Read Ebook: Lukís Láras: Kertomus Kreikan vapaussodan ajoilta by Vikelas Demetrios Forsman Kaarlo Translator

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 600 lines and 31180 words, and 12 pages

The Hunters' Feast, by Captain Mayne Reid.

Reid himself is something of a naturalist, as we can learn from his many other books. We are given these tales just as they are told, in good English if told by an educated man, and in the dialect of the less educated ones. This latter arrangement makes the checking of the OCR transcriptions a little difficult, but never mind.

What people may find a little tedious is Reid's habit of giving the naturalists' Latin names for the various animals and plants described.

A HUNTING PARTY.

Saint Louis is one of those American cities in the history of which there is something of peculiar interest. It is one of the oldest of North-American settlements, having been a French trading port at an early period.

To the traveller, Saint Louis is a place of peculiar interest. He will hear around him the language of every nation in the civilised world. He will behold faces of every hue and variety of expression. He will meet with men of every possible calling.

All this is peculiarly true in the latter part of the summer season. Then the motley population of New Orleans fly from the annual scourge of the yellow fever, and seek safety in the cities that lie farther north. Of these, Saint Louis is a favourite "city of refuge,"--the Creole element of its population being related to that kindred race in the South, and keeping up with it this annual correspondence.

About a week was consumed in making the necessary preparations, and at the end of that time, under the sunrise of a lovely morning, a small cavalcade was seen to issue from the back suburbs of Saint Louis, and, climbing the undulating slopes in its rear, head for the far-stretching wilderness of the prairies. It was our hunting expedition.

Peeping from under the tilt of the waggon might be seen another face strongly contrasting with that of Jake. This had been originally of a reddish hue, but sun-tan, and a thick sprinkling of freckles, had changed the red to golden-yellow. A shock of fiery hair surmounted this visage, which was partially concealed under a badly-battered hat. Though the face of the black expressed good-humour, it might have been called sad when brought into comparison with that of the little red man, which peeped out beside it. Upon the latter, there was an expression irresistibly comic--the expression of an actor in broad farce. One eye was continually on the wink, while the other looked knowing enough for both. A short clay-pipe, stuck jauntily between the lips, added to the comical expression of the face, which was that of Mike Lanty from Limerick. No one ever mistook the nationality of Michael.

Who were the eight cavaliers that accompanied the waggon? Six of them were gentlemen by birth and education. At least half that number were scholars. The other two laid no claim either to gentleness or scholarship--they were rude trappers--the hunters and guides of the expedition.

A word about each one of the eight, for there was not one of them without his peculiarity. First, there was an Englishman--a genuine type of his countrymen--full six feet high, well proportioned, with broad chest and shoulders, and massive limbs. Hair of a light brown, complexion florid, moustache and whiskers full and hay-coloured, but suiting well the complexion and features. The last were regular, and if not handsome, at least good humoured and noble in their expression. The owner was in reality a nobleman--a true nobleman--one of that class who, while travelling through the "States," have the good sense to carry their umbrella along, and leave their title behind them. To us he was known as Mr Thompson, and, after some time, when we had all become familiar with each other, as plain "Thompson." It was only long after, and by accident, that I became acquainted with his rank and title; some of our companions do not know it to this day, but that is of no consequence. I mention the circumstance here to aid me in illustrating the character of our travelling companion, who was "close" and modest almost to a fault.

Besides the umbrella--strictly a weapon of defence--Mr Thompson carried another, a heavy double-barrelled gun, marked "Bishop, of Bond Street," no bad weapon with a loading of buck-shot, and with this both barrels were habitually loaded.

So much for Mr Thompson, who may pass for Number 1 of the hunting party. He was mounted on a strong bay cob, with tail cut short, and English saddle, both of which objects--the short tail and the saddle-- were curiosities to all of the party except Mr Thompson and myself.

