indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第21节
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nor coat； although a piercing wind was blowing from the northwest。 The
youthful Two Strike had his favorite bow and his swift pony； which was
perhaps dearer to him than his closest boy comrade。
Now the hunters crouched upon their horses' necks like an army in line
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of battle； while behind them waited the boys and old men with pack ponies
to carry the meat。 〃Hukahey！〃 shouted the leader as a warning。
〃Yekiya wo！〃 （Go） and in an instant all the ponies leaped forward against
the cutting wind； as if it were the start in a horse race。 Every rider leaned
forward； tightly wrapped in his robe； watching the flying herd for an
opening in the mass of buffalo； a chance to cut out some of the fattest
cows。 This was the object of the race。
The chief had a fair start； his horse was well trained and needed no
urging nor guidance。 Without the slightest pull on the lariat he dashed
into the thickest of the herd。 The youth's pony had been prancing and
rearing impatiently； he started a little behind； yet being swift passed many。
His rider had one clear glimpse of his father ahead of him； then the snow
arose in blinding clouds on the trail of the bison。 The whoops of the
hunters； the lowing of the cows； and the menacing glances of the bulls as
they plunged along； or now and then stood at bay； were enough to unnerve
a boy less well tried。 He was unable to select his victim。 He had been
carried deeply into the midst of the herd and found himself helpless to
make the one sure shot； therefore he held his one arrow in his mouth and
merely strove to separate them so as to get his chance。
At last the herd parted； and he cut out two fat cows； and was
maneuvering for position when a rider appeared out of the snow cloud on
their other side。 This aroused him to make haste lest his rival secure both
cows； he saw his chance； and in a twinkling his arrow sped clear through
one of the animals so that she fell headlong。
In this instant he observed that the man who had joined him was his
own father； who had met with the same difficulties as himself。 When the
young man had shot his only arrow； the old chief with a whoop went after
the cow that was left； but as he gained her broadside； his horse stepped in
a badger hole and fell； throwing him headlong。 The maddened buffalo；
as sometimes happens in such cases； turned upon the pony and gored him
to death。 His rider lay motionless； while Two Strike rushed forward to
draw her attention； but she merely tossed her head at him； while
persistently standing guard over the dead horse and the all but frozen
Indian。
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Alas for the game of 〃one arrow to kill！〃 The boy must think fast； for
his father's robe had slipped off； and he was playing dead； lying almost
naked in the bitter air upon the trampled snow。 His bluff would not serve；
so he flew back to pull out his solitary arrow from the body of the dead
cow。 Quickly wheeling again； he sent it into her side and she fell。 The
one arrow to kill had become one arrow to kill two buffalo！ At the
council lodge that evening Two Strike was the hero。
The following story is equally characteristic of him； and in explanation
it should be said that in the good old days among the Sioux； a young man
is not supposed to associate with girls until he is ready to take a wife。 It
was a rule with our young men； especially the honorable and well…born； to
gain some reputation in the hunt and in war； the more difficult the feats
achieved the better； before even speaking to a young woman。 Many a
life was risked in the effort to establish a reputation along these lines。
Courtship was no secret； but rather a social event； often celebrated by the
proud parents with feasts and presents to the poor； and this etiquette was
sometimes felt by a shy or sensitive youth as an insurmountable obstacle
to the fulfilment of his desires。
Two Strike was the son and grandson of a chief； but he could not claim
any credit for the deeds of his forbears。 He had not only to guard their
good name but achieve one for himself。 This he had set out to do； and he
did well。 He was now of marriageable age with a war record； and
admitted to the council； yet he did not seem to trouble himself at all about
a wife。 His was strictly a bachelor career。 Meanwhile； as is apt to be
the case； his parents had thought much about a possible daughter…in…law；
and had even collected ponies； fine robes； and other acceptable goods to
be given away in honor of the event； whenever it should take place。
Now and then they would drop a sly hint； but with no perceptible effect。
They did not and could not know of the inward struggle that racked his
mind at this period of his life。 The shy and modest young man was dying
for a wife； yet could not bear even to think of speaking to a young woman！
The fearless hunter of buffaloes； mountain lions； and grizzlies； the youth
who had won his eagle feathers in a battle with the Utes； could not bring
himself to take this tremendous step。
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At last his father appealed to him directly。 〃My son；〃 he declared； 〃it
is your duty to take unto yourself a wife； in order that the honors won by
your ancestors and by yourself may be handed down in the direct line。
There are several eligible young women in our band whose parents have
intimated a wish to have you for their son…in…law。〃
Two Strike made no reply； but he was greatly disturbed。 He had no
wish to have the old folks select his bride； for if the truth were told； his
choice was already made。 He had simply lacked the courage to go a…
courting！
The next morning； after making an unusually careful toilet； he took his
best horse and rode to a point overlooking the path by which the girls went
for water。 Here the young men were wont to take their stand； and； if
fortunate； intercept the girl of their heart for a brief but fateful interview。
Two Strike had determined to speak straight to the point； and as soon as he
saw the pretty maid he came forward boldly and placed himself in her way。
A long moment passed。 She glanced up at him shyly but not without
encouragement。 His teeth fairly chattered with fright； and he could not
say a word。 She looked again； noted his strange looks； and believed him
suddenly taken ill。 He appeared to be suffering。 At last he feebly made
signs for her to go on and leave him alone。 The maiden was sympathetic；
but as she did not know what else to do she obeyed his request。
The poor youth was so ashamed of his cowardice that he afterward
admitted his first thought was to take his own life。 He believed he had
disgraced himself forever in the eyes of the only girl he had ever loved。
However； he determined to conquer his weakness and win her； which he
did。 The story came out many years after and was told with much
enjoyment by the old men。
Two Strike was better known by his own people than by the whites； for
he was individually a terror in battle rather than a leader。 He achieved
his honorable name in a skirmish with the Utes in Colorado。 The Sioux
regarded these people as their bravest enemies； and the outcome of the
fight was for some time uncertain。 First the Sioux were forced to retreat
and then their opponents； and at the latter point the horse of a certain Ute
was shot under him。 A friend came to his rescue and took him up behind
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him。 Our hero overtook them in flight； raised his war club； and knocked
both men off
