indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第15节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
their leader gave the signal； then a great shout arose； and the chipmunks in
their flight all ran up the different trees。
Now the shooting…match began。 The little creatures seemed to realize
their hopeless posi… tion； they would try again and again to come down the
trees and flee away from the deadly aim of the youthful hunters。 But
they were shot down very fast； and whenever several of them rushed
toward the ground； the little red…skin hugged the tree and yelled frantically
to scare them up again。
48
… Page 49…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
Each boy shoots always against the trunk of the tree； so that the arrow
may bound back to him every time； otherwise； when he had shot away all
of them； he would be helpless； and another； who had cleared his own tree；
would come and take away his game； so there was warm competition。
Some… times a desperate chipmunk would jump from the top of the tree in
order to escape； which was con… sidered a joke on the boy who lost it and a
triumph for the brave little animal。 At last all were killed or gone； and
then we went on to another place； keeping up the sport until the sun came
out and the chipmunks refused to answer the call。
When we went out on the prairies we had a dif… ferent and less lively
kind of sport。 We used to snare with horse…hair and bow…strings all the
small ground animals； including the prairie…dog。 We both snared and
shot them。 Once a little boy set a snare for one； and lay flat on the
ground a little way from the hole； holding the end of the string。 Presently
he felt something move and pulled in a huge rattlesnake； and to this day；
his name is 〃Caught…the…Rattlesnake。〃 Very often a boy got a new name in
some such manner。 At another time； we were playing in the woods and
found a fawn's track。 We followed and caught it while asleep； but in the
struggle to get away； it kicked one boy； who is still called 〃Kicked…by…the…
Fawn。〃
It became a necessary part of our education to learn to prepare a meal
while out hunting。 It is a fact that most Indians will eat the liver and
some other portions of large animals raw； but they do not eat fish or birds
uncooked。 Neither will they eat a frog； or an eel。 On our boyish hunts；
we often went on until we found ourselves a long way from our camp；
when we would kindle a fire and roast a part of our game。
Generally we broiled our meat over the coals on a stick。 We roasted
some of it over the open fire。 But the best way to cook fish and birds is
in the ashes； under a big fire。 We take the fish fresh from the creek or
lake； have a good fire on the sand； dig in the sandy ashes and bury it deep。
The same thing is done in case of a bird； only we wet the feathers first。
When it is done； the scales or feath… ers and skin are stripped off whole；
and the deli… cious meat retains all its juices and flavor。 We pulled it off
as we ate； leaving the bones undis… turbed。
49
… Page 50…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
Our people had also a method of boiling with… out pots or kettles。 A
large piece of tripe was thoroughly washed and the ends tied； then sus…
pended between four stakes driven into the ground and filled with cold
water。 The meat was then placed in this novel receptacle and boiled by
means of the addition of red…hot stones。
Chatanna was a good hunter。 He called the doe and fawn beautifully
by using a thin leaf of birch… bark between two flattened sticks。 One
morning we found the tracks of a doe and fawn who had passed within the
hour； for the light dew was brushed from the grass。
〃What shall we do？〃 I asked。 〃Shall we go back to the teepee and tell
uncle to bring his gun？〃
〃No； no！〃 exclaimed Chatanna。 〃Did not our people kill deer and
buffalo long ago without guns？ We will entice her into this open space；
and； while she stands bewildered； I can throw my lasso line over her
head。〃
He had called only a few seconds when the fawn emerged from the
thick woods and stood before us； prettier than a picture。 Then I uttered
the call； and she threw her tobacco…leaf…like ears toward me； while
Chatanna threw his lasso。 She gave one scream and launched forth into
the air； almost throwing the boy hunter to the ground。 Again and again
she flung herself desperately into the air； but at last we led her to the
nearest tree and tied her securely。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃go and get our pets and see what they will do。〃
At that time he had a good…sized black bear partly tamed； while I had a
young red fox and my faithful Ohitika or Brave。 I untied Chagoo； the
bear； and Wanahon； the fox； while Ohitika got up and welcomed me by
wagging his tail in a dig… nified way。
〃Come；〃 I said； 〃all three of you。 I think we have something you
would all like to see。〃
They seemed to understand me； for Chagoo be… gan to pull his rope
with both paws； while Wana… hon undertook the task of digging up by the
roots the sapling to which I had tied him。
Before we got to the open spot； we already heard Ohitika's joyous bark；
and the two wild pets be… gan to run； and pulled me along through the un…
50
… Page 51…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
derbrush。 Chagoo soon assumed the utmost pre… caution and walked as if
he had splinters in his soles； while Wanahon kept his nose down low and
sneaked through the trees。
Out into the open glade we came； and there； be… fore the three rogues；
stood the little innocent fawn。 She visibly trembled at the sight of the
motley group。 The two human rogues looked to her； I presume； just as
bad as the other three。 Chagoo regarded her with a mixture of curiosity
and defi… ance； while Wanahon stood as if rooted to the ground；
evidently planning how to get at her。 But Ohitika （Brave）； generous
Ohitika； his occasional barking was only in jest。 He did not care to touch
the helpless thing。
Suddenly the fawn sprang high into the air and then dropped her pretty
head on the ground。
〃Ohiyesa； the fawn is dead；〃 cried Chatanna。 〃I wanted to keep her。〃
〃It is a shame；〃 I chimed in。
We five guilty ones came and stood around her helpless form。 We all
looked very sorry； even Chagoo's eyes showed repentance and regret。 As
for Ohitika； he gave two great sighs and then be… took himself to a
respectful distance。 Chatanna had two big tears gradually swamping his
long； black eye…lashes； and I thought it was time to hide my face； for I did
not want him to look at me。
51
… Page 52…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
IV Hakadah's First Offering
〃HAKADAH； coowah！〃 was the sonorous call that came from a large
teepee in the midst of the Indian encampment。 In answer to the summons
there emerged from the woods； which were only a few steps away； a boy；
accompanied by a splendid black dog。 There was little in the ap…
pearance of the little fellow to distinguish him from the other Sioux boys。
He hastened to the tent from which he had been summoned； carrying
in his hands a bow and arrows gorgeously painted； while the small birds
and squirrels that he had killed with these weap… ons dangled from his belt。
Within the tent sat two old women； one on each side of the fire。
Uncheedah was the boy's grandmother； who had brought up the mother…
less child。 Wahchewin was only a caller； but she had been invited to
remain and assist in the first personal offering of Hakadah to the 〃Great
Mys… tery。〃
This was a matter which had； for several days； pretty much
monopolized Uncheedah's mind。 It was her custom to see to this when
each of her children attained the age of eight
