at Brown's Hole—Trapping in the Black Hills—On the Yellowstone—Fight
with the Blackfeet—Their Retreat to an Island—Their Flight During the
Night—An Imposing1 Array of Warriors3.
The fight between the Blackfeet and trappers was one of the most important in which Kit4 Carson, previous to the late war, was ever engaged. The forces must have included several hundred, and the lesson administered to the aggressive red men was remembered by them a long time.
After burying their dead, looking after the wounded and setting matters to rights, the hunters resumed trapping through the Blackfoot country. They were scarcely disturbed by their old enemies who dreaded5 rousing the resentment6 of such a formidable body of daring and unerring marksmen.
Our friends were very successful, and, when they made their way to the rendezvous7, a week's journey away, they carried with them an immense stock of peltries. When the trading was finished, the parties made new combinations and departed in different directions. Instead of attaching himself to a large company, Kit Carson and seven choice spirits started for a trading post known at that time as Brown's Hole. They reached there just in time for the leader to join an expedition, numbering only two beside himself, which went into the Navajoe country for purposes of barter8. The venture proved a great success and Carson drifted back again to Brown's Hole. There such liberal offers were made him to serve as hunter for the fort, that he accepted and entered upon his rather singular, but exceedingly congenial duties.
These, as the reader must know, simply consisted of keeping the garrison9 supplied with all the meat they needed. Though the country was noted10 for its fine game, it required much time, skill and patience for Carson to make sure that none of the vigorous appetites at the post suffered. No one could have done better and very few as well as he. When spring came, and he gave up his position, he was complimented by those whom he left behind on the admirable manner in which he had met all requirements.
During those years there was much similarity in the life and experience of Kit Carson. He had become known all through the west and southwest as the most daring, sagacious and brilliant leader in that country. His services were in demand wherever he went, and as he was in the enjoyment11 of perfect health, overrunning with life and activity, he made money rapidly and showed his wisdom by laying aside a respectable sum for a rainy day.
In the spring following his engagement at Brown's Hole, he went with a small party to the Black Hills, where they were quite successful in hunting. Later in the summer they joined the main body of trappers on Green River. All meeting at the general rendezvous on a branch of the Wind River. Still later, the majority of the trappers went into winter quarters on the Yellowstone. They were again in the country of their bitter enemies, the Blackfeet, and were certain of a fight with them; but several months passed without molestation13.
One day, however, several of the trappers who were making the rounds of the traps, came upon signs which showed they were close to a strong force of the Blackfeet. The men lost no time in hurrying back to camp with the news, where it was agreed that trouble was at hand.
Forty men were selected at once to hunt out the Indians and engage them in battle. It goes without saying, that Kit Carson was made the leader and there was not a moment's unnecessary delay in starting out to find the enemy.
They were successful in their search. They suddenly found themselves in the presence of a scouting14 party, who were undoubtedly15 looking for them; but perceiving the strength of the whites, they began retreating. Carson and his men pressed them hotly, when, as anticipated, they fell back on the main body and one of the old fashioned battles between trappers and Indians began.
The Blackfeet always fight bravely, and, for a time, they held their ground well, but they were forced to give way and retired16 to a small island in the Yellowstone, where they had thrown up rude fortifications and felt able to hold their own against a much superior force.
Darkness closed in upon the contending forces, and the assailants ceased firing and encamped for the night on the bank of the river. They were on the qui vive through the still hours, and so eager for the attack that with the earliest streakings of light in the east, they plunged17 into the stream and made for the barricades18. It was not to be supposed that the Blackfeet would be taken off their guard, and the trappers expected to reach the defences through a hot fusillade from the dusky defenders19.
To their surprise, however, not a single gun was discharged and they rushed pell mell over the rugged20 fortifications to engage the enemy in hand to hand conflict. To their chagrin21, however, not a solitary22 Blackfoot was visible. Despite the watchfulness23 of the white men, the entire Indian force had withdrawn24 during the night without arousing the least suspicion on the part of the watchers.
But the trappers were too wise to misconstrue the action of the Blackfeet. Their withdrawal25 was a strategic movement, and did not by any means signify they were afraid of the large force or that they would prefer not to molest12 them. The signs around the fortifications showed that the Indians had suffered severely26 and they would never content themselves until full retaliation27 had been made.
The trappers returned to camp, where a long council was held. The conclusion was that the Blackfoot village was near by, and when they learned of the severe punishment received by the scouting party, they would lose no time in entering upon a campaign of revenge. As the Blackfeet nation included several thousand warriors, there was reason to fear they would overwhelm the trappers, despite their bravery and skill. Barricades were thrown up and the best men stationed as sentinels. One of them hastened to the top of an adjoining hill, which commanded an extensive view of the surrounding country.
The sentinel had been in position but a short time when he signalled to his friends the approach of a large body of Indians. The hunters immediately began strengthening their defences, and before the redskin arrived, they had rendered their position almost impregnable against any force that could be gathered in the country.
As the Blackfeet approached, the sentinel hurried down from the hill and joined the main body. Shortly after, the advance party of Blackfeet came in sight and made a reconnaissance which apprised28 them of the nature of the defences. They did not fire a shot but waited until the arrival of the main band.
When that came in sight, it was enough to strike dismay into every heart. There were few if any less than a thousand warriors. Dr. Peters, the biographer of Carson, says:
"It was a sight which few white men of the American nation have looked upon. Arrayed in their fantastic war costume and bedaubed with paint, armed with lances, bows and arrows, rifles, tomahawks, knives, etc., some mounted and some on foot, they presented a wild and fearful scene of barbaric fancy.
"Soon after their last company had reported, the frightful29 war dance, peculiar30 to the American savages32, was enacted33 in sight of the trappers' position. The battle songs and shouts which accompanied the dance reached the ears of the whites with fearful distinctness. Any other than hearts of oak with courage of steel would have quailed34 before this terrible display of savage31 enmity and ferocity. This dance, to men well skilled in the ways of the Indian warrior2, was a sure signal that the next day would be certain to have a fearful history for one party or the other and doubtless for both. The odds35, most assuredly, were apparently36 greatly in favor of the savage host and against the little band of hardy37 mountaineers."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
imposing
|
|
| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
kit
|
|
| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
rendezvous
|
|
| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
barter
|
|
| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
garrison
|
|
| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
molest
|
|
| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
molestation
|
|
| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
scouting
|
|
| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
barricades
|
|
| 路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
defenders
|
|
| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
rugged
|
|
| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
chagrin
|
|
| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
watchfulness
|
|
| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
withdrawal
|
|
| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
retaliation
|
|
| n.报复，反击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
apprised
|
|
| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
enacted
|
|
| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
quailed
|
|
| 害怕，发抖，畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
hardy
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |