old indian days(古印第时期)-第6章
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This was our covenant before we came into this world。〃
The conception of a 〃twin spirit〃 was famil… iar to the Sioux。 〃Ho；〃
responded the war… rior； with dignity and all seriousness。 He felt a great
awe for the spirit； and dared not lift his eyes to her face。
〃Weep no more； kechuwa； weep no more；〃 she softly added； and the
next moment Ante… lope found himself outside the mysterious tee… pee。
His limbs were stiff and cold； but he did not feel faint nor hungry。
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Having filled his pipe； he held it up to the spirits and then par… took of the
smoke； and thus revived； he slowly and reluctantly left the sacred spot。
The main war…party also visited the old camp and saw the solitary
teepee grave； but did not linger there。 They continued on the trail of the
caravan until they reached the new camp… ing ground。 They called
themselves successful； although they had left several of their number on
the field。 Their triumph songs indicated this； therefore the people hurried
to receive the news and to learn who were the unfor… tunates。
The father of Antelope was foremost among those who ran to meet the
war…party。 He learned that his son had distinguished himself in the fight；
and that his name was not mentioned among the brave dead。
〃And where； then； is he？〃 he asked； with unconcealed anxiety。
〃He left us three days ago to come in ad… vance；〃 they replied。
〃But he has not arrived！〃 exclaimed old Wezee； in much agitation。
He returned to his teepee； where he consoled himself as best he could
by smoking the pipe in solitude。 He could neither sing praises nor
indulge in the death dirge； and none came in either to congratulate or
mourn with him。
The sun had disappeared behind the hills； and the old man still sat
gazing into the burn… ing embers； when he heard a horse's footfall at the
door of his lodge。
〃Ho； atay （father）！〃 came the welcome call。
〃Mechinkshe！ mechinkshe！〃 （my son； my son）； he replied in
unrestrained joy。 Old We… zee now stood on the threshold and sang the
praise song for his son； ending with a war… whoop such as he had not
indulged in since he was quite a young man。
The camp was once more alive with the dances； and the dull thud of
the Indian drum was continually in the air。 The council had agreed that
Antelope was entitled to wear a war…bonnet of eagles' feathers。 He was
ac… cordingly summoned before the aboriginal par… liament； and from the
wise men of the tribe he received his degree of war…bonnet。
It was a public ceremony。 The great pipe was held up for him to take
the smoke of high honor。
The happiest person present was the father of Antelope； but he himself
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remained calm and unmoved throughout the ceremony。
〃He is a strange person；〃 was the whisper among a group of youths
who were watching the proceedings with envious eyes。
The young man was strangely listless and depressed in spirit。 His old
grandmother knew why； but none of the others understood。 He never
joined in the village festivities； while the rest of his family were untiring in
the dances； and old Wezee was at the height of his hap… piness。
It was a crisp October morning； and the fam… ily were eating their
breakfast of broiled bison meat； when the large drum at the council lodge
was struck three times。 The old man set down his wooden basin。
〃Ah； my son； the war…chiefs will make an announcement！ It may be a
call for the en… listment of warriors！ I am sorry；〃 he said； and paused。
〃I am sorry； because I would rather no war…party went out at present。 I
am getting old。 I have enjoyed your success； my son。 I love to hear the
people speak your name。 If you go again upon the war…path； I shall no
longer be able to join in the celebra… tions。 Something tells me that you
will not re… turn！〃
Young braves were already on their way to the council lodge。 Tatoka
looked； and the temptation was great。
〃Father； it is not becoming for me to re… main at home when others
go；〃 he said； at last。
〃Ho；〃 was the assent uttered by the father； with a deep sigh。
〃Five hundred braves have enlisted to go with the great war prophet
against the three confederated tribes；〃 he afterward reported at home； with
an air of elation which he had not worn for some moons。
Since Antelope had received the degree of war…bonnet； his father had
spared neither time nor his meager means in his behalf。 He had bartered
his most cherished possessions for sev… eral eagles that were brought in by
various hunters of the camp； and with his own hands had made a
handsome war…bonnet for his son。
〃You will now wear a war…bonnet for the first time； and you are the
first of our family who has earned the right to wear one for many
generations。 I am proud of you； my son；〃 he said as he presented it。
But when the youth replied： 〃Ho； ho； father！ I ought to be a brave man
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in recog… nition of this honor；〃 he again sighed heavily。
〃It is that I feared； my son！ Many a young man has lost his life for
vanity and love of dis… play！〃
The evening serenades began early； for the party was to leave at once。
In groups upon their favorite ponies the warriors rode around the inner
circle of the great camp； singing their war…songs。 All the people came
out of the tee… pees； and sitting by twos and threes upon the ground；
bedecked with savage finery； they watched and listened。 The pretty wild
maid… ens had this last opportunity given them to look upon the faces of
their sweethearts； whom they might never see again。 Here and there an
old man was singing the gratitude song or thank…offering； while
announcing the first war… path of a novice； for such an announcement
meant the giving of many presents to the poor and aged。 So the camp
was filled with songs of joy and pride in the departing husbands； brothers；
and sons。
As soon as darkness set in the sound of the rude native flute was added
to the celebration。 This is the lover' s farewell。 The young braves；
wrapped from head to foot in their finest robes； each sounded the plaintive
strains near the tee… pee of the beloved。 The playful yodeling of many
voices in chorus was heard at the close of each song。
At midnight the army of five hundred； the flower of the Sioux；
marched against their an… cient enemy。 Antelope was in the best of spir…
its。 He had his war…bonnet to display before the enemy！ He was now
regarded as one of the foremost warriors of his band； and might probably
be asked to perform some specially hazardous duty； so that he was fully
prepared to earn further distinc
