myths and legends of the sioux-第15部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



crawled　back　to　their　camp　and　hurriedly　ate　some　pounded　meat　and

drank　some　cherry　tea。　　Then　they　took　down　their　robe　and　rolled

it　up　and　got　everything　in　readiness　for　a　hurried　flight　with　the

horses。　　Scarcely　had　they　got　everything　in　readiness　when　the

party　came　by；　singing　their　song　of　the　chase。　　When　they　had　all

gone　the　friends　crawled　down　to　the　trail　and　lay　waiting　for　the

old　man。　　Soon　they　heard　him　singing。　　Nearer　and　nearer　came　the

sounds　of　the　song　until　at　last　at　a　bend　in　the　road；　the　old　man

came　into　view。　　The　two　friends　arose　and　advanced　to　meet　him。　

On　he　came　still　singing。　　No　doubt　he　mistook　them　for　some　of　his

own　people。　　When　he　was　very　close　to　them　they　each　stepped　to

either　side　of　him　and　before　he　could　make　an　outcry　they　pierced

his　cowardly　old　heart　with　two　arrows。　　He　had　hardly　touched　the

ground　when　they　both　struck　him　with　their　bows；　winning　first　and

second　honors　by　striking　an　enemy　after　he　has　fallen。　　Chaske

having　won　first　honors；　asked　his　friend　to　perform　the　scalping

deed；　which　he　did。　　And　wanting　to　be　sure　that　the　spirit　would

get　full　revenge；　took　the　whole　scalp；　ears　and　all；　and　tied　it

to　his　belt。　　The　buffalo　beef　which　the　old　man　had　packed　upon

the　black　horse；　they　threw　on　the　top　of　the　old　man。　　Quickly

mounting　the　two　horses；　they　hastened　out　across　the　long　flat

towards　the　hunting　grounds。　　When　they　came　in　sight　of　the

grounds　there　they　saw　two　men　riding　about　from　place　to　place。　

Chaske　took　after　the　one　on　the　right；　Hake　the　one　on　the　left。　

When　the　two　men　saw　these　two　strange　men　riding　like　the　wind

towards　them；　they　turned　their　horses　to　retreat　towards　the

hills；　but　the　white　and　the　black　were　the　swiftest　of　the　tribe's

horses；　and　quickly　overtook　the　two　fleeing　men。　　When　they　came

close　to　the　enemy　they　strung　their　arrows　onto　the　bowstring　and

drove　them　through　the　two　fleeing　hunters。　　As　they　were　falling

they　tried　to　shoot；　but　being　greatly　exhausted；　their　bullets

whistled　harmlessly　over　the　heads　of　the　two　friends。　　They

scalped　the　two　enemies　and　took　their　guns　and　ammunition；　also

secured　the　two　horses　and　started　for　the　high　knoll。　　When　they

arrived　at　the　place；　there　stood　the　spirit。　　Hake　presented　him

with　the　old　man's　scalp　and　then　the　spirit　showed　them　the　large

band　of　horses；　and　saying；　〃Ride　hard　and　long；〃　disappeared　and

was　seen　no　more　by　any　war　parties；　as　he　was　thus　enabled　to　join

his　forefathers　in　the　happy　hunting　grounds。



The　friends　did　as　the　spirit　had　told　them。　　For　three　days　and

three　nights　they　rode　steadily。　　On　the　fourth　morning　they　came

into　their　own　boundary。　　From　there　on　they　rode　more　slowly；　and

let　the　band　of　horses　rest　and　crop　the　tops　of　long　grass。　　They

would　stop　occasionally；　and　while　one　slept　the　other　kept　watch。　

Thus　they　got　fairly　well　rested　before　they　came　in　sight　of　where

their　camp　had　stood　when　they　had　left。　　All　that　they　could　see

of　the　once　large　village　was　the　lone　tent　of　the　great　Medicine

Man。　　They　rode　up　on　to　a　high　hill　and　farther　on　towards　the

east　they　saw　smoke　from　a　great　many　tepees。　　They　then　knew　that

