the oregon trail-第49部分

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he　foot　of　one　of　the　mountains；　　and　in　a　moment　afterward　a　black…tailed　deer；　with　his　spreading　　antlers；　stood　gazing　at　us　from　the　top　of　a　rock；　and　then；　slowly　　turning　away；　disappeared　behind　it。　　In　an　instant　Reynal　was　out　of　　his　saddle；　and　running　toward　the　spot。　　I；　being　too　weak　to　　follow；　sat　holding　his　horse　and　waiting　the　result。　　I　lost　sight　　of　him；　then　heard　the　report　of　his　rifle；　deadened　among　the　rocks；　　and　finally　saw　him　reappear；　with　a　surly　look　that　plainly　betrayed　　his　ill　success。　　Again　we　moved　forward　down　the　long　valley；　when　　soon　after　we　came　full　upon　what　seemed　a　wide　and　very　shallow　　ditch；　incrusted　at　the　bottom　with　white　clay；　dried　and　cracked　in　　the　sun。　　Under　this　fair　outside；　Reynal's　eye　detected　the　signs　of　　lurking　mischief。　　He　called　me　to　stop；　and　then　alighting；　picked　　up　a　stone　and　threw　it　into　the　ditch。　　To　my　utter　amazement　it　　fell　with　a　dull　splash；　breaking　at　once　through　the　thin　crust；　and　　spattering　round　the　hole　a　yellowish　creamy　fluid；　into　which　it　　sank　and　disappeared。　　A　stick；　five　or　six　feet　long　lay　on　the　　ground；　and　with　this　we　sounded　the　insidious　abyss　close　to　its　　edge。　　It　was　just　possible　to　touch　the　bottom。　　Places　like　this　　are　numerous　among　the　Rocky　Mountains。　　The　buffalo；　in　his　blind　　and　heedless　walk；　often　plunges　into　them　unawares。　　Down　he　sinks；　　one　snort　of　terror；　one　convulsive　struggle；　and　the　slime　calmly　　flows　above　his　shaggy　head；　the　languid　undulations　of　its　sleek　and　　placid　surface　alone　betraying　how　the　powerful　monster　writhes　in　　his　death…throes　below。　We　found　after　some　trouble　a　point　where　we　could　pass　the　abyss；　　and　now　the　valley　began　to　open　upon　the　plains　which　spread　to　the　　horizon　before　us。　　On　one　of　their　distant　swells　we　discerned　three　　or　four　black　specks；　which　Reynal　pronounced　to　be　buffalo。　〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃we　must　get　one　of　them。　　My　squaw　wants　more　　sinews　to　finish　her　lodge　with；　and　I　want　some　glue　myself。〃　He　immediately　put　the　yellow　horse　at　such　a　gallop　as　he　was　　capable　of　executing；　while　I　set　spurs　to　the　mule；　who　soon　far　　outran　her　plebeian　rival。　　When　we　had　galloped　a　mile　or　more；　a　　large　rabbit；　by　ill　luck；　sprang　up　just　under　the　feet　of　the　mule；　　who　bounded　violently　aside　in　full　career。　　Weakened　as　I　was；　I　was　　flung　forcibly　to　the　ground；　and　my　rifle；　falling　close　to　my　head；　　went　off　with　a　shock。　　Its　sharp　spiteful　report　rang　for　some　　moments　in　my　ear。　　Being　slightly　stunned；　I　lay　for　an　instant　　motionless；　and　Reynal；　supposing　me　to　be　shot；　rode　up　and　began　to　　curse　the　mule。　　Soon　recovering　myself；　I　rose；　picked　up　the　rifle　　and　anxiously　examined　it。　　It　was　badly　injured。　　The　stock　was　　cracked；　and　the　main　screw　broken；　so　that　the　lock　had　to　be　tied　　in　its　place　with　a　string；　yet　happily　it　was　not　rendered　totally　　unserviceable。　　I　wiped　it　out；　reloaded　it；　and　handing　it　to　　Reynal；　who　meanwhile　had　caught　the　mule　and　led　her　up　to　me；　I　　mounted　again。　　No　sooner　had　I　done　so；　than　the　brute　began　to　rear　　and　plunge　with　extreme　violence；　but　being　now　well　prepared　for　　her；　and　free　from　incumbrance；　I　soon　reduced　her　to　submission。　　　Then　taking　the　rifle　again　from　Reynal；　we　galloped　forward　as　　before。　