the oregon trail-第50部分

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en　his　protests　were　rendered　not　a　　little　dubious　by　the　character　of　the　family；　less　however　from　any　　principle　of　aristocratic　distinction　than　from　the　want　of　powerful　　supporters　to　assist　him　in　his　undertakings；　and　help　to　avenge　his　　quarrels。　　Raymond　and　I　sat　down　along　with　them。　　There　were　eight　　or　ten　men　gathered　around　the　fire；　together　with　about　as　many　　women；　old　and　young；　some　of　whom　were　tolerably　good…looking。　　As　　the　pipe　passed　round　among　the　men；　a　lively　conversation　went　　forward；　more　merry　than　delicate；　and　at　length　two　or　three　of　the　　elder　women　（for　the　girls　were　somewhat　diffident　and　bashful）　began　　to　assail　Raymond　with　various　pungent　witticisms。　　Some　of　the　men　　took　part　and　an　old　squaw　concluded　by　bestowing　on　him　a　ludicrous　　nick　name；　at　which　a　general　laugh　followed　at　his　expense。　　Raymond　　grinned　and　giggled；　and　made　several　futile　attempts　at　repartee。　　　Knowing　the　impolicy　and　even　danger　of　suffering　myself　to　be　placed　　in　a　ludicrous　light　among　the　Indians；　I　maintained　a　rigid　　inflexible　countenance；　and　wholly　escaped　their　sallies。　In　the　morning　I　found；　to　my　great　disgust；　that　the　camp　was　to　　retain　its　position　for　another　day。　　I　dreaded　its　languor　and　　monotony；　and　to　escape　it；　I　set　out　to　explore　the　surrounding　　mountains。　　I　was　accompanied　by　a　faithful　friend；　my　rifle；　the　　only　friend　indeed　on　whose　prompt　assistance　in　time　of　trouble　I　　could　implicitly　rely。　　Most　of　the　Indians　in　the　village；　it　is　　true；　professed　good…will　toward　the　whites；　but　the　experience　of　　others　and　my　own　observation　had　taught　me　the　extreme　folly　of　　confidence；　and　the　utter　impossibility　of　foreseeing　to　what　sudden　　acts　the　strange　unbridled　impulses　of　an　Indian　may　urge　him。　　When　　among　this　people　danger　is　never　so　near　as　when　you　are　unprepared　　for　it；　never　so　remote　as　when　you　are　armed　and　on　the　alert　to　　meet　it　any　moment。　　Nothing　offers　so　strong　a　temptation　to　their　　ferocious　instincts　as　the　appearance　of　timidity；　weakness；　or　　security。　Many　deep　and　gloomy　gorges；　choked　with　trees　and　bushes；　opened　　from　the　sides　of　the　hills；　which　were　shaggy　with　forests　wherever　　the　rocks　permitted　vegetation　to　spring。　　A　great　number　of　Indians　　were　stalking　along　the　edges　of　the　woods；　and　boys　were　whooping　　and　laughing　on　the　mountain…sides；　practicing　eye　and　hand；　and　　indulging　their　destructive　propensities　by　following　birds　and　small　　animals　and　killing　them　with　their　little　bows　and　arrows。　　There　　was　one　glen；　stretching　up　between　steep　cliffs　far　into　the　bosom　　of　the　mountain。　　I　began　to　ascend　along　its　bottom；　pushing　my　way　　onward　among　the　rocks；　trees；　and　bushes　that　obstructed　it。　　A　　slender　thread　of　water　trickled　along　its　center；　which　since　　issuing　from　the　heart　of　its　native　rock　could　scarcely　have　been　　warmed　or　gladdened　by　a　ray　of　sunshine。　　After　advancing　for　some　　time；　I　conceived　myself　to　be　entirely　alone；　but　coming　to　a　part　　of　the　glen　in　a　great　measure　free　of　trees　and　undergrowth；　I　saw　　at　some　distance　the　black　head　and　red　shoulders　of　an　Indian　among　　the　bushes　above。　　The　reader　need　not　prepare　himself　for　a　　startling　adventure；　for　I　have　none　to　relate。　　The　head　and　　shoulders　belonged　to　Mene…Seela；　my　best　friend　in　the　village。　　