Number 2 was as unlike Number 1 as two animals of the same species could possibly be. He was a Kentuckian, full six inches taller than Thompson, or indeed than any of the party. His features were marked, prominent and irregular, and this irregularity was increased by a "cheekful" of half-chewed tobacco. His complexion was dark, almost olive, and the face quite naked, without either moustache or whisker; but long straight hair, black as an Indian's, hung down to his shoulders. In fact, there was a good deal of the Indian look about him, except in his figure. That was somewhat slouched, with arms and limbs of over-length, loosely hung about it. Both, however, though not modelled after the Apollo, were evidently full of muscle and tough strength, and looked as though their owner could return the hug of a bear with interest. There was a gravity in his look, but that was not from any gravity of spirits; it was his swarth complexion that gave him this appearance, aided, no doubt, by several lines of "ambeer" proceeding from the corners of his mouth in the direction of the chin. So far from being grave, this dark Kentuckian was as gay and buoyant as any of the party. Indeed, a light and boyish spirit is a characteristic of the Kentuckian as well as of all the natives of the Mississippi Valley--at least such has been my observation.

Our Kentuckian was costumed just as he would have been upon a cool morning riding about the "woodland" of his own plantation, for a "planter" he was. He wore a "Jeans" frock, and over that a long-tailed overcoat of the best green blanket, with side pockets and flaps. His jeans pantaloons were stuck into a pair of heavy horse-leather pegged boots, sometimes known as "nigger" boots; but over these were "wrappers" of green baize, fastened with a string above the knees. His hat was a "broad-brimmed felt," costly enough, but somewhat crushed by being sat upon and slept in. He bestrode a tall raw-boned stood that possessed many of the characteristics of the rider; and in the same proportion that the latter overtopped his companions, so did the steed out-size all the other horses of the cavalcade. Over the shoulders of the Kentuckian were suspended, by several straps, pouch, horn, and haversack, and resting upon his toe was the butt of a heavy rifle, the muzzle of which reached to a level with his shoulder.

He was a rich Kentucky planter, and known in his native state as a great deer-hunter. Some business or pleasure had brought him to Saint Louis. It was hinted that Kentucky was becoming too thickly settled for him-- deer becoming scarce, and bear hardly to be found--and that his visit to Saint Louis had something to do with seeking a new "location" where these animals were still to be met with in greater plenty. The idea of buffalo-hunting was just to his liking. The expedition would carry him through the frontier country, where he might afterwards choose his "location"--at all events the sport would repay him, and he was one of the most enthusiastic in regard to it.

He that looms up on the retrospect of my memory as Number 3 was as unlike the Kentuckian, as the latter was to Thompson. He was a disciple of Esculapius--not thin and pale, as these usually are, but fat, red, and jolly. I think he was originally a "Yankee," though his long residence in the Western States had rubbed the Yankee out of him to a great extent. At all events he had few of their characteristics about him. He was neither staid, sober, nor, what is usually alleged as a trait of the true bred Yankee, "stingy." On the contrary, our doctor was full of talk and joviality--generous to a fault. A fault, indeed; for, although many years in practice in various parts of the United States, and having earned large sums of money, at the date of our expedition we found him in Saint Louis almost without a dollar, and with no great stock of patients. The truth must be told; the doctor was of a restless disposition, and liked his glass too well. He was a singer too, a fine amateur singer, with a voice equal to Mario's. That may partly account for his failure in securing a fortune. He was a favourite with all--ladies included--and so fond of good company, that he preferred the edge of the jovial board to the bed-side of a patient.

Not from any fondness for buffalo-hunting, but rather through an attachment to some of the company, had the doctor volunteered. Indeed, he was solicited by all to make one of us--partly on account of his excellent society, and partly that his professional services might be called into requisition before our return.

