old indian days-第16部分

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from　a　reconnaissance　of　the　camp　and　report

on　what　they　had　seen。　　It　was　a　lonely　spot；

and　the　night　was　very　cold　and　still。　　We　sat

there　in　the　snowy　woods　near　a　little　creek　and

smoked　in　silence　while　we　waited。　　I　had　plenty

of　time　to　reflect　upon　my　position。　　These

Gros　Ventres　and　Rees　have　been　our　enemies

for　generations。　　I　was　one　man　to　twenty！

They　had　their　orders　from　the　commander　of

the　fort；　and　that　was　my　only　safeguard。



〃Soon　we　heard　the　howl　of　a　wolf　a　little

to　the　westward。　　Immediately　one　of　the　party

answered　in　the　same　manner。　　I　could　not　have

told　it　from　the　howl　of　a　real　wolf。　　Then　we

heard　a　hooting　owl　down　the　creek。　　Another

of　our　party　hooted　like　an　owl。



〃Presently　the　wolf's　voice　sounded　nearer；

while　the　owl's　hoot　came　nearer　in　the　opposite

direction。　　Then　we　heard　the　footsteps　of

ponies　on　the　crisp；　frosty　air。　　The　scout　who

had　been　imitating　the　wolf　came　in　first；　and

the　owl　soon　followed。　　The　warriors　made　a

ring　and　again　filled　the　pipe；　and　the　scouts

took　the　oath　for　the　second　time。



〃After　smoking；　they　reported　a　trail　going

up　a　stream　tributary　to　the　Missouri；　but

whether　going　out　or　coming　in　it　was　impos…

sible　to　tell　in　the　dark。　　It　was　several　days

old。　　This　was　discussed　for　some　time。　　The

question　was　whether　some　had　gone　out　in

search　of　meat；　or　whether　some　additional　men

had　come　into　camp。



〃The　Bunch　of　Stars　was　already　a　little　west

of　the　middle　sky　when　we　set　out　again。　　They

agreed　to　take　me　a　short　distance　beyond　this

creek　and　there　leave　me；　as　they　were　afraid

to　go　any　further。　　On　the　bank　of　the　creek

we　took　a　farewell　smoke。　　There　was　a　faint

glow　in　the　east；　showing　that　it　was　almost

morning。　　The　warriors　sang　a　'Strong　Heart'

