old indian days(古印第时期)-第2章
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hurried away upon their best horses； singing and yelling。 When they
reached the well…known butte； tow… ering abruptly in the midst of the plain；
they could distinguish their enemies massed behind the hanging rocks and
scattered cedar…trees； crawling up closer and closer； for the large war…
party reached the hill just as the scouts who held Antelope at bay
discovered the approach of his kinsmen。
Antelope had long since exhausted his quiver of arrows and was
gathering up many of those that fell about him to send them back among
his pursuers。 When their attention was withdrawn from him for an
instant by the sud… den onset of the Sioux； he sprang to his feet。
He raised both his hands heavenward in token of gratitude for his
rescue； and his friends announced with loud shouts the daring of Ante…
lope。
Both sides fought bravely； but the Utes at last retreated and were
fiercely pursued。 An… telope stood at his full height upon the huge rock
that had sheltered him； and gave his yell of defiance and exultation。
Below him the war… riors took it up； and among the gathering shadows the
rocks echoed praises of his name。
In the Sioux camp upon Lost Water there were dances and praise songs；
but there was wailing and mourning； too； for many lay dead among the
crags。 The name of Antelope was indelibly recorded upon Eagle Scout
Butte。
〃If he wished for a war…bonnet of eagle feathers； it is his to wear；〃
declared one of the young men。 〃But he is modest； and scarcely even
joins in the scalp dances。 lt is said of him that he has never yet spoken to
any young woman！〃
〃True； it is not announced publicly that he has addressed a maiden。
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Many parents would like to have their daughters the first one he would
speak to； but I am told he desires to go upon one or two more war…paths
before seeking woman's company；〃 replied another。
〃Hun； hun； hay！〃 exclaimed a third youth ill…naturedly。 He is already
old enough to be a father！〃
〃This is told of him；〃 rejoined the first speaker。 〃He wants to hold
the record of being the young man who made the greatest number of coups
before he spoke to a maiden。 I know that there are not only mothers who
would be glad to have him for a son…in…law； but their young daughters
would not refuse to look upon the brave Antelope as a husband！〃
It was true that in the dance his name was often mentioned； and at
every repetition it seemed that the young women danced with more spirit；
while even grandmothers joined in the whirl with a show of youthful
abandon。
Wezee； the father of Antelope； was receiv… ing congratulations
throughout the afternoon。 Many of the old men came to his lodge to
smoke with him； and the host was more than gratified； for he was of a
common family and had never before known what it is to bask in the
sunshine of popularity and distinction。 He spoke complacently as he
crowded a hand… ful of tobacco into the bowl of the long red pipe。
〃Friends； our life here is short； and the life of a brave youth is apt to be
shorter than most！ We crave all the happiness that we can get； and it is
right that we should do so。 One who says that he does not care for
reputation or success； is not likely to be telling the truth。 So you will
forgive me if I say too much about the honorable career of my son。〃 This
was the old man's philosophic apology。
〃Ho； ho；〃 his guests graciously responded。 〃It is your moon！ Every
moon has its full… ness； when it lights up the night； while the little stars
dance before it。 So to every man there comes his full moon！〃
Somewhat later in the day all the young people of the great camp were
seen to be mov… ing in one direction。 All wore their best attire and finest
ornaments； and even the parti…col… ored steeds were decorated to the
satisfaction of their beauty…loving riders。
〃Ugh； Taluta is making a maidens' feast！ She； the prettiest of all the
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Unkpapa maid… ens！〃 exclaimed one of the young braves。
〃She； the handsomest of all our young women！〃 repeated another。
Taluta was indeed a handsome maid in the height and bloom of
womanhood； with all that wonderful freshness and magnetism which was
developed and preserved by the life of the wil… derness。 She had already
given five maidens' feasts； beginning with her fifteenth year； and her shy
and diffident purity was held sacred by her people。
The maidens' circle was now complete。 Be… hind it the outer circle of
old women was equally picturesque and even more dignified。 The
grandmother； not the mother； was regarded as the natural protector of the
young maiden； and the dowagers derived much honor from their position；
especially upon public occasions； tak… ing to themselves no small amount
of credit for the good reputations of their charges。
Weshawee； whose protege had many suitors and was a decided
coquette； fidgeted nervously and frequently adjusted her robe or fingered
her necklace to ease her mind； for she dreaded lest； in spite of
watchfulness； some mishap might have befallen her charge。 Her anxiety
was apparently shared by several other chap… erons who stole occasional
suspicious glances in the direction of certain of the young braves。 It had
been known to happen that a girl un… worthy to join in the sacred feast was
publicly disgraced。
A special police force was appointed to keep order on this occasion；
each member of which was gorgeously painted and bedecked with eagle
feathers； and carried in his hand a long switch with which to threaten the
encroaching throng。 Their horses wore head…skins of fierce animals to
add to their awe…inspiring appear… ance。
The wild youths formed the outer circle of the gathering； attired like
the woods in au… tumn； their long locks glossy with oil and per… fumed
with scented grass and leaves。 Many pulled their blankets over their
heads as if to avoid recognition； and loitered shyly at a dis… tance。
Among these last were Antelope and his cousin； Red Eagle。 They
stood in the angle formed by the bodies of their steeds； whose noses were
together。 The young hero was com… pletely enveloped in his handsome
robe with a rainbow of bead…work acros the middle； and his small
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moccasined feet projected from be… neath the lower border。 Red Eagle
held up an eagle…wing fan； partially concealing his face； and both gazed
intently toward the center of the maidens' circle。
〃Woo！ woo！〃 was the sonorous exclama… tion of the police；
announcing the beginning of the ceremonies。 In the midst of the ring of
girls stood the traditional heart…shaped red stone； with its bristling hedge
of arrows。 In this case there were five arrows； indicating that Taluta had
already made as many maidens' feasts。 Each of the maidens must lay her
hand upon the stone in token of her purity and chas… tity； touching also as
many arrows as she her… self has attended maidens' feasts。
Taluta advanced first to the center。 As she stood for a moment beside
the sacred stone； she appeared to the gazing bystanders the embodi… ment
of grace and modesty。 Her gown； adorned with long fringes at the seams；
was beaded in blue and white across the shoulders and half way to her
waist。 Her shining black hair was arranged in two thick plaits which
hung down upon her bosom。 There was a native dignity in her gestures
and in her utterance of the maidens' oath； and as she turned to face the
circle； all the other virgins followed her。
When the feast was ended and the gay con… course had dispersed；
Antelope and his cousin were among the last to withdraw。 The young
man's eyes had followed every movement of Taluta as long as she
remained in sight； and it was only when she vanished in the gathering
shadows that he was willing to retire。
In savage courtship； it was the custom to introduce one's self boldly to
the young lady； although sometimes it was convenient to have a sister
introduce her brother。 But Antelope had no sister to perform this office
for him； and if he had had one； he would not have made the request。 He
did not choose to admit any one to his secret； for he had no confidence in
himself or in the outcome of the affair。 If it had been anything like
trailing the doe； or scouting the Ojibway； he would have ridiculed the very
notion of missing the object sought。 But this was a new warfarean
unknown hunt… ing！ Although he was very anxious to meet Taluta；
whenever the idea occurred to him he trembled like a leaf in the wind； and
profuse perspiration rolled down his stoic visage。 It was not customary
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to hold any social inter… course with the members of the opposite sex； and
he had never spoken familiarly to any woman since he became a man；
except his old grandmother。 It was well known that the counsel
