old indian days-第24部分

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well…known　record；　to　cite　a　greater　deed　than

hers；　he　retreated　with　as　good　a　grace　as　pos…

sible。　　Thus　Eyatonkawee　recounted　her　brave

deed　for　the　first　time；　in　order　to　save　a　man's

life。　　From　that　day　her　name　was　great　as　a

peace…makergreater　even　than　when　she　had

first　defended　so　gallantly　her　babe　and　home！



Many　years　afterward；　when　she　had　at…

tained　middle　age；　this　woman　averted　a　serious

danger　from　her　people。



Chief　Little　Crow　the　elder　was　dead；　and　as

he　had　two　wives　of　two　different　bands；　the

succession　was　disputed　among　the　half…brothers

and　their　adherents。　　Finally　the　two　sons　of

the　wife　belonging　to　the　Wabashaw　band

plotted　against　the　son　of　the　woman　of　the

Kaposia　band；　His…Red…Nation　by　name；　after…

ward　called　Little　Crowthe　man　who　led　the

Minnesota　massacre。



They　obtained　a　quantity　of　whisky　and　made

a　great　feast　to　which　many　were　invited；　in…

tending　when　all　were　more　or　less　intoxicated

to　precipitate　a　fight　in　which　he　should　be

killed。　　It　would　be　easy　afterward　to　excuse

themselves　by　saying　that　it　was　an　accident。



Mendota；　near　what　is　now　the　thriving　city

of　Saint　Paul；　then　a　queen　of　trading…posts

in　the　Northwest；　was　the　rendezvous　of　the

Sioux。　　The　event　brought　many　together；　for

all　warriors　of　note　were　bidden　from　far　and

near；　and　even　the　great　traders　of　the　day

were　present；　for　the　succession　to　the　chieftain…

ship　was　one　which　vitally　affected　their　inter…

ests。　　　During　the　early　part　of　the　day　all

went　well；　with　speeches　and　eulogies　of　the

dead　chief；　flowing　and　eloquent；　such　as　only

a　native　orator　can　utter。　　Presently　two　goodly

kegs　of　whisky　were　rolled　into　the　council

teepee。



Eyatonkawee　was　among　the　women；　and

heard　their　expressions　of　anxiety　as　the　voices

of　the　men　rose　louder　and　more　threatening。　

Some　carried　their　children　away　into　the　woods

for　safety；　while　others　sought　speech　with　their

husbands　outside　the　council　lodge　and　besought

them　to　come　away　in　time。　　But　more　than

this　was　needed　to　cope　with　the　emergency。　

Suddenly　a　familiar　form　appeared　in　the　door

of　the　council　lodge。



〃Is　it　becoming　in　a　warrior　to　spill　the　blood

of　his　tribesmen？　Are　there　no　longer　any

Ojibways？〃



It　was　the　voice　of　Eyatonkawee；　that　strong…

hearted　woman！　　Advancing　at　the　critical　mo…

ment　to　the　middle　of　the　ring　of　warriors；　she

once　more　recited　her　〃brave　deed〃　with　all

the　accompaniment　of　action　and　gesture；　and

to　such　effect　that　the　disorderly　feast　broke

up　in　confusion；　and　there　was　peace　between

the　rival　bands　of　Sioux。



There　was　seldom　a　dangerous　quarrel　among

the　Indians　in　those　days　that　was　not　precipi…

tated　by　the　use　of　strong　liquor；　and　this　sim…

ple　Indian　woman；　whose　good　judgment　was

equal　to　her　courage；　fully　recognized　this　fact。　

All　her　life；　and　especially　after　her　favorite

brother　had　been　killed　in　a　drunken　brawl　in

the　early　days　of　the　American　Fur　Company；

she　was　a　determined　enemy　to　strong　drink；

and　it　is　said　did　more　to　prevent　its　use　among

her　immediate　band　than　any　other　person。　　Be…

ing　a　woman；　her　sole　means　of　recognition　was

