the oregon trail-第69部分

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　side　of　the　shaggy　and　brutish　monsters　before　me；　it　seemed　　like　some　lovely　young　girl　wandering　near　a　den　of　robbers　or　a　nest　　of　bearded　pirates。　　The　buffalo　looked　uglier　than　ever。　　〃Here　goes　　for　another　of　you；〃　thought　I；　feeling　in　my　pouch　for　a　percussion　　cap。　　Not　a　percussion　cap　was　there。　　My　good　rifle　was　useless　as　　an　old　iron　bar。　　One　of　the　wounded　bulls　had　not　yet　fallen；　and　I　　waited　for　some　time；　hoping　every　moment　that　his　strength　would　　fail　him。　　He　still　stood　firm；　looking　grimly　at　me；　and　　disregarding　Henry's　advice　I　rose　and　walked　away。　　Many　of　the　　bulls　turned　and　looked　at　me；　but　the　wounded　brute　made　no　attack。　　　I　soon　came　upon　a　deep　ravine　which　would　give　me　shelter　in　case　of　　emergency；　so　I　turned　round　and　threw　a　stone　at　the　bulls。　　They　　received　it　with　the　utmost　indifference。　　Feeling　myself　insulted　at　　their　refusal　to　be　frightened；　I　swung　my　hat；　shouted；　and　made　a　　show　of　running　toward　them；　at　this　they　crowded　together　and　　galloped　off；　leaving　their　dead　and　wounded　upon　the　field。　　As　I　　moved　toward　the　camp　I　saw　the　last　survivor　totter　and　fall　dead。　　　My　speed　in　returning　was　wonderfully　quickened　by　the　reflection　　that　the　Pawnees　were　abroad；　and　that　I　was　defenseless　in　case　of　　meeting　with　an　enemy。　　I　saw　no　living　thing；　however；　except　two　or　　three　squalid　old　bulls　scrambling　among　the　sand…hills　that　flanked　　the　great　ravine。　　When　I　reached　camp　the　party　was　nearly　ready　for　　the　afternoon　move。　We　encamped　that　evening　at　a　short　distance　from　the　river　bank。　　　About　midnight；　as　we　all　lay　asleep　on　the　ground；　the　man　nearest　　to　me　gently　reaching　out　his　hand；　touched　my　shoulder；　and　　cautioned　me　at　the　same　time　not　to　move。　　It　was　bright　starlight。　　　Opening　my　eyes　and　slightly　turning　I　saw　a　large　white　wolf　moving　　stealthily　around　the　embers　of　our　fire；　with　his　nose　close　to　the　　ground。　　Disengaging　my　hand　from　the　blanket；　I　drew　the　cover　from　　my　rifle；　which　lay　close　at　my　side；　the　motion　alarmed　the　wolf；　　and　with　long　leaps　he　bounded　out　of　the　camp。　　Jumping　up；　I　fired　　after　him　when　he　was　about　thirty　yards　distant；　the　melancholy　hum　　of　the　bullet　sounded　far　away　through　the　night。　　At　the　sharp　　report；　so　suddenly　breaking　upon　the　stillness；　all　the　men　sprang　　up。　〃You've　killed　him；〃　said　one　of　them。　〃No；　I　haven't；〃　said　I；　〃there　he　goes；　running　along　the　river。　〃Then　there's　two　of　them。　　Don't　you　see　that　one　lying　out　yonder？〃　We　went　to　it；　and　instead　of　a　dead　white　wolf　found　the　bleached　　skull　of　a　buffalo。　　I　had　missed　my　mark；　and　what　was　worse；　had　　grossly　violated　a　standing　law　of　the　prairie。　　When　in　a　dangerous　　part　of　the　country；　it　is　considered　highly　imprudent　to　fire　a　gun　　after　encamping；　lest　the　report　should　reach　the　ears　of　the　　Indians。　The　horses　were　saddled　in　the　morning；　and　the　last　man　had　lighted　　his　pipe　at　the　dying　ashes　of　the　fire。　　The　beauty　of　the　day　　enlivened　us　all。　　Even　Ellis　felt　its　influence；　and　occasionally　　made　a　remark　as　we　rode　along；　and　Jim　Gurney　told　endless　stories　　of　his　cruisings　in　the　United　States　service。　　The　buffalo　were　　abundant；　and　at　length　a　large　band　of　them　went　running　up　the　　hills　on　the　left。　〃Do　you　see　them　buffalo？〃　said　Ellis；　〃now　I'll　bet　any　man　I'll　go　　and　kill　one　with　my　yager。