old indian days(古印第时期)-第11节
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between two fires。 When they had almost reached the en… trenchment
they faced about and fired at the Rees； jumping about incessantly to avoid
being hit； as is the Indian fashion。 Bullets and ar… rows were flying all
about them like hail； but at last they dropped back unhurt into the Sioux
trenches。 Thus the two men saved their repu… tation for bravery； and their
people never openly reproached them for the events of that day。 Young
men are often rash； but it is not well to reprove one for a brave deed lest he
become a coward。
〃Many were killed； but more of the Rees than of our band。 About the
middle of the afternoon there came a cold rain。 It was in the fall of the
year。 The bow…strings were wet； and the guns were only flint…locks。
You know when the flint becomes wet it is useless； and it looked as if the
fight must be with knives。
〃But the Rees were much disheartened。 They had lost many。 The
women were all the time carrying off the wounded； and there were the
Blackfoot Sioux watching them from the hills。 They turned and fled
toward the river。 The Sioux followed like crazy wolves； toma… hawking
the tired and slow ones。 Many were killed at the boats； and some of the
boats were punctured with shot and sank。 Some carried a load of Sioux
arrows back across the river。 That was the greatest battle ever fought by
our band；〃 the old man concluded； with a deep sigh of mingled satisfaction
and regret。
III THE SINGING SPIRIT
〃Ho my steed； we must climb one more hill！ My reputation depends
upon my report！〃
Anookasan addressed his pony as if he were a human companion；
urged on like himself by human need and human ambition。 And yet in
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his heart he had very little hope of sighting any buffalo in that region at
just that time of the year。
The Yankton Sioux were ordinarily the most far…sighted of their people
in selecting a winter camp； but this year the late fall had caught them
rather far east of the Missouri bottoms； their favorite camping…ground。
The upper Jim River； called by the Sioux the River of Gray Woods； was
usually bare of large game at that season。 Their store of jerked buffalo
meat did not hold out as they had hoped； and by March it became an
urgent necessity to send out scouts for buffalo。
The old men at the tiyo teepee （council lodge） held a long council。 It
was decided to select ten of their bravest and hardiest young men to
explore the country within three days' journey of their camp。
〃Anookasan； uyeyo…o…o； woo； woo！〃 Thus the ten men were
summoned to the council lodge early in the evening to receive their
commis… sion。 Anookasan was the first called and first to cross the circle
of the teepees。 A young man of some thirty years； of the original native
type； his massive form was wrapped in a fine buffalo robe with the hair
inside。 He wore a stately eagle feather in his scalp…lock； but no paint
about his face。
As he entered the lodge all the inmates greeted him with marked
respect； and he was given the place of honor。 When all were seated the
great drum was struck and a song sung by four deep…chested men。 This
was the prelude to a peculiar ceremony。
A large red pipe； which had been filled and laid carefully upon the
central hearth； was now taken up by an old man； whose face was painted
red。 First he held it to the ground with the words： 〃Great Mother； partake
of this！〃 Then he held it toward the sky； saying： 〃Great Father； smoke
this！〃 Finally he lighted it； took four puffs； pointing it to the four corners
of the earth in turn； and lastly presented it to Anookasan。 This was the
oath of office； administered by the chief of the council lodge。 The other
nine were similarly commissioned； and all accepted the appointment。
It was no light task that was thus religiously enjoined upon these ten
men。 It meant at the least several days and nights of wandering in search
of signs of the wily buffalo。 It was a public duty； and a personal one as
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well； one that must involve untold hardship； and if over… taken by storm
the messengers were in peril of death！
Anookasan returned to his teepee with some misgiving。 His old
charger； which had so often carried him to victory； was not so strong as he
had been in his prime。 As his master approached the lodge the old horse
welcomed him with a gentle whinny。 He was always tethered near by；
ready for any emergency。
〃Ah； Wakan！ we are once more called upon to do duty！ We shall set
out before day… break。〃
As he spoke； he pushed nearer a few strips of the poplar bark； which
was oats to the Indian pony of the olden time。
Anookasan had his extra pair of buffaloskin moccasins with the hair
inside； and his scanty provision of dried meat neatly done up in a small
packet and fastened to his saddle。 With his companions he started
northward； up the River of the Gray Woods； five on the east side and a like
number on the west。
The party had separated each morning； so as to cover as much ground
as possible； having agreed to return at night to the river。 It was now the
third day； their food was all but gone； their steeds much worn； and the
signs seemed to indicate a storm。 Yet the hunger of their friends and their
own pride impelled them to persist； for out of many young men they had
been chosen； therefore they must prove them… selves equal to the occasion。
The sun； now well toward the western hori… zon； cast over snow…
covered plains a purplish light。 No living creature was in sight and the
quest seemed hopeless； but Anookasan was not one to accept defeat。
〃There may be an outlook from yonder hill which will turn failure into
success；〃 he thought； as he dug his heels into the sides of his faith… ful nag。
At the same time he started a 〃Strong Heart〃 song to keep his courage up！
At the summit of the ascent he paused and gazed steadily before him。
At the foot of the next coteau he beheld a strip of black。 He strained his
eyes to look； for the sun had al… ready set behind the hilltops。 It was a
great herd of buffaloes； he thought； which was graz… ing on the foot…hills。
〃Hi hi； uncheedah！ Hi； hi； tunkasheedah！〃 he was about to exclaim in
gratitude； when； looking more closely； he discovered his mistake。 The
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dark patch was only timber。
His horse could not carry him any further； so he got off and ran behind
him toward the river。 At dusk he hailed his companions。
〃Ho； what success？〃 one cried。
〃Not a sign of even a lone bull；〃 replied an… other。
〃Yet I saw a gray wolf going north this evening。 His direction is
propitious；〃 re… marked Anookasan； as he led the others down the slope
and into the heavy timber。 The river just here made a sharp turn； forming
a densely wooded semicircle； in the shelter of a high bluff。
The braves were all downhearted because of their ill…luck； and only the
sanguine spirit of Anookasan kept them from utter discourage… ment。
Their slight repast had been taken and each man had provided himself
with abundance of dry grass and twigs for a bed。 They had built a
temporary wigwam of the same mate… rial； in the center of which there
was a gen… erous fire。 Each man stretched himself out upon his robe in
the glow of it。 Anookasan filled the red pipe； and； having lighted it； he
took one or two hasty puffs and held it up to the moon； which was scarcely
visible behind the cold clouds。
〃Great Mother； partake of this smoke！ May I eat mea
