indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第37节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they would have met with complete success。 As it was； they caused us
no little trouble and anxiety； but after a hot pur… suit of a whole day； with
the assistance of the half… breeds our horses were recaptured。
Slow Dog was one of those Indians who are filled with conceit； and
boasting loudly their pretensions as medicine men； without any success；
only bring upon themselves an unnecessary amount of em… barrassment
and ridicule。 Yet there is one quali… ty always possessed by such persons；
among a savage people as elsewherenamely； great perse… verance and
tenacity in their self…assertion。 So the blessing of ignorance kept Slow Dog
125
… Page 126…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
always cheerful； and he seemed； if anything； to derive some pleasure from
the endless insinuations and ridicule of the people！
Now Slow Dog had loudly proclaimed； on the night before this event；
that he had received the warning of a bad dream； in which he had seen all
the ponies belonging to the tribe stampeded and driven westward。
〃But who cares for Slow Dog's dream？〃 said everybody； 〃none of the
really great medicine men have had any such visions！〃
Therefore our little community； given as they were to superstition；
anticipated no special danger。 It is true that when the first scout reported
the approach of troops some of the people had weak… ened； and said to one
another：
〃After all； perhaps poor Slow Dog may be right； but we are always too
ready to laugh at him！ 〃
However； this feeling quickly passed away when the jovial Canadians
arrived； and the old man was left alone to brood upon his warning。
He was faithful to his dream。 During all the hilarity of the feast and
the drinking of the mock whiskey； be acted as self…constituted sentinel。
Finally； when everybody else had succumbed to sleep； he gathered
together several broken and discarded lariats of various materialsleather；
buffalo's hair and horse's hair。 Having length… ened this variegated rope
with innumerable knots； he fastened one end of it around the neck of his
old war…horse； and tied the other to his wrist。 In… stead of sleeping inside
the tent as usual； he rolled himself in a buffalo robe and lay down in its
shadow。 From this place he watched until the moon had disappeared
behind the western hori… zon； and just as the grey dawn began to appear in
the east his eyes were attracted to what seemed to be a dog moving among
the picketed ponies。 Upon a closer scrutiny； he saw that its actions were
unnatural。
〃Toka abe do！ toka abe do！〃 （the enemy！ the enemy！） exclaimed Slow
Dog。 With a war… whoop he sprang toward the intruder； who rose up and
leaped upon the back of Slow Dog's war… steed。 He had cut the hobble；
as well as the de… vice of the old medicine man。
The Sioux now bent his bow to shoot； but it was too late。 The other
quickly dodged behind the animal； and from under its chest he sent a
126
… Page 127…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
deadly arrow to Slow Dog's bosom。 Then he re… mounted the pony and
set off at full speed after his comrades； who had already started。
As the Sioux braves responded to the alarm； and passed by the daring
old warrior in pursuit of their enemies； who had stampeded most of the
loose ponies； the old man cried out：
〃I； brave Slow Dog； who have so often made a path for you on the
field of battle； am now about to make one to the land of spirits！〃
So speaking； the old man died。 The Sioux were joined in the chase
by the friendly mixed… bloods； and in the end the Blackfeet were com…
pelled to pay dearly for the blood of the poor old man。
On that beautiful morning all Nature seemed brilliant and smiling； but
the Sioux were mourn… ing and wailing for the death of one who had been
an object of ridicule during most of his life。 They appreciated the part
that Slow Dog had played in this last event； and his memory was honored
by all the tribe。
V： An Adventurous Journey
IT must now be about thirty years since our long journey in search of
new hunting…grounds； from the Assiniboine river to the Upper Missouri。
The buffalo； formerly so abundant between the two rivers； had begun to
shun their usual haunts； on account of the great numbers of Canadian half…
breeds in that part of the country。 There was also the first influx of
English sportsmen； whose wholesale methods of destruction wrought such
havoc with the herds。 These seemingly intelli… gent animals correctly
prophesied to the natives the approach of the pale…face。
As we had anticipated； we found game very scarce as we travelled
slowly across the vast plains。 There were only herds of antelope and
sometimes flocks of waterfowl； with here and there a lonely bull
straggling aimlessly along。 At first our party was small； but as we
proceeded on our way we fell in with some of the western bands of Sioux
and Assiniboines； who are close connections。
Each day the camp was raised and marched from ten to twenty miles。
One might wonder how such a cavalcade would look in motion。 The
127
… Page 128…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
only vehicles were the primitive travaux drawn by ponies and large
Esquimaux dogs。 These are merely a pair of shafts fastened on either
side of the animal； and trailing on the ground behind。 A large basket
suspended between the poles； just above the ground； supplied a place for
goods and a safe nest for the babies； or an occasional helpless old woman。
Most of our effects were carried by pack ponies； and an Indian packer
excels all oth… ers in quickness and dexterity。
The train was nearly a mile long； headed by a number of old warriors
on foot； who carried the filled pipe； and decided when and where to stop。
A very warm day made much trouble for the women who had charge of
the moving household。 The pack dogs were especially unmanageable。
They would become very thirsty and run into the water with their loads。
The scolding of the women； the singing of the old men and the yelps of the
Indian dudes made our progress a noisy one； and like that of a town in
motion rather than an ord… inary company of travelers。
This journey of ours was not without its excit… ing episodes。 My
uncle had left the main body and gone off to the south with a small party；
as he was accustomed to do every summer； to seek revenge of some sort
on the whites for all the in… juries that they had inflicted upon our family。
This time he met with a company of soldiers be… tween Fort Totten and
Fort Berthold； in North Dakota。 Somehow； these seven Indians surprised
the troopers in broad daylight； while eating their dinner； and captured the
whole outfit； including nearly all their mules and one white horse； with
such of their provisions as they cared to carry back with them。 No doubt
these soldiers reported at the fort that they had been attacked by a large
party of Indians； and I dare say some promo… tions rewarded their tale of a
brave defense！ However； the facts are just as I have stated them。 My
uncle brought home the white horse； and the fine Spanish mules were
taken by the others。 Among the things they brought back with them were
several loaves of raised bread； the first I had ever seen； and a great
curiosity。 We called it aguyape tachangu； or lung bread； from its spongy
consistency。
Although when a successful war…party returns with so many trophies；
there is usually much dancing and hilarity； there was almost nothing of the
128
… Page 129…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
kind on this occasion。 The reason was that the enemy made little
resistance； and then there was our old tradition with regard to the whites
