old indian days(古印第时期)-第31章
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Dakota crocuses。
Upon the lowest of a series of natural ter… races there stood on this
May morning a young Sioux girl； whose graceful movements were not
unlike those of a doe which chanced to be lurk… ing in a neighboring gulch。
On the upper plains； not far away； were her young companions； all busily
employed with the wewoptay； as it was calledthe sharp…pointed stick
with which the Sioux women dig wild turnips。 They were gayly
gossiping together； or each humming a love…song as she worked； only
Snana stood some… what apart from the rest； in fact； concealed by the crest
of the ridge。
She had paused in her digging and stood fac… ing the sun…kissed buttes。
Above them in the clear blue sky the father sun was traveling up… ward as
in haste； while to her receptive spirit there appealed an awful； unknown
force； the silent speech of the Great Mystery； to which it seemed to her the
whole world must be listen… ing！
〃O Great Mystery！ the father of earthly things is coming to quicken us
into life。 Have pity on me； I pray thee！ May I some day be… come the
mother of a great and brave race of warriors！〃 So the maiden prayed
silently。 It was now full…born day。 The sun shone hot upon the bare
ground； and the drops stood upon Snana's forehead as she plied her long
pole。 There was a cool spring in the dry creek bed near by； well hidden
by a clump of choke… cherry bushes； and she turned thither to cool her
thirsty throat。 In the depths of the ravine her eye caught a familiar
footprintthe track of a doe with the young fawn beside it。 The hunting
instinct arose within。
〃It will be a great feat if I can find and take from her the babe。 The
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little tawny skin shall be beautifully dressed by my mother。 The legs and
the nose shall be embossed with porcupine quills。 It will be my work…
bag；〃 she said to herself。
As she stole forward on the fresh trail she scanned every nook； every
clump of bushes。 There was a sudden rustle from within a grove of wild
plum trees； thickly festooned with grape and clematis； and the doe mother
bounded away as carelessly as if she were never to return。
Ah； a mother's ruse！ Snana entered the thorny enclosure； which was
almost a rude tee… pee； and； tucked away in the furthermost corner； lay
something with a trout…like； speckled； tawny coat。 She bent over it。
The fawn was appar… ently sleeping。 Presently its eyes moved a bit； and
a shiver passed through its subtle body。
〃Thou shalt not die； thy skin shall not be… come my work…bag！〃
unconsciously the maiden spoke。 The mother sympathy had taken hold
on her mind。 She picked the fawn up tenderly； bound its legs； and put it
on her back to carry like an Indian babe in the folds of her robe。
〃I cannot leave you alone； Tachinchala。 Your mother is not here。
Our hunters will soon return by this road； and your mother has left behind
her two plain tracks leading to this thicket；〃 she murmured。
The wild creature struggled vigorously for a minute； and then became
quiet。 Its graceful head protruded from the elkskin robe just over
Snana's shoulder。 She was slowly climbing the slope with her burden；
when suddenly like an apparition the doe…mother stood before her。 The
fawn called loudly when it was first seized； and the mother was not too far
away to hear。 Now she called frantically for her child； at the same time
stamping with her delicate fore…feet。
〃Yes； sister； you are right； she is yours； but you cannot save her to…day！
The hunters will soon be here。 Let me keep her for you； I will return her
to you safely。 And hear me； O sis… ter of the woods； that some day I may
become the mother of a noble race of warriors and of fine women； as
handsome as you are！〃
At this moment the quick eyes of the Indian girl detected something
strange in the doe's actions。 She glanced in every direction and be… hold！
a grizzly bear was cautiously approach… ing the group from a considerable
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distance。
〃Run； run； sister！ I shall save your child if I can；〃 she cried； and flew
for the nearest scrub oak on the edge of the bank。 Up the tree she
scrambled； with the fawn still securely bound to her back。 The grizzly
came on with teeth ex… posed； and the doe…mother in her flight came
between him and the tree； giving a series of indignant snorts as she ran；
and so distracted Mato from his object of attack； but only for a few
secondsthen on he came！
〃Desist； O brave Mato！ It does not become a great medicine…man to
attack a helpless woman with a burden upon her back！〃
Snana spoke as if the huge brute could un… derstand her； and indeed the
Indians hold that wild animals understand intuitively when ap… pealed to
by human beings in distress。 Yet he replied only with a hoarse growl； as
rising upon his hind legs he shook the little tree vigorously。
〃Ye； ye； heyupi ye！〃 Snana called loudly to her companion turnip…
diggers。 Her cry soon brought all the women into sight upon a near…by
ridge； and they immediately gave a general alarm。 Mato saw them； but
appeared not at all concerned and was still intent upon dislodg… ing the girl；
who clung frantically to her perch。
Presently there appeared upon the little knoll several warriors；
mounted and uttering the usual war…whoop； as if they were about to swoop
down upon a human enemy。 This touched the dignity of Mato； and he
immediately prepared to accept the challenge。 Every Indian was alive to
the possibilities of the occasion； for it is well known that Mato； or grizzly
bear； alone among animals is given the rank of a warrior； so that whoever
conquers him may wear an eagle feather。
〃Woo！ woo！〃 the warriors shouted； as they maneuvered to draw him
into the open plain。
He answered with hoarse growls； threatening a rider who had ventured
too near。 But arrows were many and well…aimed； and in a few minutes
the great and warlike Mato lay dead at the foot of the tree。
The men ran forward and counted their coups on him； just as when an
enemy is fallen。 Then they looked at one another and placed their hands
over their mouths as the young girl de… scended the tree with a fawn bound
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upon her back。
〃So that was the bait！〃 they cried。 〃And will you not make a feast
with that fawn for us who came to your rescue？ 〃
〃The fawn is young and tender； and we have not eaten meat for two
days。 It will be a gen… erous thing to do；〃 added her father； who was
among them。
〃Ye…e…e！〃 she cried out in distress。 〃Do not ask it！ I have seen this
fawn's mother。 I have promised to keep her child safe。 See！ I have
saved its life； even when my own was
