indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第30章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
its character。 These soon returned with the pos… itive information that the
Canadians were at hand； 〃for；〃 said they； 〃there are no bright metals in the
123
… Page 124…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
moving train to send forth flashes of light。 The separate bodies are short；
like carts with ponies； and not like the long； four…wheeled wagon drawn by
four or six mules； that the soldiers use。 They are not buffaloes； and they
cannot be mounted troops； with pack…mules； because the individual bodies
are too long for that。 Besides； the soldiers usually have their chief； with
his guards； leading the train； and the little chiefs are also separated from
the main body and ride at one side！〃
From these observations it was concluded that we were soon to meet
with the bois brules； as the French call their mixed…bloods； presumably
from the color of their complexions。 Some say that they are named from
the 〃burned forests〃 which； as wood…cutters； they are accustomed to leave
be… hind them。 Two or three hours later； at about sunset； our ears began
to distinguish the peculiar music that always accompanied a moving train
of their carts。 It is like the grunting and squealing of many animals； and is
due to the fact that the wheels and all other parts of these vehicles are
made of wood。 Our dogs gleefully augmented the volume of
inharmonious sound。
They stopped a little way from our camp； upon a grassy plain； and the
ponies were made to wheel their clumsy burdens into a perfect circle； the
shafts being turned inward。 Thus was formed a sort of barricadequite a
usual and necessary pre… caution in their nomadic and adventurous life。
Within this circle the tents were pitched； and many cheerful fires were
soon kindled。 The garcons were hurriedly driving the ponies to water；
with much cracking of whips and outbursting of im… patient oaths。
Our chief and his principal warriors briefly con… ferred with the
strangers； and it was understood by both parties that no thought of
hostilities lurked in the minds of either。
After having observed the exchange of presents that always follows a
〃peace council；〃 there were friendly and hospitable feasts in both camps。
The bois brules had been long away from any fort or trading…post； and it
so happened that their inevi… table whiskey keg was almost empty。 They
had diluted the few gills remaining with several large kettles full of water。
In order to have any sort of offensive taste； it was necessary to add
cayenne pepper and a little gentian。
124
… Page 125…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
Our men were treated to this concoction； and seeing that two or three
of the half…breeds pre… tended to become intoxicated； our braves followed
their example。 They made night intolerable with their shouts and singing
until past midnight； when gradually all disturbance ceased； and both
camps appeared to be wrapped in deep slumber。
Suddenly the loud report of a gun stirred the sleepers。 Many more
reports were heard in quick succession； all coming from the camp of the
bois brules。 Every man among the Sioux sprang to his feet； weapon in
hand； and many ran towards their ponies。 But there was one significant
point about the untimely firing of the gunsthey were all di… rected
heavenward！ One of our old men； who understood better than any one
else the manners of the half…breeds； thus proclaimed at the top of his
voice：
〃Let the people sleep！ This that we have heard is the announcement of
a boy's advent into the world！ It is their custom to introduce with
gunpowder a new…born boy！〃
Again quiet was restored in the neighboring camps； and for a time the
night reigned undis… turbed。 But scarcely had we fallen into a sound sleep
when we were for the second time rudely aroused by the firing of guns and
the yelling of warriors。 This time it was discovered that almost all the
ponies； including those of our neighbors； had been stealthily driven off by
horse…thieves of another tribe。
These miscreants were adepts in their profes… sion； for they had
accomplished their purpose with much skill； almost under the very eyes of
the foe； and had it not been for the invincible superstition of Slow Dog；
they would have met with complete success。 As it was； they caused us
no little trouble and anxiety； but after a hot pur… suit of a whole day； with
the assistance of the half… breeds our horses were recaptured。
Slow Dog was one of those Indians who are filled with conceit； and
boasting loudly their pretensions as medicine men； without any success；
only bring upon themselves an unnecessary amount of em… barrassment
