old indian days-第10部分

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working　old　man。



All　now　took　their　knives　in　their　hands　and

advanced　with　their　leader　to　the　attack　upon

the　log　hut。　　〃Wa…wa…wa…wa；　woo；　woo！〃

they　cried。　　Zip；　zip！　went　the　par…fleche　door

and　window；　and　they　all　rushed　in！



There　sat　a　man　upon　a　roughly　hewn　stool。　

He　was　attired　in　wolfskins　and　wore　a　fox…

skin　cap　upon　his　head。　　The　larger　portion　of

his　face　was　clothed　with　natural　fur。　　A　rudely

made　cedar　fiddle　was　tucked　under　his　furred

chin。　　Supporting　it　with　his　left　hand；　he

sawed　it　vigorously　with　a　bow　that　was　not

unlike　an　Indian　boy's　miniature　weapon；　while

his　moccasined　left　foot　came　down　upon　the

sod　floor　in　time　with　the　music。　　When　the

shrill　war…whoop　came；　and　the　door　and　win…

dow　were　cut　in　strips　by　the　knives　of　the　In…

dians；　he　did　not　even　cease　playing；　but　in…

stinctively　he　closed　his　eyes；　so　as　not　to　behold

the　horror　of　his　own　end。







II



It　was　long　ago；　upon　the　rolling　prairie

south　of　the　Devil's　Lake；　that　a　motley

body　of　hunters　gathered　near　a　mighty

herd　of　the　bison；　in　the　Moon　of　Falling

Leaves。　　These　were　the　first　generation　of　the

Canadian　mixed…bloods；　who　sprang　up　in　such

numbers　as　to　form　almost　a　new　people。　

These　semi…wild　Americans　soon　became　a　ne…

cessity　to　the　Hudson　Bay　Company；　as　they

were　the　greatest　hunters　of　the　bison；　and

made　more　use　of　this　wonderful　animal　than

even　their　aboriginal　ancestors。



A　curious　race　of　people　this；　in　their　make…up

and　their　customs！　　Their　shaggy　black　hair

was　allowed　to　grow　long；　reaching　to　their

broad　shoulders；　then　cut　off　abruptly；　making

their　heads　look　like　a　thatched　house。　　Their

dark　faces　were　in　most　cases　well　covered　with

hair；　their　teeth　large　and　white；　and　their　eyes

usually　liquid　black；　although　occasionally　one

had　a　tiger…brown　or　cold…gray　eye。　　Their　cos…

tume　was　a　buckskin　shirt　with　abundance　of

fringes；　buckskin　pantaloons　with　short　leg…

gins；　a　gay　sash；　and　a　cap　of　fox…fur。　　Their

arms　consisted　of　flint…lock　guns；　hatchets；　and

butcher…knives。　　Their　ponies　were　small；　but

as　hardy　as　themselves。



As　these　men　gathered　in　the　neighborhood

of　an　immense　herd　of　buffaloes；　they　busied

themselves　in　adjusting　the　girths　of　their

beautifully　beaded　pillow…like　saddles。　　Among

them　there　were　exceptional　riders　and　hunters。　

It　was　said　that　few　could　equal　Antoine　Mich…

aud　in　feats　of　riding　into　and　through　the

herd。　　There　he　stood；　all　alone；　the　observed

of　many　others。　　It　was　his　habit　to　give　sev…

eral　Indian　yells　when　the　onset　began；　so　as

to　insure　a　successful　hunt。



In　this　instance；　Antoine　gave　his　usual

whoops；　and　when　they　had　almost　reached　the

herd；　he　lifted　his　flint…lock　over　his　head　and

plunged　into　the　black　moving　mass。　　With

a　sound　like　the　distant　rumbling　of　thunder；

those　tens　of　thousands　of　buffalo　hoofs　were

pounding　the　earth　in　retreat。　　Thus　Antoine

disappeared！



His　wild　steed　dashed　into　the　midst　of　the

vast　herd。　　Fortunately　for　him；　the　animals

kept　clear　of　him；　but　alas！　the　gap　through

which　he　had　entered　instantly　closed　again。



He　yelled　frantically　to　secure　an　outlet；　but

