old indian days(古印第时期)-第3章
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except his old grandmother。 It was well known that the counsel of the
aged brings luck to the youth in warfare and love。
Antelope arose early the next morning； and without speaking to any
one he made a cere… monious toilet。 He put on his finest buckskin shirt
and a handsome robe； threw a beaded quiver over his shoulder； and
walked directly away from the teepees and into the foresthe did not
know why nor whither。 The sounds of the camp grew fainter and fainter；
until at last he found himself alone。
〃How is it；〃 mused the young man； 〃that I have hoped to become a
leader among my people？ My father is not a chief； and none of my
ancestors were distinguished in war。 I know well that； if I desire to be
great； I must deny myself the pleasure of woman's company until I have
made my reputation。 I must not boast nor exhibit myself on my first
success。 The spirits do not visit the common haunts of men！ All these
rules I have thus far kept； and I must not now yield to temptation。 。 。 。 Man
has much to weaken his ambition after he is married。 A young man may
seek oppor… tunities to prove his worth； but to a married man the
opportunity must come to try him。 He acts only when compelled to
act。 。 。 。 Ah； I must flee from the woman！。 。 。 。 Besides； if she should
like someone else better； I should be humiliated。 。 。 。 I must go upon a long
war…path。 I shall forget her。 。 。 。〃
At this point his revery was interrupted by the joyous laughter of two
young women。 The melodious sing…song laughter of the Sioux maiden
stirred the very soul of the young war… rior。
All his philosophy deserted him； and he stood hesitating； looking
about him as if for a chance of escape。 A man who had never before felt
the magnetic influence of woman in her simplicity and childlike purity； he
be… came for the moment incapable of speech or action。
Meanwhile the two girls were wholly uncon… scious of any disturbing
presence in the forest。 They were telling each other the signals that each
had received in the dance。 Taluta's com… panion had stopped at the first
raspberry bushes； while she herself passed on to the next thicket。 When
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she emerged from the pines into an opening； she suddenly beheld Antelope；
in his full…dress suit of courtship。 Instantly she dropped her eyes。
Luckily the customs of courtship among the Sioux allow the covering
of one's head with the blanket。 In this attitude； the young man made a
signal to Taluta with trembling fingers。
The wild red man's wooing was natural and straightforward； there was
no circumspection； no maneuvering for time or advantage。 Hot words of
love burst forth from the young warrior's lips； with heavy breathing behind
the folds of the robe with which he sought to shield his embarrassment。
〃For once the spirits are guiding my for… tunes！ It may seem strange to
you； when we meet thus by accident； that I should speak im… mediately of
my love for you； but we live in a world where one must speak when the
oppor… tunity offers。 I have thought much of you since I saw you at the
maidens' feast。 。 。 。 Is Taluta willing to become the wife of Tatoka？ The
moccasins of her making will cause his feet to be swift in pursuit of the
game； and on the trail of the enemy。 。 。 。 I beg of you； maiden； let our
meeting be known only to the birds of the air； while you consider my pro…
posal！〃
All this while the maiden stood demurely at his side； playing with the
lariat of her pony in her brown； fine hands。 Her doeskin gown with
profuse fringes hung gracefully as the drooping long leaves of the willow；
and her two heavy braids of black hair； mingled with strings of deers'
hoofs and wampum； fell upon her bosom。 There was a faint glow under…
neath her brown skin； and her black eyes were calm and soft； yet full of
native fire。
〃You will not press for an answer now；〃 she gently replied； without
looking at him。 〃I expected to see no one here； and your words have
taken me by surprise。 。 。 。 I grant your last request。 The birds alone can
indulge in gossip about our meeting；unless my cousin； who is in the next
ravine； should see us to… gether！〃 She sprang lightly upon the back of her
pony； and disappeared among the scat… tered pines。
Between the first lovers' meeting and the sec… ond was a period of one
moon。 This was wholly the fault of Antelope； who had been a prey to
indecision and painful thoughts。 Half re… gretting his impulsive
