old indian days(古印第时期)-第18章
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northeast； near Shell Lake。 The snow is deep。 The buffalo can only
follow their leader in their retreat。〃
〃Hi； hi； hi！〃 the hunters exclaimed solemnly in token of gratitude；
raising their hands heaven… ward and then pointing them toward the
ground。
〃Ho； kola！ one more round of the buffalo… pipe； then we shall retire； to
rise before daybreak for the hunt；〃 advised one of the leaders。 Si… lently
they partook in turn of the long…stemmed pipe； and one by one； with a
dignified 〃Ho！〃 departed to their teepees。
The scout betook himself to his little old buf… falo teepee； which he
used for winter hunting expeditions。 His faithful Shunka； who had been
all this time its only occupant； met him at the entrance as dogs alone know
how to welcome a lifelong friend。 As his master entered he stretched
himself in his old…time way； from the tip of his tail to that of his tongue；
and finished by curling both ends upward。
〃Ho； mita shunka； eat this； for you must be hungry！〃 So saying； the
scout laid before his canine friend the last piece of his dried buf… falo meat。
It was the sweetest meal ever eaten by a dog； judging by his long
smacking of his lips after he had swallowed it！
The hunting party was soon lost in heavy slumber。 Not a sound could
be heard save the gnawing of the ponies upon the cottonwood bark； which
was provided for them instead of hay in the winter time。
All about Shell Lake the bison were gathered in great herds。 The
unmistakable signs of the sky had warned them of approaching bad
weather。 The moon's robe was girdled with the rainbow wampum of
heaven。 The very music of the snow under their feet had given them
warning。 On the north side of Shell Lake there were several deep
gulches； which were the homes of every wanderer of the plains at such a
time at this。 When there was a change toward severe weather； all the
four…footed people headed for this lake。 Here was a heavy growth of
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reeds； rushes； and coarse grass； making good shelters； and also springs；
which afforded water after the lake was frozen solid。 Hence great
numbers of the bison had gathered here。
When Wapashaw； the game scout； had rolled himself in his warm
buffalo robe and was sound asleep； his faithful companion hunter； the
great Esquimaux wolf dog； silently rose and again stretched himself； then
stood quiet for a moment as if meditating。 It was clear that he knew well
what he had planned to do； but was considering how he should do it
without arousing any sus… picion of his movements。 This is a dog's art；
and the night tricks and marauding must always be the joy and secret of
his life！
Softly he emerged from the lodge and gave a sweeping glance around
to assure him that there were none to spy upon him。 Suspiciously he
sniffed the air； as if to ascertain whether there could be any danger to his
sleeping master while he should be away。
His purpose was still a secret。 It may be that it was not entirely a
selfish one； or merely the satisfying of his inherited traits。 Having fully
convinced himself of the safety of the unguarded camp； he went forth into
the biting cold。 The moon was now well up on the prairies of the sky。
There were no cloud hills in the blue field above to conceal her from view。
Her brilliant light set on fire every snow gem upon the plains and hillsides
about the hunters' camp。
Up the long ascent he trotted in a northerly direction； yet not following
his master's trail。 He was large and formidable in strength； com… bining
the features of his wild brothers of the plains with those of the dogs who
keep company with the red men。 His jet…black hair and sharp ears and
nose appeared to immense advantage against the spotless and jeweled
snow； until pres… ently his own warm breath had coated him with heavy
frost。
After a time Shunka struck into his master's trail and followed it all the
way； only taking a short cut here and there when by dog instinct he knew
that a man must go around such a point to get to his destination。 He met
many travelers during the night； but none had dared to approach him；
though some few followed at a distance； as if to discover his purpose。
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At last he reached Shell Lake； and there be… held a great gathering of
the herds！ They stood in groups； like enormous rocks； no longer black；
but white with frost。 Every one of them emitted a white steam； quickly
