old indian days(古印第时期)-第30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！
OLD INDIAN DAYS
grew into womanhood she became the belle of her father's village； and her
beauty and spirit were talked of even among the neighboring bands of
Sioux。 But it appeared that Makatah did not care to marry。 She had
only two am… bitions。 One was to prove to her father that； though only a
maid； she had the heart of a war… rior。 The other was to visit the graves
of her brothersthat is； the country of the enemy。
〃At this pleasant reunion of two kindred peo… ples one of the principal
events was the Feast of Virgins； given by Makatah。 All young maidens
of virtue and good repute were invited to be present； but woe to her who
should dare to pollute the sacred feast！ If her right to be there were
challenged by any it meant a public disgrace。 The two arrows and the red
stone upon which the virgins took their oath of chas… tity were especially
prepared for the occasion。 Every girl was beautifully dressed； for at that
time the white doeskin gowns； with a profusion of fringes and colored
embroidery； were the gala attire of the Sioux maidens。 Red paint was
added； and ornaments of furs and wampum。 Many youths eagerly
surveyed the maiden gath… ering； at which the daughter of Tamakoche out…
shone all the rest。
〃Several eligible warriors now pressed their suits at the chieftain's
lodge； and among them were one or two whom he would have gladly
called son…in…law； but no！ Makatah would not listen to words of
courtship。 She had vowed； she said； to the spirits of her three brothers
each of whom fell in the country of the Crows that she would see that
country before she became a wife。
〃Red Horn； who was something of a leader among the young men； was
a persistent and de… termined suitor。 He had urged every influential
friend of his and hers to persuade her to listen to him。 His presents were
more valuable than those of any one else。 He even made use of his
father's position as a leading chief of the Cut…Head band to force a
decision in his favor； and while the maiden remained indifferent her father
seemed inclined to countenance this young man's pretensions。
〃She had many other lovers； as I have said；〃 the old man added； 〃and
among them was one Little Eagle； an orphan and a poor young man；
unknown and unproved as a warrior。 He was so insignificant that nobody
122
… Page 123…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
thought much about him； and if Makatah regarded him with any favor the
matter was her secret； for it is certain that she did not openly encourage
him。
〃One day it was reported in the village that their neighbors； the Cut…
Head Sioux； would or… ganize a great attack upon the Crows at the mouth
of the Redwater； a tributary of the Mis… souri。 Makatah immediately
inquired of her male cousins whether any of them expected to join the
war…party。
〃'Three of us will go；' they replied。
〃'Then；' said the girl； 'I beg that you will allow me to go with you！ I
have a good horse； and I shall not handicap you in battle。 I only ask your
protection in camp as your kinswoman and a maid of the war…party。'
〃'If our uncle Tamakoche sanctions your going；' they replied； 'we shall
be proud to have our cousin with us； to inspire us to brave deeds！'
〃The maiden now sought her father and asked his permission to
accompany the war… party。
〃'I wish；' said she； 'to visit the graves of my brothers！ I shall carry
with me their war…bon… nets and their weapons； to give to certain young
men on the eve of battle； according to the an… cient custom。 Long ago I
resolved to do this； and the time is now come。'
〃The chief was at this time well advanced in years； and had been
sitting quite alone in his lodge； thinking upon the days of his youth； when
he was noted for daring and success in battle。 In silence he listened as he
filled his pipe； and seemed to meditate while he smoked the fra… grant
tobacco。 At last he spoke with tears in his eyes。
〃'Daughter； I am an old man！ My heart beats in my throat； and my
old eyes cannot keep back the tears。 My three sons； on whom I had
placed all my hopes； are gone to a far country！ You are the only child left
to my old age； and you； too； are braveas brave as any of your brothers。
If you go I fear that you may not return to me； yet I cannot refuse you my
per… mission！〃
〃The old man began to chant a war…song； and some of his people；
hearing him； came in to learn what was in his mind。 He told them all；
and immediately many young men volunteered for the war…party； in order
123
