old indian days(古印第时期)-第23章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
92
… Page 93…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
little tawny skin shall be beautifully dressed by my mother。 The legs and
the nose shall be embossed with porcupine quills。 It will be my work…
bag；〃 she said to herself。
As she stole forward on the fresh trail she scanned every nook； every
clump of bushes。 There was a sudden rustle from within a grove of wild
plum trees； thickly festooned with grape and clematis； and the doe mother
bounded away as carelessly as if she were never to return。
Ah； a mother's ruse！ Snana entered the thorny enclosure； which was
almost a rude tee… pee； and； tucked away in the furthermost corner； lay
something with a trout…like； speckled； tawny coat。 She bent over it。
The fawn was appar… ently sleeping。 Presently its eyes moved a bit； and
a shiver passed through its subtle body。
〃Thou shalt not die； thy skin shall not be… come my work…bag！〃
unconsciously the maiden spoke。 The mother sympathy had taken hold
on her mind。 She picked the fawn up tenderly； bound its legs； and put it
on her back to carry like an Indian babe in the folds of her robe。
〃I cannot leave you alone； Tachinchala。 Your mother is not here。
Our hunters will soon return by this road； and your mother has left behind
her two plain tracks leading to this thicket；〃 she murmured。
The wild creature struggled vigorously for a minute； and then became
quiet。 Its graceful head protruded from the elkskin robe just over
Snana's shoulder。 She was slowly climbing the slope with her burden；
when suddenly like an apparition the doe…mother stood before her。 The
fawn called loudly when it was first seized； and the mother was not too far
away to hear。 Now she called frantically for her child； at the same time
stamping with her delicate fore…feet。
〃Yes； sister； you are right； she is yours； but you cannot save her to…day！
The hunters will soon be here。 Let me keep her for you； I will return her
to you safely。 And hear me； O sis… ter of the woods； that some day I may
become the mother of a noble race of warriors and of fine women； as
handsome as you are！〃
At this moment the quick eyes of the Indian girl detected something
strange in the doe's actions。 She glanced in every direction and be… hold！
a grizzly bear was cautiously approach… ing the group from a considerable
93
… Page 94…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
distance。
〃Run； run； sister！ I shall save your child if I can；〃 she cried； and flew
for the nearest scrub oak on the edge of the bank。 Up the tree she
scrambled； with the fawn still securely bound to her back。 The grizzly
came on with teeth ex… posed； and the doe…mother in her flight came
between him and the tree； giving a series of indignant snorts as she ran；
and so distracted Mato from his object of attack； but only for a few
secondsthen on he came！
〃Desist； O brave Mato！ It does not become a great medicine…man to
attack a helpless woman with a burden upon her back！〃
Snana spoke as if the huge brute could un… derstand her； and indeed the
Indians hold that wild animals understand intuitively when ap… pealed to
by human beings in distress。 Yet he replied only with a hoarse growl； as
rising upon his hind legs he shook the little tree vigorously。
〃Ye； ye； heyupi ye！〃 Snana called loudly to her companion turnip…
diggers。 Her cry soon brought all the women into sight upon a near…by
ridge； and they immediately gave a general alarm。 Mato saw them； but
appeared not at all concerned and was still intent upon dislodg… ing the girl；
who clung frantically to her perch。
Presently there appeared upon the little knoll several warriors；
mounted and uttering the usual war…whoop； as if they were about to swoop
down upon a human enemy。 This touched the dignity of Mato； and he
immediately prepared to accept the challenge。 Every Indian was alive to
the possibilities of the occasion； for it is well known that Mato； or grizzly
bear； alone among animals is given the rank of a warrior； so that whoever
conquers him may wear an eagle feather。
〃Woo！ woo！〃 the warriors shouted； as they maneuvered to draw him
into the open plain。
He answered with hoarse growls； threatening a rider who had ventured
too near。 But arrows were many and well…aimed； and in a few minutes
the great and warlike Mato lay dead at the foot of the tree。
The men ran forward and counted their coups on him； just as when an
enemy is fallen。 Then they looked at one another and placed their hands
over their mouths as the young girl de… scended the tree with a fawn bound