As　　I　had　approached　noiselessly　with　my　moccasined　feet；　the　old　man　was　　quite　unconscious　of　my　presence；　and　turning　to　a　point　where　I　　could　gain　an　unobstructed　view　of　him；　I　saw　him　seated　alone；　　immovable　as　a　statue；　among　the　rocks　and　trees。　　His　face　was　　turned　upward；　and　his　eyes　seemed　riveted　on　a　pine　tree　springing　　from　a　cleft　in　the　precipice　above。　　The　crest　of　the　pine　was　　swaying　to　and　fro　in　the　wind；　and　its　long　limbs　waved　slowly　up　　and　down；　as　if　the　tree　had　life。　　Looking　for　a　while　at　the　old　　man；　I　was　satisfied　that　he　was　engaged　in　an　act　of　worship　or　　prayer；　or　communion　of　some　kind　with　a　supernatural　being。　　I　　longed　to　penetrate　his　thoughts；　but　I　could　do　nothing　more　than　　conjecture　and　speculate。　　I　knew　that　though　the　intellect　of　an　　Indian　can　embrace　the　idea　of　an　all…wise；　all…powerful　Spirit；　the　　supreme　Ruler　of　the　universe；　yet　his　mind　will　not　always　ascend　　into　communion　with　a　being　that　seems　to　him　so　vast；　remote；　and　　incomprehensible；　and　when　danger　threatens；　when　his　hopes　are　　broken；　when　the　black　wing　of　sorrow　overshadows　him；　he　is　prone　to　　turn　for　relief　to　some　inferior　agency；　less　removed　from　the　　ordinary　scope　of　his　faculties。　　He　has　a　guardian　spirit；　on　whom　　he　relies　for　succor　and　guidance。　　To　him　all　nature　is　instinct　　with　mystic　influence。　　Among　those　mountains　not　a　wild　beast　was　　prowling；　a　bird　singing；　or　a　leaf　fluttering；　that　might　not　tend　　to　direct　his　destiny　or　give　warning　of　what　was　in　store　for　him；　　and　he　watches　the　world　of　nature　around　him　as　the　astrologer　　watches　the　stars。　　So　closely　is　he　linked　with　it　that　his　guardian　　spirit；　no　unsubstantial　creation　of　the　fancy；　is　usually　embodied　　in　the　form　of　some　living　thinga　bear；　a　wolf；　an　eagle；　or　a　　serpent；　and　Mene…Seela；　as　he　gazed　intently　on　the　old　pine　tree；　　might　believe　it　to　inshrine　the　fancied　guide　and　protector　of　his　　life。　Whatever　was　passing　in　the　mind　of　the　old　man；　it　was　no　part　of　　sense　or　of　delicacy　to　disturb　him。　　Silently　retracing　my　　footsteps；　I　descended　the　glen　until　I　came　to　a　point　where　I　could　　climb　the　steep　precipices　that　shut　it　in；　and　gain　the　side　of　the　　mountain。　　Looking　up；　I　saw　a　tall　peak　rising　among　the　woods。　　　Something　impelled　me　to　climb；　I　had　not　felt　for　many　a　day　such　　strength　and　elasticity　of　limb。　　An　hour　and　a　half　of　slow　and　　often　intermittent　labor　brought　me　to　the　very　summit；　and　emerging　　from　the　dark　shadows　of　the　rocks　and　pines；　I　stepped　forth　into　　the　light；　and　walking　along　the　sunny　verge　of　a　precipice；　seated　　myself　on　its　extreme　point。　　Looking　between　the　mountain　peaks　to　　the　westward；　the　pale　blue　prairie　was　stretching　to　the　farthest　　horizon　like　a　serene　and　tranquil　ocean。　　The　surrounding　mountains　　were　in　themselves　sufficiently　striking　and　impressive；　but　this　　contrast　gave　redoubled　effect　to　their　stern　features。

CHAPTER　XIX　PASSAGE　OF　THE　MOUNTAINS

