AT the risk of being tedious, I will tell of one more day'sbuffalo hunting, to show the vicissitudes2 of this kind ofsport. Before doing so we will glance at another importantfeature of prairie life, a camp of Sioux Indians.
One evening, after halting on the banks of the Platte, weheard distant sounds of tomtoms on the other side of theriver. Jim, the half-breed, and Louis differed as to thetribe, and hence the friendliness3 or hostility4, of ourneighbours. Louis advised saddling up and putting the nightbetween us; he regaled us to boot with a few blood-curdlingtales of Indian tortures, and of NOUS AUTRES EN HAUT. Jimtreated these with scorn, and declared he knew by the 'tunes5'
(!) that the pow-wow was Sioux. Just now, he asserted, theSioux were friendly, and this 'village' was on its way toFort Laramie to barter6 'robes' (buffalo1 skins) for blanketsand ammunition7. He was quite willing to go over and talk tothem if we had no objection.
Fred, ever ready for adventure, would have joined him in aminute; but the river, which was running strong, was full ofnasty currents, and his injured knee disabled him fromswimming. No one else seemed tempted8; so, following Jim'sexample, I stripped to my flannel9 shirt and moccasins, andcrossed the river, which was easier to get into than out of,and soon reached the 'village.' Jim was right, - they wereSioux, and friendly. They offered us a pipe of kinik (thedried bark of the red willow), and jabbered10 away with theirkinsman, who seemed almost more at home with them than withus.
Seeing one of their 'braves' with three fresh scalps at hisbelt, I asked for the history of them. In Sioux gutturalsthe story was a long one. Jim's translation amounted tothis: The scalps were 'lifted' from two Crows and a Ponkaw.
The Crows, it appeared, were the Sioux' natural enemies'anyhow,' for they occasionally hunted on each other'sranges. But the Ponkaw, whom he would not otherwise haveinjured, was casually11 met by him on a horse which the Siouxrecognised for a white man's. Upon being questioned how hecame by it, the Ponkaw simply replied that it was his own.
Whereupon the Sioux called him a liar12; and proved it bysending an arrow through his body.
I didn't quite see it. But then, strictly13 speaking, I am nocollector of scalps. To preserve my own, I kept the hair onit as short as a tooth-brush.
Before we left, our hosts fed us on raw buffalo meat. This,cut in slices, and dried crisp in the sun, is excellent.
Their lodges14 were very comfortable, most of them large enoughto hold a dozen people. The ground inside was covered withbuffalo robes; and the sewn skins, spread tight upon theconverging poles, formed a tent stout16 enough to defy allweathers. In winter the lodge15 can be entirely17 closed; andwhen a fire is kindled18 in the centre, the smoke escaping at asmall hole where the poles join, the snugness19 is complete.
At the entrance of one of these lodges I watched a squaw andher child prepare a meal. When the fuel was collected, a fatpuppy, playing with the child, was seized by the squaw, andknocked on the throat - not head - with a stick. The puppywas then returned, kicking, to the tender mercies of theinfant; who exerted its small might to add to the animal'smiseries, while the mother fed the fire and filled a kettlefor the stew20. The puppy, much more alive than dead, was heldby the hind21 leg over the flames as long as the squaw'sfingers could stand them. She then let it fall on theembers, where it struggled and squealed22 horribly, and wouldhave wriggled23 off, but for the little savage24, who took goodcare to provide for the satisfactory singeing25 of itsplaymate.
Considering the length of its lineage, how remarkably26 haleand well preserved is our own barbarity!
We may now take our last look at the buffaloes27, for we shallsee them no more. Again I quote my journal:
'JULY 5TH. - Men sulky because they have nothing to eat butrancid ham, and biscuit dust which has been so often soakedthat it is mouldy and sour. They are a dainty lot! Samsonand I left camp early with the hopes of getting meat. Whilehe was shooting prairie dogs his horse made off, and cost menearly an hour's riding to catch. Then, accidentally lettinggo of my mustang, he too escaped; and I had to run him downwith the other. Towards evening, spied a small band ofbuffaloes, which we approached by leading our horses up ahollow. They got our wind, however, and were gone before wewere aware of it. They were all young, and so fast, it tooka twenty minutes' gallop28 to come up with them. Samson'shorse put his foot in a hole, and the cropper they both gotgave the band a long start, as it became a stern chase, andno heading off.
'At length I managed to separate one from the herd29 by firingmy pistol into the "brown," and then devoted30 my efforts tohim alone. Once or twice he turned and glared savagelythrough his mane. When quite isolated31 he pulled up short, sodid I. We were about sixty yards apart. I flung the reinsupon the neck of the mustang, who was too blown to stir, andhandling my rifle, waited for the bull to move so that Imight see something more than the great shaggy front, whichscreened his body. But he stood his ground, tossing up thesand with his hoofs32. Presently, instead of turning tail, heput his head down, and bellowing33 with rage, came at me ashard as he could tear. I had but a moment for decision, - todig spurs into the mustang, or risk the shot. I chose thelatter; paused till I was sure of his neck, and fired when hewas almost under me. In an instant I was sent flying; andthe mustang was on his back with all four legs in the air.
