old indian days(古印第时期)-第13章
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northward； up the River of the Gray Woods； five on the east side and a like
number on the west。
The party had separated each morning； so as to cover as much ground
as possible； having agreed to return at night to the river。 It was now the
third day； their food was all but gone； their steeds much worn； and the
signs seemed to indicate a storm。 Yet the hunger of their friends and their
own pride impelled them to persist； for out of many young men they had
been chosen； therefore they must prove them… selves equal to the occasion。
The sun； now well toward the western hori… zon； cast over snow…
covered plains a purplish light。 No living creature was in sight and the
quest seemed hopeless； but Anookasan was not one to accept defeat。
〃There may be an outlook from yonder hill which will turn failure into
success；〃 he thought； as he dug his heels into the sides of his faith… ful nag。
At the same time he started a 〃Strong Heart〃 song to keep his courage up！
At the summit of the ascent he paused and gazed steadily before him。
At the foot of the next coteau he beheld a strip of black。 He strained his
eyes to look； for the sun had al… ready set behind the hilltops。 It was a
great herd of buffaloes； he thought； which was graz… ing on the foot…hills。
〃Hi hi； uncheedah！ Hi； hi； tunkasheedah！〃 he was about to exclaim in
gratitude； when； looking more closely； he discovered his mistake。 The
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dark patch was only timber。
His horse could not carry him any further； so he got off and ran behind
him toward the river。 At dusk he hailed his companions。
〃Ho； what success？〃 one cried。
〃Not a sign of even a lone bull；〃 replied an… other。
〃Yet I saw a gray wolf going north this evening。 His direction is
propitious；〃 re… marked Anookasan； as he led the others down the slope
and into the heavy timber。 The river just here made a sharp turn； forming
a densely wooded semicircle； in the shelter of a high bluff。
The braves were all downhearted because of their ill…luck； and only the
sanguine spirit of Anookasan kept them from utter discourage… ment。
Their slight repast had been taken and each man had provided himself
with abundance of dry grass and twigs for a bed。 They had built a
temporary wigwam of the same mate… rial； in the center of which there
was a gen… erous fire。 Each man stretched himself out upon his robe in
the glow of it。 Anookasan filled the red pipe； and； having lighted it； he
took one or two hasty puffs and held it up to the moon； which was scarcely
visible behind the cold clouds。
〃Great Mother； partake of this smoke！ May I eat meat to…morrow！〃 he
exclaimed with solemnity。 Having uttered this prayer； he handed the
pipe to the man nearest him。
For a time they all smoked in silence； then came a distant call。
〃Ah； it is Shunkmanito； the wolf！ There is something cheering in his
voice to…night；〃 declared Anookasan。 〃Yes； I am sure he is telling us not
to be discouraged。 You know that the wolf is one of our best friends in
trou… ble。 Many a one has been guided back to his home by him in a
blizzard； or led to game when in desperate need。 My friends； let us not
turn back in the morning； let us go north one more day！〃 No one
answered immediately； and again silence reigned； while one by one they
pulled the reluctant whiffs of smoke through the long stem of the calumet。
〃What is that？〃 said one of the men； and all listened intently to catch
the delicate sound。 They were familiar with all the noises of the night and
voices of the forest； but this was not like any of them。
〃It sounds like the song of a mosquito； and one might forget while he
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
listens that this is not midsummer；〃 said one。
〃I hear also the medicine…man's single drum… beat；〃 suggested another。
〃There is a tradition；〃 remarked Anookasan； that many years ago a
party of hunters went up the river on a scout like this of ours。 They never
returned。 Afterward； in the summer； their bones were found near the
home of a strange creature； said to be a little man； but he had hair all over
him。 The Isantees call him Chanotedah。 Our old men give him the
name Oglugechana。 This singular being is said to be no larger than a
new…born babe。 He speaks an unknown tongue。
〃The home of Oglugechana is usually a hol… low stump； around which
all of the nearest trees are felled by lightning。 There is an open spot in
the deep woods wherever he dwells。 His weapons are the plumes of
various birds。 Great numbers of these variegated feathers are to be found
in the deserted lodge of the little man。
〃It is told by the old men that Oglugechana has a weird music by
which he sometimes be… witches lone travelers。 He leads them hither and
thither about his place until they have lost their senses。 Then he speaks
to them。 He may make of them great war…prophets or medicine… men； but
his commands are hard to fulfill。 If any one sees him and comes away
before he is bewildered； the man dies as soon as he smells the camp…fire；
or when he enters his home his nearest relative dies suddenly。〃
The warrior who related this legend assumed the air of one who
narrates authentic history； and his listeners appeared to be seriously im…
pressed。 What we call the supernatural was as real to them as any part of
their lives。
〃This thing does not stop to breathe at all。 His music seems to go on
endlessly；〃 said one； with considerable uneasiness。
〃It comes from the heavy timber north of us； under the high cliff；〃
reported a warrior who had stepped outside of the rude temporary
structure to inform himself more clearly of the direction of the sound。
〃Anookasan； you are our leadertell us what we should do！ We will
follow you。 I believe we ought to leave this spot immediately。 This is
perhaps the spirit of some dead enemy；〃 suggested another。 Meanwhile；
the red pipe was refilled and sent around the circle to calm their disturbed
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spirits。
When the calumet returned at last to the one addressed； he took it in a
preoccupied manner； and spoke between labored pulls on the stem。
〃I am just like yourselvesnothing more than fleshwith a spirit that is
as ready to leave me as water to run from a punctured water…bag！ When
we think thus； we are weak。 Let us rather think upon the brave deeds of
our ancestors！ This singing spirit has a gentle voice； I am ready to follow
and learn if it be an enemy or no。 Let us all be found to… gether next
summer if need be！〃
〃Ho； ho； ho！〃 was the full…throated re… sponse。
〃All put on your war…paint；〃 suggested Anookasan。 〃Have your
kni