the　〃brave　deed〃　which　she　so　wonderfully

described　and　enacted　before　the　people。



During　the　lifetime　of　She…whose…Voice…is…

heard…afarand　she　died　only　a　few　years　ago

it　behooved　the　Sioux　men；　if　they　drank　at

all；　to　drink　secretly　and　in　moderation。　　There

are　many　who　remember　her　brave　entrance

upon　the　scene　of　carousal；　and　her　dramatic

recital　of　the　immortal　deed　of　her　youth。



〃Hanta！　hanta　wo！　（Out　of　the　way！）〃

exclaim　the　dismayed　warriors；　scrambling　in

every　direction　to　avoid　the　upraised　arm　of

the　terrible　old　woman；　who　bursts　suddenly

upon　them　with　disheveled　hair；　her　gown　torn

and　streaked　here　and　there　with　what　looks

like　fresh　blood；　her　leather　leggins　loose　and

ungartered；　as　if　newly　come　from　the　famous

struggle。　　One　of　the　men　has　a　keg　of　whisky

for　which　he　has　given　a　pony；　and　the　others

have　been　invited　in　for　a　night　of　pleasure。　

But　scarcely　has　the　first　round　been　drunk　to

the　toast　of　〃great　deeds；〃　when　Eyatonkawee

is　upon　them；　her　great　knife　held　high　in　her

wrinkled　left　hand；　her　tomahawk　in　the　right。　

Her　black　eyes　gleam　as　she　declaims　in　a　voice

strong；　unterrified：



〃Look！　look！　brothers　and　husbandsthe　Sacs　and　Foxes　are　upon　us！

Behold；　our　braves　are　surprisedthey　are　unprepared！

Hear　the　mothers；　the　wives　and　the　children　screaming　in　affright！



〃Your　brave　sister；　Eyatonkawee；　she；　the　newly　made　mother；

is　serving　the　smoking　venison　to　her　husband；



just　returned　from　the　chase！

Ah；　he　plunges　into　the　thickest　of　the　enemy！

He　falls；　he　falls；　in　full　view　of　his　young　wife！




〃She　desperately　presses　her　babe　to　her　breast；

while　on　they　come　yelling　and　triumphant！

The　foremost　of　them　all　enters　her　white　buffalo…skin　teepee：

Tossing　her　babe　at　the　warrior's　feet；　she　stands　before　him；　defiant；

But　he　straightway　levels　his　spear　at　her　bosom。

Quickly　she　springs　aside；　and　as　quickly　deals　a　deadly　blow　with　her　ax：

Falls　at　her　feet　the　mighty　warrior！



〃Closely　following　on　comes　another；

unknowing　what　fate　has　met　his　fellow！

He　too　enters　her　teepee；　and　upon　his　feather…decked　head　her　ax　falls

Only　his　death…groan　replies！



〃Another　of　heroic　size　and　great　prowess；

as　witnessed　by　his　war…bonnet　of　eagle…feathers；

Rushes　on；　yelling　and　whoopingfor　they　believe　that　victory　is　with　them！

The　third　great　warrior　who　has　dared　to　enter　Eyatonkawee's　teepee　uninvited；

he　has　already　dispatched　her　husband！

He　it　is　whose　terrible　war…cry　has　scattered　her　sisters

among　the　trees　of　the　forest！



〃On　he　comes　with　confidence　and　a　brave　heart；

seeking　one　more　bloody　deed

One　more　feather　to　win　for　his　head！

Behold；　he　lifts　above　her　woman's　head　his　battle…ax！

No　hope；　no　chance　for　her　life！　。　。　。

Ah！　he　strikes　beyond　heronly　the　handle　of　the　ax　falls

heavily　upon　her　tired　shoulder！

Her　ready　knife　finds　his　wicked　heart；

Down　he　falls　at　her　feet！



〃Now　the　din　of　war　grows　fainter　and　further。

The　Sioux　recover　heart；　and　drive　the　enemy　headlong　from　their　lodges：

Your　sister　stands　victorious　over　three！

〃She　takes　her　baby　boy；　and　makes　him　count　with　his　tiny

hands　the　first　'coup'　on　each　dead　hero；

Hence　he　wears　the　'first　feathers'　while　yet　in　his　oaken　cradle。



