old indian days(古印第时期)-第11章
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therefore the 〃Bois Brule〃 settled himself to the situation； allowing his
pony to canter along slowly to save his strength。 It required much tact
and presence of mind to keep an open space； for the few paces of ob…
struction behind had gradually grown into a mile。
The mighty host moved continually south… ward； walking and running
alternately。 As the sun neared the western horizon； it fired the sky above
them； and all the distant hills and prairies were in the glow of it； but
immediately about them was a thick cloud of dust； and the ground
appeared like a fire…swept plain。
Suddenly Antoine was aware of a tremendous push from behind。 The
animals smelled the cool water of a spring which formed a large bog in the
midst of the plain。 This solitary pond or marsh was a watering…place for
the wild animals。 All pushed and edged toward it； it was impossible for
any one to withstand the combined strength of so many。
Antoine and his steed were in imminent dan… ger of being pushed into
the mire and trampled upon； but a mere chance brought them upon solid
ground。 As they were crowded across the marsh； his pony drank heartily；
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and he； for the first time； let go his bridle； put his two palms together for a
dipper； and drank greedily of the bitter water。 He had not eaten since
early morning； so he now pulled up some bulrushes and ate of the tender
bulbs； while the pony grazed as best he could on the tops of the tall grass。
It was now dark。 The night was well… nigh intolerable for Antoine。
The buffalo were about him in countless numbers； regarding him with
vicious glances。 It was only by reason of the natural offensiveness of
man that they gave him any space。 The bellowing of the bulls became
general； and there was a marked uneasiness on the part of the herd。 This
was a sign of approaching storm； therefore the un… fortunate hunter had
this additional cause for anxiety。 Upon the western horizon were seen
some flashes of lightning。
The cloud which had been a mere speck upon the horizon had now
increased to large propor… tions。 Suddenly the wind came； and lightning
flashes became more frequent； showing the un… gainly forms of the
animals like strange mon… sters in the white light。 The colossal herd was
again in violent motion。 It was a blind rush for shelter； and no heed was
paid to buffalo wallows or even deep gulches。 All was in the deepest of
darkness。 There seemed to be groaning in heaven and earthmillions of
hoofs and throats roaring in unison！
As a shipwrecked man clings to a mere frag… ment of wood； so
Antoine； although almost exhausted with fatigue； still stuck to the back of
his equally plucky pony。 Death was immi… nent for them both。 As the
mad rush con… tinued； every flash displayed heaps of bison in death
struggle under the hoofs of their com… panions。
From time to time Antoine crossed himself and whispered a prayer to
the Virgin； and again he spoke to his horse after the fashion of an Indian：
〃Be brave； be strong； my horse！ If we sur… vive this trial； you shall
have great honor！〃
The stampede continued until they reached the bottom lands； and； like
a rushing stream； their course was turned aside by the steep bank of a
creek or small river。 Then they moved more slowly in wide sweeps or
circles； until the storm ceased； and the exhausted hunter； still in his saddle；
took some snatches of sleep。
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When he awoke and looked about him again it was morning。 The
herd had entered the strip of timber which lay on both sides of the river；
and it was here that Antoine conceived his first distinct hope of saving
himself。
〃Waw； waw； waw！〃 was the hoarse cry that came to his ears；
apparently from a human being in distress。 Antoine strained his eyes and
craned his neck to see who it could be。 Through an opening in the
branches ahead he perceived a large grizzly bear； lying along an inclined
limb and hugging it desperately to maintain his position。 The herd had
now thor… oughly pervaded the timber； and the bear was likewise hemmed
in。 He had taken to his unac… customed refuge after making a brave stand
against several bulls； one of which lay dead near by； while he himself was
bleeding from many wounds。
Antoine had been assiduously looking for a friendly tree； by means of
which he hoped to effect his escape from captivity by the army of bison。
His horse； by chance； made his way directly under the very box…elder that
