old indian days(古印第时期)-第15章
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vicious glances。 It was only by reason of the natural offensiveness of
man that they gave him any space。 The bellowing of the bulls became
general； and there was a marked uneasiness on the part of the herd。 This
was a sign of approaching storm； therefore the un… fortunate hunter had
this additional cause for anxiety。 Upon the western horizon were seen
some flashes of lightning。
The cloud which had been a mere speck upon the horizon had now
increased to large propor… tions。 Suddenly the wind came； and lightning
flashes became more frequent； showing the un… gainly forms of the
animals like strange mon… sters in the white light。 The colossal herd was
again in violent motion。 It was a blind rush for shelter； and no heed was
paid to buffalo wallows or even deep gulches。 All was in the deepest of
darkness。 There seemed to be groaning in heaven and earthmillions of
hoofs and throats roaring in unison！
As a shipwrecked man clings to a mere frag… ment of wood； so
Antoine； although almost exhausted with fatigue； still stuck to the back of
his equally plucky pony。 Death was immi… nent for them both。 As the
mad rush con… tinued； every flash displayed heaps of bison in death
struggle under the hoofs of their com… panions。
From time to time Antoine crossed himself and whispered a prayer to
the Virgin； and again he spoke to his horse after the fashion of an Indian：
〃Be brave； be strong； my horse！ If we sur… vive this trial； you shall
have great honor！〃
The stampede continued until they reached the bottom lands； and； like
a rushing stream； their course was turned aside by the steep bank of a
creek or small river。 Then they moved more slowly in wide sweeps or
circles； until the storm ceased； and the exhausted hunter； still in his saddle；
took some snatches of sleep。
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When he awoke and looked about him again it was morning。 The
herd had entered the strip of timber which lay on both sides of the river；
and it was here that Antoine conceived his first distinct hope of saving
himself。
〃Waw； waw； waw！〃 was the hoarse cry that came to his ears；
apparently from a human being in distress。 Antoine strained his eyes and
craned his neck to see who it could be。 Through an opening in the
branches ahead he perceived a large grizzly bear； lying along an inclined
limb and hugging it desperately to maintain his position。 The herd had
now thor… oughly pervaded the timber； and the bear was likewise hemmed
in。 He had taken to his unac… customed refuge after making a brave stand
against several bulls； one of which lay dead near by； while he himself was
bleeding from many wounds。
Antoine had been assiduously looking for a friendly tree； by means of
which he hoped to effect his escape from captivity by the army of bison。
His horse； by chance； made his way directly under the very box…elder that
was sus… taining the bear and there was a convenient branch just within his
reach。 The Bois Brule was not then in an aggressive mood； and he saw at
a glance that the occupant of the tree would not interfere with him。 They
were； in fact； companions in distress。 Antoine tried to give a war…whoop
as he sprang desperately from the pony's back and seized the cross limb
with both his hands。
The hunter dangled in the air for a minute that to him seemed a year。
Then he gathered up all the strength that was in him； and with one grand
effort he pulled himself up on the limb。
If he had failed in this； he would have fallen to the ground under the
hoofs of the buffaloes； and at their mercy。
After he had adjusted his seat as comfort… ably as he could； Antoine
surveyed the situation。 He had at least escaped from sudden and cer… tain
death。 It grieved him that he had been forced to abandon his horse； and
he had no idea how far he had come nor any means of returning to his
friends； who had； no doubt； given him up for lost。 His immediate needs
were rest and food。
Accordingly he selected a fat cow and emp… tied into her sides one
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barrel of his gun； which had been slung across his chest。 He went on
shooting until he had killed many fat cows； greatly to the discomfiture of
his neighbor； the bear； while the bison vainly struggled among themselves
to keep the fatal spot clear。
By the middle of the afternoon the main body of the herd had passed；
and Antoine was sure that his captivity had at last come to an end。 Then
he swung himself from his limb to the ground； and walked stiffly to the
carcass of the nearest cow； which he dressed and prepared himself a meal。
But first he took a piece of liver on a long pole to the bear！
Antoine finally decided to settle in the re… cesses of the heavy timber
for the winter； as he was on foot and alone； and not able to travel any great
distance。 He jerked the meat of all the animals he had killed； and
prepared their skins for bedding and clothing。 The Bois Brule and Ami；
as he called the bear； soon be… came necessary to one another。 The
former considered the bear very good company； and the latter had learned
that man's business； after all； is not to kill every animal he meets。 He had
been fed and kindly treated； when helpless from his wounds； and this he
could not forget。
Antoine was soon busy erecting a small log hut； while the other
partner kept a sharp look… out； and； after his hurts were healed； often
brought in some small game。 The two had a perfect understanding
without many words； at least； the speech was all upon one side！ In his
leisure moments Antoine had occupied himself with whittling out a rude
fiddle of cedar…wood； strung with the guts of a wild cat that he had killed。
Every evening that winter he would sit down after supper and play all the
old familiar pieces； varied with improvisations of his own。 At first； the
music and the incessant pounding time with his foot annoyed the bear。
At times； too； the Canadian would call out the figures for the dance。 All
this Ami became accustomed to in time； and even showed no small
interest in the buzzing of the little cedar box。 Not infre… quently； he was
out in the evening； and the human partner was left alone。 It chanced；
quite fortunately； that the bear was absent on the night that the red folk
rudely invaded the lonely hut。
The calmness of the strange being had stayed their hands。 They had
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never before seen a man of other race than their own！
〃Is this Chanotedah？ Is he man； or beast？〃 the warriors asked one
another。
〃Ho； wake up； koda！〃 exclaimed Anooka… san。 〃Maybe he is of the