When　I　took　leave　of　Shaw　at　La　Bonte's　Camp；　I　promised　that　I　would　　meet　him　at　Fort　Laramie　on　the　1st　of　August。　　That　day；　according　　to　my　reckoning；　was　now　close　at　hand。　　It　was　impossible；　at　best；　　to　fulfill　my　engagement　exactly；　and　my　meeting　with　him　must　have　　been　postponed　until　many　days　after　the　appointed　time；　had　not　the　　plans　of　the　Indians　very　well　coincided　with　my　own。　　They　too；　　intended　to　pass　the　mountains　and　move　toward　the　fort。　　To　do　so　at　　this　point　was　impossible；　because　there　was　no　opening；　and　in　order　　to　find　a　passage　we　were　obliged　to　go　twelve　or　fourteen　miles　　southward。　　Late　in　the　afternoon　the　camp　got　in　motion；　defiling　　back　through　the　mountains　along　the　same　narrow　passage　by　which　　they　had　entered。　　I　rode　in　company　with　three　or　four　young　Indians　　at　the　rear；　and　the　moving　swarm　stretched　before　me；　in　the　ruddy　　light　of　sunset；　or　in　the　deep　shadow　of　the　mountains　far　beyond　my　　sight。　　It　was　an　ill…omened　spot　they　chose　to　encamp　upon。　　When　　they　were　there　just　a　year　before；　a　war　party　of　ten　men；　led　by　　The　Whirlwind's　son；　had　gone　out　against　the　enemy；　and　not　one　had　　ever　returned。　　This　was　the　immediate　cause　of　this　season's　warlike　　preparations。　　I　was　not　a　little　astonished　when　I　came　to　the　camp；　　at　the　confusion　of　horrible　sounds　with　which　it　was　filled；　howls；　　shrieks；　and　wailings　were　heard　from　all　the　women　present；　many　of　　whom　not　content　with　this　exhibition　of　grief　for　the　loss　of　their　　friends　and　relatives；　were　gashing　their　legs　deeply　with　knives。　　A　　warrior　in　the　village；　who　had　lost　a　brother　in　the　expedition；　　chose　another　mode　of　displaying　his　sorrow。　　The　Indians；　who；　　though　often　rapacious；　are　utterly　devoid　of　avarice；　are　accustomed　　in　times　of　mourning；　or　on　other　solemn　occasions；　to　give　away　the　　whole　of　their　possessions；　and　reduce　themselves　to　nakedness　and　　want。　　The　warrior　in　question　led　his　two　best　horses　into　the　　center　of　the　village；　and　gave　them　away　to　his　friends；　upon　which　　songs　and　acclamations　in　praise　of　his　generosity　mingled　with　the　　cries　of　the　women。　On　the　next　morning　we　entered　once　more　among　the　mountains。　　There　　was　nothing　in　their　appearance　either　grand　or　picturesque；　though　　they　were　desolate　to　the　last　degree；　being　mere　piles　of　black　and　　broken　rocks；　without　trees　or　vegetation　of　any　kind。　　As　we　passed　　among　them　along　a　wide　valley；　I　noticed　Raymond　riding　by　the　side　　of　a　younger　squaw；　to　whom　he　was　addressing　various　insinuating　　compliments。　　All　the　old　squaws　in　the　neighborhood　watched　his　　proceedings　in　great　admiration；　and　the　girl　herself　would　turn　　aside　her　head　and　laugh。　　Just　then　the　old　mule　thought　proper　to　　display　her　vicious　pranks；　she　began　to　rear　and　plunge　most　　furiously。　　Raymond　was　an　excellent　rider；　and　at　first　he　stuck　　fast　in　his　seat；　but　the　moment　after；　I　saw　the　mule's　hind…legs　　flourishing　in　the　air；　and　my　unlucky　follower　pitching　head　　foremost　over　her　ears。　　There　was　a　burst　of　screams　and　laughter　　from　all　the　women；　in　which　his　mistress　herself　took　part；　and　　Raymond　was　instantly　assailed　by　such　a　shower　of　witticisms；　that　　he　was　glad　to　ride　forward　out　of　hearing。　Not　long　after；　as　I　rode　near　him；　I　heard　him　shouting　to　me。　　He　　was　pointing　toward　a　detached　rocky　hill　that　stood　in　the　middle　of　　the　valley　before　us；　and　from　behind　it　a　long　file　of　elk　came　out　　at　full　speed　and　entered　an　opening　in　the　side　of　the　mountain。　　　They　had　scarcely　disappeared　when　whoops　and　exclamations　came　from　　fifty　voices　around　me。　　The　young　men　leaped　from　their　horses；　　flung　down　their　heavy　buffalo　robes；　and　ran　at　full　speed　toward　　the　foot　of　the　nearest　mountain。　　Reynal　also　broke　away　at　a　gallop　　in　the　same　direction；　〃Come　on！　come　on！〃　he　called　to　us。　　〃Do　you　　see　that　band　of　bighorn　up　yonder？　　If　th