old indian days(古印第时期)-第7章
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he could never return either to his wife's people or to his own。 His
fellow…warriors would not forgive his de… sertion； and the Rees could not
be expected to welcome as a kinsman one of the foremost of their ancient
foes。 There was nothing to be done but to remain in seclusion； and let
them say what they would of him！
He had loved the Ree maiden from the first moment he beheld her by
the light of the blaz… ing embers； and that love must satisfy him。 It was
well that he had never cared much for company； but had spent many of his
young days in solitude and fasting。 It did not seem at all strange to him
that he had been forced to re… treat into an unknown and wild country with
a woman whom he saw in the evening for the first time； and fled with as
his own wife before sunrise！
By the afternoon he had thoroughly in… formed himself upon the nature
of the sur… rounding country。 Everything on the face of the map was
surveyed and charted in his mind； in accordance with his habits and
training。 This done； he turned toward his secret dwelling。 As he walked
rapidly and noiselessly through the hidden valleys and along the singing
streams； he noticed fresh signs of the deer； elk； and other wild tribes
among whom he had chosen to abide。 〃They shall be my people；〃 he
said to himself。
Behind a group of cedars he paused to rec… onnoiter； and saw the pine…
bough wigwam like a giant plant； each row of boughs overlapping the
preceding circular row like the scales of a fish。 Stasu was sitting before it
upon a buffalo… robe； attired in her best doeskin gown。 Her delicate oval
face was touched with red paint； and her slender brown hands were
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occupied with a moccasin meant for him to wear。 He could scarcely
believe that it was a mortal woman that he saw before him in broad day
the pride of No Man's Trail； for that is what the Crow Indians call that
valley！
〃Ho； ho； kechuwa！〃 he exclaimed as he approached her； and her heart
leaped in recog… nition of the magnetic words of love。
〃It is good that we are alone！ I shall never want to go back to my
people so long as I have you。 I can dwell here with you forever； un… less
you should think otherwise！〃 she exclaimed in her own tongue；
accompanied by graphic signs。
〃Ho； I think of nothing else！ I can see in every creature only friendly
ways and good feeling。 We can live alone here； happily； un… less you
should feel differently；〃 he replied in his own language with the signs； so
that his bride understood him。
The environment was just what it should be when two people are
united in marriage。 The wedding music was played by Nature； and trees；
brooks； and the birds of the air contributed their peculiar strains to a great
harmony。 All of the people on No Man's Trail were polite； and
understood the reserves of love。 These two had yielded to a simple and
natural im… pulse； but its only justification to their minds was the
mysterious leading of the twin spirit！ That was the sum total of their
excuse； and it was enough。
Before the rigor of winter had set in； Tatoka brought to his bride many
buffalo skins。 She was thoroughly schooled in the arts of sav… age
womanhood； in fact； every Indian maid was trained with this thought in
viewthat she should become a beautiful； strong； skillful wife and mother…
…the mother of a noble race of warriors！
In a short time within that green and pine… scented enclosure there
smiled a little wild para… dise。 Hard by the pine…bough wigwam there
stood a new white buffalo…skin teepee； tanned； cut； sewed； and pitched by
the hands of Stasu。 Away in the woods； down by the rushing brook； was
her tannery； and not far away； in a sunny； open spot； she prepared her sun…
cured meats for winter use。 Her kitchen was a stone fireplace in a shady
spot； and her parlor was the lodge of evergreen； overhung on two sides by
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inac… cessible ledges； and bounded on the other two by the sparkling
stream。 It was a secret place； and yet a citadel； a silent place； and yet not
lonely！
The winter was cold and long； but the pair were happy in one another's
company； and ac… cepted their strange lot as one that was chosen for them
by the spirits。 Stasu had insisted upon her husband speaking to her in his
own language； that she might learn it quickly。 In a little while she was
able to converse with him； and when she had acquired his language she
taught him hers。
