old indian days-第4部分

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the　midst　of　the　deserted　camp。　　He　kicked　the

sides　of　his　tired　horse　to　make　him　go　faster。　

At　last　he　jumped　from　the　saddle　and　ran

toward　the　door。　　There　he　paused　for　a　mo…

ment；　and　at　the　thought　of　desecrating　a

grave；　a　cold　terror　came　over　him。



〃I　must　seeI　must　see！〃　he　said　aloud；

and　desperately　he　broke　through　the　thorny

fence　and　drew　aside　the　oval　swinging　door。







II



In　the　stately　white　teepee；　seen　from　afar；　both

grave　and　monument；　there　lay　the　fair　body

of　Taluta！　The　bier　was　undisturbed；　and　the

maiden　looked　beautiful　as　if　sleeping；　dressed

in　her　robes　of　ceremony　and　surrounded　by　all

her　belongings。



Her　lover　looked　upon　her　still　face　and

cried　aloud。　　〃Hey；　hey；　hey！　　Alas！　alas！　　If

I　had　known　of　this　while　in　the　Ute　country；

you　would　not　be　lonely　on　the　spirit　path。〃



He　withdrew；　and　laid　the　doorflap　rever…

ently　back　in　its　place。　　How　long　he　stood　with…

out　the　threshold　he　could　not　tell。　　He　stood

with　head　bowed　down　upon　his　breast；　tear…

less　and　motionless；　utterly　oblivious　to　every…

thing　save　the　bier　of　his　beloved。　　His　charger

grazed　about　for　a　long　time　where　he　had

left　him；　but　at　last　he　endeavored　by　a　low

whinny　to　attract　his　master's　attention；　and

Antelope　awoke　from　his　trance　of　sorrow。



The　sun　was　now　hovering　over　the　western

ridges。　　The　mourner's　throat　was　parched；

and　perspiration　rolled　down　his　cheeks；　yet

he　was　conscious　of　nothing　but　a　strong　de…

sire　to　look　upon　her　calm；　sweet　face　once

more。



He　kindled　a　small　fire　a　little　way　off；　and

burned　some　cedar　berries　and　sweet…smelling

grass。　　Then　he　fumigated　himself　thoroughly

to　dispel　the　human　atmosphere；　so　that　the

spirit　might　not　be　offended　by　his　approach；

for　he　greatly　desired　to　obtain　a　sign　from

her　spirit。　　He　had　removed　his　garments　and

stood　up　perfectly　nude　save　for　the　breech…

clout。　　His　long　hair　was　unbraided　and　hung

upon　his　shoulders；　veiling　the　upper　half　of

his　splendid　body。　　Thus　standing；　the　lover

sang　a　dirge　of　his　own　making。　　The　words

were　something　like　this：





Ah；　spirit；　thy　flight　is　mysterious！



While　the　clouds　are　stirred　by　our　wailing；



And　our　tears　fall　faster　in　sorrow





While　the　cold　sweat　of　night　benumbs　us；



Thou　goest　alone　on　thy　journey；



In　the　midst　of　the　shining　star　people！





Thou　goest　alone　on　thy　journey



Thy　memory　shall　be　our　portion；



Until　death　we　must　watch　for　the　spirit！





The　eyes　of　Antelope　were　closed　while　he

chanted　the　dirge。　　He　sang　it　over　and　over；

pausing　between　the　lines；　and　straining　as　it

were　every　sense　lest　he　might　not　catch　the

rapt　whisper　of　her　spirit；　but　only　the　distant

howls　of　coyotes　answered　him。　　His　body　be…

came　cold　and　numb　from　sheer　exhaustion；

and　at　last　his　knees　bent　under　him　and　he

sank　down　upon　the　ground；　still　facing　the

teepee。　　Unconsciousness　overtook　him；　and　in

his　sleep　or　trance　the　voice　came：



〃Do　not　mourn　for　me；　my　friend！　Come

into　my　teepee；　and　eat　of　my　food。〃



It　seemed　to　Antelope　that　he　faltered　for

a　moment；　then　he　entered　the　teepee。　　There

was　a　cheerful　fire　burning　in　the　center。　　A

