Oliver awakened to another knowledge. This was the day when the main range of the Sierras was to be assaulted. Everywhere the fresh snow lay deep and trackless; the eastern sky was pink, and about the white peaks of the Sierras, high and close in the west, the clouds were breaking into filaments4.
Oliver tumbled out of his coverings. At a little distance the half-frozen horses and mules5 stood[236] hunched7, tails to the breeze, or were pawing for herbage. Kit8 Carson was up, Thomas Fitzpatrick was up, the Indian guide was up. He had not escaped. A glorious figure he made, as equipped with new moccasins and leggins, with trousers and a shirt, with blue and scarlet9 cloth and a large green blanket over all, he stood by a fire.
Lieutenant Frémont emerged in haste from the lodge, and nodded to the Indian—whereupon the Indian pointed10 to the vasty white pinnacles11 of the mountains, and with a grunt12 shook his head. The lieutenant paid no attention to such weak spirit. His voice vivified the camp, and all was hustle13.
“Now for summer doings, boys,” encouraged Kit Carson, as after breakfast, with packs in place and every man resolved, the procession wended forth14 through the snow.
“Now for the Californy Valley an’ summer doings!” they answered.
The snow had drifted and speedily grew deeper; so that ten men, on the strongest horses, were put in the van to break a trail. Thus work began early. As oft as the horse of the leader was exhausted15, his rider turned out, for the rear, and the next rider took his place.
Huts entirely16 covered by snow, where Indians lived like field mice, were passed: the only sign of inhabitant was the single trail from the hole of a door to the foot of a pine tree, and back.
[237]
“Guide says the deepest snow air jest beginning,” on the third day announced Kit, with the advance, to the lieutenant.
“There’s no use trying to bring the animals on here, to-night,” declared the lieutenant, snow-covered and panting. Snow-covered and panting were all. “Oliver, ride down and tell Fitzpatrick to camp at those springs where we were last night; it’s more sheltered. We’ll camp where we are.”
“Yes, sir,” answered Oliver.
He met Thomas Fitzpatrick, red-faced, snowy, working like a Trojan to keep the horses and mules moving, and delivered the message. He did not stay, for the camp by the springs in the sheltered basin. He turned about; maybe the lieutenant and Kit and Mr. Preuss and Godey and Bernier would need him.
The camp of the advance squad17 had been made, without tents, in a group of huge pines. Against the base of one of the pines a generous fire was blazing; and when Oliver arrived, tired and cold and glad of the fire, another old Indian visitor was delivering an oration18.
“He says,” announced Kit, “that we an’ our critters can’t go further, this way. We’ll perish, sure. We must turn back, an’ he’ll show us a better way. Rock upon rock—rock upon rock; snow upon snow—snow upon snow: that’s ahead of us. If we get over,[238] we can’t get down on t’other side; thar air precipices20 whar our hosses’ll slip, an’ off we’ll go.”
“Yes; I understood his signs, and most of his words,” remarked the lieutenant, quietly. “But we’re white men. We’re not afraid.”
The Chinook lad from the mission, who had kept close by the lieutenant, had understood the signs and words even better than had Kit Carson; and now he began to wail21 aloud.
“I wanted to see the whites,” he lamented22, brokenly. “I came away from my own people to see the whites. I would not mind dying among the whites, but to die here—ow-ow-ow-ow,” and shuddering23 he drew his blanket over his head. From underneath24 it his wail resumed, muffled25 and weird26.
“You ought to have stayed down below, in the Fitz camp,” reminded Kit, of Oliver. “It’ll be a cold night, hyar, I tell you.”
And it was. The lieutenant said that the thermometer was ten above; but a wind set in, sifting27 through the tree trunks, blowing aside the heat, and penetrating28 blankets and buckskins. The trees creaked and sighed; the Chinook wailed29; more biting waxed the air; and nobody slept much.
