the last of the plainsmen-第1章

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！





The　Last　of　the　Plainsmen

by　Zane　Grey





PREFATORY　NOTE

Buffalo　Jones　needs　no　introduction　to　American　sportsmen；　but　to　these　of　my　readers　who　are　unacquainted　with　him　a　few　words　may　not　be　amiss。

He　was　born　sixty…two　years　ago　on　the　Illinois　prairie；　and　he　has　devoted　practically　all　of　his　life　to　the　pursuit　of　wild　animals。　It　has　been　a　pursuit　which　owed　its　unflagging　energy　and　indomitable　purpose　to　a　singular　passion；　almost　an　obsession；　to　capture　alive；　not　to　kill。　He　has　caught　and　broken　the　will　of　every　well…known　wild　beast　native　to　western　North　America。　Killing　was　repulsive　to　him。　He　even　disliked　the　sight　of　a　sporting　rifle；　though　for　years　necessity　compelled　him　to　earn　his　livelihood　by　supplying　the　meat　of　buffalo　to　the　caravans　crossing　the　plains。　At　last；　seeing　that　the　extinction　of　the　noble　beasts　was　inevitable；　he　smashed　his　rifle　over　a　wagon　wheel　and　vowed　to　save　the　species。　For　ten　years　he　labored；　pursuing；　capturing　and　taming　buffalo；　for　which　the　West　gave　him　fame；　and　the　name　Preserver　of　the　American　Bison。

As　civilization　encroached　upon　the　plains　Buffalo　Jones　ranged　slowly　westward；　and　to…day　an　isolated　desert…bound　plateau　on　the　north　rim　of　the　Grand　Canyon　of　Arizona　is　his　home。　There　his　buffalo　browse　with　the　mustang　and　deer；　and　are　as　free　as　ever　they　were　on　the　rolling　plains。

In　the　spring　of　1907　I　was　the　fortunate　companion　of　the　old　plainsman　on　a　trip　across　the　desert；　and　a　hunt　in　that　wonderful　country　of　yellow　crags；　deep　canyons　and　giant　pines。　I　want　to　tell　about　it。　I　want　to　show　the　color　and　beauty　of　those　painted　cliffs　and　the　long；　brown…matted　bluebell…dotted　aisles　in　the　grand　forests；　I　want　to　give　a　suggestion　of　the　tang　of　the　dry；　cool　air；　and　particularly　I　want　to　throw　a　little　light　upon　the　life　and　nature　of　that　strange　character　and　remarkable　man；　Buffalo　Jones。

Happily　in　remembrance　a　writer　can　live　over　his　experiences；　and　see　once　more　the　moonblanched　silver　mountain　peaks　against　the　dark　blue　sky；　hear　the　lonely　sough　of　the　night　wind　through　the　pines；　feel　the　dance　of　wild　expectation　in　the　quivering　pulse；　the　stir；　the　thrill；　the　joy　of　hard　action　in　perilous　moments；　the　mystery　of　man's　yearning　for　the　unattainable。

As　a　boy　I　read　of　Boone　with　a　throbbing　heart；　and　the　silent　moccasined；　vengeful　Wetzel　I　loved。

I　pored　over　the　deeds　of　later　menCuster　and　Carson；　those　heroes　of　the　plains。　And　as　a　man　I　came　to　see　the　wonder；　the　tragedy　of　their　lives；　and　to　write　about　them。　It　has　been　my　destinywhat　a　happy　fulfillment　of　my　dreams　of　border　spirit！to　live　for　a　while　in　the　fast…fading　wild　environment　which　produced　these　great　men　with　the　last　of　the　great　plainsmen。

ZANE　GREY。



CONTENTS


1。　　THE　ARIZONA　DESERT　2　　　THE　RANGE　3。　　THE　LAST　HERD　4。　　THE　TRAIL　5。　　OAK　SPRING　6。　　THE　WHITE　MUSTANG　7。　　SNAKE　GULCH　8。　　NAZA！　NAZA！　NAZA！　9。　　THE　LAND　OF　THE　MUSK…OX　10。　SUCCESS　AND　FAILURE　11。　ON　TO　THE　SIWASH　12。　OLD　TOM　13。　SINGING　CLIFFS　14。　ALL　HEROES　BUT　ONE　15。　JONES　ON　COUGARS　16。　KITTY　17。　CONCLUSION




CHAPTER　1。　THE　ARIZONA　DESERT

One　afternoon；　far　out　on　the　sun…baked　waste　of　sage；　we　made　camp　near　a　clump　of　withered　pinyon　trees。　The　cold　desert　wind　came　down　upon　us　with　the　sudden　darkness。　Even　the　Mormons；　who　were　finding　the　trail　for　us　across　the　drifting　sands；　forgot　to　sing　and　pray　at　sundown。　We　huddled　round　the　campfire；　a　tired　and　silent　little　group。　When　out　of　the　lonely；　melancholy　night　some　wandering　Navajos　stole　like　shadows　to　our　fire；　we　hailed　their　advent　with　delight。　They　were　good…natured　Indians；　willing　to　barter　a　blanket　or　bracelet；　and　one　of　them；　a　tall；　gaunt　fellow；　with　the　bearing　of　a　chief；　could　speak　a　little　English。

〃How；〃　said　he；　in　a　deep　chest　voice。

〃Hello；　Noddlecoddy；〃　greeted　Jim　Emmett；　the　Mormon　guide。

〃Ugh！〃　answered　the　Indian。

〃Big　palefaceBuffalo　Jones…big　chiefbuffalo　man；〃　introduced　Emmett；　indicating　Jones。

〃How。〃　The　Navajo　spoke　with　dignity；　and　extended　a　friendly　hand。

〃Jones　big　white　chiefrope　buffalotie　up　tight；〃　continued　Emmett；　making　motions　with　his　arm；　as　if　he　were　whirling　a　lasso。

〃No　bigheap　small　buffalo；〃　said　the　Indian；　holding　his　hand　level　with　his　knee；　and　smiling　broadly。

Jones；　erect；　rugged；　brawny；　stood　in　the　full　light　of　the　campfire。　He　had　a　dark；　bronzed；　inscrutable　face；　a　stern　mouth　and　square　jaw；　keen　eyes；　half…closed　from　years　of　searching　the　wide　plains；　and　deep　furrows　wrinkling　his　cheeks。　A　strange　stillness　enfolded　his　feature　the　tranquility　earned　from　a　long　life　of　adventure。

He　held　up　both　muscular　hands　to　the　Navajo；　and　spread　out　his　fingers。

〃Rope　buffaloheap　big　buffaloheap　manyone　sun。〃

The　Indian　straightened　up；　but　kept　his　friendly　smile。

〃Me　big　chief；〃　went　on　Jones；　〃me　go　far　northLand　of　Little　SticksNaza！　Naza！　rope　musk…ox；　rope　White　Manitou　of　Great　Slave　Naza！　Naza！〃

〃Naza！〃　replied　the　Navajo；　pointing　to　the　North　Star；　〃nono。〃

〃Yes　me　big　palefaceme　come　long　way　toward　setting　sungo　cross　Big　Watergo　BuckskinSiwashchase　cougar。〃

The　cougar；　or　mountain　lion；　is　a　Navajo　god　and　the　Navajos　hold　him　in　as　much　fear　and　reverence　as　do　the　Great　Slave　Indians　the　musk…ox。

〃No　kill　cougar；〃　continued　Jones；　as　the　Indian's　bold　features　hardened。　〃Run　cougar　horsebackrun　long　waydogs　chase　cougar　long　timechase　cougar　up　tree！　Me　big　chiefme　climb　treeclimb　high　uplasso　cougarrope　cougartie　cougar　all　tight。〃

The　Navajo's　solemn　face　relaxed

〃White　man　heap　fun。　No。〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　Jones；　extending　his　great　arms。　〃Me　strong；　me　rope　cougarme　tie　cougar；　ride　off　wigwam；　keep　cougar　alive。〃

〃No；〃　replied　the　savage　vehemently。

〃Yes；〃　protested　Jones；　nodding　earnestly。

〃No；〃　answered　the　Navajo；　louder；　raising　his　dark　head。

〃Yes！〃　shouted　Jones。

〃BIG　LIE！〃　the　Indian　thundered。

Jones　joined　good…naturedly　in　the　laugh　at　his　expense。　The　Indian　had　crudely　voiced　a　skepticism　I　had　heard　more　delicately　hinted　in　New　York；　and　singularly　enough；　which　had　strengthened　on　our　way　West；　as　we　met　ranchers；　prospectors　and　cowboys。　But　those　few　men　I　had　fortunately　met；　who　really　knew　Jones；　more　than　overbalanced　the　doubt　and　ridicule　cast　upon　him。　I　recalled　a　scarred　old　veteran　of　the　plains；　who　had　talked　to　me　in　true　Western　bluntness：

〃Say；　young　feller；　I　heerd　yer　couldn't　git　acrost　the　Canyon　fer　the　deep　snow　on　the　north　rim。　Wal；　ye're　lucky。　Now；　yer　hit　the　trail　fer　New　York；　an'　keep　goint！　Don't　ever　tackle　the　desert；　'specially　with　them　Mormons。　They've　got　water　on　the　brain；　wusser　'n　religion。　It's　two　hundred　an'　fifty　miles　from　Flagstaff　to　Jones　range；　an'　only　two　drinks　on　the　trail。　I　know　this　hyar　Buffalo　Jones。　I　knowed　him　way　back　in　the　seventies；　when　he　was　doin'　them　ropin'　stunts　thet　made　him　famous　as　the　preserver　of　the　American　bison。　I　know　about　that　crazy　trip　of　his'n　to　the　Barren　Lands；　after　musk…ox。　An'　I　reckon　I　kin　guess　what　he'll　do　over　there　in　the　Siwash。　He'll　rope　cougarssure　he　willan'　watch　'em　jump。　Jones　would　rope　the　devil；　an'　tie　him　down　if　the　lasso　didn't　burn。　Oh！　he's　hell　on　ropin'　things。　An'　he's　wusser　'n　hell　on　men；　an'　hosses；　an'　dogs。〃

All　that　my　well…meaning　friend　suggested　made　me；　of　course；　only　the　more　eager　to　go　with　Jones。　Where　I　had　once　been　interested　in　the　old　buffalo　hunter；　I　was　now　fascinated。　And　now　I　was　with　him　in　the　desert　and　seeing　him　as　he　was；　a　simple；　quiet　man；　who　fitted　the　mountains　and　the　silences；　and　the　long　reaches　of　distance。

〃It　does　seem　hard　to　believeall　this　about　Jones；〃　remarked　Judd；　one　of　Emmett's　men。

〃How　could　a　man　have　the　strength　and　the　nerve？　And　isn't　it　cruel　to　keep　wild　animals　in　captivity？　it　against　God's　word？〃

Quick　as　speech　could　flow；　Jones　quoted：　〃And　God　said；　'Let　us　make　man　in　our　image；　and　give　him　dominion　over　the　fish　of　the　sea；　the　fowls　of　the　air；　over　all　the　cattle；　and　over　every　creeping　thing　that　creepeth　upon　the　earth'！〃

〃Dominionover　all　the　beasts　of　the　field！〃　repeated　Jones；　his　big　voice　rolling　out。　He　clenched　his　huge　fists；　and　spread　wide　his　long　arms。　〃Dominion！　That　was　God's　word！〃　The　power　and　intensity　of　him　could　be　felt。　Then　he　relaxed；　dropped　his　arms；　and　once　more　grew　calm。　But　he　had　shown　a　glimpse　of　the　great；　strange　and　absorbing　passion　of　his　life。　Once　he　had　told　me　how；　when　a　mere　child；　he　had　hazarded　limb　and　neck　to　capture　a　fox　squirrel；　how　he　had　held　on　to　the　vicious　little　animal；　though　it　bit　his　hand　through；　how　he　had　never　learned　to　play　the　games　of　boyhood；　that　when　the　youths　of　the　little　Illinois　village　were　at　play；　he　roamed　the　prairies；　or　the　rolling；　wooded　hills；　or　watched　a　gopher　hole。　That　boy　was　father　of　the　man：　for　sixty　years　an　enduring　passion　for　dominion　over　wild　animals　had　possessed　him；　and　made　his　life　an　endless　pursuit。

Our　guests；　the　Navajos；　departed　early；　and　vanished　silently　in　the　gloom　of　the　desert。　We　settled　down　again　into　a　quiet　that　was　broken　only　by　the　low　chant…like　song　of　a　praying　Mormon。　Suddenly　the　hounds　bristled；　and　old　Moze；　a　surly　and　aggressive　dog；　rose　and　barked　at　some　real　or　imaginary　desert　prowler。　A　sharp　command　from　Jones　made　Moze　crouch　down；　and　the　other　hounds　cowered　close　together。

〃Better　tie　up　the　dogs；〃　suggested　Jones。　〃Like　as　not　coyotes　run　down　here　from　the　hills。〃

The　hounds　were　my　especial　delight。　But　Jones　regarded　them　with　considerable　contempt。　When　all　was　said；　this　was　no　small　wonder；　for　that　quintet　of　long…eared　canines　would　have　tried　the　patience　of　a　saint。　Old　Moze　was　a　Missouri　hound　that　Jones　had　procured　in　that　State　of　uncertain　qualities；　and　the　dog　had　grown　old　over　coon…trails。　He　was　black　and　white；　grizzled　and　battlescarred；　and　if　ever　a　dog　had　an　evil　eye；　Moze　was　that　dog。　He　had　a　way　of　wagging　his　tailan　indeterminate；　equivocal　sort　of　wag；　as　if　he　realized　his　ugliness　and　knew　he　stood　little　chance　of　making　friends；　but　was　still　hopeful　and　willing。　As　for　me；　the　first　time　he　manifested　this　evidence　of　a　good　heart　under　a　rough　coat；　he　won　me　forever。

To　tell　of　Moze's　derelictions　up　to　that　time　would　take　more　space　than　would　a　history　of　the　whole　trip；　but　the　enumeration　of　several　incidents　will　at　once　stamp　him　as　a　dog　of　character；　and　will　establish　the　fact　that　even　if　his　progenitors　had　never　taken　any　blue　ribbons；　they　had　at　least　bequeathed　him　fighting　blood。　At　Flagstaff　we　chained　him　in　the　yard　of　a　livery　stable。　Next　morning　we　found　him　hanging　by　his　chain　on　the　other　side　of　an　eight…foot　fence。　We　took　him　down；　expecting　to　have　the　sorrowful　duty　of　burying　him；　but　Moze　shook　himself；　wagged　his　tail　and　then　pitched　into　the　livery　stable　dog。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　fighting　was　his　forte。　He　whipped　all　of　the　dogs　in　Flagstaff；　and　when　our　blood　hounds　came　on　from　California；　he　put　three　of　them　hors　de　combat　at　once；　and　subdued　the　pup　with　a　savage　growl。　His　crowning　feat；　however；　made　even　the　stoical　Jones　open　his