frozen into a fine snow in the air。
Shunka sat upon his haunches and gazed。
〃Wough； this is it！〃 he said to himself。 He had kept still when the
game scout gave the wolf call； though the camp was in an uproar； and
from the adjacent hills the wild hunters were equally joyous； because they
understood the meaning of the unwonted noise。 Yet his curios… ity was
not fully satisfied； and he had set out to discover the truth； and it may be to
protect or serve his master in case of danger。
At daybreak the great dog meekly entered his master's rude teepee； and
found him already pre… paring for the prospective hunt。 He was filling
his inside moccasins full of buffalo hair to serve as stockings； over which
he put on his large buf… falo moccasins with the hair inside； and adjusted
his warm leggings。 He then adjusted his snow… shoes and filled his
quiver full of good arrows。 The dog quietly lay down in a warm place；
mak… ing himself as small as possible； as if to escape observation； and
calmly watched his master。
〃Ho； ho； ho； kola！ Enakanee； enakanee！〃 shouted the game herald。
〃It is always best to get the game early； then their spirits can take flight
with the coming of a new day！〃
All had now donned their snow…shoes。 There was no food left；
therefore no delay to prepare breakfast。
〃It is very propitious for our hunt；〃 one ex… claimed； 〃everything is in
our favor。 There is a good crust on the snow； and the promise of a good
clear day！〃
Soon all the hunters were running in single file upon the trail of the
scout； each Indian closely followed by his trusty hunting dog。 In less
than two hours they stood just back of the low ridge which rounded the
south side of Shell Lake。 The narrow strip of land between its twin
divisions was literally filled with the bison。 In the gulches beyond；
between the dark lines of timber； there were also scattered groups； but the
hunters at once saw their advantage over the herd upon the peninsula。
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〃Hechetu； kola！ This is well； friends！〃 ex… claimed the first to speak。
〃These can be forced to cross the slippery ice and the mire around the
springs。 This will help us to get more meat。 Our people are hungry； and
we must kill many in order to feed them！〃
〃Ho； ho； ho！〃 agreed all the hunters。
〃And it is here that we can use our companion hunters best； for the
shunkas will intimidate and bewilder the buffalo women；〃 said an old
man。
〃Ugh； he is always right！ Our dogs must help us here。 The meat
will be theirs as well as ours；〃 another added。
〃Tosh； kola！ The game scout's dog is the greatest shunka of them all！
He has a mind near like that of a man。 Let him lead the attack of his
fellows； while we crawl up on the opposite side and surround the buffalo
upon the slippery ice and in the deceitful mire；〃 spoke up a third。 So it
was agreed that the game scout and his Shunka should lead the attack of
the dogs。
〃Woo； woo； woo！〃 was the hoarse signal from the throat of the game
scout； but his voice was drowned by the howling and barking of the
savage dogs as they made their charge。 In a moment all was confusion
among the buffalo。 Some started this way； others that； and the great mass
swayed to and fro uncertainly。 A few were ready to fight； but the snow
was too deep for a countercharge upon the dogs； save on the ice just in
front of them； where the wind had always full sweep。 There all was
slippery and shining！ In their excitement and confusion the bison rushed
upon this uncertain plain。
Their weight and the momentum of their rush carried them hopelessly
far out； where they were again confused as to which way to go； and many
were stuck in the mire which was concealed by the snow； except here and
there an opening above a spring from which there issued a steaming vapor。
The game scout and his valiant dog led on the force of canines with
deafening war…cries； and one could see black heads here and there pop…
ping from behind the embankments。 As the herd finally swept toward the
opposite shore； many dead were left behind。 Pierced by the ar… rows of
the hunters； they lay like black mounds upon the glassy plain。
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It was a great hunt！ 〃Once more the camp will be fed；〃 they thought；
〃and this good for… tune will help us to reach the spring alive！〃
A chant of rejoicing rang out from the op… posite shore； while the game
scout unsheathed his big knife and began the work which is ever the
sequel of the huntto dress the game； al… though
