old indian days(古印第时期)-第10节
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die； for the woman had been guilty of treason to her people； and even now
she might be playing a trick upon them。 Who could say that behind that
hill there was not a Sioux war…party？
〃No； no；〃 replied others。 〃They are in our power。 Let them tell their
story！〃
Stasu told it simply； and said in conclusion：
〃This man； one of the bravest and most honorable men of his tribe；
deserted on the night of the attack； and all because he loved a Ree maiden！
He now comes to be your brother…in…law； who will fight henceforth for
you and with you； even if it be against his own people。
〃He does not beg for mercyhe can dare anything！ But I am a
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womanmy heart is softI ask for the lives of my husband and my son；
who is the grandson of your chief！〃
〃He is a coward who touches this man！〃 exclaimed the leader； and a
thunder of war… whoops went up in approval of his words。
The warriors formed themselves in two great columns； riding twenty
abreast； behind and in front of the strangers。 The old chief came out to
meet them； and took his son…in… law's hand。 Thus they entered the village
in battle array； but with hearts touched with won… der and great gladness；
discharging their ar… rows upward in clouds and singing peace…songs。
II THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE
〃It was many years ago； when I was only a child；〃 began White Ghost；
the patri… archal old chief of the Yanktonnais Sioux； 〃that our band was
engaged in a des… perate battle with the Rees and Mandans。 The cause of
the fight was a peculiar one。 I will tell you about it。〃 And he laid aside
his long… stemmed pipe and settled himself to the recital。
〃At that time the Yanktonnais numbered a little over forty families。
We were nicknamed by the other bands Shunkikcheka； or Domestic Dogs；
because of our owning large numbers of these animals。 My father was
the head chief。
〃Our favorite wintering place was a tim… bered tract near the mouth of
the Grand River； and it was here that we met the Blackfoot Sioux in the
fall hunt。 On the opposite side of the river from our camp was the
permanent village of the Rees and Mandans； whose houses were of dirt
and partly underground。 For a hun… dred years before this time they had
planted large gardens； and we were accustomed to buy of them corn； beans；
and pumpkins。 From time to time our people had made treaties of peace
with them。 Each family of the Rees had one or two buffalo boatsnot
round； as the Sioux made them； but two or three skins long。 In these
boats they brought quantities of dried beans and other vegetables to trade
with us for jerked buffalo meat。
〃It was a great gathering and a time of gen… eral festivity and
hospitality。 The Sioux young men were courting the Ree girls； and the
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Ree braves were courting our girls； while the old people bartered their
produce。 All day the river was alive with canoes and its banks rang with
the laughter of the youths and maidens。
〃My father's younger brother； whose name was Big Whip； had a close
friend； a young man who ever after the event of which I am about to tell
you was known as Bald Eagle。 They were both daring young men and
very ambitious for distinction。 They had been following the Ree girls to
their canoes as they returned to their homes in the evening。
〃Big Whip and his friend stood upon the river bank at sunset； one with
a quiver full of arrows upon his back while the other carried a gun under
his blanket。 Nearly all the peo… ple of the other village had crossed the
river； and the chief of the Rees； whose name was Bald Eagle； went home
with his wife last of all。 It was about dusk as they entered their bullhide
boat； and the two Sioux stood there looking at them。
〃Suddenly Big Whip exclaimed： 'Friend； let us kill the chief。 I dare
you to kill and scalp him！' His friend replied：
〃'It shall be as you say。 I will stand by you in all things。 I am
willing to die with you。'
〃Accordingly Bald Eagle pulled out his gun and shot the Ree dead。
From that day he took his name。 The old man fell backward into his boat；
and the old woman screamed and wept as she rowed him across the river。
The other young man shot an arrow or two at the wife； but she continued
to row until she reached the other bank。
〃There was great excitement on both sides of the river as soon as the
people saw what had happened。 There were two camps of Sioux； the
Blackfoot Sioux and the Yanktonnais； or our people。 Of course the
Mandans and Rees greatly outnumbered us； their camp must have
numbered two or three thousand； which was more than we had in our
combined camps。
〃There was a Sioux whose name was Black Shield； who had
intermarried among the Rees。 He came down to the opposite bank of the
Mis… souri and shouted to us：
〃'Of which one of your bands is the man who killed Bald Eagle？'
〃One of the Blackfoot Sioux replied：
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〃'It is a man of the Yanktonnais Sioux who killed Bald Eagle。'
〃Then he said： 'The Rees wish to do battle with them； you had better
withdraw from their camp。'
〃Accordingly the Blackfeet retired about a mile from us upon the
bluffs and pitched their tents； while the Yanktonnais remained on the flats。
The two bands had been great rivals in courage and the art of war； so we
did not ask for help from our kinsfolk； but during the night we dug
trenches about the camp； the inner one for the women and children； and
the outer one for the men to stay in and do battle。
〃The next morning at daybreak the enemy landed and approached our
camp in great num… bers。 Some of their women and old men came also；
and sat upon the bluffs to watch the fight and to carry off their dead and
wounded。 The Blackfeet likewise were watching the battle from the
bluffs； and just before the fight began one Blackfoot came in with his wife
and joined us。 His name was Red Dog's Track； but from that day he was
called He…Came…Back。 His wife was a Yanktonnais； and he had said to
her： 'If I don't join your tribe to…day； my brothers…in…law will call me a
coward。'
〃The Sioux were well entrenched and well armed with guns and
arrows； and their aim was deadly； so that the Rees crawled up gradu… ally
and took every opportunity to pick off any Sioux who ventured to show
his head above the trenches。 In like manner every Ree who ex… posed
himself was sure to die。
〃Up to this time no one had seen the two men who made all the trouble。
There was a natural hollow in the bank； concealed by buffalo berry bushes；
very near where they stood when Bald Eagle shot the Ree。
〃'Friend；' said Big Whip； 'it is likely that our own people will punish us
for this deed。 They will pursue and kill us wherever they find us。 They
have the right to do this。 The best thing is to drop into this washout and
remain there until they cease to look for us。'
〃They did so； and remained hidden during the night。 But； after the
fight began； Big Whip said again： 'Friend； we are the cause of the deaths
of many brave men this day。 We com… mitted the act to show our bravery。
We dared each other to do it。 It will now become us as warriors to join
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our band。'
〃They both stripped； and taking their weap… ons in hand； ran toward
the camp。 They had to pass directly through the enemy's lines； but they
were not recognized till they had fairly passed them。 Then they were
between two fires。 When they had almost reached the en… trenchment
they faced about and fired at the Ree
