友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
依依小说 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

myths and legends of the sioux-第16部分

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!




they got to the creek it seemed as if they had stepped inside a big

tepee; so thick was the brush and timber that the wind could not be


felt at all。  They hunted and found a place where the brush was

very thick and the grass very tall。  They quickly pulled the tops

of the nearest willows together and by intertwining the ends made

them fast; and throwing their tent robe over this; soon had a cosy

tepee in which to sleep。  They started their fire and cooked some

dried buffalo meat and buffalo tallow; and were just about to eat

their supper when a figure of a man came slowly in through the door

and sat down near where he had entered。  Hake; being the one who

was doing the cooking; poured out some tea into his own cup; and

putting a piece of pounded meat and marrow into a small plate;

placed it before the stranger; saying: 〃Eat; my friend; we are on

the warpath and do not carry much of a variety of food with us; but

I give you the best we have。〃



The stranger drew the plate towards him; and commenced eating

ravenously。  He soon finished his meal and handed the dish and cup

back。  He had not uttered a word so far。  Chaske filled the pipe

and handed it to him。  He smoked for a few minutes; took one last

draw from the pipe and handed it back to Chaske; and then he said:

〃Now; my friends; I am not a living man; but the wandering spirit

of a once great warrior; who was killed in these woods by the enemy

whom you two brave young men are now seeking to make war upon。  For

years I have been roaming these woods in hopes that I might find

some one brave enough to stop and listen to me; but all who have

camped here in the past have run away at my approach or fired guns

or shot arrows at me。  For such cowards as these I have always

found a grave。  They never returned to their homes。  Now I have

found two brave men whom I can tell what I want done; and if you

accomplish what I tell you to do; you will return home with many

horses and some scalps dangling from your belts。  Just over this

range of hills north of us; a large village is encamped for the

winter。  In that camp is the man who laid in ambush and shot me;

killing me before I could get a chance to defend myself。  I want

that man's scalp; because he has been the cause of my wanderings

for a great many years。  Had he killed me on the battlefield my

spirit would have at once joined my brothers in the happy hunting

grounds; but being killed by a coward; my spirit is doomed to roam

until I can find some brave man who will kill this coward and bring

me his scalp。  This is why I have tried every party who have camped

here to listen to me; but as I have said before; they were all

cowards。  Now; I ask you two brave young men; will you do this for

me?〃



〃We will;〃 said the friends in one voice。  〃Thank you; my boys。 

Now; I know why you came here; and that one of you came to earn his

feathers by killing an enemy; before he would marry; the girl he is

to marry is my granddaughter; as I am the father of the

great Medicine Man。  In the morning there will pass by in plain

sight of here a large party。  They will chase the buffalo over on

that flat。  After they have passed an old man leading a black horse

and riding a white one will come by on the trail left by the

hunting party。  He will be driving about a hundred horses; which he

will leave over in the next ravine。  He will then proceed to the

hunting grounds and get meat from the different hunters。  After the

hunters have all gone home he will come last; singing the praises

of the ones who gave him the meat。  This man you must kill and

scalp; as he is the one I want killed。  Then take the white and

black horse and each mount and go to the hunting grounds。  There

you will see two of the enemy riding about picking up empty shells。 

Kill and scalp these two and each take a scalp and come over to the

high knoll and I will show you where the horses are; and as soon as

you hand me the old man's scalp I will disappear and you will see

me no more。  As soon as I disappear; it will start in snowing。 

Don't be afraid as the snow will cover your trail; but

nevertheless; don't stop traveling for three days and nights; as

these people will suspect that some of your tribe have done this;

and they will follow you until you cross your own boundary lines。〃



When morning came; the two friends sat in the thick brush and

watched a large party pass by their hiding place。  So near were

they that the friends could hear them laughing and talking。  After

the hunting party had passed; as the spirit had told them; along

came the old man; driving a large band of horses and leading a fine

looking coal black horse。  The horse the old man was riding was as

white as snow。  The friends crawled to a little brush covered hill

and watched the chase after the shooting had ceased。  The friends

knew it would not be long before the return of the party; so they

crawled back to their camp and hurriedly ate some pounded meat and

drank some cherry tea。  Then they took down their robe and rolled

it up and got everything in readiness for a hurried flight with the

horses。  Scarcely had they got everything in readiness when the

party came by; singing their song of the chase。  When they had all

gone the friends crawled down to the trail and lay waiting for the

old man。  Soon they heard him singing。  Nearer and nearer came the

sounds of the song until at last at a bend in the road; the old man

came into view。  The two friends arose and advanced to meet him。 

On he came still singing。  No doubt he mistook them for some of his

own people。  When he was very close to them they each stepped to

either side of him and before he could make an outcry they pierced

his cowardly old heart with two arrows。  He had hardly touched the

ground when they both struck him with their bows; winning first and

second honors by striking an enemy after he has fallen。  Chaske

having won first honors; asked his friend to perform the scalping

deed; which he did。  And wanting to be sure that the spirit would

get full revenge; took the whole scalp; ears and all; and tied it

to his belt。  The buffalo beef which the old man had packed upon

the black horse; they threw on the top of the old man。  Quickly

mounting the two horses; they hastened out across the long flat

towards the hunting grounds。  When they came in sight of the

grounds there they saw two men riding about from place to place。 

Chaske took after the one on the right; Hake the one on the left。 

When the two men saw these two strange men riding like the wind

towards them; they turned their horses to retreat towards the

hills; but the white and the black were the swiftest of the tribe's

horses; and quickly overtook the two fleeing men。  When they came

close to the enemy they strung their arrows onto the bowstring and

drove them through the two fleeing hunters。  As they were falling

they tried to shoot; but being greatly exhausted; their bullets

whistled harmlessly over the heads of the two friends。  They

scalped the two enemies and took their guns and ammunition; also

secured the two horses and started for the high knoll。  When they

arrived at the place; there stood the spirit。  Hake presented him

with the old man's scalp and then the spirit showed them the large

band of horses; and saying; 〃Ride hard and long;〃 disappeared and

was seen no more by any war parties; as he was thus enabled to join

his forefathers in the happy hunting grounds。



The friends did as the spirit had told them。  For three days and

three nights they rode steadily。  On the fourth morning they came

into their own boundary。  From there on they rode more slowly; and

let the band of horses rest and crop the tops of long grass。  They

would stop occasionally; and while one slept the other kept watch。 

Thus they got fairly well rested before they came in sight of where

their camp had stood when they had left。  All that they could see

of the once large village was the lone tent of the great Medicine

Man。  They rode up on to a high hill and farther on towards the

east they saw smoke from a great many tepees。  They then knew that

something had happened and that the village had moved away。



〃My friend;〃 said Chaske; 〃I am afraid something has happened to

the Medicine Man's lodge; and rather than have you go there; I will

go alone and you follow the trail of our party and go on ahead

with the horses。  I will take the black and the white horses with

me and I will follow on later; after I have seen what the trouble

is。〃



〃Very well; my friend; I will do as you say; but I am afraid

something has happened to Pretty Feather。〃  Hake started on with

the horses; driving them along the broad trail left by the hundreds

of travois。  Chaske made slowly towards the tepee; and stopping

outside; stood and listened。  Not a sound could he hear。  The only

living thing he saw was Pretty Feather's spotted horse tied to 
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!