the oregon trail-第7部分

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proceedings　of　the　party；　and　this　was　not　the　first　　time　he　had　expressed　himself　upon　the　subject。　　But　his　convictions　　seldom　produced　any　practical　results。　　In　the　present　case；　he　　contented　himself；　as　usual；　with　enlarging　on　the　importance　of　his　　suggestions；　and　wondering　that　they　were　not　adopted。　　But　his　plan　　of　sending　out　vedettes　seemed　particularly　dear　to　him；　and　as　no　　one　else　was　disposed　to　second　his　views　on　this　point；　he　took　it　　into　his　head　to　ride　forward　that　afternoon；　himself。　〃Come；　Parkman；〃　said　he；　〃will　you　go　with　me？〃　We　set　out　together；　and　rode　a　mile　or　two　in　advance。　　The　captain；　　in　the　course　of　twenty　years'　service　in　the　British　army；　had　seen　　something　of　life；　one　extensive　side　of　it；　at　least；　he　had　enjoyed　　the　best　opportunities　for　studying；　and　being　naturally　a　pleasant　　fellow；　he　was　a　very　entertaining　companion。　　He　cracked　jokes　and　　told　stories　for　an　hour　or　two；　until；　looking　back；　we　saw　the　　prairie　behind　us　stretching　away　to　the　horizon；　without　a　horseman　　or　a　wagon　in　sight。　〃Now；〃　said　the　captain；　〃I　think　the　vedettes　had　better　stop　till　　the　main　body　comes　up。〃　I　was　of　the　same　opinion。　　There　was　a　thick　growth　of　woods　just　　before　us；　with　a　stream　running　through　them。　　Having　crossed　this；　　we　found　on　the　other　side　a　fine　level　meadow；　half　encircled　by　the　　trees；　and　fastening　our　horses　to　some　bushes；　we　sat　down　on　the　　grass；　while；　with　an　old　stump　of　a　tree　for　a　target；　I　began　to　　display　the　superiority　of　the　renowned　rifle　of　the　back　woods　over　　the　foreign　innovation　borne　by　the　captain。　　At　length　voices　could　　be　heard　in　the　distance　behind　the　trees。　〃There　they　come！〃　said　the　captain：　〃let's　go　and　see　how　they　get　　through　the　creek。〃　We　mounted　and　rode　to　the　bank　of　the　stream；　where　the　trail　　crossed　it。　　It　ran　in　a　deep　hollow；　full　of　trees；　as　we　looked　　down；　we　saw　a　confused　crowd　of　horsemen　riding　through　the　water；　　and　among　the　dingy　habiliment　of　our　party　glittered　the　uniforms　of　　four　dragoons。　Shaw　came　whipping　his　horse　up　the　back；　in　advance　of　the　rest；　　with　a　somewhat　indignant　countenance。　　The　first　word　he　spoke　was　a　　blessing　fervently　invoked　on　the　head　of　R。；　who　was　riding；　with　a　　crest…fallen　air；　in　the　rear。　　Thanks　to　the　ingenious　devices　of　　the　gentleman；　we　had　missed　the　track　entirely；　and　wandered；　not　　toward　the　Platte；　but　to　the　village　of　the　Iowa　Indians。　　This　we　　learned　from　the　dragoons；　who　had　lately　deserted　from　Fort　　Leavenworth。　　They　told　us　that　our　best　plan　now　was　to　keep　to　the　　northward　until　we　should　strike　the　trail　formed　by　several　parties　　of　Oregon　emigrants；　who　had　that　season　set　out　from　St。　Joseph's　in　　Missouri。　In　extremely　bad　temper；　we　encamped　on　this　ill…starred　spot；　while　　the　deserters；　whose　case　admitted　of　no　delay　rode　rapidly　forward。　　　On　the　day　following；　striking　the　St。　Joseph's　trail；　we　turned　our　　horses'　heads　toward　Fort　Laramie；　then　about　seven　hundred　miles　to　　the　westward。

CHAPTER　V　〃THE　BIG　BLUE〃