The doctor still preserved his professional costume of black--somewhat russet by long wear--but this was modified by a close-fitting fur cap, and wrappers of brown cloth, which he wore around his short thick legs. He was not over-well mounted--a very spare little horse was all he had, as his funds would not stretch to a better. It was quite a quiet one, however, and carried the doctor and his "medical saddle-bags" steadily enough, though not without a good deal of spurring and whipping. The doctor's name was "Jopper"--Dr John Jopper.

A very elegant youth, with fine features, rolling black eyes, and luxuriant curled hair, was one of us. The hands were well formed and delicate; the complexion silky, and of nearly an olive tint; but the purplish-red broke through upon his cheeks, giving the earnest of health, as well as adding to the picturesque beauty of his face. The form was perfect, and full of manly expression, and the pretty sky-blue plaited pantaloons and close-fitting jacket of the same material, sat gracefully on his well-turned limbs and arms. These garments were of "cottonade," that beautiful and durable fabric peculiar to Louisiana, and so well suited to the southern climate. A costly Panama hat cast its shadow over the wavy curls and pictured cheek of this youth, and a cloak of fine broad cloth, with velvet facings, hung loosely from his shoulders. A slight moustache and imperial lent a manlier expression to his chiselled features.

Of course the expedition was to him a delightful anticipation. It would afford the finest opportunity for prosecuting his favourite study in a new field; one as yet almost unvisited by the scientific traveller. The young Creole was known as Jules Besancon.

Both these men were dressed in leather from head to foot, yet they were very differently dressed. Redwood wore the usual buckskin hunting-shirt, leggings, and moccasins, but all of full proportions and well cut, while his large 'coon-skin cap, with the plume-like tail, had an imposing appearance. Bradley's garments, on the contrary, were tight-fitting and "skimped." His hunting-shirt was without cape, and adhered so closely to his body that it appeared only an outer skin of the man himself. His leggings were pinched and tight. Shirt, leggings, and moccasins were evidently of the oldest kind, and as dirty as a cobbler's apron. A close-fitting otter cap, with a Mackinaw blanket, completed the wardrobe of Isaac Bradley. He was equipped with a pouch of greasy leather hanging by an old black strap, a small buffalo-horn suspended by a thong, and a belt of buffalo-leather, in which was stuck a strong blade, with its handle of buckhorn. His rifle was of the "tallest" kind--being full six feet in height--in fact, taller than he was, and at least four fifths of the weapon consisted of barrel. The straight narrow stock was a piece of manufacture that had proceeded from the hands of the trapper himself.

Redwood's rifle was also a long one, but of more modern build and fashion, and his equipments--pouch, powder-horn and belt--were of a more tasty design and finish.

Such were our guides, Redwood and Bradley. They were no imaginary characters these. Mark Redwood was a celebrated "mountain-man" at that time, and Isaac Bradley will be recognised by many when I give him the name and title by which he was then known,--viz. "Old Ike, the wolf-killer."

Redwood rode a strong horse of the half-hunter breed, while the "wolf-killer" was mounted upon one of the scraggiest looking quadrupeds it would be possible to imagine--an old mare "mustang."

THE CAMP AND CAMP-FIRE.

Our route was west by south. The nearest point with which we expected to fall in with the buffalo was two hundred miles distant. We might travel three hundred without seeing one, and even much farther at the present day; but a report had reached Saint Louis that the buffalo had been seen that year upon the Osage River, west of the Ozark Hills, and towards that point we steered our course. We expected in about twenty days to fall in with the game. Fancy a cavalcade of hunters making a journey of twenty days to get upon the field! The reader will, no doubt, say we were in earnest.

At the time of which I am writing, a single day's journey from Saint Louis carried the traveller clear of civilised life. There were settlements beyond; but these were sparse and isolated--a few small towns or plantations upon the main watercourses--and the whole country between them was an uninhabited wilderness. We had no hope of being sheltered by a roof until our return to the mound city itself, but we had provided ourselves with a couple of tents, part of the freight of our waggon.

