old indian days-第28部分

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feasts　and　dances　every　day；　and　late　into　the

night。　　You　have　heard　of　the　festivities　of

those　days；　there　are　none　like　them　now；〃　said

the　old　man；　and　he　sighed　heavily　as　he　laid

down　the　red　pipe　which　was　to　be　passed　from

hand　to　hand　during　the　recital。



〃The　head　chief　of　the　Unkpapas　then　was

Tamakoche　（His　Country）。　　He　was　in　his

time　a　notable　warrior；　a　hunter　and　a　feast…

maker；　much　beloved　by　his　people。　　He　was

the　father　of　three　sons；　but　he　was　so　anxious

to　make　them　warriors　of　great　reputation　that

they　had　all；　despising　danger；　been　killed　in

battle。



〃The　chief　had　also　a　very　pretty　daughter；

whose　name　was　Makatah。　　Since　all　his　sons

were　slain　he　had　placed　his　affections　solely

upon　the　girl；　and　she　grew　up　listening　to　the

praises　of　the　brave　deeds　of　her　brothers；　which

her　father　never　tired　of　chanting　when　they

were　together　in　the　lodge。　　At　times　Makatah

was　called　upon　to　dance　to　the　'Strong…Heart'

songs。　　Thus　even　as　a　child　she　loved　the

thought　of　war；　although　she　was　the　prettiest

and　most　modest　maiden　in　the　two　tribes。　　As

she　grew　into　womanhood　she　became　the　belle

of　her　father's　village；　and　her　beauty　and　spirit

were　talked　of　even　among　the　neighboring

bands　of　Sioux。　　But　it　appeared　that　Makatah

did　not　care　to　marry。　　She　had　only　two　am…

bitions。　　One　was　to　prove　to　her　father　that；

though　only　a　maid；　she　had　the　heart　of　a　war…

rior。　　The　other　was　to　visit　the　graves　of　her

brothersthat　is；　the　country　of　the　enemy。



〃At　this　pleasant　reunion　of　two　kindred　peo…

ples　one　of　the　principal　events　was　the　Feast

of　Virgins；　given　by　Makatah。　　All　young

maidens　of　virtue　and　good　repute　were　invited

to　be　present；　but　woe　to　her　who　should　dare

to　pollute　the　sacred　feast！　　If　her　right　to　be

there　were　challenged　by　any　it　meant　a　public

disgrace。　　The　two　arrows　and　the　red　stone

upon　which　the　virgins　took　their　oath　of　chas…

tity　were　especially　prepared　for　the　occasion。　

Every　girl　was　beautifully　dressed；　for　at　that

time　the　white　doeskin　gowns；　with　a　profusion

of　fringes　and　colored　embroidery；　were　the

gala　attire　of　the　Sioux　maidens。　　Red　paint　was

added；　and　ornaments　of　furs　and　wampum。　

Many　youths　eagerly　surveyed　the　maiden　gath…

ering；　at　which　the　daughter　of　Tamakoche　out…

shone　all　the　rest。



〃Several　eligible　warriors　now　pressed　their

suits　at　the　chieftain's　lodge；　and　among　them

were　one　or　two　whom　he　would　have　gladly

called　son…in…law；　but　no！　　Makatah　would　not

listen　to　words　of　courtship。　　She　had　vowed；

she　said；　to　the　spirits　of　her　three　brothers

each　of　whom　fell　in　the　country　of　the　Crows

that　she　would　see　that　country　before　she

became　a　wife。



〃Red　Horn；　who　was　something　of　a　leader

among　the　young　men；　was　a　persistent　and　de…

termined　suitor。　　He　had　urged　every　influential

friend　of　his　and　hers　to　persuade　her　to　listen

to　him。　　His　presents　were　more　valuable　than

those　of　any　one　else。　　He　even　made　use　of

his　father's　position　as　a　leading　chief　of　the

Cut…Head　band　to　force　a　decision　in　his　favor；

and　while　the　maiden　remained　indifferent　her

father　seemed　inclined　to　countenance　this

young　man's　pretensions。



〃She　had　many　other　lovers；　as　I　have　said；〃

the　old　man　added；　〃and　among　them　was　one

