the oregon trail-第45部分

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　were　seated　　cross…legged　on　a　buffalo　robe　smoking　together　very　amicably；　he　　took　down　his　warlike　equipments；　which　were　hanging　around　the　　lodge；　and　displayed　them　with　great　pride　and　self…importance。　　　Among　the　rest　was　a　most　superb　headdress　of　feathers。　　Taking　this　　from　its　case；　he　put　it　on　and　stood　before　me；　as　if　conscious　of　　the　gallant　air　which　it　gave　to　his　dark　face　and　his　vigorous；　　graceful　figure。　　He　told　me　that　upon　it　were　the　feathers　of　three　　war…eagles；　equal　in　value　to　the　same　number　of　good　horses。　　He　　took　up　also　a　shield　gayly　painted　and　hung　with　feathers。　　The　　effect　of　these　barbaric　ornaments　was　admirable；　for　they　were　　arranged　with　no　little　skill　and　taste。　　His　quiver　was　made　of　the　　spotted　skin　of　a　small　panther；　such　as　are　common　among　the　Black　　Hills；　from　which　the　tail　and　distended　claws　were　still　allowed　to　　hang。　　The　White　Shield　concluded　his　entertainment　in　a　manner　　characteristic　of　an　Indian。　　He　begged　of　me　a　little　powder　and　　ball；　for　he　had　a　gun　as　well　as　bow　and　arrows；　but　this　I　was　　obliged　to　refuse；　because　I　had　scarcely　enough　for　my　own　use。　　　Making　him；　however；　a　parting　present　of　a　paper　of　vermilion；　I　　left　him　apparently　quite　contented。　Unhappily　on　the　next　morning　the　White　Shield　took　cold　and　was　　attacked　with　a　violent　inflammation　of　the　throat。　　Immediately　he　　seemed　to　lose　all　spirit；　and　though　before　no　warrior　in　the　　village　had　borne　himself　more　proudly；　he　now　moped　about　from　lodge　　to　lodge　with　a　forlorn　and　dejected　air。　　At　length　he　came　and　sat　　down；　close　wrapped　in　his　robe；　before　the　lodge　of　Reynal；　but　when　　he　found　that　neither　he　nor　I　knew　how　to　relieve　him；　he　arose　and　　stalked　over　to　one　of　the　medicine…men　of　the　village。　　This　old　　imposter　thumped　him　for　some　time　with　both　fists；　howled　and　yelped　　over　him；　and　beat　a　drum　close　to　his　ear　to　expel　the　evil　spirit　　that　had　taken　possession　of　him。　　This　vigorous　treatment　failing　of　　the　desired　effect；　the　White　Shield　withdrew　to　his　own　lodge；　where　　he　lay　disconsolate　for　some　hours。　　Making　his　appearance　once　more　　in　the　afternoon；　he　again　took　his　seat　on　the　ground　before　　Reynal's　lodge；　holding　his　throat　with　his　hand。　　For　some　time　he　　sat　perfectly　silent　with　his　eyes　fixed　mournfully　on　the　ground。　　　At　last　he　began　to　speak　in　a　low　tone：　〃I　am　a　brave　man；〃　he　said；　〃all　the　young　men　think　me　a　great　　warrior；　and　ten　of　them　are　ready　to　go　with　me　to　the　war。　　I　will　　go　and　show　them　the　enemy。　　Last　summer　the　Snakes　killed　my　　brother。　　I　cannot　live　unless　I　revenge　his　death。　　To…morrow　we　　will　set　out　and　I　will　take　their　scalps。〃　The　White　Shield；　as　he　expressed　this　resolution；　seemed　to　have　　lost　all　the　accustomed　fire　and　spirit　of　his　look；　and　hung　his　　head　as　if　in　a　fit　of　despondency。　As　I　was　sitting　that　evening　at　one　of　the　fires；　I　saw　him　arrayed　　in　his　splendid　war　dress；　his　cheeks　painted　with　vermilion；　leading　　his　favorite　war　horse　to　the　front　of　his　lodge。　　He　mounted　and　　rode　round　the　village；　singing　his　war　song　in　a　loud　hoarse　voice　　amid　the　shrill　acclamations　of　the　women。　　Then　dismounting；　he　　remained　for　some　minutes　prostrate　upon　the　ground；　as　if　in　an　act　　of　supplication。　　On　the　following　morning　I　looked　in　vain　for　the　　departure　of　the　warriors。　　