without　effect。　　He　had　tied　a　red　bandanna

around　his　head　to　keep　the　hair　off　his　face；

and　he　now　took　this　off　and　swung　it　crazily

about　him　to　scatter　the　buffalo；　but　it　availed

him　nothing。



With　such　a　mighty　herd　in　flight；　the　speed

could　not　be　great；　therefore　the　〃Bois　Brule〃

settled　himself　to　the　situation；　allowing　his

pony　to　canter　along　slowly　to　save　his　strength。　

It　required　much　tact　and　presence　of　mind　to

keep　an　open　space；　for　the　few　paces　of　ob…

struction　behind　had　gradually　grown　into　a

mile。



The　mighty　host　moved　continually　south…

ward；　walking　and　running　alternately。　　As　the

sun　neared　the　western　horizon；　it　fired　the　sky

above　them；　and　all　the　distant　hills　and　prairies

were　in　the　glow　of　it；　but　immediately　about

them　was　a　thick　cloud　of　dust；　and　the　ground

appeared　like　a　fire…swept　plain。



Suddenly　Antoine　was　aware　of　a　tremendous

push　from　behind。　　The　animals　smelled　the

cool　water　of　a　spring　which　formed　a　large

bog　in　the　midst　of　the　plain。　　This　solitary

pond　or　marsh　was　a　watering…place　for　the

wild　animals。　　All　pushed　and　edged　toward

it；　it　was　impossible　for　any　one　to　withstand

the　combined　strength　of　so　many。



Antoine　and　his　steed　were　in　imminent　dan…

ger　of　being　pushed　into　the　mire　and　trampled

upon；　but　a　mere　chance　brought　them　upon

solid　ground。　　As　they　were　crowded　across　the

marsh；　his　pony　drank　heartily；　and　he；　for　the

first　time；　let　go　his　bridle；　put　his　two　palms

together　for　a　dipper；　and　drank　greedily　of

the　bitter　water。　　He　had　not　eaten　since　early

morning；　so　he　now　pulled　up　some　bulrushes

and　ate　of　the　tender　bulbs；　while　the　pony

grazed　as　best　he　could　on　the　tops　of　the　tall

grass。



It　was　now　dark。　　The　night　was　well…

nigh　intolerable　for　Antoine。　　The　buffalo　were

about　him　in　countless　numbers；　regarding　him

with　vicious　glances。　　It　was　only　by　reason

of　the　natural　offensiveness　of　man　that　they

gave　him　any　space。　　The　bellowing　of　the

bulls　became　general；　and　there　was　a　marked

uneasiness　on　the　part　of　the　herd。　　This　was

a　sign　of　approaching　storm；　therefore　the　un…

fortunate　hunter　had　this　additional　cause　for

anxiety。　　Upon　the　western　horizon　were　seen

some　flashes　of　lightning。



The　cloud　which　had　been　a　mere　speck　upon

the　horizon　had　now　increased　to　large　propor…

tions。　　Suddenly　the　wind　came；　and　lightning

flashes　became　more　frequent；　showing　the　un…

gainly　forms　of　the　animals　like　strange　mon…

sters　in　the　white　light。　　The　colossal　herd　was

again　in　violent　motion。　　It　was　a　blind　rush

for　shelter；　and　no　heed　was　paid　to　buffalo

wallows　or　even　deep　gulches。　　All　was　in　the

deepest　of　darkness。　　There　seemed　to　be

groaning　in　heaven　and　earthmillions　of

hoofs　and　throats　roaring　in　unison！



As　a　shipwrecked　man　clings　to　a　mere　frag…

ment　of　wood；　so　Antoine；　although　almost

exhausted　with　fatigue；　still　stuck　to　the　back

of　his　equally　plucky　pony。　　Death　was　immi…

nent　for　them　both。　　As　the　mad　rush　con…

tinued；　every　flash　displayed　heaps　of　bison　in

death　struggle　under　the　hoofs　of　their　com…

panions。



From　time　to　time　Antoine　crossed　himself

and　whispered　a　prayer　to　the　Virgin；　and

again　he　spoke　to　his　horse　after　the　fashion

of　an　Indian：



