登陆注册
4809900000102

第102章 Irving’s Bonneville - Chapter 36(1)

The difficult mountain--A smoke and consultation--The captain's speech--An icyturnpike-- Danger of a false step-- Arrival on Snake River-- Return to Portneuf--Meeting of comrades CONTINUING THEIR JOURNEY UP the course of the Immahah, the travellers found,as they approached the headwaters, the snow increased in quantity, so as to lie twofeet deep. They were again obliged, therefore, to beat down a path for their horses,sometimes travelling on the icy surface of the stream. At length they reached the placewhere they intended to scale the mountains; and, having broken a pathway to the foot,were agreeably surprised to find that the wind had drifted the snow from off the side, sothat they attained the summit with but little difficulty. Here they encamped, with theintention of beating a track through the mountains. A short experiment, however,obliged them to give up the attempt, the snow lying in vast drifts, often higher than thehorses' heads.

Captain Bonneville now took the two Indian guides, and set out to reconnoitre theneighborhood. Observing a high peak which overtopped the rest, he climbed it, anddiscovered from the summit a pass about nine miles long, but so heavily piled withsnow, that it seemed impracticable. He now lit a pipe, and, sitting down with the twoguides, proceeded to hold a consultation after the Indian mode. For a long while they allsmoked vigorously and in silence, pondering over the subject matter before them. Atlength a discussion commenced, and the opinion in which the two guides concurredwas, that the horses could not possibly cross the snows. They advised, therefore, thatthe party should proceed on foot, and they should take the horses back to the village,where they would be well taken care of until Captain Bonneville should send for them.

They urged this advice with great earnestness; declaring that their chief would beextremely angry, and treat them severely, should any of the horses of his good friends,the white men, be lost, in crossing under their guidance; and that, therefore, it was goodthey should not attempt it.

Captain Bonneville sat smoking his pipe, and listening to them with Indian silence andgravity. When they had finished, he replied to them in their own style of language.

"My friends," said he, "I have seen the pass, and have listened to your words; you havelittle hearts. When troubles and dangers lie in your way, you turn your backs. That is notthe way with my nation. When great obstacles present, and threaten to keep themback, their hearts swell, and they push forward. They love to conquer difficulties. Butenough for the present. Night is coming on; let us return to our camp."He moved on, and they followed in silence. On reaching the camp, he found the menextremely discouraged. One of their number had been surveying the neighborhood, andseriously assured them that the snow was at least a hundred feet deep. The captaincheered them up, and diffused fresh spirit in them by his example. Still he was muchperplexed how to proceed. About dark there was a slight drizzling rain. An expedientnow suggested itself. This was to make two light sleds, place the packs on them, anddrag them to the other side of the mountain, thus forming a road in the wet snow,which, should it afterward freeze, would be sufficiently hard to bear the horses. Thisplan was promptly put into execution; the sleds were constructed, the heavy baggagewas drawn backward and forward until the road was beaten, when they desisted fromtheir fatiguing labor. The night turned out clear and cold, and by morning, their road wasincrusted with ice sufficiently strong for their purpose. They now set out on their icyturnpike, and got on well enough, excepting that now and then a horse would sidle outof the track, and immediately sink up to the neck. Then came on toil and difficulty, andthey would be obliged to haul up the floundering animal with ropes. One, more unluckythan the rest, after repeated falls, had to be abandoned in the snow. Notwithstandingthese repeated delays, they succeeded, before the sun had acquired sufficient power tothaw the snow, in getting all the rest of their horses safely to the other side of themountain.

Their difficulties and dangers, however, were not yet at an end. They had now todescend, and the whole surface of the snow was glazed with ice. It was necessary;therefore, to wait until the warmth of the sun should melt the glassy crust of sleet, andgive them a foothold in the yielding snow. They had a frightful warning of the danger ofany movement while the sleet remained. A wild young mare, in her restlessness,strayed to the edge of a declivity. One slip was fatal to her; she lost her balance,careered with headlong velocity down the slippery side of the mountain for more thantwo thousand feet, and was dashed to pieces at the bottom. When the travellersafterward sought the carcass to cut it up for food, they found it torn and mangled in themost horrible manner.

同类推荐
  • 通制条格

    通制条格

    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。
  • 外科心法要诀

    外科心法要诀

    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。
  • 佛说一髻尊陀罗尼经

    佛说一髻尊陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 赠三惠大师

    赠三惠大师

    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。
  • 正法华经

    正法华经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 名人传记丛书:史蒂芬孙

    名人传记丛书:史蒂芬孙

    名人传记丛书——史蒂芬孙——“蒸汽时代”的领路人:“立足课本,超越课堂”,以提高中小学生的综合素质为目的,让中小学生从课内受益到课外,是一生的良师益友。
  • 潮涌钱江

    潮涌钱江

    在那个血与火的时代,国仇家恨、亲情、爱情的交织,最终获得生与死的升华,谱写了一曲充满活力的生命之歌。
  • 跨越世纪嫁与你

    跨越世纪嫁与你

    “啊!!你这登徒子从何而来?为何出现在本宫主房内?!”安南葉惊讶发问,“登徒子?公主?”撞破我家房顶,偷看我洗澡,还想反咬我一口说我是什么‘登徒子?’那我就让你看看什么是登徒子!“唔…………”安南也瞪大了双眼…………梦中之人竟成真?多次的相遇,错过,只为这一次的永不分离,是巧合还是天意?让我跨越世纪也要与你再续前缘!安南葉,这一次,我再也不会放开你!
  • 爱就这么简单

