old indian days(古印第时期)-第6章
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said： 〃Sister； I bring you a Sioux； who will be your husband！〃
The dreamer opened her eyes to behold a youth bending over her and
gently pulling her robe； as a suitor is permitted to do to awaken his
beloved。
When he saw that she was awake； the Sioux touched his breast； saying
in a whisper； 〃Ta… toka；〃 and made the sign for Antelope。 This pleased
the Ree girl； for her own brother； who had died the year before； had borne
that name。 She immediately sat up and stirred the embers into a light
blaze。 Then she took hold of his blanket and drew it from his face； and
there she seemed to see the very features of the man of her vision！
He took her hand in his； and she felt the force of love stream through
his long； nervous fingers； and instinctively knew his thoughts。 In her
turn she touched her breast and made the sign for Shield； pronouncing in
her own tongue the word； Stasu。 This seemed to him also a name of
good omen； and in the sign language which was common to all the people
of the plains； he asked her to be his wife。
Vividly her dream came back to her； and she could not refuse the
stranger。 Her soul already responded to his； and for a few min… utes they
sat silently side by side。 When he arose and beckoned； 〃Come with me；〃
she had no question to make； and without a word she followed him from
her father's lodge and out into the forest。
In the midst of his ascending fame； at a mo… ment when opportunity
seemed to favor his am… bition； the brave Antelope had mysteriously
disappeared！ His companion scout returned with a favorable report。 He
said that the men of the three confederated tribes were gambling and
feasting； wholly unconscious of danger； and that Antelope would follow
him with a further report upon the best point of attack。 The red warriors
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impatiently awaited his re… turn； until it became apparent that they could
wait no longer without sacrificing their chance of success。 When the
attack was made it was already rather late。 The sun had fairly cleared the
eastern hills； and most of the men were out… side their lodges。
It was a great battle！ Again and again the Sioux were repulsed； but as
often they rallied and repeated the charge until sundown； when they
effected their retreat with considerable loss。 Had Antelope returned in
due season； the charge would have been made before dawn； while the
people were yet asleep。
When the battle was over； the Rees； Man… dans； and Gros Ventres
gathered their dead and wounded。 The night was filled with mourning。
Soon the sad news was heralded throughout the camp that the beautiful
daughter of the Ree chief was among the missing。 It was sup… posed that
she must have been captured while driving her ponies to water in the early
morn… ing。 The grief for her loss was mingled with horror； because of a
fear that she might suf… fer humiliation at the hands of the Sioux war… riors；
and among the young men there were mut… tered threats that the Sioux
would pay dearly for this。
Though partially successful； the Sioux had lost many of their bravest
warriors； and none could tell what had happened to Antelopehe who had
been believed the favorite of the gods of war。 It was suggested by some
envious ones that perhaps he had recognized the strongly entrenched
position of the three tribes； and be… lieving the battle would be a disastrous
one； had set out for home without making his re… port。 But this
supposition was not deemed credible。 On the other hand； the idea was
en… tertained that he had reentered the village； was detected and slain； and
therefore the enemy was on the lookout when the attack was made。
〃Hay； hay； hay； mechinkshe （Alas； alas； my son）！〃 was the sorrowful
cry with which his old father received the news。 His head fell upon his
breast； and all the others groaned in sympathy。
The sunset sky was a blanket of beautiful painting。 There were
camp…fires among the clouds in orange and scarlet； while some were black
as night。 So the camp fairly glowed in celebration of its heroes； yet there
was deep grief in many families。 When the evening meal had been eaten
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and the people were sitting out… side their lodges； a tall old man； almost
nude； appeared in the circle； riding a fine horse。 He had blackened his
face； his hair was cut short； and the horse also had been deprived of his
flowing mane and tail。 Both were in deep mourning； after the fashion of
the Sioux。
〃Ho ho！〃 exclaimed many warriors as he passed them； singing in a
