登陆注册
4280100000111

第111章

As Mr. Hunt feared that he might be several days in passing through this mountain defile, and run the risk of famine, he encamped in the neighborhood of the Indians, for the purpose of bartering with them for a horse. The evening was expended in ineffectual trials. He offered a gun, a buffalo robe, and various other articles. The poor fellows had, probably, like himself, the fear of starvation before their eyes. At length the women, learning the object of his pressing solicitations and tempting offers, set up such a terrible hue and cry that he was fairly howled and scolded from the ground.

The next morning early, the Indians seemed very desirous to get rid of their visitors, fearing, probably, for the safety of their horses. In reply to Mr. Hunt's inquiries about the mountains, they told him that he would have to sleep but three nights more among them; and that six days' travelling would take him to the falls of the Columbia; information in which he put no faith, believing it was only given to induce him to set forward. These, he was told, were the last Snakes he would meet with, and that he would soon come to a nation called Sciatogas.

Forward then did he proceed on his tedious journey, which, at every step, grew more painful. The road continued for two days through narrow defiles, where they were repeatedly obliged to unload the horses. Sometimes the river passed through such rocky chasms and under such steep precipices that they had to leave it, and make their way, with excessive labor, over immense hills, almost impassable for horses. On some of these hills were a few pine trees, and their summits were covered with snow. On the second day of this scramble one of the hunters killed a black-tailed deer, which afforded the half-starved travellers a sumptuous repast. Their progress these two days was twenty-eight miles, a little to the northward of east.

The month of December set in drearily, with rain in the valleys and snow upon the hills. They had to climb a mountain with snow to the midleg, which increased their painful toil. A small beaver supplied them with a scanty meal, which they eked out with frozen blackberries, haws, and choke-cherries, which they found in the course of their scramble. Their journey this day, though excessively fatiguing, was but thirteen miles; and all the next day they had to remain encamped, not being able to see half a mile ahead, on account of a snow-storm. Having nothing else to eat, they were compelled to kill another of their horses. The next day they resumed their march in snow and rain, but with all their efforts could only get forward nine miles, having for a part of the distance to unload the horses and carry the packs themselves. On the succeeding morning they were obliged to leave the river and scramble up the hills. From the summit of these, they got a wide view of the surrounding country, and it was a prospect almost sufficient to make them despair. In every direction they beheld snowy mountains, partially sprinkled with pines and other evergreens, and spreading a desert and toilsome world around them. The wind howled over the bleak and wintry landscape, and seemed to penetrate to the marrow of their bones.

They waded on through the snow, which at every step was more than knee deep.

After tolling in this way all day, they had the mortification to find that they were but four miles distant from the encampment of the preceding night, such was the meandering of the river among these dismal hills. Pinched with famine, exhausted with fatigue, with evening approaching, and a wintry wild still lengthening as they advanced, they began to look forward with sad forebodings to the night's exposure upon this frightful waste. Fortunately they succeeded in reaching a cluster of pines about sunset. Their axes were immediately at work; they cut down trees, piled them in great heaps, and soon had huge fires "to cheer their cold and hungry hearts."About three o'clock in the morning it again began to snow, and at daybreak they found themselves, as it were, in a cloud, scarcely being able to distinguish objects at the distance of a hundred yards. Guarding themselves by the sound of running water, they set out for the river, and by slipping and sliding contrived to get down to its bank. One of the horses, missing his footing, rolled down several hundred yards with his load, but sustained no injury. The weather in the valley was less rigorous than on the hills. The snow lay but ankle deep, and there was a quiet rain now falling. After creeping along for six miles, they encamped on the border of the river. Being utterly destitute of provisions, they were again compelled to kill one of their horses to appease their famishing hunger.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 天之子传说

    天之子传说

    在这不平常天气的一天里,一个平常的小渔村里,随着一声“哇……哭声,一户姓李的渔民家里诞生下了一个男孩。从幼儿开始学生时代,几个男孩各怀心中大志,有的想成为国家有用人才,有的……大千世界选择居奇多,时过境迁,几个孩子们慢慢长大,找准目标,为之奋斗。演绎着不同的人生百态……
  • 三鱼堂剩言

    三鱼堂剩言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 豪门秘妻:宝贝,我们复婚吧

    豪门秘妻:宝贝,我们复婚吧

    以为离婚协议一签,她就可以美滋滋转身离去无留恋,再相见,欧阳俊走到她面前:女人,我对你越来越感兴趣了呢,再做我一次老婆?文珊走到他面前,送你两个字,休想!可她不知道,他早已掌控她一切,等着慢慢收拾她...情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 中华青少年成长必读集萃:幽默笑话

