old indian days(古印第时期)-第23节
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scout unsheathed his big knife and began the work which is ever the
sequel of the huntto dress the game； al… though the survivors of the
slaughter had scarcely disappeared behind the hills。 The dogs had all run
back to their respective masters； and this left the scout and his companion
Shunka alone。 Some were appointed to start a camp in a neighboring
gulch among the trees； so that the hunters might bring their meat there and
eat before setting out for the great camp on the Big River。
All were busily skinning and cutting up the meat into pieces
convenient for carrying； when suddenly a hunter called the attention of
those near him to an ominous change in the atmos… phere。
〃There are signs of a blizzard！ We must hurry into the near woods
before it reaches us！〃 he shouted。
Some heard him； others did not。 Those who saw or heard passed on
the signal and hurried toward the wood； where others had already ar…
ranged rude shelters and gathered piles of dry wood for fuel。
Around the several camp…fires the hunters sat or stood； while slices of
savory meat were broiled and eaten with a relish by the half…starved men。
〃Ho； kola！ Eat this； friend！〃 said they to one another as one finished
broiling a steak of the bison and offered it to his neighbor。
But the storm had now fairly enveloped them in whirling whiteness。
〃Woo； woo！〃 they called to those who had not yet reached camp。 One
after another answered and emerged from the blinding pall of snow。 At
last none were missing save the game scout and his Shunka！
The hunters passed the time in eating and tell… ing stories until a late
hour； occasionally giving a united shout to guide the lost one should he
chance to pass near their camp。
〃Fear not for our scout； friends！〃 finally ex… claimed a leader among
them。 〃He is a brave and experienced man。 He will find a safe rest…
ing…place； and join us when the wind ceases to rage。〃 So they all wrapped
themselves in their robes and lay down to sleep。
All that night and the following day it was impossible to give succor；
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and the hunters felt much concern for the absent。 Late in the second
night the great storm subsided。
〃Ho； ho！ Iyotanka！ Rise up！〃 So the first hunter to awaken
aroused all the others。
As after every other storm； it was wonderfully still； so still that one
could hear distinctly the pounding feet of the jack…rabbits coming down
over the slopes to the willows for food。 All dry vegetation was buried
beneath the deep snow； and everywhere they saw this white…robed crea…
ture of the prairie coming down to the woods。
Now the air was full of the wolf and coyote game call； and they were
seen in great numbers upon the ice。
〃See； see！ the hungry wolves are dragging the carcasses away！
Harken to the war cries of the scout's Shunka！ Hurry； hurry！〃 they urged
one another in chorus。
Away they ran and out upon the lake； now upon the wind…swept ice；
now upon the crusted snow； running when they could； sliding when they
must。 There was certainly a great concourse of the wolves； whirling in
frantic circles； but con… tinually moving toward the farther end of the lake。
They could hear distinctly the hoarse bark of the scout's Shunka； and
occasionally the muf… fled war…whoop of a man； as if it came from under
the ice！
As they approached nearer the scene they could hear more distinctly
the voice of their friend； but still as it were from underground。 When
they reached the spot to which the wolves had dragged two of the
carcasses of the buffalo； Shunka was seen to stand by one of them； but at
that moment he staggered and fell。 The hunt… ers took out their knives
and ripped up the frozen hide covering the abdominal cavity。 It revealed
a warm nest of hay and buffalo hair in which the scout lay； wrapped in his
own robe！
He had placed his dog in one of the carcasses and himself in another
for protection from the storm； but the dog was wiser than the man； for he
kept his entrance open。 The man lapped the hide over and it froze solidly；
shutting him se… curely in。 When the hungry wolves came Shunka
promptly extricated himself and held them off as long as he could；
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meanwhile； sliding and pulling； the wolves continued to drag over the
slippery ice the body of the buffalo in which his master had taken refuge。
The poor； faithful dog； with no care for his own safety； stood by his
imprisoned master until the hunters came up。 But it was too late； for he
had received more than one mortal wound。
As soon as the scout got out； with a face more anxious for another than
for himself； he ex… claimed：
〃Where is Shunka； the bravest of his tribe？〃
〃Ho； kola； it is so； indeed； and here he lies；〃 replied one sadly。
His master knelt by his side； gently stroking the face of the dog。
〃Ah； my friend； you go where all spirits live！ The Great Mystery has a
home for every living creature。 May he permit our meeting there！〃
At daybreak the scout carried him up to one of the pretty round hills
overlooking the lake； and built up around him walls of loose stone。 Red
paints were scattered over the snow； in ac… cordance with Indian custom；
and the farewell song was sung。
Since that day the place has been known to the Sioux as
Shunkahanakapithe Grave of the Dog。
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PART TWO THE WOMAN
I WINONA； THE WOMAN…CHILD
Hush； hushaby； little woman！ Be brave and weep not！
The spirits sleep not； 'Tis they who ordain To woman； pain。
Hush； hushaby； little woman！ Now； all things bearing；
A new gift sharing From those above
To woman； love。 Sioux Lullaby。
〃Chinto； weyanna！ Yes； indeed； she is a real little woman；〃 declares
the old grandmother； as she receives and crit… ically examines the tiny bit
of humanity。
There is no remark as to the color of its hair or eyes； both so black as
almost to be blue； but the old woman scans sharply the delicate pro… file of
the baby face。
〃Ah； she has the nose of her ancestors！ Lips thin as a leaf； and eyes
bright as stars in mid… winter！〃 she exclaims； as she passes on the furry
bundle to the other grandmother for her inspec… tion。
〃Tokee！ she is pretty enough to win a twinkle rom the evening star；〃
remarks that smiling personage。
〃And what shall her name be？
〃Winona； the First…born； of course。 That is hers by right of birth。〃
〃Still； it may not fit her。 One must prove herself worthy in order to
retain that honorable name。〃
〃Ugh；〃 retorts the first grandmother； 〃she can at least bear it on
probation！〃
〃Tosh； tosh；〃 the other assents。
Thus the unconscious little Winona has passed the first stage of the
Indian's christen… ing。
Presently she is folded into a soft white doe… skin； well lined with the
loose down of cattails； and snugly laced into an upright oaken cradle； the
front of which is a richly embroidered buck… skin bag； with porcupine
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quills and deers' hoofs suspended from its profuse fringes。 This gay
cradle is strapped upon the second grand… mother's back； and that dignitary
walks off with the newcomer。
〃You must come with me；〃 she says。 〃We shall go among the father
and mother trees； and hear them speak with their thousand tongues； that
you may know their language forever。 I w
