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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/339-0.txt b/339-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..21ab2ad --- /dev/null +++ b/339-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5782 @@ +Project Gutenberg’s Old Indian Days, by [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Old Indian Days + +Author: [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +Release Date: July 5, 2008 [EBook #339] +Last Updated: October 7, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD INDIAN DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss + + + + + +OLD INDIAN DAYS + +By Charles A. Eastman + +(Ohiyesa) + + + + + + To + My Daughters + DORA, IRENE, VIRGINIA, ELEANOR, AND FLORENCE + I Dedicate + these Stories of the Old Indian Life, + and especially of + the Courageous and Womanly Indian Woman + + +CONTENTS + + INTRODUCTION + + PART I. THE WARRIOR + + I. THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE + II. THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE + III. THE SINGING SPIRIT + IV. THE FAMINE + V. THE CHIEF SOLDIER + VI. THE WHITE MAN’S ERRAND + VII. THE GRAVE OF THE DOG + + PART II. THE WOMAN + + I. WINONA, THE WOMAN-CHILD + II. WINONA, THE CHILD-WOMAN + III. SNANA’S FAWN + IV. SHE-WHO-HAS-A-SOUL + V. THE PEACE-MAKER + VI. BLUE SKY + VII. THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS + VIII. THE WAR MAIDEN + + GLOSSARY + + + + +PART ONE. THE WARRIOR + + + + +I. THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE + + + + +I + +Upon a hanging precipice atop of the Eagle Scout Butte there appeared a +motionless and solitary figure--almost eagle-like he perched! The people +in the camp below saw him, but none looked at him long. They turned +their heads quickly away with a nervous tingling, for the height above +the plains was great. Almost spirit-like among the upper clouds the +young warrior sat immovable. + +It was Antelope. He was fasting and seeking a sign from the “Great +Mystery,” for such was the first step of the young and ambitious Sioux +[who wished to be a noted warrior among his people]. + +He is a princely youth, among the wild Sioux, who hunts for his tribe +and not for himself! His voice is soft and low at the campfire of his +nation, but terror-giving in the field of battle. Such was Antelope’s +reputation. The more he sought the “Great Mystery” in solitude, the more +gentle and retiring he became, and in the same proportion his courage +and manliness grew. None could say that he was not a kind son and a good +hunter, for he had already passed the “two-arrow-to-kill,” his buffalo +examination. + +On a hot midsummer morning a few weeks later, while most of the inmates +of the teepees were breakfasting in the open air, the powerful voice of +the herald resounded among the pine-clad heights and green valleys. + +“Hear ye, hear ye, warriors!” he chanted loudly. “The council has +decreed that four brave young men must scout the country to the +sunsetward of the camp, for the peace and protection of our people!” + +All listened eagerly for the names of the chosen warriors, and in +another moment there came the sonorous call: “Antelope, Antelope! the +council has selected you!” + +The camp was large--fully four hundred paces across; but in that +country, in the clear morning air, such an announcement can be heard a +great way, and in the silence that followed the hills repeated over and +over the musical name of Antelope. + +In due time the four chosen youths appeared before the council fire. +The oath of the pipe was administered, and each took a few whiffs as +reverently as a Churchman would partake of the sacrament. The chief of +the council, who was old and of a striking appearance, gave the charge +and command to the youthful braves. + +There was a score or more of warriors ready mounted to escort them +beyond the precincts of the camp, and the “fearless heart” song was sung +according to the custom, as the four ran lightly from the door of the +council teepee and disappeared in the woods. + +It was a peculiarly trying and hazardous moment in which to perform +the duties of a scout. The Sioux were encroaching upon the territory of +hostile tribes, here in the foot-hills of the Big Horn Mountains, and +now and then one of their hunters was cut off by the enemy. If continual +vigilance could not save them, it might soon become necessary to retreat +to their own hunting-grounds. + +It was a savage fetish that a warrior must be proof against the alluring +ways of pretty maidens; that he must place his honor far above the +temptations of self-indulgence and indolence. Cold, hunger, and personal +hardship did not count with Antelope when there was required of him +any special exertion for the common good. It was cause to him of secret +satisfaction that the council-men had selected him for a dangerous +service in preference to some of his rivals and comrades. + +He had been running for two or three hours at a good, even gait, and had +crossed more than one of the smaller creeks, yet many deep gulches and +bad lands lay between him and the furthest peak that melted into the +blue dome above. + +“I shall stand upon the Bear’s Heart,” he said to himself. “If I can +do that, and still report before the others, I shall do well!” His keen +eyes were constantly sweeping the country in his front, and suddenly +he paused and shrank back motionless in a crouching attitude, still +steadily keeping an eye upon a moving object. It was soon evident +that some one was stealthily eying him from behind cover, and he was +outwitted by the enemy! Still stooping, he glided down a little ravine, +and as he reached the bed of the creek there emerged from it a large +gray wolf. + +This was very opportune for Antelope. He gave the gray wolf’s +danger-call with all his might; waited an instant and gave it a second +time; then he turned and ran fleetly down the stream. At the same moment +the wolf appeared upon the top of the bank, in full view of the enemy. + +“Here he comes!” they whispered, and had their arrows on the string as +the wolf trotted leisurely along, exposing only his head, for this was a +common disguise among the plains Indians. But when he came out into the +open, behold! it was only a gray wolf! + +“Ugh!” the Utes grunted, as they looked at each other in much chagrin. + +“Surely he was a man, and coming directly into our trap! We sang and +prayed to the gods of war when our war chief sent us ahead to scout the +Sioux people, to find their camp. This is a mystery, a magic! Either he +is a Sioux in disguise, or we don’t know their tricks!” exclaimed the +leader. + +Now they gave the war-whoop, and their arrows flew through the air. The +wolf gave a yelp of distress, staggered and fell dead. Instantly they +ran to examine the body, and found it to be truly that of a wolf. + +“Either this is a wonderful medicine-man, or we are shamefully fooled by +a Sioux warrior,” they muttered. + +They lost several minutes before they caught sight of Antelope, who had +followed the bed of the creek as far as it lay in his direction and then +came out of it at full speed. It would be safer for him to remain in +concealment until dark; but in the meantime the Ute warriors would reach +the camp, and his people were unprepared! It was necessary to expose +himself to the enemy. He knew that it would be chiefly a contest of +speed and he had an excellent start; but on the other hand, the Utes +doubtless had their horses. + +“The Sioux who played this trick on us must die to-day!” exclaimed their +leader. “Come, friends, we cannot afford to let him tell this joke on us +at the camp-fires of his people!” + +Antelope was headed directly for Eagle Scout Butte, for the camp was in +plain view from the top of this hill. He had run pretty much all day, +but then, that was nothing! + +“I shall reach the summit first, unless the Ute horses have wings!” he +said to himself. + +Looking over his shoulder, he saw five horsemen approaching, so he +examined his bow and arrows as he ran. + +“All is well,” he muttered. “One of their spirits at the least must +guide mine to the spirit land!” where, it was believed by them, there +was no fighting. + +Now he was within hearing of their whoops, but he was already at the +foot of the butte. Their horses could not run up the steep ascent, and +they were obliged to dismount. Like a deer the Sioux leaped from rock +to rock, and almost within arrow-shot came his pursuers, wildly whooping +and yelling. + +When he had achieved the summit, he took his stand between two great +rocks, and flashed his tiny looking-glass for a distress signal into the +distant camp of his people. + +For a long time no reply came, and many arrows flew over his head, as +the Utes approached gradually from rock to rock. He, too, sent down a +swift arrow now and then, to show them that he was no child or woman in +fight, but brave as a bear when it is brought to bay. + +“Ho, ho!” he shouted to the enemy, in token of a brave man’s welcome to +danger and death. + +They replied with yells of triumph, as they pressed more and more +closely upon him. One of their number had been dispatched to notify the +main war-party when they first saw Antelope, but he did not know this, +and his courage was undiminished. From time to time he continued to +flash his signal, and at last like lightning the little white flash came +in reply. + +The sun was low when the besieged warrior discovered a large body of +horsemen approaching from the northwest. It was the Ute warparty! He +looked earnestly once more toward the Sioux camp, shading his eyes with +his right palm. There, too, were many moving specks upon the plain, +drawing toward the foot of the hill! + +At the middle of the afternoon they had caught his distress signal, and +the entire camp was thrown into confusion, for but few of the men had +returned from the daily hunt. As fast as they came in, the warriors +hurried away upon their best horses, singing and yelling. When they +reached the well-known butte, towering abruptly in the midst of the +plain, they could distinguish their enemies massed behind the hanging +rocks and scattered cedar-trees, crawling up closer and closer, for the +large warparty reached the hill just as the scouts who held Antelope at +bay discovered the approach of his kinsmen. + +Antelope had long since exhausted his quiver of arrows and was gathering +up many of those that fell about him to send them back among his +pursuers. When their attention was withdrawn from him for an instant by +the sudden onset of the Sioux, he sprang to his feet. + +He raised both his hands heavenward in token of gratitude for his +rescue, and his friends announced with loud shouts the daring of +Antelope. + +Both sides fought bravely, but the Utes at last retreated and were +fiercely pursued. Antelope stood at his full height upon the huge rock +that had sheltered him, and gave his yell of defiance and exultation. +Below him the warriors took it up, and among the gathering shadows the +rocks echoed praises of his name. + +In the Sioux camp upon Lost Water there were dances and praise songs, +but there was wailing and mourning, too, for many lay dead among the +crags. The name of Antelope was indelibly recorded upon Eagle Scout +Butte. + +“If he wished for a war-bonnet of eagle feathers, it is his to wear,” + declared one of the young men. “But he is modest, and scarcely even +joins in the scalp dances. It is said of him that he has never yet +spoken to any young woman!” + +“True, it is not announced publicly that he has addressed a maiden. Many +parents would like to have their daughters the first one he would speak +to, but I am told he desires to go upon one or two more war-paths before +seeking woman’s company,” replied another. + +“Hun, hun, hay!” exclaimed a third youth ill-naturedly. He is already +old enough to be a father!” + +“This