All　was　quiet　in　the　village　until　late　　in　the　forenoon；　when　the　White　Shield；　issuing　from　his　lodge；　came　　and　seated　himself　in　his　old　place　before　us。　　Reynal　asked　him　why　　he　had　not　gone　out　to　find　the　enemy。　〃I　cannot　go；〃　answered　the　White　Shield　in　a　dejected　voice。　　〃I　　have　given　my　war　arrows　to　the　Meneaska。〃　〃You　have　only　given　him　two　of　your　arrows；〃　said　Reynal。　　〃If　you　　ask　him；　he　will　give　them　back　again。〃　For　some　time　the　White　Shield　said　nothing。　　At　last　he　spoke　in　a　　gloomy　tone：　〃One　of　my　young　men　has　had　bad　dreams。　　The　spirits　of　the　dead　　came　and　threw　stones　at　him　in　his　sleep。〃　If　such　a　dream　had　actually　taken　place　it　might　have　broken　up　this　　or　any　other　war　party；　but　both　Reynal　and　I　were　convinced　at　the　　time　that　it　was　a　mere　fabrication　to　excuse　his　remaining　at　home。　The　White　Shield　was　a　warrior　of　noted　prowess。　　Very　probably；　he　　would　have　received　a　mortal　wound　without　a　show　of　pain；　and　　endured　without　flinching　the　worst　tortures　that　an　enemy　could　　inflict　upon　him。　　The　whole　power　of　an　Indian's　nature　would　be　　summoned　to　encounter　such　a　trial；　every　influence　of　his　education　　from　childhood　would　have　prepared　him　for　it；　the　cause　of　his　　suffering　would　have　been　visibly　and　palpably　before　him；　and　his　　spirit　would　rise　to　set　his　enemy　at　defiance；　and　gain　the　highest　　glory　of　a　warrior　by　meeting　death　with　fortitude。　　But　when　he　　feels　himself　attacked　by　a　mysterious　evil；　before　whose　insidious　　assaults　his　manhood　is　wasted；　and　his　strength　drained　away；　when　　he　can　see　no　enemy　to　resist　and　defy；　the　boldest　warrior　falls　　prostrate　at　once。　　He　believes　that　a　bad　spirit　has　taken　　possession　of　him；　or　that　he　is　the　victim　of　some　charm。　　When　　suffering　from　a　protracted　disorder；　an　Indian　will　often　abandon　　himself　to　his　supposed　destiny；　pine　away　and　die；　the　victim　of　his　　own　imagination。　　The　same　effect　will　often　follow　from　a　series　of　　calamities；　or　a　long　run　of　ill　success；　and　the　sufferer　has　been　　known　to　ride　into　the　midst　of　an　enemy's　camp；　or　attack　a　grizzly　　bear　single…handed；　to　get　rid　of　a　life　which　he　supposed　to　lie　　under　the　doom　of　misfortune。　Thus　after　all　his　fasting；　dreaming；　and　calling　upon　the　Great　　Spirit；　the　White　Shield's　war　party　was　pitifully　broken　up。

CHAPTER　XVI　THE　TRAPPERS

In　speaking　of　the　Indians；　I　have　almost　forgotten　two　bold　　adventurers　of　another　race；　the　trappers　Rouleau　and　Saraphin。　　　These　men　were　bent　on　a　most　hazardous　enterprise。　　A　day's　journey　　to　the　westward　was　the　country　over　which　the　Arapahoes　are　　accustomed　to　range；　and　for　which　the　two　trappers　were　on　the　point　　of　setting　out。　　These　Arapahoes；　of　whom　Shaw　and　I　afterward　fell　　in　with　a　large　village；　are　ferocious　barbarians；　of　a　most　brutal　　and　wolfish　aspect；　and　of　late　they　had　declared　themselves　enemies　　to　the　whites；　and　threatened　death　to　the　first　who　should　venture　　within　their　territory。　　The　occasion　of　the　declaration　was　as　　follows：　In　the　previous　spring；　1845；　Colonel　Kearny　left　Fort　Leavenworth　　with　several　companies　of　dragoons；　and　marching　with　extraordinary　　celerity　reached　Fort　Laramie；　whence　he　passed　along　the　foot　of　the　　mountains　to　Bent's　Fort　and　then；　turning　eastward　again；　returned　　to　the　point　from　whence　he　set　out。　　