old indian days(古印第时期)-第29节
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with a fawn； and the young man could not forbear to gaze upon Snana。
〃You are not the real mother in maiden's guise？ Tell me truly if you
are of human blood；〃 he demanded rudely。
〃I am a Sioux maiden！ Do you not know my father？〃 she replied。
〃Ah； but who is your father？ What is his name？〃 he insisted；
nervously fingering his arrows。
〃Do not be a coward！ Surely you should know a maid of your own
race；〃 she replied re… proachfully。
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〃Ah； you know the tricks of the doe！ What is thy name？〃
〃Hast thou forgotten the etiquette of thy people； and wouldst compel
me to pronounce my own name？ I refuse； thou art jesting！〃 she retorted
with a smile。
〃Thou dost give the tricky answers of a doe。 I cannot wait； I must act
before I lose my nat… ural mind。 But already I am yours。 Whatever
purpose you may have in thus charming a poor hunter； be merciful；〃 and；
throwing aside his quiver； he sat down。
The maiden stole a glance at his face； and then another。 He was
handsome。 Softly she reentered the thicket and laid down the little fawn。
〃Promise me never to hunt here again！〃 she said earnestly； as she came
forth without her pretty burden； and he exacted another prom… ise in return。
Thus Snana lost her fawn； and found a lover。
IV SHE…WHO…HAS…A…SOUL
It was a long time ago； nearly two hundred years ago； that some of our
people were living upon the shores of the Great Lake； Lake Superior。
The chief of this band was called Tatankaota； Many Buffaloes。
One day the young son of Tatankaota led a war…party against the
Ojibways； who occupied the country east of us； toward the rising sun。
When they had gone a day's journey in the direction of Sault Ste。
Marie； in our language Skesketatanka； the warriors took up their posi… tion
on the lake shore； at a point which the Ojibways were accustomed to pass
in their canoes。
Long they gazed； and scanned the surface of the water； watching for
the coming of the foe。 The sun had risen above the dark pines； over the
great ridge of woodland across the bay。 It was the awakening of all
living things。 The birds were singing； and shining fishes leaped out of
the water as if at play。 At last； far off； there came the warning cry of the
loon to stir their expectant ears。
〃Warriors； look close to the horizon！ This brother of ours does not lie。
The enemy comes！〃 exclaimed their leader。
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Presently upon the sparkling face of the water there appeared a moving
canoe。 There was but one； and it was coming directly toward them。
〃Hahatonwan！ Hahatonwan！ （The Ojib… ways！ the Ojibways！）〃 they
exclaimed with one voice； and； grasping their weapons； they hastily
concealed themselves in the bushes。
〃Spare nonetake no captives！〃 ordered the chief's son。
Nearer and nearer approached the strange canoe。 The glistening
blades of its paddles flashed as it were the signal of good news； or a
welcome challenge。 All impatiently waited until it should come within
arrow…shot。
〃Surely it is an Ojibway canoe；〃 one mur… mured。 〃Yet look！ the
stroke is ungainly！〃 Now； among all the tribes only the Ojibway's art is
perfect in paddling a birch canoe。 This was a powerful stroke； but harsh
and un… steady。
〃See！ there are no feathers on this man's head！〃 exclaimed the son of
the chief。 〃Hold； warriors； he wears a woman's dress； and I see no
weapon。 No courage is needed to take his life； therefore let it be spared！
I command that only coups （or blows） be counted on him； and he shall tell
us whence he comes； and on what errand。〃
The signal was given； the warriors sprang to their feet； and like wolves
they sped from the forest； out upon the white； sandy beach and straight
into the sparkling waters of the lake； giving the shrill war…cry； the warning
of death！
The solitary oarsman made no outcryhe offered no defense！
Kneeling calmly in the prow of the little vessel； he merely ceased pad…
dling and seemed to await with patience the deadly blow of the tomahawk。
The son of Tatankaota was foremost in the charge； but suddenly an
impulse seized him to stop his warriors； lest one in the heat of excite… ment
should do a mischief to the stranger。 The canoe with its occupant was
now very near； and it could be seen that the expression of his face was
very gentle and even benignant。 None could doubt his utter harmlessness；
and the chief's son afterward declared that at this mo… ment he felt a
premonition of some event； but whether good or evil he could not tell。
No blows were struckno coups counted。 The young man bade his
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warriors take up the canoe and carry it to the shore； and although they
murmured somewhat among themselves； they did as he commanded them。
They seized the light bark and bore it dripping to a hill covered with tall
pines； and overlooking the waters of the Great Lake。
Then the warriors lifted their war…clubs over their heads and sang；
standing around the canoe in which the black…robed stranger was still
kneeling。 Looking at him closely； they per… ceived that he was of a
peculiar complexion； pale and inclined to red。 He wore a necklace of
beads； from which hung a cross bearing the form of a man。 His garments
were strange； and most like the robes of woman。 All of these things
perplexed them greatly。
Presently the Black Robe told them by signs； in response to their
inquiries； that he came from the rising sun； even beyond the Great Salt
Water； and he seemed to say that he formerly came from the sky。 Upon
this the warriors believed that he must be a prophet or mysterious man。
Their leader directed them to take up again the canoe with the man in
it； and appointed the warriors to carry it by turns until they should reach
his father's village。 This was done ac… cording to the ancient custom； as a
mark of re… spect and honor。 They took it up forthwith； and traveled with
all convenient speed along the lake shore； through forests and across
streams to a place called the Maiden's Retreat； a short distance from the
village。
Thence the chief's son sent a messenger to announce to his father that
he was bringing home a stranger； and to ask whether or not he should be
allowed to enter the village。 〃His appearance；〃 declared the scout； 〃is
unlike that of any man we have ever seen； and his ways are mysterious！〃
When the chief heard these words； he imme… diately called his council…
men together to decide what was to be done； for he feared by admitting the
mysterious stranger to bring some disaster upon his people。 Finally he
went out with his wisest men to meet his son's war…party。 They looked
with astonishment upon the Black Robe。
〃Dispatch him！ Dispatch him！ Show him no mercy！〃 cried some of
the council…men。
〃Let him go on his way unharmed。 Trouble him not；〃 advised others。
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〃It is well known that the evil spirits some… times take the form of a
man or animal。 From his strange appearance I judge this to be such a one。
He should be put to death； lest some harm befall our people；〃 an old man
urged。
By this time several of the women of the village had reached the spot。
Among them was She…who…has…a…Soul； the chief's youngest daugh… ter；
who tradition says was a maiden of much beauty； and of a generous heart。
The stranger was evidently footsore fro