is told of him,” rejoined the first speaker. “He wants to hold +the record of being the young man who made the greatest number of coups +before he spoke to a maiden. I know that there are not only mothers who +would be glad to have him for a son-in-law, but their young daughters +would not refuse to look upon the brave Antelope as a husband!” + +It was true that in the dance his name was often mentioned, and at every +repetition it seemed that the young women danced with more spirit, while +even grandmothers joined in the whirl with a show of youthful abandon. + +Wezee, the father of Antelope, was receiving congratulations throughout +the afternoon. Many of the old men came to his lodge to smoke with him, +and the host was more than gratified, for he was of a common family and +had never before known what it is to bask in the sunshine of popularity +and distinction. He spoke complacently as he crowded a handful of +tobacco into the bowl of the long red pipe. + +“Friends, our life here is short, and the life of a brave youth is apt +to be shorter than most! We crave all the happiness that we can get, and +it is right that we should do so. One who says that he does not care +for reputation or success, is not likely to be telling the truth. So you +will forgive me if I say too much about the honorable career of my son.” + This was the old man’s philosophic apology. + +“Ho, ho,” his guests graciously responded. “It is your moon! Every moon +has its fullness, when it lights up the night, while the little stars +dance before it. So to every man there comes his full moon!” + +Somewhat later in the day all the young people of the great camp were +seen to be moving in one direction. All wore their best attire and +finest ornaments, and even the parti-colored steeds were decorated to +the satisfaction of their beauty-loving riders. + +“Ugh, Taluta is making a maidens’ feast! She, the prettiest of all the +Unkpapa maidens!” exclaimed one of the young braves. + +“She, the handsomest of all our young women!” repeated another. + +Taluta was indeed a handsome maid in the height and bloom of womanhood, +with all that wonderful freshness and magnetism which was developed +and preserved by the life of the wilderness. She had already given five +maidens’ feasts, beginning with her fifteenth year, and her shy and +diffident purity was held sacred by her people. + +The maidens’ circle was now complete. Behind it the outer circle of old +women was equally picturesque and even more dignified. The grandmother, +not the mother, was regarded as the natural protector of the young +maiden, and the dowagers derived much honor from their position, +especially upon public occasions, taking to themselves no small amount +of credit for the good reputations of their charges. + +Weshawee, whose protege had many suitors and was a decided coquette, +fidgeted nervously and frequently adjusted her robe or fingered +her necklace to ease her mind, for she dreaded lest, in spite of +watchfulness, some mishap might have befallen her charge. Her anxiety +was apparently shared by several other chaperons who stole occasional +suspicious glances in the direction of certain of the young braves. +It had been known to happen that a girl unworthy to join in the sacred +feast was publicly disgraced. + +A special police force was appointed to keep order on this occasion, +each member of which was gorgeously painted and bedecked with eagle +feathers, and carried in his hand a long switch with which to threaten +the encroaching throng. Their horses wore head-skins of fierce animals +to add to their awe-inspiring appearance. + +The wild youths formed the outer circle of the gathering, attired like +the woods in autumn, their long locks glossy with oil and perfumed with +scented grass and leaves. Many pulled their blankets over their heads as +if to avoid recognition, and loitered shyly at a distance. + +Among these last were Antelope and his cousin, Red Eagle. They stood +in the angle formed by the bodies of their steeds, whose noses were +together. The young hero was completely enveloped in his handsome robe +with a rainbow of bead-work acros the middle, and his small moccasined +feet projected from beneath the lower border. Red Eagle held up an +eagle-wing fan, partially concealing his face, and both gazed intently +toward the center of the maidens’ circle. + +“Woo! woo!” was the sonorous exclamation of the police, announcing the +beginning of the ceremonies. In the midst of the ring of girls stood the +traditional heart-shaped red stone, with its bristling hedge of arrows. +In this case there were five arrows, indicating that Taluta had already +made as many maidens’ feasts. Each of the maidens must lay her hand upon +the stone in token of her purity and chastity, touching also as many +arrows as she herself has attended maidens’ feasts. + +Taluta advanced first to the center. As she stood for a moment beside +the sacred stone, she appeared to the gazing bystanders the embodiment +of grace and modesty. Her gown, adorned with long fringes at the seams, +was beaded in blue and white across the shoulders and half way to her +waist. Her shining black hair was arranged in two thick plaits which +hung down upon her bosom. There was a native dignity in her gestures +and in her utterance of the maidens’ oath, and as she turned to face the +circle, all the other virgins followed her. + +When the feast was ended and the gay concourse had dispersed, Antelope +and his cousin were among the last to withdraw. The young man’s eyes had +followed every movement of Taluta as long as she remained in sight, +and it was only when she vanished in the gathering shadows that he was +willing to retire. + +In savage courtship, it was the custom to introduce one’s self boldly +to the young lady, although sometimes it was convenient to have a sister +introduce her brother. But Antelope had no sister to perform this office +for him, and if he had had one, he would not have made the request. He +did not choose to admit any one to his secret, for he had no confidence +in himself or in the outcome of the affair. If it had been anything like +trailing the doe, or scouting the Ojibway, he would have ridiculed the +very notion of missing the object sought. But this was a new warfare--an +unknown hunting! Although he was very anxious to meet Taluta, whenever +the idea occurred to him he trembled like a leaf in the wind, and +profuse perspiration rolled down his stoic visage. It was not customary +to hold any social intercourse with the members of the opposite sex, +and he had never spoken familiarly to any woman since he became a man, +except his old grandmother. It was well known that the counsel of the +aged brings luck to the youth in warfare and love. + +Antelope arose early the next morning, and without speaking to any one +he made a ceremonious toilet. He put on his finest buckskin shirt and +a handsome robe, threw a beaded quiver over his shoulder, and walked +directly away from the teepees and into the forest--he did not know why +nor whither. The sounds of the camp grew fainter and fainter, until at +last he found himself alone. + +“How is it,” mused the young man, “that I have hoped to become a leader +among my people? My father is not a chief, and none of my ancestors were +distinguished in war. I know well that, if I desire to be great, I +must deny myself the pleasure of woman’s company until I have made my +reputation. I must not boast nor exhibit myself on my first success. The +spirits do not visit the common haunts of men! All these rules I have +thus far kept, and I must not now yield to temptation.... Man has +much to weaken his ambition after he is married. A young man may seek +opportunities to prove his worth, but to a married man the opportunity +must come to try him. He acts only when compelled to act.... Ah, I +must flee from the woman!... Besides, if she should like someone else +better, I should be humiliated.... I must go upon a long war-path. I +shall forget her....” + +At this point his revery was interrupted by the joyous laughter of +two young women. The melodious sing-song laughter of the Sioux maiden +stirred the very soul of the young warrior. + +All his philosophy deserted him, and he stood hesitating, looking about +him as if for a chance of escape. A man who had never before felt the +magnetic influence of woman in her simplicity and childlike purity, he +became for the moment incapable of speech or action. + +Meanwhile the two girls were wholly unconscious of any disturbing +presence in the forest. They were telling each other the signals that +each had received in the dance. Taluta’s companion had stopped at the +first raspberry bushes, while she herself passed on to the next thicket. +When she emerged from the pines into an opening, she suddenly beheld +Antelope, in his full-dress suit of courtship. Instantly she dropped her +eyes. + +Luckily the customs of courtship among the Sioux allow the covering +of one’s head with the blanket. In this attitude, the young man made a +signal to Taluta with trembling fingers. + +The wild red man’s wooing was natural and straightforward; there was no +circumspection, no maneuvering for time or advantage. Hot words of love +burst forth from the young warrior’s lips, with heavy breathing behind +the folds of the robe with which he sought to shield his embarrassment. + +“For once the spirits are guiding my fortunes! It may seem strange to +you, when we meet thus by accident, that I should speak immediately of +my love for you; but we live in a world where one must speak when the +opportunity offers. I have thought much of you since I saw you at the +maidens’ feast.... Is Taluta willing to become the wife of Tatoka? The +moccasins of her making will cause his feet to be swift in pursuit of +the game, and on the trail of the enemy.... I beg of you, maiden, let +our meeting be known only to the birds of the air, while you consider my +proposal!” + +All this while the maiden stood demurely at his side, playing with +the lariat of her pony in her brown, fine hands. Her doeskin gown with +profuse fringes hung gracefully as the drooping long leaves of the +willow, and her two heavy braids of black hair, mingled with strings +of deers’ hoofs and wampum, fell upon her bosom. There was a faint glow +underneath her brown skin, and her black eyes were calm and soft, yet +full of native fire. + +“You will not press for an answer now,” she gently replied, without +looking at him. “I expected to see no one here, and your words have +taken me by surprise.... I grant your last request. The birds alone can +indulge in gossip about our meeting,--unless my cousin, who is in the +next ravine, should see us together!” She sprang lightly upon the back +of her pony, and disappeared among the scattered pines. + +Between the first lovers’ meeting and the second was a period of one +moon. This was wholly the fault of Antelope, who had been a prey +to indecision and painful thoughts. Half regretting his impulsive +declaration, and hoping to forget his pangs in the chances of travel and +war, he had finally enlisted in the number of those who were to go with +the war-leader Crowhead into the Ute country. As was the custom of the +Sioux warriors upon the eve of departure, the young men consulted their +spiritual advisers, and were frequently in the purifying vapor-bath, and +fasting in prayer. + +The last evening had come, and Antelope was on the way to the top of the +hill behind the camp for a night of prayer. Suddenly in the half-light +he came full upon Taluta, leading her pony down the narrow trail. She +had never looked more beautiful to the youth than at that moment. + +“Ho,” he greeted her. She simply smiled shyly. + +“It is long since we met,” he ventured. + +“I have concluded that you do not care to hear my reply,” retorted the +girl. + +“I have nothing to say in my defense, but I hope that