We　were　now　free　of　the　mountain　and　riding　far　out　on　the　broad　　prairie。　　The　buffalo　were　still　some　two　miles　in　advance　of　us。　　　When　we　came　near　them；　we　stopped　where　a　gentle　swell　of　the　plain　　concealed　us　from　their　view；　and　while　I　held　his　horse　Reynal　ran　　forward　with　his　rifle；　till　I　lost　sight　of　him　beyond　the　rising　　ground。　　A　few　minutes　elapsed；　I　heard　the　report　of　his　piece；　and　　saw　the　buffalo　running　away　at　full　speed　on　the　right；　and　　immediately　after；　the　hunter　himself　unsuccessful　as　before；　came　up　　and　mounted　his　horse　in　excessive　ill…humor。　　He　cursed　the　Black　　Hills　and　the　buffalo；　swore　that　he　was　a　good　hunter；　which　indeed　　was　true；　and　that　he　had　never　been　out　before　among　those　mountains　　without　killing　two　or　three　deer　at　least。　We　now　turned　toward　the　distant　encampment。　　As　we　rode　along；　　antelope　in　considerable　numbers　were　flying　lightly　in　all　　directions　over　the　plain；　but　not　one　of　them　would　stand　and　be　　shot　at。　　When　we　reached　the　foot　of　the　mountain　ridge　that　lay　　between　us　and　the　village；　we　were　too　impatient　to　take　the　smooth　　and　circuitous　route；　so　turning　short　to　the　left；　we　drove　our　　wearied　animals　directly　upward　among　the　rocks。　　Still　more　antelope　　were　leaping　about　among　these　flinty　hillsides。　　Each　of　us　shot　at　　one；　though　from　a　great　distance；　and　each　missed　his　mark。　　At　　length　we　reached　the　summit　of　the　last　ridge。　　Looking　down；　we　saw　　the　bustling　camp　in　the　valley　at　our　feet；　and　ingloriously　　descended　to　it。　　As　we　rode　among　the　lodges；　the　Indians　looked　in　　vain　for　the　fresh　meat　that　should　have　hung　behind　our　saddles；　and　　the　squaws　uttered　various　suppressed　ejaculations；　to　the　great　　indignation　of　Reynal。　　Our　mortification　was　increased　when　we　rode　　up　to　his　lodge。　　Here　we　saw　his　young　Indian　relative；　the　Hail…　Storm；　his　light　graceful　figure　on　the　ground　in　an　easy　attitude；　　while　with　his　friend　the　Rabbit；　who　sat　by　his　side；　he　was　making　　an　abundant　meal　from　a　wooden　bowl　of　wasna；　which　the　squaw　had　　placed　between　them。　　Near　him　lay　the　fresh　skin　of　a　female　elk；　　which　he　had　just　killed　among　the　mountains；　only　a　mile　or　two　from　　the　camp。　　No　doubt　the　boy's　heart　was　elated　with　triumph；　but　he　　betrayed　no　sign　of　it。　　He　even　seemed　totally　unconscious　of　our　　approach；　and　his　handsome　face　had　all　the　tranquillity　of　Indian　　self…control；　a　self…control　which　prevents　the　exhibition　of　　emotion；　without　restraining　the　emotion　itself。　　It　was　about　two　　months　since　I　had　known　the　Hail…Storm；　and　within　that　time　his　　character　had　remarkably　developed。　　When　I　first　saw　him；　he　was　　just　emerging　from　the　habits　and　feelings　of　the　boy　into　the　　ambition　of　the　hunter　and　warrior。　　He　had　lately　killed　his　first　　deer；　and　this　had　excited　his　aspirations　after　distinction。　　Since　　that　time　he　had　been　continually　in　search　of　game；　and　no　young　　hunter　in　the　village　had　been　so　active　or　so　fortunate　as　he。　　It　　will　perhaps　be　remembered　how　fearlessly　he　attacked　the　buffalo　　bull；　as　we　were　moving　toward　our　camp　at　the　Medicine…Bow　Mountain。　　　All　this　success　had　produced　a　marked　change　in　his　character。　　As　I　　first　remembered　him　he　always　shunned　the　society　of　the　young　　squaws；　and　was　extremely　bashful　and　sheepish　in　their　presence；　but　　now；　in　the　confidence　of　his　own　reputation；　he　began　to　assume　the　　airs　and　the　arts　of　a　man　of　gallantry。　　