〃The　bravest　of　the　whole　Sioux　nation　have　given　the　war…whoop

in　your　sister's　honor；　and　have　said：

'Tis　Eyatonkawee　who　is　not　satisfied　with　downing

the　mighty　oaks　with　her　ax

She　took　the　mighty　Sacs　and　Foxes　for　trees；

and　she　felled　them　with　a　will！'〃





In　such　fashion　the　old　woman　was　wont　to

chant　her　story；　and　not　a　warrior　there　could

tell　one　to　surpass　it！　　The　custom　was　strong；

and　there　was　not　one　to　prevent　her　when　she

struck　open　with　a　single　blow　of　her　ax　the　keg

of　whisky；　and　the　precious　liquor　trickled　upon

the　ground。



〃So　trickles　under　the　ax　of　Eyatonkawee　the

blood　of　an　enemy　to　the　Sioux！〃









VI





BLUE　SKY



Many　years　ago　a　large　body　of　the

Sioux　were　encamped　at　midsummer

in　the　valley　of　the　Cheyenne。　　It

was　customary　at　that　period　for　the　Indians

to　tie　up　their　ponies　over　night　within　the

circle　of　the　teepees；　whenever　they　were　in

disputed　territory；　for　they　considered　it　no

wrong　to　steal　the　horses　of　the　enemy。　　Hence

this　long　procession　of　young　men　and　maidens；

returning　at　sunset　to　the　camp　with　great　bun…

dles　of　green　grass　hanging　gracefully　from　their

saddles！



The　〃green　grass　parade〃　became　a　regular

custom；　and　in　fact　a　full…dress　affair；　since　it

was　found　to　afford　unusual　opportunities　for

courtship。



Blue　Sky；　the　pretty　daughter　of　the　Sioux

chief；　put　on　her　best　doeskin　gown　trimmed

with　elks'　teeth；　and　investing　her　favorite

spotted　pony　with　his　beaded　saddle…blanket；

she　went　forth　in　company　with　one　of　her

maiden　friends。　　Soon　two　young　warriors　over…

took　the　pair；　and　as　they　approached　they

covered　their　heads　with　their　robes；　exposing

only　the　upper　part　of　the　face　disguised　with

paint　and　the　single　eagle　feather　standing

upright。　　One　carried　a　bow　and　quiver　full　of

arrows；　the　other；　a　war…club　suspended　from

his　right　arm。



〃Ah；　hay；　hun；　hay！〃　saluted　one　of　them；

but　the　modest　maidens　said　never　a　word！　　It

was　not　their　way　to　speak；　only　the　gay　calico

ponies　pranced　about　and　sportively　threw　back

their　ears　to　snap　at　the　horses　of　the　two　young

men。



〃'Tis　a　brave　welcome　your　horses　are　giving

us！〃　he　continued；　while　the　two　girls　merely

looked　at　one　another　with　perfect　understand…

ing。



Presently　Matoska　urged　his　pony　close　to

the　Blue　Sky's　side。



〃It　may　be　that　I　am　overbold；〃　he　mur…

mured　in　her　ear；　〃to　repeat　so　soon　my　tale

of　love！　I　know　well　that　I　risk　a　reprimand；

if　not　in　words；　then　by　a　look　or　action！〃



He　paused　to　note　the　effect　of　his　speech；

but　alas！　it　is　the　hard　rule　of　savage　courtship

that　the　maiden　may　with　propriety　and　dignity

keep　silence　as　long　as　she　wishes；　and　it　is　often

exasperatingly　long。



〃I　have　spoken　to　no　maiden；〃　he　resumed；

because　I　wished　to　win　the　war…bonnet　before

doing　so。　　But　to　you　I　was　forced　to　yield！〃

Again　he　paused；　as　if　fearing　to　appear　unduly

hasty；　but　deliberate　as　were　speech　and　man…

ner；　his　eyes　betrayed　him。　　They　were　full　of

intense　eagerness　mingled　with　anxiety。



〃Sometimes　I　have　imagined　that　I　am　in　the

world　with　you　alone；　traveling　over　the　prairie

of　life；　or　sitting　in　our　lonely　white　teepee；

as　the　oriole　sits　with　his　mate　before　their

swaying　home。　　Yet　I　seemed　t