you will be +generous. I have suffered much.... You will understand why I stand far +from you,” he added gently. “I have been preparing myself to go upon +the warpath. We start at daylight for the Ute country. Every day for ten +days I have been in the vapor-bath, and ten nights fasting.” + +As Taluta well knew, a young warrior under these circumstances dared not +approach a woman, not even his own wife. + +“I still urge you to be my wife. Are you ready to give me your answer?” + continued Antelope. + +“My answer was sent to you by your grandmother this very day,” she +replied softly. + +“Ah, tell me, tell me,...” pressed the youth eagerly. + +“All is well. Fear nothing,” murmured the maiden. + +“I have given my word--I have made my prayers and undergone +purification. I must not withdraw from this war-path,” he said after a +silence. “But I know that I shall be fortunate!... My grandmother will +give you my love token.... Ah, kechuwa (dear love)! watch the big star +every night! I will watch it, too--then we shall both be watching! +Although far apart, our spirits will be together.” + +The moon had risen above the hill, and the cold light discovered the two +who stood sadly apart, their hearts hot with longing. Reluctantly, yet +without a backward look or farewell gesture, the warrior went on up the +hill, and the maiden hurried homeward. Only a few moments before she had +been happy in the anticipation of making her lover happy. The truth +was she had been building air-castles in the likeness of a white teepee +pitched upon a virgin prairie all alone, surrounded by mountains. +Tatoka’s war-horse and hunting pony were picketed near by, and there she +saw herself preparing the simple meal for him! But now he has clouded +her dreams by this untimely departure. + +“He is too brave.... His life will be a short one,” she said to herself +with foreboding. + +For a few hours all was quiet, and just before the appearance of day the +warriors’ departure was made known by their farewell songs. Antelope +was in the line early, but he was heavy of heart, for he knew that his +sweetheart was sorely puzzled and disappointed by his abrupt departure. +His only consolation was the knowledge that he had in his bundle a pair +of moccasins made by her hands. He had not yet seen them, because it was +the custom not to open any farewell gifts until the first camp was made, +and then they must be opened before the eyes of all the young men! It +brings luck to the war-party, they said. He would have preferred to keep +his betrothal secret, but there was no escaping the custom. + +All the camp-fires were burning and supper had been eaten, when the +herald approached every group and announced the programme for the +evening. It fell to Antelope to open his bundle first. Loud laughter +pealed forth when the reluctant youth brought forth a superb pair of +moccasins--the recognized lovegift! At such times the warriors’ jokes +were unmerciful, for it was considered a last indulgence in jesting, +perhaps for many moons. The recipient was well known to be a novice +in love, and this token first disclosed the fact that he had at last +succumbed to the allurements of woman. When he sang his love-song he was +obliged to name the giver of the token, and many a disappointed suitor +was astonished to hear Taluta’s name. + +It was a long journey to the Ute country, and when they reached it there +was a stubbornly contested fight. Both sides claimed the victory, and +both lost several men. Here again Antelope was signally favored by the +gods of war. He counted many coups or blows, and exhibited his bravery +again and again in the charges, but he received no wound. + + +On the return journey Taluta’s beautiful face was constantly before +him. He was so impatient to see her that he hurried on in advance of his +party, when they were still several days’ travel from the Sioux camp. + +“This time I shall join in all the dances and participate in the +rejoicings, for she will surely like to have me do so,” he thought to +himself. “She will join also, and I know that none is a better dancer +than Taluta!” + +In fancy, Antelope was practicing the songs of victory as he rode alone +over the vast wild country. + +He had now passed Wild Horse Creek and the Black Hills lay to the +southeast, while the Big Horn range loomed up to the north in gigantic +proportions. He felt himself at home. + +“I shall now be a man indeed. I shall have a wife!” he said aloud. + +At last he reached the point from which he expected to view the distant +camp. Alas, there was no camp there! Only a solitary teepee gleamed +forth upon the green plain, which was almost surrounded by a quick turn +of the River of Deep Woods. The teepee appeared very white. A peculiar +tingling sensation passed through his frame, and the pony whinnied often +as he was urged forward at a gallop. + +When Antelope beheld the solitary teepee he knew instantly what it was. +It was a grave! Sometimes a new white lodge was pitched thus for +the dead, who lay in state within upon a couch of finest skins, and +surrounded by his choicest possessions. + +Antelope’s excitement increased as he neared the teepee, which was +protected by a barricade of thick brush. It stood alone and silent in +the midst of the deserted camp. He kicked the sides of his tired horse +to make him go faster. At last he jumped from the saddle and ran +toward the door. There he paused for a moment, and at the thought of +desecrating a grave, a cold terror came over him. + +“I must see--I must see!” he said aloud, and desperately he broke +through the thorny fence and drew aside the oval swinging door. + + + + +II + +In the stately white teepee, seen from afar, both grave and monument, +there lay the fair body of Taluta! The bier was undisturbed, and the +maiden looked beautiful as if sleeping, dressed in her robes of ceremony +and surrounded by all her belongings. + +Her lover looked upon her still face and cried aloud. “Hey, hey, hey! +Alas! alas! If I had known of this while in the Ute country, you would +not be lonely on the spirit path.” + +He withdrew, and laid the doorflap reverently back in its place. How +long he stood without the threshold he could not tell. He stood with +head bowed down upon his breast, tearless and motionless, utterly +oblivious to everything save the bier of his beloved. His charger grazed +about for a long time where he had left him, but at last he endeavored +by a low whinny to attract his master’s attention, and Antelope awoke +from his trance of sorrow. + +The sun was now hovering over the western ridges. The mourner’s throat +was parched, and perspiration rolled down his cheeks, yet he was +conscious of nothing but a strong desire to look upon her calm, sweet +face once more. + +He kindled a small fire a little way off, and burned some cedar berries +and sweet-smelling grass. Then he fumigated himself thoroughly to dispel +the human atmosphere, so that the spirit might not be offended by his +approach, for he greatly desired to obtain a sign from her spirit. +He had removed his garments and stood up perfectly nude save for the +breechclout. His long hair was unbraided and hung upon his shoulders, +veiling the upper half of his splendid body. Thus standing, the lover +sang a dirge of his own making. The words were something like this: + + + Ah, spirit, thy flight is mysterious! + + While the clouds are stirred by our wailing, + + And our tears fall faster in sorrow-- + + + While the cold sweat of night benumbs us, + + Thou goest alone on thy journey, + + In the midst of the shining star people! + + + Thou goest alone on thy journey-- + + Thy memory shall be our portion; + + Until death we must watch for the spirit! + + +The eyes of Antelope were closed while he chanted the dirge. He sang it +over and over, pausing between the lines, and straining as it were every +sense lest he might not catch the rapt whisper of her spirit, but only +the distant howls of coyotes answered him. His body became cold and numb +from sheer exhaustion, and at last his knees bent under him and he sank +down upon the ground, still facing the teepee. Unconsciousness overtook +him, and in his sleep or trance the voice came: + +“Do not mourn for me, my friend! Come into my teepee, and eat of my +food.” + +It seemed to Antelope that he faltered for a moment; then he entered +the teepee. There was a cheerful fire burning in the center. A basin +of broiled buffalo meat was placed opposite the couch of Taluta, on the +other side of the fire. Its odor was delicious to him, yet he hesitated +to eat of it. + +“Fear not, kechuwa (my darling)! It will give you strength,” said the +voice. + +The maid was natural as in life. Beautifully attired, she sat up on her +bed, and her demeanor was cheerful and kind. + +The young man ate of the food in silence and without looking at the +spirit. “Ho, kechuwa!” he said to her when returning the dish, according +to the custom of his people. + +Silently the two sat for some minutes, while the youth gazed into the +burning embers. + +“Be of good heart,” said Taluta, at last, “for you shall meet my twin +spirit! She will love you as I do, and you will love her as you love me. +This was our covenant before we came into this world.” + +The conception of a “twin spirit” was familiar to the Sioux. “Ho,” + responded the warrior, with dignity and all seriousness. He felt a great +awe for the spirit, and dared not lift his eyes to her face. + +“Weep no more, kechuwa, weep no more,” she softly added; and the next +moment Antelope found himself outside the mysterious teepee. His limbs +were stiff and cold, but he did not feel faint nor hungry. Having filled +his pipe, he held it up to the spirits and then partook of the smoke; +and thus revived, he slowly and reluctantly left the sacred spot. + +The main war-party also visited the old camp and saw the solitary teepee +grave, but did not linger there. They continued on the trail of +the caravan until they reached the new camping ground. They called +themselves successful, although they had left several of their number +on the field. Their triumph songs indicated this; therefore the people +hurried to receive the news and to learn who were the unfortunates. + +The father of Antelope was foremost among those who ran to meet the +war-party. He learned that his son had distinguished himself in the +fight, and that his name was not mentioned among the brave dead. + +“And where, then, is he?” he asked, with unconcealed anxiety. + +“He left us three days ago to come in advance,” they replied. + +“But he has not arrived!” exclaimed old Wezee, in much agitation. + +He returned to his teepee, where he consoled himself as best he could by +smoking the pipe in solitude. He could neither sing praises nor indulge +in the death dirge, and none came in either to congratulate or mourn +with him. + +The sun had disappeared behind the hills, and the old man still sat +gazing into the burning embers, when he heard a horse’s footfall at the +door of his lodge. + +“Ho, atay (father)!” came the welcome call. + +“Mechinkshe! mechinkshe!” (my son, my son), he replied in unrestrained +joy. Old Wezee now stood on the threshold and sang the praise song for +his son, ending with a warwhoop such as he had not indulged in since he +was quite a young man. + +The camp was once more alive with the dances, and the dull thud of the +Indian drum was continually in the air. The council had agreed that +Antelope was entitled to wear a war-bonnet of eagles’ feathers. He was +accordingly summoned before the aboriginal parliament, and from the wise +men of the tribe he received his degree of war-bonnet. + +It was a public ceremony. The great pipe was held up for him to take the +smoke of high honor. + +The happiest person present was the father of Antelope; but he himself +remained calm and unmoved throughout the ceremony. + +“He is a strange person,” was the whisper