“All right. En avant!” cried Frémont, his voice ringing keenly. And Kit Carson shouted to his own squad7: “Ketch up, boys!”
The mules9 and carts were packed and waiting; now into their saddles clambered the men. Frémont and Carson and Maxwell and others proceeded to shake hands with Agent Boudeau; gay salutations of parting were exchanged.
“We’ll ride a little way with you, but we can’t go far, I suppose,” vouchsafed10 Henry, to Oliver.
“We’ll be here when you come back, though. You can tell us all about it,” proposed Randolph, hopefully. “You’ll see Independence Rock and Devil’s Gate and South Pass and Wind River Mountains and everything!”
But they were interrupted, for just as amidst a jostling and confusion of orders addressed to pack[88] animals and mule8 teams the company were forming upon the march, came galloping11 from the direction of the post one of the Sioux chiefs.
“The chief says that they are sorry to see you go in anger,” translated Agent Boudeau to Lieutenant Frémont. “It makes their hearts sad to think that you are likely to run into danger. So they have found a young man who will join you this evening and try to keep you safe. But he is very poor; he has no horse, and he expects you to give him one.”
“That is good. Tell him to send the young man. We will camp about fifteen miles from here, near where the river Platte issues from the red rocks.”
The chief grunted13 acknowledgment and loped back to the post, probably on his way to Fort Platte below, at the mouth of the Laramie.
Once again the company were set in motion; they strung out into a long procession, Frémont and Kit Carson leading; the Frémont party following, and the Carson party as the second division. The Frémont party had eight stout14 two-wheeled covered carts, for the provisions and tents and scientific instruments. These carts creaked; the drivers cracked whips above the two-mule teams; the happy-go-lucky Frenchmen laughed and sung and chattered15; but the men from Taos rode more gravely.
Now at a turn of the trail, where it entered the[89] hills, only a few minutes’ ride from the post, must Henry and Randolph reluctantly halt, and let the train continue without them. They waved hand at the men; and with answering wave from Lieutenant Frémont and Kit Carson and Oliver, and voyageurs and trappers all, the cavalcade16 passed on. Glancing back, Oliver noted17 that the hill defile18 had at once closed, shutting off view of Fort Laramie. The expedition was fairly started for the South Pass, 280 miles westward19, at the source of the Sweetwater River. This was the great pass by which trappers and fur traders crossed the Rocky Mountains from the east or the American side to the west side shared by the United States and Great Britain; it was the pass to Oregon.
The trail, plainly wheel-marked by the party of the first Oregon emigrants20 which had travelled through only three weeks before, traversed a wide, rolling sagy plateau which occupied much of the space between the valley of the Laramie Creek21, south, and of the North Platte River, north. About ten miles from the post a shallow, dry creek-bed was entered.
Down the creek-bed, which now ran with a little current of clear warm water, continued the procession, and unexpectedly to Oliver they all emerged at a rapidly flowing river.
The leaders had halted; the Frémont party already were unharnessing and unsaddling; so evidently this[90] was the camping-place for the night. The upper end of the valley was closed by cliffs of scarlet23, peeping over a little swell24 that intervened.
“I’ve seen time when this hyar valley war full o’ buff’ler an’ elk25 an’ deer,” remarked Trapper New, as the Carson squad good-naturedly hustled26 to beat the larger party in making camp. “But when Injuns air out, game gets scarce. We’re going to have a lean trail, I reckon.”
At this moment a ripple27 of laughter flowed through the party. Oliver followed the glances, and saw that the Frémont party were trying to erect28 a large tent; rather, a buffalo-hide lodge29 which they must have procured30 from the Indians at Fort Laramie. It was some twenty feet high, to the peak, and eighteen feet across, at the base, and was to be stretched like a cone31 over a framework of lodge-poles set in a circle and slanted32 to meet at a point. Almost the whole party, including the lieutenant and Kit Carson, were working at it. But twice it had toppled and fallen, burying the workers under its folds.
“Now, Kit knows,” complained Ike Chamberlain. “He’s seen many a lodge put up. But hyar comes somebody who knows better, I reckon. You watch. It’s squaw work, anyhow; not man work.”
Into the camp had ridden Agent Bissonette, from Fort Platte, with two Indians—man and wife. The woman, grinning broadly, at once trudged33 to the struggling group, and by gestures and short exclamations,[91] and by applying deftly34 her own strength, soon had the skin tent stretched and stationary35.
Flushed and apologetic, Kit Carson strolled to his squad.
“That’s harder than I thought,” he said. “I’ve seen a thousand lodges36 raised an’ struck, but I never touched one before. Thar always were squaws to do it.”
“Camp hyar, do we, for the night?” commented Lieutenant Ike.
“Yes. Frémont wants to ride over an’ inspect the canyon37 mouth yon, whar he’s coming down in his rubber boat, on our way back.”
“He air, air he!” grunted Ike. “Humph! Old White Head tried that once, didn’t he—’fore his ha’r turned.”
By “White Head” Oliver knew that Thomas Fitzpatrick, a noted trapper captain, was meant.
“Wall, he knows that Fitz lost all his furs an’ nigh lost his life, voyaging into those canyons38; but he’s bound to find out for himself, an’ I guess he will.”
The canyon mouth was located at the red cliffs, up the valley about three miles; and as the sun had not set, and as there was nothing especial to do, a little bunch of the men from the two commands rode over. Oliver saw that here at the red cliffs the Platte came tumbling out of the mountain country. High upon either hand rose the scarlet walls, about one hundred yards apart, their shelves dotted with a few pines, their tops bearing[92] a fringe of the same dark-green. The river roared loudly, as it boiled down. Many rocks stuck up through the current.
