old indian days-第18部分

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〃Fear　not　for　our　scout；　friends！〃　finally　ex…

claimed　a　leader　among　them。　　〃He　is　a　brave

and　experienced　man。　　He　will　find　a　safe　rest…

ing…place；　and　join　us　when　the　wind　ceases　to

rage。〃　So　they　all　wrapped　themselves　in　their

robes　and　lay　down　to　sleep。



All　that　night　and　the　following　day　it　was

impossible　to　give　succor；　and　the　hunters　felt

much　concern　for　the　absent。　　Late　in　the　second

night　the　great　storm　subsided。



〃Ho；　ho！　　Iyotanka！　　Rise　up！〃　　So　the

first　hunter　to　awaken　aroused　all　the　others。



As　after　every　other　storm；　it　was　wonderfully

still；　so　still　that　one　could　hear　distinctly　the

pounding　feet　of　the　jack…rabbits　coming　down

over　the　slopes　to　the　willows　for　food。　　All　dry

vegetation　was　buried　beneath　the　deep　snow；

and　everywhere　they　saw　this　white…robed　crea…

ture　of　the　prairie　coming　down　to　the　woods。



Now　the　air　was　full　of　the　wolf　and　coyote

game　call；　and　they　were　seen　in　great　numbers

upon　the　ice。



〃See；　see！　the　hungry　wolves　are　dragging

the　carcasses　away！　　Harken　to　the　war　cries　of

the　scout's　Shunka！　　Hurry；　hurry！〃　they　urged

one　another　in　chorus。



Away　they　ran　and　out　upon　the　lake；　now

upon　the　wind…swept　ice；　now　upon　the　crusted

snow；　running　when　they　could；　sliding　when

they　must。　　There　was　certainly　a　great　concourse

of　the　wolves；　whirling　in　frantic　circles；　but　con…

tinually　moving　toward　the　farther　end　of　the

lake。　　They　could　hear　distinctly　the　hoarse　bark

of　the　scout's　Shunka；　and　occasionally　the　muf…

fled　war…whoop　of　a　man；　as　if　it　came　from

under　the　ice！



As　they　approached　nearer　the　scene　they

could　hear　more　distinctly　the　voice　of　their

friend；　but　still　as　it　were　from　underground。　

When　they　reached　the　spot　to　which　the　wolves

had　dragged　two　of　the　carcasses　of　the　buffalo；

Shunka　was　seen　to　stand　by　one　of　them；　but

at　that　moment　he　staggered　and　fell。　　The　hunt…

ers　took　out　their　knives　and　ripped　up　the

frozen　hide　covering　the　abdominal　cavity。　　It

revealed　a　warm　nest　of　hay　and　buffalo　hair

in　which　the　scout　lay；　wrapped　in　his　own

robe！



He　had　placed　his　dog　in　one　of　the　carcasses

and　himself　in　another　for　protection　from　the

storm；　but　the　dog　was　wiser　than　the　man；　for

he　kept　his　entrance　open。　　The　man　lapped　the

hide　over　and　it　froze　solidly；　shutting　him　se…

curely　in。　　When　the　hungry　wolves　came

Shunka　promptly　extricated　himself　and　held

them　off　as　long　as　he　could；　meanwhile；　sliding

and　pulling；　the　wolves　continued　to　drag　over

the　slippery　ice　the　body　of　the　buffalo　in　which

his　master　had　taken　refuge。　　The　poor；　faithful

dog；　with　no　care　for　his　own　safety；　stood　by

his　imprisoned　master　until　the　hunters　came　up。　

But　it　was　too　late；　for　he　had　received　more

than　one　mortal　wound。



As　soon　as　the　scout　got　out；　with　a　face　more

anxious　for　another　than　for　himself；　he　ex…

claimed：



〃Where　is　Shunka；　the　bravest　of　his　tribe？〃



〃Ho；　kola；　it　is　so；　indeed；　and　here　he　lies；〃

replied　one　sadly。



His　master　knelt　by　his　side；　gently　stroking

the　face　of　the　dog。



〃Ah；　my　friend；　you　go　where　all　spirits　live！

The　Great　Mystery　has　a　home　for　every　living

creature。　　May　he　permit　our　meeting　there！〃



At　daybreak　the　scout　carried　him　up　to　one

of　the　pretty　round　hills　overlooking　the　lake；

and　built　up　around　him　walls　of　loose　stone。　

Red　paints　were　scattered　over　the　snow；　in　ac…

cordance　with　Indian　custom；　and　the　farewell

song　was　sung。



Since　that　day　the　place　has　been　known　to

the　Sioux　as　Shunkahanakapithe　Grave　of　the

Dog。



PART　TWO



THE　WOMAN



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　I





　　　　　WINONA；　THE　WOMAN…CHILD





　　　　　Hush；　hushaby；　little　woman！

　　　　　Be　brave　and　weep　not！

　　　　　The　spirits　sleep　not；

　　　　　'Tis　they　who　ordain

　　　　　To　woman；　pain。



　　　　　Hush；　hushaby；　little　woman！

　　　　　Now；　all　things　bearing；

　　　　　A　new　gift　sharing

　　　　　From　those　above



　　　　　To　woman；　love。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Sioux　Lullaby。





