old indian days(古印第时期)-第5节
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surrounded by all her belongings。
Her lover looked upon her still face and cried aloud。 〃Hey； hey； hey！
Alas！ alas！ If I had known of this while in the Ute country； you would
not be lonely on the spirit path。〃
He withdrew； and laid the doorflap rever… ently back in its place。
How long he stood with… out the threshold he could not tell。 He stood
with head bowed down upon his breast； tear… less and motionless； utterly
oblivious to every… thing save the bier of his beloved。 His charger grazed
about for a long time where he had left him； but at last he endeavored by a
low whinny to attract his master's attention； and Antelope awoke from his
trance of sorrow。
The sun was now hovering over the western ridges。 The mourner's
throat was parched； and perspiration rolled down his cheeks； yet he was
conscious of nothing but a strong de… sire to look upon her calm； sweet
face once more。
He kindled a small fire a little way off； and burned some cedar berries
and sweet…smelling grass。 Then he fumigated himself thoroughly to
dispel the human atmosphere； so that the spirit might not be offended by
his approach； for he greatly desired to obtain a sign from her spirit。 He
had removed his garments and stood up perfectly nude save for the
breech… clout。 His long hair was unbraided and hung upon his shoulders；
veiling the upper half of his splendid body。 Thus standing； the lover sang
a dirge of his own making。 The words were something like this：
Ah； spirit； thy flight is mysterious！
While the clouds are stirred by our wailing；
And our tears fall faster in sorrow
While the cold sweat of night benumbs us； Thou goest alone on thy
journey；
In the midst of the shining star people！
Thou goest alone on thy journey
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
Thy memory shall be our portion；
Until death we must watch for the spirit！
The eyes of Antelope were closed while he chanted the dirge。 He
sang it over and over； pausing between the lines； and straining as it were
every sense lest he might not catch the rapt whisper of her spirit； but only
the distant howls of coyotes answered him。 His body be… came cold and
numb from sheer exhaustion； and at last his knees bent under him and he
sank down upon the ground； still facing the teepee。 Unconsciousness
overtook him； and in his sleep or trance the voice came：
〃Do not mourn for me； my friend！ Come into my teepee； and eat of my
food。〃
It seemed to Antelope that he faltered for a moment； then he entered
the teepee。 There was a cheerful fire burning in the center。 A basin of
broiled buffalo meat was placed oppo… site the couch of Taluta； on the
other side of the fire。 Its odor was delicious to him； yet he hesitated to
eat of it。
〃Fear not； kechuwa （my darling）！ It will give you strength；〃 said the
voice。
The maid was natural as in life。 Beautifully attired； she sat up on her
bed； and her de… meanor was cheerful and kind。
The young man ate of the food in silence and without looking at the
spirit。 〃Ho； ke… chuwa！〃 he said to her when returning the dish；
according to the custom of his people。
Silently the two sat for some minutes； while the youth gazed into the
burning embers。
〃Be of good heart；〃 said Taluta； at last； 〃for you shall meet my twin
spirit！ She will love you as I do； and you will love her as you love me。
This was our covenant before we came into this world。〃
The conception of a 〃twin spirit〃 was famil… iar to the Sioux。 〃Ho；〃
responded the war… rior； with dignity and all seriousness。 He felt a great
awe for the spirit； and dared not lift his eyes to her face。
〃Weep no more； kechuwa； weep no more；〃 she softly added； and the
next moment Ante… lope found himself outside the mysterious tee… pee。
His limbs were stiff and cold； but he did not feel faint nor hungry。
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Having filled his pipe； he held it up to the spirits and then par… took of the
smoke； and thus revived； he slowly and reluctantly left the sacred spot。
The main war…party also visited the old camp and saw the solitary
teepee grave； but did not linger there。 They continued on the trail of the
caravan until they reached the new camp… ing ground。 They called
themselves successful； although they had left several of their number on
the field。 Their triumph songs indicated this； therefore the people hurried
to receive the news and to learn who were the unfor… tunates。
The father of Antelope was foremost among those who ran to meet the
war…party。 He learned that his son had distinguished himself in the fight；
and that his name was not mentioned among the brave dead。
〃And where； then； is he？〃 he asked； with unconcealed anxiety。
〃He left us three days ago to come in ad… vance；〃 they replied。
〃But he has not arrived！〃 exclaimed old Wezee； in much agitation。
He returned to his teepee； where he consoled himself as best he could
by smoking the pipe in solitude。 He could neither sing praises nor
indulge in the death dirge； and none came in either to congratulate or
mourn with him。
The sun had disappeared behind the hills； and the old man still sat
gazing into the burn… ing embers； when he heard a horse's footfall at the
door of his lodge。
〃Ho； atay （father）！〃 came the welcome call。
〃Mechinkshe！ mechinkshe！〃 （my son； my son）； he replied in
unrestrained joy。 Old We… zee now stood on the threshold and sang the
praise song for his son； ending with a war… whoop such as he had not
indulged in since he was quite a young man。
The camp was once more alive with the dances； and the dull thud of
the Indian drum was continually in the air。 The council had agreed that
Antelope was entitled to wear a war…bonnet of eagles' feathers。 He was
ac… cordingly summoned before the aboriginal par… liament； and from the
wise men of the tribe he received his degree of war…bonnet。
It was a public ceremony。 The great pipe was held up for him to take
the smoke of high honor。
The happiest person present was the father of Antelope； but he himself
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remained calm and unmoved throughout the ceremony。
〃He is a strange person；〃 was the whisper among a group of youths
who were watching the proceedings with envious eyes。
The young man was strangely listless and depressed in spirit。 His old
grandmother knew why； but none of the others understood。 He never
joined in the village festivities； while the rest of his family were untiring in
the dances； and old Wezee was at the height of his hap… piness。
It was a crisp October morning； and the fam… ily were eating their
breakfast of broiled bison meat； when the large drum at the council lodge
was struck three times。 The old man set down his wooden basin。
〃Ah； my son； the war…chiefs will make an announcement！ It may be a
call for the en… listment of warriors！ I am sorry；〃 he said； and paused。
〃I am sorry； because I would rather no war…party went out at present。 I
am getting old。 I have enjoyed your success； my son。 I love to hear the
people speak your name。 If you go again upon the war…path； I shall no
longer be able to join in the celebra… tions。 Something tells me that you
will not re… turn！〃
Young braves were already on their way to the council lodge。 Tatoka
looked； and the temptation was great。
〃Father； it is not becoming for me to re… main at home when others
go；〃 he said； at last。
〃Ho；〃 was the assent uttered by the father； with a deep sigh。
〃Five hundred braves have enlisted to go with the great war prophet
against the three confederated tribes；〃 he afterward r
