old indian days-第3部分

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man　the　opportunity　must　come　to　try　him。　

He　acts　only　when　compelled　to　act。　。　。　。　　Ah；

I　must　flee　from　the　woman！。　。　。　。　　Besides；

if　she　should　like　someone　else　better；　I　should

be　humiliated。　。　。　。　I　must　go　upon　a　long

war…path。　　I　shall　forget　her。　。　。　。〃



At　this　point　his　revery　was　interrupted　by

the　joyous　laughter　of　two　young　women。　　The

melodious　sing…song　laughter　of　the　Sioux

maiden　stirred　the　very　soul　of　the　young　war…

rior。



All　his　philosophy　deserted　him；　and　he

stood　hesitating；　looking　about　him　as　if　for

a　chance　of　escape。　　A　man　who　had　never

before　felt　the　magnetic　influence　of　woman

in　her　simplicity　and　childlike　purity；　he　be…

came　for　the　moment　incapable　of　speech　or

action。



Meanwhile　the　two　girls　were　wholly　uncon…

scious　of　any　disturbing　presence　in　the　forest。　

They　were　telling　each　other　the　signals　that

each　had　received　in　the　dance。　　Taluta's　com…

panion　had　stopped　at　the　first　raspberry　bushes；

while　she　herself　passed　on　to　the　next

thicket。　　When　she　emerged　from　the　pines

into　an　opening；　she　suddenly　beheld　Antelope；

in　his　full…dress　suit　of　courtship。　　Instantly

she　dropped　her　eyes。



Luckily　the　customs　of　courtship　among　the

Sioux　allow　the　covering　of　one's　head　with　the

blanket。　　In　this　attitude；　the　young　man　made

a　signal　to　Taluta　with　trembling　fingers。



The　wild　red　man's　wooing　was　natural　and

straightforward；　there　was　no　circumspection；

no　maneuvering　for　time　or　advantage。　　Hot

words　of　love　burst　forth　from　the　young

warrior's　lips；　with　heavy　breathing　behind

the　folds　of　the　robe　with　which　he　sought　to

shield　his　embarrassment。



〃For　once　the　spirits　are　guiding　my　for…

tunes！　It　may　seem　strange　to　you；　when　we

meet　thus　by　accident；　that　I　should　speak　im…

mediately　of　my　love　for　you；　but　we　live　in

a　world　where　one　must　speak　when　the　oppor…

tunity　offers。　　I　have　thought　much　of　you

since　I　saw　you　at　the　maidens'　feast。　。　。　。　Is

Taluta　willing　to　become　the　wife　of　Tatoka？

The　moccasins　of　her　making　will　cause　his

feet　to　be　swift　in　pursuit　of　the　game；　and

on　the　trail　of　the　enemy。　。　。　。　　I　beg　of　you；

maiden；　let　our　meeting　be　known　only　to　the

birds　of　the　air；　while　you　consider　my　pro…

posal！〃



All　this　while　the　maiden　stood　demurely

at　his　side；　playing　with　the　lariat　of　her　pony

in　her　brown；　fine　hands。　　Her　doeskin　gown

with　profuse　fringes　hung　gracefully　as　the

drooping　long　leaves　of　the　willow；　and　her

two　heavy　braids　of　black　hair；　mingled　with

strings　of　deers'　hoofs　and　wampum；　fell　upon

her　bosom。　　There　was　a　faint　glow　under…

neath　her　brown　skin；　and　her　black　eyes　were

calm　and　soft；　yet　full　of　native　fire。



〃You　will　not　press　for　an　answer　now；〃

she　gently　replied；　without　looking　at　him。　　〃I

expected　to　see　no　one　here；　and　your　words

have　taken　me　by　surprise。　。　。　。　　I　grant　your

last　request。　　The　birds　alone　can　indulge　in

gossip　about　our　meeting；unless　my　cousin；

who　is　in　the　next　ravine；　should　see　us　to…

gether！〃　　She　sprang　lightly　upon　the　back

of　her　pony；　and　disappeared　among　the　scat…

tered　pines。



Between　the　first　lovers'　meeting　and　the　sec…