and ridicule。 Yet there is one quali… ty always possessed by such persons；
among a savage people as elsewherenamely； great perse… verance and
tenacity in their self…assertion。 So the blessing of ignorance kept Slow Dog
125
… Page 126…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
always cheerful； and he seemed； if anything； to derive some pleasure from
the endless insinuations and ridicule of the people！
Now Slow Dog had loudly proclaimed； on the night before this event；
that he had received the warning of a bad dream； in which he had seen all
the ponies belonging to the tribe stampeded and driven westward。
〃But who cares for Slow Dog's dream？〃 said everybody； 〃none of the
really great medicine men have had any such visions！〃
Therefore our little community； given as they were to superstition；
anticipated no special danger。 It is true that when the first scout reported
the approach of troops some of the people had weak… ened； and said to one
another：
〃After all； perhaps poor Slow Dog may be right； but we are always too
ready to laugh at him！ 〃
However； this feeling quickly passed away when the jovial Canadians
arrived； and the old man was left alone to brood upon his warning。
He was faithful to his dream。 During all the hilarity of the feast and
the drinking of the mock whiskey； be acted as self…constituted sentinel。
Finally； when everybody else had succumbed to sleep； he gathered
together several broken and discarded lariats of various materialsleather；
buffalo's hair and horse's hair。 Having length… ened this variegated rope
with innumerable knots； he fastened one end of it around the neck of his
old war…horse； and tied the other to his wrist。 In… stead of sleeping inside
the tent as usual； he rolled himself in a buffalo robe and lay down in its
shadow。 From this place he watched until the moon had disappeared
behind the western hori… zon； and just as the grey dawn began to appear in
the east his eyes were attracted to what seemed to be a dog moving among
the picketed ponies。 Upon a closer scrutiny； he saw that its actions were
unnatural。
〃Toka abe do！ toka abe do！〃 （the enemy！ the enemy！） exclaimed Slow
Dog。 With a war… whoop he sprang toward the intruder； who rose up and
leaped upon the back of Slow Dog's war… steed。 He had cut the hobble；
as well as the de… vice of the old medicine man。
The Sioux now bent his bow to shoot； but it was too late。 The other
quickly dodged behind the animal； and from under its chest he sent a
126
… Page 127…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
deadly arrow to Slow Dog's bosom。 Then he re… mounted the pony and
set off at full speed after his comrades； who had already started。
As the Sioux braves responded to the alarm； and passed by the daring
old warrior in pursuit of their enemies； who had stampeded most of the
loose ponies； the old man cried out：
〃I； brave Slow Dog； who have so often made a path for you on the
field of battle； am now about to make one to the land of spirits！〃
So speaking； the old man died。 The Sioux were joined in the chase
by the friendly mixed… bloods； and in the end the Blackfeet were com…
pelled to pay dearly for the blood of the poor old man。
On that beautiful morning all Nature seemed brilliant and smiling； but
the Sioux were mourn… ing and wailing for the death of one who had been
an object of ridicule during most of his life。 They appreciated the part
that Slow Dog had played in this last event； and his memory was honored
by all the tribe。
V： An Adventurous Journey
IT must now be about thirty years since our long journey in search of
new hunting…grounds； from the Assiniboine river to the Upper Missouri。
The buffalo； formerly so abundant between the two rivers； had begun to
shun their usual haunts； on account of the great numbers of Canadian half…
breeds in that part of the country。 There was also the first influx of
English sportsmen； whose wholesale methods of destruction wrought such
havoc with the herds。 These seemingly intelli… gent animals correctly
prophesied to the natives the approach of the pale…face。
As we had anticipated； we found game very scarce as we travelled
slowly across the vast plains。 There were only herds of antelope and
sometimes flocks of waterfowl； with here and there a lonely bull
straggling aimlessly along。 At first our party was small； but as we
proceeded on our way we fell in with some of the western bands of Sioux
and Assiniboines； who are close connections。
Each day the camp was raised and marched from ten to twenty miles。
One might wonder how such a cavalcade would look in motion。 The
127
… Page 128…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
only vehicles were the primitive travaux drawn by ponies
