the Reserves and End of the Battle.
When near the head waters of the Missouri, the trappers discovered they were approaching the principal village of the Blackfeet. They determined2 to attack and punish the Indians who had caused them so much trouble and suffering; but the whites were so numerous and powerful that extreme care was necessary to prevent their presence becoming known.
When a number of miles from the village, the trappers came to a halt, and Kit Carson with several men was sent forward to reconnoitre. With extreme caution they made their way to a point from which they could overlook the village.
A glance showed the Indians hurriedly making ready to move elsewhere. The shrewd red men had discovered their danger before their enemies caught sight of them. Carson galloped3 back as rapidly as he could, and made known what had been seen. A council was hastily called and about half the company advanced to give the Blackfeet battle. Kit Carson, as might be supposed, was made the leader. The others were to guard the property, advance slowly and act as reserve, which could be hurried forward should it become necessary.
As agreed upon, Kit Carson galloped ahead, and the moment his men came in sight of the village, they dashed through it, killing4 a number of warriors6. The others slowly fell back, fighting as they went, and without showing the least panic. They received charge after charge of the white men, with the steadiness of veterans. By and by the eagerness of the trappers reduced their ammunition7 and their firing became less destructive. The Blackfeet were quick to perceive the cause, and in turn they charged upon their assailants who became immediately involved in a desperate hand to hand fight. It was then the small arms in the possession of the whites played their part. They were used with such effect, that the fierce warriors were compelled once more to retreat.
But the courageous8 red men recoiled9 a short distance only, when they halted and then, with exultant10 yells, dashed toward the trappers, who despite all they could do, were forced back until it looked as if the whole party would be overwhelmed and destroyed.
On this retreat, one of the horses belonging to the hunters was shot, and plunged11 to the ground so suddenly that his rider was caught before he could spring from the saddle. Several of the warriors were quick to perceive his sore straits, and dashed toward him, eager to secure his scalp. The poor fellow struggled desperately12, but could not extricate13 himself, and his expression of horrified14 despair when he perceived the fierce red men running a race with each other to reach him, would have melted the heart of almost any one.
Carson was several rods distant, but seeing the danger of his friend, he bounded out of his saddle, and shouted to the others to rally to the defence of their imperilled comrade. Kit raised his rifle while on the run and shot the leading warrior5 dead. The other whites were so close behind that the remaining Blackfeet whirled and ran for their lives. Several of them were shot down before they could reach the shelter of the rocks from behind which they sprang after the fallen white man.
Carson's devotion to his friend now placed him in an unpleasant if not dangerous situation. His steed being without restraint, galloped off beyond his reach, and the commander was thus left on foot, when there was urgent need that he should be mounted.
Meanwhile the mountaineer who was caught under the body of his horse, was struggling desperately to withdraw his imprisoned15 leg, for there was no saying when the Blackfeet would be upon him again. He succeeded at last, and, standing16 upon his feet, shook himself together, as may be said, and he found that though pretty badly bruised17, no bones were broken, and he was able to do his full part in the serious duty before him.
The exciting episode benefited the trappers in one respect: it served to check the seemingly resistless rush of the Blackfeet and gave the others a chance to rally and fix upon some course of action.
Carson ran rapidly toward the nearest horseman and sprang upon the back of his animal behind him. The steed was forced to his best and speedily joined the main body a short distance off. It was fortunate that just at that moment there came a lull18 in the furious fighting, else Carson could scarcely have escaped so well. The runaway19 horse was pursued by one of the mountaineers who finally cornered and brought him back to their leader.
The Blackfeet did not follow the whites, nor did the latter return to their charge against them. Both parties had gained a thorough taste of each other's mettle20, and the conclusion reached was like that of two trained pugilists—their strength was so nearly equal that neither could afford to throw away his advantage by leading in the assault.
Undoubtedly21 Carson and his men would have withdrawn22 but for the hope that the reserves were close at hand. The trappers had fought valiantly23 but not more so than the Indians, who still possessed24 plenty ammunition while that of the whites was nearly exhausted25. Had they advanced and encountered the warriors again, the latter would have swept everything before them. As it was, the mountaineers were by no means safe even when acting26 on the defensive27. If the red men should charge upon them with their old time fierceness, it was by no means certain they would not destroy the whites. The fight would necessarily be of the most sanguinary nature, but when guns and small arms were useless for lack of ammunition, nothing short of a miracle could save them from annihilation.
Several hours had gone and Carson and his men wondered what could delay the reserves. Time always passes slowly to those in waiting, and to some of the hunters the tardiness28 of their friends was unaccountable. Carson was on the point of sending messengers back to hurry them forward, when the whole party appeared and the situation changed.
But those who expected the Blackfeet to flee in panic when they observed the doubling of the assailing29 forces, were much mistaken. The feeling among the Indians could not be described as in the least "panicky." They quietly surveyed the new arrivals and prepared with the coolness of veterans for the conflict that was sure to come, within the next few minutes.
The powder was distributed among the trappers, who were more eager than ever to attack their old enemies, who were as ready as they for the conflict. Nearly two hundred yards separated the combatants, when the mountaineers, leaving their horses behind, advanced on foot. The Blackfeet stationed themselves behind rocks and trees and defiantly30 awaited the attack.
In a few minutes the most savage31 fight of the day was raging. A hundred rifles were flashing in every direction and the yells of the red men mingled32 with the shouts of the excited mountaineers.
As the warriors had used every means to shelter themselves, it was necessary to dislodge them before they could be driven back. Without remaining together in a compact mass, the trappers made for them with the fierceness of tigers.
The result of this charge were a number of remarkable33 combats. A hunter would dash at a warrior crouching34 behind some rock, and the two would begin dodging35, advancing, retreating, firing, striking and manoeuvering against each other. Sometimes one would succeed and sometimes the other. The Blackfoot, finding the situation becoming too hot, would break for other cover and probably would be shot on the run or would escape altogether. Again, it would be the white man who would be just a second too late in discharging his gun and would pay the penalty with his life.
At last the Indians began falling back and the mountaineers pushing them hard, they finally broke and fled in a wild panic, leaving many dead behind them. On the part of the trappers three had been killed and quite a number badly wounded.
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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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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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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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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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7
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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8
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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9
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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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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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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13
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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17
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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24
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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tardiness
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| n.缓慢；迟延；拖拉 | |
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29
assailing
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| v.攻击( assail的现在分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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32
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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33
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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34
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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35
dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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