song　for　me　in　an　undertone　as　I　went　on　alone。



〃I　tried　to　make　a　wide　circuit　of　the　camp；

but　I　passed　their　ponies　grazing　all　over　the

side　hills　at　a　considerable　distance；　and　I　went

as　quietly　as　possible；　so　as　not　to　frighten　them。　

When　I　had　fairly　passed　the　camp　I　came　down

to　the　road　again；　and　I　let　my　horse　fly！



〃I　had　been　cautioned　at　the　post　that　the

crossings　of　the　creeks　on　either　side　of　the

camp　were　the　most　dangerous　places；　since　they

would　be　likely　to　watch　for　me　there。　　I　had

left　the　second　crossing　far　behind；　and　I　felt

quite　safe；　but　I　was　tired　and　chilled　by　the

long　ride。　　My　horse；　too；　began　to　show　signs

of　fatigue。　　In　a　deep　ravine　where　there　was

plenty　of　dry　wood　and　shelter；　I　cleared　the

ground　of　snow　and　kindled　a　small　fire。　　Then

I　gave　the　horse　his　last　ration　of　oats；　and　I

ate　the　last　of　the　pemmican　that　the　Ree　scouts

had　given　me。



〃Suddenly　he　pricked　up　his　ears　in　the　di…

rection　of　home。　　He　ate　a　mouthful　and　listened

again。　　I　began　to　grow　nervous；　and　I　listened；

too。　　Soon　I　heard　the　footsteps　of　horses　in

the　snow　at　a　considerable　distance。



〃Hastily　I　mounted　and　took　flight　along

the　ravine　until　I　had　to　come　out　upon　the

open　plain；　in　full　view　of　a　party　of　about

thirty　Sioux　in　war…paint；　coming　back　from　the

direction　of　Fort　Rice。　　They　immediately　gave

chase；　yelling　and　flourishing　their　guns　and

tomahawks　over　their　heads。　　I　urged　my　horse

to　his　best　speed；　for　I　felt　that　if　they　should

overtake　me；　nothing　could　save　me！　　My

friend；　White　Elk；　here；　was　one　of　that　war…

party。



〃I　saw　that　I　had　a　fair　lead　and　the　best

horse；　and　was　gaining　upon　them；　when　about

two　miles　out　I　met　some　more　of　the　party

who　had　lingered　behind　the　rest。　　I　was　sur…

rounded！



〃I　turned　toward　the　north；　to　a　deep　gulch

that　I　knew　I　should　find　there；　and　I　led　my

horse　along　a　narrow　and　slippery　ridge　to　a

deep　hole。　　Here　I　took　up　my　position。　　I

guarded　the　pass　with　my　bow　and　arrows；　and

they　could　not　reach　me　unless　they　should　fol…

low　the　ridge　in　single　file。　　I　knew　that　they

would　not　storm　my　position；　for　that　is　not　the

Indian　way　of　fighting；　but　I　supposed　that

they　would　try　to　tire　me　out。　　They　yelled　and

hooted；　and　shot　many　bullets　and　arrows　over

my　head　to　terrify　me　into　surrender；　but　I　re…

mained　motionless　and　silent。



〃Night　came；　with　a　full　round　moon。　　All

was　light　as　day　except　the　place　where　I　stood；

half　frozen　and　not　daring　to　move。　　The　bot…

tom　of　the　gulch　was　as　black　as　a　well　and

almost　as　cold。　　The　wolves　howled　all　around

me　in　the　stillness。



At　last　I　heard　the　footsteps　of　horses　re…

treating；　and　then　no　other　sound。　　Still　I　dared

not　come　out。　　I　must　have　slept；　for　it　was

dawn　when　I　seemed　to　hear　faintly　the　yelling

of　warriors；　and　then　I　heard　my　own　name。



〃'Zuyamani；　tokiya　nunka　huwo？'　（Where

are　you；　Zuyamani？）　they　shouted。　　A　party

of　my　friends　had　come　out　to　meet　me　and　had

followed　our　trail。　　I　was　scarcely　able　to　walk

when　I　came　out；　but　they　filled　the　pipe　and

held　it　up　to　me；　as　is　done　in　recognition　of

distinguished　service。　　They　escorted　me　into

the　post；　singing　war　songs　and　songs　of　brave

deeds；　and　there　I　delivered　up　his　letters　to　the

Chief　Soldier。〃



Again　the　drum　was　struck　and　the　old　men

cheered　Zuyamani；　who　added：



〃I　think　that　Poor　Dog　was　right；　for　the

Great　Father　never　gave　me　any　credit；　nor　did

he　ever　reward　me　for　what　I　had　done。　　Yet

I　have　not　been　without　honor；　for　my　own

people　have　not　forgotten　me；　even　though　I

went　upon　the　white　man's　errand。〃









VII





THE　GRAVE　OF　THE　DOG



The　full　moon　was　just　clear　of　the　high

mountain　ranges。　　Surrounded　by　a

ring　of　bluish　haze；　it　looked　almost

as　if　it　were　frozen　against　the　impalpable　blue…

black　of　the　reckless　midwinter　sky。



The　game　scout　moved　slowly　homeward；

