the oregon trail-第9部分

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fair　weather。　　The　clouds；　in　lead…　colored　volumes；　rested　upon　the　dismal　verge　of　the　prairie；　or　hung　　sluggishly　overhead；　while　the　earth　wore　an　aspect　no　more　　attractive　than　the　heavens；　exhibiting　nothing　but　pools　of　water；　　grass　beaten　down；　and　mud　well　trampled　by　our　mules　and　horses。　　　Our　companions'　tent；　with　an　air　of　forlorn　and　passive　misery；　and　　their　wagons　in　like　manner；　drenched　and　woe…begone；　stood　not　far　　off。　　The　captain　was　just　returning　from　his　morning's　inspection　of　　the　horses。　　He　stalked　through　the　mist　and　rain；　with　his　plaid　　around　his　shoulders；　his　little　pipe；　dingy　as　an　antiquarian　relic；　　projecting　from　beneath　his　mustache；　and　his　brother　Jack　at　his　　heels。　〃Good…morning；　captain。〃　〃Good…morning　to　your　honors；〃　said　the　captain；　affecting　the　　Hibernian　accent；　but　at　that　instant；　as　he　stooped　to　enter　the　　tent；　he　tripped　upon　the　cords　at　the　entrance；　and　pitched　forward　　against　the　guns　which　were　strapped　around　the　pole　in　the　center。　〃You　are　nice　men；　you　are！〃　said　he；　after　an　ejaculation　not　　necessary　to　be　recorded；　〃to　set　a　man…trap　before　your　door　every　　morning　to　catch　your　visitors。〃　Then　he　sat　down　upon　Henry　Chatillon's　saddle。　　We　tossed　a　piece　of　　buffalo　robe　to　Jack；　who　was　looking　about　in　some　embarrassment。　　　He　spread　it　on　the　ground；　and　took　his　seat；　with　a　stolid　　countenance；　at　his　brother's　side。　〃Exhilarating　weather；　captain！〃　〃Oh；　delightful；　delightful！〃　replied　the　captain。　　〃I　knew　it　would　　be　so；　so　much　for　starting　yesterday　at　noon！　　I　knew　how　it　would　　turn　out；　and　I　said　so　at　the　time。〃　〃You　said　just　the　contrary　to　us。　　We　were　in　no　hurry；　and　only　　moved　because　you　insisted　on　it。〃　〃Gentlemen；〃　said　the　captain；　taking　his　pipe　from　his　mouth　with　an　　air　of　extreme　gravity；　〃it　was　no　plan　of　mine。　　There　is　a　man　　among　us　who　is　determined　to　have　everything　his　own　way。　　You　may　　express　your　opinion；　but　don't　expect　him　to　listen。　　You　may　be　as　　reasonable　as　you　like：　oh；　it　all　goes　for　nothing！　　That　man　is　　resolved　to　rule　the　roost　and　he'll　set　his　face　against　any　plan　　that　he　didn't　think　of　himself。〃　The　captain　puffed　for　a　while　at　his　pipe；　as　if　meditating　upon　his　　grievances；　then　he　began　again：　〃For　twenty　years　I　have　been　in　the　British　army；　and　in　all　that　　time　I　never　had　half　so　much　dissension；　and　quarreling；　and　　nonsense；　as　since　I　have　been　on　this　cursed　prairie。　　He's　the　most　　uncomfortable　man　I　ever　met。〃　〃Yes；〃　said　Jack；　〃and　don't　you　know；　Bill；　how　he　drank　up　all　the　　coffee　last　night；　and　put　the　rest　by　for　himself　till　the　morning！〃　〃He　pretends　to　know　everything；〃　resumed　the　captain；　〃nobody　must　　give　orders　but　he！　　It's；　oh！　we　must　do　this；　and；　oh！　we　must　do　　that；　and　the　tent　must　be　pitched　here；　and　the　horses　must　be　　picketed　there；　for　nobody　knows　as　well　as　he　does。〃　We　were　a　little　surprised　at　this　disclosure　of　domestic　dissensions　　among　our　allies；　for　though　we　knew　of　their　existence；　we　were　not　　aware　of　their　extent。　　The　persecuted　captain　seeming　wholly　at　a　　loss　as　to　the　course　of　conduct　that　he　should　pursue；　we　　recommended　him　to　adopt　prompt　and　energetic　measures；　but　all　his　　military　experience　had　failed　to　teach　him　the　indispensable　lesson　　to　be　〃hard；〃　when　the　emergency　requires　it。　