old indian days(古印第时期)-第8章
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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 stoical
aspect； yet in it there was not lacking a certain nobleness。 At last he
lifted his eyes to hers； and said：
〃You have spoken wise words； and it shall be as you have said。 We
shall return to your people。 If I am to die at the hands of the an… cient
enemy of the Sioux； I shall die because of my love for you； and for our
child。 But I cannot go back to my own people to be ridiculed by
unworthy young men for yielding to love of a Ree maiden！〃
There was much feeling behind these words of Antelope。 The rigid
customs of his people are almost a religion； and there is one thing above
all else which a Sioux cannot bearthat is the ridicule of his fellow…
warriors。 Yes； he can endure severe punishment or even death at the
hands of the enemy rather than a single laugh of derision from a Sioux！
In a few days the houshold articles were packed； and the three sadly
turned their backs upon their home。 Stasu and her husband were very
silent as they traveled slowly along。 When they reached the hill called
〃Born…of…Day；〃 and she saw from its summit the country of her people
lying below her； she cried aloud； weep… ing happy tears。 Antelope sat
near by with bowed head； silently smoking。
Finally on the fifth day they arrived within sight of the great
permanent village of the three tribes。 They saw the earth lodges as of old；
thickly clustered along the flats of the Mis… souri； among their rustling
maize…fields。 Ante… lope stopped。 〃I think you had better give me
something to eat； woman；〃 he said； smil… ing。 It was the Sioux way of
saying； 〃Let me have my last meal！〃
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After they had eaten； Stasu opened her buck… skin bags and gave her
husband his finest suit。 He dressed himself carefully in the fashion of his
tribe； putting on all the feathers to which he was entitled as a warrior。
The boy also was decked out in gala attire； and Stasu； the matron； had
never looked more beautiful in her gown of ceremony with the decoration
of elks' teeth； the same that she had worn on the evening of her
disappearance。
As she dressed herself； the unwelcome thought forced itself upon her；…
…〃What if my love is killed by my own countrymen in their frenzy？ This
beautiful gown must then give place to a poor one； and this hair will be cut
short！〃 for such is the mourning of the widow among her people。
The three rode openly down the long slope； and were instantly
discovered by the people of the village。 Soon the plain was black with
the approaching riders。 Stasu had begged her hus… band to remain behind；
while she went on alone with the boy to obtain forgiveness； but he sternly
refused； and continued in advance。 When the foremost Ree warriors
came within arrow…shot they began to shoot； to which he paid no attention。
But the child screamed with terror； and Stasu cried out in her own
tongue：
〃Do not shoot！ I am the daughter of your chief！〃
One of them returned the reply： 〃She is killed by the Sioux！〃 But
when the leaders saw her plainly they were astounded。
For a time there was great confusion。 Some held that they should all
die； for the woman had been guilty of treason to her people； and even now
she might be playing a trick upon them。 Who could say that behind that
hill there was not a Sioux war…party？
〃No； no；〃 replied others。 〃They are in our power。 Let them tell their
story！〃
Stasu told it simply； and said in conclusion：
〃This man； one of the bravest and most honorable men of his tribe；
deserted on the night of the attack； and all because he loved a Ree maiden！
He now comes to be your brother…in…law； who will fight henceforth for
you and with you； even if it be against his own people。
〃He does not beg for mercyhe can dare anything！ But I am a
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womanmy heart is softI ask for the lives of my husband and my son；
who is the grandson of your chief！〃
〃He is a coward who touches this man！〃 exclaimed the leader； and a
thunder of war… whoops went up in approval of his words。
The warriors formed themselves in two great columns； riding twenty
abreast； behind and in front of the strangers。 The old chief came out to
meet them； and took his son…in… law's hand。 Thus they entered the village
in battle array； but with hearts touched with won… der and great gladness；
discharging their ar… rows upward in clouds and singing peace…songs。
II THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE
〃It was many years ago； when I was only a child；〃 began White Ghost；
the patri… archal old chief of the Yanktonnais Sioux； 〃that our band was
engaged in a des… perate battle with the Rees and Mandans。 The cause of
the fight was a peculiar one。 I will tell you about it。〃 And he laid aside
his long… stemmed pipe and settled himself to the recital。
〃At that time the Yanktonnais numbered a little over forty families。
We were nicknamed by the other bands Shunkikcheka； or Domestic Dogs；
because of our owning large numbers of these animals。 My father was
the head chief。
〃Our favorite wintering place was a tim… bered tract near the mouth of
the Grand River； and it was here that we met the Blackfoot Sioux in the
fall hunt。 On the opposite side of the river from our camp was the
permanent village of the Rees and Mandans； whose houses were of dirt
and partly underground。 For a hun… dred years before this time they had
planted large gardens； and we were accustomed to buy of them corn； beans；
and pumpkins。 From time to time our people had made treaties of peace
with them。 Each family of the Rees had one or two buffalo boatsnot
round； as the Sioux made them； but two or three skins long。 In these
boats they brought quantities of dried beans and other vegetables to trade
with us for jerked buffalo meat。
〃It was a great gathering and a time of gen… eral festivity and
hospitality。 The Sioux young men were courting the Ree girls； and the
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Ree braves were courting our girls； while the old people bartered their
produce。 All day the river was alive with canoes and its banks rang with
the laughter of the youths and maidens。
〃My father's younger brother； whose name was Big Whip； had a close
friend； a young man who ever after the event of which I am about to tell
you was known as Bald Eagle。 They were both daring young men and
very ambitious for distinction。 They had been following the Ree girls to
their canoes as they returned to their homes in the evening。
〃Big Whip and his friend stood upon the river bank at sunset； one with
a quiver full of arrows upon his back while the other carried a gun under
his blanket。 Nearly all the peo… ple of the other village had crossed the
river； and the chief of the Rees； whose name was Bald Eagle； went home
with his wife last of all。 It was about dusk as they entered their bullhide
boat； and the two Sioux stood there looking at them。
〃Suddenly Big Whip exclaimed： 'Friend； let us kill the chief。 I dare
you to kill and scalp him！' His friend replied：
〃'It shall be as you say。 I will stand by you in all things。 I am
willing to die with you。'
〃Accordingly Bald Eagle pulled out his gun and shot the Ree dead。
From that day he took his name。 The old man fell backward into his boat；
and the old woman screamed and wept as she rowed him across the river。
The other young man shot an arrow or two at the wife； but she continued
to row until she reached the other bank。
〃There was great excitement on both sides of the river as soon as the
people saw what had happened。 There were two camps of Sioux； the
Blackfoot Sioux and the Yanktonnais； or our people。 Of course the
Mandans and Rees greatly outnumbered us； their camp must have
numbered two or three thousand； which was more than we had in our
combined camps。
〃There was a Sioux whose name was Black Shield； who had
intermarried among the Rees。 He came down to the opposite bank of the
Mis… souri and shouted to us：
〃'Of which one of your bands is the man who killed Bald Eagle？'
〃One of the Blackfoot Sioux replied：
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〃'It is a man of the Yanktonnais Sioux who killed Bald Eagle。'
〃Then he said： 'The Rees wish to do battle with them； you had better
withdraw from their camp。'
〃Accordingly the Blackfeet retired about a mile from us upon the
bluffs and pitched their tents； while the Yanktonnais remained on the flats。
The two bands had been great rivals in courage and the art of war； so we
did not ask for help from our kinsfolk； but during the night we dug
trenches about the camp； the inner one for the women and children； and
the outer one for the men to stay in and do battle。
〃The next morning at daybreak the enemy landed and approached our
camp in great num… bers。 Some of their women and old men came also；
and sat upon the bluffs to watch the fight and to carry off their dead and
wounded。 The Blackfeet likewise were watching the battle from the
blu
