old indian days-第5部分

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thank…offering；　while　announcing　the　first　war…

path　of　a　novice；　for　such　an　announcement

meant　the　giving　of　many　presents　to　the　poor

and　aged。　　So　the　camp　was　filled　with　songs

of　joy　and　pride　in　the　departing　husbands；

brothers；　and　sons。



As　soon　as　darkness　set　in　the　sound　of　the

rude　native　flute　was　added　to　the　celebration。　

This　is　the　lover'　s　farewell。　　The　young　braves；

wrapped　from　head　to　foot　in　their　finest　robes；

each　sounded　the　plaintive　strains　near　the　tee…

pee　of　the　beloved。　　The　playful　yodeling　of

many　voices　in　chorus　was　heard　at　the　close

of　each　song。



At　midnight　the　army　of　five　hundred；　the

flower　of　the　Sioux；　marched　against　their　an…

cient　enemy。　　Antelope　was　in　the　best　of　spir…

its。　　He　had　his　war…bonnet　to　display　before

the　enemy！　　　He　was　now　regarded　as　one　of

the　foremost　warriors　of　his　band；　and　might

probably　be　asked　to　perform　some　specially

hazardous　duty；　so　that　he　was　fully　prepared

to　earn　further　distinction。



In　five　days　the　Sioux　were　encamped　within

a　day's　travel　of　the　permanent　village　of　the

confederated　tribesthe　Rees；　Mandans；　and

Gros　Ventres。　　The　war…chief　selected　two

men；　Antelope　and　Eaglechild；　to　scout　at　night

in　advance　of　the　main　force。　　It　was　thought

that　most　of　the　hunters　had　already　returned

to　their　winter　quarters；　and　in　this　case　the

Sioux　would　have　no　mean　enemy　to　face。　　On

the　other　hand；　a　battle　was　promised　that

would　enlarge　their　important　traditions。



The　two　made　their　way　as　rapidly　as　pos…

sible　toward　the　ancestral　home　of　their　ene…

mies。　　It　was　a　night　perfectly　suited　to　what

they　had　to　do；　for　the　moon　was　full；　the

fleeting　clouds　hiding　it　from　time　to　time　and

casting　deceptive　shadows。



When　they　had　come　within　a　short　distance

of　the　lodges　unperceived；　they　lay　flat　for　a

long　time；　and　studied　the　ways　of　the　young

men　in　every　particular；　for　it　was　Antelope's

plan　to　enter　the　great　village　and　mingle

boldly　with　its　inhabitants。　　Even　their　hoots　and

love…calls　were　carefully　noted；　so　that　they

might　be　able　to　imitate　them。　　There　were

several　entertainments　in　progress　in　different

parts　of　the　village；　yet　it　was　apparent　that

the　greatest　vigilance　was　observed。　　The

lodges　of　poles　covered　with　earth　were　　partly

underground；　and　at　one　end　the　war…horses

were　stabled；　as　a　precaution　against　a　possible

surprise。



At　the　moment　that　a　large　cloud　floated

over　the　moon；　casting　a　shadow　large　enough

to　cover　the　entire　village；　the　drum　in　one　of

the　principal　lodges　was　struck　in　quick　time；

accompanied　by　boisterous　war…whoops　and

singing。　　The　two　scouts　adjusted　their　robes

about　them　in　the　fashion　of　the　strangers；　and

walked　openly　in　that　direction。



They　glanced　quickly　from　side　to　side　as

they　approached；　but　no　one　paid　any　attention；

so　they　came　up　with　other　young　men　and

peeped　through　the　chinks　in　the　earth　wig…

wam。　　It　was　a　great　gambling　party。　　Among

the　guests　were　several　distinguished　warriors；

and　each　at　an　opportune　time　would　rise　and

recount　his　great　deeds　in　warfare　against　the

Sioux。　　The　strangers　could　read　their　gestures；

