the oregon trail-第48部分

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ling；　beneath　the　shade　of　　scattered　trees　that　seemed　artificially　planted。　　Here　I　made　a　　welcome　discovery；　no　other　than　a　bed　of　strawberries；　with　their　　white　flowers　and　their　red　fruit；　close　nestled　among　the　grass　by　　the　side　of　the　brook；　and　I　sat　down　by　them；　hailing　them　as　old　　acquaintances；　for　among　those　lonely　and　perilous　mountains　they　　awakened　delicious　associations　of　the　gardens　and　peaceful　homes　of　　far…distant　New　England。　Yet　wild　as　they　were；　these　mountains　were　thickly　peopled。　　As　I　　climbed　farther；　I　found　the　broad　dusty　paths　made　by　the　elk；　as　　they　filed　across　the　mountainside。　　The　grass　on　all　the　terraces　　was　trampled　down　by　deer；　there　were　numerous　tracks　of　wolves；　and　　in　some　of　the　rougher　and　more　precipitous　parts　of　the　ascent；　I　　found　foot…prints　different　from　any　that　I　had　ever　seen；　and　which　　I　took　to　be　those　of　the　Rocky　Mountain　sheep。　　I　sat　down　upon　a　　rock；　there　was　a　perfect　stillness。　　No　wind　was　stirring；　and　not　　even　an　insect　could　be　heard。　　I　recollected　the　danger　of　becoming　　lost　in　such　a　place；　and　therefore　I　fixed　my　eye　upon　one　of　the　　tallest　pinnacles　of　the　opposite　mountain。　　It　rose　sheer　upright　　from　the　woods　below；　and　by　an　extraordinary　freak　of　nature　　sustained　aloft　on　its　very　summit　a　large　loose　rock。　　Such　a　　landmark　could　never　be　mistaken；　and　feeling　once　more　secure；　I　　began　again　to　move　forward。　　A　white　wolf　jumped　up　from　among　some　　bushes；　and　leaped　clumsily　away；　but　he　stopped　for　a　moment；　and　　turned　back　his　keen　eye　and　his　grim　bristling　muzzle。　　I　longed　to　　take　his　scalp　and　carry　it　back　with　me；　as　an　appropriate　trophy　of　　the　Black　Hills；　but　before　I　could　fire；　he　was　gone　among　the　　rocks。　　Soon　I　heard　a　rustling　sound；　with　a　cracking　of　twigs　at　a　　little　distance；　and　saw　moving　above　the　tall　bushes　the　branching　　antlers　of　an　elk。　　I　was　in　the　midst　of　a　hunter's　paradise。　Such　are　the　Black　Hills；　as　I　found　them　in　July；　but　they　wear　a　　different　garb　when　winter　sets　in；　when　the　broad　boughs　of　the　fir　　tree　are　bent　to　the　ground　by　the　load　of　snow；　and　the　dark　　mountains　are　whitened　with　it。　　At　that　season　the　mountain…　trappers；　returned　from　their　autumn　expeditions；　often　build　their　　rude　cabins　in　the　midst　of　these　solitudes；　and　live　in　abundance　　and　luxury　on　the　game　that　harbors　there。　　I　have　heard　them　relate；　　how　with　their　tawny　mistresses；　and　perhaps　a　few　young　Indian　　companions；　they　have　spent　months　in　total　seclusion。　　They　would　　dig　pitfalls；　and　set　traps　for　the　white　wolves；　the　sables；　and　the　　martens；　and　though　through　the　whole　night　the　awful　chorus　of　the　　wolves　would　resound　from　the　frozen　mountains　around　them；　yet　　within　their　massive　walls　of　logs　they　would　lie　in　careless　ease　　and　comfort　before　the　blazing　fire；　and　in　the　morning　shoot　the　elk　　and　the　deer　from　their　very　door。

CHAPTER　XVIII　A　MOUNTAIN　HUNT

