indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第17章
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found four little boys； the sole survivors of their race； and these he com…
manded to tell him where their bones were laid。
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〃They showed him the spot where a heap of bones was bleaching on
the ground。 Then he bade one of the boys bring wood； a second water； a
third stones； and the fourth he sent to cut willow wands for the sweat
lodge。 They obeyed； and Stone Boy built the lodge； made a fire； heated
the stones and collected within the lodge all the bones of his ten uncles。
〃As he poured the water upon the hot stones faint sounds could be
heard from within the magic bath。 These changed to the murmuring of
voices； and finally to the singing of medicine songs。 Stone Boy opened
the door and his ten uncles came forth in the flesh； thanking him and
blessing him for restoring them to life。 Only the little finger of the
youngest uncle was missing。 Stone Boy now heartlessly broke the four
remaining eggs； and took the little finger of the largest boy to supply the
missing bone。
〃They all returned to earth again and Stone Boy conducted his uncles
to his mother's lodge。 She had never slept during his entire absence； but
watched incessantly the pillow upon which her boy was wont to rest his
head； and by which she was to know of his safety。 Going a little in
advance of the others； he suddenly rushed forward into her teepee；
exclaiming： 'Mother； your ten brothers are comingprepare a feast！'
〃For some time after this they all lived happily together。 Stone Boy
occupied himself with soli… tary hunting。 He was particularly fond of
hunt… ing the fiercer wild animals。 He killed them wan… tonly and
brought home only the ears； teeth and claws as his spoil； and with these he
played as he laughingly recounted his exploits。 His mother and uncles
protested； and begged him at least to spare the lives of those animals held
sacred by the Da… kotas； but Stone Boy relied upon his supernatural
powers to protect him from harm。
〃One evening； however； he was noticeably silent and upon being
pressed to give the reason； replied as follows：
〃'For some days past I have heard the animals talking of a conspiracy
against us。 I was going west the other morning when I heard a crier an…
nouncing a general war upon Stone Boy and his people。 The crier was a
Buffalo； going at full speed from west to east。 Again； I heard the Beaver
conversing with the Musk…rat； and both said that their services were
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already promised to overflow the lakes and rivers and cause a destructive
flood。 I heard； also； the little Swallow holding a secret council with all
the birds of the air。 He said that he had been appointed a messenger to
the Thunder Birds； and that at a certain signal the doors of the sky would
be opened and rains descend to drown Stone Boy。 Old Badger and the
Grizzly Bear are appointed to burrow underneath our fortifica… tions。
〃'However； I am not at all afraid for myself； but I am anxious for you；
Mother； and for my uncles。'
〃'Ugh！' grunted all the uncles； 'we told you that you would get into
trouble by killing so many of our sacred animals for your own amuse…
ment。
〃'But；' continued Stone Boy； 'I shall make a good resistance； and I
expect you all to help me。'
〃Accordingly they all worked under his direc… tion in preparing for the
defence。 First of all； he threw a pebble into the air； and behold a great
rocky wall around their teepee。 A second； third； fourth and fifth pebble
became other walls with… out the first。 From the sixth and seventh were
formed two stone lodges； one upon the other。 The uncles。 meantime；
made numbers of bows and quivers full of arrows； which were ranged at
con… venient distances along the tops of the walls。 His mother prepared
great quantities of food and made many moccasins for her boy； who
declared that he would defend the fortress alone。
〃At last they saw the army of beasts advancing； each tribe by itself and
commanded by a leader of extraordinary size。 The onset was terrific。
They flung themselves against the high walls with sav… age cries； while the
badgers and other burrowing animals ceaselessly worked to undermine
them。 Stone Boy aimed his sharp arrows with such deadly effect that his
enemies fell by thousands。 So great was their loss that the dead bodies of
the animals formed a barrier higher than the first； and the armies retired in
confusion。
〃But reinforcements were at hand。 The rain fell in torrents； the
beavers had dammed all the rivers and there was a great flood。 The
besieged all retreated into the innermost lodge； but the water poured in
through the burrows made by the badgers and gophers； and rose until
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Stone Boy's mother and his ten uncles were all drowned。 Stone Boy
himself could not be entirely destroyed； but he was overcome by his
enemies and left half buried in the earth； condemned never to walk again；
and there we find him to this day。
〃This was because he abused his strength； and destroyed for mere
amusement the lives of the creatures given him for use only。〃
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VI Evening in the Lodge
I： Evening in the Lodge
I HAD been skating on that part of the lake where there was an
overflow； and came home some… what cold。 I cannot say just how cold it
was； but it must have been intensely so； for the trees were cracking all
about me like pistol shots。 I did not mind； because I was wrapped up in
my buffalo robe with the hair inside； and a wide leather belt held it about
my loins。 My skates were nothing more than strips of basswood bark
bound upon my feet。
I had taken off my frozen moccasins and put on dry ones in their
places。
〃Where have you been and what have you been doing？〃 Uncheedah
asked as she placed before me some roast venison in a wooden bowl。 〃Did
you see any tracks of moose or bear ？〃
〃No； grandmother； I have only been playing at the lower end of the
lake。 I have something to ask you；〃 I said； eating my dinner and supper
to… gether with all the relish of a hungry boy who has been skating in the
cold for half a day。
〃I found this feather； grandmother； and I could not make out what tribe
wear feathers in that shape。〃
〃Ugh； I am not a man； you had better ask your uncle。 Besides； you
should know it yourself by this time。 You are now old enough to think
about eagle feathers。〃
I felt mortified by this reminder of my ignor… ance。 It seemed a
reflection on me that I was not ambitious enough to have found all such
matters out before。
〃Uncle； you will tell me； won't you？〃 I said； in an appealing tone。
〃I am surprised； my boy； that you should fail to recognize this feather。
It is a Cree medicine feather； and not a warrior's。〃
〃Then；〃 I said； with much embarrassment； you had better tell me again；
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uncle； the lan… guage of the feathers。 I have really forgotten it all。〃
The day was now gone； the moon had risen； but the cold had not
lessened； for the trunks of the trees were still snapping all around our tee…
pee； which was lighted and warmed by the im… mense logs which
Uncheedah's industry had pro… vided。 My uncle； White Foot…print； now
under… took to explain to me the significance of the eagle's feather。
〃The eagle is the most war…like bird；〃 he be… gan； 〃and the most kingly
of all birds； besides； his feathers are unlike any others； and these are the
reasons why they are used by our people to signify deeds of bravery。
〃It is not true that when a man wears a feather bonnet； each one of the
feathers represents the kill… ing of a foe or even a coup。 When a man
wears an eagle feather upright upon his head； he is sup… posed to have
counted one of four coups upon his enemy。〃
〃Well； then； a coup does not mean the killing of an enemy？〃
〃No； it is the after…stroke or touching of the body after he falls。 It is so
ordered； because often… times the touching of an enemy is much more dif…
ficult to accomplish than the shooting of one from a distance。 It requires
a strong heart to face the whole body of the enemy； in order to count the
coup on the fallen one； who lies under cover of his kinsmen's fire。 Many
a brave man has been lost in the attempt。
〃When a warrior approaches his foe； dead or alive； he calls upon the
other warriors to wit… ness by saying： 'I； Fearless Bear； your brave； again
perform the brave deed of counting the first （or second or third or fourth）
coup upon the body of the bravest of your enemies。' Naturally； those who
are present will see the act and be able to testify to it。 When they return；
the heralds； as you know； announce publicly all such deeds of valor； which
then become a part of the man's war record。 Any brave who would wear
the eagle's feather must give proof of his right to do so。
〃When a brave is wounded in the same battle where he counted his
coup； he wears the feather hanging downward。 When he is wounded； but
makes no