something　had　happened　and　that　the　village　had　moved　away。



〃My　friend；〃　said　Chaske；　〃I　am　afraid　something　has　happened　to

the　Medicine　Man's　lodge；　and　rather　than　have　you　go　there；　I　will

go　alone　and　you　follow　the　trail　of　our　party　and　go　on　ahead

with　the　horses。　　I　will　take　the　black　and　the　white　horses　with

me　and　I　will　follow　on　later；　after　I　have　seen　what　the　trouble

is。〃



〃Very　well；　my　friend；　I　will　do　as　you　say；　but　I　am　afraid

something　has　happened　to　Pretty　Feather。〃　　Hake　started　on　with

the　horses；　driving　them　along　the　broad　trail　left　by　the　hundreds

of　travois。　　Chaske　made　slowly　towards　the　tepee；　and　stopping

outside；　stood　and　listened。　　Not　a　sound　could　he　hear。　　The　only

living　thing　he　saw　was　Pretty　Feather's　spotted　horse　tied　to　the

side　of　the　tent。　　Then　he　knew　that　she　must　be　dead。　　He　rode　off

into　the　thick　brush　and　tied　his　two　horses　securely。　Then　he　came

back　and　entered　the　tepee。　　There　on　a　bed　of　robes　lay　some　one

apparently　dead。　　The　body　was　wrapped　in　blankets　and　robes　and

bound　around　and　around　with　parfleche　ropes。　　These　he　carefully

untied　and　unwound。　　Then　he　unwrapped　the　robes　and　blankets　and

when　he　uncovered　the　face；　he　saw；　as　he　had　expected　to；　the　face

of　his　lost　love；　Pretty　Feather。　　As　he　sat　gazing　on　her

beautiful　young　face；　his　heart　ached　for　his　poor　friend。　　He

himself　had　loved　and　lost　this　beautiful　maiden；　and　now　his

friend　who　had　won　her　would　have　to　suffer　the　untold　grief　which

he　had　suffered。



What　was　that？　　Could　it　have　been　a　slight　quivering　of　the

nostrils　that　he　had　seen；　or　was　it　mad　fancy　playing　a　trick　on

him？　　Closer　he　drew　to　her　face；　watching　intently　for　another

sign。　　There　it　was　again；　only　this　time　it　was　a　long；　deep　drawn

breath。　　He　arose；　got　some　water　and　taking　a　small　stick　slowly

forced　open　her　mouth　and　poured　some　into　it。　　Then　he　took　some

sage；　dipped　it　into　the　water　and　sprinkled　a　little　on　her　head

and　face。　　There　were　many　parfleche　bags　piled　around　the　tepee；

and　thinking　he　might　find　some　kind　of　medicine　roots　which　he

could　use　to　revive　her　he　started　opening　them　one　after　the

other。　　He　had　opened　three　and　was　just　opening　the　fourth；　when

a　voice　behind　him　asked：　〃What　are　you　looking　for？〃　　Turning

quickly；　he　saw　Pretty　Feather　looking　at　him。　　Overjoyed；　he

cried；　〃What　can　I　do　so　that　you　can　get　up　and　ride　to　the

village　with　me？　　My　friend　and　I　just　returned　with　a　large　band

of　horses　and　two　scalps。　　We　saw　this　tent　and　recognized　it。　　

My　friend　wanted　to　come；　but　I　would　not　let　him；　as　I　feared　if

he　found　anything　had　happened　to　you　he　would　do　harm　to　himself；

but　now　he　will　be　anxious　for　my　return；　so　if　you　will　tell　me

what　you　need　in　order　to　revive　you；　I　will　get　it；　and　we　can

then　go　to　my　friend　in　the　village。〃　　〃At　the　foot　of　my　bed　you

will　find　a　piece　of　eagle　fat。　　Build　a　fire　and　melt　it　for　me。　

I　will　drink　it　and　then　we　can　go。〃



Chaske　quickly　started　a　fire；　got　out　the　piece　of　fat　and　melted

it。　　She　drank　it　at　one　draught；　and　was　about　to　arise　when　she

suddenly　said：　〃Roll　me　up　quick　and　take　the　buffalo　hair　rope　and

tie　it　about　my　spotted　horse's　neck；　tie　his　tail　in　a　knot　and

tie　him　to　the　door。　　Then　run　and　hide　behind　the　trees。　　There