〃Be　brave；　be　strong；　my　horse！　If　we　sur…

vive　this　trial；　you　shall　have　great　honor！〃



The　stampede　continued　until　they　reached

the　bottom　lands；　and；　like　a　rushing　stream；

their　course　was　turned　aside　by　the　steep　bank

of　a　creek　or　small　river。　　Then　they　moved

more　slowly　in　wide　sweeps　or　circles；　until　the

storm　ceased；　and　the　exhausted　hunter；　still

in　his　saddle；　took　some　snatches　of　sleep。



When　he　awoke　and　looked　about　him　again

it　was　morning。　　The　herd　had　entered　the

strip　of　timber　which　lay　on　both　sides　of　the

river；　and　it　was　here　that　Antoine　conceived

his　first　distinct　hope　of　saving　himself。



〃Waw；　waw；　waw！〃　was　the　hoarse　cry

that　came　to　his　ears；　apparently　from　a　human

being　in　distress。　　Antoine　strained　his　eyes

and　craned　his　neck　to　see　who　it　could　be。　

Through　an　opening　in　the　branches　ahead　he

perceived　a　large　grizzly　bear；　lying　along　an

inclined　limb　and　hugging　it　desperately　to

maintain　his　position。　　The　herd　had　now　thor…

oughly　pervaded　the　timber；　and　the　bear　was

likewise　hemmed　in。　　He　had　taken　to　his　unac…

customed　refuge　after　making　a　brave　stand

against　several　bulls；　one　of　which　lay　dead

near　by；　while　he　himself　was　bleeding　from

many　wounds。



Antoine　had　been　assiduously　looking　for　a

friendly　tree；　by　means　of　which　he　hoped　to

effect　his　escape　from　captivity　by　the　army　of

bison。　　His　horse；　by　chance；　made　his　way

directly　under　the　very　box…elder　that　was　sus…

taining　the　bear　and　there　was　a　convenient

branch　just　within　his　reach。　　The　Bois　Brule

was　not　then　in　an　aggressive　mood；　and　he　saw

at　a　glance　that　the　occupant　of　the　tree　would

not　interfere　with　him。　　They　were；　in　fact；

companions　in　distress。　　Antoine　tried　to　give

a　war…whoop　as　he　sprang　desperately　from　the

pony's　back　and　seized　the　cross　limb　with　both

his　hands。



The　hunter　dangled　in　the　air　for　a　minute

that　to　him　seemed　a　year。　　Then　he　gathered

up　all　the　strength　that　was　in　him；　and　with

one　grand　effort　he　pulled　himself　up　on　the

limb。



If　he　had　failed　in　this；　he　would　have　fallen

to　the　ground　under　the　hoofs　of　the　buffaloes；

and　at　their　mercy。



After　he　had　adjusted　his　seat　as　comfort…

ably　as　he　could；　Antoine　surveyed　the　situation。　

He　had　at　least　escaped　from　sudden　and　cer…

tain　death。　　It　grieved　him　that　he　had　been

forced　to　abandon　his　horse；　and　he　had　no

idea　how　far　he　had　come　nor　any　means　of

returning　to　his　friends；　who　had；　no　doubt；

given　him　up　for　lost。　　His　immediate　needs

were　rest　and　food。



Accordingly　he　selected　a　fat　cow　and　emp…

tied　into　her　sides　one　barrel　of　his　gun；　which

had　been　slung　across　his　chest。　　He　went　on

shooting　until　he　had　killed　many　fat　cows；

greatly　to　the　discomfiture　of　his　neighbor；　the

bear；　while　the　bison　vainly　struggled　among

themselves　to　keep　the　fatal　spot　clear。



By　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　the　main

body　of　the　herd　had　passed；　and　Antoine　was

sure　that　his　captivity　had　at　last　come　to　an

end。　　Then　he　swung　himself　from　his　limb　to

the　ground；　and　walked　stiffly　to　the　carcass　of

the　nearest　cow；　which　he　dressed　and　prepared

himself　a　meal。　　But　first　he　took　a　piece　of

liver　on　a　long　pole　to　the　bear！



Antoine　finally　decid