indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第36节
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my uncle for a long time。 There seemed to be some objec… tion to him on
the part of the girl's parents； al… though the girl herself was willing。
The large camp had been broken up for the fall hunt； and my uncle's
band went one way； while the young man's family went in the other
direction。 After three days' travelling； we came to a good hunting…ground；
and made camp。 One evening somebody saw the young man。 He had
been fol… lowing his sweetheart and sleeping out…of…doors all that time；
although the nights were already frosty and cold。 He met her every day in
secret and she brought him food； but he would not come near the teepee。
Finally her people yielded； and she went back with him to his band。
When we lived our natural life； there was much singing of war songs；
medicine； hunting and love songs。 Sometimes there were few words or
none； but everything was understood by the inflection。 From this I have
often thought that there must be a language of dumb beasts。
The crude musical instrument of the Sioux； the flute； was made to
appeal to the susceptible ears of the maidens late into the night。 There
comes to me now the picture of two young men with their robes over their
heads； and only a portion of the hand…made and carved chotanka； the flute；
protrud… ing from its folds。 I can see all the maidens slyly turn their
heads to listen。 Now I hear one of the youths begin to sing a plaintive
serenade as in days gone by：
〃Hay…ay…ay！ Hay…ay…ay！ a…ahay…ay！〃 （This 〃Listen！ you
will hear of him Maiden； you will hear of him Listen！
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he will shortly go
Wasula feels that she must come out； but she has no good excuse； so
she stirs up the embers of the fire and causes an unnecessary smoke in the
teepee。 Then she has an excuse to come out and fix up the tent flaps。
She takes a long time to ad… just these pointed ears of the teepee； with their
long poles； for the wind seems to be unsettled。
Finally Chotanka ceases to be heard。 In a moment a young man
appears ghost…like at the maiden's side。
〃So it is you； is it？〃 she asks。
〃Is your grandmother in？〃 he inquires。
〃What a brave man you are； to fear an old wo… man！ We are free； the
country is wide。 We can go away； and come back when the storm is
over。〃
〃Ho；〃 he replies。 〃It is not that I fear her； or the consequences of an
elopement。 I fear noth… ing except that we may be separated！〃
The girl goes into the lodge for a moment； then slips out once more。
〃Now；〃 she exclaims； 〃to the wood or the prairie！ I am yours！〃 They dis…
appear in the darkness。
IV： A Meeting on the Plains
WE were encamped at one time on the Souris or Mouse river； a tribu…
tary of the Assiniboine。 The buffaloes were still plenty； hence we were
living on the 〃fat of the land。〃 One afternoon a scout came in with the
announcement that a body of United States troops was approaching！ This
re… port； of course； caused much uneasiness among our people。
A council was held immediately； in the course of which the scout was
put through a rigid exam… ination。 Before a decision had been reached；
an… other scout came in from the field。 He declared that the moving train
reported as a body of troops was in reality a train of Canadian carts。
The two reports differed so widely that it was deemed wise to send out
more runners to observe this moving body closely； and ascertain definitely
its character。 These soon returned with the pos… itive information that the
Canadians were at hand； 〃for；〃 said they； 〃there are no bright metals in the
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moving train to send forth flashes of light。 The separate bodies are short；
like carts with ponies； and not like the long； four…wheeled wagon drawn by
four or six mules； that the soldiers use。 They are not buffaloes； and they
cannot be mounted troops； with pack…mules； because the individual bodies
are too long for that。 Besides； the soldiers usually have their chief； with
his guards； leading the train； and the little chiefs are also separated from
the main body and ride at one side！〃
From these observations it was concluded that we were soon to meet
with the bois brules； as the French call their mixed…bloods； presumably
from the color of their complexions。 Some say that they are named from
the 〃burned forests〃 which； as wood…cutters； they are accustomed to leave
be… hind them。 Two or three hours later； at about sunset； our ears began
to distinguish the peculiar music that always accompanied a moving train
of their carts。 It is like the grunting and squealing of many animals； and is
due to the fact that the wheels and all other parts of these vehicles are
made of wood。 Our dogs gleefully augmented the volume of
inharmonious sound。
They stopped a little way from our camp； upon a grassy plain； and the
ponies were made to wheel their clumsy burdens into a perfect circle； the
shafts being turned inward。 Thus was formed a sort of barricadequite a
usual and necessary pre… caution in their nomadic and adventurous life。
Within this circle the tents were pitched； and many cheerful fires were
soon kindled。 The garcons were hurriedly driving the ponies to water；
with much cracking of whips and outbursting of im… patient oaths。
Our chief and his principal warriors briefly con… ferred with the
strangers； and it was understood by both parties that no thought of
hostilities lurked in the minds of either。
After having observed the exchange of presents that always follows a
〃peace council；〃 there were friendly and hospitable feasts in both camps。
The bois brules had been long away from any fort or trading…post； and it
so happened that their inevi… table whiskey keg was almost empty。 They
had diluted the few gills remaining with several large kettles full of water。
In order to have any sort of offensive taste； it was necessary to add
cayenne pepper and a little gentian。
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Our men were treated to this concoction； and seeing that two or three
of the half…breeds pre… tended to become intoxicated； our braves followed
their example。 They made night intolerable with their shouts and singing
until past midnight； when gradually all disturbance ceased； and both
camps appeared to be wrapped in deep slumber。
Suddenly the loud report of a gun stirred the sleepers。 Many more
reports were heard in quick succession； all coming from the camp of the
bois brules。 Every man among the Sioux sprang to his feet； weapon in
hand； and many ran towards their ponies。 But there was one significant
point about the untimely firing of the gunsthey were all di… rected
heavenward！ One of our old men； who understood better than any one
else the manners of the half…breeds； thus proclaimed at the top of his
voice：
〃Let the people sleep！ This that we have heard is the announcement of
a boy's advent into the world！ It is their custom to introduce with
gunpowder a new…born boy！〃
Again quiet was restored in the neighboring camps； and for a time the
night reigned undis… turbed。 But scarcely had we fallen into a sound sleep
when we were for the second time rudely aroused by the firing of guns and
the yelling of warriors。 This time it was discovered that almost all the
ponies； including those of our neighbors； had been stealthily driven off by
horse…thieves of another tribe。
These miscreants were adepts in their profes… sion； for they had
accomplished their purpose with much skill； almost under the very eyes of
the foe； and had it not been for the invincible superstition of Slow Dog；
they would have met with complete success。 As it was； they caused us
no little troub
