the oregon trail-第72部分

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of　the　party；　and　more　　than　one　voice　murmured　in　response。　　The　fiat　went　forth；　〃That　pig　　must　die；〃　and　a　rifle　was　leveled　forthwith　at　the　countenance　of　　the　plumpest　porker。　　Just　then　a　wagon　train；　with　some　twenty　　Missourians；　came　out　from　among　the　trees。　　The　marksman　suspended　　his　aim；　deeming　it　inexpedient　under　the　circumstances　to　consummate　　the　deed　of　blood。　In　the　morning　we　made　our　toilet　as　well　as　circumstances　would　　permit；　and　that　is　saying　but　very　little。　　In　spite　of　the　dreary　　rain　of　yesterday；　there　never　was　a　brighter　and　gayer　autumnal　　morning　than　that　on　which　we　returned　to　the　settlements。　　We　were　　passing　through　the　country　of　the　half…civilized　Shawanoes。　　It　was　　a　beautiful　alternation　of　fertile　plains　and　groves；　whose　foliage　　was　just　tinged　with　the　hues　of　autumn；　while　close　beneath　them　　rested　the　neat　log…houses　of　the　Indian　farmers。　　Every　field　and　　meadow　bespoke　the　exuberant　fertility　of　the　soil。　　The　maize　stood　　rustling　in　the　wind；　matured　and　dry；　its　shining　yellow　ears　thrust　　out　between　the　gaping　husks。　　Squashes　and　enormous　yellow　pumpkins　　lay　basking　in　the　sun　in　the　midst　of　their　brown　and　shriveled　　leaves。　　Robins　and　blackbirds　flew　about　the　fences；　and　everything　　in　short　betokened　our　near　approach　to　home　and　civilization。　　The　　forests　that　border　on　the　Missouri　soon　rose　before　us；　and　we　　entered　the　wide　tract　of　shrubbery　which　forms　their　outskirts。　　We　　had　passed　the　same　road　on　our　outward　journey　in　the　spring；　but　　its　aspect　was　totally　changed。　　The　young　wild　apple　trees；　then　　flushed　with　their　fragrant　blossoms；　were　now　hung　thickly　with　　ruddy　fruit。　　Tall　grass　flourished　by　the　roadside　in　place　of　the　　tender　shoots　just　peeping　from　the　warm　and　oozy　soil。　　The　vines　　were　laden　with　dark　purple　grapes；　and　the　slender　twigs　of　the　　maple；　then　tasseled　with　their　clusters　of　small　red　flowers；　now　　hung　out　a　gorgeous　display　of　leaves　stained　by　the　frost　with　　burning　crimson。　　On　every　side　we　saw　the　tokens　of　maturity　and　　decay　where　all　had　before　been　fresh　and　beautiful。　　We　entered　the　　forest；　and　ourselves　and　our　horses　were　checkered；　as　we　passed　　along；　by　the　bright　spots　of　sunlight　that　fell　between　the　opening　　boughs。　　On　either　side　the　dark　rich　masses　of　foliage　almost　　excluded　the　sun；　though　here　and　there　its　rays　could　find　their　way　　down；　striking　through　the　broad　leaves　and　lighting　them　with　a　pure　　transparent　green。　　Squirrels　barked　at　us　from　the　trees；　coveys　of　　young　partridges　ran　rustling　over　the　leaves　below；　and　the　golden　　oriole；　the　blue　jay；　and　the　flaming　red…bird　darted　among　the　　shadowy　branches。　　We　hailed　these　sights　and　sounds　of　beauty　by　no　　means　with　an　unmingled　pleasure。　　Many　and　powerful　as　were　the　　attractions　which　drew　us　toward　the　settlements；　we　looked　back　even　　at　that　moment　with　an　eager　longing　toward　the　wilderness　of　　prairies　and　mountains　behind　us。　　For　myself　I　had　suffered　more　　that　summer　from　illness　than　ever　before　in　my　life；　and　yet　to　this　　hour　I　cannot　recall　those　savage　scenes　and　savage　men　without　a　　strong　desire　again　to　visit　them。　At　length；　for　the　first　time　during　about　half　a　year；　we　saw　the　　roof　of　a　white　man's　dwelling　between　the　opening　trees。　　A　few　　moments　after　we　were　riding　over　the　miserable　log　bridge　that　leads　　into　the　center　of　Westport。　　Westport　had　beheld　strange　scenes；　but　　a　rougher　looking　troop　than　ours；　with　our　worn　equipments　and　　broken…down　horses；　was　never　seen　even　there。　　We　passed　the　well…　remembered　tavern；　Boone's　grocery　and　old　Vogel's　dram　shop；　and　　encamped　on　a　meadow　beyond。　　Here　we　were　soon　visited　by　a　number　　of　people　who　came　to　purchase　our　horses　and　equipage。　　This　matter　　disposed　of；　we　hired　a　wagon　and　drove　on　to　Kansas　Landing。　　Here　　we　were　again　received　under　the　hospitable　roof　of　our　old　friend　　Colonel　Chick；　and　seated　on　his　porch　we　looked　down　once　more　on　　the　eddies　of　the　Missouri。　Delorier　made　his　appearance　in　the　morning；　strangely　transformed　by　　the　assistance　of　a　hat；　a　coat；　and　a　razor。　　His　little　log…house　　was　among　the　woods　not　far　off。　　It　seemed　he　had　meditated　giving　a　　ball　on　the　occasion　of　his　return；　and　had　consulted　Henry　Chatillon　　as　to　whether　it　would　do　to　invite　his　bourgeois。　　