ond　was　a　period　of　one　moon。　　This　was　wholly

the　fault　of　Antelope；　who　had　been　a　prey

to　indecision　and　painful　thoughts。　　Half　re…

gretting　his　impulsive　declaration；　and　hoping

to　forget　his　pangs　in　the　chances　of　travel

and　war；　he　had　finally　enlisted　in　the　number

of　those　who　were　to　go　with　the　war…leader

Crowhead　into　the　Ute　country。　　As　was　the

custom　of　the　Sioux　warriors　upon　the　eve　of

departure；　the　young　men　consulted　their　spirit…

ual　advisers；　and　were　frequently　in　the　purify…

ing　vapor…bath；　and　fasting　in　prayer。



The　last　evening　had　come；　and　Antelope

was　on　the　way　to　the　top　of　the　hill　behind

the　camp　for　a　night　of　prayer。　　Suddenly　in

the　half…light　he　came　full　upon　Taluta；　lead…

ing　her　pony　down　the　narrow　trail。　　She　had

never　looked　more　beautiful　to　the　youth　than

at　that　moment。



〃Ho；〃　he　greeted　her。　　She　simply　smiled

shyly。



〃It　is　long　since　we　met；〃　he　ventured。



〃I　have　concluded　that　you　do　not　care　to

hear　my　reply；〃　retorted　the　girl。



〃I　have　nothing　to　say　in　my　defense；　but

I　hope　that　you　will　be　generous。　　I　have　suf…

fered　much。　。　。　。　　You　will　understand　why

I　stand　far　from　you；〃　he　added　gently。　　〃I

have　been　preparing　myself　to　go　upon　the　war…

path。　　We　start　at　daylight　for　the　Ute　coun…

try。　　Every　day　for　ten　days　I　have　been　in　the

vapor…bath；　and　ten　nights　fasting。〃



As　Taluta　well　knew；　a　young　warrior　under

these　circumstances　dared　not　approach　a　wo…

man；　not　even　his　own　wife。



〃I　still　urge　you　to　be　my　wife。　　Are　you

ready　to　give　me　your　answer？〃　continued　An…

telope。



〃My　answer　was　sent　to　you　by　your　grand…

mother　this　very　day；〃　she　replied　softly。



〃Ah；　tell　me；　tell　me；　。　。　。〃　pressed　the

youth　eagerly。



〃All　is　well。　　Fear　nothing；〃　murmured

the　maiden。



〃I　have　given　my　wordI　have　made　my

prayers　and　undergone　purification。　　I　must

not　withdraw　from　this　war…path；〃　he　said

after　a　silence。　　〃But　I　know　that　I　shall　be　for…

tunate！　。　。　。　　My　grandmother　will　give　you

my　love　token。　。　。　。　　Ah；　kechuwa　（dear　love）！

watch　the　big　star　every　night！　I　will　watch

it；　toothen　we　shall　both　be　watching！

Although　far　apart；　our　spirits　will　be　to…

gether。〃



The　moon　had　risen　above　the　hill；　and　the

cold　light　discovered　the　two　who　stood　sadly

apart；　their　hearts　hot　with　longing。　　Reluc…

tantly；　yet　without　a　backward　look　or　farewell

gesture；　the　warrior　went　on　up　the　hill；　and　the

maiden　hurried　homeward。　　Only　a　few　moments

before　she　had　been　happy　in　the　anticipation

of　making　her　lover　happy。　　The　truth　was

she　had　been　building　air…castles　in　the　likeness

of　a　white　teepee　pitched　upon　a　virgin　prairie

all　alone；　surrounded　by　mountains。　　Tatoka's

war…horse　and　hunting　pony　were　picketed　near

by；　and　there　she　saw　herself　preparing　the

simple　meal　for　him！　But　now　he　has　clouded

her　dreams　by　this　untimely　departure。



〃He　is　too　brave。　。　。　。　　His　life　will　be　a

short　one；〃　she　said　to　herself　with　fore…

boding。



For　a　few　hours　all　was　quiet；　and　just　be…

fore　the　appearance　of　day　the　warriors'　de…

parture　was　made　known　by　their　farewell

songs。　　Antelope　was　in　the　line　early；　but　he

was　heavy　of　heart；　for　he　knew　that　his　sweet…

heart　was　sorely　puzzled　and　disappointed　by