When Oliver turned out early, to do his share in looking after the shrunken horses and mules, the Indian guide was pressing to the fire, to be warmer; under all his unaccustomed clothing of shirt and trousers and red and blue cloth and green blanket he[239] was shivering violently. Chancing to glance back, Oliver saw Lieutenant Frémont throw his own army blanket over the Indian’s shoulders already once blanketed; and when Oliver returned, within fifteen or twenty minutes, from the horses, he found the camp much indignant. The Indian guide had disappeared, blankets and all!
The day was spent in bringing up the animals, and in making snow-shoes and sledges30. The next morning the lieutenant, with Thomas Fitzpatrick and Kit and others, snow-shoed ahead, to reconnoitre along the pass which the guide had pointed out before he had deserted31. They came back, in the darkness, scarcely able to drag their feet, but they brought good news. They had looked over into a large valley, distant but snowless. Kit had recognized the valley as the Valley of the Sacramento.
“I know it!” he declaimed, still much delighted. “I know it by a little round mountain. Fifteen years ago I marked that little mountain, when I war in the valley; an’ I remember it jest as plain as if it war only yesterday.”
“How far? How far?” demanded all, eagerly.
“Thirty miles, isn’t it, Kit?” answered the lieutenant.
“So should I,” agreed Fitzpatrick. “We aren’t there, yet, boys; over the ridge33 and down means some[240] long marches, through the snow. The snow’s likely to be heavier, on the west side. But now we know where we’re travelling.”
“From the ridge we could make out, through the glass, prairies and the line of a river bordered with timber,” explained the lieutenant. “But as Fitz says, there are some hard marches ahead.”
So there were. By sledges and snow-shoes the trail was resumed, every heart aglow34 with pictures of the Valley of the Sacramento; but on the level the snow was five feet deep, and in drifts was twenty feet deep. The animals failed, and must be left at each pasture, while with wooden mauls and shovels35 the men flattened36 a road, and with pine boughs37 paved it.
The puppy Tlamath must be added to the larder38, so that for the advance there was a strange dinner, one night, of dog (cooked by Alexander Godey Indian-fashion, in pieces hide on), mule6, and dried-pea soup!
Now was it the close of two weeks since from the preparatory camp had the start been made. The crest39 of the pass had just been reached, for on February 16, returning from a scout40 ahead, the lieutenant and Jacob reported that they had come upon a creek41 flowing west, toward the Pacific!
As they descended42, seeking to travel while yet the night’s crust was unmelted, more plentiful43 waxed the snow, more difficult the trail, intersected by drifts and ridges44. However, the lieutenant was convinced that the little stream discovered by himself and Jacob was[241] the river upon which, lower, would be found the ranch45 of Captain Sutter the Swiss-American settler. The welcome sound of a thunder-storm in the valley, distant, drifted up to the company’s rejoicing ears; and when the storm had cleared, the sunset revealed a shining spot, as if denoting a bay, and a shining line, as if of a river, connecting with it.
The Valley of the Sacramento, and the Bay of San Francisco!
That night, to the yearning46, keen-eyed wanderers so high above this spring-land, appeared in the valley numerous fires, as if in answer to the fires of the camp. Thereafter, by day and by night these fires were visible; but the Frémont and Carson men learned, later, that they were simply the fires of Indians in the swamps of the bay shore.
Ice and snow continued. Moccasin soles froze with slush, they would not cling to the snow or the smooth rocks, and their wearers must crawl. Once the lieutenant, reconnoitring with Kit, slipped into the stream, now almost a river, and without hesitating an instant Kit plunged47 into the icy water after him. The lieutenant thought that he had lost his gun, in the fall; but it was found, after they had made a fire, under the bank.
Nevertheless, the trail was perceptibly lower. The stream had swelled49 to a torrent50; the ground was soft; green grass, birds, and oaks appeared, and a mild breeze swirled51 the dry oak leaves covering the ground.[242] This was glorious; but the worn-out animals were being killed, for food.
Lieutenant Frémont announced that they had descended from an elevation52 of 9338 feet to one of 3864 feet. He said that in the morning he and a squad would push on, by forced marches, for the ranch of Captain Sutter which could not be very far; and that, having obtained provisions, they would hasten back to meet the main party.
