old indian days(古印第时期)-第1章
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
OLD INDIAN DAYS
BY CHARLES A。 EASTMAN （Ohiyesa）
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
To My Daughters DORA； IRENE； VIRGINIA； ELEANOR； AND
FLORENCE I Dedicate these Stories of the Old Indian Life； and
especially of the Courageous and Womanly Indian Woman
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
PART ONE THE WARRIOR
I。 THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE
Upon a hanging precipice atop of the Eagle Scout Butte there appeared
a motionless and solitary figurealmost eagle…like he perched！ The people
in the camp below saw him； but none looked at him long。 They turned
their heads quickly away with a nervous tingling； for the height above the
plains was great。 Almost spirit…like among the upper clouds the young
warrior sat immovable。
It was Antelope。 He was fasting and seek… ing a sign from the 〃Great
Mystery；〃 for such was the first step of the young and ambitious Sioux
＇who wished to be a noted warrior among his people。
He is a princely youth； among the wild Sioux； who hunts for his tribe
and not for him… self！ His voice is soft and low at the camp… fire of his
nation； but terror…giving in the field of battle。 Such was Antelope's
reputation。 The more he sought the 〃Great Mystery〃 in solitude； the
more gentle and retiring he be… came； and in the same proportion his
courage and manliness grew。 None could say that he was not a kind son
and a good hunter； for he had already passed the 〃two…arrow…to…kill；〃 his
buffalo examination。
On a hot midsummer morning a few weeks later； while most of the
inmates of the teepees were breakfasting in the open air； the powerful
voice of the herald resounded among the pine… clad heights and green
valleys。
〃Hear ye； hear ye； warriors！〃 he chanted loudly。 〃The council has
decreed that four brave young men must scout the country to the
sunsetward of the camp； for the peace and protection of our people！〃
All listened eagerly for the names of the chosen warriors； and in
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
another moment there came the sonorous call： 〃Antelope； Ante… lope！ the
council has selected you！〃
The camp was largefully four hundred paces across； but in that
country； in the clear morning air； such an announcement can be heard a
great way； and in the silence that fol… lowed the hills repeated over and
over the mu… sical name of Antelope。
In due time the four chosen youths appeared before the council fire。
The oath of the pipe was administered； and each took a few whiffs as
reverently as a Churchman would partake of the sacrament。 The chief of
the council； who was old and of a striking appearance； gave the charge and
command to the youthful braves。
There was a score or more of warriors ready mounted to escort them
beyond the precincts of the camp； and the 〃fearless heart〃 song was sung
according to the custom； as the four ran lightly from the door of the
council teepee and disappeared in the woods。
It was a peculiarly trying and hazardous moment in which to perform
the duties of a scout。 The Sioux were encroaching upon the territory of
hostile tribes； here in the foot…hills of the Big Horn Mountains； and now
and then one of their hunters was cut off by the enemy。 If continual
vigilance could not save them； it might soon become necessary to retreat
to their own hunting…grounds。
It was a savage fetish that a warrior must be proof against the alluring
ways of pretty maidens； that he must place his honor far above the
temptations of self…indulgence and indolence。 Cold； hunger； and
personal hard… ship did not count with Antelope when there was required
of him any special exertion for the common good。 It was cause to him of
secret satisfaction that the council…men had se… lected him for a dangerous
service in prefer… ence to some of his rivals and comrades。
He had been running for two or three hours at a good； even gait； and
had crossed more than one of the smaller creeks； yet many deep gulches
and bad lands lay between him and the furthest peak that melted into the
blue dome above。
〃I shall stand upon the Bear's Heart；〃 he said to himself。 〃If I can do
that； and still report before the others； I shall do well！〃 His keen eyes were
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
constantly sweeping the country in his front； and suddenly he paused and
shrank back motionless in a crouching at… titude； still steadily keeping an
eye upon a moving object。 It was soon evident that some one was
