the oregon trail-第51部分

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direction；　〃Come　on！　come　on！〃　he　called　to　us。　　〃Do　you　　see　that　band　of　bighorn　up　yonder？　　If　there's　one　of　them；　there's　　a　hundred！〃　In　fact；　near　the　summit　of　the　mountain；　I　could　see　a　large　number　　of　small　white　objects；　moving　rapidly　upward　among　the　precipices；　　while　others　were　filing　along　its　rocky　profile。　　Anxious　to　see　the　　sport；　I　galloped　forward；　and　entering　a　passage　in　the　side　of　the　　mountain；　ascended　the　loose　rocks　as　far　as　my　horse　could　carry　me。　　　Here　I　fastened　her　to　an　old　pine　tree　that　stood　alone；　scorching　　in　the　sun。　　At　that　moment　Raymond　called　to　me　from　the　right　that　　another　band　of　sheep　was　close　at　hand　in　that　direction。　　I　ran　up　　to　the　top　of　the　opening；　which　gave　me　a　full　view　into　the　rocky　　gorge　beyond；　and　here　I　plainly　saw　some　fifty　or　sixty　sheep；　　almost　within　rifle…shot；　clattering　upward　among　the　rocks；　and　　endeavoring；　after　their　usual　custom；　to　reach　the　highest　point。　　　The　naked　Indians　bounded　up　lightly　in　pursuit。　　In　a　moment　the　　game　and　hunters　disappeared。　　Nothing　could　be　seen　or　heard　but　the　　occasional　report　of　a　gun；　more　and　more　distant；　reverberating　　among　the　rocks。　I　turned　to　descend；　and　as　I　did　so　I　could　see　the　valley　below　　alive　with　Indians　passing　rapidly　through　it；　on　horseback　and　on　　foot。　　A　little　farther　on；　all　were　stopping　as　they　came　up；　the　　camp　was　preparing；　and　the　lodges　rising。　　I　descended　to　this　spot；　　and　soon　after　Reynal　and　Raymond　returned。　　They　bore　between　them　a　　sheep　which　they　had　pelted　to　death　with　stones　from　the　edge　of　a　　ravine；　along　the　bottom　of　which　it　was　attempting　to　escape。　　One　　by　one　the　hunters　came　dropping　in；　yet　such　is　the　activity　of　the　　Rocky　Mountain　sheep　that；　although　sixty　or　seventy　men　were　out　in　　pursuit；　not　more　than　half　a　dozen　animals　were　killed。　　Of　these　　only　one　was　a　full…grown　male。　　He　had　a　pair　of　horns　twisted　like　　a　ram's；　the　dimensions　of　which　were　almost　beyond　belief。　　I　have　　seen　among　the　Indians　ladles　with　long　handles；　capable　of　　containing　more　than　a　quart；　cut　from　such　horns。　There　is　something　peculiarly　interesting　in　the　character　and　habits　　of　the　mountain　sheep；　whose　chosen　retreats　are　above　the　region　of　　vegetation　and　storms；　and　who　leap　among　the　giddy　precipices　of　　their　aerial　home　as　actively　as　the　antelope　skims　over　the　prairies　　below。　Through　the　whole　of　the　next　morning　we　were　moving　forward；　among　　the　hills。　　On　the　following　day　the　heights　gathered　around　us；　and　　the　passage　of　the　mountains　began　in　earnest。　　Before　the　village　　left　its　camping　ground；　I　set　forward　in　company　with　the　Eagle…　Feather；　a　man　of　powerful　frame；　but　of　bad　and　sinister　face。　　His　　son；　a　light…limbed　boy；　rode　with　us；　and　another　Indian；　named　the　　Panther；　was　also　of　the　party。　　Leaving　the　village　out　of　sight　　behind　us；　we　rode　together　up　a　rocky　defile。　　After　a　while；　　however；　the　Eagle…Feather　discovered　in　the　distance　some　appearance　　of　game；　and　set　off　with　his　son　in　pursuit　of　it；　while　I　went　　forward　with　the　Panther。　　This　was　a　mere　NOM　DE　GUERRE；　for；　like　　many　Indians；　he　concealed　his　real　name　out　of　some　superstitious　　notion。　　He　was　a　very　noble　looking　fellow。　　