old indian days(古印第时期)-第28章
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In an instant the whole camp had surrounded the girl； who stood in
their midst a prisoner； yet undaunted； for she had seen her lover； and the
spirit of her ancestors rose within her。
An interpreter was brought； a man who was half Crow and half Sioux。
〃Young and pretty daughter of the Sioux！〃 exclaimed the chief； 〃tell us
how you came here in our midst undetected； and why！〃
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〃Because；〃 replied the Blue Sky； 〃your brave warriors have slain my
only brother； and captured my lover； whom you now hold a pris… oner。 It
is for his sake that I have thus risked my life and honor！〃
〃Ho； ho！ You are the bravest woman I have ever seen。 Your lover
wag betrayed into our hands by the treachery of one of his own tribe； who
shot his horse from behind。 He faced us without fear； but it was not his
courage that saved his life。 He resembles my own son； who lately fell in
battle； and according to the custom I have adopted him as my son！〃
Thus the brave maiden captured the heart of the wily Crow； and was
finally allowed to return home with her lover； bearing many and rich
presents。 Her name is remembered among the two tribes； for this act of
hers resulted in a treaty of peace between them which was kept for a
generation。
VII THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS
Away beyond the Thin Hills； above the Big Lone Tree upon the
Powder River； the Uncpapa Sioux had celebrated their Sun Dance； some
forty years ago。 It was mid… summer and the red folk were happy。 They
lacked for nothing。 The yellowish green flat on either side of the Powder
was studded with wild flowers； and the cottonwood trees were in full leaf。
One large circle of buffalo skin tee… pees formed the movable village。
The Big Horn Mountains loomed up against the deep blue sky to the
westward； and the Black Hills appeared in the far southeast。
The tribal rites had all been observed； and the usual summer festivities
enjoyed to the full。 The camp as it broke up divided itself in three parts；
each of which had determined to seek a favorite hunting…ground。
One band journeyed west； toward the Tongue River。 One followed a
tributary of the Pow… der to the south。 The third merely changed camp；
on account of the grazing for ponies； and for four days remained near the
old place。
The party that went west did not fail to real… ize the perilous nature of
their wanderings； for they were trespassing upon the country of the
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warlike Crows。
On the third day at sunrise； the Sioux crier's voice resounded in the
valley of the Powder； announcing that the lodges must be razed and the
villagers must take up their march。
Breakfast of jerked buffalo meat had been served and the women were
adjusting their packs； not without much chatter and apparent confusion。
Weeko （Beautiful Woman）； the young wife of the war…chief Shunkaska；
who had made many presents at the dances in honor of her twin boys； now
gave one of her remain… ing ponies to a poor old woman whose only beast
of burden； a large dog； had died during the night。
This made it necessary to shift the packs of the others。 Nakpa； or
Long Ears； her kitten… like gray mule； which had heretofore been hon…
ored with the precious burden of the twin babies； was to be given a heavier
and more cumbersome load。 Weeko's two…year…old spotted pony was
selected to carry the babies。
Accordingly； the two children； in their gor… geously beaded buckskin
hoods； were sus… pended upon either side of the pony's saddle。 As
Weeko's first…born； they were beautifully dressed； even the saddle and
bridle were dain… tily worked by her own hands。
The caravan was now in motion； and Weeko started all her ponies after
the leader； while she adjusted the mule's clumsy burden of ket… tles and
other household gear。 In a mo… ment：
〃Go on； let us see how you move with your new load！ Go on！〃 she
exclaimed again； with a light blow of the horse…hair lariat； as the an… imal
stood perfectly still。
Nakpa simply gave an angry side glance at her load and shifted her
position once or twice。 Then she threw herself headlong into the air and
landed stiff…legged； uttering at the same time her unearthly protest。 First
she dove straight through the crowd； then proceeded in a circle； her heels
describing wonderful curves and sweeps in the air。 Her pack； too； began
to come to pieces and to take forced flights from her undignified body and