and　Antelope　was　once　or　twice　almost　on　the

point　of　stringing　his　bow　to　send　an　arrow

through　the　audacious　speaker。



As　they　moved　about　the　village；　taking　note

of　its　numbers　and　situation；　and　waiting　an

opportunity　to　withdraw　without　exciting　sus…

picion；　they　observed　some　of　the　younger

braves　standing　near　another　large　wigwam；

and　one　or　two　even　peeped　within。　　Moved　by

sudden　curiosity；　Antelope　followed　their　ex…

ample。　　He　uttered　a　low　exclamation　and　at

once　withdrew。



〃What　is　it？〃　asked　his　companion；　but

received　no　answer。



It　was　evidently　the　home　of　a　chief。　　The

family　were　seated　within　at　their　usual　occu…

pations；　and　the　bright　light　of　the　central　fire

shone　full　upon　the　face　of　a　most　lovely

maiden。



Antelope　stood　apparently　motionless；　but　he

was　trembling　under　his　robe　like　a　leaf。



〃Come；　friend；　there　is　another　large　cloud

almost　over　the　moon！　We　must　move　away

under　its　concealing　shadow；〃　urged　Eagle…

child。



the　other　stood　still　as　if　undecided；　but　at

last　he　approached　the　lodge　and　looked　in

a　second　time。　　There　sat　his　sweetheart　in

human　form　once　more！　The　maiden　was　at…

tired　in　a　doeskin　gown　set　with　elk's　teeth

like　ivory。　　Her　eyes　were　cast　down　demurely

over　her　embroidery；　but　in　every　feature　she

was　the　living　counterpart　of　Taluta！



At　last　the　two　got　away　unobserved；　and

hastened　toward　the　place　where　they　had　con…

cealed　their　horses。　　But　here　Antelope　sent

his　companion　on　in　advance；　making　the　ex…

cuse　that　he　wished　to　study　further　the　best

position　from　which　to　make　the　attack。



When　he　was　left　alone　he　stood　still　for　a

moment　to　decide　upon　a　plan。　　He　could　think

of　nothing　but　that　he　must　meet　the　Ree　maiden

before　daylight！　　He　realized　the　extreme

hazard　of　the　attempt；　but　he　also　recalled

what　he　had　been　told　by　the　spirit　of　Taluta；

and　the　supernatural　command　seemed　to　jus…

tify　him　even　in　going　thus　upon　the　eve　of

battle　to　meet　the　enemy　of　his　people。



He　skirted　the　heavy　timber　and　retraced

his　steps　to　a　point　from　which　he　could　see

the　village。　　The　drum　of　the　gambling　party

had　ceased　with　the　shouts　and　laughter　of

the　players。　　Apparently　the　village　was　lost

in　slumber。　　The　moon　had　set；　and　without

pausing　he　advanced　to　the　home　of　the　girl。　

As　he　came　near　some　dogs　began　to　bark；　but

he　silenced　them　after　the　manner　of　the　Rees；

and　they　obeyed　him。



When　Antelope　softly　raised　the　robe　that

hung　over　the　entrance　to　the　chief's　lodge；

he　saw　the　fire　smoldering　in　the　center；　and

the　members　of　the　household　lying　in　their

respective　places；　all　seemingly　in　a　deep　sleep。　

The　girl　lay　opposite　the　entrance；　where　he

had　seen　her　seated　in　the　early　part　of　the

evening。



The　heart　of　the　Sioux　beat　violently；　and　he

glanced　nervously　to　left　and　right。　　There　was

neither　sound　nor　movement。　　Then　he　pulled

his　robe　completely　over　his　head；　after　the

fashion　of　a　Ree　lover；　and　softly　entered　the

wigwam。



The　Ree　maiden；　having　industriously

worked　on　her　embroidery　until　far　into　the

night；　had　retired　to　rest。　　In　her　dreams；　the

twin　sister　came　to　her　of　whom　she　had　had

visions　ever　since　she　could　remember；　and　es…

pecially　when　something　of　importance　was

