old indian days(古印第时期)-第12章
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〃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； hence our
attack upon it。 We never saw any people of your sort。 What is your
tribe？〃
Antoine explained his plight in the same manner； and the two soon
came to an under… standing。 The Canadian told the starving hun… ters of a
buffalo herd a little way to the north； and one of their number was
dispatched home… ward with the news。 In two days the entire band
reached Antoine's place。 The Bois Brule was treated with kindness and
honor； and the tribe gave him a wife。 Suffice it to say that Antoine lived
and died among the Yanktons at a good old age； but Ami could not brook
the invasion upon their hermit life。 He was never seen after that first
evening。
IV THE FAMINE
On the Assiniboine River in western Manitoba there stands an old； his…
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
toric trading…post； whose crumbling walls crown a high promontory in the
angle formed by its junction with a tributary stream。 This is Fort Ellis； a
mistress of the wilderness and lodestone of savage tribes between the
years 1830 and 1870。
Hither at that early day the Indians brought their buffalo robes and
beaver skins to exchange for merchandise； ammunition； and the 〃spirit
water。〃 Among the others there presently ap… peared a band of renegade
Siouxthe exiles； as they called themselvesunder White Lodge； whose
father； Little Crow； had been a leader in the outbreak of 1862。 Now the
great war… chief was dead； and his people were prisoners or fugitives。
The shrewd Scotch trader； Mc… Leod； soon discovered that the Sioux were
skilled hunters； and therefore he exerted him… self to befriend them； as
well as to encourage a feeling of good will between them and the Ca…
nadian tribes who were accustomed to make the old fort their summer
rendezvous。
Now the autumn had come； after a long sum… mer of feasts and dances；
and the three tribes broke up and dispersed as usual in various di… rections。
White Lodge had twin daughters； very handsome； whose ears had been
kept burn… ing with the proposals of many suitors； but none had received
any definite encouragement。 There were one or two who would have
been quite willing to forsake their own tribes and follow the exiles had
they not feared too much the ridicule of the braves。 Even Angus McLeod；
the trader's eldest son； had need of all his patience and caution； for he had
never seen any woman he admired so much as the piquant Magaskawee；
called The Swan； one of these belles of the forest。
The Sioux journeyed northward； toward the Mouse River。 They had
wintered on that stream before； and it was then the feeding ground of large
herds of buffalo。 When it was discovered that the herds were moving
west… ward； across the Missouri； there was no little apprehension。 The
shrewd medicine…man be… came aware of the situation； and hastened to
announce his prophecy：
〃The Great Mystery has appeared to me in a dream！ He showed me
men with haggard and thin faces。 I interpret this to mean a scarcity of
food during the winter。〃
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The chief called his counselors together and set before them the dream
of the priest； whose prophecy； he said； was already being fulfilled in part
by the westward movement of the buffalo。 It was agreed that they should
lay up all the dried meat they could obtain； but even for this they were too
late。 The storms were al… ready at hand； and that winter was more severe
than any that the old men could recall in their traditions。 The braves
killed all the small game for a wide circuit around the camp； but the
buffalo had now crossed the river； and that country was not favorable for
deer。 The more enterprising young men organized hunting ex… peditions
to various parts of the open prairie； but each time they returned with empty
hands。
The 〃Moon of Sore Eyes；〃 or March； had come at last； and Wazeah；
the God of Storm； was still angry。 Their scant provision of dried meat
had held out wonderfully； but it was now all but consumed。 The Sioux
had but little am… munition； and the snow was still so deep that it was
impossible for them to move away to any other region in search of game。
The worst was feared； indeed； some of the children and feeble old people
had already succumbed。
White Lodge again called his men together in council； and it was
determined to send a mes… senger to Fort Ellis to ask for relief。 A young
man called Face…the…Wind was chosen for his exceptional qualities of