hoarse； guttural voice。
〃Ugh； he sings a war…song！〃 remarked one。
〃Yes； I am told that he will find his son's bones； or leave his own in the
country of the enemy！〃
The rain had fallen incessantly for two days。 The fleeing lovers had
reached this lonely mountain valley of the Big Horn region on the night
that the cold fall rains set in； and Ante… lope had hurriedly constructed an
arbor house or rude shelter of pine and cedar boughs。
It was enough。 There they sat； man and wife； in their first home of
living green！ The cheerful fire was burning in the center； and the happy
smoke went straight up among the tall pines。 There was no human eye to
gaze upon them to embarrassnot even a common lan… guage in which to
express their love for one another。
Their marriage； they believed； was made by a spirit； and it was holy in
their minds。 Each had cast away his people and his all for the sake of
this emotion which had suddenly over… taken them both with
overwhelming force； and the warrior's ambition had disappeared before it
like a morning mist before the sun。
To them a new life was just beginning； and they had all but forgotten
the existence of any world save this。 The young bride was en… shrined in
a bower of spicy fragrance； and her face shone whenever her eyes met
those of her husband。
〃This is as I would have it； kechuwa （dar… ling）！〃 exclaimed the Sioux
in his own lan… guage。 She simply responded with a childlike smile。
Although she did not understand his words； she read in the tones of his
voice only happy and loving thoughts。
The Ree girl had prepared a broiled bison steak； and her husband was
keeping the fire well fed with dry fagots。 The odor of the buming fat was
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delicious； and the gentle patter of the rain made a weird music outside
their wigwam。
As soon as her husband had left her alone for he must go to water the
ponies and con… ceal them at a distanceStasu came out to collect more
wood。 Instinctively she looked all about her。 Huge mountains towered
skyward； clad in pines。 The narrow valley in which she was wound its
way between them； and on every side there was heavy forest。
She stood silent and awed； scarcely able to realize that she had begun
her new life abso… lutely alone； with no other woman to advise or
congratulate her； and visited only by the birds of the air。 Yet all the world
to her just now was Antelope！ No other woman could smile on him。 He
could not talk to any one but her。 The evening drum at the council lodge
could not summon him away from her； and she was well content。
When the young wife had done everything she could think of in
preparation for her hus… band's return； including the making of several
birch…bark basins and pails for water； the rain had quite ceased； so she
spread her robe just outside the lodge and took up her work…bag； in which
she had several pairs of moccasin…tops already beaded。
While she bent over her work； getting up from time to time to turn the
roast which she had impaled upon a sharp stick above the glowing coals；
the bride had a stream of shy callers； of the little people of the woods。
She sat very still； so as not to startle them； and there is much curiosity
among these people con… cerning a stranger。
Presently she was startled by a footfall not unlike that of a man。 She
had not been mar… ried long enough to know the sound of her husband's
step； and she felt a thrill of joy and fear alternately。 It might be he； and it
might be a stranger！ She was loath to look up； but at last gave a furtive
glance； and met squarely the eyes of a large grizzly bear； who was seated
upon his haunches not far away。
Stasu was surprised； but she showed no fear； and fearlessness is the
best shield against wild animals。 In a moment she got up unconcern…
edly； and threw a large piece of meat to the stranger。
〃Take of my wedding feast； O great Bear！〃 she addressed him； 〃and be
good to me to bless my first teepee！ O be kind and recognize my brave act
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in taking for my husband one of the warriors of the Sioux； the ancient
enemy of my people！ I have accepted a husband of a lan… guage other than
mine； and am come to live among you as your neighbor。 I offer you my
friendship！〃
The bear's only answer to her prayer was a low growl； but having
eaten the meat； he turned and clumsily departed。
In the meantime Antelope had set himself to master the geography of
that region； to study the outlook for game； and ascertain the best
approaches to their secret home。 It was already settled in his mind that
he could never