Little　Eagle；　an　orphan　and　a　poor　young　man；

unknown　and　unproved　as　a　warrior。　　He　was　so

insignificant　that　nobody　thought　much　about

him；　and　if　Makatah　regarded　him　with　any

favor　the　matter　was　her　secret；　for　it　is　certain

that　she　did　not　openly　encourage　him。



〃One　day　it　was　reported　in　the　village　that

their　neighbors；　the　Cut…Head　Sioux；　would　or…

ganize　a　great　attack　upon　the　Crows　at　the

mouth　of　the　Redwater；　a　tributary　of　the　Mis…

souri。　　Makatah　immediately　inquired　of　her

male　cousins　whether　any　of　them　expected　to

join　the　war…party。



〃'Three　of　us　will　go；'　they　replied。



〃'Then；'　said　the　girl；　'I　beg　that　you　will

allow　me　to　go　with　you！　　I　have　a　good　horse；

and　I　shall　not　handicap　you　in　battle。　　I　only

ask　your　protection　in　camp　as　your　kinswoman

and　a　maid　of　the　war…party。'



〃'If　our　uncle　Tamakoche　sanctions　your

going；'　they　replied；　'we　shall　be　proud　to　have

our　cousin　with　us；　to　inspire　us　to　brave

deeds！'



〃The　maiden　now　sought　her　father　and

asked　his　permission　to　accompany　the　war…

party。



〃'I　wish；'　said　she；　'to　visit　the　graves　of　my

brothers！　　I　shall　carry　with　me　their　war…bon…

nets　and　their　weapons；　to　give　to　certain　young

men　on　the　eve　of　battle；　according　to　the　an…

cient　custom。　　Long　ago　I　resolved　to　do　this；

and　the　time　is　now　come。'



〃The　chief　was　at　this　time　well　advanced

in　years；　and　had　been　sitting　quite　alone　in　his

lodge；　thinking　upon　the　days　of　his　youth；　when

he　was　noted　for　daring　and　success　in　battle。　

In　silence　he　listened　as　he　filled　his　pipe；　and

seemed　to　meditate　while　he　smoked　the　fra…

grant　tobacco。　　At　last　he　spoke　with　tears　in

his　eyes。



〃'Daughter；　I　am　an　old　man！　　My　heart

beats　in　my　throat；　and　my　old　eyes　cannot　keep

back　the　tears。　　My　three　sons；　on　whom　I　had

placed　all　my　hopes；　are　gone　to　a　far　country！

You　are　the　only　child　left　to　my　old　age；　and

you；　too；　are　braveas　brave　as　any　of　your

brothers。　　If　you　go　I　fear　that　you　may　not

return　to　me；　yet　I　cannot　refuse　you　my　per…

mission！〃



〃The　old　man　began　to　chant　a　war…song；

and　some　of　his　people；　hearing　him；　came　in　to

learn　what　was　in　his　mind。　　He　told　them　all；

and　immediately　many　young　men　volunteered

for　the　war…party；　in　order　to　have　the　honor

of　going　with　the　daughter　of　their　chief。



〃Several　of　Makatah's　suitors　were　among

them；　and　each　watched　eagerly　for　an　oppor…

tunity　to　ride　at　her　side。　　At　night　she　pitched

her　little　teepee　within　the　circle　of　her　cousins'

campfires；　and　there　she　slept　without　fear。　

Courteous　youths　brought　to　her　every　morning

and　evening　fresh　venison　for　her　repast。　　Yet

there　was　no　courting；　for　all　attentions　paid　to

a　maiden　when　on　the　war…path　must　be　those

of　a　brother　to　a　sister；　and　all　must　be　equally

received　by　her。



〃Two　days　later；　when　the　two　parties　of

Sioux　met　on　the　plains；　the　maiden's　presence

was　heralded　throughout　the　camp；　as　an　in…

spiration　to　the　young　and　untried　warriors　of

both　bands　to　distinguish　themselves　in　the　field。　

It　is　true　that　some　of　the　older　men　considered

it　unwise　to　allow　Makatah　to　accompany　the

war…party。



〃'The　girl；'　said　they　to　one　another；　'is

very　ambitious　as　well　as　brave。　　She　will　surely

risk　her　own　life　in　battle；　which　will　make　the

young　men　desperate；　and　we　shall　lose　many

of　them！'