are　two　of　the　enemy　coming　this　way。〃



Chaske　hurriedly　obeyed　her　orders；　and　had　barely　concealed

himself　behind　the　trees；　when　there　came　into　view　two　of　the

enemy。　　They　saw　the　horse　tied　to　the　door　of　the　deserted　tent；

and　knew　that　some　dead　person　occupied　the　tepee；　so　through

respect　for　the　dead；　they　turned　out　and　started　to　go　through　the

brush　and　trees；　so　as　not　to　pass　the　door。　（The　Indians　consider

it　a　bad　omen　to　pass　by　the　door　of　a　tepee　occupied　by　a　dead

body；　that　is；　while　in　the　enemy's　country）。　　So　by　making　this

detour　they　traveled　directly　towards　where　Chaske　was　concealed

behind　the　tree。　　Knowing　that　he　would　be　discovered；　and　there

being　two　of　them；　he　knew　the　only　chance　he　had　was　for　him　to

kill　one　of　them　before　they　discovered　him；　then　he　stood　a　better

chance　at　an　even　combat。　　On　they　came；　little　thinking　that　one

of　them　would　in　a　few　minutes　be　with　his　forefathers。



Chaske　noiselessly　slipped　a　cartridge　into　the　chamber　of　his　gun；

threw　it　into　action　and　took　deliberate　aim　at　the　smaller　one's

breast。　　A　loud　report　rang　out　and　the　one　he　had　aimed　at　threw

up　his　arms　and　fell　heavily　forward；　shot　through　the　heart。



Reloading　quickly　Chaske　stepped　out　from　behind　the　tree。　　He

could　easily　have　killed　the　other　from　his　concealed　position；

but；　being　a　brave　young　man；　he　wanted　to　give　his　opponent　a　fair

chance。　　The　other　had　unslung　his　gun　and　a　duel　was　then　fought

between　the　two　lone　combatants。　　They　would　spring　from　side　to

side　like　two　great　cats。　　Then　advance　one　or　two　steps　and　fire。　

Retreat　a　few　steps；　spring　to　one　side　and　fire　again。　　The

bullets　whistled　past　their　heads；　tore　up　the　earth　beneath　their

feet；　and　occasionally　one　would　hit　its　mark；　only　to　cause　a

flesh　wound。



Suddenly　the　enemy　aimed　his　gun　and　threw　it　upon　the　ground。　　His

ammunition　was　exhausted；　and　slowly　folding　his　arms　he　stood

facing　his　opponent；　with　a　fearless　smile　upon　his　face；　expecting

the　next　moment　to　fall　dead　from　a　bullet　from　the　rifle　of

Chaske。　　Not　so。　　Chaske　was　too　honorable　and　noble　to　kill　an

unarmed　man；　and　especially　one　who　had　put　up　such　a　brave　fight

as　had　this　man。　　Chaske　advanced　and　picked　up　the　empty　gun。　　The

Toka　（enemy）　drew　from　a　scabbard　at　his　belt　a　long　bowie　knife；

and　taking　it　by　the　point　handed　it；　handle　first；　to　Chaske。　

This　signified　surrender。　　Chaske　scalped　the　dead　Toka　and

motioned　for　his　prisoner　to　follow　him。　　In　the　meantime　Pretty

Feather　had　gotten　up　and　stood　looking　at　the　duel。　　When　she

heard　the　first　shot　she　jumped　up　and　cut　a　small　slit　in　the　tent

from　which　she　saw　the　whole　proceedings。　　Knowing　that　one　or　both

of　them　must　be　wounded；　she　hurriedly　got　water　and　medicine

roots；　and　when　they　came　to　the　tent　she　was　prepared　to　dress

their　wounds。



Chaske　had　a　bullet　through　his　shoulder　and　one　through　his　hand。　

They　were　very　painful　but　not　dangerous。　　The　prisoner　had　a

bullet　through　his　leg；　also　one　through　the　muscle　of　his　left

arm。　　Pretty　Feather　washed　and　dressed　their　wounds；　and　Chaske

went　and　brought　the　black　and　white　horses　and　mounting　Pretty

Feather　upon　the　white　horse；　and　the　prisoner　on　her　spotted　one；

the　three　soon　rode　into　the　village；　and　there　was　a　great　cry　of