〃For　twenty　years；〃　he　repeated；　〃I　have　been　in　the　British　army；　　and　in　that　time　I　have　been　intimately　acquainted　with　some　two　　hundred　officers；　young　and　old；　and　I　never　yet　quarreled　with　any　　man。　　Oh；　'anything　for　a　quiet　life！'　that's　my　maxim。〃　We　intimated　that　the　prairie　was　hardly　the　place　to　enjoy　a　quiet　　life；　but　that；　in　the　present　circumstances；　the　best　thing　he　could　　do　toward　securing　his　wished…for　tranquillity；　was　immediately　to　　put　a　period　to　the　nuisance　that　disturbed　it。　　But　again　the　　captain's　easy　good…nature　recoiled　from　the　task。　　The　somewhat　　vigorous　measures　necessary　to　gain　the　desired　result　were　utterly　　repugnant　to　him；　he　preferred　to　pocket　his　grievances；　still　　retaining　the　privilege　of　grumbling　about　them。　　〃Oh；　anything　for　a　　quiet　life！〃　he　said　again；　circling　back　to　his　favorite　maxim。　But　to　glance　at　the　previous　history　of　our　transatlantic　　confederates。　　The　captain　had　sold　his　commission；　and　was　living　in　　bachelor　ease　and　dignity　in　his　paternal　halls；　near　Dublin。　　He　　hunted；　fished；　rode　steeple…chases；　ran　races；　and　talked　of　his　　former　exploits。　　He　was　surrounded　with　the　trophies　of　his　rod　and　　gun；　the　walls　were　plentifully　garnished；　he　told　us；　with　moose…　horns　and　deer…horns；　bear…skins；　and　fox…tails；　for　the　captain's　　double…barreled　rifle　had　seen　service　in　Canada　and　Jamaica；　he　had　　killed　salmon　in　Nova　Scotia；　and　trout；　by　his　own　account；　in　all　　the　streams　of　the　three　kingdoms。　　But　in　an　evil　hour　a　seductive　　stranger　came　from　London；　no　less　a　person　than　R。；　who；　among　other　　multitudinous　wanderings；　had　once　been　upon　the　western　prairies；　　and　naturally　enough　was　anxious　to　visit　them　again。　　The　captain's　　imagination　was　inflamed　by　the　pictures　of　a　hunter's　paradise　that　　his　guest　held　forth；　he　conceived　an　ambition　to　add　to　his　other　　trophies　the　horns　of　a　buffalo；　and　the　claws　of　a　grizzly　bear；　so　　he　and　R。　struck　a　league　to　travel　in　company。　　Jack　followed　his　　brother；　as　a　matter　of　course。　　Two　weeks　on　board　the　Atlantic　　steamer　brought　them　to　Boston；　in　two　weeks　more　of　hard　traveling　　they　reached　St。　Louis；　from　which　a　ride　of　six　days　carried　them　to　　the　frontier；　and　here　we　found　them；　in　full　tide　of　preparation　for　　their　journey。　We　had　been　throughout　on　terms　of　intimacy　with　the　captain；　but　R。；　　the　motive　power　of　our　companions'　branch　of　the　expedition；　was　　scarcely　known　to　us。　　His　voice；　indeed；　might　be　heard　incessantly；　　but　at　camp　he　remained　chiefly　within　the　tent；　and　on　the　road　he　　either　rode　by　himself；　or　else　remained　in　close　conversation　with　　his　friend　Wright；　the　muleteer。　　As　the　captain　left　the　tent　that　　morning；　I　observed　R。　standing　by　the　fire；　and　having　nothing　else　　to　do；　I　determined　to　ascertain；　if　possible；　what　manner　of　man　he　　was。　　He　had　a　book　under　his　arm；　but　just　at　present　he　was　　engrossed　in　actively　superintending　the　operations　of　Sorel；　the　　hunter；　who　was　cooking　some　corn…bread　over　the　coals　for　breakfast。　　　R。　was　a　well…formed　and　rather　good…looking　man；　some　thirty　years　　old；　considerably　younger　than　the　captain。　　He　wore　a　beard　and　　mustache　of　the　oakum　complexion；　and　his　attire　was　altogether　more　　elegant　than　one　ordinarily　sees　on　the　prairie。　　He　wore　his　cap　on　　one　side　of　his　head；　his　checked　shirt；　open　in　front；　was　in　very　　neat　order；　considering　the　circumstances；　and　his　blue　pantaloons；　　of　the　John　Bull　cut；　might　once　have　figured　in　Bond　Street。　