While Antelope was occupied with hunting and exploring the country；
always keeping in mind the danger of discovery by some wander… ing
scout or hunter； his wife grew well ac… quainted with the wild inhabitants
of No Man's Trail。 These people are as full of curiosity as man； and as
the Sioux never hunted near his home； they were entirely fearless。 Many
came to the door of Stasu's lodge； and she was not afraid； but offered them
food and spoke to them kindly。 All animals judge by signs and are quick
in reading tones and gestures； so that the Ree girl soon had grandfathers
and grandmothers； after the Indian fashion； among the wolves and bears
that came oftenest for food。
Her husband in the field had also his fellow… hunters and friends。
When he killed the buf… falo he always left enough meat for the wolves；
the eagles； and the ravens to feast upon； and these watched for the coming
of the lonely wild man。 More than once they told him by their actions of
the presence of a distant camp… fire； but in each instance it proved to be a
small war…party which had passed below them on the trail。
Again it was summer。 Never had the moun… tains looked grander or
more mysterious to the eyes of the two。 The valley was full of the music
and happiness of the winged summer peo… ple； the trees wore their
summer attire； and the meadow its green blanket。 There were many
homes made happy by the coming of little peo… ple everywhere； but no
pair was happier than Stasu and her husband when one morning they saw
their little brave lying wrapped in soft deerskins； and heard for the first
time his plaintive voice！
That morning； when Antelope set out on the hunt； he stopped at the
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stream and looked at himself seriously to see whether he had changed
since the day before。 He must now appear much graver； he said to
himself； because he is the father of a new man！
In spite of himself； his thoughts were with his own people； and he
wondered what his old grandmother would have said to his child！ He
looked away off toward the Black Hills； to the Sioux country； and in his
heart he said； 〃I am a coward！〃
The boy grew naturally； and never felt the lack of playmates and
companions； for his mother was ingenious in devising plays for him； and
in winning for him the confidence and kindness of the animal friends。
He was the young chief and the hero of No Man's Trail！ The bears and
wolves were his warriors； the buffalo and elk the hostile tribes upon whom
he went to war。 Small as he was； he soon pre… ferred to roam alone in the
woods。 His par… ents were often anxious； but； on the other hand； they
entertained the hope that he would some day be 〃wakan；〃 a mysterious or
supernatural man； for he was getting power from his wild companions and
from the silent forces of nature。
One day； when he was about five years old； he gave a dance for his
wild pets upon the little plateau which was still their home。 He had
clothed Mato； the bear； in one of his father's suits as a great medicine…man。
Waho； the wolf； was painted up as a brave； and the young buffalo calf was
attired in one of his mother's gowns。 The boy acted as chief and master
of ceremonies。
The savage mother watched him with un… disguised pride； mingled
with sorrow。 Tears coursed down her dusky cheeks； although at the same
time she could not help laughing heartily at the strange performance。
When the play was ended； and she had served the feast at its close； Stasu
seemed lost in thought。
〃He should not live in this way；〃 she was saying to herself。 〃He
should know the tra… ditions and great deeds of my people！ Surely his
grandfather would be proud of the boy！〃
That evening； while the boy slept； and Mato lay outside the lodge
eagerly listening and snif… fing the night air； the parents sat silent and ill at
ease。 After a long time Stasu spoke her mind。
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〃My husband； you ask me why I am sad。 It is because I think that the
Great Mystery will be displeased if we keep this little boy for… ever in the
wilderness。 It is wrong to allow him to grow up among wild animals；
and if sickness or accident should deprive him of his father and mother；
our spirits would never rest； because we had left him alone！ I have decided
to ask you to take us back； either to your peo… ple or to my people。 We
must sacrifice our pride； or； if needs be； our lives； for his life and
happiness！〃
This speech of Stasu's was a surprise to her husband。 His eyes rested
upon the ground as he listened； and his face assumed the proverbial stoi