was sus… taining the bear and there was a convenient branch just within his
reach。 The Bois Brule was not then in an aggressive mood； and he saw at
a glance that the occupant of the tree would not interfere with him。 They
were； in fact； companions in distress。 Antoine tried to give a war…whoop
as he sprang desperately from the pony's back and seized the cross limb
with both his hands。
The hunter dangled in the air for a minute that to him seemed a year。
Then he gathered up all the strength that was in him； and with one grand
effort he pulled himself up on the limb。
If he had failed in this； he would have fallen to the ground under the
hoofs of the buffaloes； and at their mercy。
After he had adjusted his seat as comfort… ably as he could； Antoine
surveyed the situation。 He had at least escaped from sudden and cer… tain
death。 It grieved him that he had been forced to abandon his horse； and
he had no idea how far he had come nor any means of returning to his
friends； who had； no doubt； given him up for lost。 His immediate needs
were rest and food。
Accordingly he selected a fat cow and emp… tied into her sides one
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barrel of his gun； which had been slung across his chest。 He went on
shooting until he had killed many fat cows； greatly to the discomfiture of
his neighbor； the bear； while the bison vainly struggled among themselves
to keep the fatal spot clear。
By the middle of the afternoon the main body of the herd had passed；
and Antoine was sure that his captivity had at last come to an end。 Then
he swung himself from his limb to the ground； and walked stiffly to the
carcass of the nearest cow； which he dressed and prepared himself a meal。
But first he took a piece of liver on a long pole to the bear！
Antoine finally decided to settle in the re… cesses of the heavy timber
for the winter； as he was on foot and alone； and not able to travel any great
distance。 He jerked the meat of all the animals he had killed； and
prepared their skins for bedding and clothing。 The Bois Brule and Ami；
as he called the bear； soon be… came necessary to one another。 The
former considered the bear very good company； and the latter had learned
that man's business； after all； is not to kill every animal he meets。 He had
been fed and kindly treated； when helpless from his wounds； and this he
could not forget。
Antoine was soon busy erecting a small log hut； while the other
partner kept a sharp look… out； and； after his hurts were healed； often
brought in some small game。 The two had a perfect understanding
without many words； at least； the speech was all upon one side！ In his
leisure moments Antoine had occupied himself with whittling out a rude
fiddle of cedar…wood； strung with the guts of a wild cat that he had killed。
Every evening that winter he would sit down after supper and play all the
old familiar pieces； varied with improvisations of his own。 At first； the
music and the incessant pounding time with his foot annoyed the bear。
At times； too； the Canadian would call out the figures for the dance。 All
this Ami became accustomed to in time； and even showed no small
interest in the buzzing of the little cedar box。 Not infre… quently； he was
out in the evening； and the human partner was left alone。 It chanced；
quite fortunately； that the bear was absent on the night that the red folk
rudely invaded the lonely hut。
The calmness of the strange being had stayed their hands。 They had
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never before seen a man of other race than their own！
〃Is this Chanotedah？ Is he man； or beast？〃 the warriors asked one
another。
〃Ho； wake up； koda！〃 exclaimed Anooka… san。 〃Maybe he is of the
porcupine tribe； ashamed to look at us！〃
At this moment they spied the haunch of venison which swung from a
cross…stick over a fine bed of coals； in front of the rude mud chimney。
〃Ho； koda has something to eat！ Sit down； sit down！〃 they shouted to
one another。
Now Antoine opened his eyes for the first time upon his unlooked…for
guests。 They were a haggard and hungry…looking set。 Anookasan
extended his hand； and Antoine gave it a hearty shake。 He set his fiddle
against the wall and began to cut up the smoking venison into gen… erous
pieces and place it before them。 All ate like famished men； while the
firelight intensified the red paint upon their wild and warlike faces。
When he had satisfied his first hunger； Anookasan spoke in signs。
〃Friend； we have never before heard a song like that of your little cedar
box！ We had supposed it to be a spirit； or some harmful thing； h
