first across the continent-第13节
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l accounts。 They never attack him but in parties of six or eight persons； and even then are often defeated with a loss of one or more of their party。 Having no weapons but bows and arrows； and the bad guns with which the traders supply them； they are obliged to approach very near to the bear； as no wound except through the head or heart is mortal； they frequently fall a sacrifice if they miss their aim。 He rather attacks than avoids a man； and such is the terror which he has inspired； that the Indians who go in quest of him paint themselves and perform all the superstitious rites customary when they make war on a neighboring nation。 Hitherto； those bears we had seen did not appear desirous of encountering us； but although to a skilful rifleman the danger is very much diminished； yet the white bear is still a terrible animal。 On approaching these two； both Captain Lewis and the hunter fired； and each wounded a bear。 One of them made his escape； the other turned upon Captain Lewis and pursued him seventy or eighty yards； but being badly wounded the bear could not run so fast as to prevent him from reloading his piece； which be again aimed at him； and a third shot from the hunter brought him to the ground。 He was a male； not quite full grown； and weighed about three hundred pounds。 The legs are somewhat longer than those of the black bear； and the talons and tusks much larger and longer。 Its color is a yellowish…brown； the eyes are small； black； and piercing； the front of the fore legs near the feet is usually black； and the fur is finer； thicker； and deeper than that of the black bear。 Add to which； it is a more furious animal； and very remarkable for the wounds which it will bear without dying。〃
Next day； the hunter killed the largest elk which they had ever seen。 It stood five feet three inches high from hoof to shoulder。 Antelopes were also numerous； but lean； and not very good for food。 Of the antelope the journal says：
〃These fleet and quick…sighted animals are generally the victims of their curiosity。 When they first see the hunters； they run with great velocity； if he lies down on the ground； and lifts up his arm； his hat； or his foot； they return with a light trot to look at the object； and sometimes go and return two or three times； till they approach within reach of the rifle。 So； too； they sometimes leave their flock to go and look at the wolves； which crouch down； and； if the antelope is frightened at first； repeat the same manoevre； and sometimes relieve each other； till they decoy it from the party； when they seize it。 But； generally； the wolves take them as they are crossing the rivers； for； although swift on foot； they are not good swimmers。〃
Later wayfarers across the plains were wont to beguile the antelope by fastening a bright…colored handkerchief to a ramrod stuck in the ground。 The patient hunter was certain to be rewarded by the antelope coming within range of his rifle； for； unless scared off by some interference； the herd； after galloping around and around and much zigzagging； would certainly seek to gratify their curiosity by gradually circling nearer and nearer the strange object until a deadly shot or two sent havoc into their ranks。
May came on cold and windy； and on the second of the month； the journal records that snow fell to the depth of an inch； contrasting strangely with the advanced vegetation。
〃Our game to…day；〃 proceeds the journal； 〃were deer； elk； and buffalo： we also procured three beaver。 They were here quite gentle； as they have not been hunted； but when the hunters are in pursuit； they never leave their huts during the day。 This animal we esteem a great delicacy； particularly the tail； which； when boiled； resembles in flavor the fresh tongues and sounds of the codfish； and is generally so large as to afford a plentiful meal for two men。 One of the hunters； in passing near an old Indian camp； found several yards of scarlet cloth suspended on the bough of a tree； as a sacrifice to the deity； by the Assiniboins； the custom of making these offerings being common among that people； as； indeed； among all the Indians on the Missouri。 The air was sharp this evening； the water froze on the oars as we rowed。〃
The Assiniboin custom of sacrificing to their deity； or 〃great medicine；〃 the article which they most value themselves； is not by any means peculiar to that tribe； nor to the Indian race。
An unusual number of porcupines were seen along here； and these creatures were so free from wildness that they fed on； undisturbed； while the explorers walked around and among them。 The captains named a bold and beautiful stream； which here entered the Missouri from the north；Porcupine River； but modern geography calls the water…course Poplar River； at the mouth of the river； in Montana； is now the Poplar River Indian Agency and military post。 The waters of this stream； the explorers found； were clear and transparent； an exception to all the streams； which； discharging into the Missouri； give it its name of the Big Muddy。 The journal adds：
〃A quarter of a mile beyond this river a creek falls in on the south； to which； on account of its distance from the mouth of the Missouri； we gave the name of Two…thousand…mile creek。 It is a bold stream with a bed thirty yards wide。 At three and one…half miles above Porcupine River； we reached some high timber on the north； and camped just above an old channel of the river； which is now dry。 We saw vast quantities of buffalo； elk； deer；principally of the long…tailed kind； antelope； beaver； geese； ducks； brant； and some swan。 The porcupines too are numerous； and so careless and clumsy that we can approach very near without disturbing them； as they are feeding on the young willows。 Toward evening we also found for the first time the nest of a goose among some driftwood； all that we had hitherto seen being on the top of a broken tree on the forks； invariably from fifteen to twenty or more feet in height。〃
〃Next day；〃 May 4； says the journal； 〃we passed some old Indian hunting…camps； one of which consisted of two large lodges； fortified with a circular fence twenty or thirty feet in diameter； made of timber laid horizontally； the beams overlying each other to the height of five feet； and covered with the trunks and limbs of trees that have drifted down the river。 The lodges themselves are formed by three or more strong sticks about the size of a man's leg or arm and twelve feet long； which are attached at the top by a withe of small willows； and spread out so as to form at the base a circle of ten to fourteen feet in diameter。 Against these are placed pieces of driftwood and fallen timber； usually in three ranges； one on the other； the interstices are covered with leaves； bark； and straw； so as to form a conical figure about ten feet high； with a small aperture in one side for the door。 It is； however； at best a very imperfect shelter against the inclemencies of the seasons。〃
Wolves were very abundant along the route of the explorers； the most numerous species being the common kind； now known as the coyote （pronounced kyote）； and named by science the canis latrans。 These animals are cowardly and sly creatures； of an intermediate size between the fox and dog； very delicately formed； fleet and active。
〃The ears are large； erect； and pointed； the head is long and pointed； like that of the fox； the tail long and bushy； the hair and fur are of a pale reddish…brown color； though much coarser than that of the fox； the eye is of a deep sea…green color； small and piercing； the talons are rather longer than those of the wolf of the Atlantic States； which animal； as far as we can perceive； is not to be found on this side of the Platte。 These wolves usually associate in bands of ten or twelve； and are rarely； if ever； seen alone； not being able； singly； to attack a deer or antelope。 They live and rear their young in burrows； which they fix near some pass or spot much frequented by game； and sally out in a body against any animal which they think they can overpower； but on the slightest alarm retreat to their burrows； making a noise exactly like that of a small dog。
〃A second species is lower； shorter in the legs； and thicker than the Atlantic wolf； the color； which is not affected by the seasons； is of every variety of shade； from a gray or blackish…brown to a cream…colored white。 They do not burrow； nor do they bark； but howl； they frequent the woods and plains； and skulk along the skirts of the buffalo herds； in order to attack the weary or wounded。〃
Under date of May 5； the journal has an interesting story of an encounter with a grizzly bear； which； by way of variety； is here called 〃brown；〃 instead of 〃white。〃 It is noticeable that the explorers dwelt with much minuteness upon the peculiar characteristics of the grizzly； this is natural enough when we consider that they were the first white men to form an intimate acquaintance with 〃Ursus horribilis。〃 The account says：
〃Captain Clark and one of the hunters met； this evening； the largest brown bear we have seen。 As they fired he did not attempt to attack； but fled with a most tremendous roar； and such was his extraordinary tenacity of life； that； although he had five balls passed throu
