indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第32章
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and rushed upon them。 She caught one； but many more came with their
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dogs and drove us into a thicket。 They sent the red willows singing after
us； and two of them stuck in mother's side。 When we got away at last she
tried to pull them out； but they hurt her terribly。 She pulled them both
out at last； but soon after she lay down and died。
〃'I stayed in the woods alone for two days then I went around the
Minnewakan Chantay on the south side and there made my lonely den。
There I found plenty of hazel nuts； acorns and wild plums。 Upon the
plains the teepsinna were abundant； and I saw nothing of my enemies。
〃'One day I found a footprint not unlike my own。 I followed it to see
who the stranger might be。 Upon the bluffs among the oak groves I dis…
covered a beautiful young female gathering acorns。 She was of a
different band from mine； for she wore a jet black dress。
〃'At first she was disposed to resent my intru… sion； but when I told her
of my lonely life she agreed to share it with me。 We came back to my
home on the south side of the hill。 There we lived happy for a whole
year。 When the autumn came again Woshepee； for this was her name；
said that she must make a warm nest for the winter； and I was left alone
again。'
〃Now；〃 said Weyuha； 〃I have come to a part of my story that few
people understand。 All the long winter Chotanka slept in his den； and
with the early spring there came a great thunder storm。 He was aroused
by a frightful crash that seemed to shake the hills； and lo！ a handsome
young man stood at his door。 He looked； but was not afraid； for he saw
that the stranger carried none of those red willows with feathered tips。
He was unarmed and smiling。
〃'I come；' said he； 'with a challenge to run a race。 Whoever wins will
be the hero of his kind； and the defeated must do as the winner says there…
after。 This is a rare honor that I have brought you。 The whole world
will see the race。 The animal world will shout for you； and the spirits
will cheer me on。 You are not a coward； and therefore you will not refuse
my challenge。'
〃'No；' replied Chotanka； after a short hesita… tion。 The young man was
fine…looking； but lightly built。
〃'We shall start from the Chantay； and that will be our goal。 Come；
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let us go； for the universe is waiting！' impatiently exclaimed the stranger。
〃He passed on in advance； and just then an old； old wrinkled man
came to Chotanka's door。 He leaned forward upon his staff。
〃'My son；' he said to him； 'I don't want to make you a coward； but this
young man is the greatest gambler of the universe。 He has pow… erful
medicine。 He gambles for life； be careful！ My brothers and I are the only
ones who have ever beaten him。 But he is safe； for if he is killed he can
resurrect himselfI tell you he is great medicine。
〃'However； I think that I can save youlis… ten！ He will run behind you
all the way until you are within a short distance of the goal。 Then he will
pass you by in a flash； for his name is Zig… Zag Fire！ （lightning）。 Here is
my medicine。' So speaking； he gave me a rabbit skin and the gum of a
certain plant。 'When you come near the goal； rub yourself with the gum；
and throw the rabbit skin between you。 He cannot pass you。'
〃'And who are you； grandfather？' Chotanka inquired。
〃'I am the medicine turtle；' the old man re… plied。 'The gambler is a
spirit from heaven； and those whom he outruns must shortly die。 You
have heard； no doubt； that all animals know be… forehand when they are to
be killed； and any man who understands these mysteries may also know
when he is to die。'
The race was announced to the world。 The buffalo； elk； wolves and
all the animals came to look on。 All the spirits of the air came also to
cheer for their comrade。 In the sky the trumpet was soundedthe great
medicine drum was struck。 It was the signal for a start。 The course was
around the Minnewakan。 （That means around the earth or the ocean。）
Everywhere the multi… tude cheered as the two sped by。
〃The young man kept behind Chotanka all the time until they came
once more in sight of the Chantay。 Then he felt a slight shock and he
threw his rabbit skin back。 The stranger tripped and fell。 Chotanka
rubbed himself with the gum； and ran on until he reached the goal。 There
was a great shout that echoed over the earth； but in the heavens there was
muttering and grumbling。 The referee de… clared that the winner would
live to a good old age； and Zig…Zag Fire promised to come at his call。 He
was indeed great medicine；〃 Weyuha concluded。
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〃But you have not told me how Chotanka be… came a man；〃 I said。
〃One night a beautiful woman came to him in his sleep。 She enticed
him into her white teepee to see what she had there。 Then she shut the
door of the teepee and Chotanka could not get out。 But the woman was
kind and petted him so that he loved to stay in the white teepee。 Then it
was that he became a human born。 This is a long story； but I think；
Ohiyesa； that you will re… member it；〃 said Weyuha； and so I did。
II： Manitoshaw's Hunting
IT was in the winter； in the Moon of Difficulty （January）。 We had
eaten our venison roast for sup… per； and the embers were burn… ing
brightly。 Our teepee was es… pecially cheerful。 Uncheedah sat near the
entrance； my uncle and his wife upon the opposite side； while I with my
pets occupied the remaining space。
Wabeda； the dog； lay near the fire in a half doze； watching out of the
corners of his eyes the tame raccoon； which snuggled back against the
walls of the teepee； his shrewd brain； doubtless； concocting some mischief
for the hours of darkness。 I had already recited a legend of our people。
All agreed that I had done well。 Having been generously praised； I was
eager to earn some more compli… ments by learning a new one； so I
begged my uncle to tell me a story。 Musingly he replied：
〃I can give you a Sioux…Cree tradition；〃 and immediately began：
〃Many winters ago； there were six teepees stand… ing on the southern
slope of Moose mountain in the Moon of Wild Cherries （September）。
The men to whom these teepees belonged had been at… tacked by the
Sioux while hunting buffalo； and nearly all killed。 Two or three who
managed to get home to tell their sad story were mortally wounded； and
died soon afterward。 There was only one old man