speed and endurance upon long journeys。 The old medicine…man； whose
shrewd prophecy had gained for him the confidence of the people； now
came forward。 He had closely observed the appearance of the messenger
selected； and had taken note of the storm and distance。 Accordingly he
said：
〃My children； the Great Mystery is of… fended； and this is the cause of
all our suffering！ I see a shadow hanging over our messenger； but I will
pray to the Great Spiritperhaps he may yet save him！Great Mystery； be
thou merciful！ Strengthen this young man for his journey； that he may be
able to finish it and to send us aid！ If we see the sun of summer again；
we will offer the choicest of our meats to thee； and do thee great honor！〃
During this invocation； as occasionally hap… pens in March； a loud peal
of thunder was heard。 This coincidence threw the prophet al… most into a
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frenzy； and the poor people were all of a tremble。 Face…the…Wind
believed that the prayer was directly answered； and though weakened by
fasting and unfit for the task be… fore him； he was encouraged to make the
at… tempt。
He set out on the following day at dawn； and on the third day
staggered into the fort； looking like a specter and almost frightening the
people。 He was taken to McLeod's house and given good care。 The
poor fellow； deli… rious with hunger； fancied himself engaged in mortal
combat with Eyah； the god of famine； who has a mouth extending from
ear to ear。 Wherever he goes there is famine； for he swal… lows all that he
sees； even whole nations！
The legend has it that Eyah fears nothing but the jingling of metal： so
finally the dying man looked up into McLeod's face and cried： 〃Ring your
bell in his face； Wahadah！〃
The kind…hearted factor could not refuse； and as the great bell used to
mark the hours of work and of meals pealed out untimely upon the frosty
air； the Indian started up and in that moment breathed his last。 He had
given no news； and McLeod and his sons could only guess at the state of
affairs upon the Mouse River。
While the men were in council with her father； Magaskawee had
turned over the con… tents of her work…bag。 She had found a small roll of
birch…bark in which she kept her porcu… pine quills for embroidery； and
pulled the deli… cate layers apart。 The White Swan was not altogether the
untutored Indian maiden； for she had lived in the family of a missionary in
the States； and had learned both to speak and write some English。 There
was no ink； no pen or pencil； but with her bone awl she pressed upon the
white side of the bark the following words：
MR。 ANGUS McLEOD：
We are near the hollow rock on the Mouse River。 The buffalo went
away across the Missouri； and our powder and shot are gone。 We are
starving。 Good…bye； if I don't see you again。
MAGASKAWEE。
The girl entrusted this little note to her grandmother； and she in turn
gave it to the messenger。 But he； as we know； was unable to deliver it。
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〃Angus； tell the boys to bury the poor fel… low to…morrow。 I dare say
he brought us some news from White Lodge； but we have got to go to the
happy hunting…grounds to get it； or wait till the exile band returns in the
spring。 Evidently；〃 continued McLeod； 〃he fell sick on the way： or else
he was starving！〃
This last suggestion horrified Angus。 〃I believe； father；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃that we ought to examine his bundle。〃
A small oblong packet was brought forth from the dead man's belt and
carefully un… rolled。
There were several pairs of moccasins； and within one of these Angus
found something wrapped up nicely。 He proceeded to unwind the long
strings of deerskin with which it was securely tied； and brought forth a
thin sheet of birch…bark。 At first； there seemed to be noth… ing more； but
a closer scrutiny revealed the im… pression of the awl； and the bit of
nature's parchment was brought nearer to his face； and scanned with a zeal
equal to that of any student of ancient hieroglyphics。
〃This tells the whole story； father！〃 ex… claimed the young man at last。
〃Magaska… wee's notejust listen！〃 and he read it aloud。 〃I shall start to…
morrow。 We can take enough provision and ammunition on two sleds；
with six dogs to each。 I shall want three good men to go with me。〃
Angus spoke with deci… sion。
〃Well； we can't afford to lose our best hunt… ers； and you might also
bring home with you what furs and robes they have on hand；〃 was his
father's prudent reply。