There are but few parts of the American wilderness where the traveller can depend upon wild game for a subsistence. Even the skilled hunter when stationary is sometimes put to his wits' end for "daily bread." Upon the "route" no great opportunity is found of killing game, which always requires time to approach it with caution. Although we passed through what appeared to be excellent cover for various species of wild animals, we reached our first camp without having ruffled either hair or feathers. In fact, neither bird nor quadruped had been seen, although almost every one of the party had been on the look out for game during most of the journey.

This was rather discouraging, and we reasoned that if such was to be our luck until we got into the buffalo-range we should have a very dull time of it. We were well provisioned, however, and we regretted the absence of game only on account of the sport. A large bag of biscuit, and one of flour, several pieces of "hung bacon," some dry ox-tongues, a stock of green coffee, sugar, and salt, were the principal and necessary stores. There were "luxuries," too, which each had provided according to his fancy, though not much of these, as every one of the party had had some time or other in his life a little experience in the way of "roughing it." Most of the loading of the waggon consisted of provender for our horses and mules.

We made full thirty miles on the first day. Our road was a good one. We passed over easy undulations, most of them covered with "black-jack." This is a species of dwarf oak, so called from the very dark colour of its wrinkled bark. It is almost worthless as a timber, being too small for most purposes. It is ornamental, however, forming copse-like groves upon the swells of the prairie, while its dark green foliage contrasts pleasantly with the lighter green of the grasses beneath its shade. The young botanist, Besancon, had least cause to complain. His time had been sufficiently pleasant during the day. New foliage fell under his observation--new flowers opened their corollas to his delighted gaze. He was aided in making his collections by the hunter-naturalist, who of course was tolerably well versed in this kindred science.

We encamped by the edge of a small creek of clear water. Our camp was laid out in due form, and everything arranged in the order we designed habitually to follow.

Our horses and mules were picketed on a piece of open ground, each having his "trail-rope," which allowed a circuit of several yards. The two tents were pitched side by side, facing the stream, and the waggon drawn up some twenty feet in the rear. In the triangle between the waggon and the tents was kindled a large fire, upon each side of which two stakes, forked at the top, were driven into the ground. A long sapling resting in the forks traversed the blaze from side to side. This was Lanty's "crane,"--the fire was his kitchen.

Supper is getting ready, and Lanty is decidedly at this time the most important personage on the ground. He is stooping over the fire, with a small but long-handled frying-pan, in which he is parching the coffee. It is already browned, and Lanty stirs it about with an iron spoon. The crane carries the large coffee-kettle of sheet iron, full of water upon the boil; and a second frying-pan, larger than the first, is filled with sliced ham, ready to be placed upon the hot cinders.

Our English friend Thompson is seated upon a log, with the hat-box before him. It is open, and he has drawn out from it his stock of combs and brushes. He has already made his ablutions, and is now giving the finish to his toilet, by putting his hair, whiskers, moustache, teeth, and even his nails, in order. Your Englishman is the most comfortable traveller in the world.

The Kentuckian is differently engaged. He is upon his feet; in one hand gleams a knife with ivory handle and long shining blade. It is a "bowie," of that kind known as an "hion rantaan.

Odotin saavani n?hd?, tavallisten olojen mukaan, rannan vilisev?n ihmisi?, yst?vi? ja tuttuja seisovan laiturilla, sek? kuulla iloisia tervetulijais-sanoja ynn? pilapuheita, joita muulloin, t?mm?isiss? tiloissa, vaihdeltiin laiturin ja laivan v?lill?. Mutta laivasillan viereinen kahvila oli tyhj?, ranta autio, tori autio. Ainoastaan muutamain myym?l?in ovissa omistajat alakuloisina ja ??nett?min? katselivat meit? ep?ilev?sti ja tervehtiv?t meit? ohi astuessamme.

