hunting the grisly and other sketches-第5章

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Montana　boundary　line；　and　some　twenty…five　miles　west　of　the　line　of
Wyoming。　We　were　camped　high　among　the　mountains；　with　a　small　pack…
train。　On　the　day　in　question　we　had　gone　out　to　find　moose；　but　had
seen　no　sign　of　them；　and　had　then　begun　to　climb　over　the　higher
peaks　with　an　idea　of　getting　sheep。　The　old　hunter　who　was　with　me
was；　very　fortunately；　suffering　from　rheumatism；　and　he　therefore
carried　a　long　staff　instead　of　his　rifle；　I　say　fortunately；　for　if
he　had　carried　his　rifle　it　would　have　been　impossible　to　stop　his
firing　at　such　game　as　bison；　nor　would　he　have　spared　the　cows　and
calves。

About　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　we　crossed　a　low；　rocky　ridge；　above
timber　line；　and　saw　at　our　feet　a　basin　or　round　valley　of　singular
beauty。　Its　walls　were　formed　by　steep　mountains。　At　its　upper　end　lay
a　small　lake；　bordered　on　one　side　by　a　meadow　of　emerald　green。　The
lake's　other　side　marked　the　edge　of　the　frowning　pine　forest　which
filled　the　rest　of　the　valley；　and　hung　high　on　the　sides　of　the　gorge
which　formed　its　outlet。　Beyond　the　lake　the　ground　rose　in　a　pass
evidently　much　frequented　by　game　in　bygone　days；　their　trails　lying
along　it　in　thick　zigzags；　each　gradually　fading　out　after　a　few
hundred　yards；　and　then　starting　again　in　a　little　different　place；　as
game　trails　so　often　seem　to　do。

We　bent　our　steps　toward　these　trails；　and　no　sooner　had　we　reached
the　first　than　the　old　hunter　bent　over　it　with　a　sharp　exclamation　of
wonder。　There　in　the　dust　were　the　unmistakable　hoof…marks　of　a　small
band　of　bison；　apparently　but　a　few　hours　old。　They　were　headed
towards　the　lake。　There　had　been　a　half　a　dozen　animals　in　the　party；
one　a　big　bull；　and　two　calves。

We　immediately　turned　and　followed　the　trail。　It　led　down　to　the
little　lake；　where　the　beasts　had　spread　and　grazed　on　the　tender；
green　blades；　and　had　drunk　their　fill。　The　footprints　then　came
together　again；　showing　where　the　animals　had　gathered　and　walked　off
in　single　file　to　the　forest。　Evidently　they　had　come　to　the　pool　in
the　early　morning；　walking　over　the　game　pass　from　some　neighboring
valley；　and　after　drinking　and　feeding　had　moved　into　the　pine　forest
to　find　some　spot　for　their　noontide　rest。

It　was　a　very　still　day；　and　there　were　nearly　three　hours　of　daylight
left。　Without　a　word　my　silent　companion；　who　had　been　scanning　the
whole　country　with　hawk…eyed　eagerness；　besides　scrutinizing　the　sign
on　his　hands　and　knees；　took　the　trail；　motioning　me　to　follow。　In　a
moment　we　entered　the　woods；　breathing　a　sigh　of　relief　as　we　did　so；
for　while　in　the　meadow　we　could　never　tell　that　the　buffalo　might　not
see　us；　if　they　happened　to　be　lying　in　some　place　with　a　commanding
lookout。

The　old　hunter　was　thoroughly　roused；　and　he　showed　himself　a　very
skilful　tracker。　We　were　much　favored　by　the　character　of　the　forest；
which　was　rather　open；　and　in　most　places　free　from　undergrowth　and
down　timber。　As　in　most　Rocky　Mountain　forests　the　timber　was　small；
not　only　as　compared　to　the　giant　trees　of　the　groves　of　the　Pacific
coast；　but　as　compared　to　the　forests　of　the　northeast。　The　ground　was
covered　with　pine　needles　and　soft　moss；　so　that　it　was　not　difficult
to　walk　noiselessly。　Once　or　twice　when　I　trod　on　a　small　dry　twig；　or
let　the　nails　in　my　shoes　clink　slightly　against　a　stone；　the　hunter
turned　to　me　with　a　frown　of　angry　impatience；　but　as　he　walked
slowly；　continually　halting　to　look　ahead；　as　well　as　stooping　over　to
examine　the　trail；　I　did　not　find　it　very　difficult　to　move　silently。
I　kept　a　little　behind　him；　and　to　one　side；　save　when　he　crouched　to
take　advantage　of　some　piece　of　cover；　and　I　crept　in　his　footsteps。　I
did　not　look　at　the　trail　at　all；　but　kept　watching　ahead；　hoping　at
any　moment　to　see　the　game。