As　he　suffered　his　　ornamented　buffalo　robe　to　fall　into　folds　about　his　loins；　his　　stately　and　graceful　figure　was　fully　displayed；　and　while　he　sat　his　　horse　in　an　easy　attitude；　the　long　feathers　of　the　prairie　cock　　fluttering　from　the　crown　of　his　head；　he　seemed　the　very　model　of　a　　wild　prairie…rider。　　He　had　not　the　same　features　as　those　of　other　　Indians。　　Unless　his　handsome　face　greatly　belied　him；　he　was　free　　from　the　jealousy；　suspicion；　and　malignant　cunning　of　his　people。　　　For　the　most　part；　a　civilized　white　man　can　discover　but　very　few　　points　of　sympathy　between　his　own　nature　and　that　of　an　Indian。　　　With　every　disposition　to　do　justice　to　their　good　qualities；　he　must　　be　conscious　that　an　impassable　gulf　lies　between　him　and　his　red　　brethren　of　the　prairie。　　Nay；　so　alien　to　himself　do　they　appear　　that；　having　breathed　for　a　few　months　or　a　few　weeks　the　air　of　this　　region；　he　begins　to　look　upon　them　as　a　troublesome　and　dangerous　　species　of　wild　beast；　and；　if　expedient；　he　could　shoot　them　with　as　　little　compunction　as　they　themselves　would　experience　after　　performing　the　same　office　upon　him。　　Yet；　in　the　countenance　of　the　　Panther；　I　gladly　read　that　there　were　at　least　some　points　of　　sympathy　between　him　and　me。　　We　were　excellent　friends；　and　as　we　　rode　forward　together　through　rocky　passages；　deep　dells；　and　little　　barren　plains；　he　occupied　himself　very　zealously　in　teaching　me　the　　Dakota　language。　　After　a　while；　we　came　to　a　little　grassy　recess；　　where　some　gooseberry　bushes　were　growing　at　the　foot　of　a　rock；　and　　these　offered　such　temptation　to　my　companion；　that　he　gave　over　his　　instruction；　and　stopped　so　long　to　gather　the　fruit　that　before　we　　were　in　motion　again　the　van　of　the　village　came　in　view。　　An　old　　woman　appeared；　leading　down　her　pack　horse　among　the　rocks　above。　　　Savage　after　savage　followed；　and　the　little　dell　was　soon　crowded　　with　the　throng。　That　morning's　march　was　one　not　easily　to　be　forgotten。　　It　led　us　　through　a　sublime　waste；　a　wilderness　of　mountains　and　pine　forests；　　over　which　the　spirit　of　loneliness　and　silence　seemed　brooding。　　　Above　and　below　little　could　be　seen　but　the　same　dark　green　foliage。　　　It　overspread　the　valleys；　and　the　mountains　were　clothed　with　it　　from　the　black　rocks　that　crowned　their　summits　to　the　impetuous　　streams　that　circled　round　their　base。　　Scenery　like　this；　it　might　　seem；　could　have　no　very　cheering　effect　on　the　mind　of　a　sick　man　　（for　to…day　my　disease　had　again　assailed　me）　in　the　midst　of　a　horde　　of　savages；　but　if　the　reader　has　ever　wandered；　with　a　true　hunter's　　spirit；　among　the　forests　of　Maine；　or　the　more　picturesque　solitudes　　of　the　Adirondack　Mountains；　he　will　understand　how　the　somber　woods　　and　mountains　around　me　might　have　awakened　any　other　feelings　than　　those　of　gloom。　　In　truth　they　recalled　gladdening　recollections　of　　similar　scenes　in　a　distant　and　far　different　land。　　After　we　had　　been　advancing　for　several　hours　through　passages　always　narrow；　　often　obstructed　and　difficult；　I　saw　at　a　little　distance　on　our　　right　a　narrow　opening　between　two　high　wooded　precipices。　　All　　within　seemed　darkness　and　mystery。　　In　the　mood　in　which　I　found　　myself　something　strongly　impelled　me　to　enter。　　Passing　over　the　　intervening　space　I　guided　my　horse　through　the　rocky　portal；　and　as　　I　did　so　instinctively　drew　the　covering　from　my　rifle；　half　　expecting　that　some　unknown　evil　lay　in　ambush　within　those　dreary　　recesses。　　The　place　was　shut　in　among　tall　cliffs；　and　so　deeply　　shadowed　by　a　host　of　old　pine　trees　that；　though　the　sun　shone　　bright　on　the　side　of　the　mountain；　nothing　but　a　dim　twilight　could　　penetrate　within。　　As　far　as　I　could　see　it　had　no　tenants　except　a　　few　hawks　and　owls；　who；　dismayed　at　my　intrusion；　flapped　hoarsely　　away　among　the　shaggy　branches。　　I　moved　forward；　determined　to　　explore　the　mystery　to　the　bottom；　and　soon　became　involved　among　the　　pines。　　The　genius　of　the　place　exercised　a　strange　influence　upon　my　　mind。　　Its　faculties　were　stimulated　into　extraordinary　activity；　and　　as　I　passed　along　many　half…forgotten　incidents；　and　the　images　of　　persons　and　things　far　distant；　rose　rapidly　before　me　with　　surprising　distinctness。　　In　that　perilous　wilderness；　eight　hundred　　miles　removed　beyond　the　faintest　vestige　of　civilization；　the　scenes　　of　another　hemisphere；　the　seat　of　ancient　refinement；　passed　before　　me　more　like　a　succession　of　vivid　paintings　than　any　mere　dreams　of　　the　fancy。　　I　saw　the　church　of　St。　Peter's　illumined　on　the　evening　　of　Easter　Day；　the　whole　majestic　pile；　from　the　cross　to　the　　foundation　stone；　penciled　in　fire　and　shedding　a　radiance；　like　the　　serene　light　of　the　moon；　on　the　sea　of　upturned　faces　below。　　I　saw　　the　peak　of　Mount　Etna　towering　above　its　inky　mantle　of　clouds　and　　lightly　curling　its　wreaths　of　milk…white　smoke　against　the　soft　sky　　flushed　with　the　Sicilian　sunset。　　I　saw　also　the　gloomy　vaulted　　passages　and　the　narrow　cells　of　the　Passionist　convent　where　I　once　　had　sojourned　for　a　few　days　with　the　fanatical　monks；　its　pale；　　stern　inmates　in　their　robes　of　black；　and　the　grated　window　from　　whence　I　could　look　out；　a　forbidden　indulgence；　upon　the　melancholy　　Coliseum　and　the　crumbling　ruins　of　the　Etennal　City。　　The　mighty　　glaciers　of　the　Splugen　too　rose　before　me；　gleaming　in　the　sun　like　　polished　silver；　and　those　terrible　solitudes；　the　birthplace　of　the　　Rhine；　where　bursting　from　the　bowels　of　its　native　mountains；　it　　lashes　and　foams　down　the　rocky　abyss　into　the　little　valley　of　　Andeer。　　These　recollections；　and　many　more；　crowded　upon　me；　until　　remembering　that　it　was　hardly　wise　to　remain　long　in　such　a　place；　I　　mounted　again　and　retraced　my　steps。　　Issuing　from　between　the　rocks　　I　saw　a　few　rods　before　me　the　men；　women；　and　children；　dogs　and　　horses；　still　filing　slowly　across　the　little　glen。　　A　bare　round　　hill　rose　directly　above　them。　　I　rode　to　the　top；　and　from　this　　point　I　could　look　down　on　the　savage　procession　as　it　passed　just　　beneath　my　feet；　and　far　on　the　left　I　could　see　its　thin　and　broken　　line；　visible　only　at　intervals；　stretching　away　for　miles　among　the　　mountains。　　On　the　farthest　ridge　horsemen　were　still　descending　like　　mere　specks　in　the　distance。　I　remained　on　the　hill　until　all　had　passed；　and　then；　descending；　　followed　after　them。　　A　little　farther　on　I　found　a　very　small　　meadow；　set　deeply　among　steep　mountains；　and　here　the　whole　village　　had　encamped。　　The　little　spot　was　crowded　with　the　confused　and　　disorderly　host。　　Some　of　the　lodges　were　already　completely　　prepared；　or　the　squaws　perhaps　were　busy　in　drawing　the　heavy　　coverings　of　skin　over　the　bare　poles。　　Others　were　as　yet　mere　　skeletons；　while　others　stillpoles；　covering；　and　alllay　　scattered　in　complete　disorder　on　the　ground　among　buffalo　robes；　　bales　of　meat；　domestic　utensils；　harness；　and　weapons。　　Squaws　were　　screaming　to　one　another；　horses　rearing　and　plu