stealthily eying him from behind cover； and he was outwitted by the
enemy！ Still stooping； he glided down a little ravine； and as he reached the
bed of the creek there emerged from it a large gray wolf。
This was very opportune for Antelope。 He gave the gray wolf's
danger…call with all his might； waited an instant and gave it a sec… ond
time； then he turned and ran fleetly down the stream。 At the same
moment the wolf ap… peared upon the top of the bank； in full view of the
enemy。
〃Here he comes！〃 they whispered； and had their arrows on the string as
the wolf trotted leisurely along； exposing only his head； for this was a
common disguise among the plains In… dians。 But when he came out into
the open； behold！ it was only a gray wolf！
〃Ugh！〃 the Utes grunted； as they looked at each other in much chagrin。
〃Surely he was a man； and coming directly into our trap！ We sang
and prayed to the gods of war when our war chief sent us ahead to scout
the Sioux people； to find their camp。 This is a mystery； a magic！ Either
he is a Sioux in disguise； or we don't know their tricks！〃 exclaimed the
leader。
Now they gave the war…whoop； and their arrows flew through the air。
The wolf gave a yelp of distress； staggered and fell dead。 In… stantly they
ran to examine the body； and found it to be truly that of a wolf。
〃Either this is a wonderful medicine…man； or we are shamefully fooled
by a Sioux war… rior；〃 they muttered。
They lost several minutes before they caught sight of Antelope； who
had followed the bed of the creek as far as it lay in his direction and then
came out of it at full speed。 It would be safer for him to remain in
concealment until dark； but in the meantime the Ute war… riors would
reach the camp； and his people were unprepared！ It was necessary to
expose himself to the enemy。 He knew that it would be chiefly a contest
of speed and he had an ex… cellent start； but on the other hand； the Utes
doubtless had their horses。
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〃The Sioux who played this trick on us must die to…day！〃 exclaimed
their leader。 〃Come； friends； we cannot afford to let him tell this joke on
us at the camp…fires of his people！〃
Antelope was headed directly for Eagle Scout Butte； for the camp was
in plain view from the top of this hill。 He had run pretty much all day；
but then； that was nothing！
〃I shall reach the summit first； unless the Ute horses have wings！〃 he
said to him… self。
Looking over his shoulder； he saw five horse… men approaching； so he
examined his bow and arrows as he ran。
〃All is well；〃 he muttered。 〃One of their spirits at the least must
guide mine to the spirit land！〃 where； it was believed by them； there was
no fighting。
Now he was within hearing of their whoops； but he was already at the
foot of the butte。 Their horses could not run up the steep ascent； and they
were obliged to dismount。 Like a deer the Sioux leaped from rock to
rock； and almost within arrow…shot came his pursuers； wildly whooping
and yelling。
When he had achieved the summit； he took his stand between two
great rocks； and flashed his tiny looking…glass for a distress signal into the
distant camp of his people。
For a long time no reply came； and many arrows flew over his head； as
the Utes ap… proached gradually from rock to rock。 He； too； sent down a
swift arrow now and then； to show them that he was no child or woman in
fight； but brave as a bear when it is brought to bay。
〃Ho； ho！〃 he shouted to the enemy； in token of a brave man's welcome
to danger and death。
They replied with yells of triumph； as they pressed more and more
closely upon him。 One of their number had been dispatched to notify the
main war…party when they first saw Ante… lope； but he did not know this；
and his courage was undiminished。 From time to time he con… tinued to
flash his signal； and at last like light… ning the little white flash came in
reply。
The sun was low when the besieged warrior discovered a large body of
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
horsemen approach… ing from the northwest。 It was the Ute war… party！
He looked earnestly once more toward the Sioux camp； shading his eyes
with his right palm。 There； too； were many moving specks upon the
plain； drawing toward the foot of the hill！
At the middle of the afternoon they had caught his distress signal； and
the entire camp was thrown into confusion； for but few of the men had
returned from the daily hunt。 As fast as they came in； the warriors
hurried away upon their best
