indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第16节
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each of her children attained the age of eight summers。 They had all
been celebrated as warriors and hunters among their tribe； and she had not
hesitated to claim for herself a good share of the honors they had achieved；
because she had brought them early to the notice of the 〃Great Mystery。〃
She believed that her influence had helped to regulate and develop the
characters of her sons to the height of savage nobility and strength of man…
hood。
It had been whispered through the teepee vil… lage that Uncheedah
intended to give a feast in honor of her grandchild's first sacrificial
offering。 This was mere speculation； however； for the clear… sighted old
woman had determined to keep this part of the matter secret until the
offering should be completed； believing that the 〃Great Myste… ry〃 should
be met in silence and dignity。
The boy came rushing into the lodge； followed by his dog Ohitika who
was wagging his tail pro… miscuously； as if to say： 〃Master and I are really
hunters！〃
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
Hakadah breathlessly gave a descriptive narra… tive of the killing of
each bird and squirrel as he pulled them off his belt and threw them before
his grandmother。
〃This blunt…headed arrow；〃 said he； 〃actually had eyes this morning。
Before the squirrel can dodge around the tree it strikes him in the head；
and； as he falls to the ground； my Ohitika is upon him。〃
He knelt upon one knee as he talked； his black eyes shining like
evening stars。
〃Sit down here；〃 said Uncheedah to the boy； 〃I have something to say
to you。 You see that you are now almost a man。 Observe the game you
have brought me！ It will not be long be… fore you will leave me； for a
warrior must seek opportunities to make him great among his people。
〃You must endeavor to equal your father。 and grandfather；〃 she went
on。 〃They were warriors and feast…makers。 But it is not the poor hunter
who makes many feasts。 Do you not remember the 'Legend of the Feast…
Maker；' who gave forty feasts in twelve moons？ And have you for… gotten
the story of the warrior who sought the will of the Great Mystery？ To…day
you will make your first offering to him。〃
The concluding sentence fairly dilated the eyes of the young hunter；
for he felt that a great event was about to occur； in which he would be the
principal actor。 But Uncheedah resumed her speech。
〃You must give up one of your belongings whichever is dearest to
youfor this is to be a sacrificial offering。〃
This somewhat confused the boy； not that he was selfish； but rather
uncertain as to what would be the most appropriate thing to give。 Then；
too； he supposed that his grandmother referred to his ornaments and
playthings only。 So he volunteered：
〃I can give up my best bow and arrows； and all the paints I have； and
and my bear's claws necklace； grandmother！〃
〃Are these the things dearest to you？〃 she demanded。
〃Not the bow and arrows； but the paints will be very hard to get； for
there are no white people near； and the necklaceit is not easy to get one
like it again。 I will also give up my otter… skin head…dress； if you think
that is not enough。〃
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
〃But think； my boy； you have not yet men… tioned the thing that will be
a pleasant offering to the Great Mystery。〃
The boy looked into the woman's face with a puzzled expression。
〃I have nothing else as good as those things I have named；
grandmother； unless it is my spotted pony； and I am sure that the Great
Mystery will not require a little boy to make him so large a gift。 Besides；
my uncle gave three otter…skins and five eagle…feathers for him and I
promised to keep him a long while； if the Blackfeet or the Crows do not
steal him。〃
Uncheedah was not fully satisfied with the boy's free offerings。
Perhaps it had not occurred to him what she really wanted。 But
Uncheedah knew where his affection was vested。 His faithful dog； his
pet and companionHakadah was almost in… separable from the loving
beast。
She was sure that it would be difficult to obtain his consent to sacrifice
the animal； but she ven… tured upon a final appeal。
〃You must remember；〃 she said； 〃that in this offering you will call
upon him who looks at you from every creation。 In the wind you hear
him whisper to you。 He gives his war…whoop in the thunder。 He
watches you by day with his eye； the sun； at night； he gazes upon your
sleeping countenance through the moon。 In short； it is the Mystery of
Mysteries； who controls all things。 to whom you will make your first
offering。 By this act； you will ask him to grant to you what he has
granted to few men。 I know you wish to be a great warrior and hunter。 I
am not prepared to see my Hakadah show any cowardice； for the love of
possessions is a woman's trait and not a brave's。〃
During this speech； the boy had been complete… ly aroused to the spirit
of manliness； and in his excitement was willing to give up anything he had
even his pony！ But he was unmindful of his friend and companion；
Ohitika； the dog！ So； scarcely had Uncheedah finished speaking； when he
almost shouted：
〃Grandmother； I will give up any of my pos… sessions for the offering
to the Great Mystery！ You may select what you think will be most pleas…
ing to him。〃
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There were two silent spectators of this little dialogue。 One was
Wahchewin； the other was Ohitika。 The woman had been invited to stay；
although only a neighbor。 The dog； by force of habit； had taken up his
usual position by the side of his master when they entered the teepee。
With… out moving a muscle； save those of his eyes； he had been a very
close observer of what passed。
Had the dog but moved once to attract the at… tention of his little friend；
he might have been dissuaded from that impetuous exclamation：
〃Grandmother； I will give up any of my posses… sions！〃
It was hard for Uncheedah to tell the boy that he must part with his
dog； but she was equal to the situation。
〃Hakadah；〃 she proceeded cautiously； 〃you are a young brave。 I
know； though young； your heart is strong and your courage is great。 You
will be pleased to give up the dearest thing you have for your first offering。
You must give up Ohitika。 He is brave； and you； too； are brave。 He
will not fear death； you will bear his loss brave… ly。 Comehere are four
bundles of paints and a filled pipelet us go to the place。〃
When the last words were uttered； Hakadah did not seem to hear them。
He was simply unable to speak。 To a civilized eye； he would have ap…
peared at that moment like a little copper statue。 His bright black eyes
were fast melting in floods of tears； when he caught his grandmother's eye
and recollected her oft…repeated adage： 〃Tears for woman and the war…
whoop for man to drown sorrow！〃
He swallowed two or three big mouthfuls of heart…ache and the little
warrior was master of the situation。
〃Grandmother； my Brave will have to die！ Let me tie together two of
the prettiest tails of the squirrels that he and I killed this morning； to show
to the Great Mystery what a hunter he has been。 Let me paint him
myself。〃
This request Uncheedah could not refuse and she left the pair alone for
a few minutes； while she went to ask Wacoota to execute Ohi… tika。
Every Indian boy knows that； when a warrior is about to meet death；
he must sing a death dirge。 Hakadah thought of his Ohitika as a person
who would meet his death without a struggle； so he began