    中华青少年成长必读集萃:幽默笑话

    幽默笑话,具有语言诙谐、故事生动、短小精悍的特点,深受群众喜爱。本书编者遵循健康有趣、雅俗共赏的原则,从现今流行的幽默笑话中精选了上千则,并对其中一些作品作了文字上的润色,有些原无标题的加了标题,汇编成册,以飨读者。
  • 唯一的宠妃

    唯一的宠妃

    现代平凡女在喝醉酒后穿越到一个不知名的朝代.穿越的这具身体是个白痴,但相貌却是一只极品狐狸.(相貌要清纯就清纯,要妩媚就妩媚但是不是狐狸智商就有待商榷了)俗话说的好,傻人有傻福所以在女主的石榴裙下帅哥是到下一个又一个.先是容貌清丽的单纯温柔的帅哥慕容霄后是俊美无比的深情冷酷的帅哥慕容狄还有很多的小帅哥..........女主的性格不是很强势,但也不弱,奉行人生格言人不犯我,我不犯人,人若犯我,我必奉还在女主和男主之间到底会发生什么事呢--------点阅读此书PS:本文走小白轻松路线,文笔不是很优美,没有华丽的辞藻但中间肯定会有虐的部分,结局是HEPPS:喜欢的请收藏,请投票,离不开这些啊
  • 魔武变

    魔武变

    莫名其妙的穿越,万年单传的职业,刻骨铭心的爱恋,跨越生死的修炼,铭记一生的仇恨,看主角如何以最垃圾的职业走向成神之路!!
  • 紫电冥雷传

    紫电冥雷传

    月日天翔向来沉没寡言,事不关心,而他却无意中得到神器"紫电",但"紫电"并不认同月日天翔的能力.他只有努力成为一名圣剑士,才有资格成为"紫电"的主人.所以,他从此就努力的朝圣剑士的道路走去,而这条路,也在渐渐改变月日天翔那冷漠的心……
  • 惊世奢华_解读满城汉墓

    惊世奢华_解读满城汉墓

    一次极其偶然的发现,却成就了中国考古电上一个石破天惊的事件。位于河北省满城县城西南1.5公里处陵山上的天下第一崖墓满城汉墓,是西汉第一代中山靖王刘胜及其妻子窦绾的陵墓。1968年5月,被解放军北京军区工程兵某部在进行国防施工时偶然发现,后经周恩来总理批示,著名考古学家郭沫若亲临考证发掘而面世。满城汉墓凿山而成,规模宏大,举世罕见,是目前我国发现的规模最宏大、结构最复杂、保存最完整的崖墓。满城汉墓出土文物一万多件,驰名中外的“金缕玉衣”、“长信宫灯”和“朱雀衔环杯”等稀世珍宝曾远赴欧、亚、美洲等三十多个国家和地区展出,轰动海内外,满城也因此被誉为“金缕玉衣”的故乡。本书著者以翔实鲜闻的史录、冷峻精肃的推理和文采飞扬的笔触,不仅为读者讲述了充满神秘离奇色彩的发掘过程,更对满城汉墓的墓室建造特点、出土文物价值及相关历史背景等内容,进行了深刻而独到的分析与研究,从而引导读者走进无比奢华的地下宫殿,去破解深藏岩层中长达21OO多年的历史迷团……
  • 我懂得,你不是一个人

    我懂得,你不是一个人

    本书是一本短篇散文合集,献给给二十岁刚出头的奋斗小青年。心怀着最遥远的理想,然而现实是像白开水一样平淡的生活。生活的酸甜苦辣都平铺在面前,有时候看不到更远的地方,无法预测未来,过往也无多大参考性,内心却渴望生活不仅如此,不该如此,所以会往更多的在同龄人身上寻找一种正面温暖的能量。本书集结当红作者们的经历,关于亲情,爱情,友情,梦想,人生,种种情绪,悲欢喜乐,陪你度过一个人的漫长时光。原来你所经历过的酸甜苦辣都不算什么,他们都曾经经历过。所以不管是此刻孤独,艰难,遗憾,还是彷徨的你,请记住,“亲,你不是一个人。”他们懂得,他们也记得。
  • 欧洲战史

    欧洲战史

    军事历史是我们了解人类发展的主要窗口。军事与政治向来是相伴相随的,军事历史是政治历史的演绎,也是政治历史发展的高潮。任何一个朝代或者一个国家的开始与终极,都是伴随着军事战争的开始或终极。军事历史使政治历史更加集中清晰,更加丰富与生动。我们要了解历史发展的概貌,首先就要了解军事历史发展的脉络。