old indian days(古印第时期)-第39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！
have your own pet pack；〃 and she led her back to where the young pony
stood silently with the babies。
Nakpa threw back her ears and cast savage looks at him； while
Shunkaska； with no small annoyance； gathered together as much as he
could of their scattered household effects。 The sleeping brown…skinned
babies in their chrysalis… like hoods were gently lowered from the pony's
back and attached securely to Nakpa's padded wooden saddle。 The
family pots and kettles were divided among the pack ponies。 Order was
restored and the village once more in mo… tion。
〃Come now； Nakpa； you have your wish。 You must take good care of
my babies。 Be good； because I have trusted you；〃 murmured the young
mother in her softest tones。
〃Really； Weeko； you have some common ground with Nakpa； for you
both always want to have your own way； and stick to it； too！ I tell you； I
fear this Long Ears。 She is not to be trusted with babies；〃 remarked
Shunkaska； with a good deal of severity。 But his wife made no reply；
for she well knew that though he might criticise； he would not actually
interfere with her domestic ar… rangements。
116
… Page 117…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
He now started ahead to join the men in ad… vance of the slow…moving
procession； thus leav… ing her in undivided charge of her household。 One
or two of the pack ponies were not well… trained and required all her
attention。 Nakpa had been a faithful servant until her escapade of the
morning； and she was now obviously sat… isfied with her mistress'
arrangements。 She walked alongside with her lariat dragging； and
perfectly free to do as she pleased。
Some hours later； the party ascended a slope from the river bottom to
cross over the divide which lay between the Powder River and a trib… utary
stream。 They had hitherto followed that river in a westerly direction； but
here it took its course southward； winding in a blue streak until lost to
view among the foot…hills of the Big Horn Mountains。 The ford was
deep； with a swift current。 Here and there a bald butte stood out in full
relief against the brilliant blue sky。 The Sioux followed a deep ravine
until they came almost up to the second row of terraces。
〃Whoo！ whoo！〃 came the blood…curdling signal of danger from the
front。 It was no un… familiar soundthe rovers knew it only too well。 It
meant sudden deathor at best a cruel struggle and frantic flight。
Terrified； yet self…possessed； the women turned to fly while yet there
was time。 Instantly the mother looked to Nakpa； who carried on either
side of the saddle her precious boys。 She hurriedly examined the
fastenings to see that all was secure； and then caught her swiftest pony； for；
like all Indian women； she knew just what was happening； and that while
her hus… band was engaged in front with the enemy； she must seek safety
with her babies。
Hardly was she in the saddle when a heart… rending war…whoop
sounded on their flank； and she knew that they were surrounded！
Instinct… ively she reached for her husband's second quiver of arrows；
which was carried by one of the pack ponies。 Alas！ the Crow warriors
were already upon them！ The ponies became un… manageable； and the
wild screams of women and children pierced the awful confusion。
Quick as a flash； Weeko turned again to her babies； but Nakpa had
already disappeared！
Then； maddened by fright and the loss of her children； Weeko became
117
… Page 118…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
forgetful of her sex and tenderness； for she sternly grasped her hus… band's
bow in her left hand to do battle。
That charge of the Crows was a disastrous one； but the Sioux were
equally brave and des… perate。 Charges and counter…charges were made；
and the slain were many on both sides。 The fight lasted until darkness
came。 Then the Crows departed and the Sioux buried their dead。
When the Crows made their flank charge； Nakpa apparently
appreciated the situation。 To save herself and the babies； she took a
desperate chance。 She fled straight through the attack… ing force。
When the warriors came howling upon her in great numbers； she at
once started back the way she had come； to the camp left behind。 They
had traveled nearly three days。 To be sure； they did not travel more than
fifteen miles a day； but it was full forty miles to cover before dark。
〃Look！ look！〃 exclaimed a warrior； 〃two babies hung from the saddle
of a mule！〃
No one heeded this man's call； and his arrow did not touch Nakpa or
either of the boys； but it struck the thick part of the saddle over the mule's
back。
〃Lasso her！ lasso her！〃 he yelled once more； but Nakpa was too
cunning for them。 She dodged in and out with active heels； and they
could not afford to waste many arrows on a mule at that stage of the fight。
Down the ravine； then over the expanse of prairie dotted with gray…green
sage…brush； she sped with her unconscious burden。
〃Whoo！ whoo！〃 yelled another Crow to his comrades； 〃the Sioux have
dispatched a runner to get reinforcements！ There he goes； down on the
flat！ Now he has almost reached the river bottom！〃
It was only Nakpa。 She laid back her cars and stretched out more and
more to gain the river； for she realized that when she had crossed the ford
the Crows would not pursue her far… ther。
Now she had reached the bank。 With the intense heat from her
exertions； she was ex… tremely nervous； and she imagined a warrior beind
every bush。 Yet she had enough sense left to realize that she must not
satisfy her thirst。 She tried the bottom with her fore…foot； then waded
carefully into the deep stream。
118
… Page 119…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
She kept her big ears well to the front as she swam to catch the
slightest sound。 As she stepped on the opposite shore； she shook herself
and the boys vigorously； then pulled a few mouthfuls of grass and started
on。
Soon one of the babies began to cry； and the other was not long in
joining him。 Nakpa did not know what to do。 She gave a gentle
whinny and both babies apparently stopped to listen； then she took up an
easy gait as if to put them to sleep。
These tactics answered only for a time。 As she fairly flew over the
lowlands； the babies' hunger increased and they screamed so loud that a
passing coyote had to sit upon his haunches and wonder what in the world
the fleeing long… eared horse was carrying on his saddle。 Even magpies
and crows flew near as if to ascertain the meaning of this curious sound。
Nakpa now came to the Little Trail Creek； a tributary of the Powde