“Preuss, Talbot, Jacob, Kit, Derosier, Townes, Proue,” named the lieutenant, calling off the detail; and Oliver settled down, disappointed, for he had hoped to go.
He made no remark, and tried to appear unconcerned; but the lieutenant must have read his thoughts.
“Is the boy strong enough? We should take only the strongest men and the best of the horses,” spoke the officer, aside, to Kit.
“Wall,” drawled Kit, reflectively, eyeing Oliver, “you know it’s pretty hard to tucker out a boy. He’ll stand more’n a man.”
Oliver grinned, with cracked lips but glad heart.
The morning was that of February 25. The first ride was one of twelve miles, down the river valley to some old Indian huts. Here, by a field of juicy grass, camp was located; the animals were turned out, and from that moment until daybreak they never ceased[243] their steady grazing. Throughout the afternoon and the night could be heard the constant champing of their jaws54. The lieutenant seemed to take much pleasure in sitting, as long as daylight lasted, and watching them eat.
The next camp was different. Rain forced the march from the river trail to the higher ground, until nightfall; and then camp was made without good grass—which, combined with the rain, appeared to plunge48 the poor animals into the depths of gloom.
“This won’t do,” declared Kit. “This won’t do, captain. These critters air jest on the narrow edge ’twixt life an’ death, an’ they’ve got to have forage55 an’ rest every night, to carry ’em through the next day. It’s dangerous, missing grass.”
That was true. Now Proveau the buffalo-runner could not keep up, and dropped behind. Jacob was left by the lieutenant to bring him along slowly, while the squad went on, seeking a camping place. Lunch was a boiled mule-head. It furnished a soup.
Jacob arrived without Proveau; but he brought Charles Townes, who worn down by the long privations was becoming crazed. Just at nightfall, when all were well-nigh despairing for the lives of the few horses and mules remaining, the inspiring call of Kit Carson, on before, in the dark ravine, echoed back.
“This way!” he cried. And as they drove the staggering animals for him: “Life yet! Life yet,[244] boys! Here’s a hill-side sprinkled with grass enough for the night!”
Proveau the buffalo-runner, Charles Townes’ fine young horse from the Columbia River supply, and another Indian horse packed with the cooking utensils57 failed to join the herd58; so that the next day some of the men were sent back after them or any others that had strayed. Baptiste Derosier appointed himself to bring in Proveau.
Oliver remained at camp, in the gorge59, to guard the herd. The lieutenant and Kit Carson climbed as high as they could, for a view; and reported that beyond the timber the valley seemed to be as far as ever!
Baptiste and Proveau did not get in, that night; and Baptiste did not overtake the march, the day following. It was feared that he had become lost. Charles Townes was still crazy, and insisted upon swimming in the icy river; he imagined that this was summer-time. At evening Baptiste trudged60 weakly in. He sat down by the camp fire and began to tell of several days’ wanderings—as if he had been gone a long while.
The country was improving, with much grass, and flowers and butterflies, and acorns61 to eat; and Mr. Preuss walked on ahead of the squad, to sketch62 the route. That night he did not return to camp. The[245] next day they found his trail, and they shouted and fired guns; but the only response they received was from an Indian, who in the mutual63 astonishment64 ran away.
The march must be continued; but although search right and left and on the back trail was made for Mr. Preuss, no sign of him was discovered. The lieutenant and Kit grew worried; Mr. Preuss had been unarmed, and no one could tell what the Indians might have done to him.
Not until the evening of the third day did Mr. Preuss turn up. While in a beautiful camp among live-oaks of the river valley they all heard a faint shout from the hills behind—and Kit, sharp-eyed, cried, instantly:
“There he is! I see him!”
It was Mr. Preuss, with wavering strides descending65 for the camp. They had little to offer him, except some roasted acorns bought from Indians. He, on his part, had a story to tell. He had eaten roots, and ants, and raw little frogs, and had tried to smoke live-oak leaves; and one night, in the timber, he had sought out two wolves, thinking that they were Indian dogs. At last he had met several Indians, who seemed afraid of him but had given him roasted acorns. Soon after, he had struck the trail of the squad, and now here he was.
