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indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第41章

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from the color of their complexions。             Some say that they are named from 

the 〃burned forests〃 which; as wood…cutters; they are accustomed to leave 

be… hind them。        Two or three hours later; at about sunset; our ears began 

to distinguish the peculiar music that always accompanied a moving train 

of their carts。 It is like the grunting and squealing of many animals; and is 

due   to   the   fact   that   the   wheels   and   all   other   parts   of   these   vehicles   are 

made      of   wood。       Our     dogs     gleefully    augmented       the   volume      of 

inharmonious sound。 

     They stopped a little way from our camp; upon a grassy plain; and the 

ponies were made to wheel their clumsy burdens into a perfect circle; the 

shafts being turned inward。          Thus was formed a sort of barricadequite a 

usual   and   necessary   pre…   caution   in   their   nomadic   and   adventurous   life。 

Within   this   circle   the   tents   were   pitched;   and   many   cheerful   fires   were 

soon   kindled。      The  garcons   were  hurriedly   driving   the   ponies   to   water; 

with much cracking of whips and outbursting of im… patient oaths。 

     Our    chief   and   his   principal    warriors    briefly   con…   ferred   with   the 

strangers;     and   it  was   understood      by  both    parties   that  no   thought    of 

hostilities lurked in the minds of either。 

     After having observed the exchange of presents that always follows a 

〃peace council;〃 there were friendly and hospitable feasts in both camps。 

The bois brules had been long away from any fort or trading…post; and it 

so happened that their inevi… table whiskey keg was almost empty。                      They 

had diluted the few gills remaining with several large kettles full of water。 

In   order   to  have    any   sort  of   offensive   taste;  it  was   necessary   to   add 

cayenne pepper and a little gentian。 



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     Our men were treated to this concoction; and seeing that two or three 

of the half…breeds pre… tended to become intoxicated; our braves followed 

their example。      They made night intolerable with their shouts and singing 

until   past   midnight;    when    gradually    all  disturbance     ceased;   and   both 

camps appeared to be wrapped in deep slumber。 

     Suddenly  the   loud   report   of   a   gun   stirred   the  sleepers。 Many   more 

reports were heard in quick succession; all coming from the camp of the 

bois brules。     Every man among the Sioux sprang to his feet; weapon in 

hand; and many ran towards their ponies。              But there was one significant 

point    about   the   untimely    firing  of  the   gunsthey    were    all  di…  rected 

heavenward!        One of our old men; who understood better than any one 

else   the   manners   of   the   half…breeds;   thus   proclaimed   at   the   top   of   his 

voice: 

     〃Let the people sleep! This that we have heard is the announcement of 

a   boy's   advent    into   the  world!    It  is  their  custom    to  introduce     with 

gunpowder a new…born boy!〃 

     Again quiet was restored in the neighboring camps; and for a time the 

night reigned undis… turbed。 But scarcely had we fallen into a sound sleep 

when we were for the second time rudely aroused by the firing of guns and 

the yelling of warriors。        This time   it was discovered that almost all the 

ponies; including those of our neighbors; had been stealthily driven off by 

horse…thieves of another tribe。 

     These     miscreants    were    adepts   in  their   profes…   sion;  for   they  had 

accomplished their purpose with much skill; almost under the very eyes of 

the foe; and had it not been for the invincible superstition of Slow Dog; 

they would have met with complete success。                 As it was; they caused us 

no little trouble and anxiety; but after a hot pur… suit of a whole day; with 

the assistance of the half… breeds our horses were recaptured。 

     Slow Dog was one of those Indians who are filled with conceit; and 

boasting   loudly  their   pretensions   as   medicine  men;   without   any  success; 

only   bring   upon   themselves   an   unnecessary   amount   of   em…   barrassment 

and ridicule。     Yet there is one quali… ty always possessed by such persons; 

among   a   savage   people   as   elsewherenamely;   great   perse…   verance   and 

tenacity in their self…assertion。 So the blessing of ignorance kept Slow Dog 



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always cheerful; and he seemed; if anything; to derive some pleasure from 

the endless insinuations and ridicule of the people! 

     Now Slow Dog had loudly proclaimed; on the night before this event; 

that he had received the warning of a bad dream; in which he had seen all 

the ponies belonging to the tribe stampeded and driven westward。 

     〃But who cares for Slow Dog's dream?〃 said everybody; 〃none of the 

really great medicine men have had any such visions!〃 

     Therefore   our   little   community;   given   as   they   were   to   superstition; 

anticipated no special danger。         It is true that when the first scout reported 

the approach of troops some of the people had weak… ened; and said to one 

another: 

     〃After all; perhaps poor Slow Dog may be right; but we are always too 

ready to laugh at him! 〃 

     However; this feeling quickly passed away when the jovial Canadians 

arrived; and the old man was left alone to brood upon his warning。 

     He was faithful to his dream。         During all the hilarity of the feast and 

the   drinking   of   the   mock   whiskey;   be   acted   as   self…constituted   sentinel。 

Finally;    when    everybody      else  had    succumbed      to  sleep;   he  gathered 

together several broken and discarded lariats of various materialsleather; 

buffalo's hair and horse's hair。        Having length… ened this variegated rope 

with innumerable knots; he fastened one end of it around the neck of his 

old war…horse; and tied the other to his wrist。          In… stead of sleeping inside 

the tent as usual; he rolled himself in a buffalo robe and lay down in its 

shadow。      From   this   place   he   watched   until   the   moon   had   disappeared 

behind the western hori… zon; and just as the grey dawn began to appear in 

the east his eyes were attracted to what seemed to be a dog moving among 

the picketed ponies。       Upon a closer scrutiny; he saw that its actions were 

unnatural。 

     〃Toka abe do! toka abe do!〃 (the enemy! the enemy!) exclaimed Slow 

Dog。     With a war… whoop he sprang toward the intruder; who rose up and 

leaped upon the back of Slow Dog's war… steed。                He had cut the hobble; 

as well as the de… vice of the old medicine man。 

     The Sioux now bent his bow to shoot; but it was too late。                The other 

quickly   dodged   behind   the   animal;   and   from   under   its   chest   he   sent   a 



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deadly arrow to Slow Dog's bosom。               Then he re… mounted the pony and 

set off at full speed after his comrades; who had already started。 

     As the Sioux braves responded to the alarm; and passed by the daring 

old   warrior in   pursuit of   their   enemies;  who   had   stampeded   most   of   the 

loose ponies; the old man cried out: 

     〃I;   brave   Slow   Dog;   who   have   so   often   made   a   path   for   you   on   the 

field of battle; am now about to make one to the land of spirits!〃 

     So speaking; the old man died。            The Sioux were joined in the chase 

by   the   friendly   mixed…   bl
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