old indian days(古印第时期)-第33节
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more words were spoken。
That very night the council drum was struck three times； followed by
the warriors' cheer。 Everybody knew what that meant。 It was an
invitation to the young men to go upon the war…path against the Crows！
Blue Sky was unconsciously startled by this sudden announcement。
For the first time in her life she felt a fear that she could not explain。 The
truth was that she loved； and was not yet fully aware of it。 In spite of her
fresh grief； she had been inexplicably happy since her last meeting with
Matoska； for she had seen in him that which is so beautiful； so compelling
in man to the eyes of the woman who loves。 He； too； now cherished a
real hope； and felt as if he could rush into the thickest of the battle to
avenge the brother of his beloved！
In a few days the war…party had reached the Big Horn and sent out
advance scouts； who re… ported a large Crow encampment。 Their hun…
dreds of horses covered the flats like a great herd of buffalo； they said。 It
was immediately decided to attack at daybreak； and on a given signal they
dashed impetuously upon the for… midable camp。 Some stampeded and
drove off a number of horses； while the main body plunged into the midst
of the Crows。
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But the enemy were not easily surprised。 They knew well the Sioux
tactics； and there was a desperate struggle for supremacy。 War…club was
raised against war…club； and the death…song of the arrow filled the air！
Presently the Sioux were forced to retreat； with the Crows in hot pursuit；
like wolves after their prey。
Red Owl and Matoska had been among the foremost in the charge； and
now they acted as a rear…guard； bravely defending the retreat of their little
army； to the admiration of the enemy。 At last a Crow raised his spear
against Matoska； who in a flash dismounted him with a stroke of his oaken
bow； but alas！ the blow snapped the bow…string and left him defenseless。
At the same instant his horse uttered a scream and fell； throwing its rider
headlong！
There was no one near except Red Owl； who clapped his heels to his
pony and joined in the retreat； leaving Matoska behind。 He arose； threw
down his quiver； and advanced alone to meet the oncoming rush of the
Crows！
The Sioux had seen him fall。 In a few mo… ments he was surrounded
by the enemy； and they saw him no more。
The pursuit was stopped； and they paused upon a hilltop to collect the
remnant of their force。 Red Owl was the last to come up； and it was
observed that he did not look like himself。
〃Tell us； what were Matoska's last words？〃 they asked him。
But he silently dismounted and sent an arrow through his faithful steed；
to the astonishment of the warriors。 Immediately afterward he took out
his knife and stabbed himself to the heart。
〃Ah！〃 they exclaimed； 〃he could not live to share our humiliation！〃
The war…party returned defeated and cast down by this unexpected
ending to their adven… ture； having lost some of their bravest and best men。
The camp was instantly thrown into mourning。 Many were in heavy
grief； but none was more deeply stricken than the maiden called the Blue
Sky； the daughter of their chief。
She remained within her teepee and wept in secret； for none knew that
she had the right to mourn。 Yet she believed that her lover had met with
misfortune； but not death。 Although his name was announced among
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those warriors who fell in the field； her own heart assured her that it was
not so。 〃I must go to him；〃 she said to herself。 〃I must know certainly
whether he is still among the living！〃
The next evening； while the village was yet in the confusion of great
trouble and sorrow； Blue Sky rode out upon her favorite pony as if to take
him to water as usual； but none saw her return！ She hastened to the spot
where she had concealed two sacks of provisions and her extra moccasins
and materials for sewing。 She had no weapon； save her knife and a small
hatchet。 She knew the country between the Black Hills and the Big Horn；
and knew that it was full of perils for man and much more for woman。
Yet by traveling only at night and concealing herself in the daytime she
hoped to avoid these dangers； and she rode bravely forth on the trail of the
returning warriors。
Her dog； Wapayna； had followed the maiden； and she was not sorry to
have so faithful a companion。 She cautioned him not to bark at or attack
strange animals unless they attacked first； and he seemed to understand the
propriety of remaining on guard whenever his mistress was asleep。
She reached the Powder River country in safety； and here she had
more than once to pick her way among the buffaloes。 These wily
animals seemed to realize that she was only a woman and unarmed； so that
they scarcely kept out of her path。 She also crossed the trails of riders；
some of them quite fresh； but was fortu… nate enough not to meet any of
them。
At last the maiden attained the divide be… tween the Tongue and the
Big Horn rivers。 Her heart beat fast； and the sudden sense of her strange
mission almost overwhelmed her。 She remembered the only time in her
life that the Sioux were upon that river； and so had that bit of friendly
welcome from the valleya recol… lection of childhood！
It was near morning； the moon had set and for a short time darkness
prevailed； but the girl's eyes had by this time become accustomed to the
dark。 She knew the day was at hand； and with its first beams she was
safely tucked into one of those round turns left by the river long ago in
changing its bed； now become a little grassy hollow sheltered by steep
banks； and hidden by a fringe of trees。 Here she picketed her pony； and
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took her own rest。 Not until the afternoon shadows were long did she
awake and go forth with determination to seek for the battlefield and for
the Crow encamp… ment。
It was not long before she came upon the bodies of fallen horses and
men。 There was Matoska's white charger； with a Sioux arrow in his side；
and she divined the treachery of Red Owl！ But he was dead； and his
death had atoned for the crime。 The body of her lover was nowhere to be
found； yet how should they have taken the bravest of the Sioux a cap…
tive？
〃If he had but one arrow left； he would stand and fight！ If his bow…
string were broken； he would still welcome death with a strong heart；〃 she
thought。
The evening was approaching and the Crow village in plain sight。
Blue Sky arranged her hair and dress as well as she could like that of a
Crow woman； and with an extra robe she made for herself a bundle that
looked as if it held a baby in its many wrappings。 The com… munity was
still celebrating its recent victory over the Sioux； and the camp was alive
with songs and dances。 In the darkness she ap… proached unnoticed； and
singing in an under… tone a Crow lullaby； walked back and forth among the
lodges； watching eagerly for any signs of him she sought。
At last she came near to the council lodge。 There she beheld his face
like an apparition through the dusk and the fire…light！ He was sitting
within； dressed in the gala costume of a Crow。
〃O； he is living！ he is living！〃 thought the brave maiden。 〃O； what
shall I do？〃 Un… consciously she crept nearer and nearer； until the sharp
eyes of an Indian detected the slight difference in her manner and dress；
and he at once gave the alarm。
〃Wah； wah！ Epsaraka！ Epsaraka！ A Sioux！ A Sioux！〃
In an instant the whole camp had surrounded the girl； who stood in
their mid