“It’s wuss above,” quoth William New, when they all emerged, and rode away. “’Tain’t any place for human being to travel in. Thar’s one place called Fiery39 Narrows—wagh!”
“Ah, who fears?” laughed Descoteaux, Frenchman, of the Frémont party. “Where Monsieur Frémont go, I go.”
“I, too,” announced Clément Lambert, his comrade.
Frémont himself, with Basil Lajeunesse, his trusted adjutant, surveyed the place, the next morning; and when they rode back it was rumored40 that the lieutenant was more determined41 than ever to launch his boat, on the return from the South Pass.
As the company continued to advance, the next day, the country grew drier. Grasshoppers42 jumped in clouds from beneath hoof43 and wheel; so that William New, with whom Oliver rode, shook his head.
No Indians had yet been sighted; but early in the afternoon a sudden commotion45 swept the line, as from scouting46 service in the advance back galloped four Frémont men.
[93]
Around whirled their horses Kit Carson and Frémont, and while the lieutenant and Lucien Maxwell and Basil Lajeunesse urgently strove with the van, Kit Carson sped recklessly adown the line to the rear.
“To the river, boys!” he shouted. “We’ll fort thar, an’ let ’em come! Quick, now!”
How the men jumped to his clear tones! The river was near, on the right; its hither bank was high and steep; pack animals and mule teams were forced into trot48 and lope; the packs swayed and jolted49, the carts jolted and swayed; loud rose the cries of the drivers. Just as on the Santa Fé Trail, in the attack by the Kiowas, now here upon the edge of the river, under the steep bank the carts were instantly wheeled into a semi-circle, enclosing the horses and mules. Over the bank peered the defenders50, rifle muzzles51 forward, Oliver ready with his tack-studded gift from Kit.
“Bang! Whang!” sounded the reports as several of the Frémont men fired their guns, to be certain of their condition.
Mr. Bissonette and the Indian who was to protect the march from attack by his people had not “forted” with the column; they had at once ridden on, to meet the enemy, and to explain. Now here they came, back, with two new Indians.
“Wagh! Sioux!” grunted the men around Oliver.
Kit Carson, Lieutenant Frémont, Lucien Maxwell and Basil Lajeunesse stepped out and received the approaching four.
[94]
A brief conference was held only a dozen yards beyond the bank rampart. The twain Sioux were painted and half naked (save for the paint on their chests); they seemed sullen52 and unresponsive, and spoke53 with few words and many sign-gestures. Mr. Bissonette eked54 out their tale, and in the fort Trapper New kept pace for the benefit of Oliver and the others.
“Been on war path, up Sweetwater; looking for scalps—need scalps to make their dead warriors55 happy by a dance, an’ to dry up the tears o’ the women (wagh!); too many white people in their country; overtook party o’ whites (emigrants, I reckon) at Indypendence Rock on Sweetwater; Broken Hand (Oliver knew that this meant Thomas Fitzpatrick again) war leading party; half o’ Sioux wanted to attack, half didn’t; these two war in half that did want to——”
“Give it to ’em, boys!”
“Feed ’em Galena pills!”
“Lift their ha’r!”
“Tirez! Tirez! (Fire! Shoot!)”
Thus rose the indignant cries, at the announcement. But Frémont turned and raised his hand commandingly; and the cries died to a mutter.
“They war in the half that did want to,” continued Trapper New. “Finally, the war party busted57, seeing they couldn’t agree, an’ have scattered58. Most went[95] over into Crow country, north, after Crow scalps an’ hosses; rest air travelling back down the Platte. Thar’s no grass an’ no buff’ler.”
Lieutenant Frémont and the others were conducting the two Sioux around the bank and into the little fort. Still sullen, the visitors were permitted to gaze about, and see how angry and well-armed were this white company. Then they were given a present of tobacco and told to go.
“Wall,” remarked the quiet voice of Kit Carson, as, among his men, for a moment he reflectively watched the two Sioux ride off as if glad to escape, “I’ve fought Injuns an’ they’ve fought me, in mountains an’ on plains, for over fifteen year, now—but sometimes I don’t blame ’em. ’Tain’t natural for ’em to sit by an’ let their country be occupied by whites—their country that they’ve owned. An’ that’s what it means—this settler travel to Oregon: it means white people on both sides the mountains. Beaver air thinned, buff’ler air getting scarce, an’ some day thar won’t be any room for the Injun. An’ they suspect it. Pore critters!”
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1
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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scouring
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| 擦[洗]净，冲刷，洗涤 | |
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centaur
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| n.人首马身的怪物 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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5
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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7
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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8
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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10
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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11
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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12
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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13
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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15
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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16
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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17
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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18
defile
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| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
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19
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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21
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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24
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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25
elk
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| n.麋鹿 | |
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hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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27
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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28
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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29
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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30
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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31
cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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32
slanted
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| 有偏见的； 倾斜的 | |
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trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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35
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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canyons
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| n.峡谷( canyon的名词复数 ) | |
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39
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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40
rumored
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| adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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41
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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42
grasshoppers
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| n.蚱蜢( grasshopper的名词复数 )；蝗虫；蚂蚱；（孩子）矮小的 | |
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43
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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44
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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46
scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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47
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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48
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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49
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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51
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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52
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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53
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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54
eked
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| v.（靠节省用量）使…的供应持久( eke的过去式和过去分词 )；节约使用；竭力维持生计；勉强度日 | |
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55
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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56
coups
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| n.意外而成功的行动( coup的名词复数 )；政变；努力办到难办的事 | |
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57
busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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58
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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