old indian days(古印第时期)-第25章
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many travelers during the night； but none had dared to approach him；
though some few followed at a distance； as if to discover his purpose。
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
At last he reached Shell Lake； and there be… held a great gathering of
the herds！ They stood in groups； like enormous rocks； no longer black；
but white with frost。 Every one of them emitted a white steam； quickly
frozen into a fine snow in the air。
Shunka sat upon his haunches and gazed。
〃Wough； this is it！〃 he said to himself。 He had kept still when the
game scout gave the wolf call； though the camp was in an uproar； and
from the adjacent hills the wild hunters were equally joyous； because they
understood the meaning of the unwonted noise。 Yet his curios… ity was
not fully satisfied； and he had set out to discover the truth； and it may be to
protect or serve his master in case of danger。
At daybreak the great dog meekly entered his master's rude teepee； and
found him already pre… paring for the prospective hunt。 He was filling
his inside moccasins full of buffalo hair to serve as stockings； over which
he put on his large buf… falo moccasins with the hair inside； and adjusted
his warm leggings。 He then adjusted his snow… shoes and filled his
quiver full of good arrows。 The dog quietly lay down in a warm place；
mak… ing himself as small as possible； as if to escape observation； and
calmly watched his master。
〃Ho； ho； ho； kola！ Enakanee； enakanee！〃 shouted the game herald。
〃It is always best to get the game early； then their spirits can take flight
with the coming of a new day！〃
All had now donned their snow…shoes。 There was no food left；
therefore no delay to prepare breakfast。
〃It is very propitious for our hunt；〃 one ex… claimed； 〃everything is in
our favor。 There is a good crust on the snow； and the promise of a good
clear day！〃
Soon all the hunters were running in single file upon the trail of the
scout； each Indian closely followed by his trusty hunting dog。 In less
than two hours they stood just back of the low ridge which rounded the
south side of Shell Lake。 The narrow strip of land between its twin
divisions was literally filled with the bison。 In the gulches beyond；
between the dark lines of timber； there were also scattered groups； but the
hunters at once saw their advantage over the herd upon the peninsula。
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
〃Hechetu； kola！ This is well； friends！〃 ex… claimed the first to speak。
〃These can be forced to cross the slippery ice and the mire around the
springs。 This will help us to get more meat。 Our people are hungry； and
we must kill many in order to feed them！〃
〃Ho； ho； ho！〃 agreed all the hunters。
〃And it is here that we can use our companion hunters best； for the
shunkas will intimidate and bewilder the buffalo women；〃 said an old
man。
〃Ugh； he is always right！ Our dogs must help us here。 The meat
will be theirs as well as ours；〃 another added。
〃Tosh； kola！ The game scout's dog is the greatest shunka of them all！
He has a mind near like that of a man。 Let him lead the attack of his
fellows； while we crawl up on the opposite side and surround the buffalo
upon the slippery ice and in the deceitful mire；〃 spoke up a third。 So it
was agreed that the game scout and his Shunka should lead the attack of
the dogs。
〃Woo； woo； woo！〃 was the hoarse signal from the throat of the game
scout； but his voice was drowned by the howling and barking of the
savage dogs as they made their charge。 In a moment all was confusion
among the buffalo。 Some started this way； others that； and the great mass
swayed to and fro uncertainly。 A few were ready to fight； but the snow
was too deep for a countercharge upon the dogs； save on the ice just in
front of them； where the wind had always full sweep。 There all was
slippery and shining！ In their excitement and confusion the bison rushed
upon this uncertain plain。
Their weight and the momentum of their rush carried them hopelessly
far out； where they were again confused as to which way to go； and many
were stuck in the mire which was concealed by the snow； except here and
there an opening above a spring from which there issued a steaming vapor。
The game scout and his valiant dog led on the force of canines with
deafening war…cries； and one could see black heads here and there pop…
ping from behind the embankments。 As the herd finally swept toward the
opposite shore； many dead were left behind。 Pierced by the ar… rows of
the hunters； they lay like black mounds upon the glassy plain。
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It was a great hunt！ 〃Once more the camp will be fed；〃 they thought；
〃and this good for… tune will help us to reach the spring alive！〃
A chant of rejoicing rang out from the op… posite shore； while the game
scout unsheathed his big knife and began the work which is ever the
sequel of the huntto dress the game； al… though the survivors of the
slaughter had scarcely disappeared behind the hills。 The dogs had all run
back to their respective masters； and this left the scout and his companion
Shunka alone。 Some were appointed to start a camp in a neighboring
gulch among the trees； so that the hunters might bring their meat there and
eat before setting out for the great camp on the Big River。
All were busily skinning and cutting up the meat into pieces
convenient for carrying； when suddenly a hunter called the attention of
those near him to an ominous change in the atmos… phere。
〃There are signs of a blizzard！ We must hurry into the near woods
before it reaches us！〃 he shouted。
Some heard him； others did not。 Those who saw or heard passed on
the signal and hurried toward the wood； where others had already ar…
ranged rude shelters and gathered piles of dry wood for fuel。
Around the several camp…fires the hunters sat or stood； while slices of
savory meat were broiled and eaten with a relish by the half…starved men。
〃Ho； kola！ Eat this； friend！〃 said they to one another as one finished
broiling a steak of the bison and offered it to his neighbor。
But the storm had now fairly enveloped them in whirling whiteness。
〃Woo； woo！〃 they called to those who had not yet reached camp。 One
after another answered and emerged from the blinding pall of snow。 At
last none were missing save the game scout and his Shunka！
The hunters passed the time in eating and tell… ing stories until a late
hour； occasionally giving a united shout to guide the lost one should he
chance to pass near their camp。
〃Fear not for our scout； friends！〃 finally ex… claimed a leader among
them。 〃He is a brave
