　buffalo　robe；　an　exact　counterpart　of　the　ancient　pastime　　from　which　Sancho　Panza　suffered　so　much。　　Farther　out　on　the　　prairie；　a　host　of　little　naked　boys　were　roaming　about；　engaged　in　　various　rough　games；　or　pursuing　birds　and　ground…squirrels　with　　their　bows　and　arrows；　and　woe　to　the　unhappy　little　animals　that　　fell　into　their　merciless；　torture…loving　hands！　　A　squaw　from　the　　next　lodge；　a　notable　active　housewife　named　Weah　Washtay；　or　the　　Good　Woman；　brought　us　a　large　bowl　of　wasna；　and　went　into　an　　ecstasy　of　delight　when　I　presented　her　with　a　green　glass　ring；　such　　as　I　usually　wore　with　a　view　to　similar　occasions。　The　sun　went　down　and　half　the　sky　was　growing　fiery　red；　reflected　　on　the　little　stream　as　it　wound　away　among　the　sagebushes。　　Some　　young　men　left　the　village；　and　soon　returned；　driving　in　before　them　　all　the　horses；　hundreds　in　number；　and　of　every　size；　age；　and　　color。　　The　hunters　came　out；　and　each　securing　those　that　belonged　　to　him；　examined　their　condition；　and　tied　them　fast　by　long　cords　to　　stakes　driven　in　front　of　his　lodge。　　It　was　half　an　hour　before　the　　bustle　subsided　and　tranquillity　was　restored　again。　　By　this　time　it　　was　nearly　dark。　　Kettles　were　hung　over　the　blazing　fires；　around　　which　the　squaws　were　gathered　with　their　children；　laughing　and　　talking　merrily。　　A　circle　of　a　different　kind　was　formed　in　the　　center　of　the　village。　　This　was　composed　of　the　old　men　and　warriors　　of　repute；　who　with　their　white　buffalo　robes　drawn　close　around　　their　shoulders；　sat　together；　and　as　the　pipe　passed　from　hand　to　　hand；　their　conversation　had　not　a　particle　of　the　gravity　and　　reserve　usually　ascribed　to　Indians。　　I　sat　down　with　them　as　usual。　　　I　had　in　my　hand　half　a　dozen　squibs　and　serpents；　which　I　had　made　　one　day　when　encamped　upon　Laramie　Creek；　out　of　gunpowder　and　　charcoal；　and　the　leaves　of　〃Fremont's　Expedition；〃　rolled　round　a　　stout　lead　pencil。　　I　waited　till　I　contrived　to　get　hold　of　the　　large　piece　of　burning　BOIS　DE　VACHE　which　the　Indians　kept　by　them　　on　the　ground　for　lighting　their　pipes。　　With　this　I　lighted　all　the　　fireworks　at　once；　and　tossed　them　whizzing　and　sputtering　into　the　　air；　over　the　heads　of　the　company。　　They　all　jumped　up　and　ran　off　　with　yelps　of　astonishment　and　consternation。　　After　a　moment　or　two；　　they　ventured　to　come　back　one　by　one；　and　some　of　the　boldest；　　picking　up　the　cases　of　burnt　paper　that　were　scattered　about；　　examined　them　with　eager　curiosity　to　discover　their　mysterious　　secret。　　From　that　time　forward　I　enjoyed　great　repute　as　a　〃fire…　medicine。〃　The　camp　was　filled　with　the　low　hum　of　cheerful　voices。　　There　were　　other　sounds；　however；　of　a　very　different　kind；　for　from　a　large　　lodge；　lighted　up　like　a　gigantic　lantern　by　the　blazing　fire　within；　　came　a　chorus　of　dismal　cries　and　wailings；　long　drawn　out；　like　the　　howling　of　wolves；　and　a　woman；　almost　naked；　was　crouching　close　　outside；　crying　violently；　and　gashing　her　legs　with　a　knife　till　　they　were　covered　with　blood。　　Just　a　year　before；　a　young　man　　belonging　to　this　family　had　gone　out　with　a　war　party　and　had　been　　slain　by　the　enemy；　and　his　relatives　were　thus　lamenting　his　loss。　　　Still　other　sounds　might　be　heard；　loud　earnest　cries　often　repeated　　from　amid　the　gloom；　at　a　distance　beyond　the　village。　　They　　proceeded　from　some　young　men　who；　being　about　to　set　out　in　a　few　　days　on　a　warlike　expedition；　were　standing　at　the　top　of　a　hill；　　calling　on　the　Great　Spirit　to　aid　them　in　their　enterprise。　　While　I　　was　listening；　Rouleau；　with　a　laugh　on　his　careless　face；　called　to　　me　and　directed　my　attention　to　another　quarter。　　