among a group of youths who +were watching the proceedings with envious eyes. + +The young man was strangely listless and depressed in spirit. His old +grandmother knew why, but none of the others understood. He never joined +in the village festivities, while the rest of his family were untiring +in the dances, and old Wezee was at the height of his happiness. + +It was a crisp October morning, and the family were eating their +breakfast of broiled bison meat, when the large drum at the council +lodge was struck three times. The old man set down his wooden basin. + +“Ah, my son, the war-chiefs will make an announcement! It may be a call +for the enlistment of warriors! I am sorry,” he said, and paused. “I +am sorry, because I would rather no war-party went out at present. I +am getting old. I have enjoyed your success, my son. I love to hear the +people speak your name. If you go again upon the war-path, I shall no +longer be able to join in the celebrations. Something tells me that you +will not return!” + +Young braves were already on their way to the council lodge. Tatoka +looked, and the temptation was great. + +“Father, it is not becoming for me to remain at home when others go,” he +said, at last. + +“Ho,” was the assent uttered by the father, with a deep sigh. + +“Five hundred braves have enlisted to go with the great war prophet +against the three confederated tribes,” he afterward reported at home, +with an air of elation which he had not worn for some moons. + +Since Antelope had received the degree of war-bonnet, his father had +spared neither time nor his meager means in his behalf. He had bartered +his most cherished possessions for several eagles that were brought +in by various hunters of the camp, and with his own hands had made a +handsome war-bonnet for his son. + +“You will now wear a war-bonnet for the first time, and you are the +first of our family who has earned the right to wear one for many +generations. I am proud of you, my son,” he said as he presented it. + +But when the youth replied: “Ho, ho, father! I ought to be a brave man +in recognition of this honor,” he again sighed heavily. + +“It is that I feared, my son! Many a young man has lost his life for +vanity and love of display!” + +The evening serenades began early, for the party was to leave at once. +In groups upon their favorite ponies the warriors rode around the inner +circle of the great camp, singing their war-songs. All the people came +out of the teepees, and sitting by twos and threes upon the ground, +bedecked with savage finery, they watched and listened. The pretty wild +maidens had this last opportunity given them to look upon the faces of +their sweethearts, whom they might never see again. Here and there +an old man was singing the gratitude song or thank-offering, while +announcing the first warpath of a novice, for such an announcement meant +the giving of many presents to the poor and aged. So the camp was filled +with songs of joy and pride in the departing husbands, brothers, and +sons. + +As soon as darkness set in the sound of the rude native flute was added +to the celebration. This is the lover’s farewell. The young braves, +wrapped from head to foot in their finest robes, each sounded the +plaintive strains near the teepee of the beloved. The playful yodeling +of many voices in chorus was heard at the close of each song. + +At midnight the army of five hundred, the flower of the Sioux, marched +against their ancient enemy. Antelope was in the best of spirits. He had +his war-bonnet to display before the enemy! He was now regarded as one +of the foremost warriors of his band, and might probably be asked to +perform some specially hazardous duty, so that he was fully prepared to +earn further distinction. + +In five days the Sioux were encamped within a day’s travel of the +permanent village of the confederated tribes--the Rees, Mandans, and +Gros Ventres. The war-chief selected two men, Antelope and Eaglechild, +to scout at night in advance of the main force. It was thought that most +of the hunters had already returned to their winter quarters, and in +this case the Sioux would have no mean enemy to face. On the other hand, +a battle was promised that would enlarge their important traditions. + +The two made their way as rapidly as possible toward the ancestral home +of their enemies. It was a night perfectly suited to what they had to +do, for the moon was full, the fleeting clouds hiding it from time to +time and casting deceptive shadows. + +When they had come within a short distance of the lodges unperceived, +they lay flat for a long time, and studied the ways of the young men in +every particular, for it was Antelope’s plan to enter the great village +and mingle boldly with its inhabitants. Even their hoots and love-calls +were carefully noted, so that they might be able to imitate them. +There were several entertainments in progress in different parts of the +village, yet it was apparent that the greatest vigilance was observed. +The lodges of poles covered with earth were partly underground, and at +one end the war-horses were stabled, as a precaution against a possible +surprise. + +At the moment that a large cloud floated over the moon, casting a +shadow large enough to cover the entire village, the drum in one of the +principal lodges was struck in quick time, accompanied by boisterous +war-whoops and singing. The two scouts adjusted their robes about them +in the fashion of the strangers, and walked openly in that direction. + +They glanced quickly from side to side as they approached, but no one +paid any attention, so they came up with other young men and peeped +through the chinks in the earth wigwam. It was a great gambling party. +Among the guests were several distinguished warriors, and each at an +opportune time would rise and recount his great deeds in warfare against +the Sioux. The strangers could read their gestures, and Antelope was +once or twice almost on the point of stringing his bow to send an arrow +through the audacious speaker. + +As they moved about the village, taking note of its numbers and +situation, and waiting an opportunity to withdraw without exciting +suspicion, they observed some of the younger braves standing near +another large wigwam, and one or two even peeped within. Moved by sudden +curiosity, Antelope followed their example. He uttered a low exclamation +and at once withdrew. + +“What is it?” asked his companion, but received no answer. + +It was evidently the home of a chief. The family were seated within at +their usual occupations, and the bright light of the central fire shone +full upon the face of a most lovely maiden. + +Antelope stood apparently motionless, but he was trembling under his +robe like a leaf. + +“Come, friend, there is another large cloud almost over the moon! We +must move away under its concealing shadow,” urged Eaglechild. + +The other stood still as if undecided, but at last he approached the +lodge and looked in a second time. There sat his sweetheart in human +form once more! The maiden was attired in a doeskin gown set with elk’s +teeth like ivory. Her eyes were cast down demurely over her embroidery, +but in every feature she was the living counterpart of Taluta! + +At last the two got away unobserved, and hastened toward the place where +they had concealed their horses. But here Antelope sent his companion on +in advance, making the excuse that he wished to study further the best +position from which to make the attack. + +When he was left alone he stood still for a moment to decide upon a +plan. He could think of nothing but that he must meet the Ree maiden +before daylight! He realized the extreme hazard of the attempt, but he +also recalled what he had been told by the spirit of Taluta, and the +supernatural command seemed to justify him even in going thus upon the +eve of battle to meet the enemy of his people. + +He skirted the heavy timber and retraced his steps to a point from which +he could see the village. The drum of the gambling party had ceased with +the shouts and laughter of the players. Apparently the village was lost +in slumber. The moon had set, and without pausing he advanced to the +home of the girl. As he came near some dogs began to bark, but he +silenced them after the manner of the Rees, and they obeyed him. + +When Antelope softly raised the robe that hung over the entrance to the +chief’s lodge, he saw the fire smoldering in the center, and the members +of the household lying in their respective places, all seemingly in a +deep sleep. The girl lay opposite the entrance, where he had seen her +seated in the early part of the evening. + +The heart of the Sioux beat violently, and he glanced nervously to left +and right. There was neither sound nor movement. Then he pulled his robe +completely over his head, after the fashion of a Ree lover, and softly +entered the wigwam. + +The Ree maiden, having industriously worked on her embroidery until far +into the night, had retired to rest. In her dreams, the twin sister came +to her of whom she had had visions ever since she could remember, and +especially when something of importance was about to happen. + +This time she came with a handsome young man of another tribe, and said: +“Sister, I bring you a Sioux, who will be your husband!” + +The dreamer opened her eyes to behold a youth bending over her and +gently pulling her robe, as a suitor is permitted to do to awaken his +beloved. + +When he saw that she was awake, the Sioux touched his breast, saying in +a whisper, “Tatoka,” and made the sign for Antelope. This pleased the +Ree girl, for her own brother, who had died the year before, had borne +that name. She immediately sat up and stirred the embers into a light +blaze. Then she took hold of his blanket and drew it from his face; and +there she seemed to see the very features of the man of her vision! + +He took her hand in his, and she felt the force of love stream through +his long, nervous fingers, and instinctively knew his thoughts. In her +turn she touched her breast and made the sign for Shield, pronouncing in +her own tongue the word, Stasu. This seemed to him also a name of good +omen, and in the sign language which was common to all the people of the +plains, he asked her to be his wife. + +Vividly her dream came back to her, and she could not refuse the +stranger. Her soul already responded to his; and for a few minutes they +sat silently side by side. When he arose and beckoned, “Come with me,” + she had no question to make, and without a word she followed him from +her father’s lodge and out into the forest. + + +In the midst of his ascending fame, at a moment when opportunity seemed +to favor his ambition, the brave Antelope had mysteriously disappeared! +His companion scout returned with a favorable report. He said that the +men of the three confederated tribes were gambling and feasting, wholly +unconscious of danger, and that Antelope would follow him with a further +report upon the best point of attack. The red warriors impatiently +awaited his return, until it became apparent that they could wait no +longer without sacrificing their chance of success. When the attack was +made it was already rather late. The sun had fairly cleared the eastern +hills, and most of the men were outside their lodges. + +It was a great battle! Again and again the Sioux were repulsed, but +as often they rallied and repeated the charge until sundown, when they +effected their retreat with considerable loss. Had Antelope returned +in due season, the charge would have been made before dawn, while the +people were yet asleep. + +When the battle was over, the Rees, Mandans, and Gros Ventres gathered +their dead and wounded. The night was filled with mourning. Soon the sad +news was heralded throughout the camp that the beautiful daughter of the +Ree chief was among the missing. It was supposed that she must have