All this time the march of the squad had been following down the course of the south or main fork of[246] the American River of Northern California, as it rushes from the high western slope of the Sierras for the Sacramento. Almost at the spot where Mr. Preuss rejoined his anxious comrades was discovered, in scant66 four years, or on January 24, 1848, the placer gold of California, and quickly as spread the tidings down poured, from the Sierras, by the Frémont and Carson trail, the eager Forty-niners.
Mr. Preuss had rejoined the squad on March 5. Only about half the necessary saddle animals were left, but these were strong enough, now, to carry riders; and four and five at a time the squad rode, each division for an hour. Deer were seen, near at hand; the order was, not to pause for them, or for anything, but to press on, press on, for Sutter’s ranch, and rescue.
Gold was plentiful, but it was the gold of the California poppy covering the sward. The land was gay with flowers, and dignified67 with stately oaks. Tracks of horses and cattle were followed, to an Indian village, some of whose inmates68 wore cloth shirts; yet no information was gained. Next, was expectantly visited an adobe69 house with glass windows. Only Indians, apparently70 ignorant, inhabited it. Next, in a broad and grassy71 valley through which swept gently the noble river, was entered a larger Indian village. Its people were clean and wore cotton shirts and other factory clothing. One of the villagers spoke a little poor Spanish; but he said that there were no whites in that country.
[247]
“What!” exclaimed the lieutenant, while the hearts of the squad sank.
At this moment came riding another Indian, wearing a broad-brimmed, peaked straw hat; a ragged72 blanket through a slit73 in which his head had been thrust; light-blue cotton trousers; and upon his bare heels tremendous, jingling74 spurs. He sat in a cumbersome75, high-pommelled, high-cantled saddle, with huge block stirrups hollowed out of solid wood. Upon his arm dangled76 a rawhide77 riata, or lasso.
“A su disposición, se?ors,” he greeted, in common Spanish. “At your service, gentlemen.”
“Is this the Sacramento River?” asked Lieutenant Frémont, in the Spanish.
“No, se?or. It is the Rio de los Americanos—the River of the Americans. It joins the Sacramento about ten miles below.”
“River of the Americans”! That sounded good; for to American travellers in foreign land the word “American” is sweet.
“Where, then, is the ranch of Captain Sutter?”
“Yonder, se?or. I am a vaquero (cowboy) in the employ of Captain Sutter. The people of this village work for him. His house is just over the hill. If you will wait but a moment, se?ors, I myself will guide you thither78. He is a very rich man, and he is always glad to see Americans.”
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收听单词发音
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1
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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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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3
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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4
filaments
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| n.（电灯泡的）灯丝( filament的名词复数 )；丝极；细丝；丝状物 | |
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5
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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6
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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7
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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8
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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9
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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11
pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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12
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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13
hustle
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| v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌) | |
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14
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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15
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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18
oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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19
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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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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24
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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25
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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26
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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27
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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28
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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29
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sledges
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| n.雪橇，雪车( sledge的名词复数 )v.乘雪橇( sledge的第三人称单数 )；用雪橇运载 | |
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31
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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34
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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35
shovels
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| n.铲子( shovel的名词复数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份v.铲子( shovel的第三人称单数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份 | |
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36
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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37
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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38
larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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39
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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40
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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41
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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42
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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43
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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44
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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45
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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46
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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47
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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48
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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49
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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50
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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51
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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53
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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54
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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55
forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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56
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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57
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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58
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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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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61
acorns
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| n.橡子，栎实( acorn的名词复数 ) | |
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62
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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63
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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64
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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65
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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66
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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67
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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68
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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69
adobe
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| n.泥砖，土坯，美国Adobe公司 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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71
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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72
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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73
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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74
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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75
cumbersome
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| adj.笨重的，不便携带的 | |
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76
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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77
rawhide
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| n.生牛皮 | |
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78
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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