old indian days(古印第时期)-第14章
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〃All put on your war…paint；〃 suggested Anookasan。 〃Have your
knives and arrows ready！〃
They did so； and all stole silently through the black forest in the
direction of the mysterious sound。 Clearer and clearer it came through
the frosty air； but it was a foreign sound to the savage ear。 Now it
seemed to them almost like a distant water…fall； then it recalled the low
hum of summer insects and the drowsy drone of the bumblebee。 Thump；
thump； thump！ was the regular accompaniment。
Nearer and nearer to the cliff they came； deeper into the wild heart of
the woods。 At last out of the gray； formless night a dark shape appeared！
It looked to them like a huge buf… falo bull standing motionless in the
forest； and from his throat there apparently proceeded the thump of the
medicine drum； and the song of the beguiling spirit！
All of a sudden a spark went up into the air。 As they continued to
approach； there became visible a deep glow about the middle of the dark
object。 Whatever it was； they had never heard of anything like it in all
their lives！
Anookasan was a little in advance of his com… panions； and it was he
who finally discovered a wall of logs laid one upon another。 Half way up
there seemed to be stretched a par…fleche （raw…hide）； from which a dim
light emanated。 He still thought of Oglugechana； who dwells within a
hollow tree； and determined to sur… prise and if possible to overpower this
wonder… working old man。
All now took their knives in their hands and advanced with their leader
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to the attack upon the log hut。 〃Wa…wa…wa…wa； woo； woo！〃 they cried。
Zip； zip！ went the par…fleche door and window； and they all rushed in！
There sat a man upon a roughly hewn stool。 He was attired in
wolfskins and wore a fox… skin cap upon his head。 The larger portion of
his face was clothed with natural fur。 A rudely made cedar fiddle was
tucked under his furred chin。 Supporting it with his left hand； he sawed it
vigorously with a bow that was not unlike an Indian boy's miniature
weapon； while his moccasined left foot came down upon the sod floor in
time with the music。 When the shrill war…whoop came； and the door and
win… dow were cut in strips by the knives of the In… dians； he did not even
cease playing； but in… stinctively he closed his eyes； so as not to behold the
horror of his own end。
It was long ago； upon the rolling prairie south of the Devil's Lake； that
a motley body of hunters gathered near a mighty herd of the bison； in the
Moon of Falling Leaves。 These were the first generation of the Canadian
mixed…bloods； who sprang up in such numbers as to form almost a new
people。 These semi…wild Americans soon became a ne… cessity to the
Hudson Bay Company； as they were the greatest hunters of the bison； and
made more use of this wonderful animal than even their aboriginal
ancestors。
A curious race of people this； in their make…up and their customs！
Their shaggy black hair was allowed to grow long； reaching to their broad
shoulders； then cut off abruptly； making their heads look like a thatched
house。 Their dark faces were in most cases well covered with hair； their
teeth large and white； and their eyes usually liquid black； although
occasionally one had a tiger…brown or cold…gray eye。 Their cos… tume
was a buckskin shirt with abundance of fringes； buckskin pantaloons with
short leg… gins； a gay sash； and a cap of fox…fur。 Their arms consisted of
flint…lock guns； hatchets； and butcher…knives。 Their ponies were small；
but as hardy as themselves。
As these men gathered in the neighborhood of an immense herd of
buffaloes； they busied themselves in adjusting the girths of their
beautifully beaded pillow…like saddles。 Among them there were
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exceptional riders and hunters。 It was said that few could equal Antoine
Mich… aud in feats of riding into and through the herd。 There he stood；
all alone； the observed of many others。 It was his habit to give sev… eral
Indian yells when the onset began； so as to insure a successful hunt。
In this instance； Antoine gave his usual whoops； and when they had
almost reached the herd； he lifted his flint…lock over his head and plunged
into the black moving mass。 With a sound like the distant rumbling of
thunder； those tens of thousands of buffalo hoofs were pounding the earth
in retreat。 Thus Antoine disappeared！
His wild steed dashed into the midst of the vast herd。 Fortunately for
him； the animals kept clear of him； but alas！ the gap through which he had
entered instantly closed again。
He yelled frantically to secure an outlet； but without effect。 He had
tied a red bandanna around his head to keep the hair off his face； and he
now took this off and swung it crazily about him to scatter the buffalo； but
it availed him nothing。
With such a mighty herd in flight； the speed could not be great；
therefore the 〃Bois Brule〃 settled himself to the situation； allowing his
pony to canter along slowly to save his strength。 It required much tact
and presence of mind to keep an open space； for the few paces of ob…
struction behind had gradually grown into a mile。
The mighty host moved continually south… ward； walking and running
alternately。 As the sun neared the western horizon； it fired the sky above
them； and all the distant hills and prairies were in the glow of it； but
immediately about them was a thick cloud of dust； and the ground
appeared like a fire…swept plain。
Suddenly Antoine was aware of a tremendous push from behind。 The
animals smelled the cool water of a spring which formed a large bog in the
midst of the plain。 This solitary pond or marsh was a watering…place for
the wild animals。 All pushed and edged toward it； it was impossible for
any one to withstand the combined strength of so many。
Antoine and his steed were in imminent dan… ger of being pushed into
the mire and trampled upon； but a mere chance brought them upon solid
ground。 As they were crowded across the marsh； his pony drank heartily；
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and he； for the first time； let go his bridle； put his two palms together for a
dipper； and drank greedily of the bitter water。 He had not eaten since
early morning； so he now pulled up some bulrushes and ate of the tender
bulbs； while the pony grazed as best he could on the tops of the tall grass。
It was now dark。 The night was well… nigh intolerable for Antoine。
The buffalo were about him in countless numbers； regarding him with
vicious glances。 It was only by reason of the natural of