Tuon yleisen alakuloisuuden n?k? h?mm?stytti minua, ja v?h?lt? olin kysy? noilta myym?l?ins? edess? istuvilta kauppiailta: -- Jumalan nimess?, mik? on Chioon tullut? Mik? on h?t?n?? -- Mutta astelin is?ni per?ss? seuraten h?nen askeliansa, enk? ollut tottunut, h?nen l?sn?ollessaan, omin p?in mihink??n ryhtym??n.

Onneksi ei h?nk??n en?? voinut malttaa mielt?ns?, vaan astuen sis??n er??n vanhan tuttavansa myym?l??n, kysyi h?n t?lt?, selitt?m?tt? t??ll?-olomme syyt? mink??nlaisella esipuheella, ihan samaa seikkaa, joka py?ri minun kieleni p??ss?.

-- Kyll?h?n, yst?v?ni, palasit kotia parhaasen aikaan! T??ll? on tulossa mailman loppu!

N?m?t olivat kauppiaan ensimm?iset sanat. Mutta tuo murheellinen vastaanotto ei est?nyt h?nt? osottamasta iloansa is?ni j?lleen-n?kemisest?. H?n vaati meit? istumaan, tarjosi meille viini? juoda ja kestitess??n meit?, kertoi h?n meille mit? oli tapahtunut.

Silloin saimme tiet??, ett? se laivasto, jonka aamulla n?imme purjehtivan Samoa kohden, oli viipynyt kymmenen p?iv?? Chion rannikolla, amiraali Tombazin johdolla, yllytt??kseen saarta kapinaan. Mutta heti kun Turkkilaiset n?kiv?t kreikkalaisten laivat, olivat he kiinniottaneet arkkipiispan ja etevimm?t miehet, joita viel? pitiv?t linnassa panttivankeina. Mutta maakansa ei ollut liikahtanut, ja laivaston t?ytyi tyhjin toimin palata.

Kauppias kertoi meille asiallisesti n?iden viimeisten kymmenen p?iv?n vaiheet, ja luetteli kiinnipantujen vankien nimet, kaikki suuresti suosittuja ja arvossa pidettyj? miehi?, ja kuvaili mielenliikutuksella sit? pelj?styst?, jonka heid?n vangituksensa vaikutti koko saarella. Koska Konstantinopolissa tapahtuneet surmaty?t jo olivat tunnetut, pidettiin noiden miesten vangitusta, syyst? kyll?, kovempain k?rsimysten enteen?. Nytp? ymm?rsimme, miksi kaupunki oli niin autio ja alakuloinen. Samalla my?s ymm?rsimme, ett? Smyrna ei ollut ainoa vaarallinen olopaikka; ett?, miss? oli aseellisia Turkkilaisia, siell? oli my?s toiselta puolen petomainen julmuus, toiselta alituinen kuolonkammo.

Mit??n puhumatta astuimme kotoa kohden. Kun is?ni kolkutti sen ovea, n?in salaisen kyyneleen h?nen poskellaan. Mutta min?p? tunsin syd?mmeni hauskasti heiluvan vanhojen iloisten muistoin laineilla, ja kun Andriana, vanhan imett?j?ni orpo tyt?r, hilpe? kisakumppalini lapsuuden ajoilta, ?itini uskollinen palvelija, kun h?n avasi oven, ja, ?kkiarvaamatta n?hdess??n meid?t edess?ns?, iloissaan ja ihmetellen riensi julistamaan tulomme sanomaa, niin min? sy?ksin per??n ja, ennenkuin h?n viel? ehti huutaa, suljin toisella k?dell?ni h?nen suunsa ja toisella vedin h?nen valkoisen chiolaisen p??hineens? nipukasta, niin ett? hiuspalmikot valahtivat alas ja k?teeni j?i tuo valkoinen liina. Sill? hetkell? unhotin sek? kunnioituksen is??ni kohtaan ett? ne seitsem?n vuotta, jotka olivat kuluneet kotoa l?hdetty?ni, jopa ne surulliset olotkin, joiden ollessa nyt palasin is?ni majaan.

