old indian days-第22部分

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on　him；　just　as　when　an　enemy　is　fallen。　　Then

they　looked　at　one　another　and　placed　their

hands　over　their　mouths　as　the　young　girl　de…

scended　the　tree　with　a　fawn　bound　upon　her

back。



〃So　that　was　the　bait！〃　they　cried。　　〃And

will　you　not　make　a　feast　with　that　fawn　for

us　who　came　to　your　rescue？　〃



〃The　fawn　is　young　and　tender；　and　we　have

not　eaten　meat　for　two　days。　　It　will　be　a　gen…

erous　thing　to　do；〃　added　her　father；　who　was

among　them。



〃Ye…e…e！〃　she　cried　out　in　distress。　　〃Do

not　ask　it！　　I　have　seen　this　fawn's　mother。　　I

have　promised　to　keep　her　child　safe。　　See！

I　have　saved　its　life；　even　when　my　own　was　in

danger。〃



〃Ho；　ho；　wakan　ye　lo！　（Yes；　yes；　'tis　holy

or　mysterious）；〃　they　exclaimed　approvingly。



It　was　no　small　trouble　for　Snana　to　keep　her

trust。　　As　may　well　be　supposed；　all　the　dogs

of　the　teepee　village　must　be　watched　and　kept

at　a　distance。　　Neither　was　it　easy　to　feed　the

little　captive；　but　in　gaining　its　confidence　the

girl　was　an　adept。　　The　fawn　soon　followed　her

everywhere；　and　called　to　her　when　hungry

exactly　as　she　had　called　to　her　own　mother。



After　several　days；　when　her　fright　at　the

encounter　with　the　bear　had　somewhat　worn　off；

Snana　took　her　pet　into　the　woods　and　back　to

the　very　spot　in　which　she　had　found　it。　　In

the　furthest　corner　of　the　wild　plum　grove　she

laid　it　down；　gently　stroked　its　soft　forehead；

and　smoothed　the　leaflike　ears。　　The　little

thing　closed　its　eyes。　　Once　more　the　Sioux

girl　bent　over　and　laid　her　cheek　against　the

fawn's　head；　then　reluctantly　she　moved　away；

hoping　and　yet　dreading　that　the　mother　would

return。　　She　crouched　under　a　clump　of　bushes

near　by；　and　gave　the　doe　call。　　It　was　a　reckless

thing　for　her　to　do；　for　such　a　call　might　bring

upon　her　a　mountain　lion　or　ever…watchful　silver…

tip；　but　Snana　did　not　think　of　that。



In　a　few　minutes　she　heard　the　light　patter

of　hoofs；　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　doe　running

straight　toward　the　fawn's　hiding…place。　　When

she　stole　near　enough　to　see；　the　doe　and　the

fawn　were　examining　one　another　carefully；　as

if　fearing　some　treachery。　　At　last　both　were

apparently　satisfied。　　The　doe　caressed　her　nat…

ural　child；　and　the　little　one　accepted　the　milk

she　offered。



In　the　Sioux　maiden's　mind　there　was　tur…

moil。　　A　close　attachment　to　the　little　wild

creature　had　already　taken　root　there；　contend…

ing　with　the　sense　of　justice　that　was　strong

within　her。　　Now　womanly　sympathy　for　the

mother　was　in　control；　and　now　a　desire　to

possess　and　protect　her　helpless　pet。



〃I　can　take　care　of　her　against　all　hunters；

both　animal　and　human。　　They　are　ever　ready

to　seize　the　helpless　fawn　for　food。　　Her　life

will　be　often　exposed。　　You　cannot　save　her

from　disaster。　　O；　Takcha；　my　sister；　let　me

still　keep　her　for　you！〃　she　finally　appealed　to

the　poor　doe；　who　was　nervously　watching　the

intruder；　and　apparently　thinking　how　she　might

best　escape　with　the　fawn。



Just　at　this　moment　there　came　a　low　call

from　the　wood。　　It　was　a　doe　call；　but　the

wild　mother　and　her　new　friend　both　knew　that

it　was　not　the　call　of　a　real　doe。