The　great　medley　of　Oregon　and　California　emigrants；　at　their　camps　　around　Independence；　had　heard　reports　that　several　additional　　parties　were　on　the　point　of　setting　out　from　St。　Joseph's　farther　to　　the　northward。　　The　prevailing　impression　was　that　these　were　　Mormons；　twenty…three　hundred　in　number；　and　a　great　alarm　was　　excited　in　consequence。　　The　people　of　Illinois　and　Missouri；　who　　composed　by　far　the　greater　part　of　the　emigrants；　have　never　been　on　　the　best　terms　with　the　〃Latter　Day　Saints〃；　and　it　is　notorious　　throughout　the　country　how　much　blood　has　been　spilt　in　their　feuds；　　even　far　within　the　limits　of　the　settlements。　　No　one　could　predict　　what　would　be　the　result；　when　large　armed　bodies　of　these　fanatics　　should　encounter　the　most　impetuous　and　reckless　of　their　old　enemies　　on　the　broad　prairie；　far　beyond　the　reach　of　law　or　military　force。　　　The　women　and　children　at　Independence　raised　a　great　outcry；　the　men　　themselves　were　seriously　alarmed；　and；　as　I　learned；　they　sent　to　　Colonel　Kearny；　requesting　an　escort　of　dragoons　as　far　as　the　　Platte。　　This　was　refused；　and　as　the　sequel　proved；　there　was　no　　occasion　for　it。　　The　St。　Joseph's　emigrants　were　as　good　Christians　　and　as　zealous　Mormon…haters　as　the　rest；　and　the　very　few　families　　of　the　〃Saints〃　who　passed　out　this　season　by　the　route　of　the　Platte　　remained　behind　until　the　great　tide　of　emigration　had　gone　by；　　standing　in　quite　as　much　awe　of　the　〃gentiles〃　as　the　latter　did　of　　them。　We　were　now；　as　I　before　mentioned；　upon　this　St。　Joseph's　trail。　　It　　was　evident；　by　the　traces；　that　large　parties　were　a　few　days　in　　advance　of　us；　and　as　we　too　supposed　them　to　be　Mormons；　we　had　some　　apprehension　of　interruption。　The　journey　was　somewhat　monotonous。　　One　day　we　rode　on　for　hours；　　without　seeing　a　tree　or　a　bush；　before；　behind；　and　on　either　side；　　stretched　the　vast　expanse；　rolling　in　a　succession　of　graceful　　swells；　covered　with　the　unbroken　carpet　of　fresh　green　grass。　　Here　　and　there　a　crow；　or　a　raven；　or　a　turkey…buzzard；　relieved　the　　uniformity。　〃What　shall　we　do　to…night　for　wood　and　water？〃　we　began　to　ask　of　　each　other；　for　the　sun　was　within　an　hour　of　setting。　　At　length　a　　dark　green　speck　appeared；　far　off　on　the　right；　it　was　the　top　of　a　　tree；　peering　over　a　swell　of　the　prairie；　and　leaving　the　trail；　we　　made　all　haste　toward　it。　　It　proved　to　be　the　vanguard　of　a　cluster　　of　bushes　and　low　trees；　that　surrounded　some　pools　of　water　in　an　　extensive　hollow；　so　we　encamped　on　the　rising　ground　near　it。　Shaw　and　I　were　sitting　in　the　tent；　when　Delorier　thrust　his　brown　　face　and　old　felt　hat　into　the　opening；　and　dilating　his　eyes　to　　their　utmost　extent；　announced　supper。　　There　were　the　tin　cups　and　　the　iron　spoons；　arranged　in　military　order　on　the　grass；　and　the　　coffee…pot　predominant　in　the　midst。　　The　meal　was　soon　dispatched；　　but　Henry　Chatillon　still　sat　cross…legged；　dallying　with　the　remnant　　of　his　coffee；　the　beverage　in　universal　use　upon　the　prairie；　and　an　　especial　favorite　with　him。　　He　preferred　it　in　its　virgin　flavor；　　unimpaired　by　sugar　or　cream；　and　on　the　present　occasion　it　met　his　　entire　approval；　being　exceedingly　strong；　or；　as　he　expressed　it；　　〃right　black。〃　It　was　a　rich　and　gorgeous　sunsetan　American　sunset；　and　the　ruddy　　glow　of　the　sky　was　reflected　from　some　extensive　pools　of　water　　among　the　shadowy　copses　in　the　meadow　below。　〃I　must　have　a　bath　to…night；〃　said　Shaw。　　〃How　is　it；　Delorier？　　Any　　chance　for　a　swim　down　here？〃　〃Ah！　I　cannot　tell；　just　as　you　please；　monsieur；〃　replied　Delorier；　　shrugging　his　shoulders；　perplexed　by　his　ignorance　of　English；　and　　extremely　anxious　to　conform　in　all　respects　to　the　opinion　and　　wishes　of　his　bourgeois。　