basin　of　broiled　buffalo　meat　was　placed　oppo…

site　the　couch　of　Taluta；　on　the　other　side　of

the　fire。　　Its　odor　was　delicious　to　him；　yet

he　hesitated　to　eat　of　it。



〃Fear　not；　kechuwa　（my　darling）！　It　will

give　you　strength；〃　said　the　voice。



The　maid　was　natural　as　in　life。　　Beautifully

attired；　she　sat　up　on　her　bed；　and　her　de…

meanor　was　cheerful　and　kind。



The　young　man　ate　of　the　food　in　silence

and　without　looking　at　the　spirit。　　〃Ho；　ke…

chuwa！〃　he　said　to　her　when　returning　the

dish；　according　to　the　custom　of　his　people。



Silently　the　two　sat　for　some　minutes；　while

the　youth　gazed　into　the　burning　embers。



〃Be　of　good　heart；〃　said　Taluta；　at　last；

〃for　you　shall　meet　my　twin　spirit！　　She　will

love　you　as　I　do；　and　you　will　love　her　as　you

love　me。　　This　was　our　covenant　before　we

came　into　this　world。〃



The　conception　of　a　〃twin　spirit〃　was　famil…

iar　to　the　Sioux。　　〃Ho；〃　responded　the　war…

rior；　with　dignity　and　all　seriousness。　　He　felt

a　great　awe　for　the　spirit；　and　dared　not　lift

his　eyes　to　her　face。



〃Weep　no　more；　kechuwa；　weep　no　more；〃

she　softly　added；　and　the　next　moment　Ante…

lope　found　himself　outside　the　mysterious　tee…

pee。　　His　limbs　were　stiff　and　cold；　but　he　did

not　feel　faint　nor　hungry。　　Having　filled　his

pipe；　he　held　it　up　to　the　spirits　and　then　par…

took　of　the　smoke；　and　thus　revived；　he　slowly

and　reluctantly　left　the　sacred　spot。



The　main　war…party　also　visited　the　old

camp　and　saw　the　solitary　teepee　grave；　but　did

not　linger　there。　　They　continued　on　the　trail

of　the　caravan　until　they　reached　the　new　camp…

ing　ground。　　They　called　themselves　successful；

although　they　had　left　several　of　their　number

on　the　field。　　Their　triumph　songs　indicated

this；　therefore　the　people　hurried　to　receive

the　news　and　to　learn　who　were　the　unfor…

tunates。



The　father　of　Antelope　was　foremost　among

those　who　ran　to　meet　the　war…party。　　He

learned　that　his　son　had　distinguished　himself　in

the　fight；　and　that　his　name　was　not　mentioned

among　the　brave　dead。



〃And　where；　then；　is　he？〃　he　asked；　with

unconcealed　anxiety。



〃He　left　us　three　days　ago　to　come　in　ad…

vance；〃　they　replied。



〃But　he　has　not　arrived！〃　exclaimed　old

Wezee；　in　much　agitation。



He　returned　to　his　teepee；　where　he　consoled

himself　as　best　he　could　by　smoking　the　pipe

in　solitude。　　He　could　neither　sing　praises　nor

indulge　in　the　death　dirge；　and　none　came　in

either　to　congratulate　or　mourn　with　him。



The　sun　had　disappeared　behind　the　hills；

and　the　old　man　still　sat　gazing　into　the　burn…

ing　embers；　when　he　heard　a　horse's　footfall

at　the　door　of　his　lodge。



〃Ho；　atay　（father）！〃　came　the　welcome

call。



〃Mechinkshe！　mechinkshe！〃　（my　son；　my

son）；　he　replied　in　unrestrained　joy。　　Old　We…

zee　now　stood　on　the　threshold　and　sang　the

praise　song　for　his　son；　ending　with　a　war…

whoop　such　as　he　had　not　indulged　in　since　he

was　quite　a　young　man。



The　camp　was　once　more　alive　with　the

dances；　and　the　dull　thud　of　the　Indian　drum

was　continually　in　the　air。　　The　council　had

agreed　that　Antelope　was　entitled　to　wear　a

war…bonnet　of　eagles'　feathers。　　　He　was　ac…

cordingly　summoned　before　the　aboriginal　par…