〃It　is　a　Sioux　hunter！〃　whispered　the　girl。　

〃You　must　go；　my　sister！　Be　off；　I　will　take

your　child　to　safety！〃



While　she　was　yet　speaking；　the　doe　seemed

to　realize　the　danger。　　She　stopped　only　an

instant　to　lick　fondly　the　tawny　coat　of　the

little　one；　who　had　just　finished　her　dinner；

then　she　bounded　away。



As　Snana　emerged　from　the　bushes　with　her

charge；　a　young　hunter　met　her　face　to　face；

and　stared　at　her　curiously。　　He　was　not　of　her

father's　camp；　but　a　stranger。



〃Ugh；　you　have　my　game。〃



〃Tosh！〃　she　replied　coquettishly。



It　was　so　often　said　among　the　Indians　that

the　doe　was　wont　to　put　on　human　form　to　mis…

lead　the　hunter；　that　it　looked　strange　to　see

a　woman　with　a　fawn；　and　the　young　man　could

not　forbear　to　gaze　upon　Snana。



〃You　are　not　the　real　mother　in　maiden's

guise？　　Tell　me　truly　if　you　are　of　human

blood；〃　he　demanded　rudely。



〃I　am　a　Sioux　maiden！　　Do　you　not　know

my　father？〃　she　replied。



〃Ah；　but　who　is　your　father？　　What　is　his

name？〃　he　insisted；　nervously　fingering　his

arrows。



〃Do　not　be　a　coward！　　Surely　you　should

know　a　maid　of　your　own　race；〃　she　replied　re…

proachfully。



〃Ah；　you　know　the　tricks　of　the　doe！　　What

is　thy　name？〃



〃Hast　thou　forgotten　the　etiquette　of　thy

people；　and　wouldst　compel　me　to　pronounce

my　own　name？　　I　refuse；　thou　art　jesting！〃

she　retorted　with　a　smile。



〃Thou　dost　give　the　tricky　answers　of　a　doe。　

I　cannot　wait；　I　must　act　before　I　lose　my　nat…

ural　mind。　　But　already　I　am　yours。　　Whatever

purpose　you　may　have　in　thus　charming　a　poor

hunter；　be　merciful；〃　and；　throwing　aside　his

quiver；　he　sat　down。



The　maiden　stole　a　glance　at　his　face；　and

then　another。　　He　was　handsome。　　Softly　she

reentered　the　thicket　and　laid　down　the　little

fawn。



〃Promise　me　never　to　hunt　here　again！〃

she　said　earnestly；　as　she　came　forth　without

her　pretty　burden；　and　he　exacted　another　prom…

ise　in　return。　　Thus　Snana　lost　her　fawn；　and

found　a　lover。









IV





SHE…WHO…HAS…A…SOUL



It　was　a　long　time　ago；　nearly　two　hundred

years　ago；　that　some　of　our　people　were

living　upon　the　shores　of　the　Great　Lake；

Lake　Superior。　　The　chief　of　this　band　was

called　Tatankaota；　Many　Buffaloes。



One　day　the　young　son　of　Tatankaota　led　a

war…party　against　the　Ojibways；　who　occupied

the　country　east　of　us；　toward　the　rising　sun。



When　they　had　gone　a　day's　journey　in　the

direction　of　Sault　Ste。　Marie；　in　our　language

Skesketatanka；　the　warriors　took　up　their　posi…

tion　on　the　lake　shore；　at　a　point　which　the

Ojibways　were　accustomed　to　pass　in　their

canoes。



Long　they　gazed；　and　scanned　the　surface　of

the　water；　watching　for　the　coming　of　the　foe。　

The　sun　had　risen　above　the　dark　pines；　over

the　great　ridge　of　woodland　across　the　bay。　　It

was　the　awakening　of　all　living　things。　　The

birds　were　singing；　and　shining　fishes　leaped

out　of　the　water　as　if　at　play。　　At　last；　far　off；

there　came　the　warning　cry　of　the　loon　to　stir

their　expectant　ears。



〃Warriors；　look　close　to　the　horizon！　　This

brother　of　ours　does　not　lie。　　The　enemy

comes！〃　exclaimed　their　leader。



Presently　upon　the　sparkling　face　of　the　water

there　appeared　a　moving　canoe。　　There　was　but

one；　and　it　was　coming　directly　toward　them。