been +captured while driving her ponies to water in the early morning. The +grief for her loss was mingled with horror, because of a fear that she +might suffer humiliation at the hands of the Sioux warriors, and among +the young men there were muttered threats that the Sioux would pay +dearly for this. + +Though partially successful, the Sioux had lost many of their bravest +warriors, and none could tell what had happened to Antelope--he who had +been believed the favorite of the gods of war. It was suggested by some +envious ones that perhaps he had recognized the strongly entrenched +position of the three tribes, and believing the battle would be a +disastrous one, had set out for home without making his report. But this +supposition was not deemed credible. On the other hand, the idea was +entertained that he had reentered the village, was detected and slain; +and therefore the enemy was on the lookout when the attack was made. + +“Hay, hay, hay, mechinkshe (Alas, alas, my son)!” was the sorrowful +cry with which his old father received the news. His head fell upon his +breast, and all the others groaned in sympathy. + +The sunset sky was a blanket of beautiful painting. There were +camp-fires among the clouds in orange and scarlet, while some were black +as night. So the camp fairly glowed in celebration of its heroes; yet +there was deep grief in many families. When the evening meal had been +eaten and the people were sitting outside their lodges, a tall old +man, almost nude, appeared in the circle, riding a fine horse. He had +blackened his face, his hair was cut short, and the horse also had been +deprived of his flowing mane and tail. Both were in deep mourning, after +the fashion of the Sioux. + +“Ho ho!” exclaimed many warriors as he passed them, singing in a hoarse, +guttural voice. + +“Ugh, he sings a war-song!” remarked one. + +“Yes, I am told that he will find his son’s bones, or leave his own in +the country of the enemy!” + + +The rain had fallen incessantly for two days. The fleeing lovers had +reached this lonely mountain valley of the Big Horn region on the night +that the cold fall rains set in, and Antelope had hurriedly constructed +an arbor house or rude shelter of pine and cedar boughs. + +It was enough. There they sat, man and wife, in their first home of +living green! The cheerful fire was burning in the center, and the happy +smoke went straight up among the tall pines. There was no human eye +to gaze upon them to embarrass--not even a common language in which to +express their love for one another. + +Their marriage, they believed, was made by a spirit, and it was holy in +their minds. Each had cast away his people and his all for the sake of +this emotion which had suddenly overtaken them both with overwhelming +force, and the warrior’s ambition had disappeared before it like a +morning mist before the sun. + +To them a new life was just beginning, and they had all but forgotten +the existence of any world save this. The young bride was enshrined in a +bower of spicy fragrance, and her face shone whenever her eyes met those +of her husband. + +“This is as I would have it, kechuwa (darling)!” exclaimed the Sioux in +his own language. She simply responded with a childlike smile. Although +she did not understand his words, she read in the tones of his voice +only happy and loving thoughts. + +The Ree girl had prepared a broiled bison steak, and her husband was +keeping the fire well fed with dry fagots. The odor of the buming fat +was delicious, and the gentle patter of the rain made a weird music +outside their wigwam. + +As soon as her husband had left her alone--for he must go to water the +ponies and conceal them at a distance--Stasu came out to collect more +wood. Instinctively she looked all about her. Huge mountains towered +skyward, clad in pines. The narrow valley in which she was wound its way +between them, and on every side there was heavy forest. + +She stood silent and awed, scarcely able to realize that she had +begun her new life absolutely alone, with no other woman to advise or +congratulate her, and visited only by the birds of the air. Yet all the +world to her just now was Antelope! No other woman could smile on him. +He could not talk to any one but her. The evening drum at the council +lodge could not summon him away from her, and she was well content. + +When the young wife had done everything she could think of in +preparation for her husband’s return, including the making of several +birch-bark basins and pails for water, the rain had quite ceased, so +she spread her robe just outside the lodge and took up her work-bag, in +which she had several pairs of moccasin-tops already beaded. + +While she bent over her work, getting up from time to time to turn the +roast which she had impaled upon a sharp stick above the glowing coals, +the bride had a stream of shy callers, of the little people of the +woods. She sat very still, so as not to startle them, and there is much +curiosity among these people concerning a stranger. + +Presently she was startled by a footfall not unlike that of a man. She +had not been married long enough to know the sound of her husband’s +step, and she felt a thrill of joy and fear alternately. It might be he, +and it might be a stranger! She was loath to look up, but at last gave +a furtive glance, and met squarely the eyes of a large grizzly bear, who +was seated upon his haunches not far away. + +Stasu was surprised, but she showed no fear; and fearlessness is the +best shield against wild animals. In a moment she got up unconcernedly, +and threw a large piece of meat to the stranger. + +“Take of my wedding feast, O great Bear!” she addressed him, “and be +good to me to bless my first teepee! O be kind and recognize my brave +act in taking for my husband one of the warriors of the Sioux, the +ancient enemy of my people! I have accepted a husband of a language +other than mine, and am come to live among you as your neighbor. I offer +you my friendship!” + +The bear’s only answer to her prayer was a low growl, but having eaten +the meat, he turned and clumsily departed. + +In the meantime Antelope had set himself to master the geography of that +region, to study the outlook for game, and ascertain the best approaches +to their secret home. It was already settled in his mind that he +could never return either to his wife’s people or to his own. His +fellow-warriors would not forgive his desertion, and the Rees could not +be expected to welcome as a kinsman one of the foremost of their ancient +foes. There was nothing to be done but to remain in seclusion, and let +them say what they would of him! + +He had loved the Ree maiden from the first moment he beheld her by the +light of the blazing embers, and that love must satisfy him. It was +well that he had never cared much for company, but had spent many of his +young days in solitude and fasting. It did not seem at all strange to +him that he had been forced to retreat into an unknown and wild country +with a woman whom he saw in the evening for the first time, and fled +with as his own wife before sunrise! + +By the afternoon he had thoroughly informed himself upon the nature of +the surrounding country. Everything on the face of the map was surveyed +and charted in his mind, in accordance with his habits and training. +This done, he turned toward his secret dwelling. As he walked rapidly +and noiselessly through the hidden valleys and along the singing +streams, he noticed fresh signs of the deer, elk, and other wild tribes +among whom he had chosen to abide. “They shall be my people,” he said to +himself. + +Behind a group of cedars he paused to reconnoiter, and saw the +pine-bough wigwam like a giant plant, each row of boughs overlapping +the preceding circular row like the scales of a fish. Stasu was sitting +before it upon a buffalorobe, attired in her best doeskin gown. Her +delicate oval face was touched with red paint, and her slender brown +hands were occupied with a moccasin meant for him to wear. He could +scarcely believe that it was a mortal woman that he saw before him +in broad day--the pride of No Man’s Trail, for that is what the Crow +Indians call that valley! + +“Ho, ho, kechuwa!” he exclaimed as he approached her, and her heart +leaped in recognition of the magnetic words of love. + +“It is good that we are alone! I shall never want to go back to my +people so long as I have you. I can dwell here with you forever, +unless you should think otherwise!” she exclaimed in her own tongue, +accompanied by graphic signs. + +“Ho, I think of nothing else! I can see in every creature only friendly +ways and good feeling. We can live alone here, happily, unless you +should feel differently,” he replied in his own language with the signs, +so that his bride understood him. + +The environment was just what it should be when two people are united in +marriage. The wedding music was played by Nature, and trees, brooks, +and the birds of the air contributed their peculiar strains to a great +harmony. All of the people on No Man’s Trail were polite, and understood +the reserves of love. These two had yielded to a simple and natural +impulse; but its only justification to their minds was the mysterious +leading of the twin spirit! That was the sum total of their excuse, and +it was enough. + +Before the rigor of winter had set in, Tatoka brought to his bride +many buffalo skins. She was thoroughly schooled in the arts of savage +womanhood; in fact, every Indian maid was trained with this thought +in view--that she should become a beautiful, strong, skillful wife and +mother--the mother of a noble race of warriors! + +In a short time within that green and pine-scented enclosure there smiled +a little wild paradise. Hard by the pine-bough wigwam there stood a new +white buffalo-skin teepee, tanned, cut, sewed, and pitched by the hands +of Stasu. Away in the woods, down by the rushing brook, was her tannery, +and not far away, in a sunny, open spot, she prepared her sun-cured +meats for winter use. Her kitchen was a stone fireplace in a shady spot, +and her parlor was the lodge of evergreen, overhung on two sides by +inaccessible ledges, and bounded on the other two by the sparkling +stream. It was a secret place, and yet a citadel; a silent place, and +yet not lonely! + +The winter was cold and long, but the pair were happy in one another’s +company, and accepted their strange lot as one that was chosen for them +by the spirits. Stasu had insisted upon her husband speaking to her in +his own language, that she might learn it quickly. In a little while she +was able to converse with him, and when she had acquired his language +she taught him hers. + +While Antelope was occupied with hunting and exploring the country, +always keeping in mind the danger of discovery by some wandering scout +or hunter, his wife grew well acquainted with the wild inhabitants of +No Man’s Trail. These people are as full of curiosity as man, and as the +Sioux never hunted near his home, they were entirely fearless. Many came +to the door of Stasu’s lodge, and she was not afraid, but offered them +food and spoke to them kindly. All animals judge by signs and are +quick in reading tones and gestures; so that the Ree girl soon had +grandfathers and grandmothers, after the Indian fashion, among the +wolves and bears that came oftenest for food. + +Her husband in the field had also his fellow-hunters and friends. When +he killed the buffalo he always left enough meat for the wolves, the +eagles, and the ravens to feast upon, and these watched for the coming +of the lonely wild man. More than once they told him by their actions of +the presence of a distant campfire, but in each instance it proved to be +a small war-party which had passed below them on the trail. + +Again it was summer. Never had the mountains looked grander or more +mysterious to the eyes of the two. The