old indian days(古印第时期)-第13章
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father's prudent reply。
〃I don't care particularly for the skins；〃 Angus declared； but he at once
began hurried preparations for departure。
In the meantime affairs grew daily more desperate in the exile village
on the far…away Mouse River； and a sort of Indian hopelessness and
resignation settled down upon the little community。 There were few who
really ex… pected their messenger to reach the fort； or be… lieved that even
if he did so； relief would be sent in time to save them。 White Lodge； the
father of his people； was determined to share with them the last mouthful
of food； and every morning Winona and Magaskawee went with scanty
portions in their hands to those whose supply had entirely failed。
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On the outskirts of the camp there dwelt an old woman with an orphan
grandchild； who had been denying herself for some time in order that the
child might live longer。 This poor teepee the girls visited often； and one
on each side they raised the exhausted woman and poured into her mouth
the warm broth they had brought with them。
It was on the very day Face…the…Wind reached Fort Ellis that a young
hunter who had ventured further from the camp than any one else had the
luck to bring down a solitary deer with his bow and arrow。 In his
weakness he had reached camp very late； bearing the deer with the utmost
difficulty upon his shoulders。 It was instantly separated into as many
pieces as there were lodges of the famishing Sioux。 These delicious
morsels were hastily cooked and eagerly devoured； but among so many
there was scarcely more than a mouthful to the share of each； and the
brave youth himself did not receive enough to appease in the least his
crav… ing！
On the eve of Angus' departure for the exile village； Three Stars； a
devoted suitor of Wi… nona's； accompanied by another Assiniboine brave；
appeared unexpectedly at the fort。 He at once asked permission to join
the relief party； and they set out at daybreak。
The lead…dog was the old reliable Mack； who had been in service for
several seasons on win… ter trips。 All of the white men were clad in
buckskin shirts and pantaloons； with long fringes down the sides； fur caps
and fur…lined moccasins。 Their guns were fastened to the long； toboggan…
like sleds。
The snow had thawed a little and formed an icy crust； and over this
fresh snow had fallen； which a northwest wind swept over the surface like
ashes after a prairie fire。 The sun appeared for a little time in the
morning； but it seemed as if he were cutting short his course on account of
the bleak day； and had protected himself with pale rings of fire。
The dogs laid back their ears； drew in their tails； and struck into their
customary trot； but even old Mack looked back frequently； as if reluctant
to face such a pricking and scarifying wind。 The men felt the cold still
more keenly； although they had taken care to cover every bit of the face
except one eye； and that was com… pletely blinded at times by the
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granulated snow。
The sun early retreated behind a wall of cloud； and the wind moaned
and wailed like a living creature in anguish。 At last they approached the
creek where they had planned to camp for the night。 There was nothing
to be seen but a few stunted willows half buried in the drifts； but the banks
of the little stream afforded some pro… tection from the wind。
〃Whoa！〃 shouted the leader； and the dogs all stopped； sitting down on
their haunches。 〃Come； Mack！〃 （with a wave of the hand）； 〃lead your
fellows down to the creek！〃
The old dog started down at the word； and all the rest followed。 A
space was quickly cleared of snow； while one man scoured the thickets in
search of brush for fuel。 In a few minutes the tent was up and a fire
kindled in the center； while the floor was thickly strewn with twigs of
willow； over which buffalo robes were spread。 Three Stars attended to
supper； and soon in the midst of the snapping willow fire a kettle was
boiling。 All partook of strong tea； dried meat of buffalo； and pemmican；
a mix… ture of pounded dried meat with wild cherries and melted fat。 The
dogs； to whom one…half the tent was assigned； enjoyed a hearty meal and
fell into a deep sleep； lying one against an… other。
After supper Jerry drove two sticks into the ground； one on each side
of the fire； and con… nected the two by a third one over the blaze。 Upon
this all hung their socks to drymost of them merely square pieces of
blanket cut to serve that purpose。 Soon each man rolled him… self in his
own buffalo robe and fell asleep。
All night the wind raged。 The lonely tee… pee now and then
shuddered violently； as a stronger blast than usual almost lifted it from the
ground。 No one stirred except from time to time one of the dogs； who
got up snarling and sniffing the cold air； turned himself round several
times as if on a pivot； and finally lay down for another nap。
In the morning the travelers one by one raised their heads and looked
through the smoke…hole； then fell back again with a grunt。 All the world
appeared without form and void。 Presently； however； the light of the sun
was seen as if through a painted window； and by afternoon they were able
to go on； the wind having partially subsided。 This was only a taste of the
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weather encountered by the party on their unseasonable trip； but had it
been ten times harder； it would never have occurred to Angus to turn back。
On the third day the rescuers approached the camp of the exiles。
There was an ominous quiet； no creature was to be seen； but the smoke
which ascended into the air in perpendicular columns assured them that
some； at least； were still alive。 The party happened to reach first the
teepee of the poor old woman who had been so faithfully ministered to by
the twin sisters。 They had no longer any food to give； but they had come
to build her fire； if she should have survived the night。 At the very door
of the lodge they heard the jingle of dog…bells； but they had not time to
announce the joyful news before the men were in sight。
In another minute Angus and Three Stars were beside them； holding
their wasted hands。
V THE CHIEF SOLDIER
Just outside of a fine large wigwam of smoke…tanned buffalo…skins
stood Tawasu… ota； very early upon an August morning of the year 1862。
Behind the wigwam there might have been seen a thrifty patch of growing
maize； whose tall； graceful stalks resembled as many warriors in dancing…
dresses and tasseled head…gear。
〃Thanks be to the 'Great Mystery；' I have been successful in the
fortunes of war！ None can say that Tawasuota is a coward。 I have done
well； so well that our chief； Little Crow； has offered me the honored
position of his chief soldier； ta akich…itah！〃 he said to himself with
satisfaction。
The sun was just over the eastem bank of the Minnesota River； and he
could distinctly see upon the level prairie the dwellings of logs which had
sprung up there during the year； since Little Crow's last treaty with the
whites。 〃Ugh！ they are taking from us our beautiful and game…teeming
country！〃 was his thought as he gazed upon them。
At that moment； out of the conical white teepee； in shape like a new…
born mushroom； there burst two little frisky boys； leaping and whooping。
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They were clad gracefully in gar… ments of fine deerskin； and each wore a
minia… ture feather upon his head； marking them as children of a
distinguished warrior。
They danced nimbly around their father； while he stood with all the
dignity of a buck elk； viewing the landscape reddened by sunrise and the
dwellers therein； the old and the new； the red and the white。 He noticed
that they were still unmingled； the river divided them。
At last he took the dancing little embryo warriors one in either hand；
and lifted them to his majestic shoulders。 There he placed them in
perfect poise。 His haughty spirit found a moment's happiness in
fatherhood。
Suddenly Tawasuota set the two boys on the ground again； and signed
to them to enter the teepee。 Apparently all was quiet。 The camps and
villages of the Minnesota reservation were undisturbed； so far as he could
see； save by the awakening of nature； and the early risers among his
people moved about in seeming se… curity； while the smoke of their
morning fires arose one by one into the blue。 Still the war… rior gazed
steadily westward； up the river； whence his quick ear had caught the faint
but ominous sound of a distant war…whoop。
The ridge beyond the Wahpeton village bounded the view； and
between this point and his own village were the agency buildings and the
traders' stores。 The Indian's keen eye swept the horizon； and finally
alighted once more upon the home of his new neighbor across the river；
the flaxen…haired white man with many children； who with his white
squaw and his little ones worked from sunrise to sunset； much like the
beaver family。
Ah！ the distant war…whoop once more saluted his ear； but thi
