indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第42章
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So speaking； the old man died。 The Sioux were joined in the chase
by the friendly mixed… bloods； and in the end the Blackfeet were com…
pelled to pay dearly for the blood of the poor old man。
On that beautiful morning all Nature seemed brilliant and smiling； but
the Sioux were mourn… ing and wailing for the death of one who had been
an object of ridicule during most of his life。 They appreciated the part
that Slow Dog had played in this last event； and his memory was honored
by all the tribe。
V： An Adventurous Journey
IT must now be about thirty years since our long journey in search of
new hunting…grounds； from the Assiniboine river to the Upper Missouri。
The buffalo； formerly so abundant between the two rivers； had begun to
shun their usual haunts； on account of the great numbers of Canadian half…
breeds in that part of the country。 There was also the first influx of
English sportsmen； whose wholesale methods of destruction wrought such
havoc with the herds。 These seemingly intelli… gent animals correctly
prophesied to the natives the approach of the pale…face。
As we had anticipated； we found game very scarce as we travelled
slowly across the vast plains。 There were only herds of antelope and
sometimes flocks of waterfowl； with here and there a lonely bull
straggling aimlessly along。 At first our party was small； but as we
proceeded on our way we fell in with some of the western bands of Sioux
and Assiniboines； who are close connections。
Each day the camp was raised and marched from ten to twenty miles。
One might wonder how such a cavalcade would look in motion。 The
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only vehicles were the primitive travaux drawn by ponies and large
Esquimaux dogs。 These are merely a pair of shafts fastened on either
side of the animal； and trailing on the ground behind。 A large basket
suspended between the poles； just above the ground； supplied a place for
goods and a safe nest for the babies； or an occasional helpless old woman。
Most of our effects were carried by pack ponies； and an Indian packer
excels all oth… ers in quickness and dexterity。
The train was nearly a mile long； headed by a number of old warriors
on foot； who carried the filled pipe； and decided when and where to stop。
A very warm day made much trouble for the women who had charge of
the moving household。 The pack dogs were especially unmanageable。
They would become very thirsty and run into the water with their loads。
The scolding of the women； the singing of the old men and the yelps of the
Indian dudes made our progress a noisy one； and like that of a town in
motion rather than an ord… inary company of travelers。
This journey of ours was not without its excit… ing episodes。 My
uncle had left the main body and gone off to the south with a small party；
as he was accustomed to do every summer； to seek revenge of some sort
on the whites for all the in… juries that they had inflicted upon our family。
This time he met with a company of soldiers be… tween Fort Totten and
Fort Berthold； in North Dakota。 Somehow； these seven Indians surprised
the troopers in broad daylight； while eating their dinner； and captured the
whole outfit； including nearly all their mules and one white horse； with
such of their provisions as they cared to carry back with them。 No doubt
these soldiers reported at the fort that they had been attacked by a large
party of Indians； and I dare say some promo… tions rewarded their tale of a
brave defense！ However； the facts are just as I have stated them。 My
uncle brought home the white horse； and the fine Spanish mules were
taken by the others。 Among the things they brought back with them were
several loaves of raised bread； the first I had ever seen； and a great
curiosity。 We called it aguyape tachangu； or lung bread； from its spongy
consistency。
Although when a successful war…party returns with so many trophies；
there is usually much dancing and hilarity； there was almost nothing of the
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kind on this occasion。 The reason was that the enemy made little
resistance； and then there was our old tradition with regard to the whites
that there is no honor in conquering them； as they fight only under
compulsion。 Had there really been a battle； and some of our men been
killed； there would have been some enthusiasm。
It was upon this journey that a hunter per… formed the feat of shooting
an arrow through three antelopes。 This statement may perhaps be
doubted； yet I can vouch for its authenticity。 He was not alone at the
time； and those who were with him are reliable witnesses。 The animals
were driven upon a marshy peninsula； where they were crowded together
and almost helpless。 Many were despatched with knives and arrows； and
a man by the name of Grey…foot； who was large and tall and an
extraordinarily fine hunter； actually sent his arrow through three of them。
This feat was not accomplished by mere strength； for it re… quires a great
deal of skill as well。
A misfortune occurred near the river which de… prived us of one of our
best young men。 There was no other man； except my own uncle； for
whom I had at that time so great an admiration。 Very strangely； as it
appeared to me； he bore a Chris… tian name。 He was commonly called
Jacob。 I did not discover how he came by such a curious and apparently
meaningless name until after I had returned to the United States。 His
father had been converted by one of the early missionaries； before the
Minnesota massacre in 1862； and the boy had been baptized Jacob。 He
was an ideal woodsman and hunter and really a hero in my eyes。 He was
one of the party of seven who had attacked and put to rout the white
soldiers。
The trouble arose thus。 Jacob had taken from the soldiers two good
mules； and soon afterward we fell in with some Canadian half…breeds who
were desirous of trading for them。 However； the young man would not
trade； he was not at all dis… posed to part with his fine mules。 A certain
one of the mixed…bloods was intent upon getting pos… session of these
animals by fair or unfair means。 He invited Jacob to dinner； and treated
him to whiskey； but the Indian youth declined the liquor。 The half…breed
pretended to take this refusal to drink as an insult。 He seized his gun and
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shot his guest dead。
In a few minutes the scene was one of almost unprecedented
excitement。 Every adult Indian； female as well as male； was bent upon
invading the c
