按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ular 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 confidence。 Captain Lewis now wrote； by the light of some willow…brush； a note to Captain Clark； which he gave to Drewyer； with an order to use all possible expedition in descending the river； and engaged an Indian to accompany him by the promise of a knife and some beads。
〃At bedtime the chief and five others slept round the fire of Captain Lewis； and the rest hid themselves in different parts of the willow…brush to avoid the enemy； who； they feared； would attack them in the night。 Captain Lewis endeavored to assume a cheerfulness he did not feel； to prevent the despondency of the savages。 After conversing gayly with them he retired to his mosquito…bier； by the side of which the chief now placed himself。 He lay down； yet slept but little； being in fact scarcely less uneasy than his Indian companions。 He was apprehensive that； finding the ascent of the river impracticable； Captain Clark might have stopped below Rattlesnake bluff； and the messenger would not meet him。 The consequence of disappointing the Indians at this moment would most probably be that they would retire and secrete themselves in the mountains； so as to prevent our having an opportunity of recovering their confidence。 They would also spread a panic through all the neighboring Indians； and cut us off from the supply of horses so useful and almost so essential to our success。 He was at the same time consoled by remembering that his hopes of assistance rested on better foundations than their generosity their avarice and their curiosity。 He had promised liberal exchanges for their horses； but what was still more seductive； he had told them that one of their countrywomen； who had been taken with the Minnetarees； accompanied the party below； and one of the men had spread the report of our having with us a man ＇York＇ perfectly black； whose hair was short and curled。 This last account had excited a great degree of curiosity； and they seemed more desirous of seeing this monster than of obtaining the most favorable barter for their horses。〃
On the following day； August 17； the two parties of explorers finally met。 Under that date the journal has this interesting entry：
〃Captain Lewis rose very early and despatched Drewyer and the Indian down the river in quest of the boats。 Shields was sent out at the same time to hunt； while M'Neal prepared a breakfast out of the remainder of the meat。 Drewyer had been gone about two hours； and the Indians were all anxiously waiting for some news； when an Indian； who had straggled a short distance down the river； returned with a report that he had seen the white men； who were only a short distance below； and were coming on。 The Indians were transported with joy； and the chief； in the warmth of his satisfaction； renewed his embrace to Captain Lewis； who was quite as much delighted as the Indians themselves。 The report proved most agreeably true。
〃On setting out at seven o'clock； Captain Clark； with Chaboneau and his wife； walked on shore； but they had not gone more than a mile before Captain Clark saw Sacajawe