old indian days(古印第时期)-第4节
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ravine； should see us to… gether！〃 She sprang lightly upon the back of her
pony； and disappeared among the scat… tered pines。
Between the first lovers' meeting and the sec… ond was a period of one
moon。 This was wholly the fault of Antelope； who had been a prey to
indecision and painful thoughts。 Half re… gretting his impulsive
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declaration； and hoping to forget his pangs in the chances of travel and
war； he had finally enlisted in the number of those who were to go with
the war…leader Crowhead into the Ute country。 As was the custom of the
Sioux warriors upon the eve of departure； the young men consulted their
spirit… ual advisers； and were frequently in the purify… ing vapor…bath； and
fasting in prayer。
The last evening had come； and Antelope was on the way to the top of
the hill behind the camp for a night of prayer。 Suddenly in the half…light
he came full upon Taluta； lead… ing her pony down the narrow trail。 She
had never looked more beautiful to the youth than at that moment。
〃Ho；〃 he greeted her。 She simply smiled shyly。
〃It is long since we met；〃 he ventured。
〃I have concluded that you do not care to hear my reply；〃 retorted the
girl。
〃I have nothing to say in my defense； but I hope that you will be
generous。 I have suf… fered much。 。 。 。 You will understand why I stand
far from you；〃 he added gently。 〃I have been preparing myself to go
upon the war… path。 We start at daylight for the Ute coun… try。 Every
day for ten days I have been in the vapor…bath； and ten nights fasting。〃
As Taluta well knew； a young warrior under these circumstances dared
not approach a wo… man； not even his own wife。
〃I still urge you to be my wife。 Are you ready to give me your
answer？〃 continued An… telope。
〃My answer was sent to you by your grand… mother this very day；〃 she
replied softly。
〃Ah； tell me； tell me； 。 。 。〃 pressed the youth eagerly。
〃All is well。 Fear nothing；〃 murmured the maiden。
〃I have given my wordI have made my prayers and undergone
purification。 I must not withdraw from this war…path；〃 he said after a
silence。 〃But I know that I shall be for… tunate！ 。 。 。 My grandmother
will give you my love token。 。 。 。 Ah； kechuwa （dear love）！ watch the big
star every night！ I will watch it； toothen we shall both be watching！
Although far apart； our spirits will be to… gether。〃
The moon had risen above the hill； and the cold light discovered the
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two who stood sadly apart； their hearts hot with longing。 Reluc… tantly；
yet without a backward look or farewell gesture； the warrior went on up
the hill； and the maiden hurried homeward。 Only a few moments before
she had been happy in the anticipation of making her lover happy。 The
truth was she had been building air…castles in the likeness of a white teepee
pitched upon a virgin prairie all alone； surrounded by mountains。
Tatoka's war…horse and hunting pony were picketed near by； and there she
saw herself preparing the simple meal for him！ But now he has clouded
her dreams by this untimely departure。
〃He is too brave。 。 。 。 His life will be a short one；〃 she said to herself
with fore… boding。
For a few hours all was quiet； and just be… fore the appearance of day
the warriors' de… parture was made known by their farewell songs。
Antelope was in the line early； but he was heavy of heart； for he knew that
his sweet… heart was sorely puzzled and disappointed by his abrupt
departure。 His only consolation was the knowledge that he had in his
bundle a pair of moccasins made by her hands。 He had not yet seen them；
because it was the cus… tom not to open any farewell gifts until the first
camp was made； and then they must be opened before the eyes of all the
young men！ It brings luck to the war…party； they said。 He would have
preferred to keep his betrothal se… cret； but there was no escaping the
custom。
All the camp…fires were burning and supper had been eaten； when the
herald approached every group and announced the programme for the
evening。 It fell to Antelope to open his bundle first。 Loud laughter
pealed forth when the reluctant youth brought forth a su… perb pair of
moccasinsthe recognized love… gift！ At such times the warriors' jokes
were unmerciful； for it was considered a last indul… gence in jesting；
perhaps for many moons。 The recipient was well known to be a novice
in love； and this token first disclosed the fact that he had at last succumbed
to the allure… ments of woman。 When he sang his love…song he was
obliged to name the giver of the token； and many a disappointed suitor
was astonished to hear Taluta's name。
It was a long journey to the Ute country； and when they reached it
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there was a stubbornly contested fight。 Both sides claimed the vic… tory；
and both lost several men。 Here again Antelope was signally favored by
the gods of war。 He counted many coups or blows； and exhibited his
bravery again and again in the charges； but he received no wound。
On the return journey Taluta's beautiful face was constantly before
him。 He was so impatient to see her that he hurried on in ad… vance of his
party； when they were still several days' travel from the Sioux camp。
〃This time I shall join in all the dances and participate in the rejoicings；
for she will surely like to have me do so；〃 he thought to himself。 〃She
will join also； and I know that none is a better dancer than Taluta！〃
In fancy； Antelope was practicing the songs of victory as he rode alone
over the vast wild country。
He had now passed Wild Horse Creek and the Black Hills lay to the
southeast； while the Big Horn range loomed up to the north in gigantic
proportions。 He felt himself at home。
〃I shall now be a man indeed。 I shall have a wife！〃 he said aloud。
At last he reached the point from which he expected to view the distant
camp。 Alas； there was no camp there！ Only a solitary teepee gleamed
forth upon the green plain； which was almost surrounded by a quick turn
of the River of Deep Woods。 The teepee appeared very white。 A
peculiar tingling sensation passed through his frame； and the pony
whinnied often as he was urged forward at a gallop。
When Antelope beheld the solitary teepee he knew instantly what it
was。 It was a grave！ Sometimes a new white lodge was pitched thus for
the dead； who lay in state within upon a couch of finest skins； and
surrounded by his choicest possessions。
Antelope's excitement increased as he neared the teepee； which was
protected by a barricade of thick brush。 It stood alone and silent in the
midst of the deserted camp。 He kicked the sides of his tired horse to
make him go faster。 At last he jumped from the saddle and ran toward
the door。 There he paused for a mo… ment； and at the thought of
desecrating a grave； a cold terror came over him。
〃I must seeI must see！〃 he said aloud； and desperately he broke
through the thorny fence and drew aside the oval swinging door。
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In the stately white teepee； seen from afar； both grave and monument；
there lay the fair body of Taluta！ The bier was undisturbed； and the maiden
looked beautiful as if sleeping； dressed in her robes of ceremony and
surrounded by all her belongings。
