old indian days(古印第时期)-第4章
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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
the gods of war。 He counted many coups or blows； and exhibited his
bravery again and again in the charges； but he received no wound。
On the return journey Taluta's beautiful face was constantly before
him。 He was so impatient to see her that he hurried on in ad… vance of his
party； when they were still several days' travel from the Sioux camp。
〃This time I shall join in all the dances and participate in the rejoicings；
for she will surely like to have me do so；〃 he thought to himself。 〃She
will join also； and I know that none is a better dancer than Taluta！〃
In fancy； Antelope was practicing the songs of victory as he rode alone
over the vast wild country。
He had now passed Wild Horse Creek and the Black Hills lay to the
southeast； while the Big Horn range loomed up to the north in gigantic
proportions。 He felt himself at home。
〃I shall now be a man indeed。 I shall have a wife！〃 he said aloud。
At last he reached the point from which he expected to view the distant
camp。 Alas； there was no camp there！ Only a solitary teepee gleamed
forth upon the green plain； which was almost surrounded by a quick turn
of the River of Deep Woods。 The teepee appeared very white。 A
peculiar tingling sensation passed through his frame； and the pony
whinnied often as he was urged forward at a gallop。
When Antelope beheld the solitary teepee he knew instantly what it
was。 It was a grave！ Sometimes a new white lodge was pitched thus for
the dead； who lay in state within upon a couch of finest skins； and
surrounded by his choicest possessions。
Antelope's excitement increased as he neared the teepee； which was
protected by a barricade of thick brush。 It stood alone and silent in the
midst of the deserted camp。 He kicked the sides of his tired horse to
make him go faster。 At last he jumped from the saddle and ran toward
the door。 There he paused for a mo… ment； and at the thought of
desecrating a grave； a cold terror came over him。
〃I must seeI must see！〃 he said aloud； and desperately he broke
through the thorny fence and drew aside the oval swinging door。
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In the stately white teepee； seen from afar； both grave and monument；
there lay the fair body of Taluta！ The bier was undisturbed； and the maiden
looked beautiful as if sleeping； dressed in her robes of ceremony and
surrounded by all her belongings。
Her lover looked upon her still face and cried aloud。 〃Hey； hey； hey！
Alas！ alas！ If I had known of this while in the Ute country； you would
not be lonely on the spirit path。〃
He withdrew； and laid the doorflap rever… ently back in its place。
How long he stood with… out the threshold he could not tell。 He stood
with head bowed down upon his breast； tear… less and motionless； utterly
oblivious to every… thing save the bier of his beloved。 His charger grazed
about for a long time where he had left him； but at last he endeavored by a
low whinny to attract his master's attention； and Antelope awoke from his
trance of sorrow。
The sun was now hovering over the western ridges。 The mourner's
throat was parched； and perspiration rolled down his cheeks； yet he was
conscious of nothing but a strong de… sire to look upon her calm； sweet
face once more。
He kindled a small fire a little way off； and burned some cedar berries
and sweet…smelling grass。 Then he fumigated himself thoroughly to
dispel the human atmosphere； so that the spirit might not be offended by
his approach； for he greatly desired to obtain a sign from her spirit。 He
had removed his garments and stood up perfectly nude save for the
breech… clout。 His long hair was unbraided and hung upon his shoulders；
veiling the upper half of his splendid body。 Thus standing； the lover sang
a dirge of his own making。 The words were something like this：
Ah； spirit； thy flight is mysterious！
While the clouds are stirred by our wailing；
And our tears fall faster in sorrow
While the cold sweat of night benumbs us； Thou goest alone on thy
journey；
In the midst of the shining star people！
Thou goest alone on thy journey
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
Thy memory shall be our portion；
Until death we must watch for the spirit！
The eyes of Antelope were closed while he chanted the dirge。 He
sang it over and over； pausing between the lines； and straining as it were
every sense lest he might not catch the rapt whisper of her spirit； but only
