old indian days(古印第时期)-第21节
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〃Hastily I mounted and took flight along the ravine until I had to come
out upon the open plain； in full view of a party of about thirty Sioux in
war…paint； coming back from the direction of Fort Rice。 They
immediately gave chase； yelling and flourishing their guns and tomahawks
over their heads。 I urged my horse to his best speed； for I felt that if they
should overtake me； nothing could save me！ My friend； White Elk； here；
was one of that war… party。
〃I saw that I had a fair lead and the best horse； and was gaining upon
them； when about two miles out I met some more of the party who had
lingered behind the rest。 I was sur… rounded！
〃I turned toward the north； to a deep gulch that I knew I should find
there； and I led my horse along a narrow and slippery ridge to a deep hole。
Here I took up my position。 I guarded the pass with my bow and arrows；
and they could not reach me unless they should fol… low the ridge in single
file。 I knew that they would not storm my position； for that is not the
Indian way of fighting； but I supposed that they would try to tire me out。
They yelled and hooted； and shot many bullets and arrows over my head
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to terrify me into surrender； but I re… mained motionless and silent。
〃Night came； with a full round moon。 All was light as day except the
place where I stood； half frozen and not daring to move。 The bot… tom of
the gulch was as black as a well and almost as cold。 The wolves howled
all around me in the stillness。
At last I heard the footsteps of horses re… treating； and then no other
sound。 Still I dared not come out。 I must have slept； for it was dawn
when I seemed to hear faintly the yelling of warriors； and then I heard my
own name。
〃'Zuyamani； tokiya nunka huwo？' （Where are you； Zuyamani？） they
shouted。 A party of my friends had come out to meet me and had
followed our trail。 I was scarcely able to walk when I came out； but they
filled the pipe and held it up to me； as is done in recognition of
distinguished service。 They escorted me into the post； singing war songs
and songs of brave deeds； and there I delivered up his letters to the Chief
Soldier。〃
Again the drum was struck and the old men cheered Zuyamani； who
added：
〃I think that Poor Dog was right； for the Great Father never gave me
any credit； nor did he ever reward me for what I had done。 Yet I have not
been without honor； for my own people have not forgotten me； even
though I went upon the white man's errand。〃
VII THE GRAVE OF THE DOG
The full moon was just clear of the high mountain ranges。
Surrounded by a ring of bluish haze； it looked almost as if it were frozen
against the impalpable blue… black of the reckless midwinter sky。
The game scout moved slowly homeward； well wrapped in his long
buffalo robe； which was securely belted to his strong loins； his quiver
tightly tied to his shoulders so as not to impede his progress。 It was
enough to carry upon his feet two strong snow…shoes； for the snow was
deep and its crust too thin to bear his weight。
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As he emerged from the lowlands into the upper regions； he loomed up
a gigantic figure against the clear； moonlit horizon。 His pic… turesque
foxskin cap with all its trimmings was incrusted with frost from the breath
of his nos… trils； and his lagging footfall sounded crisply。 The distance he
had that day covered was enough for any human endurance； yet he was
neither faint nor hungry； but his feet were frozen into the psay； the snow…
shoes； so that he could not run faster than an easy slip and slide。
At last he reached the much…coveted point the crown of the last
ascent； and when he smelled fire and the savory odor of the jerked buffalo
meat； it well…nigh caused him to waver！ But he must not fail to follow
the custom of untold ages； and give the game scout's wolf call before
enter… ing camp。
Accordingly he paused upon the highest point of the ridge and uttered
a cry to which the hungry cry of a real wolf would have seemed but a
coyote's yelp in comparison！ Then it was that the rest of the buffalo
hunters knew that their game scout was returning with welcome news； for
the unsuccessful scout enters the camp silently。
A second time he gave the call to assure his hearers that their ears did
not deceive them。 The gray wolves received the news with perfect un…
derstanding。 It meant food！ 〃Woo…o…o…o！ woo…o…o…o！〃 came from all
directions； especially from the opposite ridge。 Thus the ghostly； cold；
weird night was enlivened with the music from many wild throats。
Down the gradual slope the scout hastened； his footfall was the only
sound that broke the stillness after the answers to his call had ceased。 As
he crossed a little ridge an immense wolf suddenly confronted him； and
instead of retreat… ing； calmly sat up and gazed steadfastly into his face。
〃Welcome； welcome； friend！〃 the hunter spoke as he passed。
In the meantime； the hunters at the temporary camp were aroused to a
high pitch of excitement。 Some turned their buffalo robes and put them
on in such a way as to convert themselves into make…believe bison； and
began to tread the snow； while others were singing the buffalo song； that
their spirits might be charmed and allured within the circle of the camp…
fires。 The scout； too； was singing his buffalo bull song in a guttural；
lowing chant as he neared the hunting camp。 Within arrow…shot he
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paused again； while the usual cere… monies were enacted for his reception。
This done； he was seated with the leaders in a chosen place。
〃It was a long run；〃 he said； 〃but there were no difficulties。 I found
the first herd directly north of here。 The second herd； a great one； is
northeast； near Shell Lake。 The snow is deep。 The buffalo can only
follow their leader in their retreat。〃
〃Hi； hi； hi！〃 the hunters exclaimed solemnly in token of gratitude；
raising their hands heaven… ward and then pointing them toward the
ground。
〃Ho； kola！ one more round of the buffalo… pipe； then we shall retire； to
rise before daybreak for the hunt；〃 advised one of the leaders。 Si… lently
they partook in turn of the long…stemmed pipe； and one by one； with a
dignified 〃Ho！〃 departed to their teepees。
The scout betook himself to his little old buf… falo teepee； which he
used for winter hunting expeditions。 His faithful Shunka； who had been
all this time its only occupant； met him at the entrance as dogs alone know
how to welcome a lifelong friend。 As his master entered he stretched
himself in his old…time way； from the tip of his tail to that of his tongue；
and finished by curling both ends upward。
〃Ho； mita shunka； eat this； for you must be hungry！〃 So saying； the
scout laid before his canine friend the last piece of his dried buf… falo meat。
It was the sweetest meal ever eaten by a dog； judging by his long
smacking of his lips after he had swallowed it！
The hunting party was soon lost in heavy slumber。 Not a sound could
be heard save the gnawing of the ponies upon the cottonwood bark； which
was provided for them instead of hay in the winter time。
All about Shell Lake the bison were gathered in great herds。 The
unmistakable signs of the sky had warned them of approaching bad
weather。 The moon's robe was girdled with the rainbow wampum of
heaven。 The very music of the snow under their feet had given them
warning。
