old indian days(古印第时期)-第10章
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visible behind the cold clouds。
〃Great Mother； partake of this smoke！ May I eat meat to…morrow！〃 he
exclaimed with solemnity。 Having uttered this prayer； he handed the
pipe to the man nearest him。
For a time they all smoked in silence； then came a distant call。
〃Ah； it is Shunkmanito； the wolf！ There is something cheering in his
voice to…night；〃 declared Anookasan。 〃Yes； I am sure he is telling us not
to be discouraged。 You know that the wolf is one of our best friends in
trou… ble。 Many a one has been guided back to his home by him in a
blizzard； or led to game when in desperate need。 My friends； let us not
turn back in the morning； let us go north one more day！〃 No one
answered immediately； and again silence reigned； while one by one they
pulled the reluctant whiffs of smoke through the long stem of the calumet。
〃What is that？〃 said one of the men； and all listened intently to catch
the delicate sound。 They were familiar with all the noises of the night and
voices of the forest； but this was not like any of them。
〃It sounds like the song of a mosquito； and one might forget while he
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listens that this is not midsummer；〃 said one。
〃I hear also the medicine…man's single drum… beat；〃 suggested another。
〃There is a tradition；〃 remarked Anookasan； that many years ago a
party of hunters went up the river on a scout like this of ours。 They never
returned。 Afterward； in the summer； their bones were found near the
home of a strange creature； said to be a little man； but he had hair all over
him。 The Isantees call him Chanotedah。 Our old men give him the
name Oglugechana。 This singular being is said to be no larger than a
new…born babe。 He speaks an unknown tongue。
〃The home of Oglugechana is usually a hol… low stump； around which
all of the nearest trees are felled by lightning。 There is an open spot in
the deep woods wherever he dwells。 His weapons are the plumes of
various birds。 Great numbers of these variegated feathers are to be found
in the deserted lodge of the little man。
〃It is told by the old men that Oglugechana has a weird music by
which he sometimes be… witches lone travelers。 He leads them hither and
thither about his place until they have lost their senses。 Then he speaks
to them。 He may make of them great war…prophets or medicine… men； but
his commands are hard to fulfill。 If any one sees him and comes away
before he is bewildered； the man dies as soon as he smells the camp…fire；
or when he enters his home his nearest relative dies suddenly。〃
The warrior who related this legend assumed the air of one who
narrates authentic history； and his listeners appeared to be seriously im…
pressed。 What we call the supernatural was as real to them as any part of
their lives。
〃This thing does not stop to breathe at all。 His music seems to go on
endlessly；〃 said one； with considerable uneasiness。
〃It comes from the heavy timber north of us； under the high cliff；〃
reported a warrior who had stepped outside of the rude temporary
structure to inform himself more clearly of the direction of the sound。
〃Anookasan； you are our leadertell us what we should do！ We will
follow you。 I believe we ought to leave this spot immediately。 This is
perhaps the spirit of some dead enemy；〃 suggested another。 Meanwhile；
the red pipe was refilled and sent around the circle to calm their disturbed
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spirits。
When the calumet returned at last to the one addressed； he took it in a
preoccupied manner； and spoke between labored pulls on the stem。
〃I am just like yourselvesnothing more than fleshwith a spirit that is
as ready to leave me as water to run from a punctured water…bag！ When
we think thus； we are weak。 Let us rather think upon the brave deeds of
our ancestors！ This singing spirit has a gentle voice； I am ready to follow
and learn if it be an enemy or no。 Let us all be found to… gether next
summer if need be！〃
〃Ho； ho； ho！〃 was the full…throated re… sponse。
〃All put on your war…paint；〃 suggested Anookasan。 〃Have your
knives and arrows ready！〃
They did so； and all stole silently through the black forest in the
direction of the mysterious sound。 Clearer and clearer it came through
the frosty air； but it was a foreign sound to the savage ear。 Now it
seemed to them almost like a distant water…fall； then it recalled the low
hum of summer insects and the drowsy drone of the bumblebee。 Thump；