Henry　expressed　　his　entire　conviction　that　we　would　not　take　it　amiss；　and　the　　invitation　was　now　proffered；　accordingly；　Delorier　adding　as　a　　special　inducement　that　Antoine　Lejeunesse　was　to　play　the　fiddle。　　　We　told　him　we　would　certainly　come；　but　before　the　evening　arrived　a　　steamboat；　which　came　down　from　Fort　Leavenworth；　prevented　our　being　　present　at　the　expected　festivities。　　Delorier　was　on　the　rock　at　the　　landing　place；　waiting　to　take　leave　of　us。　〃Adieu！　mes　bourgeois；　adieu！　adieu！〃　he　cried　out　as　the　boat　pulled　　off；　〃when　you　go　another　time　to　de　Rocky　Montagnes　I　will　go　with　　you；　yes；　I　will　go！〃　He　accompanied　this　patronizing　assurance　by　jumping　about　swinging　　his　hat；　and　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。　　As　the　boat　rounded　a　distant　　point；　the　last　object　that　met　our　eyes　was　Delorier　still　lifting　　his　hat　and　skipping　about　the　rock。　　We　had　taken　leave　of　Munroe　　and　Jim　Gurney　at　Westport；　and　Henry　Chatillon　went　down　in　the　boat　　with　us。　The　passage　to　St。　Louis　occupied　eight　days；　during　about　a　third　of　　which　we　were　fast　aground　on　sand…bars。　　We　passed　the　steamer　　Amelia　crowded　with　a　roaring　crew　of　disbanded　volunteers；　swearing；　　drinking；　gambling；　and　fighting。　　At　length　one　evening　we　reached　　the　crowded　levee　of　St。　Louis。　　Repairing　to　the　Planters'　House；　we　　caused　diligent　search　to　be　made　for　our　trunks；　which　after　some　　time　were　discovered　stowed　away　in　the　farthest　corner　of　the　　storeroom。　　In　the　morning　we　hardly　recognized　each　other；　a　frock　　of　broadcloth　had　supplanted　the　frock　of　buckskin；　well…fitted　　pantaloons　took　the　place　of　the　Indian　leggings；　and　polished　boots　　were　substituted　for　the　gaudy　moccasins。　After　we　had　been　several　days　at　St。　Louis　we　heard　news　of　Tete　　Rouge。　　He　had　contrived　to　reach　Fort　Leavenworth；　where　he　had　　found　the　paymaster　and　received　his　money。　　As　a　boat　was　just　ready　　to　start　for　St。　Louis；　he　went　on　board　and　engaged　his　passage。　　　This　done；　he　immediately　got　drunk　on　shore；　and　the　boat　went　off　　without　him。　　It　was　some　days　before　another　opportunity　occurred；　　and　meanwhile　the　sutler's　stores　furnished　him　with　abundant　means　　of　keeping　up　his　spirits。　　Another　steamboat　came　at　last；　the　clerk　　of　which　happened　to　be　a　friend　of　his；　and　by　the　advice　of　some　　charitable　person　on　shore　he　persuaded　Tete　Rouge　to　remain　on　　board；　intending　to　detain　him　there　until　the　boat　should　leave　the　　fort。　　At　first　Tete　Rouge　was　well　contented　with　this　arrangement；　　but　on　applying　for　a　dram；　the　barkeeper；　at　the　clerk's　　instigation；　refused　to　let　him　have　it。　　Finding　them　both　　inflexible　in　spite　of　his　entreaties；　he　became　desperate　and　made　　his　escape　from　the　boat。　　The　clerk　found　him　after　a　long　search　in　　one　of　the　barracks；　a　circle　of　dragoons　stood　contemplating　him　as　　he　lay　on　the　floor；　maudlin　drunk　and　crying　dismally。　　With　the　　help　of　one　of　them　the　clerk　pushed　him　on　board；　and　our　informant；　　who　came　down　in　the　same　boat；　declares　that　he　remained　in　great　　despondency　during　the　whole　passage。　　As　we　left　St。　Louis　soon　　after　his　arrival；　we　did　not　see　the　worthless；　good…natured　little　　vagabond　again。　On　the　evening　before　our　departure　Henry　Chatillon　came　to　our　rooms　　at　the　Planters'　House　to　take　leave　of　us。　　No　one　who　met　him　in　　the　streets　of　St。　Louis　would　have　taken　him　for　a　hunter　fresh　from　　the　Rocky　Mountains。　　He　was　very　neatly　and　simply　dressed　in　a　suit　　of　dark　cloth；　for　although；　since　his　sixteenth　year；　he　had　　scarcely　been　for　a　month　together　among　the　abodes　of　men；　he　had　a　　native　good　taste　and　a　sense　of　propriety　which　always　led　him　to　　pay　great　attention　to　his　personal　appearance。　　His　tall　athletic　　figure；　with　its　easy　flexible　motions；　appeared　to　advantage　in　his　　present　dress；　and　his　fine　face；　though　roughened　by　a　thousand　　storms；　was　not　at　all　out　of　keeping　with　it。　　We　took　leave　of　him　　with　much　regret；　and　unless　his　changing　features；　as　he　shook　us　by　　the　hand；　belied　him；　the　feeling　on　his　part　was　no　less　than　on　　ours。　　Shaw　had　given　him　a　horse　at　Westport。　　My　rifle；　which　he　　had　always　been　fond　of　using；　as　it　was　an　excellent　piece；　much　　better　than　his　own；　is　now　in　his　hands；　and　perhaps　at　this　moment　　its　sharp　voice　is　startling　the　echoes　of　the　Rocky　Mountains。　　On　　the　next　morning　we　left　town；　and　after　a　fortnight　of　railroads　and　　steamboat　we　saw　once　more　the　familiar　features　of　home。


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