his　abrupt　departure。　　His　only　consolation

was　the　knowledge　that　he　had　in　his　bundle

a　pair　of　moccasins　made　by　her　hands。　　He

had　not　yet　seen　them；　because　it　was　the　cus…

tom　not　to　open　any　farewell　gifts　until　the

first　camp　was　made；　and　then　they　must　be

opened　before　the　eyes　of　all　the　young　men！

It　brings　luck　to　the　war…party；　they　said。　　He

would　have　preferred　to　keep　his　betrothal　se…

cret；　but　there　was　no　escaping　the　custom。



All　the　camp…fires　were　burning　and　supper

had　been　eaten；　when　the　herald　approached

every　group　and　announced　the　programme

for　the　evening。　　It　fell　to　Antelope　to　open

his　bundle　first。　　Loud　laughter　pealed　forth

when　the　reluctant　youth　brought　forth　a　su…

perb　pair　of　moccasinsthe　recognized　love…

gift！　　At　such　times　the　warriors'　jokes　were

unmerciful；　for　it　was　considered　a　last　indul…

gence　in　jesting；　perhaps　for　many　moons。　

The　recipient　was　well　known　to　be　a　novice

in　love；　and　this　token　first　disclosed　the　fact

that　he　had　at　last　succumbed　to　the　allure…

ments　of　woman。　　When　he　sang　his　love…song

he　was　obliged　to　name　the　giver　of　the　token；

and　many　a　disappointed　suitor　was　astonished

to　hear　Taluta's　name。



It　was　a　long　journey　to　the　Ute　country；　and

when　they　reached　it　there　was　a　stubbornly

contested　fight。　　Both　sides　claimed　the　vic…

tory；　and　both　lost　several　men。　　Here　again

Antelope　was　signally　favored　by　the　gods　of

war。　　He　counted　many　coups　or　blows；　and

exhibited　his　bravery　again　and　again　in　the

charges；　but　he　received　no　wound。





On　the　return　journey　Taluta's　beautiful

face　was　constantly　before　him。　　He　was　so

impatient　to　see　her　that　he　hurried　on　in　ad…

vance　of　his　party；　when　they　were　still　several

days'　travel　from　the　Sioux　camp。



〃This　time　I　shall　join　in　all　the　dances　and

participate　in　the　rejoicings；　for　she　will　surely

like　to　have　me　do　so；〃　he　thought　to　himself。　

〃She　will　join　also；　and　I　know　that　none　is

a　better　dancer　than　Taluta！〃



In　fancy；　Antelope　was　practicing　the　songs

of　victory　as　he　rode　alone　over　the　vast　wild

country。



He　had　now　passed　Wild　Horse　Creek　and

the　Black　Hills　lay　to　the　southeast；　while　the

Big　Horn　range　loomed　up　to　the　north　in

gigantic　proportions。　　He　felt　himself　at　home。



〃I　shall　now　be　a　man　indeed。　　I　shall　have

a　wife！〃　he　said　aloud。



At　last　he　reached　the　point　from　which　he

expected　to　view　the　distant　camp。　　Alas；　there

was　no　camp　there！　　Only　a　solitary　teepee

gleamed　forth　upon　the　green　plain；　which　was

almost　surrounded　by　a　quick　turn　of　the　River

of　Deep　Woods。　　The　teepee　appeared　very

white。　　A　peculiar　tingling　sensation　passed

through　his　frame；　and　the　pony　whinnied

often　as　he　was　urged　forward　at　a　gallop。



When　Antelope　beheld　the　solitary　teepee

he　knew　instantly　what　it　was。　　It　was　a　grave！

Sometimes　a　new　white　lodge　was　pitched　thus

for　the　dead；　who　lay　in　state　within　upon　a

couch　of　finest　skins；　and　surrounded　by　his

choicest　possessions。



Antelope's　excitement　increased　as　he　neared

the　teepee；　which　was　protected　by　a　barricade

of　thick　brush。　　It　stood　alone　and　silent　in

the　midst　of　the　deserted　camp。　　He　kicked　the

sides　of　his　tired　horse　to　make　him　go　faster。　

At　last　he　jum