indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第28节
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moose； deer and antelope were the ruling people。
〃These soon became conceited and considered themselves very
important； and thought no one could withstand them。 The buffalo made
war up… on the smaller tribes； and destroyed many。 So one day the Great
Mystery thought it best to change the people in form and in language。
〃He made a great tent and kept it dark for ten days。 Into this tent he
invited the different bands； and when they came out they were greatly
changed； and some could not talk at all after that。 How… ever； there is a
sign language given to all the ani… mals that no man knows except some
medicine men； and they are under a heavy penalty if they should tell it。
〃The buffalo came out of the darkened tent the clumsiest of all the
animals。 The elk and moose were burdened with their heavy and many…
branched horns； while the antelope and deer were made the most
defenseless of animals； only that they are fleet of foot。 The bear and the
wolf were made to prey upon all the others。
〃Man was alone then。 When the change came； the Great Mystery
allowed him to keep his own shape and language。 He was king over all
the animals； but they did not obey him。 From that day； man's spirit may
live with the beasts be… fore he is born a man。 He will then know the
animal language but he cannot tell it in human speech。 He always retains
his sympathy with them； and can converse with them in dreams。
〃I must not forget to tell you that the Great Mystery pitched his tent in
this very region。 Some legends say that the Minnewakan Chantay was
the tent itself； which afterward became earth and stones。 Many of the
animals were washed and changed in this lake； the Minnewakan； or
Mysterious Water。 It is the only inland water we know that is salt。 No
animal has ever swum in this lake and lived。〃
〃Tell me；〃 I eagerly asked； 〃is it dangerous to man also？〃
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〃Yes；〃 he replied； 〃we think so； and no In… dian has ever ventured in
that lake to my know… ledge。 That is why the lake is called Mysterious；〃
he repeated。
〃I shall now tell you of Chotanka。 He was the greatest of medicine
men。 He declared that he was a grizzly bear before he was born in human
form。〃 Weyuha seemed to become very earnest when he reached this point
in his story。 〃Listen to Chotanka's life as a grizzly bear。〃
〃'As a bear；' he used to say； 'my home was in sight of the Minnewakan
Chantay。 I lived with my mother only one winter； and I only saw my
father when I was a baby。 Then we lived a little way from the Chantay to
the north； among scattered oak upon a hillside overlooking the
Minnewakan。
〃'When I first remember anything； I was playing outside of our home
with a buffalo skull that I had found near by。 I saw something that
looked strange。 It walked upon two legs； and it carried a crooked stick；
and some red willows with feathers tied to them。 It threw one of the wil…
lows at me； and I showed my teeth and retreated within our den。
〃'Just then my father and mother came home with a buffalo calf。
They threw down the dead calf； and ran after the queer thing。 He had
long hair upon a round head。 His face was round； too。 He ran and
climbed up into a small oak tree。
〃'My father and mother shook him down； but not before he had shot
some of his red willows into their sides。 Mother was very sick； but she
dug some roots and ate them and she was well again。' It was thus that
Chotanka was first taught the use of certain roots for curing wounds and
sickness；〃 Weyuha added。
〃'One day'〃he resumed the grizzly's story 〃'when I was out hunting
with my mother my father had gone away and never came back we
found a buffalo cow with her calf in a ravine。 She advised me to follow
her closely； and we crawled along on our knees。 All at once mother
crouched down under the grass； and I did the same。 We saw some of
those queer beings that we called 〃two legs；〃 riding upon big…tail deer
（ponies）。 They yelled as they rode toward us。 Mother growled terribly
and rushed upon them。 She caught one； but many more came with their
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dogs and drove us into a thicket。 They sent the red willows singing after
us； and two of them stuck in mother's side。 When we got away at last she
tried to pull them out； but they hurt her terribly。 She pulled them both
out at last； but soon after she lay down and died。
〃'I stayed in the woods alone for two days then I went around the
Minnewakan Chantay on the south side and there made my lonely den。
There I found plenty of hazel nuts； acorns and wild plums。 Upon the
plains the teepsinna were abundant； and I saw nothing of my enemies。
〃'One day I found a footprint not unlike my own。 I followed it to see
who the stranger might be。 Upon the bluffs among the oak groves I dis…
covered a beautiful young female gathering acorns。 She was of a
different band from mine； for she wore a jet black dress。
〃'At first she was disposed to resent my intru… sion； but when I told her
of my lonely life she agreed to share it with me。 We came back to my
home on the south side of the hill。 There we lived happy for a whole
year。 When the autumn came again Woshepee； for this was her name；
said that she must make a warm nest for the winter； and I was left alone
again。'
〃Now；〃 said Weyuha； 〃I have come to a part of my story that few
people understand。 All the long winter Chotanka slept in his den； and
with the early spring there came a great thunder storm。 He was aroused
by a frightful crash that seemed to shake the hills； and lo！ a handsome
young man stood at his door。 He looked； but was not afraid； for he saw
that the stranger carried none of those red willows with feathered tips。
He was unarmed and smiling。
〃'I come；' said he； 'with a challenge to run a race。 Whoever wins will
be the hero of his kind； and the defeated must do as the winner says there…
after。 This is a rare honor that I have brought you。 The whole world
will see the race。 The animal world will shout for you； and the spirits
will cheer me on。 You are not a coward； and therefore you will not refuse
my challenge。'
〃'No；' replied Chotanka； after a short hesita… tion。 The young man was
fine…looking； but lightly built。
〃'We shall start from the Chantay； and that will be our goal。 Come；
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let us go； for the universe is waiting！' impatiently exclaimed the stranger。
〃He passed on in advance； and just then an old； old wrinkled man
came to Chotanka's door。 He leaned forward upon his staff。
〃'My son；' he said to him； 'I don't want to make you a coward； but this
young man is the greatest gambler of the universe。 He has pow… erful
medicine。 He gambles for life； be careful！ My brothers and I are the only
ones who have ever beaten him。 But he is safe； for if he is killed he can
resurrect himselfI tell you he is great medicine。
〃'However； I think that I can save youlis… ten！ He will run behind you
all the way until you are within a short distance of the goal。 Then he will
pass you by in a flash； for his name is Zig… Zag Fire！ （lightning）。 Here is
my medicine。' So speaking； he gave me a rabbit skin and the gum of a
certain plant。 'When you come near the goal； r
