old indian days(古印第时期)-第36节
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Shoulders and hips were touched with red paint to show her en… durance in
running。 Then the crier； praising her brave deed in heroic verse； led her
around the camp； inside of the circle of teepees。 All the people stood
outside their lodges and lis… tened respectfully； for the Dakota loves well
to honor the faithful and the brave。
During the next day； riders came in from the ill…fated party； bringing
the sad news of the fight and heavy loss。 Late in the afternoon came
Weeko； her face swollen with crying； her beautiful hair cut short in
mourning； her gar… ments torn and covered with dust and blood。 Her
husband had fallen in the fight； and her twin boys she supposed to have
been taken cap… tive by the Crows。 Singing in a hoarse voice the praises
of her departed warrior； she entered the camp。 As she approached her
sister's tee… pee； there stood Nakpa； still wearing her hon… orable
decorations。 At the same moment； Zeezeewin came out to meet her with
both babies in her arms。
〃Mechinkshee！ meechinkshee！ （my sons； my sons！）〃 was all that the
poor mother could say； as she all but fell from her saddle to the ground。
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The despised Long Ears had not be… trayed her trust。
VIII THE WAR MAIDEN
The old man； Smoky Day； was for many years the best…known story…
teller and historian of his tribe。 He it was who told me the story of the
War Maiden。 In the old days it was unusual but not unheard of for a
woman to go upon the war…pathper… haps a young girl； the last of her line；
or a widow whose well…loved husband had fallen on the fieldand there
could be no greater incen… tive to feats of desperate daring on the part of
the warriors。 〃A long time ago；〃 said old Smoky Day； 〃the Unkpapa and
the Cut…Head bands of Sioux united their camps upon a vast prairie east of
the Minne Wakan （now called Devil's Lake）。 It was midsummer； and the
people shared in the happiness of every living thing。 We had food in
abundance； for bison in count… less numbers overspread the plain。
〃The teepee village was laid out in two great rings； and all was in
readiness for the midsum… mer entertainments。 There were ball games；
feasts and dances every day； and late into the night。 You have heard of
the festivities of those days； there are none like them now；〃 said the old
man； and he sighed heavily as he laid down the red pipe which was to be
passed from hand to hand during the recital。
〃The head chief of the Unkpapas then was Tamakoche （His Country）。
He was in his time a notable warrior； a hunter and a feast… maker； much
beloved by his people。 He was the father of three sons； but he was so
anxious to make them warriors of great reputation that they had all；
despising danger； been killed in battle。
〃The chief had also a very pretty daughter； whose name was Makatah。
Since all his sons were slain he had placed his affections solely upon the
girl； and she grew up listening to the praises of the brave deeds of her
brothers； which her father never tired of chanting when they were together
in the lodge。 At times Makatah was called upon to dance to the 'Strong…
Heart' songs。 Thus even as a child she loved the thought of war； although
she was the prettiest and most modest maiden in the two tribes。 As she
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grew into womanhood she became the belle of her father's village； and her
beauty and spirit were talked of even among the neighboring bands of
Sioux。 But it appeared that Makatah did not care to marry。 She had
only two am… bitions。 One was to prove to her father that； though only a
maid； she had the heart of a war… rior。 The other was to visit the graves
of her brothersthat is； the country of the enemy。
〃At this pleasant reunion of two kindred peo… ples one of the principal
events was the Feast of Virgins； given by Makatah。 All young maidens
of virtue and good repute were invited to be present； but woe to her who
should dare to pollute the sacred feast！ If her right to be there were
challenged by any it meant a public disgrace。 The two arrows and the red
stone upon which the virgins took their oath of chas… tity were especially
prepared for the occasion。 Every girl was beautifully dressed； for at that
time the white doeskin gowns； with a profusion of fringes and colored
embroidery； were the gala attire of the Sioux maidens。 Red paint was
added； and ornaments of furs and wampum。 Many youths eagerly
surveyed the maiden gath… ering； at which the daughter of Tamakoche out…
shone all the rest。
〃Several eligible warriors now pressed their suits at the chieftain's
lodge； and among them were one or two whom he would have gladly
called son…in…law； but no！ Makatah would not listen to words of
courtship。 She had vowed； she said； to the spirits of her three brothers
each of whom fell in the country of the Crows that she would see that
country before she became a wife。
〃Red Horn； who was something of a leader among the young men； was
a persistent and de… termined suitor。 He had urged every influential
friend of his and hers to persuade her to listen to him。 His presents were
more valuable than those of any one else。 He even made use of his
father's position as a leading chief of the Cut…Head band to force a
decision in his favor； and while the maiden remained indifferent her father
seemed inclined to countenance this young man's pretensions。
〃She had many other lovers； as I have said；〃 the old man added； 〃and
among them was one Little Eagle； an orphan and a poor young man；
unknown and unproved as a warrior。 He was so insignificant that nobody
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thought much about him； and if Makatah regarded him with any favor the
matter was her secret； for it is certain that she did not openly encourage
him。
〃One day it was reported in the village that their neighbors； the Cut…
Head Sioux； would or… ganize a great attack upon the Crows at the mouth
of the Redwater； a tributary of the Mis… souri。 Makatah immediately
inquired of her male cousins whether any of them expected to join the
war…party。
〃'Three of us will go；' they replied。
〃'Then；' said the girl； 'I beg that you will allow me to go with you！ I
have a good horse； and I shall not handicap you in battle。 I only ask your
protection in camp as your kinswoman and a maid of the war…party。'
〃'If our uncle Tamakoche sanctions your going；' they replied； 'we shall
be proud to have our cousin with us； to inspire us to brave deeds！'
〃The maiden now sought her father and asked his permission to
accompany the war… party。
〃'I wish；' said she； 'to visit the graves of my brothers！ I shall carry
with me their war…bon… nets and their weapons； to give to certain young
men on the eve of battle； according to the an… cient custom。 Long ago I
resolved to do this； and the time is now come。'
〃The chief was at this time well advanced in years； and had been
sitting quite alone in his lodge； thinking upon the days of his youth； when
he was noted for daring and success in battle。 In silence he listened as he
filled his pipe； and seemed to meditate while he smoked the fra… grant
tobacco。 At last he spoke with tears in his eyes。
〃'Daughter； I am an old man！ My heart beats in my throat； and my
old eyes cannot keep back the tears。 My three sons； on whom I had
placed all my hopes； are gone to a far country！ You are the only child left
to my old age； and you； too； are braveas brave as any of your brothers。
If you go I fear that y