… Page 124…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
to have the honor of going with the daughter of their chief。
〃Several of Makatah's suitors were among them； and each watched
eagerly for an oppor… tunity to ride at her side。 At night she pitched her
little teepee within the circle of her cousins' campfires； and there she slept
without fear。 Courteous youths brought to her every morning and
evening fresh venison for her repast。 Yet there was no courting； for all
attentions paid to a maiden when on the war…path must be those of a
brother to a sister； and all must be equally received by her。
〃Two days later； when the two parties of Sioux met on the plains； the
maiden's presence was heralded throughout the camp； as an in… spiration to
the young and untried warriors of both bands to distinguish themselves in
the field。 It is true that some of the older men considered it unwise to
allow Makatah to accompany the war…party。
〃'The girl；' said they to one another； 'is very ambitious as well as brave。
She will surely risk her own life in battle； which will make the young men
desperate； and we shall lose many of them！'
〃Nevertheless they loved her and her father； therefore they did not
protest openly。
〃On the third day the Sioux scouts returned with the word that the
Crows were camping； as had been supposed； at the confluence of the
Redwater and the Missouri Rivers。 It was a great camp。 All the Crow
tribe were there； they said； with their thousands of fine horses。
〃There was excitement in the Sioux camp； and all of the head men
immediately met in council。 It was determined to make the attack early
on the following morning； just as the sun came over the hills。 The
councilors agreed that in honor of the great chief； her father； as well as in
recognition of her own courage； Makatah should be permitted to lead the
charge at the outset； but that she must drop behind as they neared the
enemy。 The maiden； who had one of the fleetest ponies in that part of the
country； had no intention of falling back； but she did not tell any one what
was in her mind。
〃That evening every warrior sang his war… song； and announced the
particular war…charm or 'medicine' of his clan； according to the cus… tom。
The youths were vying with one another in brave tales of what they would
124
… Page 125…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
do on the morrow。 The voice of Red Horn was loud among the boasters；
for he was known to be a vain youth； although truly not without reputa…
tion。 Little Eagle； who was also of the com… pany； remained modestly
silent； as indeed be… came one without experience in the field。 In the
midst of the clamor there fell a silence。
〃'Hush！ hush！' they whispered。 'Look； look！ The War Maiden
comes！'
〃All eyes were turned upon Makatah； who rode her fine buckskin steed
with a single lariat。 He held his head proudly； and his saddle was heavy
with fringes and gay with colored em… broidery。 The maiden was attired
in her best and wore her own father's war…bonnet； while she carried in her
hands two which had be… longed to two of her dead brothers。 Singing in
a clear voice the songs of her clan； she com… pleted the circle； according to
custom； before she singled out one of the young braves for spe… cial honor
by giving him the bonnet which she held in her right hand。 She then
crossed over to the Cut…Heads； and presented the other bon… net to one of
their young men。 She was very handsome； even the old men's blood was
stirred by her brave appearance！
〃At daybreak the two war…parties of the Sioux； mounted on their best
horses； stood side by side； ready for the word to charge。 All of the
warriors were painted for the battlepre… pared for deaththeir nearly
nude bodies deco… rated with their individual war…totems。 Their well…
filled quivers were fastened to their sides； and each tightly grasped his
oaken bow。
〃The young man with the finest voice had been chosen to give the
signala single high… pitched yell。 This was an imitation of the one long
howl of the gray wolf before he makes the attack。 It was an ancient
custom of our people。
〃'Woo…o…o…o！'at last it came！ As the sound ceased a shrill war…
whoop from five hun… dred throats burst forth in chorus； and at the same
instant Makatah； upon her splendid buck… skin pony； shot far out upon the
plain； like an arrow as it leaves the bow。 It was a glorious sight！ No
man has ever looked upon the like again！〃
The eyes of the old man sparkled as he spoke； and his bent shoulders
125
… Page 126…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