〃Nevertheless　they　loved　her　and　her　father；

therefore　they　did　not　protest　openly。



〃On　the　third　day　the　Sioux　scouts　returned

with　the　word　that　the　Crows　were　camping；

as　had　been　supposed；　at　the　confluence　of　the

Redwater　and　the　Missouri　Rivers。　　It　was　a

great　camp。　　All　the　Crow　tribe　were　there；

they　said；　with　their　thousands　of　fine　horses。



〃There　was　excitement　in　the　Sioux　camp；

and　all　of　the　head　men　immediately　met　in

council。　　It　was　determined　to　make　the　attack

early　on　the　following　morning；　just　as　the　sun

came　over　the　hills。　　The　councilors　agreed　that

in　honor　of　the　great　chief；　her　father；　as　well

as　in　recognition　of　her　own　courage；　Makatah

should　be　permitted　to　lead　the　charge　at　the

outset；　but　that　she　must　drop　behind　as　they

neared　the　enemy。　　The　maiden；　who　had　one

of　the　fleetest　ponies　in　that　part　of　the　country；

had　no　intention　of　falling　back；　but　she　did

not　tell　any　one　what　was　in　her　mind。



〃That　evening　every　warrior　sang　his　war…

song；　and　announced　the　particular　war…charm

or　'medicine'　of　his　clan；　according　to　the　cus…

tom。　　The　youths　were　vying　with　one　another

in　brave　tales　of　what　they　would　do　on　the

morrow。　　The　voice　of　Red　Horn　was　loud

among　the　boasters；　for　he　was　known　to　be　a

vain　youth；　although　truly　not　without　reputa…

tion。　　Little　Eagle；　who　was　also　of　the　com…

pany；　remained　modestly　silent；　as　indeed　be…

came　one　without　experience　in　the　field。　　In

the　midst　of　the　clamor　there　fell　a　silence。



〃'Hush！　hush！'　they　whispered。　　'Look；

look！　　The　War　Maiden　comes！'



〃All　eyes　were　turned　upon　Makatah；　who

rode　her　fine　buckskin　steed　with　a　single　lariat。

He　held　his　head　proudly；　and　his　saddle　was

heavy　with　fringes　and　gay　with　colored　em…

broidery。　　The　maiden　was　attired　in　her　best

and　wore　her　own　father's　war…bonnet；　while

she　carried　in　her　hands　two　which　had　be…

longed　to　two　of　her　dead　brothers。　　Singing

in　a　clear　voice　the　songs　of　her　clan；　she　com…

pleted　the　circle；　according　to　custom；　before

she　singled　out　one　of　the　young　braves　for　spe…

cial　honor　by　giving　him　the　bonnet　which　she

held　in　her　right　hand。　　She　then　crossed　over

to　the　Cut…Heads；　and　presented　the　other　bon…

net　to　one　of　their　young　men。　　She　was　very

handsome；　even　the　old　men's　blood　was　stirred

by　her　brave　appearance！



〃At　daybreak　the　two　war…parties　of　the

Sioux；　mounted　on　their　best　horses；　stood　side

by　side；　ready　for　the　word　to　charge。　　All　of

the　warriors　were　painted　for　the　battlepre…

pared　for　deaththeir　nearly　nude　bodies　deco…

rated　with　their　individual　war…totems。　　Their

well…filled　quivers　were　fastened　to　their　sides；

and　each　tightly　grasped　his　oaken　bow。



〃The　young　man　with　the　finest　voice　had

been　chosen　to　give　the　signala　single　high…

pitched　yell。　　This　was　an　imitation　of　the　one

long　howl　of　the　gray　wolf　before　he　makes

the　attack。　　It　was　an　ancient　custom　of　our

people。



〃'Woo…o…o…o！'at　last　it　came！　　As　the

sound　ceased　a　shrill　war…whoop　from　five　hun…