thump； thump！ was the regular accompaniment。
Nearer and nearer to the cliff they came； deeper into the wild heart of
the woods。 At last out of the gray； formless night a dark shape appeared！
It looked to them like a huge buf… falo bull standing motionless in the
forest； and from his throat there apparently proceeded the thump of the
medicine drum； and the song of the beguiling spirit！
All of a sudden a spark went up into the air。 As they continued to
approach； there became visible a deep glow about the middle of the dark
object。 Whatever it was； they had never heard of anything like it in all
their lives！
Anookasan was a little in advance of his com… panions； and it was he
who finally discovered a wall of logs laid one upon another。 Half way up
there seemed to be stretched a par…fleche （raw…hide）； from which a dim
light emanated。 He still thought of Oglugechana； who dwells within a
hollow tree； and determined to sur… prise and if possible to overpower this
wonder… working old man。
All now took their knives in their hands and advanced with their leader
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to the attack upon the log hut。 〃Wa…wa…wa…wa； woo； woo！〃 they cried。
Zip； zip！ went the par…fleche door and window； and they all rushed in！
There sat a man upon a roughly hewn stool。 He was attired in
wolfskins and wore a fox… skin cap upon his head。 The larger portion of
his face was clothed with natural fur。 A rudely made cedar fiddle was
tucked under his furred chin。 Supporting it with his left hand； he sawed it
vigorously with a bow that was not unlike an Indian boy's miniature
weapon； while his moccasined left foot came down upon the sod floor in
time with the music。 When the shrill war…whoop came； and the door and
win… dow were cut in strips by the knives of the In… dians； he did not even
cease playing； but in… stinctively he closed his eyes； so as not to behold the
horror of his own end。
It was long ago； upon the rolling prairie south of the Devil's Lake； that
a motley body of hunters gathered near a mighty herd of the bison； in the
Moon of Falling Leaves。 These were the first generation of the Canadian
mixed…bloods； who sprang up in such numbers as to form almost a new
people。 These semi…wild Americans soon became a ne… cessity to the
Hudson Bay Company； as they were the greatest hunters of the bison； and
made more use of this wonderful animal than even their aboriginal
ancestors。
A curious race of people this； in their make…up and their customs！
Their shaggy black hair was allowed to grow long； reaching to their broad
shoulders； then cut off abruptly； making their heads look like a thatched
house。 Their dark faces were in most cases well covered with hair； their
teeth large and white； and their eyes usually liquid black； although
occasionally one had a tiger…brown or cold…gray eye。 Their cos… tume
was a buckskin shirt with abundance of fringes； buckskin pantaloons with
short leg… gins； a gay sash； and a cap of fox…fur。 Their arms consisted of
flint…lock guns； hatchets； and butcher…knives。 Their ponies were small；
but as hardy as themselves。
As these men gathered in the neighborhood of an immense herd of
buffaloes； they busied themselves in adjusting the girths of their
beautifully beaded pillow…like saddles。 Among them there were
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exceptional riders and hunters。 It was said that few could equal Antoine
Mich… aud in feats of riding into and through the herd。 There he stood；
all alone； the observed of many others。 It was his habit to give sev… eral
Indian yells when the onset began； so as to insure a successful hunt。
In this instance； Antoine gave his usual whoops； and when they had
almost reached the herd； he lifted his flint…lock over his head and plunged
into the black moving mass。 With a sound like the distant rumbling of
thunder； those tens of thousands of buffalo hoofs were pounding the earth
in retreat。 Thus Antoine disappeared！
His wild steed dashed into the midst of the vast herd。 Fortunately for
him； the animals kept clear of him； but alas！ the gap through which he had
entered instantly closed again。
He yelled frantically to secure an outlet； but without effect。 He had
tied a red bandanna around his head to keep the hair off his face； and he
now took this off and swung it crazily about him to scatter the buffalo； but
it availed him nothing。
With such a mighty herd in flight； the speed could not be great；
therefore the 〃Bois Brule〃 settled himself to the situation； allowing hi