In　front　of　the　　lodge　where　Weah　Washtay　lived　another　squaw　was　standing；　angrily　　scolding　an　old　yellow　dog；　who　lay　on　the　ground　with　his　nose　　resting　between　his　paws；　and　his　eyes　turned　sleepily　up　to　her　　face；　as　if　he　were　pretending　to　give　respectful　attention；　but　　resolved　to　fall　asleep　as　soon　as　it　was　all　over。　〃You　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself！〃　said　the　old　woman。　　〃I　have　　fed　you　well；　and　taken　care　of　you　ever　since　you　were　small　and　　blind；　and　could　only　crawl　about　and　squeal　a　little；　instead　of　　howling　as　you　do　now。　　When　you　grew　old；　I　said　you　were　a　good　　dog。　　You　were　strong　and　gentle　when　the　load　was　put　on　your　back；　　and　you　never　ran　among　the　feet　of　the　horses　when　we　were　all　　traveling　together　over　the　prairie。　　But　you　had　a　bad　heart！　　　Whenever　a　rabbit　jumped　out　of　the　bushes；　you　were　always　the　first　　to　run　after　him　and　lead　away　all　the　other　dogs　behind　you。　　You　　ought　to　have　known　that　it　was　very　dangerous　to　act　so。　　When　you　　had　got　far　out　on　the　prairie；　and　no　one　was　near　to　help　you；　　perhaps　a　wolf　would　jump　out　of　the　ravine；　and　then　what　could　you　　do？　　You　would　certainly　have　been　killed；　for　no　dog　can　fight　well　　with　a　load　on　his　back。　　Only　three　days　ago　you　ran　off　in　that　　way；　and　turned　over　the　bag　of　wooden　pins　with　which　I　used　to　　fasten　up　the　front　of　the　lodge。　　Look　up　there；　and　you　will　see　　that　it　is　all　flapping　open。　　And　now　to…night　you　have　stolen　a　　great　piece　of　fat　meat　which　was　roasting　before　the　fire　for　my　　children。　　I　tell　you；　you　have　a　bad　heart；　and　you　must　die！〃　So　saying；　the　squaw　went　into　the　lodge；　and　coming　out　with　a　large　　stone　mallet；　killed　the　unfortunate　dog　at　one　blow。　　This　speech　is　　worthy　of　notice　as　illustrating　a　curious　characteristic　of　the　　Indians：　the　ascribing　intelligence　and　a　power　of　understanding　　speech　to　the　inferior　animals；　to　whom；　indeed；　according　to　many　of　　their　traditions；　they　are　linked　in　close　affinity；　and　they　even　　claim　the　honor　of　a　lineal　descent　from　bears；　wolves；　deer；　or　　tortoises。　As　it　grew　late；　and　the　crowded　population　began　to　disappear；　I　too　　walked　across　the　village　to　the　lodge　of　my　host；　Kongra…Tonga。　　As　　I　entered　I　saw　him；　by　the　flickering　blaze　of　the　fire　in　the　　center；　reclining　half　asleep　in　his　usual　place。　　His　couch　was　by　　no　means　an　uncomfortable　one。　　It　consisted　of　soft　buffalo　robes　　laid　together　on　the　ground；　and　a　pillow　made　of　whitened　deerskin　　stuffed　with　feathers　and　ornamented　with　beads。　　At　his　back　was　a　　light　framework　of　poles　and　slender　reeds；　against　which　he　could　　lean　with　ease　when　in　a　sitting　posture；　and　at　the　top　of　it；　just　　above　his　head；　his　bow　and　quiver　were　hanging。　　His　squaw；　a　　laughing；　broad…faced　woman；　apparently　had　not　yet　completed　her　　domestic　arrangements；　for　she　was　bustling　about　the　lodge；　pulling　　over　the　utensils　and　the　bales　of　dried　meats　that　were　ranged　　carefully　round　it。　　Unhappily；　she　and　her　partner　were　not　the　only　　tenants　of　the　dwelling；　for　half　a　dozen　children　were　scattered　　about；　sleeping　in　every　imaginable　posture。　　My　saddle　was　in　its　　place　at　the　head　of　the　lodge　and　a　buffalo　robe　was　spread　on　the　　ground　before　it。　　Wrapping　myself　in　my　blanket　I　lay　down；　but　had　　I　not　been　extremely　fatigued　the　noise　in　the　next　lodge　would　have　　prevented　my　sleeping。　　There　was　the　monotonous　thumping　of　the　　Indian　drum；　mixed　with　occasional　sharp　yells；　and　a　chorus　chanted　　by　twenty　voices。　　A　grand　scene　of　gambling　was　going　forward　with　　all　the　appropriate　formalities。　　The　players　were　staking　on　the　　chance　issue　of　the　game　their　ornaments；　their　horses；　and　as　the　　excitement　rose；　their　garments；　and　even　their　weap