first across the continent-第29部分
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ery direction round the camp； which will enable us to transport our stores； if necessary； over the mountains。〃
While Captain Lewis was thus engaged； his companions in the canoes were slowly and laboriously ascending the river on the other side of the divide。 The character of the stream was much as it had been for several days； and the men were in the water three…fourths of the time； dragging the boats over the shoals。 They had but little success in killing game； but caught； as they had done for some days before； numbers of fine trout。
〃August 14。 In order to give time for the boats to reach the forks of Jefferson River；〃 proceeds the narrative； 〃Captain Lewis determined to remain where he was； and obtain all the information he could collect in regard to the country。 Having nothing to eat but a little flour and parched meal； with the berries of the Indians； he sent out Drewyer and Shields； who borrowed horses from the natives； to hunt for a few hours。 About the same time the young warriors set out for the same purpose。 There are but few elk or black tailed deer in this neighborhood； and as the common red deer secrete themselves in the bushes when alarmed； they are soon safe from the arrows； which are but feeble weapons against any animals which the huntsmen cannot previously run down with their horses。 The chief game of the Shoshonees； therefore； is the antelope； which； when pursued； retreats to the open plains； where the horses have full room for the chase。 But such is its extraordinary fleetness and wind； that a single horse has no possible chance of outrunning it or tiring it down； and the hunters are therefore obliged to resort to stratagem。
〃About twenty Indians； mounted on fine horses； and armed with bows and arrows； left the camp。 In a short time they descried a herd of ten antelope： they immediately separated into little squads of two or three； and formed a scattered circle round the herd for five or six miles； keeping at a wary distance； so as not to alarm them till they were perfectly enclosed； and selecting； as far as possible； some commanding eminence as a stand。 Having gained their positions； a small party rode towards the animals； and with wonderful dexterity the huntsmen preserved their seats； and the horses their footing； as they ran at full speed over the hills； down the steep ravines； and along the borders of the precipices。 They were soon outstripped by the antelopes； which； on gaining the other extremity of the circle； were driven back and pursued by the fresh hunters。 They turned and flew； rather than ran； in another direction； but there； too； they found new enemies。 In this way they were alternately pursued backward and forward； till at length； notwithstanding the skill of the hunters； they all escaped and the party； after running for two hours； returned without having caught anything； and their horses foaming with sweat。 This chase； the greater part of which was seen from the camp； formed a beautiful scene； but to the hunters it is exceedingly laborious； and so unproductive； even when they are able to worry the animal down and shoot him； that forty or fifty hunters will sometimes be engaged for half a day without obtaining more than two or three antelope。
〃Soon after they returned； our two huntsmen came in with no better success。 Captain Lewis therefore made a little paste with the flour； and the addition of some berries formed a very palatable repast。 Having now secured the good will of Cameahwait； Captain Lewis informed him of his wish that he would speak to the warriors； and endeavor to engage them to accompany him to the forks of Jefferson River； where by this time another chief ＇Clark＇； with a large party of white men； was awaiting his ＇Lewis'＇ return； that it would be necessary to take about thirty horses to transport the merchandise； that they should be well rewarded for their trouble； and that； when all the party should have reached the Shoshonee camp； they would remain some time among them to trade for horses； as well as concert plans for furnishing them in future with regular supplies of merchandise。 He readily consented to do so； and after collecting the tribe together； he made a long harangue。 In about an hour and a half he returned； and told Captain Lewis that they would be ready to accompany him in the morning。〃
But the Indians were suspicious and reluctant to take the word of the white man。 Captain Lewis； almost at his wits' end； appealed to their courage。 He said that if they were afraid of being led into a trap； he was sure that some among them were not afraid。
〃To doubt the courage of an Indian is to touch the tenderest string of his mind； and the surest way to rouse him to any dangerous achievement。 Cameahwait instantly replied that he was not afraid to die； and mounting his horse； for the third time harangued the warriors。 He told them that he was resolved to go if he went alone； or if he were sure of perishing； that he hoped there were among those who heard him some who were not afraid to die； and who would prove it by mounting their horses and following him。 This harangue produced an effect on six or eight only of the warriors； who now joined their chief。 With these Captain Lewis smoked a pipe； and then； fearful of some change in their capricious temper； set out immediately。〃
The party now retraced the steps so lately taken by Captain Lewis and his men。 On the second day out； one of the spies sent forward by the Indians came madly galloping back； much to the alarm of the white men。 It proved； however； that the spy had returned to tell his comrades that one of the white hunters ＇Drewyer＇ had killed a deer。 An Indian riding behind Captain Lewis； fearful that he should not get his share of the spoil； jumped off the horse and ran for a mile at full speed。 The journal says：
〃Captain Lewis slackened his pace； and followed at a sufficient distance to observe them。 When they reached the place where Drewyer had thrown out the intestines； they all dismounted in confusion and ran tumbling over each other like famished dogs。 Each tore away whatever part he could； and instantly began to eat it。 Some had the liver； some the kidneysin short； no part on which we are accustomed to look with disgust escaped them。 One of them； who had seized about nine feet of the entrails； was chewing at one end； while with his hand he was diligently clearing his way by discharging the contents at the other。 It was indeed impossible to see these wretches ravenously feeding on the filth of animals； the blood streaming from their mouths； without deploring how nearly the condition of savages approaches that of the brute creation。 Yet； though suffering with hunger； they did not attempt； as they might have done； to take by force the whole deer； but contented themselves with what had been thrown away by the hunter。 Captain Lewis now had the deer skinned； and after reserving a quarter of it gave the rest of the animal to the chief； to be divided among the Indians； who immediately devoured nearly the whole of it without cooking。 They now went toward the ＇Prairie＇ creek； where there was some brushwood to make a fire； and found Drewyer； who had killed a second deer。 The same struggle for the entrails was renewed here； and on giving nearly the whole deer to the Indians； they devoured it even to the soft part of the hoofs。 A fire being made； Captain Lewis had his breakfast； during which Drewyer brought in a third deer。 This too； after reserving one…quarter； was given to the Indians； who now seemed completely satisfied and in good humor。〃
They now approached the forks of the Jefferson； where they had expected to meet Clark and his party with the canoes。 Not seeing any signs of them； the Lewis party were placed in a critical position。 The Indians were again alarmed and suspicious。 Here Captain Clark's journal says：
〃As they went on towards the point； Captain Lewis； perceiving how critical his situation had become； resolved to attempt a stratagem； which his present difficulty seemed completely to justify。 Recollecting the notes he had left at the point for us； he sent Drewyer for them with an Indian； who witnessed his taking them from the pole。 When they were brought； Captain Lewis told Cameahwait that； on leaving his brother chief at the place where the river issues from the mountains； it was agreed that the boats should not be brought higher than the next forks we should meet； but that； if the rapid water prevented the boats from coming on as fast as they expected； his brother chief was to send a note to the first forks above him； to let him know where they were： that this note had been left this morning at the forks； and mentioned that the canoes were just below the mountains； and coming up slowly in consequence of the current。 Captain Lewis added that he would stay at the forks for his brother chief； but would send a man down the river； and that if Cameahwait doubted what he said； one of their young men could go with him； while he and the other two remained at the forks。 This story satisfied the chief and the greater part of the Indians； but a few did not conceal their suspicions； observing that we told different stories； and complaining that their chief exposed them to danger by a mistaken c
