old indian days(古印第时期)-第35节
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arrangements。 She walked alongside with her lariat dragging； and
perfectly free to do as she pleased。
Some hours later； the party ascended a slope from the river bottom to
cross over the divide which lay between the Powder River and a trib… utary
stream。 They had hitherto followed that river in a westerly direction； but
here it took its course southward； winding in a blue streak until lost to
view among the foot…hills of the Big Horn Mountains。 The ford was
deep； with a swift current。 Here and there a bald butte stood out in full
relief against the brilliant blue sky。 The Sioux followed a deep ravine
until they came almost up to the second row of terraces。
〃Whoo！ whoo！〃 came the blood…curdling signal of danger from the
front。 It was no un… familiar soundthe rovers knew it only too well。 It
meant sudden deathor at best a cruel struggle and frantic flight。
Terrified； yet self…possessed； the women turned to fly while yet there
was time。 Instantly the mother looked to Nakpa； who carried on either
side of the saddle her precious boys。 She hurriedly examined the
fastenings to see that all was secure； and then caught her swiftest pony； for；
like all Indian women； she knew just what was happening； and that while
her hus… band was engaged in front with the enemy； she must seek safety
with her babies。
Hardly was she in the saddle when a heart… rending war…whoop
sounded on their flank； and she knew that they were surrounded！
Instinct… ively she reached for her husband's second quiver of arrows；
which was carried by one of the pack ponies。 Alas！ the Crow warriors
were already upon them！ The ponies became un… manageable； and the
wild screams of women and children pierced the awful confusion。
Quick as a flash； Weeko turned again to her babies； but Nakpa had
already disappeared！
Then； maddened by fright and the loss of her children； Weeko became
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forgetful of her sex and tenderness； for she sternly grasped her hus… band's
bow in her left hand to do battle。
That charge of the Crows was a disastrous one； but the Sioux were
equally brave and des… perate。 Charges and counter…charges were made；
and the slain were many on both sides。 The fight lasted until darkness
came。 Then the Crows departed and the Sioux buried their dead。
When the Crows made their flank charge； Nakpa apparently
appreciated the situation。 To save herself and the babies； she took a
desperate chance。 She fled straight through the attack… ing force。
When the warriors came howling upon her in great numbers； she at
once started back the way she had come； to the camp left behind。 They
had traveled nearly three days。 To be sure； they did not travel more than
fifteen miles a day； but it was full forty miles to cover before dark。
〃Look！ look！〃 exclaimed a warrior； 〃two babies hung from the saddle
of a mule！〃
No one heeded this man's call； and his arrow did not touch Nakpa or
either of the boys； but it struck the thick part of the saddle over the mule's
back。
〃Lasso her！ lasso her！〃 he yelled once more； but Nakpa was too
cunning for them。 She dodged in and out with active heels； and they
could not afford to waste many arrows on a mule at that stage of the fight。
Down the ravine； then over the expanse of prairie dotted with gray…green
sage…brush； she sped with her unconscious burden。
〃Whoo！ whoo！〃 yelled another Crow to his comrades； 〃the Sioux have
dispatched a runner to get reinforcements！ There he goes； down on the
flat！ Now he has almost reached the river bottom！〃
It was only Nakpa。 She laid back her cars and stretched out more and
more to gain the river； for she realized that when she had crossed the ford
the Crows would not pursue her far… ther。
Now she had reached the bank。 With the intense heat from her
exertions； she was ex… tremely nervous； and she imagined a warrior beind
every bush。 Yet she had enough sense left to realize that she must not
satisfy her thirst。 She tried the bottom with her fore…foot； then waded
carefully into the deep stream。
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She kept her big ears well to the front as she swam to catch the
slightest sound。 As she stepped on the opposite shore； she shook herself
and the boys vigorously； then pulled a few mouthfuls of grass and started
on。
Soon one of the babies began to cry； and the other was not long in
joining him。 Nakpa did not know what to do。 She gave a gentle
whinny and both babies apparently stopped to listen； then she took up an
easy gait as if to put them to sleep。
These tactics answered only for a time。 As she fairly flew over the
lowlands； the babies' hunger increased and they screamed so loud that a
passing coyote had to sit upon his haunches and wonder what in the world
the fleeing long… eared horse was carrying on his saddle。 Even magpies
and crows flew near as if to ascertain the meaning of this curious sound。
Nakpa now came to the Little Trail Creek； a tributary of the Powder；
not far from the old camp。 No need of wasting any time here； she
thought。 Then she swerved aside so suddenly as almost to jerk her babies
out of their cradles。 Two gray wolves； one on each side； approached her；
growling lowtheir white teeth show… ing。
Never in her humble life had Nakpa been in more desperate straits。
The larger of the wolves came fiercely forward to engage her attention；
while his mate was to attack her be… hind and cut her hamstrings。 But for
once the pair had made a miscalculation。 The mule used her front hoofs
vigorously on the foremost wolf； while her hind ones were doing even
more effective work。 The larger wolf soon went limping away with a
broken hip； and the one in the rear received a deep cut on the jaw which
proved an effectual discouragement。
A little further on； an Indian hunter drew near on horseback； but Nakpa
did not pause or slacken her pace。 On she fled through the long dry grass
of the river bottoms； while her babies slept again from sheer exhaustion。
Toward sunset； she entered the Sioux camp amid great excitement； for
some one had spied her afar off； and the boys and the dogs announced her
coming。
〃Whoo； whoo！ Weeko's Nakpa has come back with the twins！
Whoo； whoo！〃 exclaimed the men。 〃Tokee！ tokee！〃 cried the women。
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A sister to Weeko who was in the village came forward and released
the children； as Nakpa gave a low whinny and stopped。 Ten… derly
Zeezeewin nursed them at her own moth… erly bosom； assisted by another
young mother of the band。
〃Ugh； there is a Crow arrow sticking in the saddle！ A fight！ a fight！〃
exclaimed the war… riors。
〃Sing a Brave…Heart song for the Long…Eared one！ She has escaped
alone with her charge。 She is entitled to wear an eagle's feather！ Look
at the arrow in her saddle！ and more； she has a knife wound in her jaw and
an arrow cut on her hind leg。No； those are the marks of a wolf's teeth！
She has passed through many dangers and saved two chief's sons； who
will some day make the Crows sorry for this day's work！〃
The speaker was an old man who thus ad… dressed the fast gathering
throng。
Zeezeewin now came forward again with an eagle feather and some
white paint in her hands。 The young men rubbed Nakpa down； and the
feather； marked with red to indicate her wounds； was fastened to her mane。
Shoulders and hips were touched with red paint to show her en… dur