It　was　not　very　long　before　we　struck　their　day　beds；　which　were　made
on　a　knoll；　where　the　forest　was　open　and　where　there　was　much　down
timber。　After　leaving　the　day　beds　the　animals　had　at　first　fed
separately　around　the　grassy　base　and　sides　of　the　knoll；　and　had　then
made　off　in　their　usual　single　file；　going　straight　to　a　small　pool　in
the　forest。　After　drinking　they　had　left　this　pool；　and　travelled　down
towards　the　gorge　at　the　mouth　of　the　basin；　the　trail　leading　along
the　sides　of　the　steep　hill；　which　were　dotted　by　open　glades；　while
the　roar　of　the　cataracts　by　which　the　stream　was　broken；　ascended
from　below。　Here　we　moved　with　redoubled　caution；　for　the　sign　had
grown　very　fresh　and　the　animals　had　once　more　scattered　and　begun
feeding。　When　the　trail　led　across　the　glades　we　usually　skirted　them
so　as　to　keep　in　the　timber。

At　last；　on　nearing　the　edge　of　one　of　these　glades　we　saw　a　movement
among　the　young　trees　on　the　other　side；　not　fifty　yards　away。　Peering
through　the　safe　shelter　yielded　by　some　thick　evergreen　bushes；　we
speedily　made　out　three　bison；　a　cow；　a　calf；　and　a　yearling；　grazing
greedily　on　the　other　side　of　the　glade；　under　the　fringing　timber；
all　with　their　heads　up　hill。　Soon　another　cow　and　calf　stepped　out
after　them。　I　did　not　wish　to　shoot；　waiting　for　the　appearance　of　the
big　bull　which　I　knew　was　accompanying　them。

So　for　several　minutes　I　watched　the　great；　clumsy；　shaggy　beasts；　as
all　unconscious　they　grazed　in　the　open　glade。　Behind　them　rose　the
dark　pines。　At　the　left　of　the　glade　the　ground　fell　away　to　form　the
side　of　a　chasm；　down　in　its　depths　the　cataracts　foamed　and
thundered；　beyond；　the　huge　mountains　towered；　their　crests　crimsoned
by　the　sinking　sun。　Mixed　with　the　eager　excitement　of　the　hunter　was
a　certain　half　melancholy　feeling　as　I　gazed　on　these　bison；
themselves　part　of　the　last　remnant　of　a　doomed　and　nearly　vanished
race。　Few；　indeed；　are　the　men　who　now　have；　or　evermore　shall　have；
the　chance　of　seeing　the　mightiest　of　American　beasts；　in　all　his　wild
vigor；　surrounded　by　the　tremendous　desolation　of　his　far…off　mountain
home。

At　last；　when　I　had　begun　to　grow　very　anxious　lest　the　others　should
take　alarm；　the　bull　likewise　appeared　on　the　edge　of　the　glade；　and
stood　with　outstretched　head；　scratching　his　throat　against　a　young
tree；　which　shook　violently。　I　aimed　low；　behind　his　shoulder；　and
pulled　trigger。　At　the　crack　of　the　rifle　all　the　bison；　without　the
momentary　halt　of　terror…struck　surprise　so　common　among　game；　turned
and　raced　off　at　headlong　speed。　The　fringe　of　young　pines　beyond　and
below　the　glade　cracked　and　swayed　as　if　a　whirlwind　were　passing；　and
in　another　moment　they　reached　the　top　of　a　very　steep　incline；
thickly　strewn　with　boulders　and　dead　timber。　Down　this　they　plunged
with　reckless　speed；　their　surefootedness　was　a　marvel　in　such
seemingly　unwieldy　beasts。　A　column　of　dust　obscured　their　passage；
and　under　its　cover　they　disappeared　in　the　forest；　but　the　trail　of
the　bull　was　marked　by　splashes　of　frothy　blood；　and　we　followed　it　at
a　trot。　Fifty　yards　beyond　the　border　of　the　forest　we　found　the　stark
black　body　stretched　motionless。　He　was　a　splendid　old　bull；　still　in
his　full　vigor；　with　large；　sharp　horns；　and　heavy　mane　and　glossy
coat；　and　I　felt　the　most　exulting　pride　as　I　handled　and　examined
him；　for　I　had　procured　a　trophy　such　as　can　fall　henceforth　to　few
hunters　indeed。

It　was　too　late　to　dress　the　beast　that　evening；　so；　after　taking　out
the　tongue　and　cutting　off　enough　meat　for　supper　and　breakfast；　we
scrambled　down　to　near　the　torrent；　and　after　some　search　found　a　good
spot　for　camping。　Hot　and　dusty　from　the　day's　hard　tramp；　I　undressed
and　took　a　plunge　in　the　stream；　the　icy　water　making　me　gasp。　Then；
having　built　a　slight　lean…to　of　brush；　and　dragged　together　enough
dead　timber　to　burn　all　night；　we　cut　long　alder　twigs；　sat　down
before　some　embers　raked　apart；　and　grilled　and　ate　our　buffalo　meat
with　the　utmost　relish。　Night　had　fallen；　a　cold　wind　blew　up　the
valley；　the　torrent　roared　as　it　leaped　past　us；　and　drowned　our　words
as　we　strove　to　talk　over　our　adventures　and　success；　while　the　flame
of　the　fire　flickered　and　danced；　lighting　up　with　continual　vivid
flashes　the　gloom　of　the　forest　round　about。