〃Chinto；　weyanna！　Yes；　indeed；　she

is　a　real　little　woman；〃　declares　the　old

grandmother；　as　she　receives　and　crit…

ically　examines　the　tiny　bit　of　humanity。



There　is　no　remark　as　to　the　color　of　its　hair

or　eyes；　both　so　black　as　almost　to　be　blue；　but

the　old　woman　scans　sharply　the　delicate　pro…

file　of　the　baby　face。



〃Ah；　she　has　the　nose　of　her　ancestors！　　Lips

thin　as　a　leaf；　and　eyes　bright　as　stars　in　mid…

winter！〃　she　exclaims；　as　she　passes　on　the　furry

bundle　to　the　other　grandmother　for　her　inspec…

tion。



〃Tokee！　she　is　pretty　enough　to　win　a　twinkle

rom　the　evening　star；〃　remarks　that　smiling

personage。



〃And　what　shall　her　name　be？



〃Winona；　the　First…born；　of　course。　　That

is　hers　by　right　of　birth。〃



〃Still；　it　may　not　fit　her。　　One　must　prove

herself　worthy　in　order　to　retain　that　honorable

name。〃



〃Ugh；〃　retorts　the　first　grandmother；　〃she

can　at　least　bear　it　on　probation！〃



〃Tosh；　tosh；〃　the　other　assents。



Thus　the　unconscious　little　Winona　has

passed　the　first　stage　of　the　Indian's　christen…

ing。



Presently　she　is　folded　into　a　soft　white　doe…

skin；　well　lined　with　the　loose　down　of　cattails；

and　snugly　laced　into　an　upright　oaken　cradle；

the　front　of　which　is　a　richly　embroidered　buck…

skin　bag；　with　porcupine　quills　and　deers'　hoofs

suspended　from　its　profuse　fringes。　　This　gay

cradle　is　strapped　upon　the　second　grand…

mother's　back；　and　that　dignitary　walks　off　with

the　newcomer。



〃You　must　come　with　me；〃　she　says。　　〃We

shall　go　among　the　father　and　mother　trees；　and

hear　them　speak　with　their　thousand　tongues；

that　you　may　know　their　language　forever。　　I

will　hang　the　cradle　of　the　woman…child　upon

Utuhu；　the　oak；　and　she　shall　hear　the　love…sighs

of　the　pine　maiden！〃



In　this　fashion　Winona　is　introduced　to　nature

and　becomes　at　once　〃nature…born；〃　in　accord

with　the　beliefs　and　practices　of　the　wild　red

man。



〃Here　she　is！　Take　her；〃　says　the　old

woman　on　her　return　from　the　woods。　　She　pre…

sents　the　child　to　its　mother；　who　is　sitting　in

the　shade　of　an　elm…tree　as　quietly　as　if　she　had

not　just　passed　through　woman's　severest　or…

deal　in　giving　a　daughter　to　the　brave　Cheton…

ska！



〃She　has　a　winsome　face；　as　meek　and　in…

nocent　as　the　face　of　an　ermine；〃　graciously　adds

the　grandmother。



The　mother　does　not　speak。　　Silently　and　al…

most　reverently　she　takes　her　new　and　first…born

daughter　into　her　arms。　　She　gazes　into　its　vel…

vety　little　face　of　a　dusky　red　tint；　and　uncon…

sciously　presses　the　closely　swaddled　form　to　her

breast。　　She　feels　the　mother…instinct　seize　upon

her　strongly　for　the　first　time。　　Here　is　a　new

life；　a　new　hope；　a　possible　link　between　herself

and　a　new　race！



Ah；　a　smile　plays　upon　her　lips；　as　she　realizes

that　she　has　kissed　her　child！　　In　its　eyes　and

mouth　she　discerns　clearly　the　features　she　has