?itini riemu, kun h?n meid?t n?ki, vajotti varjoon h?nen kaikki muut tunteensa. Huomasin h?nen vanhentuneen, tuon ?iti kultani, siit? kuin h?net viimeiksi n?in; mutta siskoni, jotka j?tin pienin? tytt?sin?, olivat nyt hehkeit? neitosia.

Oi, mill? ilolla pitk?n poissa-olon per?st? palajaa siihen huoneesen, jossa on syntynyt, niiden luo, joita on pienest? pit?in rakastanut! Kuinka suloiset nuo ensi yhtymyksen hetket ja armaan ?idin jutut, kun h?n opastaa vastatullutta poikaansa tuttuun kammioon, vuoteen luo, jossa poika ei vuosikausiin ole nukkunut, ja nuo s??nn?tt?m?t hellyyden ilmaukset, nuo ilon kyynelet, jotka keskeytt?v?t h?nen haasteluansa, nuo hartaat syleilykset ja ?idilliset suudelmat! Onneton ?itini, kuinka paljo t?ytyi h?nen viel? k?rsi?, ennenkuin h?n i?ksi sulki silm?ns?!

Is?ni tahtoi, ett? viipym?tt? siirtyisimme maatilallemme, mutta kaupunginhallitus ei sallinut sit?. Ei mink??n varakkaamman perheen sallittu l?hte? kaupungista. Turkkilaiset tahtoivat, paitsi linnassa vartioituja, pit?? meit? kaikkia muitakin k?sill?, silm?ns? ja kalpansa likettyell?.

J?imme siis, joko tahdoimme tai olimme tahtomatta, kaupunkiin, luuletellen itse?mme ett? asiat jollakin tapaa palaisivat entiselleen. Ei kukaan silloin saattanut aavistaa, ett? taistelua niin pitk?lt? kest?isi. Me Chiolaiset -- se tulee minun tunnustaa -- emme alusta pit?en uskaltaneet suuresti toivoa lopullista onnistusta. P?invastoin. L?helt? n?imme me Turkin voiman ja mahtavuuden, joka n?ytti kahta kauheammalta, katseltuna vanhain k?sitelm?in suurennuslasilla, ja pelon meit? masentaessa. Kapina ei ollut viel? n?ytt?nyt tenhoansa ja kyky?ns? loistavilla urot?ill? maalla ja merell?.

Ja my?hemminkin, kuin helleenisten aseiden loistovoitot jo olivat alkaneet, eiv?t sanomat n?ist?k??n kyenneet haihduttamaan sit? alakuloisuutta, joka ylt'ymp?rill? kuuluvain tuhot?iden johdosta hervostutti syd?mmi?mme. Sill? jokainen kapinallisten sankarity? sai heti palkkansa, miss? vaan Turkkilaiset olivat vallalla.

Ensimm?isen turkkilaisen linjalaivan paloa seurasi Kydonian surkeus ja Smyrnan hirve?t surmat; vihollisten h?vi?t? Samon saarella kosti veriset murhakemut Kyprossa; Tripolitsan valloituksen j?lkeen tuli Kassandran h?vitys.

Ja t?ll? v?lin arkkipiispaa ja etevimpi? miehi? s?ilytettiin linnassa; linnanv?en lukum??r? karttui apujoukkojen alati lis?? tulvaillessa. Asema k?vi yh? tukalammaksi. Turkkilaiset loivat meihin tylyj? silm?yksi? ja hioivat miekkojansa, samalla kuin vastap??t?mme, V?h?n-Aasian rannikoille, kokoontui julmia joukkoja, valmiina hy?kk??m??n saareemme. Ei! ilmakeh? ymp?rill?mme ei ollut sovelijas virkist?m??n mielt?mme. P??mme kallistui maahan myrskyn puuskan alle ja uskalijaat toiveet eiv?t en?? mahtuneet syd?mmiimme.

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet