indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第21章
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〃But；〃 insisted my friend； 〃one must get his knowledge from the Great
Mystery！〃
This completely silenced my argument； but did not shake my faith in
my grandmother's ability。
Redhorn was a good boy； and I loved him。 I visited him often； and
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found him growing weaker day by day。
〃Ohiyesa；〃 he said to me one day； 〃my grand… mother has discovered
the cause of my sickness。〃
I eagerly interrupted him by shouting： 〃And can she cure you now；
Redhorn？〃
〃Of course；〃 he replied； 〃she cannot until I have fulfilled the
commandment。 I have confessed to her that two years ago I received my
commis… sion； and I should have made a Bear Dance and proclaimed
myself a medicine man last spring； when I had seen thirteen winters。 You
see； I was ashamed to proclaim myself a medicine man； being so young；
and for this I am punished。 However； my grandmother says it is not yet
too late。 But； Ohiyesa； I am as weak now as a rheumatic old man。 I can
scarcely stand up。 They say that I can ap… point some one else to act for
me。 He will be the active bearI shall have to remain in the hole。
Would you； Ohiyesa； be willing to act the bear for me？ You know he has
to chase the dancers away from his den。〃
〃Redhorn；〃 I replied with much embarrass… ment；〃 I should be happy
to do anything that I could for you； but I cannot be a bear。 I feel that I am
not fit。 I am not large enough； I am not strong enough； and I don't
understand the habits of the animal well enough。 I do not think you
would be pleased with me as your substitute。〃
Redhorn finally decided that he would engage a larger boy to perform
for him。 A few days later； it was announced by the herald that my
friend would give a Bear Dance； at which he was to be publicly
proclaimed a medicine man。 It would be the great event of his short
existence； for the dis… ease had already exhausted his strength and vital… ity。
Of course； we all understood that there would be an active youth to exhibit
the ferocious nature of the beast after which the dance is named。
The Bear Dance was an entertainment； a relig… ious rite； a method of
treating diseaseall in one。 A strange thing about it was that no woman
was allowed to participate in the orgies； unless she was herself the bear。
The den was usually dug about two hundred yards from the camp； on
some conspicuous plain。 It was about two feet deep and six feet square
and over it was constructed an arbor of boughs with four openings。
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When the bear man sang； all the men and boys would gather and dance
about the den； and when he came out and pursued them there was a hasty
retreat。 It was supposed that whoever touched the bear without being
touched by him would overcome a foe in the field。 If one was touched；
the reverse was to be expected。 The thing which caused most anxiety
among the dancers was the superstition that if one of them should
accidentally trip and fall while pursued by the bear； a sudden death would
visit him or his nearest relative。
Boys of my age were disposed to run some risk in this dance； they
would take every opportunity to strike at the bear man with a short switch；
while the older men shot him with powder。 It may as well be admitted
that one reason for my declining the honor offered me by my friend
Redhorn was that I was afraid of powder； and I much preferred to be one
of the dancers and take my chances of touching the bear man without
being touched。
It was a beautiful summer's day。 The forest behind our camp was
sweet with the breath of blossoming flowers。 The teepees faced a large
lake； which we called Bedatanka。 Its gentle waves cooled the
atmosphere。 The water…fowl disported themselves over its surface； and
the birds of pass… age overhead noisily expressed their surprise at the
excitement and confusion in our midst。
The herald； with his brassy voice； again went the rounds； announcing
the day's event and the tardy fulfillment of the boy's commission。 Then
came the bustle of preparation。 The out…door toilet of the people was
performed with care。 I cannot describe just how I was attired or painted；
but I am under the impression that there was but little of my brown skin
that was not uncovered。 The others were similarly dressed in feathers；
paint and tinkling ornaments。
I soon heard the tom…tom's doleful sound from the direction of the
bear's den； and a few war… whoops from the throats of the youthful
warriors。 As I joined the motley assembly； I noticed that the bear man's
drum was going in earnest； and soon after he began to sing。 This was the
invitation to the dance。
An old warrior gave the signal and we all started for the den； very
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much like a group of dogs at… tacking a stranger。 Frantically we yelled
and whooped； running around the sheltering arbor in a hop； skip and jump
fashion。 In spite of the apparent confusion； however； every participant
was on the alert for the slightest movement of the bear man。
All of a sudden； a brave gave the warning； and we scattered in an
instant over the little plain be… tween the den and our village。 Everybody
seemed to be running for dear life； and I soon found my… self some yards
behind the rest。 I had gone in boldly； partly because of conversations
with cer… tain boys who proposed to participate； and whom I usually
outdistanced in foot races。 But it seemed that they had not carried out
their intentions and I was left alone。 I looked back once or twice； al…
though I was pretty busy with my legs； and I im… agined that my pursuer；
the bear man； looked twice as fearful as a real bear。 He was dressed and
painted up with a view to terrify the crowd。 I did not want the others to
guess that I was at all dismayed； so I tried to give the war…whoop； but my
throat was so dry at the moment that I am sure I must have given it very
poorly。
Just as it seemed that I was about to be over… taken； the dancers who
had deserted me suddenly slackened their speed； and entered upon the
amusement of tormenting the bear man with gun… powder and switches；
with which they touched him far from gently upon his naked body。 They
now chased him in turn； and he again retreated to his den。
We rested until we heard the tom…tom and the song once more； and
then we rushed forth with fresh eagerness to the mimic attack。 This time
I observed all necessary precautions for my own safety。 I started in my
flight even before the warning was given； for I saw the bear man gather…
ing himself up to spring upon the dancers。 Thus I had plenty of leeway
to observe what occurred。 The bear man again pursued the yelling and
re… treating mob； and was dealt with unmercifully by the swift…footed。
He became much excited as he desperately chased a middle…aged man；
who occasionally turned and fired off his gun； but was suddenly tripped by
an ant…hill and fell to the ground； with the other on top of him。 The ex…
citement was intense。 The bear man returned to his companion； and the
dancers gathered in little knots to exchange whispers。
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〃Is it not a misfortune？〃 〃The most sure… footed of us all！〃 〃Will he
die？〃 〃Must his beautiful daughter be sacrificed？〃
The man who was the subject of all this com… ment did not speak a
word。 His head hung down。 Finally he raised it and said in a resolute
voice：
〃We all have our time to go； and when the Great Mystery calls us we
must answer as cheer… fully as at the call of one of our own war…chiefs
here on earth。 I am not sad for myself； but my heart is not willing that
my Winona （first…born daughter） should be called。〃
No one replied。 Presently the last tom…tom was heard and the dancers
rallied once more。 The man who had fallen did not join them； but turned
to the council lodge； where the wise old men were leisurely enjoying the
calumet。 They beheld him enter with some surprise； but he threw
himself upon a buffalo robe； and resting his head upon his right hand；
related what had hap… pened to him。 Thereupon the aged men ex…
claimed as with one voice： 〃It never fails！〃 After this； he spoke no more。
Meanwhile； we were hilariously engaged in our last dance； and when
the bear man finally re… tired； we gathered about the arbor to congratulate
the sick bear man。 But； to our surprise； his com… panion did not re…enter
the den。 〃He is dead！ Redhorn； the bear man； is dead！〃 We all rushed to
the spot。 My poor friend； Redhorn； lay dead in the den。
At this instant there was another commotion in the camp。 Everybody
was running toward the council lodge。 A well…known medicine man was
loudly summoned thither。 But； alas！ the man who fell in the dance had
suddenly dropped dead。
To the people； another Indian superstition had been verified。
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VIII The Maidens' Feast
THER