well　wrapped　in　his　long　buffalo　robe；　which　was

securely　belted　to　his　strong　loins；　his　quiver

tightly　tied　to　his　shoulders　so　as　not　to　impede

his　progress。　　It　was　enough　to　carry　upon　his

feet　two　strong　snow…shoes；　for　the　snow　was

deep　and　its　crust　too　thin　to　bear　his　weight。



As　he　emerged　from　the　lowlands　into　the

upper　regions；　he　loomed　up　a　gigantic　figure

against　the　clear；　moonlit　horizon。　　His　pic…

turesque　foxskin　cap　with　all　its　trimmings　was

incrusted　with　frost　from　the　breath　of　his　nos…

trils；　and　his　lagging　footfall　sounded　crisply。　

The　distance　he　had　that　day　covered　was　enough

for　any　human　endurance；　yet　he　was　neither

faint　nor　hungry；　but　his　feet　were　frozen　into

the　psay；　the　snow…shoes；　so　that　he　could　not

run　faster　than　an　easy　slip　and　slide。



At　last　he　reached　the　much…coveted　point

the　crown　of　the　last　ascent；　and　when　he　smelled

fire　and　the　savory　odor　of　the　jerked　buffalo

meat；　it　well…nigh　caused　him　to　waver！　　But　he

must　not　fail　to　follow　the　custom　of　untold　ages；

and　give　the　game　scout's　wolf　call　before　enter…

ing　camp。



Accordingly　he　paused　upon　the　highest　point

of　the　ridge　and　uttered　a　cry　to　which　the

hungry　cry　of　a　real　wolf　would　have　seemed

but　a　coyote's　yelp　in　comparison！　　Then　it　was

that　the　rest　of　the　buffalo　hunters　knew　that

their　game　scout　was　returning　with　welcome

news；　for　the　unsuccessful　scout　enters　the　camp

silently。



A　second　time　he　gave　the　call　to　assure　his

hearers　that　their　ears　did　not　deceive　them。　　The

gray　wolves　received　the　news　with　perfect　un…

derstanding。　　It　meant　food！　　〃Woo…o…o…o！

woo…o…o…o！〃　came　from　all　directions；　especially

from　the　opposite　ridge。　　Thus　the　ghostly；　cold；

weird　night　was　enlivened　with　the　music　from

many　wild　throats。



Down　the　gradual　slope　the　scout　hastened；

his　footfall　was　the　only　sound　that　broke　the

stillness　after　the　answers　to　his　call　had　ceased。　

As　he　crossed　a　little　ridge　an　immense　wolf

suddenly　confronted　him；　and　instead　of　retreat…

ing；　calmly　sat　up　and　gazed　steadfastly　into

his　face。



〃Welcome；　welcome；　friend！〃　the　hunter

spoke　as　he　passed。



In　the　meantime；　the　hunters　at　the　temporary

camp　were　aroused　to　a　high　pitch　of　excitement。　

Some　turned　their　buffalo　robes　and　put　them

on　in　such　a　way　as　to　convert　themselves　into

make…believe　bison；　and　began　to　tread　the　snow；

while　others　were　singing　the　buffalo　song；　that

their　spirits　might　be　charmed　and　allured　within

the　circle　of　the　camp…fires。　　The　scout；　too；　was

singing　his　buffalo　bull　song　in　a　guttural；　lowing

chant　as　he　neared　the　hunting　camp。　　Within

arrow…shot　he　paused　again；　while　the　usual　cere…

monies　were　enacted　for　his　reception。　　This

done；　he　was　seated　with　the　leaders　in　a　chosen

place。



〃It　was　a　long　run；〃　he　said；　〃but　there　were

no　difficulties。　　I　found　the　first　herd　directly

north　of　here。　　The　second　herd；　a　great　one；

is　northeast；　near　Shell　Lake。　　The　snow　is　deep。　

The　buffalo　can　only　follow　their　leader　in　their

retreat。〃



〃Hi；　hi；　hi！〃　the　hunters　exclaimed　solemnly

in　token　of　gratitude；　raising　their　hands　heaven…

ward　and　then　pointing　them　toward　the　ground。



〃Ho；　kola！　one　more　round　of　the　buffalo…

pipe；　then　we　shall　retire；　to　rise　before　daybreak

for　the　hunt；〃　advised　one　of　the　leaders。　　Si…

lently　they　partook　in　turn　of　the　long…stemmed

pipe；　and　one　by　one；　with　a　dignified　〃Ho！〃

departed　to　their　teepees。



The　scout　betook　himself　to　his　little　old　buf…

falo　teepee；　which　he　used　for　winter　hunting

expeditions。　　His　faithful　Shunka；　who　had　been

all　this　time　its　only　occupant；　met　him　at　the

entrance　as　dogs　alone　know　how　to　welcome　a

lifelong　friend。　　As　his　master　entered　he

stretched　himself　in　his　old…time　way；　from　the

tip　of　his　tail　to　that　of　his　tongue；　and　finished

by　curling　both　ends　upward。



〃Ho；　mita　shunka；　eat　this；　for　you　must

be　hungry！〃　　So　saying；　the　scout　laid　before