valley was full of the music +and happiness of the winged summer people; the trees wore their summer +attire, and the meadow its green blanket. There were many homes made +happy by the coming of little people everywhere, but no pair was happier +than Stasu and her husband when one morning they saw their little +brave lying wrapped in soft deerskins, and heard for the first time his +plaintive voice! + +That morning, when Antelope set out on the hunt, he stopped at the +stream and looked at himself seriously to see whether he had changed +since the day before. He must now appear much graver, he said to +himself, because he is the father of a new man! + +In spite of himself, his thoughts were with his own people, and he +wondered what his old grandmother would have said to his child! He +looked away off toward the Black Hills, to the Sioux country, and in his +heart he said, “I am a coward!” + +The boy grew naturally, and never felt the lack of playmates and +companions, for his mother was ingenious in devising plays for him, and +in winning for him the confidence and kindness of the animal friends. He +was the young chief and the hero of No Man’s Trail! The bears and wolves +were his warriors; the buffalo and elk the hostile tribes upon whom he +went to war. Small as he was, he soon preferred to roam alone in the +woods. His parents were often anxious, but, on the other hand, they +entertained the hope that he would some day be “wakan,” a mysterious or +supernatural man, for he was getting power from his wild companions and +from the silent forces of nature. + +One day, when he was about five years old, he gave a dance for his wild +pets upon the little plateau which was still their home. He had clothed +Mato, the bear, in one of his father’s suits as a great medicine-man. +Waho, the wolf, was painted up as a brave; and the young buffalo calf +was attired in one of his mother’s gowns. The boy acted as chief and +master of ceremonies. + +The savage mother watched him with undisguised pride, mingled with +sorrow. Tears coursed down her dusky cheeks, although at the same time +she could not help laughing heartily at the strange performance. When +the play was ended, and she had served the feast at its close, Stasu +seemed lost in thought. + +“He should not live in this way,” she was saying to herself. “He should +know the traditions and great deeds of my people! Surely his grandfather +would be proud of the boy!” + +That evening, while the boy slept, and Mato lay outside the lodge +eagerly listening and sniffing the night air, the parents sat silent and +ill at ease. After a long time Stasu spoke her mind. + +“My husband, you ask me why I am sad. It is because I think that the +Great Mystery will be displeased if we keep this little boy forever in +the wilderness. It is wrong to allow him to grow up among wild animals; +and if sickness or accident should deprive him of his father and mother, +our spirits would never rest, because we had left him alone! I have +decided to ask you to take us back, either to your people or to my +people. We must sacrifice our pride, or, if needs be, our lives, for his +life and happiness!” + +This speech of Stasu’s was a surprise to her husband. His eyes rested +upon the ground as he listened, and his face assumed the proverbial +stoical aspect, yet in it there was not lacking a certain nobleness. At +last he lifted his eyes to hers, and said: + +“You have spoken wise words, and it shall be as you have said. We shall +return to your people. If I am to die at the hands of the ancient enemy +of the Sioux, I shall die because of my love for you, and for our child. +But I cannot go back to my own people to be ridiculed by unworthy young +men for yielding to love of a Ree maiden!” + +There was much feeling behind these words of Antelope. The rigid customs +of his people are almost a religion, and there is one thing above +all else which a Sioux cannot bear--that is the ridicule of his +fellow-warriors. Yes, he can endure severe punishment or even death at +the hands of the enemy rather than a single laugh of derision from a +Sioux! + +In a few days the household articles were packed, and the three sadly +turned their backs upon their home. Stasu and her husband were very +silent as they traveled slowly along. When they reached the hill called +“Born-of-Day,” and she saw from its summit the country of her people +lying below her, she cried aloud, weeping happy tears. Antelope sat near +by with bowed head, silently smoking. + +Finally on the fifth day they arrived within sight of the great +permanent village of the three tribes. They saw the earth lodges as +of old, thickly clustered along the flats of the Missouri, among their +rustling maize-fields. Antelope stopped. “I think you had better give +me something to eat, woman,” he said, smiling. It was the Sioux way of +saying, “Let me have my last meal!” + +After they had eaten, Stasu opened her buckskin bags and gave her +husband his finest suit. He dressed himself carefully in the fashion +of his tribe, putting on all the feathers to which he was entitled as +a warrior. The boy also was decked out in gala attire, and Stasu, the +matron, had never looked more beautiful in her gown of ceremony with the +decoration of elks’ teeth, the same that she had worn on the evening of +her disappearance. + +As she dressed herself, the unwelcome thought forced itself upon +her,--“What if my love is killed by my own countrymen in their frenzy? +This beautiful gown must then give place to a poor one, and this hair +will be cut short!” for such is the mourning of the widow among her +people. + +The three rode openly down the long slope, and were instantly discovered +by the people of the village. Soon the plain was black with the +approaching riders. Stasu had begged her husband to remain behind, while +she went on alone with the boy to obtain forgiveness, but he sternly +refused, and continued in advance. When the foremost Ree warriors came +within arrow-shot they began to shoot, to which he paid no attention. + +But the child screamed with terror, and Stasu cried out in her own +tongue: + +“Do not shoot! I am the daughter of your chief!” + +One of them returned the reply: “She is killed by the Sioux!” But when +the leaders saw her plainly they were astounded. + +For a time there was great confusion. Some held that they should all +die, for the woman had been guilty of treason to her people, and even +now she might be playing a trick upon them. Who could say that behind +that hill there was not a Sioux war-party? + +“No, no,” replied others. “They are in our power. Let them tell their +story!” + +Stasu told it simply, and said in conclusion: + +“This man, one of the bravest and most honorable men of his tribe, +deserted on the night of the attack, and all because he loved a +Ree maiden! He now comes to be your brother-in-law, who will fight +henceforth for you and with you, even if it be against his own people. + +“He does not beg for mercy--he can dare anything! But I am a woman--my +heart is soft--I ask for the lives of my husband and my son, who is the +grandson of your chief!” + +“He is a coward who touches this man!” exclaimed the leader, and a +thunder of warwhoops went up in approval of his words. + +The warriors formed themselves in two great columns, riding twenty +abreast, behind and in front of the strangers. The old chief came out to +meet them, and took his son-inlaw’s hand. Thus they entered the village +in battle array, but with hearts touched with wonder and great gladness, +discharging their arrows upward in clouds and singing peace-songs. + + + + +II. THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE + +“It was many years ago, when I was only a child,” began White Ghost, +the patriarchal old chief of the Yanktonnais Sioux, “that our band was +engaged in a desperate battle with the Rees and Mandans. The cause of +the fight was a peculiar one. I will tell you about it.” And he laid +aside his longstemmed pipe and settled himself to the recital. + +“At that time the Yanktonnais numbered a little over forty families. +We were nicknamed by the other bands Shunkikcheka, or Domestic Dogs, +because of our owning large numbers of these animals. My father was the +head chief. + +“Our favorite wintering place was a timbered tract near the mouth of the +Grand River, and it was here that we met the Blackfoot Sioux in the fall +hunt. On the opposite side of the river from our camp was the permanent +village of the Rees and Mandans, whose houses were of dirt and partly +underground. For a hundred years before this time they had planted +large gardens, and we were accustomed to buy of them corn, beans, and +pumpkins. From time to time our people had made treaties of peace with +them. Each family of the Rees had one or two buffalo boats--not round, +as the Sioux made them, but two or three skins long. In these boats they +brought quantities of dried beans and other vegetables to trade with us +for jerked buffalo meat. + +“It was a great gathering and a time of general festivity and +hospitality. The Sioux young men were courting the Ree girls, and the +Ree braves were courting our girls, while the old people bartered their +produce. All day the river was alive with canoes and its banks rang with +the laughter of the youths and maidens. + +“My father’s younger brother, whose name was Big Whip, had a close +friend, a young man who ever after the event of which I am about to tell +you was known as Bald Eagle. They were both daring young men and very +ambitious for distinction. They had been following the Ree girls to +their canoes as they returned to their homes in the evening. + +“Big Whip and his friend stood upon the river bank at sunset, one with a +quiver full of arrows upon his back while the other carried a gun under +his blanket. Nearly all the people of the other village had crossed the +river, and the chief of the Rees, whose name was Bald Eagle, went home +with his wife last of all. It was about dusk as they entered their +bullhide boat, and the two Sioux stood there looking at them. + +“Suddenly Big Whip exclaimed: ‘Friend, let us kill the chief. I dare you +to kill and scalp him!’ His friend replied: + +“‘It shall be as you say. I will stand by you in all things. I am +willing to die with you.’ + +“Accordingly Bald Eagle pulled out his gun and shot the Ree dead. From +that day he took his name. The old man fell backward into his boat, and +the old woman screamed and wept as she rowed him across the river. The +other young man shot an arrow or two at the wife, but she continued to +row until she reached the other bank. + +“There was great excitement on both sides of the river as soon as +the people saw what had happened. There were two camps of Sioux, the +Blackfoot Sioux and the Yanktonnais, or our people. Of course the +Mandans and Rees greatly outnumbered us; their camp must have numbered +two or three thousand, which was more than we had in our combined camps. + +“There was a Sioux whose name was Black Shield, who had intermarried +among the Rees. He came down to the opposite bank of the Missouri and +shouted to us: + +“‘Of which one of your bands is the man who killed Bald Eagle?’ + +“One of the Blackfoot Sioux replied: + +“‘It is a man of the Yanktonnais Sioux who killed Bald Eagle.’ + +“Then he said: ‘The Rees wish to do battle with them; you had better +withdraw from their camp.’ + +“Accordingly the Blackfeet retired about a mile from us upon the bluffs +and pitched their tents, while the Yanktonnais remained on the flats. +The two bands had been great rivals in courage and the art of war, so +we did not ask for help from our kinsfolk, but during the night we dug +trenches about the camp, the inner one for the women and children, and +the outer one for the men to stay in and do battle. + +“The next morning at daybreak the enemy landed and approached our camp +in great numbers. Some of their women and old men came also, and sat +upon the bluffs to watch the fight and to carry off their dead and +wounded. The Blackfeet likewise were watching the battle from the +bluffs, and just before the fight began one Blackfoot came in with his +wife and joined us. His name was Red Dog’s Track, but from that day he +was called He-Came-Back. His wife was a Yanktonnais, and he had said to +her: ‘If I don’t join your tribe to-day, my brothers-in-law will call me +a coward.’ + +“The Sioux were well entrenched and well armed with guns and arrows, +and their aim was deadly, so that the Rees crawled up gradually and took +every opportunity to pick off any Sioux who ventured to show his head +above the trenches. In like manner every Ree who exposed himself was +sure to die. + +“Up to this time no one had seen the two men who made all the trouble. +There was a natural hollow in the bank, concealed by buffalo berry +bushes, very near where they stood when Bald Eagle shot the Ree. + +“‘Friend,’ said Big Whip, ‘it is likely that our own people will punish +us for this deed. They will pursue and kill us wherever they find us. +They have the right to do this. The best thing is to drop into this +washout and remain there until they cease to look for us.’ + +“They did so, and remained hidden during the night. But, after the fight +began, Big Whip said again: ‘Friend, we are the cause of the deaths of +many brave men this day. We committed the act to show our bravery. We +dared each other to do it. It will now become us as warriors to join our +band.’ + +“They both stripped, and taking their weapons in hand, ran toward the +camp. They had to pass directly through the enemy’s lines, but they were +not recognized till they had fairly passed them. Then they were between +two fires. When they had almost reached the entrenchment they faced +about and fired at the Rees, jumping about incessantly to avoid being +hit, as is the Indian fashion. Bullets and arrows were flying all about +them like hail, but at last they dropped back unhurt into the Sioux +trenches. Thus the two men saved their reputation for bravery, and their +people never openly reproached them for the events of that day. Young +men are often rash, but it is not well to reprove one for a brave deed +lest he become a coward. + +“Many were killed, but more of the Rees than of our band. About the +middle of the afternoon there came a cold rain. It was in the fall of +the year. The bow-strings were wet, and the guns were only flint-locks. +You know when the flint becomes wet it is useless, and it looked as if +the fight must be with knives. + +“But the Rees were much disheartened. They had lost many. The women +were all the time carrying off the wounded, and there were the Blackfoot +Sioux watching them from the hills. They turned and fled toward the +river. The Sioux followed like crazy wolves, tomahawking the tired and +slow ones. Many were killed at the boats, and some of the boats were +punctured with shot and sank. Some carried a load of Sioux arrows back +across the river. That was the greatest battle ever fought by our band,” + the old man concluded, with a deep sigh of mingled satisfaction and +regret. + + + + +III. THE SINGING SPIRIT + + + + +I + +“Ho my steed, we must climb one more hill! My reputation depends upon my +report!” + +Anookasan addressed his pony as if he were a human companion, urged on +like himself by human need and human ambition. And yet in his heart he +had very little hope of sighting any buffalo in that region at just that +time of the year. + +The Yankton Sioux were ordinarily the most far-sighted of their people +in selecting a winter camp, but this year the late fall had caught them +rather far east of the Missouri bottoms, their favorite camping-ground. +The upper Jim River, called by the Sioux the River of Gray Woods, was +usually bare of large game at that season. Their store of jerked buffalo +meat did not hold out as they had hoped, and by March it became an +urgent necessity to send out scouts for buffalo. + +The old men at the tiyo teepee (council lodge) held a long council. It +was decided to select ten of their bravest and hardiest young men to +explore the country within three days’ journey of their camp. + +“Anookasan, uyeyo-o-o, woo, woo!” Thus the ten men were summoned to +the council lodge early in the evening to receive their commission. +Anookasan was the first called and first to cross the circle of the +teepees. A young man of some thirty years, of the original native +type, his massive form was wrapped in a fine buffalo robe with the hair +inside. He wore a stately eagle feather in his scalp-lock, but no paint +about his face. + +As he entered the lodge all the inmates greeted him with marked respect, +and he was given the place of honor. When all were seated the great +drum was struck and a song sung by four deep-chested men. This was the +prelude to a peculiar ceremony. + +A large red pipe, which had been filled and laid carefully upon the +central hearth, was now taken up by an old man, whose face was painted +red. First he held it to the ground with the words: “Great Mother, +partake of this!” Then he held it toward the sky, saying: “Great Father, +smoke this!” Finally he lighted it, took four puffs, pointing it to the +four corners of the earth in turn, and lastly presented it to Anookasan. +This was the oath of office, administered by the chief of the council +lodge. The other nine were similarly commissioned, and all accepted the +appointment. + +It was no light task that was thus religiously enjoined upon these +ten men. It meant at the least several days and nights of wandering +in search of signs of the wily buffalo. It was a public duty, and a +personal one as well; one that must involve untold hardship; and if +overtaken by storm the messengers were in peril of death! + +Anookasan returned to his teepee with some misgiving. His old charger, +which had so often carried him to victory, was not so strong as he had +been in his prime. As his master approached the lodge the old horse +welcomed him with a gentle whinny. He was always tethered near by, ready +for any emergency. + +“Ah, Wakan! we are once more called upon to do duty! We shall set out +before daybreak.” + +As he spoke, he pushed nearer a few strips of the poplar bark, which was +oats to the Indian pony of the olden time. + +Anookasan had his extra pair of buffaloskin moccasins with the hair +inside, and his scanty provision of dried meat neatly done up in a +small packet and fastened to his saddle. With his companions he started +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 themselves equal to the +occasion. + +The sun, now well toward the western horizon, 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 faithful +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 already set behind the hilltops. It was +a great herd of buffaloes, he thought, which was grazing 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 +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 another. + +“Yet I saw a gray wolf going north this evening. His direction is +propitious,” remarked 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 discouragement. 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 material, in the center of which there was a generous +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 trouble. 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 +listens that this is not midsummer,” said one. + +“I hear also the medicine-man’s single drumbeat,” 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 hollow 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 bewitches 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 medicinemen, 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 impressed. +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 leader--tell 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 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 yourselves--nothing more than flesh--with 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 together +next summer if need be!” + +“Ho, ho, ho!” was the full-throated response. + +“All put on your war-paint,” suggested Anookasan. “Have your knives and +arrows ready!” + +They did so, and all stole silently through the black forest in the +direction of the mysterious sound. Clearer and clearer it came through +the frosty air; but it was a foreign sound to the savage ear. Now it +seemed to them almost like a distant water-fall; then it recalled the +low hum of summer insects and the drowsy drone of the bumblebee. Thump, +thump, thump! was the regular accompaniment. + +Nearer and nearer to the cliff they came, deeper into the wild heart +of the woods. At last out of the gray, formless night a dark shape +appeared! It looked to them like a huge buffalo bull standing motionless +in the forest, and from his throat there apparently proceeded the thump +of the medicine drum, and the song of the beguiling spirit! + +All of a sudden a spark went up into the air. As they continued to +approach, there became visible a deep glow about the middle of the dark +object. Whatever it was, they had never heard of anything like it in all +their lives! + +Anookasan was a little in advance of his companions, and it was he who +finally discovered a wall of logs laid one upon another. Half way up +there seemed to be stretched a par-fleche (raw-hide), from which a dim +light emanated. He still thought of Oglugechana, who dwells within a +hollow tree, and determined to surprise and if possible to overpower +this wonderworking old man. + +All now took their knives in their hands and advanced with their leader +to the attack upon the log hut. “Wa-wa-wa-wa, woo, woo!” they cried. +Zip, zip! went the par-fleche door and window, and they all rushed in! + +There sat a man upon a roughly hewn stool. He was attired in wolfskins +and wore a foxskin cap upon his head. The larger portion of his face was +clothed with natural fur. A rudely made cedar fiddle was tucked +under his furred chin. Supporting it with his left hand, he sawed it +vigorously with a bow that was not unlike an Indian boy’s miniature +weapon, while his moccasined left foot came down upon the sod floor in +time with the music. When the shrill war-whoop came, and the door and +window were cut in strips by the knives of the Indians, he did not even +cease playing, but instinctively he closed his eyes, so as not to behold +the horror of his own end. + + + + +II + +It was long ago, upon the rolling prairie south of the Devil’s Lake, +that a motley body of hunters gathered near a mighty herd of the bison, +in the Moon of Falling Leaves. These were the first generation of the +Canadian mixed-bloods, who sprang up in such numbers as to form almost +a new people. These semi-wild Americans soon became a necessity to the +Hudson Bay Company, as they were the greatest hunters of the bison, +and made more use of this wonderful animal than even their aboriginal +ancestors. + +A curious race of people this, in their make-up and their customs! Their +shaggy black hair was allowed to grow long, reaching to their broad +shoulders, then cut off abruptly, making their heads look like a +thatched house. Their dark faces were in most cases well covered with +hair, their teeth large and white, and their eyes usually liquid black, +although occasionally one had a tiger-brown or cold-gray eye. Their +costume was a buckskin shirt with abundance of fringes, buckskin +pantaloons with short leggins, a gay sash, and a cap of fox-fur. Their +arms consisted of flint-lock guns, hatchets, and butcher-knives. Their +ponies were small, but as hardy as themselves. + +As these men gathered in the neighborhood of an immense herd of +buffaloes, they busied themselves in adjusting the girths of their +beautifully beaded pillow-like saddles. Among them there were +exceptional riders and hunters. It was said that few