The　camp　was　full　of　the　newly…cut　lodge…poles；　some；　already　　prepared；　were　stacked　together；　white　and　glistening；　to　dry　and　　harden　in　the　sun；　others　were　lying　on　the　ground；　and　the　squaws；　　the　boys；　and　even　some　of　the　warriors　were　busily　at　work　peeling　　off　the　bark　and　paring　them　with　their　knives　to　the　proper　　dimensions。　　Most　of　the　hides　obtained　at　the　last　camp　were　dressed　　and　scraped　thin　enough　for　use；　and　many　of　the　squaws　were　engaged　　in　fitting　them　together　and　sewing　them　with　sinews；　to　form　the　　coverings　for　the　lodges。　　Men　were　wandering　among　the　bushes　that　　lined　the　brook　along　the　margin　of　the　camp；　cutting　sticks　of　red　　willow；　or　shongsasha；　the　bark　of　which；　mixed　with　tobacco；　they　　use　for　smoking。　　Reynal's　squaw　was　hard　at　work　with　her　awl　and　　buffalo　sinews　upon　her　lodge；　while　her　proprietor；　having　just　　finished　an　enormous　breakfast　of　meat；　was　smoking　a　social　pipe　　along　with　Raymond　and　myself。　　He　proposed　at　length　that　we　should　　go　out　on　a　hunt。　　〃Go　to　the　Big　Crow's　lodge；〃　said　he；　〃and　get　　your　rifle。　　I'll　bet　the　gray　Wyandotte　pony　against　your　mare　that　　we　start　an　elk　or　a　black…tailed　deer；　or　likely　as　not；　a　bighorn；　　before　we　are　two　miles　out　of　camp。　　I'll　take　my　squaw's　old　yellow　　horse；　you　can't　whip　her　more　than　four　miles　an　hour；　but　she　is　as　　good　for　the　mountains　as　a　mule。〃　I　mounted　the　black　mule　which　Raymond　usually　rode。　　She　was　a　very　　fine　and　powerful　animal；　gentle　and　manageable　enough　by　nature；　but　　of　late　her　temper　had　been　soured　by　misfortune。　　About　a　week　　before　I　had　chanced　to　offend　some　one　of　the　Indians；　who　out　of　　revenge　went　secretly　into　the　meadow　and　gave　her　a　severe　stab　in　　the　haunch　with　his　knife。　　The　wound；　though　partially　healed；　still　　galled　her　extremely；　and　made　her　even　more　perverse　and　obstinate　　than　the　rest　of　her　species。　The　morning　was　a　glorious　one；　and　I　was　in　better　health　than　I　had　　been　at　any　time　for　the　last　two　months。　　Though　a　strong　frame　and　　well　compacted　sinews　had　borne　me　through　hitherto；　it　was　long　　since　I　had　been　in　a　condition　to　feel　the　exhilaration　of　the　fresh　　mountain　wind　and　the　gay　sunshine　that　brightened　the　crags　and　　trees。　　We　left　the　little　valley　and　ascended　a　rocky　hollow　in　the　　mountain。　　Very　soon　we　were　out　of　sight　of　the　camp；　and　of　every　　living　thing；　man；　beast；　bird；　or　insect。　　I　had　never　before；　　except　on　foot；　passed　over　such　execrable　ground；　and　I　desire　never　　to　repeat　the　experiment。　　The　black　mule　grew　indignant；　and　even　　the　redoubtable　yellow　horse　stumbled　every　moment；　and　kept　groaning　　to　himself　as　he　cut　his　feet　and　legs　among　the　sharp　rocks。　It　was　a　scene　of　silence　and　desolation。　　Little　was　visible　except　　beetling　crags　and　the　bare　shingly　sides　of　the　mountains；　relieved　　by　scarcely　a　trace　of　vegetation。　　At　length；　however；　we　came　upon　　a　forest　tract；　and　had　no　sooner　done　so　than　we　heartily　wished　　ourselves　back　among　the　rocks　again；　for　we　were　on　a　steep　descent；　　among　trees　so　thick　that　we　could　see　scarcely　a　rod　in　any　　direction。　If　one　is　anxious　to　place　himself　in　a　situation　where　the　hazardous　　and　the　ludicrous　are　combined　in　about　equal　proportions；　let　him　　get　upon　a　vicious　mule；　with　a　snaffle　bit；　and　try　to　drive　her　　through　the　woods　down　a　slope　of　45　degrees。　　Let　him　have　on　a　long　　rifle；　a　buckskin　frock　with　long　fringes；　and　a　head　of　long　hair。　　　These　latter　appendages　will　be　caught　every　moment　and　twitched　away　　in　small　portions　by　the　twigs；　which　will　also　whip　him　smartly　　across　the　face；　while　the　large　branches　above　thump　him　on　the　　head。　　His　mule；　if　she　be　a　true　one；　will　alternately　stop　short　　and　dive　violently　forward；　and　his　position　upon　her　back　will　be　　somewhat　diversified　and　extraordinary。　　