liament；　and　from　the　wise　men　of　the　tribe　he

received　his　degree　of　war…bonnet。



It　was　a　public　ceremony。　　The　great　pipe

was　held　up　for　him　to　take　the　smoke　of　high

honor。



The　happiest　person　present　was　the　father

of　Antelope；　but　he　himself　remained　calm　and

unmoved　throughout　the　ceremony。



〃He　is　a　strange　person；〃　was　the　whisper

among　a　group　of　youths　who　were　watching

the　proceedings　with　envious　eyes。



The　young　man　was　strangely　listless　and

depressed　in　spirit。　　His　old　grandmother　knew

why；　but　none　of　the　others　understood。　　He

never　joined　in　the　village　festivities；　while　the

rest　of　his　family　were　untiring　in　the　dances；

and　old　Wezee　was　at　the　height　of　his　hap…

piness。



It　was　a　crisp　October　morning；　and　the　fam…

ily　were　eating　their　breakfast　of　broiled　bison

meat；　when　the　large　drum　at　the　council　lodge

was　struck　three　times。　　The　old　man　set　down

his　wooden　basin。



〃Ah；　my　son；　the　war…chiefs　will　make　an

announcement！　It　may　be　a　call　for　the　en…

listment　of　warriors！　　I　am　sorry；〃　he　said；

and　paused。　　〃I　am　sorry；　because　I　would

rather　no　war…party　went　out　at　present。　　I　am

getting　old。　　I　have　enjoyed　your　success；　my

son。　　I　love　to　hear　the　people　speak　your

name。　　If　you　go　again　upon　the　war…path；　I

shall　no　longer　be　able　to　join　in　the　celebra…

tions。　　Something　tells　me　that　you　will　not　re…

turn！〃



Young　braves　were　already　on　their　way　to

the　council　lodge。　　Tatoka　looked；　and　the

temptation　was　great。



〃Father；　it　is　not　becoming　for　me　to　re…

main　at　home　when　others　go；〃　he　said；　at　last。



〃Ho；〃　was　the　assent　uttered　by　the　father；

with　a　deep　sigh。



〃Five　hundred　braves　have　enlisted　to　go

with　the　great　war　prophet　against　the　three

confederated　tribes；〃　he　afterward　reported　at

home；　with　an　air　of　elation　which　he　had　not

worn　for　some　moons。



Since　Antelope　had　received　the　degree　of

war…bonnet；　his　father　had　spared　neither　time

nor　his　meager　means　in　his　behalf。　　He　had

bartered　his　most　cherished　possessions　for　sev…

eral　eagles　that　were　brought　in　by　various

hunters　of　the　camp；　and　with　his　own　hands

had　made　a　handsome　war…bonnet　for　his　son。



〃You　will　now　wear　a　war…bonnet　for　the

first　time；　and　you　are　the　first　of　our　family

who　has　earned　the　right　to　wear　one　for　many

generations。　　I　am　proud　of　you；　my　son；〃　he

said　as　he　presented　it。



But　when　the　youth　replied：　〃Ho；　ho；

father！　I　ought　to　be　a　brave　man　in　recog…

nition　of　this　honor；〃　he　again　sighed　heavily。



〃It　is　that　I　feared；　my　son！　Many　a　young

man　has　lost　his　life　for　vanity　and　love　of　dis…

play！〃



The　evening　serenades　began　early；　for　the

party　was　to　leave　at　once。　　In　groups　upon

their　favorite　ponies　the　warriors　rode　around

the　inner　circle　of　the　great　camp；　singing　their

war…songs。　　All　the　people　came　out　of　the　tee…

pees；　and　sitting　by　twos　and　threes　upon　the

ground；　bedecked　with　savage　finery；　they

watched　and　listened。　　The　pretty　wild　maid…

ens　had　this　last　opportunity　given　them　to

look　upon　the　faces　of　their　sweethearts；　whom

they　might　never　see　again。　　Here　and　there

an　old　man　was　singing　the　gratitude　song　or

thank…offering；　while　announcing　the　first　war…

path　of　a　novice；　for　suc