While　at　Fort　Larantie；　he　sent　　a　part　of　his　command　as　far　westward　as　Sweetwater；　while　he　himself　　remained　at　the　fort；　and　dispatched　messages　to　the　surrounding　　Indians　to　meet　him　there　in　council。　　Then　for　the　first　time　the　　tribes　of　that　vicinity　saw　the　white　warriors；　and；　as　might　have　　been　expected；　they　were　lost　in　astonishment　at　their　regular　order；　　their　gay　attire；　the　completeness　of　their　martial　equipment；　and　　the　great　size　and　power　of　their　horses。　　Among　the　rest；　the　　Arapahoes　came　in　considerable　numbers　to　the　fort。　　They　had　lately　　committed　numerous　acts　of　outrage；　and　Colonel　Kearny　threatened　　that　if　they　killed　any　more　white　men　he　would　turn　loose　his　　dragoons　upon　them；　and　annihilate　their　whole　nation。　　In　the　　evening；　to　add　effect　to　his　speech；　he　ordered　a　howitzer　to　be　　fired　and　a　rocket　to　be　thrown　up。　　Many　of　the　Arapahoes　fell　　prostrate　on　the　ground；　while　others　ran　screaming　with　amazement　　and　terror。　　On　the　following　day　they　withdrew　to　their　mountains；　　confounded　with　awe　at　the　appearance　of　the　dragoons；　at　their　big　　gun　which　went　off　twice　at　one　shot；　and　the　fiery　messenger　which　　they　had　sent　up　to　the　Great　Spirit。　　For　many　months　they　remained　　quiet；　and　did　no　further　mischief。　　At　length；　just　before　we　came　　into　the　country；　one　of　them；　by　an　act　of　the　basest　treachery；　　killed　two　white　men；　Boot　and　May；　who　were　trapping　among　the　　mountains。　　For　this　act　it　was　impossible　to　discover　a　motive。　　It　　seemed　to　spring　from　one　of　those　inexplicable　impulses　which　often　　actuate　Indians　and　appear　no　better　than　the　mere　outbreaks　of　　native　ferocity。　　No　sooner　was　the　murder　committed　than　the　whole　　tribe　were　in　extreme　consternation。　　They　expected　every　day　that　　the　avenging　dragoons　would　arrive；　little　thinking　that　a　desert　of　　nine　hundred　miles　in　extent　lay　between　the　latter　and　their　　mountain　fastnesses。　　A　large　deputation　of　them　came　to　Fort　　Laramie；　bringing　a　valuable　present　of　horses；　in　compensation　for　　the　lives　of　the　murdered　men。　　These　Bordeaux　refused　to　accept。　　　They　then　asked　him　if　he　would　be　satisfied　with　their　delivering　up　　the　murderer　himself；　but　he　declined　this　offer　also。　　The　Arapahoes　　went　back　more　terrified　than　ever。　　Weeks　passed　away；　and　still　no　　dragoons　appeared。　　A　result　followed　which　all　those　best　acquainted　　with　Indians　had　predicted。　　They　conceived　that　fear　had　prevented　　Bordeaux　from　accepting　their　gifts；　and　that　they　had　nothing　to　　apprehend　from　the　vengeance　of　the　whites。　　From　terror　they　rose　to　　the　height　of　insolence　and　presumption。　　They　called　the　white　men　　cowards　and　old　women；　and　a　friendly　Dakota　came　to　Fort　Laramie　and　　reported　that　they　were　determined　to　kill　the　first　of　the　white　　dogs　whom　they　could　lay　hands　on。　Had　a　military　officer；　intrusted　with　suitable　powers；　been　　stationed　at　Fort　Laramie；　and　having　accepted　the　offer　of　the　　Arapahoes　to　deliver　up　the　murderer；　had　ordered　him　to　be　　immediately　led　out　and　shot；　in　presence　of　his　tribe；　they　would　　have　been　awed　into　tranquillity；　and　much　danger　and　calamity　　averted；　but　now　the　neighborhood　of　the　Medicine…Bow　Mountain　and　　the　region　beyond　it　was　a　scene　of　extreme　peril。　　Old　Mene…Seela；　a　　true　friend　of　the　whites；　and　many　other　of　the　Indians　gathered　　about　the　two　trappers；　and　vainly　endeavored　to　turn　them　from　their　　purpose；　but　Rouleau　and　Saraphin　only　laughed　at　the　danger。　　On　the　　morning　preceding　that　on　which　they　we