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declaration； and hoping to forget his pangs in the chances of travel and
war； he had finally enlisted in the number of those who were to go with
the war…leader Crowhead into the Ute country。 As was the custom of the
Sioux warriors upon the eve of departure； the young men consulted their
spirit… ual advisers； and were frequently in the purify… ing vapor…bath； and
fasting in prayer。
The last evening had come； and Antelope was on the way to the top of
the hill behind the camp for a night of prayer。 Suddenly in the half…light
he came full upon Taluta； lead… ing her pony down the narrow trail。 She
had never looked more beautiful to the youth than at that moment。
〃Ho；〃 he greeted her。 She simply smiled shyly。
〃It is long since we met；〃 he ventured。
〃I have concluded that you do not care to hear my reply；〃 retorted the
girl。
〃I have nothing to say in my defense； but I hope that you will be
generous。 I have suf… fered much。 。 。 。 You will understand why I stand
far from you；〃 he added gently。 〃I have been preparing myself to go
upon the war… path。 We start at daylight for the Ute coun… try。 Every
day for ten days I have been in the vapor…bath； and ten nights fasting。〃
As Taluta well knew； a young warrior under these circumstances dared
not approach a wo… man； not even his own wife。
〃I still urge you to be my wife。 Are you ready to give me your
answer？〃 continued An… telope。
〃My answer was sent to you by your grand… mother this very day；〃 she
replied softly。
〃Ah； tell me； tell me； 。 。 。〃 pressed the youth eagerly。
〃All is well。 Fear nothing；〃 murmured the maiden。
〃I have given my wordI have made my prayers and undergone
purification。 I must not withdraw from this war…path；〃 he said after a
silence。 〃But I know that I shall be for… tunate！ 。 。 。 My grandmother
will give you my love token。 。 。 。 Ah； kechuwa （dear love）！ watch the big
star every night！ I will watch it； toothen we shall both be watching！
Although far apart； our spirits will be to… gether。〃
The moon had risen above the hill； and the cold light discovered the
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two who stood sadly apart； their hearts hot with longing。 Reluc… tantly；
yet without a backward look or farewell gesture； the warrior went on up
the hill； and the maiden hurried homeward。 Only a few moments before
she had been happy in the anticipation of making her lover happy。 The
truth was she had been building air…castles in the likeness of a white teepee
pitched upon a virgin prairie all alone； surrounded by mountains。
Tatoka's war…horse and hunting pony were picketed near by； and there she
saw herself preparing the simple meal for him！ But now he has clouded
her dreams by this untimely departure。
〃He is too brave。 。 。 。 His life will be a short one；〃 she said to herself
with fore… boding。
For a few hours all was quiet； and just be… fore the appearance of day
the warriors' de… parture was made known by their farewell songs。
Antelope was in the line early； but he was heavy of heart； for he knew that
his sweet… heart was sorely puzzled and disappointed by his abrupt
departure。 His only consolation was the knowledge that he had in his
bundle a pair of moccasins made by her hands。 He had not yet seen them；
because it was the cus… tom not to open any farewell gifts until the first
camp was made； and then they must be opened before the eyes of all the
young men！ It brings luck to the war…party； they said。 He would have
preferred to keep his betrothal se… cret； but there was no escaping the
custom。
All the camp…fires were burning and supper had been eaten； when the
herald approached every group and announced the programme for the
evening。 It fell to Antelope to open his bundle first。 Loud laughter
pealed forth when the reluctant youth brought forth a su… perb pair of
moccasinsthe recognized love… gift！ At such times the warriors' jokes
were unmerciful； for it was considered a last indul… gence in jesting；
perhaps for many moons。 The recipient was well known to be a novice
in love； and this token first disclosed the fact that he had at last succumbed
to the allure… ments of woman。 When he sang his love…song he was
obliged to name the giver of the token； and many a disappointed suitor
was astonished to hear Taluta's name。
It was a long journey to the Ute country； and when they reached it
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there was a stubbornly contested fight。 Both sides claimed the vic… tory；
and both lost several men。 Here again Antelope was signally favored by
t