He　wore　his　red　blanket　　dashingly　over　his　left　shoulder；　painted　his　cheeks　every　day　with　　vermilion；　and　hung　pendants　of　shells　in　his　ears。　　If　I　observed　　aright；　he　met　with　very　good　success　in　his　new　pursuits；　still　the　　Hail…Storm　had　much　to　accomplish　before　he　attained　the　full　　standing　of　a　warrior。　　Gallantly　as　he　began　to　bear　himself　among　　the　women　and　girls；　he　still　was　timid　and　abashed　in　the　presence　　of　the　chiefs　and　old　men；　for　he　had　never　yet　killed　a　man；　or　　stricken　the　dead　body　of　an　enemy　in　battle。　　I　have　no　doubt　that　　the　handsome　smooth…faced　boy　burned　with　keen　desire　to　flash　his　　maiden　scalping…knife；　and　I　would　not　have　encamped　alone　with　him　　without　watching　his　movements　with　a　distrustful　eye。　His　elder　brother；　the　Horse；　was　of　a　different　character。　　He　was　　nothing　but　a　lazy　dandy。　　He　knew　very　well　how　to　hunt；　but　　preferred　to　live　by　the　hunting　of　others。　　He　had　no　appetite　for　　distinction；　and　the　Hail…Storm；　though　a　few　years　younger　than　he；　　already　surpassed　him　in　reputation。　　He　had　a　dark　and　ugly　face；　　and　he　passed　a　great　part　of　his　time　in　adorning　it　with　vermilion；　　and　contemplating　it　by　means　of　a　little　pocket　looking…glass　which　　I　gave　him。　　As　for　the　rest　of　the　day；　he　divided　it　between　eating　　and　sleeping；　and　sitting　in　the　sun　on　the　outside　of　a　lodge。　　Here　　he　would　remain　for　hour　after　hour；　arrayed　in　all　his　finery；　with　　an　old　dragoon's　sword　in　his　hand；　and　evidently　flattering　himself　　that　he　was　the　center　of　attraction　to　the　eyes　of　the　surrounding　　squaws。　　Yet　he　sat　looking　straight　forward　with　a　face　of　the　　utmost　gravity；　as　if　wrapped　in　profound　meditation；　and　it　was　only　　by　the　occasional　sidelong　glances　which　he　shot　at　his　supposed　　admirers　that　one　could　detect　the　true　course　of　his　thoughts。　Both　he　and　his　brother　may　represent　a　class　in　the　Indian　　community；　neither　should　the　Hail…Storm's　friend；　the　Rabbit；　be　　passed　by　without　notice。　　The　Hail…Storm　and　he　were　inseparable；　　they　ate；　slept；　and　hunted　together；　and　shared　with　one　another　　almost　all　that　they　possessed。　　If　there　be　anything　that　deserves　　to　be　called　romantic　in　the　Indian　character；　it　is　to　be　sought　for　　in　friendships　such　as　this；　which　are　quite　common　among　many　of　the　　prairie　tribes。　Slowly；　hour　after　hour；　that　weary　afternoon　dragged　away。　　I　lay　in　　Reynal's　lodge；　overcome　by　the　listless　torpor　that　pervaded　the　　whole　encampment。　　The　day's　work　was　finished；　or　if　it　were　not；　　the　inhabitants　had　resolved　not　to　finish　it　at　all；　and　all　were　　dozing　quietly　within　the　shelter　of　the　lodges。　　A　profound　　lethargy；　the　very　spirit　of　indolence；　seemed　to　have　sunk　upon　the　　village。　　Now　and　then　I　could　hear　the　low　laughter　of　some　girl　　from　within　a　neighboring　lodge；　or　the　small　shrill　voices　of　a　few　　restless　children；　who　alone　were　moving　in　the　deserted　area。　　The　　spirit　of　the　place　infected　me；　I　could　not　even　think　　consecutively；　I　was　fit　only　for　musing　and　reverie；　when　at　last；　　like　the　rest；　I　fell　asleep。　When　evening　came　and　the　fires　were　lighted　round　the　lodges；　a　　select　family　circle　convened　in　the　neighborhood　of　Reynal's　　domicile。　　It　was　composed　entirely　of　his　squaw's　relatives；　a　mean　　and　ignoble　clan；　among　whom　none　but　the　Hail…Storm　held　forth　any　　promise　of　future　distinction。　　Even　his　protests　were　rendered　not　a　　little　dubious　by　the　character　of　the　family；　less　however　fro