    爱就这么简单

    人的一生到底有多长?暗恋一个人是否真的不会变?而等一个人,究竟可以等多久?一年?二年?三年?还是三年再三年?那年夏至,从第一次相遇,从她教他唱歌,又或者不知从什么时候开始。心里便已悄悄埋下种子,等待发芽,盛放。那一年,他暗恋一个女孩。她伤心难过,却还为他暗自高兴。为了他,她接近那个女孩,强迫自己做她的朋友。她什么都不求,只求他能多看自己一眼。她掩着心酸,为他送东西给别的女孩。她掩着心痛,帮他告白。她掩着对他的喜欢,甘愿只做一对好朋友。三年毕业,各奔东西,但她却以陌生人的方式加他为好友,关注他的近况。她拒绝所有向她告白的人。她对自己说,不是不交往,只是还没有喜欢的人。其实,自己所有的喜欢都给了他。再三年过去,在第二学年,他中途转学过来。再重见他的那一刻,心中默然心动,原来他依旧是心中所爱。而三年光阴再次相见,他对她说出的话却是“你是谁?”在那一刻,眼泪不由自主的滑落下来。他的眼神不再温柔,话语变得刻薄,变得喜怒无情。她一次次的接近,一次次的以失败告终。就当她想放弃时,他提出与她交往。原以为一切都是这般美好。毕业的那一刻,她开心的握住他的手,但他却默然别过脸,松开手。她看见那个女孩投入他的怀中,他笑着拥住。那一刻,什么都变了,握住他的手不再是她,他的笑容也不再只对她绽放。那晚雨夜,他提出分手,她不挽留,欣然接受,只为成全他们。踏出社会,再次相遇,他是否还是心中所爱?三年又三年,人生到底有多少个三年?如果一切重来,她是否依旧无怨无悔。
  • 智慧故事(语文新课标课外必读第十一辑)

    智慧故事(语文新课标课外必读第十一辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 重生之小麦加油

    重生之小麦加油

    生命有太多的遗憾,我只想拥有闪光的一面.不要那么多,只要一些些.
  • 重生八零之娇妻有毒

    重生八零之娇妻有毒

    顾小鱼遭恶毒的后婆婆和大嫂算计,新婚不到半年死于非命。死后魂魄被迫接受古医传承,囚于一个诡异的空间,在人间飘荡三十余年。见证了后世沧桑,也知道了很多事情的真相。比如:她既不是叶家的孩子也不是顾家的孩子;她盲婚哑嫁的老公路平安是她一直暗恋的小哥哥;路平安是大家族遗失的孩子……她以为她的魂魄会永远飘荡,却在路平安死的那一瞬间,重生回到一九八五年十月一日,她出嫁这一天……可以报仇了吗?这是她重生后的第三个念头。
  • 大佬你的糖酥掉了

    大佬你的糖酥掉了

    【1v1】,全程甜甜甜,无虐。遇见唐酥前。高冷:“谈恋爱?能有打架有意思?”妖冶魔君:“娶妻?比得上吾族大业?”霸道总裁:“一亿以下的单子别来找我。”……后来,甜甜的唐酥小可爱出现了。高冷·妖冶魔君·霸道总裁:“真香!”
  • 乖乖徒弟霸师傅

    乖乖徒弟霸师傅

    若友友觉得这本更的慢,可以看羽毛完结作品链接:http://m.wkkk.net/a/587866/千年前,她决然离去,并将他永远的封印,不想心底的愧疚让她酿成大祸,她种下的因自由她来承担。从此她漂浮在宇宙尘埃中,只为等他再次回归。这世间再没那般妖孽的男子,也没那清淡如水的女子了,一切只不过是他们故事的开始。千年后,山崩地裂,人间陷入万劫不复之地,霎时间人类变得支离破碎颠沛流离。转世为普通人的她也没能逃过家破人亡,孤身一人,经人指点拜师学艺。那一年初遇,他是高高在上的云灵仙门的尊者;而她只是再平凡不过的人类。琉璃殿中唤出她最真切的心念,“尊者,你能收我为徒吗?”他不语,淡然一撇,微微点头,一大一小定下师徒情分。那潋滟风华的身影尘埃不染,日日看他独守忘念殿,这里的空气都比外面稀薄几分,就如他冰冷的气息。她对自己说,以后再也不让他一个人孤单了。然而现实往往比预想的还要残酷,莲花复合万古深渊大开他元神合一,终于苏醒。她已碎的心抱着灰飞烟灭的危险,只为再次将他覆灭。亲们动下手指,点击下方的加入书架,喜欢的亲们点吧!友友好文:http://m.wkkk.net/a/688873/
  • 中国小小说名家档案:八月盛宴

    中国小小说名家档案:八月盛宴

    小小说是一种顺应历史潮流、符合读者需要、很有大众亲和力的文体。它篇幅短小,制式灵活,内容上贴近现实、贴近生活、贴近群众,有着非常鲜明的时代气息,所以为广大读者喜闻乐见。因此,历经20年已枝繁叶茂的小小说,也被国内外文学评论家当做“话题”和“现象”列为研究课题。