At　one　time　he　will　clasp　　her　affectionately；　to　avoid　the　blow　of　a　bough　overhead；　at　　another；　he　will　throw　himself　back　and　fling　his　knee　forward　　against　the　side　of　her　neck；　to　keep　it　from　being　crushed　between　　the　rough　bark　of　a　tree　and　the　equally　unyielding　ribs　of　the　　animal　herself。　　Reynal　was　cursing　incessantly　during　the　whole　way　　down。　　Neither　of　us　had　the　remotest　idea　where　we　were　going；　and　　though　I　have　seen　rough　riding；　I　shall　always　retain　an　evil　　recollection　of　that　five　minutes'　scramble。　At　last　we　left　our　troubles　behind　us；　emerging　into　the　channel　of　　a　brook　that　circled　along　the　foot　of　the　descent；　and　here；　turning　　joyfully　to　the　left；　we　rode　in　luxury　and　ease　over　the　white　　pebbles　and　the　rippling　water；　shaded　from　the　glaring　sun　by　an　　overarching　green　transparency。　　These　halcyon　moments　were　of　short　　duration。　　The　friendly　brook；　turning　sharply　to　one　side；　went　　brawling　and　foaming　down　the　rocky　hill　into　an　abyss；　which；　as　far　　as　we　could　discern；　had　no　bottom；　so　once　more　we　betook　ourselves　　to　the　detested　woods。　　When　next　we　came　forth　from　their　dancing　　shadow　and　sunlight；　we　found　ourselves　standing　in　the　broad　glare　　of　day；　on　a　high　jutting　point　of　the　mountain。　　Before　us　stretched　　a　long；　wide；　desert　valley；　winding　away　far　amid　the　mountains。　　No　　civilized　eye　but　mine　had　ever　looked　upon　that　virgin　waste。　　　Reynal　was　gazing　intently；　he　began　to　speak　at　last：　〃Many　a　time；　when　I　was　with　the　Indians；　I　have　been　hunting　for　　gold　all　through　the　Black　Hills。　　There's　plenty　of　it　here；　you　may　　be　certain　of　that。　　I　have　dreamed　about　it　fifty　times；　and　I　never　　dreamed　yet　but　what　it　came　true。　　Look　over　yonder　at　those　black　　rocks　piled　up　against　that　other　big　rock。　　Don't　it　look　as　if　　there　might　be　something　there？　　It　won't　do　for　a　white　man　to　be　　rummagmg　too　much　about　these　mountains；　the　Indians　say　they　are　　full　of　bad　spirits；　and　I　believe　myself　that　it's　no　good　luck　to　　be　hunting　about　here　after　gold。　　Well；　for　all　that；　I　would　like　　to　have　one　of　these　fellows　up　here；　from　down　below；　to　go　about　　with　his　witch…hazel　rod；　and　I'll　guarantee　that　it　would　not　be　　long　before　he　would　light　on　a　gold　mine。　　Never　mind；　we'll　let　the　　gold　alone　for　to…day。　　Look　at　those　trees　down　below　us　in　the　　hollow；　we'll　go　down　there；　and　I　reckon　we'll　get　a　black…tailed　　deer。〃　But　Reynal's　predictions　were　not　verified。　　We　passed　mountain　after　　mountain；　and　valley　after　valley；　we　explored　deep　ravines；　yet　　still　to　my　companion's　vexation　and　evident　surprise；　no　game　could　　be　found。　　So；　in　the　absence　of　better；　we　resolved　to　go　out　on　the　　plains　and　look　for　an　antelope。　　With　this　view　we　began　to　pass　　down　a　narrow　valley；　the　bottom　of　which　was　covered　with　the　stiff　　wild…sage　bushes　and　marked　with　deep　paths；　made　by　the　buffalo；　　who；　for　some　inexplicable　reason；　are　accustomed　to　penetrate；　in　　their　long　grave　processions；　deep　among　the　gorges　of　these　sterile　　mountains。　Reynal's　eye　was　ranging　incessantly　among　the　rocks　and　along　the　　edges　of　the　black　precipices；　in　hopes　of　discovering　the　mountain　　sheep　peering　down　upon　us　in　fancied　security　from　that　giddy　　elevation。　　Nothing　was　visible　for　some　time。　　At　length　we　both　　detected　something　in　motion　near　the　foot　of　one　of　the　mountains；　　and　in　a　moment　afterward　a　black…tailed　deer；　with　his　spreading