loved　in　the　strong　countenance　of　another；

though　in　the　little　woman's　face　they　are　soft…

ened　and　retouched　by　the　hand　of　the　〃Great

Mystery。〃



The　baby　girl　is　called　Winona　for　some

months；　when　the　medicine…man　is　summoned

and　requested　to　name　publicly　the　first…born

daughter　of　Chetonska；　the　White　Hawk；　but

not　until　he　has　received　a　present　of　a　good

pony　with　a　finely　painted　buffalo…robe。　　It　is

usual　to　confer　another　name　besides　that　of

the　〃First…born；〃　which　may　be　resumed　later

if　the　maiden　proves　worthy。　　The　name　Wi…

nona　implies　much　of　honor。　　It　means　char…

itable；　kind；　helpful；　all　that　an　eldest　sister

should　be！



The　herald　goes　around　the　ring　of　lodges

announcing　in　singsong　fashion　the　christening；

and　inviting　everybody　to　a　feast　in　honor　of

the　event。　　A　real　American　christening　is　al…

ways　a　gala　occasion；　when　much　savage　wealth

is　distributed　among　the　poor　and　old　people。　

Winona　has　only　just　walked；　and　this　fact　is

also　announced　with　additional　gifts。　　A　well…

born　child　is　ever　before　the　tribal　eye　and　in　the

tribal　ear；　as　every　little　step　in　its　progress

toward　manhood　or　womanhoodthe　first　time

of　walking　or　swimming；　first　shot　with　bow　and

arrow　（if　a　boy）；　first　pair　of　moccasins　made

（if　a　girl）is　announced　publicly　with　feasting

and　the　giving　of　presents。



So　Winona　receives　her　individual　name　of

Tatiyopa；　or　Her　Door。　　It　is　symbolic；　like

most　Indian　names；　and　implies　that　the　door

of　the　bearer　is　hospitable　and　her　home　attrac…

tive。



The　two　grandmothers；　who　have　carried　the

little　maiden　upon　their　backs；　now　tell　and　sing

to　her　by　turns　all　the　legends　of　their　most　noted

female　ancestors；　from　the　twin　sisters　of　the

old　story；　the　maidens　who　married　among　the

star　people　of　the　sky；　down　to　their　own

mothers。　　All　her　lullabies　are　feminine；　and

designed　to　impress　upon　her　tender　mind　the

life　and　duties　of　her　sex。



As　soon　as　she　is　old　enough　to　play　with

dolls　she　plays　mother　in　all　seriousness　and

gravity。　　She　is　dressed　like　a　miniature　woman

（and　her　dolls　are　clad　likewise）；　in　garments

of　doeskin　to　her　ankles；　adorned　with　long

fringes；　embroidered　with　porcupine　quills；　and

dyed　with　root　dyes　in　various　colors。　　Her　lit…

tle　blanket　or　robe；　with　which　she　shyly　drapes

or　screens　her　head　and　shoulders；　is　the　skin

of　a　buffalo　calf　or　a　deer；　soft；　white；　embroi…

dered　on　the　smooth　side；　and　often　with　the

head　and　hoofs　left　on。



〃You　must　never　forget；　my　little　daughter；

that　you　are　a　woman　like　myself。　　Do　always

those　things　that　you　see　me　do；〃　her　mother

often　admonishes　her。



Even　the　language　of　the　Sioux　has　its　fem…

inine　dialect；　and　the　tiny　girl　would　be　greatly

abashed　were　it　ever　needful　to　correct　her　for

using　a　masculine　term