indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第29节
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my medicine。' So speaking； he gave me a rabbit skin and the gum of a
certain plant。 'When you come near the goal； rub yourself with the gum；
and throw the rabbit skin between you。 He cannot pass you。'
〃'And who are you； grandfather？' Chotanka inquired。
〃'I am the medicine turtle；' the old man re… plied。 'The gambler is a
spirit from heaven； and those whom he outruns must shortly die。 You
have heard； no doubt； that all animals know be… forehand when they are to
be killed； and any man who understands these mysteries may also know
when he is to die。'
The race was announced to the world。 The buffalo； elk； wolves and
all the animals came to look on。 All the spirits of the air came also to
cheer for their comrade。 In the sky the trumpet was soundedthe great
medicine drum was struck。 It was the signal for a start。 The course was
around the Minnewakan。 （That means around the earth or the ocean。）
Everywhere the multi… tude cheered as the two sped by。
〃The young man kept behind Chotanka all the time until they came
once more in sight of the Chantay。 Then he felt a slight shock and he
threw his rabbit skin back。 The stranger tripped and fell。 Chotanka
rubbed himself with the gum； and ran on until he reached the goal。 There
was a great shout that echoed over the earth； but in the heavens there was
muttering and grumbling。 The referee de… clared that the winner would
live to a good old age； and Zig…Zag Fire promised to come at his call。 He
was indeed great medicine；〃 Weyuha concluded。
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〃But you have not told me how Chotanka be… came a man；〃 I said。
〃One night a beautiful woman came to him in his sleep。 She enticed
him into her white teepee to see what she had there。 Then she shut the
door of the teepee and Chotanka could not get out。 But the woman was
kind and petted him so that he loved to stay in the white teepee。 Then it
was that he became a human born。 This is a long story； but I think；
Ohiyesa； that you will re… member it；〃 said Weyuha； and so I did。
II： Manitoshaw's Hunting
IT was in the winter； in the Moon of Difficulty （January）。 We had
eaten our venison roast for sup… per； and the embers were burn… ing
brightly。 Our teepee was es… pecially cheerful。 Uncheedah sat near the
entrance； my uncle and his wife upon the opposite side； while I with my
pets occupied the remaining space。
Wabeda； the dog； lay near the fire in a half doze； watching out of the
corners of his eyes the tame raccoon； which snuggled back against the
walls of the teepee； his shrewd brain； doubtless； concocting some mischief
for the hours of darkness。 I had already recited a legend of our people。
All agreed that I had done well。 Having been generously praised； I was
eager to earn some more compli… ments by learning a new one； so I
begged my uncle to tell me a story。 Musingly he replied：
〃I can give you a Sioux…Cree tradition；〃 and immediately began：
〃Many winters ago； there were six teepees stand… ing on the southern
slope of Moose mountain in the Moon of Wild Cherries （September）。
The men to whom these teepees belonged had been at… tacked by the
Sioux while hunting buffalo； and nearly all killed。 Two or three who
managed to get home to tell their sad story were mortally wounded； and
died soon afterward。 There was only one old man and several small boys
left to hunt and provide for this unfortunate little band of women and
children。
〃They lived upon teepsinna （wild turnips） and berries for many days。
They were almost famished for meat。 The old man was too feeble to
hunt successfully。 One day in this desolate camp a young Cree maiden
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for such they weredeclared that she could no longer sit still and see her
peo… ple suffer。 She took down her dead father's second bow and quiver
full of arrows； and begged her old grandmother to accompany her to Lake
Wana… giska； where she knew that moose had oftentimes been found。 I
forgot to tell you that her name was Manitoshaw。
This Manitoshaw and her old grandmother； Nawakewee； took each a
pony and went far up into the woods on the side of the mountain。 They
pitched their wigwam just out of sight of the lake； and hobbled their
ponies。 Then the old woman said to Manitoshaw：
〃'Go； my granddaughter； to the outlet of the Wanagiska； and see if
there are any moose tracks there。 When I was a young woman； I came
here with your father's father； and we pitched our tent near this spot。 In the
night there came three dif… ferent moose。 Bring me leaves of the birch
and cedar twigs； I will make medicine for moose；' she added。
Manitoshaw obediently disappeared in the woods。 It was a grove of
birch and willow； with two good springs。 Down below was a marshy
place。 Nawakewee had bidden the maiden look for nib… bled birch and
willow twigs； for the moose loves to eat them； and to have her arrow ready
upon the bow…string。 I have seen this very place many a time；〃 added my
uncle； and this simple remark gave to the story an air of real… ity。
〃The Cree maiden went first to the spring； and there found fresh tracks
of the animal she sought。 She gathered some cedar berries and chewed
them； and rubbed some of them on her garments so that the moose might
not scent her。 The sun was al… ready set； and she felt she must return to
Na… wakewee。
〃Just then Hinhankaga； the hooting owl； gave his doleful night call。
The girl stopped and lis… tened attentively。
〃'I thought it was a lover's call；' she whispered to herself。 A singular
challenge pealed across the lake。 She recognized the alarm call of the
loon； and fancied that the bird might have caught a glimpse of her game。
〃Soon she was within a few paces of the tem… porary lodge of pine
boughs and ferns which the grandmother had constructed。 The old
woman met her on the trail。
〃'Ah； my child； you have returned none too soon。 I feared you had
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ventured too far away； for the Sioux often come to this place to hunt。 You
must not expose yourself carelessly on the shore。'
〃As the two women lay down to sleep they could hear the ponies
munch the rich grass in an open spot near by。 Through the smoke hole of
the pine…bough wigwam Manitoshaw gazed up into the starry sky； and
dreamed of what she would do on the morrow when she should surprise
the wily moose。 Her grandmother was already sleep… ing so noisily that
it was enough to scare away the game。 At last the maiden； too； lost
herself in sleep。
〃Old Nawakewee awoke early。 First of all she made a fire and
burned cedar and birch so that the moose might not detect the human
smell。 Then she quickly prepared a meal of wild turnips and berries； and
awoke the maiden； who was surprised to see that the sun was already up。
She ran down to the spring and hastily splashed handsful of the cold water
in her face； then she looked for a moment in its mirror…like surface。
There was the reflection of two moose by the open shore and beyond them
Manitoshaw seemed to see a young man standing。 In another moment all
three had disappeared。
〃'What is the matter with my eyes？ I am not fully awake yet； and I
imagine things。 Ugh； it is all in my eyes；' the maiden repeated to her… self。
She hastened back to Nawakewee。 The vision was so unexpected and so
startling that she could not believe in its truth； and she