〃Look　at　his　moccasion；〃　said　I。　　〃It　has　evidently　been　lately　　immersed　in　a　profound　abyss　of　black　mud。〃　〃Come；〃　said　Shaw；　〃at　any　rate　we　can　see　for　ourselves。〃　We　set　out　together；　and　as　we　approached　the　bushes；　which　were　at　　some　distance；　we　found　the　ground　becoming　rather　treacherous。　　We　　could　only　get　along　by　stepping　upon　large　clumps　of　tall　rank　　grass；　with　fathomless　gulfs　between；　like　innumerable　little　quaking　　islands　in　an　ocean　of　mud；　where　a　false　step　would　have　involved　　our　boots　in　a　catastrophe　like　that　which　had　befallen　Delorier's　　moccasins。　　The　thing　looked　desperate；　we　separated；　so　as　to　search　　in　different　directions；　Shaw　going　off　to　the　right；　while　I　kept　　straight　forward。　　At　last　I　came　to　the　edge　of　the　bushes：　they　　were　young　waterwillows；　covered　with　their　caterpillar…like　　blossoms；　but　intervening　between　them　and　the　last　grass　clump　was　a　　black　and　deep　slough；　over　which；　by　a　vigorous　exertion；　I　　contrived　to　jump。　　Then　I　shouldered　my　way　through　the　willows；　　tramping　them　down　by　main　force；　till　I　came　to　a　wide　stream　of　　water；　three　inches　deep；　languidly　creeping　along　over　a　bottom　of　　sleek　mud。　　My　arrival　produced　a　great　commotion。　　A　huge　green　　bull…frog　uttered　an　indignant　croak；　and　jumped　off　the　bank　with　a　　loud　splash：　his　webbed　feet　twinkled　above　the　surface；　as　he　jerked　　them　energetically　upward；　and　I　could　see　him　ensconcing　himself　in　　the　unresisting　slime　at　the　bottom；　whence　several　large　air　bubbles　　struggled　lazily　to　the　top。　　Some　little　spotted　frogs　instantly　　followed　the　patriarch's　example；　and　then　three　turtles；　not　larger　　than　a　dollar；　tumbled　themselves　off　a　broad　〃lily　pad；〃　where　they　　had　been　reposing。　　At　the　same　time　a　snake；　gayly　striped　with　　black　and　yellow；　glided　out　from　the　bank；　and　writhed　across　to　the　　other　side；　and　a　small　stagnant　pool　into　which　my　foot　had　　inadvertently　pushed　a　stone　was　instantly　alive　with　a　congregation　　of　black　tadpoles。　〃Any　chance　for　a　bath；　where　you　are？〃　called　out　Shaw；　from　a　　distance。　The　answer　was　not　encouraging。　　I　retreated　through　the　willows；　and　　rejoining　my　companion；　we　proceeded　to　push　our　researches　in　　company。　　Not　far　on　the　right；　a　rising　ground；　covered　with　trees　　and　bushes；　seemed　to　sink　down　abruptly　to　the　water；　and　give　hope　　of　better　success；　so　toward　this　we　directed　our　steps。　　When　we　　reached　the　place　we　found　it　no　easy　matter　to　get　along　between　the　　hill　and　the　water；　impeded　as　we　were　by　a　growth　of　stiff；　　obstinate　young　birch…trees；　laced　together　by　grapevines。　　In　the　　twilight；　we　now　and　then；　to　support　ourselves；　snatched　at　the　　touch…me…not　stem　of　some　ancient　sweet…brier。　　Shaw；　who　was　in　　advance；　suddenly　uttered　a　somewhat　emphatic　monosyllable；　and　　looking　up　I　saw　him　with　one　hand　grasping　a　sapling；　and　one　foot　　immersed　in　the　water；　from　which　he　had　forgotten　to　withdraw　it；　　his　whole　attention　being　engaged　in　contemplating　the　movements　of　a　　water…snake；　about　five　feet　long；　curiously　checkered　with　black　and　　green；　who　was　deliberately　swimming　across　the　pool。　　There　being　no　　stick　or　stone　at　hand　to　pelt　him　with；　we　looked　at　him　for　a　time　　in　silent　disgust；　and　then　pushed　forward。　　Our　perseverence　was　at　　last　rewarded；　for　several　rods　farther　on；　we　emerged　upon　a　little　　level　grassy　nook　among　the　brushwood；　and　by　an　extraord