〃Hahatonwan！　　Hahatonwan！　（The　Ojib…

ways！　the　Ojibways！）〃　they　exclaimed　with　one

voice；　and；　grasping　their　weapons；　they　hastily

concealed　themselves　in　the　bushes。



〃Spare　nonetake　no　captives！〃　ordered

the　chief's　son。



Nearer　and　nearer　approached　the　strange

canoe。　　The　glistening　blades　of　its　paddles

flashed　as　it　were　the　signal　of　good　news；　or

a　welcome　challenge。　　All　impatiently　waited

until　it　should　come　within　arrow…shot。



〃Surely　it　is　an　Ojibway　canoe；〃　one　mur…

mured。　　〃Yet　look！　the　stroke　is　ungainly！〃

Now；　among　all　the　tribes　only　the　Ojibway's

art　is　perfect　in　paddling　a　birch　canoe。　　This

was　a　powerful　stroke；　but　harsh　and　un…

steady。



〃See！　there　are　no　feathers　on　this　man's

head！〃　exclaimed　the　son　of　the　chief。　　〃Hold；

warriors；　he　wears　a　woman's　dress；　and　I　see

no　weapon。　　No　courage　is　needed　to　take　his　life；

therefore　let　it　be　spared！　　I　command　that

only　coups　（or　blows）　be　counted　on　him；　and

he　shall　tell　us　whence　he　comes；　and　on　what

errand。〃



The　signal　was　given；　the　warriors　sprang

to　their　feet；　and　like　wolves　they　sped　from

the　forest；　out　upon　the　white；　sandy　beach

and　straight　into　the　sparkling　waters　of　the

lake；　giving　the　shrill　war…cry；　the　warning　of

death！



The　solitary　oarsman　made　no　outcryhe

offered　no　defense！　　Kneeling　calmly　in　the

prow　of　the　little　vessel；　he　merely　ceased　pad…

dling　and　seemed　to　await　with　patience　the

deadly　blow　of　the　tomahawk。



The　son　of　Tatankaota　was　foremost　in　the

charge；　but　suddenly　an　impulse　seized　him　to

stop　his　warriors；　lest　one　in　the　heat　of　excite…

ment　should　do　a　mischief　to　the　stranger。　　The

canoe　with　its　occupant　was　now　very　near；　and

it　could　be　seen　that　the　expression　of　his　face

was　very　gentle　and　even　benignant。　　None

could　doubt　his　utter　harmlessness；　and　the

chief's　son　afterward　declared　that　at　this　mo…

ment　he　felt　a　premonition　of　some　event；　but

whether　good　or　evil　he　could　not　tell。



No　blows　were　struckno　coups　counted。　

The　young　man　bade　his　warriors　take　up　the

canoe　and　carry　it　to　the　shore；　and　although

they　murmured　somewhat　among　themselves；

they　did　as　he　commanded　them。　　They　seized

the　light　bark　and　bore　it　dripping　to　a　hill

covered　with　tall　pines；　and　overlooking　the

waters　of　the　Great　Lake。



Then　the　warriors　lifted　their　war…clubs　over

their　heads　and　sang；　standing　around　the　canoe

in　which　the　black…robed　stranger　was　still

kneeling。　　Looking　at　him　closely；　they　per…

ceived　that　he　was　of　a　peculiar　complexion；

pale　and　inclined　to　red。　　He　wore　a　necklace

of　beads；　from　which　hung　a　cross　bearing　the

form　of　a　man。　　His　garments　were　strange；

and　most　like　the　robes　of　woman。　　All　of　these

things　perplexed　them　greatly。



Presently　the　Black　Robe　told　them　by　signs；

in　response　to　their　inquiries；　that　he　came　from

the　rising　sun；　even　beyond　the　Great　Salt　Water；

and　he　seemed　to　say　that　he　formerly　came

from　the　sky。　　Upon　this　the　warriors　believed

that　he　must　be　a　prophet　or　mysterious　man。



Their　leader　directed　them　to　take　up　again　the

canoe　with　the　man　in　it；　and　appointed　the

warriors　to　carry　it　by　turns　until　they　should

reach　his　father's　village。　　This　was　done　ac…

cording　to　the　ancient　c