the distant howls of coyotes answered him。 His body be… came cold and
numb from sheer exhaustion； and at last his knees bent under him and he
sank down upon the ground； still facing the teepee。 Unconsciousness
overtook him； and in his sleep or trance the voice came：
〃Do not mourn for me； my friend！ Come into my teepee； and eat of my
food。〃
It seemed to Antelope that he faltered for a moment； then he entered
the teepee。 There was a cheerful fire burning in the center。 A basin of
broiled buffalo meat was placed oppo… site the couch of Taluta； on the
other side of the fire。 Its odor was delicious to him； yet he hesitated to
eat of it。
〃Fear not； kechuwa （my darling）！ It will give you strength；〃 said the
voice。
The maid was natural as in life。 Beautifully attired； she sat up on her
bed； and her de… meanor was cheerful and kind。
The young man ate of the food in silence and without looking at the
spirit。 〃Ho； ke… chuwa！〃 he said to her when returning the dish；
according to the custom of his people。
Silently the two sat for some minutes； while the youth gazed into the
burning embers。
〃Be of good heart；〃 said Taluta； at last； 〃for you shall meet my twin
spirit！ She will love you as I do； and you will love her as you love me。
This was our covenant before we came into this world。〃
The conception of a 〃twin spirit〃 was famil… iar to the Sioux。 〃Ho；〃
responded the war… rior； with dignity and all seriousness。 He felt a great
awe for the spirit； and dared not lift his eyes to her face。
〃Weep no more； kechuwa； weep no more；〃 she softly added； and the
next moment Ante… lope found himself outside the mysterious tee… pee。
His limbs were stiff and cold； but he did not feel faint nor hungry。
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Having filled his pipe； he held it up to the spirits and then par… took of the
smoke； and thus revived； he slowly and reluctantly left the sacred spot。
The main war…party also visited the old camp and saw the solitary
teepee grave； but did not linger there。 They continued on the trail of the
caravan until they reached the new camp… ing ground。 They called
themselves successful； although they had left several of their number on
the field。 Their triumph songs indicated this； therefore the people hurried
to receive the news and to learn who were the unfor… tunates。
The father of Antelope was foremost among those who ran to meet the
war…party。 He learned that his son had distinguished himself in the fight；
and that his name was not mentioned among the brave dead。
〃And where； then； is he？〃 he asked； with unconcealed anxiety。
〃He left us three days ago to come in ad… vance；〃 they replied。
〃But he has not arrived！〃 exclaimed old Wezee； in much agitation。
He returned to his teepee； where he consoled himself as best he could
by smoking the pipe in solitude。 He could neither sing praises nor
indulge in the death dirge； and none came in either to congratulate or
mourn with him。
The sun had disappeared behind the hills； and the old man still sat
gazing into the burn… ing embers； when he heard a horse's footfall at the
door of his lodge。
〃Ho； atay （father）！〃 came the welcome call。
〃Mechinkshe！ mechinkshe！〃 （my son； my son）； he replied in
unrestrained joy。 Old We… zee now stood on the threshold and sang the
praise song for his son； ending with a war… whoop such as he had not
indulged in since he was quite a young man。
The camp was once more alive with the dances； and the dull thud of
the Indian drum was continually in the air。 The council had agreed that
Antelope was entitled to wear a war…bonnet of eagles' feathers。 He was
ac… cordingly summoned before the aboriginal par… liament； and from the
wise men of the tribe he received his degree of war…bonnet。
It was a public ceremony。 The great pipe was held up for him to take
the smoke of high honor。
The happiest person present was the father of Antelope； but he himself
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remained calm and unmoved throughout the ceremony。
〃He is a strange person；〃 was the whisper among a group of youths
who were watching the proceedings with envious eyes。
The young man was strangely listless and depressed in spirit。 His old
grandmother knew why； but none of the others understood。 He never
joined in the village festivities； while the rest of his family were untiring in
the dances； and old Wezee was at the height of his hap… piness。
It was a crisp October morning； and the fam… ily were eating their
breakfast of broiled bison meat； when the large drum at the council lodge
was stru
