indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第25节
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〃I was rudely awakened by the report of a gun directly under me。 At
the same time； I thought some one was trying to shake me off the tree；
Instantly I reached for my gun。 Alas！ it was gone ！ At the first shake of
the tree by my visi… tor； a grizzly bear； the gun had fallen； and as it was
cocked； it went off。
〃The bear picked up the weapon and threw it violently away； then he
again shook the tree with all his strength。 I shouted：
〃'I have still a bow and a quiver full of arrows； you had better let me
alone。'
〃He replied to this with a rough growl。 I sent an arrow into his side；
and he groaned like a man as he tried hard to pull it out。 I had to give him
several more before he went a short distance away； and died。 It was now
daylight； so I came down from my perch。 I was stiff； and scarcely able to
walk。 I found that the bear had killed both of my little friends； the
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porcupines； and eaten most of the meat。
〃Perhaps you wonder； Ohiyesa； why I did not use my gun in the
beginning； but I had learned that if I once missed my aim with it； I had no
second chance。 I have told of this particular ad… venture； because it was
an unusual experience to see so many different animals in one night。 I
have often been in similar places； and killed one or two。 Once a common
black bear stole a whole deer from me without waking me。 But all this
life is fast disappearing； and the world is becoming different。〃
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VII The End of the Bear Dance
IT was one of the superstitions of the Santee Sioux to treat disease
from the standpoint of some ani… mal or inanimate thing。 That person
who； according to their belief； had been commissioned to become a
medicine man or a war chief； must not disobey the bear or other creature
or thing which gave him his commission。 If he ever ventured to do so； the
offender must pay for his insubor… dination with his life； or that of his own
child or dearest friend。 It was supposed to be necessary that the
supernatural orders be carried into effect at a particular age and a certain
season of the year。 Occasionally a very young man； who ex… cused
himself on the ground of youth and mod… esty； might be forgiven。
One of my intimate friends had been a sufferer from what； I suppose；
must have been consump… tion。 He； like myself； had a grandmother in
whom he had unlimited faith。 But she was a very ambitious and
pretentious woman。 Among her many claims was that of being a great
〃medicine woman；〃 and many were deceived by it； but really she was a
fraud； for she did not give any medicine； but 〃conjured〃 the sick
exclusively。
At this time my little friend was fast losing ground； in spite of his
grandmother's great preten… sions。 At last I hinted to him that my grand…
mother was a herbalist； and a skilful one。 But he hinted back to me that
'most any old woman who could dig roots could be a herbalist； and that
with… out a supernatural commission there was no power that could cope
with disease。 I defended my ideal on the ground that there are
supernatural powers in the herbs themselves； hence those who under…
stand them have these powers at their command。
〃But；〃 insisted my friend； 〃one must get his knowledge from the Great
Mystery！〃
This completely silenced my argument； but did not shake my faith in
my grandmother's ability。
Redhorn was a good boy； and I loved him。 I visited him often； and
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found him growing weaker day by day。
〃Ohiyesa；〃 he said to me one day； 〃my grand… mother has discovered
the cause of my sickness。〃
I eagerly interrupted him by shouting： 〃And can she cure you now；
Redhorn？〃
〃Of course；〃 he replied； 〃she cannot until I have fulfilled the
commandment。 I have confessed to her that two years ago I received my
commis… sion； and I should have made a Bear Dance and proclaimed
myself a medicine man last spring； when I had seen thirteen winters。 You
see； I was ashamed to proclaim myself a medicine man； being so young；
and for this I am punished。 However； my grandmother says it is not yet
too late。 But； Ohiyesa； I am as weak now as a rheumatic old man。 I can
scarcely stand up。 They say that I can ap… point some one else to act for
me。 He will be the active bearI shall have to remain in the hole。
Would you； Ohiyesa； be willing to act the bear for me？ You know he has
to chase the dancers away from his den。〃
〃Redhorn；〃 I replied with much embarrass… ment；〃 I should be happy
to do anything that I could for you； but I cannot be a bear。 I feel that I am
not fit。 I am not large enough； I am not strong enough； and I don't
understand the habits of the animal well enough。 I do not think you
would be pleased with me as your substitute。〃
Redhorn finally decided that he would engage a larger boy to perform
for him。 A few days later； it was announced by the herald that my
friend would give a Bear Dance； at which he was to be publicly
proclaimed a medicine man。 It would be the great event of his short
existence； for the dis… ease had already exhausted his strength and vital… ity。
Of course； we all understood that there would be an active youth to exhibit
the ferocious nature of the beast after which the dance is named。
The Bear Dance was an entertainment； a relig… ious rite； a method of
treating diseaseall in one。 A strange thing about it was that no woman
was allowed to participate in the orgies； unless she was herself the bear。
The den was usually dug about two hundred yards from the camp； on
some conspicuous plain。 It was about two feet deep and six feet square
and over it was constructed an arbor of boughs with four openings。
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When the bear man sang； all the men and boys would gather and dance
about the den； and when he came out and pursued them there was a hasty
retreat。 It was supposed that whoever touched the bear without being
touched by him would overcome a foe in the field。 If one was touched；
the reverse was to be expected。 The thing which caused most anxiety
among the dancers was the superstition that if one of them should
accidentally trip and fall while pursued by the bear； a sudden death would
visit him or his nearest relative。
Boys of my age were disposed to run some risk in this dance； they
would take every opportunity to strike at the bear man with a short switch；
while the older men shot him with powder。 It may as well be admitted
that one reason for my declining the honor offered me by my friend
Redhorn was that I was afraid of powder； and I much preferred to be one
of the dancers and take my chances of touching the bear man without
being touched。
It was a beautiful summer's day。 The forest behind our camp was
sweet with the breath of blossoming flowers。 The teepees faced a large
lake； which we called Bedatanka。 Its gentle waves cooled the
atmosphere。 The water…fowl disported themselves over its surface； and
the birds of pass… age overhead noisily expressed their surprise at the
excitement and confusion in our midst。
The herald； with his brassy voice； again went the rounds； announcing
the day's event and the tardy fulfillment of the boy's commission。 Then
came the bustle of preparation。 The out…door