〃Turn　over　that　cake；　man！　turn　it　over；　quick！　　Don't　you　see　it　　burning？〃　〃It　ain't　half　done；〃　growled　Sorel；　in　the　amiable　tone　of　a　whipped　　bull…dog。　〃It　is。　　Turn　it　over；　I　tell　you！〃　Sorel；　a　strong；　sullen…looking　Canadian；　who　from　having　spent　his　　life　among　the　wildest　and　most　remote　of　the　Indian　tribes；　had　　imbibed　much　of　their　dark；　vindictive　spirit；　looked　ferociously　up；　　as　if　he　longed　to　leap　upon　his　bourgeois　and　throttle　him；　but　he　　obeyed　the　order；　coming　from　so　experienced　an　artist。　〃It　was　a　good　idea　of　yours；〃　said　I；　seating　myself　on　the　tongue　　of　a　wagon；　〃to　bring　Indian　meal　with　you。〃　〃Yes；　yes〃　said　R。　〃It's　good　bread　for　the　prairiegood　bread　for　　the　prairie。　　I　tell　you　that's　burning　again。〃　Here　he　stooped　down；　and　unsheathing　the　silver…mounted　hunting…　knife　in　his　belt；　began　to　perform　the　part　of　cook　himself；　at　the　　same　time　requesting　me　to　hold　for　a　moment　the　book　under　his　arm；　　which　interfered　with　the　exercise　of　these　important　functions。　　I　　opened　it；　it　was　〃Macaulay's　Lays〃；　and　I　made　some　remark；　　expressing　my　admiration　of　the　work。　〃Yes；　yes；　a　pretty　good　thing。　　Macaulay　can　do　better　than　that　　though。　　I　know　him　very　well。　　I　have　traveled　with　him。　　Where　was　　it　we　first　metat　Damascus？　　No；　no；　it　was　in　Italy。〃　〃So；〃　said　I；　〃you　have　been　over　the　same　ground　with　your　　countryman；　the　author　of　'Eothen'？　　There　has　been　some　discussion　　in　America　as　to　who　he　is。　　I　have　heard　Milne's　name　mentioned。〃　〃Milne's？　　Oh；　no；　no；　no；　not　at　all。　　It　was　Kinglake；　Kinglake's　　the　man。　　I　know　him　very　well；　that　is；　I　have　seen　him。〃　Here　Jack　C。；　who　stood　by；　interposed　a　remark　（a　thing　not　common　　with　him）；　observing　that　he　thought　the　weather　would　become　fair　　before　twelve　o'clock。　〃It's　going　to　rain　all　day；〃　said　R。；　〃and　clear　up　in　the　middle　of　　the　night。〃　Just　then　the　clouds　began　to　dissipate　in　a　very　unequivocal　manner；　　but　Jack；　not　caring　to　defend　his　point　against　so　authoritative　a　　declaration；　walked　away　whistling；　and　we　resumed　our　conversation。　〃Borrow；　the　author　of　'The　Bible　in　Spain；'　I　presume　you　know　him　　too？〃　〃Oh；　certainly；　I　know　all　those　men。　　By　the　way；　they　told　me　that　　one　of　your　American　writers；　Judge　Story；　had　died　lately。　　I　edited　　some　of　his　works　in　London；　not　without　faults；　though。〃　Here　followed　an　erudite　commentary　on　certain　points　of　law；　in　　which　he　particularly　animadverted　on　the　errors　into　which　he　　considered　that　the　judge　had　been　betrayed。　　At　length；　having　　touched　successively　on　an　infinite　variety　of　topics；　I　found　that　I　　had　the　happiness　of　discovering　a　man　equally　competent　to　enlighten　　me　upon　them　all；　equally　an　authority　on　matters　of　science　or　　literature；　philosphy　or　fashion。　　The　part　I　bore　in　the　　conversation　was　by　no　means　a　prominent　one；　it　was　only　necessary　　to　set　him　going；　and　when　he　had　run　long　enough　upon　one　topic；　to　　divert　him　to　another　and　lead　him　on　to　pour　out　his　heaps　of　　treasure　in　succession。　〃What　has　that　fellow　been　saying　to　you？〃　said　Shaw；　as　I　returned　　to　the　tent。　　〃I　have　heard　nothing　but　his　talking　for　the　last　　half…hour。〃　R。　had　none　of　the　peculiar　traits　of　the　ordinary　〃British　snob〃；　　his　absurdities　were　all　his　own；　belonging　to　no　particular　nation　　or　clime。　　He　was　possessed　with　an　active　devil　that　had　driven　him　　o