heels； in the midst of the screams of women and children； the barking of
dogs； and the war…whoops of the amused young braves。
The cowskin tent became detached from her saddle； and a moment
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later Nakpa stood free。 Her sides worked like a bellows as she stood
there meekly indignant； apparently considering herself to be the victim of
an uncalled…for mis… understanding。
〃I should put an arrow through her at once； only she is not worth a
good arrow；〃 said Shunkaska； or White Dog； the husband of Weeko。 At
his wife's answer； he opened his eyes in surprised displeasure。
〃No； she shall have her own pack again。 She wants her twins。 I
ought never to have taken them from her！〃
Weeko approached Nakpa as she stood alone and unfriended in the
face of her little world； all of whom considered that she had committed the
unpardonable sin。 As for her； she evidently felt that her misfortunes had
not been of her own making。 She gave a hesitating； sidelong look at her
mistress。
〃Nakpa； you should not have acted so。 I knew you were stronger
than the others； there… fore I gave you that load；〃 said Weeko in a
conciliatory tone； and patted her on the nose。 〃Come； now； you shall
have your own pet pack；〃 and she led her back to where the young pony
stood silently with the babies。
Nakpa threw back her ears and cast savage looks at him； while
Shunkaska； with no small annoyance； gathered together as much as he
could of their scattered household effects。 The sleeping brown…skinned
babies in their chrysalis… like hoods were gently lowered from the pony's
back and attached securely to Nakpa's padded wooden saddle。 The
family pots and kettles were divided among the pack ponies。 Order was
restored and the village once more in mo… tion。
〃Come now； Nakpa； you have your wish。 You must take good care of
my babies。 Be good； because I have trusted you；〃 murmured the young
mother in her softest tones。
〃Really； Weeko； you have some common ground with Nakpa； for you
both always want to have your own way； and stick to it； too！ I tell you； I
fear this Long Ears。 She is not to be trusted with babies；〃 remarked
Shunkaska； with a good deal of severity。 But his wife made no reply；
for she well knew that though he might criticise； he would not actually
interfere with her domestic ar… rangements。
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He now started ahead to join the men in ad… vance of the slow…moving
procession； thus leav… ing her in undivided charge of her household。 One
or two of the pack ponies were not well… trained and required all her
attention。 Nakpa had been a faithful servant until her escapade of the
morning； and she was now obviously sat… isfied with her mistress'
arrangements。 She walked alongside with her lariat dragging； and
perfectly free to do as she pleased。
Some hours later； the party ascended a slope from the river bottom to
cross over the divide which lay between the Powder River and a trib… utary
stream。 They had hitherto followed that river in a westerly direction； but
here it took its course southward； winding in a blue streak until lost to
view among the foot…hills of the Big Horn Mountains。 The ford was
deep； with a swift current。 Here and there a bald butte stood out in full
relief against the brilliant blue sky。 The Sioux followed a deep ravine
until they came almost up to the second row of terraces。
〃Whoo！ whoo！〃 came the blood…curdling signal of danger from the
front。 It was no un… familiar soundthe rovers knew it only too well。 It
meant sudden deathor at best a cruel struggle and frantic flight。
Terrified； yet self…possessed； the women turned to fly while yet there
was time。 Instantly the mother looked to Nakpa； who carried on either
side of the saddle her precious boys。 She hurriedly examined the
fastenings to see that all was secure； and then caught her swiftest pony； for；
like all Indian women； she knew just what was happening； and that while
her hus… band was engaged in front with the enemy； she must seek safety
with her babies。
Hardly was she in the saddle when a heart… rending war…whoop
sounded on their flank； and she knew that they were surrounded！
Instinct… ively she reached for her husband's second quiver of arrows；
which was carried by one of the pack ponies。 Alas！ the Crow warriors
were already upon them！ The ponies became un… manageable； and the
wild screams of women and children pierced the awful confusion。
Quick as a flash； Weeko turne