'The bull was probably as much astonished as we were. Hischarge had carried him about thirty yards, at most, beyondus. There he now stood; facing me, pawing the ground andsnorting as before. Badly wounded I knew him to be, - thatwas the worst of it; especially as my rifle, with itsremaining loaded barrel, lay right between us. To hesitatefor a second only, was to lose the game. There was no timeto think of bruises34; I crawled, eyes on him, straight for myweapon: got it - it was already cocked, and the stockunbroken - raised my knee for a rest. We were only twentyyards apart (the shot meant death for one of the two), andjust catching35 a glimpse of his shoulder-blade, I pulled. Icould hear the thud of the heavy bullet, and - what wassweeter music - the ugh! of the fatal groan36. The beastdropped on his knees, and a gush37 of blood spurted38 from hisnostrils.
'But the wild devil of a mustang? that was my first thoughtnow. Whenever one dismounted, it was necessary to loosen hislong lariat39, and let it trail on the ground. Without thisthere was no chance of catching him. I saw at once what hadhappened: by the greatest good fortune, at the last moment,he must have made an instinctive40 start, which probably savedhis life, and mine too. The bull's horns had just missed hisentrails and my leg, - we were broadside on to the charge, -and had caught him in the thigh41, below the hip42. There was abig hole, and he was bleeding plentifully43. For all that, hewouldn't let me catch him. He could go faster on three legsthan I on two.
'It was getting dark, I had not touched food since starting,nor had I wetted my lips. My thirst was now intolerable.
The travelling rule, about keeping on, was an ugly incubus45.
Samson would go his own ways - he had sense enough for that -but how, when, where, was I to quench46 my thirst? Oh! for thetip of Lazarus' finger - or for choice, a bottle of Bass47 - tocool my tongue! Then too, whither would the mustang stray inthe night if I rested or fell asleep? Again and again Itried to stalk him by the starlight. Twice I got hold of histail, but he broke away. If I drove him down to the riverbanks the chance of catching him would be no better, and Ishould lose the dry ground to rest on.
'It was about as unpleasant a night as I had yet passed.
Every now and then I sat down, and dropped off to sleep fromsheer exhaustion48. Every time this happened I dreamed ofsparkling drinks; then woke with a start to a lively sense ofthe reality, and anxious searches for the mustang.
'Directly the day dawned I drove the animal, now very stiff,straight down for the Platte. He wanted water fully44 as muchas his master; and when we sighted it he needed no moredriving. Such a hurry was he in that, in his rush for theriver, he got bogged49 in the muddy swamp at its edge. Iseized my chance, and had him fast in a minute. We bothplunged into the stream; I, clothes and all, and drank, anddrank, and drank.'
That evening I caught up the cavalcade50.
How curious it is to look back upon such experiences from adifferent stage of life's journey! How would it have faredwith me had my rifle exploded with the fall? it was knockedout of my hands at full cock. How if the stock had beenbroken? It had been thrown at least ten yards. How if thehorn had entered my thigh instead of the horse's? How if Ihad fractured a limb, or had been stunned51, or the bull hadcharged again while I was creeping up to him? Any one, ormore than one, of these contingencies52 were more likely tohappen than not. But nothing did happen, save - the best.
Not a thought of the kind ever crossed my mind, either at thetime or afterwards. Yet I was not a thoughtless man, only anaverage man. Nine Englishmen out of ten with a love of sport- as most Englishmen are - would have done, and have felt,just as I did. I was bruised53 and still; but so one is aftera run with hounds. I had had many a nastier fall hunting inDerbyshire. The worst that could happen did not happen; butthe worst never - well, so rarely does. One might shootoneself instead of the pigeon, or be caught picking forbiddenfruit. Narrow escapes are as good as broad ones. The truthis, when we are young, and active, and healthy, whateverhappens, of the pleasant or lucky kind, we accept as a matterof course.
Ah! youth! youth! If we only knew when we were well off,when we were happy, when we possessed54 all that this world hasto give! If we but knew that love is only a matter of courseso long as youth and its bounteous55 train is ours, we mightperhaps make the most of it, and give up looking for -something better. But what then? Give up the 'somethingbetter'? Give up pursuit, - the effort that makes us strong?
'Give up the sweets of hope'? No! 'tis better as it is,perhaps. The kitten plays with its tail, and the nightingalesings; but they think no more of happiness than the rose-budof its beauty. May be happiness comes not of too muchknowing, or too much thinking either.
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buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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tunes
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| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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jabbered
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| v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的过去式和过去分词 )；急促兴奋地说话 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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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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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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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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snugness
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stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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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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singeing
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的现在分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿]；烧毛 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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spurted
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺 | |
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lariat
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| n.系绳，套索；v.用套索套捕 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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incubus
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| n.负担；恶梦 | |
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quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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bogged
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| adj.陷于泥沼的v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的过去式和过去分词 )；妨碍，阻碍 | |
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cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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bounteous
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| adj.丰富的 | |
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