〃　And　leaving　his　horse　to　follow　on　with　the　party；　he　strode　up　the　　hill　after　them。　　Henry　looked　at　us　with　his　peculiar　humorous　　expression；　and　proposed　that　we　should　follow　Ellis　to　see　how　he　　would　kill　a　fat　cow。　　As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　sight　we　rode　up　the　　hill　after　him；　and　waited　behind　a　little　ridge　till　we　heard　the　　report　of　the　unfailing　yager。　　Mounting　to　the　top；　we　saw　Ellis　　clutching　his　favorite　weapon　with　both　hands；　and　staring　after　the　　buffalo；　who　one　and　all　were　galloping　off　at　full　speed。　　As　we　　descended　the　hill　we　saw　the　party　straggling　along　the　trail　below。　　　When　we　joined　them；　another　scene　of　amateur　hunting　awaited　us。　　I　　forgot　to　say　that　when　we　met　the　volunteers　Tete　Rouge　had　obtained　　a　horse　from　one　of　them；　in　exchange　for　his　mule；　whom　he　feared　　and　detested。　　The　horse　he　christened　James。　　James；　though　not　　worth　so　much　as　the　mule；　was　a　large　and　strong　animal。　　Tete　Rouge　　was　very　proud　of　his　new　acquisition；　and　suddenly　became　ambitious　　to　run　a　buffalo　with　him。　　At　his　request；　I　lent　him　my　pistols；　　though　not　without　great　misgivings；　since　when　Tete　Rouge　hunted　　buffalo　the　pursuer　was　in　more　danger　than　the　pursued。　　He　hung　the　　holsters　at　his　saddle　bow；　and　now；　as　we　passed　along；　a　band　of　　bulls　left　their　grazing　in　the　meadow　and　galloped　in　a　long　file　　across　the　trail　in　front。　〃Now's　your　chance；　Tete；　come；　let's　see　you　kill　a　bull。〃　　Thus　　urged；　the　hunter　cried；　〃Get　up！〃　and　James；　obedient　to　the　signal；　　cantered　deliberately　forward　at　an　abominably　uneasy　gait。　　Tete　　Rouge；　as　we　contemplated　him　from　behind；　made　a　most　remarkable　　figure。　　He　still　wore　the　old　buffalo　coat；　his　blanket；　which　was　　tied　in　a　loose　bundle　behind　his　saddle；　went　jolting　from　one　side　　to　the　other；　and　a　large　tin　canteen　half　full　of　water；　which　hung　　from　his　pommel；　was　jerked　about　his　leg　in　a　manner　which　greatly　　embarrassed　him。　〃Let　out　your　horse；　man；　lay　on　your　whip！〃　we　called　out　to　him。　　　The　buffalo　were　getting　farther　off　at　every　instant。　　James；　being　　ambitious　to　mend　his　pace；　tugged　hard　at　the　rein；　and　one　of　his　　rider's　boots　escaped　from　the　stirrup。　〃Woa！　　I　say；　woa！〃　cried　Tete　Rouge；　in　great　perturbation；　and　　after　much　effort　James'　progress　was　arrested。　　The　hunter　came　　trotting　back　to　the　party；　disgusted　with　buffalo　running；　and　he　　was　received　with　overwhelming　congratulations。　〃Too　good　a　chance　to　lose；〃　said　Shaw；　pointing　to　another　band　of　　bulls　on　the　left。　　We　lashed　our　horses　and　galloped　upon　them。　　　Shaw　killed　one　with　each　barrel　of　his　gun。　　I　separated　another　　from　the　herd　and　shot　him。　　The　small　bullet　of　the　rifled　pistol；　　striking　too　far　back；　did　not　immediately　take　effect；　and　the　bull　　ran　on　with　unabated　speed。　　Again　and　again　I　snapped　the　remaining　　pistol　at　him。　　I　primed　it　afresh　three　or　four　times；　and　each　time　　it　missed　fire；　for　the　touch…hole　was　clogged　up。　　Returning　it　to　　the　holster；　I　began　to　load　the　empty　pistol；　still　galloping　by　the　　side　of　the　bull。　　By　this　time　he　was　grown　desperate。　　The　foam　　flew　from　his　jaws　and　his　tongue　lolled　out。　　Before　the　pistol　was　　loaded　he　sprang　upon　me；　and　followed　up　his　attack　with　a　furious　　rush。　　The　only　alternative　was　to　run　away　or　be　killed。　　I　took　to　　flight；　and　the　bull；　bristling　with　fury；　pursued　me　closely。　　