about　to　happen。



This　time　she　came　with　a　handsome　young

man　of　another　tribe；　and　said：　〃Sister；　I

bring　you　a　Sioux；　who　will　be　your　husband！〃



The　dreamer　opened　her　eyes　to　behold　a

youth　bending　over　her　and　gently　pulling　her

robe；　as　a　suitor　is　permitted　to　do　to　awaken

his　beloved。



When　he　saw　that　she　was　awake；　the　Sioux

touched　his　breast；　saying　in　a　whisper；　〃Ta…

toka；〃　and　made　the　sign　for　Antelope。　　This

pleased　the　Ree　girl；　for　her　own　brother；　who

had　died　the　year　before；　had　borne　that　name。　

She　immediately　sat　up　and　stirred　the　embers

into　a　light　blaze。　　Then　she　took　hold　of　his

blanket　and　drew　it　from　his　face；　and　there

she　seemed　to　see　the　very　features　of　the　man

of　her　vision！



He　took　her　hand　in　his；　and　she　felt　the

force　of　love　stream　through　his　long；　nervous

fingers；　and　instinctively　knew　his　thoughts。　　In

her　turn　she　touched　her　breast　and　made　the

sign　for　Shield；　pronouncing　in　her　own　tongue

the　word；　Stasu。　　This　seemed　to　him　also　a

name　of　good　omen；　and　in　the　sign　language

which　was　common　to　all　the　people　of　the

plains；　he　asked　her　to　be　his　wife。



Vividly　her　dream　came　back　to　her；　and

she　could　not　refuse　the　stranger。　　Her　soul

already　responded　to　his；　and　for　a　few　min…

utes　they　sat　silently　side　by　side。　　When　he

arose　and　beckoned；　〃Come　with　me；〃　she　had

no　question　to　make；　and　without　a　word　she

followed　him　from　her　father's　lodge　and　out

into　the　forest。





In　the　midst　of　his　ascending　fame；　at　a　mo…

ment　when　opportunity　seemed　to　favor　his　am…

bition；　the　brave　Antelope　had　mysteriously

disappeared！　　His　companion　scout　returned

with　a　favorable　report。　　He　said　that　the　men

of　the　three　confederated　tribes　were　gambling

and　feasting；　wholly　unconscious　of　danger；

and　that　Antelope　would　follow　him　with　a

further　report　upon　the　best　point　of　attack。

The　red　warriors　impatiently　awaited　his　re…

turn；　until　it　became　apparent　that　they　could

wait　no　longer　without　sacrificing　their　chance

of　success。　　When　the　attack　was　made　it　was

already　rather　late。　　The　sun　had　fairly　cleared

the　eastern　hills；　and　most　of　the　men　were　out…

side　their　lodges。



It　was　a　great　battle！　Again　and　again　the

Sioux　were　repulsed；　but　as　often　they　rallied

and　repeated　the　charge　until　sundown；　when

they　effected　their　retreat　with　considerable　loss。　

Had　Antelope　returned　in　due　season；　the

charge　would　have　been　made　before　dawn；

while　the　people　were　yet　asleep。



When　the　battle　was　over；　the　Rees；　Man…

dans；　and　Gros　Ventres　gathered　their　dead　and

wounded。　　The　night　was　filled　with　mourning。　

Soon　the　sad　news　was　heralded　throughout

the　camp　that　the　beautiful　daughter　of　the

Ree　chief　was　among　the　missing。　　It　was　sup…

posed　that　she　must　have　been　captured　while

driving　her　ponies　to　water　in　the　early　morn…

ing。　　The　grief　for　her　loss　was　mingled　with

horror；　because　of　a　fear　that　she　might　suf…

fer　humiliation　at　the　hands　of　the　Sioux　war…

riors；　and　among　the　young　men　there　were　mut…

tered　threats　that　the　Sioux　would　pay　dearly

for　this。



Though　partially　successful；　the　Sioux　had

lost　many　of　their　bravest　warriors；　and　none

could　tell　what　had　happened　to　Antelopehe

who　ha