old indian days(古印第时期)-第15节
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had held out wonderfully； but it was now all but consumed。 The Sioux
had but little am… munition； and the snow was still so deep that it was
impossible for them to move away to any other region in search of game。
The worst was feared； indeed； some of the children and feeble old people
had already succumbed。
White Lodge again called his men together in council； and it was
determined to send a mes… senger to Fort Ellis to ask for relief。 A young
man called Face…the…Wind was chosen for his exceptional qualities of
speed and endurance upon long journeys。 The old medicine…man； whose
shrewd prophecy had gained for him the confidence of the people； now
came forward。 He had closely observed the appearance of the messenger
selected； and had taken note of the storm and distance。 Accordingly he
said：
〃My children； the Great Mystery is of… fended； and this is the cause of
all our suffering！ I see a shadow hanging over our messenger； but I will
pray to the Great Spiritperhaps he may yet save him！Great Mystery； be
thou merciful！ Strengthen this young man for his journey； that he may be
able to finish it and to send us aid！ If we see the sun of summer again；
we will offer the choicest of our meats to thee； and do thee great honor！〃
During this invocation； as occasionally hap… pens in March； a loud peal
of thunder was heard。 This coincidence threw the prophet al… most into a
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
frenzy； and the poor people were all of a tremble。 Face…the…Wind
believed that the prayer was directly answered； and though weakened by
fasting and unfit for the task be… fore him； he was encouraged to make the
at… tempt。
He set out on the following day at dawn； and on the third day
staggered into the fort； looking like a specter and almost frightening the
people。 He was taken to McLeod's house and given good care。 The
poor fellow； deli… rious with hunger； fancied himself engaged in mortal
combat with Eyah； the god of famine； who has a mouth extending from
ear to ear。 Wherever he goes there is famine； for he swal… lows all that he
sees； even whole nations！
The legend has it that Eyah fears nothing but the jingling of metal： so
finally the dying man looked up into McLeod's face and cried： 〃Ring your
bell in his face； Wahadah！〃
The kind…hearted factor could not refuse； and as the great bell used to
mark the hours of work and of meals pealed out untimely upon the frosty
air； the Indian started up and in that moment breathed his last。 He had
given no news； and McLeod and his sons could only guess at the state of
affairs upon the Mouse River。
While the men were in council with her father； Magaskawee had
turned over the con… tents of her work…bag。 She had found a small roll of
birch…bark in which she kept her porcu… pine quills for embroidery； and
pulled the deli… cate layers apart。 The White Swan was not altogether the
untutored Indian maiden； for she had lived in the family of a missionary in
the States； and had learned both to speak and write some English。 There
was no ink； no pen or pencil； but with her bone awl she pressed upon the
white side of the bark the following words：
MR。 ANGUS McLEOD：
We are near the hollow rock on the Mouse River。 The buffalo went
away across the Missouri； and our powder and shot are gone。 We are
starving。 Good…bye； if I don't see you again。
MAGASKAWEE。
The girl entrusted this little note to her grandmother； and she in turn
gave it to the messenger。 But he； as we know； was unable to deliver it。
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〃Angus； tell the boys to bury the poor fel… low to…morrow。 I dare say
he brought us some news from White Lodge； but we have got to go to the
happy hunting…grounds to get it； or wait till the exile band returns in the
spring。 Evidently；〃 continued McLeod； 〃he fell sick on the way： or else
he was starving！〃
This last suggestion horrified Angus。 〃I believe； father；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃that we ought to examine his bundle。〃
A small oblong packet was brought forth from the dead man's belt and
carefully un… rolled。
There were several pairs of moccasins； and within one of these Angus
found something wrapped up nicely。 He proceeded to unwind the long
strings of deerskin with which it was securely tied； and brought forth a
thin sheet of birch…bark。 At first； there seemed to be noth… ing more； but
a closer scrutiny revealed the im… pression of the awl； and the bit of
nature's parchment was brought nearer to his face； and scanned with a zeal
equal to that of any student of ancient hieroglyphics。
〃This tells the whole story； father！〃 ex… claimed the young man at last。
〃Magaska… wee's notejust listen！〃 and he read it aloud。 〃I shall start to…
morrow。 We can take enough provision and ammunition on two sleds；
with six dogs to each。 I shall want three good men to go with me。〃
Angus spoke with deci… sion。
〃Well； we can't afford to lose our best hunt… ers； and you might also
bring home with you what furs and robes they have on hand；〃 was his
father's prudent reply。
〃I don't care particularly for the skins；〃 Angus declared； but he at once
began hurried preparations for departure。
In the meantime affairs grew daily more desperate in the exile village
on the far…away Mouse River； and a sort of Indian hopelessness and
resignation settled down upon the little community。 There were few who
really ex… pected their messenger to reach the fort； or be… lieved that even
if he did so； relief would be sent in time to save them。 White Lodge； the
father of his people； was determined to share with them the last mouthful
of food； and every morning Winona and Magaskawee went with scanty
portions in their hands to those whose supply had entirely failed。
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On the outskirts of the camp there dwelt an old woman with an orphan
grandchild； who had been denying herself for some time in order that the
child might live longer。 This poor teepee the girls visited often； and one
on each side they raised the exhausted woman and poured into her mouth
the warm broth they had brought with them。
It was on the very day Face…the…Wind reached Fort Ellis that a young
hunter who had ventured further from the camp than any one else had the
luck to bring down a solitary deer with his bow and arrow。 In his
weakness he had reached camp very late； bearing the deer with the utmost
difficulty upon his shoulders。 It was instantly separated into as many
pieces as there were lodges of the famishing Sioux。 These delicious
morsels were hastily cooked and eagerly devoured； but among so many
there was scarcely more than a mouthful to the share of each； and the
brave youth himself did not receive enough to appease in the least his
crav… ing！
On the eve of Angus' departure for the exile village； Three Stars； a
devoted suitor of Wi… nona's； accompanied by another Assiniboine brave；
appeared unexpectedly at the fort。 He at once asked permission to join
the relief party； and they set out at daybreak。
The lead…dog was the old reliable Mack； who had been in service for
several seasons on win… ter trips。 All of the white men were clad in
buckskin shirts and pantaloons； with long fringes down the sides； fur caps
and fur…lined moccasins。 Their guns were fastened to the long； toboggan…
like sleds。
The snow had thawed a little and formed an icy crust； and over this
fresh snow had fallen； which a northwest wind swept over the surface like
ashes after a prairie fire。 The sun appeared for a little time in the
morning； but it seemed as if he were
