old indian days(古印第时期)-第8节
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way between them； and on every side there was heavy forest。
She stood silent and awed； scarcely able to realize that she had begun
her new life abso… lutely alone； with no other woman to advise or
congratulate her； and visited only by the birds of the air。 Yet all the world
to her just now was Antelope！ No other woman could smile on him。 He
could not talk to any one but her。 The evening drum at the council lodge
could not summon him away from her； and she was well content。
When the young wife had done everything she could think of in
preparation for her hus… band's return； including the making of several
birch…bark basins and pails for water； the rain had quite ceased； so she
spread her robe just outside the lodge and took up her work…bag； in which
she had several pairs of moccasin…tops already beaded。
While she bent over her work； getting up from time to time to turn the
roast which she had impaled upon a sharp stick above the glowing coals；
the bride had a stream of shy callers； of the little people of the woods。
She sat very still； so as not to startle them； and there is much curiosity
among these people con… cerning a stranger。
Presently she was startled by a footfall not unlike that of a man。 She
had not been mar… ried long enough to know the sound of her husband's
step； and she felt a thrill of joy and fear alternately。 It might be he； and it
might be a stranger！ She was loath to look up； but at last gave a furtive
glance； and met squarely the eyes of a large grizzly bear； who was seated
upon his haunches not far away。
Stasu was surprised； but she showed no fear； and fearlessness is the
best shield against wild animals。 In a moment she got up unconcern…
edly； and threw a large piece of meat to the stranger。
〃Take of my wedding feast； O great Bear！〃 she addressed him； 〃and be
good to me to bless my first teepee！ O be kind and recognize my brave act
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in taking for my husband one of the warriors of the Sioux； the ancient
enemy of my people！ I have accepted a husband of a lan… guage other than
mine； and am come to live among you as your neighbor。 I offer you my
friendship！〃
The bear's only answer to her prayer was a low growl； but having
eaten the meat； he turned and clumsily departed。
In the meantime Antelope had set himself to master the geography of
that region； to study the outlook for game； and ascertain the best
approaches to their secret home。 It was already settled in his mind that
he could never return either to his wife's people or to his own。 His
fellow…warriors would not forgive his de… sertion； and the Rees could not
be expected to welcome as a kinsman one of the foremost of their ancient
foes。 There was nothing to be done but to remain in seclusion； and let
them say what they would of him！
He had loved the Ree maiden from the first moment he beheld her by
the light of the blaz… ing embers； and that love must satisfy him。 It was
well that he had never cared much for company； but had spent many of his
young days in solitude and fasting。 It did not seem at all strange to him
that he had been forced to re… treat into an unknown and wild country with
a woman whom he saw in the evening for the first time； and fled with as
his own wife before sunrise！
By the afternoon he had thoroughly in… formed himself upon the nature
of the sur… rounding country。 Everything on the face of the map was
surveyed and charted in his mind； in accordance with his habits and
training。 This done； he turned toward his secret dwelling。 As he walked
rapidly and noiselessly through the hidden valleys and along the singing
streams； he noticed fresh signs of the deer； elk； and other wild tribes
among whom he had chosen to abide。 〃They shall be my people；〃 he
said to himself。
Behind a group of cedars he paused to rec… onnoiter； and saw the pine…
bough wigwam like a giant plant； each row of boughs overlapping the
preceding circular row like the scales of a fish。 Stasu was sitting before it
upon a buffalo… robe； attired in her best doeskin gown。 Her delicate oval
face was touched with red paint； and her slender brown hands were
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occupied with a moccasin meant for him to wear。 He could scarcely
believe that it was a mortal woman that he saw before him in broad day
the pride of No Man's Trail； for that is what the Crow Indians call that
valley！
〃Ho； ho； kechuwa！〃 he exclaimed as he approached her； and her heart
leaped in recog… nition of the magnetic words of love。
〃It is good that we are alone！ I shall never want to go back to my
people so long as I have you。 I can dwell here with you forever； un… less
you should think otherwise！〃 she exclaimed in her own tongue；
accompanied by graphic signs。
〃Ho； I think of nothing else！ I can see in every creature only friendly
ways and good feeling。 We can live alone here； happily； un… less you
should feel differently；〃 he replied in his own language with the signs； so
that his bride understood him。
The environment was just what it should be when two people are
united in marriage。 The wedding music was played by Nature； and trees；
brooks； and the birds of the air contributed their peculiar strains to a great
harmony。 All of the people on No Man's Trail were polite； and
understood the reserves of love。 These two had yielded to a simple and
natural im… pulse； but its only justification to their minds was the
mysterious leading of the twin spirit！ That was the sum total of their
excuse； and it was enough。
Before the rigor of winter had set in； Tatoka brought to his bride many
buffalo skins。 She was thoroughly schooled in the arts of sav… age
womanhood； in fact； every Indian maid was trained with this thought in
viewthat she should become a beautiful； strong； skillful wife and mother…
…the mother of a noble race of warriors！
In a short time within that green and pine… scented enclosure there
smiled a little wild para… dise。 Hard by the pine…bough wigwam there
stood a new white buffalo…skin teepee； tanned； cut； sewed； and pitched by
the hands of Stasu。 Away in the woods； down by the rushing brook； was
her tannery； and not far away； in a sunny； open spot； she prepared her sun…
cured meats for winter use。 Her kitchen was a stone fireplace in a shady
spot； and her parlor was the lodge of evergreen； overhung on two sides by
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inac… cessible ledges； and bounded on the other two by the sparkling
stream。 It was a secret place； and yet a citadel； a silent place； and yet not
lonely！
The winter was cold and long； but the pair were happy in one another's
company； and ac… cepted their strange lot as one that was chosen for them
by the spirits。 Stasu had insisted upon her husband speaking to her in his
own language； that she might learn it quickly。 In a little while she was
able to converse with him； and when she had acquired his language she
taught him hers。
While Antelope was occupied with hunting and exploring the country；
always keeping in mind the danger of discovery by some wander… ing
scout or hunter； his wife grew well ac… quainted with the wild inhabitants
of No Man's Trail。 These people are as full of curiosity as man； and as
the Sioux never hunted near his home； they were entirely fearless。 Many
came to the door of Stasu's lodge； and she was not afraid； but offered them
food and spoke to them kindly。 All animals judge by signs a
