old indian days(古印第时期)-第24章
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foxskin cap with all its trimmings was incrusted with frost from the breath
of his nos… trils； and his lagging footfall sounded crisply。 The distance he
had that day covered was enough for any human endurance； yet he was
neither faint nor hungry； but his feet were frozen into the psay； the snow…
shoes； so that he could not run faster than an easy slip and slide。
At last he reached the much…coveted point the crown of the last
ascent； and when he smelled fire and the savory odor of the jerked buffalo
meat； it well…nigh caused him to waver！ But he must not fail to follow
the custom of untold ages； and give the game scout's wolf call before
enter… ing camp。
Accordingly he paused upon the highest point of the ridge and uttered
a cry to which the hungry cry of a real wolf would have seemed but a
coyote's yelp in comparison！ Then it was that the rest of the buffalo
hunters knew that their game scout was returning with welcome news； for
the unsuccessful scout enters the camp silently。
A second time he gave the call to assure his hearers that their ears did
not deceive them。 The gray wolves received the news with perfect un…
derstanding。 It meant food！ 〃Woo…o…o…o！ woo…o…o…o！〃 came from all
directions； especially from the opposite ridge。 Thus the ghostly； cold；
weird night was enlivened with the music from many wild throats。
Down the gradual slope the scout hastened； his footfall was the only
sound that broke the stillness after the answers to his call had ceased。 As
he crossed a little ridge an immense wolf suddenly confronted him； and
instead of retreat… ing； calmly sat up and gazed steadfastly into his face。
〃Welcome； welcome； friend！〃 the hunter spoke as he passed。
In the meantime； the hunters at the temporary camp were aroused to a
high pitch of excitement。 Some turned their buffalo robes and put them
on in such a way as to convert themselves into make…believe bison； and
began to tread the snow； while others were singing the buffalo song； that
their spirits might be charmed and allured within the circle of the camp…
fires。 The scout； too； was singing his buffalo bull song in a guttural；
lowing chant as he neared the hunting camp。 Within arrow…shot he
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paused again； while the usual cere… monies were enacted for his reception。
This done； he was seated with the leaders in a chosen place。
〃It was a long run；〃 he said； 〃but there were no difficulties。 I found
the first herd directly north of here。 The second herd； a great one； is
northeast； near Shell Lake。 The snow is deep。 The buffalo can only
follow their leader in their retreat。〃
〃Hi； hi； hi！〃 the hunters exclaimed solemnly in token of gratitude；
raising their hands heaven… ward and then pointing them toward the
ground。
〃Ho； kola！ one more round of the buffalo… pipe； then we shall retire； to
rise before daybreak for the hunt；〃 advised one of the leaders。 Si… lently
they partook in turn of the long…stemmed pipe； and one by one； with a
dignified 〃Ho！〃 departed to their teepees。
The scout betook himself to his little old buf… falo teepee； which he
used for winter hunting expeditions。 His faithful Shunka； who had been
all this time its only occupant； met him at the entrance as dogs alone know
how to welcome a lifelong friend。 As his master entered he stretched
himself in his old…time way； from the tip of his tail to that of his tongue；
and finished by curling both ends upward。
〃Ho； mita shunka； eat this； for you must be hungry！〃 So saying； the
scout laid before his canine friend the last piece of his dried buf… falo meat。
It was the sweetest meal ever eaten by a dog； judging by his long
smacking of his lips after he had swallowed it！
The hunting party was soon lost in heavy slumber。 Not a sound could
be heard save the gnawing of the ponies upon the cottonwood bark； which
was provided for them instead of hay in the winter time。
All about Shell Lake the bison were gathered in great herds。 The
unmistakable signs of the sky had warned them of approaching bad
weather。 The moon's robe was girdled with the rainbow wampum of
heaven。 The very music of the snow under their feet had given them
warning。 On the north side of Shell Lake there were several deep
gulches； which were the homes of every wanderer of the plains at such a
time at this。 When there was a change toward severe weather； all the
four…footed people headed for this lake。 Here was a heavy growth of
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reeds； rushes； and coarse grass； making good shelters； and also springs；
which afforded water after the lake was frozen solid。 Hence great
numbers of the bison had gathered here。
When Wapashaw； the game scout； had rolled himself in his warm
buffalo robe and was sound asleep； his faithful companion hunter； the
great Esquimaux wolf dog； silently rose and again stretched himself； then
stood quiet for a moment as if meditating。 It was clear that he knew well
what he had planned to do； but was considering how he should do it
without arousing any sus… picion of his movements。 This is a dog's art；
and the night tricks and marauding must always be the joy and secret of
his life！
Softly he emerged from the lodge and gave a sweeping glance around
to assure him that there were none to spy upon him。 Suspiciously he
sniffed the air； as if to ascertain whether there could be any danger to his
sleeping master while he should be away。
His purpose was still a secret。 It may be that it was not entirely a
selfish one； or merely the satisfying of his inherited traits。 Having fully
convinced himself of the safety of the unguarded camp； he went forth into
the biting cold。 The moon was now well up on the prairies of the sky。
There were no cloud hills in the blue field above to conceal her from view。
Her brilliant light set on fire every snow gem upon the plains and hillsides
about the hunters' camp。
Up the long ascent he trotted in a northerly direction； yet not following
his master's trail。 He was large and formidable in strength； com… bining
the features of his wild brothers of the plains with those of the dogs who
keep company with the red men。 His jet…black hair and sharp ears and
nose appeared to immense advantage against the spotless and jeweled
snow； until pres… ently his own warm breath had coated him with heavy
frost。
After a time Shunka struck into his master's trail and followed it all the
way； only taking a short cut here and there when by dog instinct he knew
that a man must go around such a point to get to his destination。 He met
many travelers during the night； but none had d
