按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Uncle； she must have had a splendid aim； for in the woods the many
little twigs make an arrow bound off to one side；〃 I interrupted in great ex…
citement。
〃Yes； but you must remember she was very near the moose。〃
〃It seems to me； then； uncle； that they must have scented her； for you
have told me that they possess the keenest nose of any animal；〃 I per…
sisted。
〃Doubtless the wind was blowing the other way。 But； nephew； you
must let me finish my story。
103
… Page 104…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
〃Ovedoyed by her success； the maiden has… tened back to Nawakawee；
but she was gone！ The ponies were gone； too； and the wigwam of
branches had been demolished。 While Manito… shaw stood there；
frightened and undecided what to do； a soft voice came from behind a
neighbor… ing thicket：
〃'Manitoshaw！ Manitoshaw！ I am here！'
She at once recognized； the voice and found it to be Nawakeewee；
who told a strange story。 That morning a canoe had crossed the Wanagiska
carrying two men。 They were Sioux。 The old grandmother had seen
them coming； and to de… ceive them she at once pulled down her
temporary wigwam； and drove the ponies off toward home。 Then she hid
herself in the bushes near by； for she knew that Manitoshaw must return
there。
〃'Come； my granddaughter； we must hasten home by another way；'
cried the old woman。
〃But the maiden said； 'No； let us go first to my two moose that I killed
this morning and take some meat with us。'
〃'No； no； my child； the Sioux are cruel。 They have killed many of
our people。 If we stay here they will find us。 I fear； I fear them；
Manitoshaw！'
〃At last the brave maid convinced her grand… mother； and the more
easily as she too was hun… gry for meat。 They went to where the big
game lay among the bushes； and began to dress the moose。〃
〃I think； if I were they； I would hide all day。 I would wait until the
Sioux had gone； then I would go back to my moose；〃 I interrupted for the
third time。
〃I will finish the story first； then you may tell us what you would do；〃
said my uncle reprov… ingly。
〃The two Sioux were father and son。 They too had come to the lake
for moose； but as the game usually retreated to the island； Chatansapa had
landed his son Kangiska to hunt them on the shore while he returned in his
canoe to intercept their flight。 The young man sped along the sandy beach
and soon discovered their tracks。 He followed them up and found blood
on the trail。 This astonished him。 Cautiously he followed on until he
104
… Page 105…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
found them both lying dead。 He exam… ined them and found that in each
moose there was a single Cree arrow。 Wishing to surprise the hunter if
possible； Kangiska lay hidden in the bushes。
〃After a little while the two women returned to the spot。 They passed
him as close as the moose had passed the maiden in the morning。 He saw
at once that the maiden had arrows in her quiver like those that had slain
the big moose。 He lay still。
〃Kangiska looked upon the beautiful Cree maiden and loved her。
Finally he forgot himself and made a slight motion。 Manitoshaw's quick
eye caught the little stir among the bushes； but she immediately looked the
other way and Kan… giska believed that she had not seen anything； At last
her eyes met his； and something told both that all was well。 Then the
maiden smiled； and the young man could not remain still any longer。 He
arose suddenly and the old woman nearly fainted from fright。 But
Manitoshaw said：
〃'Fear not； grandmother； we are two and he is only one。'
〃While the two women continued to cut up the meat； Kangiska made a
fire by rubbing cedar chips together； and they all ate of the moose meat。
Then the old woman finished her work； while the young people sat down
upon a log in the shade； and told each other all their minds。
〃Kangiska declared by signs that he would go home with Manitoshaw
to the Cree camp； for he loved her。 They went home； and the young man
hunted for the unfortunate Cree band during the rest of his life。
〃His father waited a long time on the island and afterward searched the
shore； but never saw him again。 He supposed that those footprints he
saw were made by Crees who had killed his son。〃
〃Is that story true； uncle？〃 I asked eagerly。
〃'Yes； the facts are well known。 There are some Sioux mixed bloods
among the Crees to this day who are descendants of Kangiska。〃
105
… Page 106…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
X Indian Life and Adventure
I： Life in the Woods
THE month of September recalls to every Indian's mind the season of
the fall hunt。 I remember one such expedition which is typical of many。
Our party appeared on the northwestern side of Turtle mountain； for we
had been hunting buffaloes all summer； in the region of the Mouse river；
between that mountain and the upper Missouri。
As our cone…shaped teepees rose in clusters along the outskirts of the
heavy forest that clothes the sloping side of the mountain； the scene below
was gratifying to a savage eye。 The rolling yellow plains were checkered
with herds of buffaloes。 Along the banks of the streams that ran down
from the mountains were also many elk； which usually appear at morning
and evening； and disappear into the forest during the warmer part of the
day。 Deer； too； were plenty； and the brooks were alive with trout。 Here
and there the streams were dammed by the industrious beaver。
In the interior of the forest there were lakes with many islands； where
moose； elk； deer and bears were abundant。 The water…fowl were wont to
gather here in great numbers； among them the crane； the swan； the loon；
and many of the smaller kinds。 The forest also was filled with a great va…
riety of birds。 Here the partridge drummed his loudest； while the
whippoorwill sang with spirit； and the hooting owl reigned in the night。
To me； as a boy； this wilderness was a paradise。 It was a land of
plenty。 To be sure； we did not have any of the luxuries of civilization；
but we had every convenience and opportunity and luxury of Nature。 We
had also the gift of enjoying our good fortune； whatever dangers might
lurk about us； and the truth is that we lived in blessed ignorance of any life
that was better than our own。
As soon as hunting in the woods began； the customs regulating it were
established。 The coun… cil teepee no longer existed。 A hunting bonfire
was kindled every morning at day…break； at which each brave must appear
106
… Page 107…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
and report。 The man who failed to do this before the party set out on the
day's hunt was harassed by ridicule。 As a rule； the hunters started before
sunrise； and the brave who was announced throughout