The　　pistol　was　soon　ready；　and　then　looking　back；　I　saw　his　head　five　or　　six　yards　behind　my　horse's　tail。　　To　fire　at　it　would　be　useless；　　for　a　bullet　flattens　against　the　adamantine　skull　of　a　buffalo　bull。　　　Inclining　my　body　to　the　left；　I　turned　my　horse　in　that　direction　as　　sharply　as　his　speed　would　permit。　　The　bull；　rushing　blindly　on　with　　great　force　and　weight；　did　not　turn　so　quickly。　　As　I　looked　back；　　his　neck　and　shoulders　were　exposed　to　view；　turning　in　the　saddle；　I　　shot　a　bullet　through　them　obliquely　into　his　vitals。　　He　gave　over　　the　chase　and　soon　fell　to　the　ground。　　An　English　tourist　represents　　a　situation　like　this　as　one　of　imminent　danger；　this　is　a　great　　mistake；　the　bull　never　pursues　long；　and　the　horse　must　be　wretched　　indeed　that　cannot　keep　out　of　his　way　for　two　or　three　minutes。　We　were　now　come　to　a　part　of　the　country　where　we　were　bound　in　　common　prudence　to　use　every　possible　precaution。　　We　mounted　guard　　at　night；　each　man　standing　in　his　turn；　and　no　one　ever　slept　　without　drawing　his　rifle　close　to　his　side　or　folding　it　with　him　in　　his　blanket。　　One　morning　our　vigilance　was　stimulated　by　our　finding　　traces　of　a　large　Comanche　encampment。　　Fortunately　for　us；　however；　　it　had　been　abandoned　nearly　a　week。　　On　the　next　evening　we　found　　the　ashes　of　a　recent　fire；　which　gave　us　at　the　time　some　　uneasiness。　　At　length　we　reached　the　Caches；　a　place　of　dangerous　　repute；　and　it　had　a　most　dangerous　appearance；　consisting　of　sand…　hills　everywhere　broken　by　ravines　and　deep　chasms。　　Here　we　found　　the　grave　of　Swan；　killed　at　this　place；　probably　by　the　Pawnees；　two　　or　three　weeks　before。　　His　remains；　more　than　once　violated　by　the　　Indians　and　the　wolves；　were　suffered　at　length　to　remain　undisturbed　　in　their　wild　burial　place。　For　several　days　we　met　detached　companies　of　Price's　regiment。　　　Horses　would　often　break　loose　at　night　from　their　camps。　　One　　afternoon　we　picked　up　three　of　these　stragglers　quietly　grazing　　along　the　river。　　After　we　came　to　camp　that　evening；　Jim　Gurney　　brought　news　that　more　of　them　were　in　sight。　　It　was　nearly　dark；　　and　a　cold；　drizzling　rain　had　set　in；　but　we　all　turned　out；　and　　after　an　hour's　chase　nine　horses　were　caught　and　brought　in。　　One　of　　them　was　equipped　with　saddle　and　bridle；　pistols　were　hanging　at　the　　pommel　of　the　saddle；　a　carbine　was　slung　at　its　side；　and　a　blanket　　rolled　up　behind　it。　　In　the　morning；　glorying　in　our　valuable　prize；　　we　resumed　our　journey；　and　our　cavalcade　presented　a　much　more　　imposing　appearance　than　ever　before。　　We　kept　on　till　the　afternoon；　　when；　far　behind；　three　horsemen　appeared　on　the　horizon。　　Coming　on　　at　a　hand…gallop；　they　soon　overtook　us；　and　claimed　all　the　horses　　as　belonging　to　themselves　and　others　of　their　company。　　They　were　of　　course　given　up；　very　much　to　the　mortification　of　Ellis　and　Jim　　Gurney。　Our　own　horses　now　showed　signs　of　fatigue；　and　we　resolved　to　give　　them　half　a　day's　rest。　　We　stopped　at　noon　at　a　grassy　spot　by　the　　river。　　After　dinner　Shaw　and　Henry　went　out　to　hunt；　and　while　the　　men　lounged　about　the　camp；　I　lay　down　to　read　in　the　shadow　of　the　　cart。　　Looking　up；　I　saw　a　bull　grazing　alone　on　the　prairie　more　　than　a　mile　distant。　　I　was　tired　of　reading；　and　taking　my　rifle　I　　walked　toward　him。　　As　I　came　near；　I　crawled　upon　the　ground　until　I　　approached　to　within　a　hundred　yards；　here　I　sat　down　upon　the　grass　　and　waited　till　he　should　turn　himself　into