old indian days(古印第时期)-第31章
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
straightened。
〃The white doeskin gown of the War Maiden；〃 he continued； 〃was
trimmed with elk's teeth and tails of ermine。 Her long black hair hung
loose； bound only with a strip of otter…skin； and with her eagle…feather
war…bonnet floated far behind。 In her hand she held a long coup…staff
decorated with eagle…feathers。 Thus she went forth in advance of them
all！
〃War cries of men and screams of terrified women and children were
borne upon the clear morning air as our warriors neared the Crow camp。
The charge was made over a wide plain； and the Crows came yelling from
their lodges； fully armed； to meet the attacking party。 In spite of the
surprise they easily held their own； and even began to press us hard； as
their num… ber was much greater than that of the Sioux。
〃The fight was a long and hard one。 Toward the end of the day the
enemy made a counter…charge。 By that time many of our po… nies had
fallen or were exhausted。 The Sioux retreated； and the slaughter was
great。 The Cut…Heads fled womanlike； but the people of Tamakoche
fought gallantly to the very last。
〃Makatah remained with her father's peo… ple。 Many cried out to her；
'Go back！ Go back！' but she paid no attention。 She carried no weapon
throughout the daynothing but her coup…staffbut by her presence and
her cries of encouragement or praise she urged on the men to deeds of
desperate valor。
〃Finally； however； the Sioux braves were hotly pursued and the retreat
became general。 Now at last Makatah tried to follow； but her pony was
tired； and the maiden fell farther and farther behind。 Many of her lovers
passed her silently； intent upon saving their own lives。 Only a few still
remained behind； fighting des… perately to cover the retreat； when Red
Horn came up with the girl。 His pony was still fresh。 He might have
put her up behind him and car… ried her to safety； but he did not even look
at her as he galloped by。
〃Makatah did not call out； but she could not help looking after him。
He had declared his love for her more loudly than any of the others； and
she now gave herself up to die。
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
〃Presently another overtook the maiden。 It was Little Eagle； unhurt
and smiling。
〃'Take my horse！' he said to her。 'I shall remain here and fight！'
〃The maiden looked at him and shook her head； but he sprang off and
lifted her upon his horse。 He struck him a smart blow upon the flank that
sent him at full speed in the direction of the Sioux encampment。 Then he
seized the exhausted buckskin by the lariat； and turned back to join the
rear…guard。
〃That little group still withstood in some fashion the all but irresistible
onset of the Crows。 When their comrade came back to them； leading the
War Maiden's pony； they were inspired to fresh endeavor； and though few
in number they made a counter…charge with such fury that the Crows in
their turn were forced to retreat！
〃The Sioux got fresh mounts and returned to the field； and by sunset
the day was won！ Little Eagle was among the first who rode straight
through the Crow camp； causing terror and consternation。 It was
afterward remem… bered that he looked unlike his former self and was
scarcely recognized by the warriors for the modest youth they had so little
regarded。
〃It was this famous battle which drove that warlike nation； the Crows；
to go away from the Missouri and to make their home up the Yel…
lowstone River and in the Bighorn country。 But many of our men fell；
and among them the brave Little Eagle！
〃The sun was almost over the hills when the Sioux gathered about
their campfires； recounting the honors won in battle； and naming the brave
dead。 Then came the singing of dirges and weeping for the slain！ The
sadness of loss was mingled with exultation。
〃Hush！ listen！ the singing and wailing have ceased suddenly at both
camps。 There is one voice coming around the circle of campfires。 It is
the voice of a woman！ Stripped of all her ornaments； her dress shorn of
its fringes； her ankles bare； her hair cropped close to her neck； leading a
pony with mane and tail cut short； she is mourning as widows mourn。 It
is Makatah！
〃Publicly； with many tears； she declared her… self the widow of the
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
brave Little Eagle； although she had never been his wife！ He it was； she
said with truth； who had saved her peo… ple's honor and her life at the cost
of his own。 He was a true man！
〃'Ho； ho！' was the response from many of the older warriors； but the
young men； the lovers of Makatah； were surprised and sat in silence。
〃The War Maiden lived to be a very old woman； but she remained true
to her vow。 She never accepted a husband； and all her lifetime she was
known as the widow of the brave Little Eagle。〃
THE END
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
GLOSSARY
A…no…ka…san； white on both sides （Bald Eagle）。 A…tay； father。 Cha…ton'…
ska； White Hawk。 Chin…o…te…dah； Lives…in…the…Wood。 Chin…to； yes； indeed。
E…na…ka…nee； hurry。 E…ya…tonk…a…wee； She…whose…Voice…is…heard…afar。 E…
yo…tank…a； rise up； or sit down。 Ha…ha…ton…wan； Ojibway。 Ha…na…ka…pe； a
grave。 Han…ta…wo； Out of the way！ He…che…tu； it is well。 He…yu…pe…ya；
come here！ Hi！ an exclamation of thanks。 Hunk…pa…tees； a band of Sioux。
Ka…po…sia； Light Lodges； a band of Sioux。 Ke…chu…wa； darling。 Ko…da；
friend。 Ma…ga…ska…wee； Swan Maiden。 Ma…ka…tah； Earth Woman。 Ma…to；
bear。 Ma…to…ska； White Bear。 Ma…to…sa…pa； Black Bear。 Me…chink…she； my
son or sons。 Me…ta； my。 Min…ne…wa…kan； Sacred Water （Devil's Lake。）
Min…ne…ya…ta； By…the…Water。 Nak…pa； Ears or Long Ears。 Ne…na e…ya…ya！
run fast！ O…glu…ge…chan…a； Mysterious Wood…Dweller。 Psay； snow…shoes。
Shunk…a； dog。 Shunk…a…ska； White Dog。 Shunk…ik…chek…a； domestic dog。
Ske…ske…ta…tonk…a； Sault Sainte Marie。 Sna…na； Rattle。 Sta…su； Shield
（Arickaree）。 Ta…ake…che…ta； his soldier。 Ta…chin…cha…la； fawn。 Tak…cha； doe。
Ta…lu…ta； Scarlet。 Ta…ma…hay； Pike。 Ta…ma…ko…che； His Country。 Ta…na…ge…la；
Humming…Bird。 Ta…tank…a…o…ta； Many Buffaloes。 Ta…te…yo…pa； Her Door。
Ta…to…ka； Antelope。 Ta…wa…su…o…ta； Many Hailstones。 Tee…pee； tent。 Te…yo…
tee…pee； Council lodge。 To…ke…ya nun…ka hu…wo？ where are you？ Tunk…a…
she…dah； grandfather。 Un…chee…dah； grandmother。 Unk…pa…pa； a band of
Sioux。 U…ya…yo！ come here！ Wa…ba…shaw； Red Hat （name of a Sioux chief）。
Wa…ha…dah； Buyer of Furs。 Wah…pay…ton； a band of Sioux。 Wa…ho； Howler。
Wa…kan； sacred； mysterious。 Wak…pay…ku…tay； a band of Sioux。 Wa…pay…na；
Little Barker。 Wee…ko； Beautiful Woman。 We…no…na； Firstborn Daughter。
We…sha…wee； Red Girl。 We…wop…tay； a sharpened pole。 We…yan…na； little
woman。 We…zee； Smoky Lodge。 Yank…ton…nais； a band of Sioux。 Zee…zee…
win； Yellow Woman。 Zu…ya…ma…ni； Walks…to…War。
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