94
… Page 95…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
upon her back。
〃So that was the bait！〃 they cried。 〃And will you not make a feast
with that fawn for us who came to your rescue？ 〃
〃The fawn is young and tender； and we have not eaten meat for two
days。 It will be a gen… erous thing to do；〃 added her father； who was
among them。
〃Ye…e…e！〃 she cried out in distress。 〃Do not ask it！ I have seen this
fawn's mother。 I have promised to keep her child safe。 See！ I have
saved its life； even when my own was in danger。〃
〃Ho； ho； wakan ye lo！ （Yes； yes； 'tis holy or mysterious）；〃 they
exclaimed approvingly。
It was no small trouble for Snana to keep her trust。 As may well be
supposed； all the dogs of the teepee village must be watched and kept at a
distance。 Neither was it easy to feed the little captive； but in gaining its
confidence the girl was an adept。 The fawn soon followed her
everywhere； and called to her when hungry exactly as she had called to her
own mother。
After several days； when her fright at the encounter with the bear had
somewhat worn off； Snana took her pet into the woods and back to the
very spot in which she had found it。 In the furthest corner of the wild
plum grove she laid it down； gently stroked its soft forehead； and
smoothed the leaflike ears。 The little thing closed its eyes。 Once more
the Sioux girl bent over and laid her cheek against the fawn's head； then
reluctantly she moved away； hoping and yet dreading that the mother
would return。 She crouched under a clump of bushes near by； and gave
the doe call。 It was a reckless thing for her to do； for such a call might
bring upon her a mountain lion or ever…watchful silver… tip； but Snana did
not think of that。
In a few minutes she heard the light patter of hoofs； and caught a
glimpse of a doe running straight toward the fawn's hiding…place。 When
she stole near enough to see； the doe and the fawn were examining one
another carefully； as if fearing some treachery。 At last both were
apparently satisfied。 The doe caressed her nat… ural child； and the little
one accepted the milk she offered。
95
… Page 96…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
In the Sioux maiden's mind there was tur… moil。 A close attachment
to the little wild creature had already taken root there； contend… ing with
the sense of justice that was strong within her。 Now womanly sympathy
for the mother was in control； and now a desire to possess and protect her
helpless pet。
〃I can take care of her against all hunters； both animal and human。
They are ever ready to seize the helpless fawn for food。 Her life will be
often exposed。 You cannot save her from disaster。 O； Takcha； my sister；
let me still keep her for you！〃 she finally appealed to the poor doe； who
was nervously watching the intruder； and apparently thinking how she
might best escape with the fawn。
Just at this moment there came a low call from the wood。 It was a
doe call； but the wild mother and her new friend both knew that it was not
the call of a real doe。
〃It is a Sioux hunter！〃 whispered the girl。 〃You must go； my sister！
Be off； I will take your child to safety！〃
While she was yet speaking； the doe seemed to realize the danger。
She stopped only an instant to lick fondly the tawny coat of the little one；
who had just finished her dinner； then she bounded away。
As Snana emerged from the bushes with her charge； a young hunter
met her face to face； and stared at her curiously。 He was not of her
father's camp； but a stranger。
〃Ugh； you have my game。〃
〃Tosh！〃 she replied coquettishly。
It was so often said among the Indians that the doe was wont to put on
human form to mis… lead the hunter； that it looked strange to see a woman
with a fawn； and the young man could not forbear to gaze upon Snana。
〃You are not the real mother in maiden's guise？ Tell me truly if you
are of human blood；〃 he demanded rudely。
〃I am a Sioux maiden！ Do you not know my father？〃 she replied。
〃Ah； but who is your father？ What is his name？〃 he insisted；
nervously fingering his arrows。
〃Do not be a coward！ Surely you should know a maid of your own
race；〃 she replied re… proachfully。
96
… Page 97…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
〃Ah； you know the tricks of the doe！ What is thy name？〃
〃Hast thou forgotten the etiquette of thy people； and wouldst compel
me to pronounce my own name？ I refuse； thou art jesting！〃 she retorted
with a smile。
〃Thou dost give the tricky answers of a doe。 I cannot wait； I must act
before I lose my nat… ural mind。 But already I am yours。 Whatever
purpose you