could equal Antoine +Michaud in feats of riding into and through the herd. There he stood, +all alone, the observed of many others. It was his habit to give several +Indian yells when the onset began, so as to insure a successful hunt. + +In this instance, Antoine gave his usual whoops, and when they had +almost reached the herd, he lifted his flint-lock over his head and +plunged into the black moving mass. With a sound like the distant +rumbling of thunder, those tens of thousands of buffalo hoofs were +pounding the earth in retreat. Thus Antoine disappeared! + +His wild steed dashed into the midst of the vast herd. Fortunately for +him, the animals kept clear of him; but alas! the gap through which he +had entered instantly closed again. + +He yelled frantically to secure an outlet, but without effect. He had +tied a red bandanna around his head to keep the hair off his face, +and he now took this off and swung it crazily about him to scatter the +buffalo, but it availed him nothing. + +With such a mighty herd in flight, the speed could not be great; +therefore the “Bois Brule” settled himself to the situation, allowing +his pony to canter along slowly to save his strength. It required much +tact and presence of mind to keep an open space, for the few paces of +obstruction behind had gradually grown into a mile. + +The mighty host moved continually southward, walking and running +alternately. As the sun neared the western horizon, it fired the sky +above them, and all the distant hills and prairies were in the glow of +it, but immediately about them was a thick cloud of dust, and the ground +appeared like a fire-swept plain. + +Suddenly Antoine was aware of a tremendous push from behind. The animals +smelled the cool water of a spring which formed a large bog in the midst +of the plain. This solitary pond or marsh was a watering-place for the +wild animals. All pushed and edged toward it; it was impossible for any +one to withstand the combined strength of so many. + +Antoine and his steed were in imminent danger of being pushed into +the mire and trampled upon, but a mere chance brought them upon solid +ground. As they were crowded across the marsh, his pony drank heartily, +and he, for the first time, let go his bridle, put his two palms +together for a dipper, and drank greedily of the bitter water. He had +not eaten since early morning, so he now pulled up some bulrushes and +ate of the tender bulbs, while the pony grazed as best he could on the +tops of the tall grass. + +It was now dark. The night was wellnigh intolerable for Antoine. The +buffalo were about him in countless numbers, regarding him with vicious +glances. It was only by reason of the natural offensiveness of man that +they gave him any space. The bellowing of the bulls became general, and +there was a marked uneasiness on the part of the herd. This was a +sign of approaching storm, therefore the unfortunate hunter had this +additional cause for anxiety. Upon the western horizon were seen some +flashes of lightning. + +The cloud which had been a mere speck upon the horizon had now increased +to large proportions. Suddenly the wind came, and lightning flashes +became more frequent, showing the ungainly forms of the animals like +strange monsters in the white light. The colossal herd was again in +violent motion. It was a blind rush for shelter, and no heed was paid +to buffalo wallows or even deep gulches. All was in the deepest of +darkness. There seemed to be groaning in heaven and earth--millions of +hoofs and throats roaring in unison! + +As a shipwrecked man clings to a mere fragment of wood, so Antoine, +although almost exhausted with fatigue, still stuck to the back of his +equally plucky pony. Death was imminent for them both. As the mad rush +continued, every flash displayed heaps of bison in death struggle under +the hoofs of their companions. + +From time to time Antoine crossed himself and whispered a prayer to the +Virgin; and again he spoke to his horse after the fashion of an Indian: + +“Be brave, be strong, my horse! If we survive this trial, you shall have +great honor!” + +The stampede continued until they reached the bottom lands, and, like +a rushing stream, their course was turned aside by the steep bank of +a creek or small river. Then they moved more slowly in wide sweeps or +circles, until the storm ceased, and the exhausted hunter, still in his +saddle, took some snatches of sleep. + +When he awoke and looked about him again it was morning. The herd had +entered the strip of timber which lay on both sides of the river, and +it was here that Antoine conceived his first distinct hope of saving +himself. + +“Waw, waw, waw!” was the hoarse cry that came to his ears, apparently +from a human being in distress. Antoine strained his eyes and craned his +neck to see who it could be. Through an opening in the branches ahead he +perceived a large grizzly bear, lying along an inclined limb and hugging +it desperately to maintain his position. The herd had now thoroughly +pervaded the timber, and the bear was likewise hemmed in. He had taken +to his unaccustomed refuge after making a brave stand against several +bulls, one of which lay dead near by, while he himself was bleeding from +many wounds. + +Antoine had been assiduously looking for a friendly tree, by means of +which he hoped to effect his escape from captivity by the army of bison. +His horse, by chance, made his way directly under the very box-elder +that was sustaining the bear and there was a convenient branch just +within his reach. The Bois Brule was not then in an aggressive mood, +and he saw at a glance that the occupant of the tree would not interfere +with him. They were, in fact, companions in distress. Antoine tried +to give a war-whoop as he sprang desperately from the pony’s back and +seized the cross limb with both his hands. + +The hunter dangled in the air for a minute that to him seemed a year. +Then he gathered up all the strength that was in him, and with one grand +effort he pulled himself up on the limb. + +If he had failed in this, he would have fallen to the ground under the +hoofs of the buffaloes, and at their mercy. + +After he had adjusted his seat as comfortably as he could, Antoine +surveyed the situation. He had at least escaped from sudden and certain +death. It grieved him that he had been forced to abandon his horse, and +he had no idea how far he had come nor any means of returning to his +friends, who had, no doubt, given him up for lost. His immediate needs +were rest and food. + +Accordingly he selected a fat cow and emptied into her sides one barrel +of his gun, which had been slung across his chest. He went on shooting +until he had killed many fat cows, greatly to the discomfiture of his +neighbor, the bear, while the bison vainly struggled among themselves to +keep the fatal spot clear. + +By the middle of the afternoon the main body of the herd had passed, and +Antoine was sure that his captivity had at last come to an end. Then +he swung himself from his limb to the ground, and walked stiffly to +the carcass of the nearest cow, which he dressed and prepared himself a +meal. But first he took a piece of liver on a long pole to the bear! + +Antoine finally decided to settle in the recesses of the heavy timber +for the winter, as he was on foot and alone, and not able to travel any +great distance. He jerked the meat of all the animals he had killed, and +prepared their skins for bedding and clothing. The Bois Brule and Ami, +as he called the bear, soon became necessary to one another. The former +considered the bear very good company, and the latter had learned that +man’s business, after all, is not to kill every animal he meets. He had +been fed and kindly treated, when helpless from his wounds, and this he +could not forget. + +Antoine was soon busy erecting a small log hut, while the other partner +kept a sharp lookout, and, after his hurts were healed, often brought in +some small game. The two had a perfect understanding without many words; +at least, the speech was all upon one side! In his leisure moments +Antoine had occupied himself with whittling out a rude fiddle of +cedar-wood, strung with the guts of a wild cat that he had killed. Every +evening that winter he would sit down after supper and play all the old +familiar pieces, varied with improvisations of his own. At first, the +music and the incessant pounding time with his foot annoyed the bear. At +times, too, the Canadian would call out the figures for the dance. All +this Ami became accustomed to in time, and even showed no small interest +in the buzzing of the little cedar box. Not infrequently, he was out +in the evening, and the human partner was left alone. It chanced, quite +fortunately, that the bear was absent on the night that the red folk +rudely invaded the lonely hut. + +The calmness of the strange being had stayed their hands. They had never +before seen a man of other race than their own! + +“Is this Chanotedah? Is he man, or beast?” the warriors asked one +another. + +“Ho, wake up, koda!” exclaimed Anookasan. “Maybe he is of the porcupine +tribe, ashamed to look at us!” + +At this moment they spied the haunch of venison which swung from a +cross-stick over a fine bed of coals, in front of the rude mud chimney. + +“Ho, koda has something to eat! Sit down, sit down!” they shouted to one +another. + +Now Antoine opened his eyes for the first time upon his unlooked-for +guests. They were a haggard and hungry-looking set. Anookasan extended +his hand, and Antoine gave it a hearty shake. He set his fiddle against +the wall and began to cut up the smoking venison into generous pieces +and place it before them. All ate like famished men, while the firelight +intensified the red paint upon their wild and warlike faces. + +When he had satisfied his first hunger, Anookasan spoke in signs. +“Friend, we have never before heard a song like that of your little +cedar box! We had supposed it to be a spirit, or some harmful thing, +hence our attack upon it. We never saw any people of your sort. What is +your tribe?” + +Antoine explained his plight in the same manner, and the two soon came +to an understanding. The Canadian told the starving hunters of a buffalo +herd a little way to the north, and one of their number was dispatched +homeward with the news. In two days the entire band reached Antoine’s +place. The Bois Brule was treated with kindness and honor, and the tribe +gave him a wife. Suffice it to say that Antoine lived and died among the +Yanktons at a good old age; but Ami could not brook the invasion upon +their hermit life. He was never seen after that first evening. + + + + +IV. THE FAMINE + +On the Assiniboine River in western Manitoba there stands an old, +historic trading-post, whose crumbling walls crown a high promontory in +the angle formed by its junction with a tributary stream. This is Fort +Ellis, a mistress of the wilderness and lodestone of savage tribes +between the years 1830 and 1870. + +Hither at that early day the Indians brought their buffalo robes and +beaver skins to exchange for merchandise, ammunition, and the “spirit +water.” Among the others there presently appeared a band of renegade +Sioux--the exiles, as they called themselves--under White Lodge, whose +father, Little Crow, had been a leader in the outbreak of 1862. Now the +great warchief was dead, and his people were prisoners or fugitives. +The shrewd Scotch trader, McLeod, soon discovered that the Sioux were +skilled hunters, and therefore he exerted himself to befriend them, +as well as to encourage a feeling of good will between them and the +Canadian tribes who were accustomed to make the old fort their summer +rendezvous. + +Now the autumn had come, after a long summer of feasts and dances, and +the three tribes broke up and dispersed as usual in various directions. +White Lodge had twin daughters, very handsome, whose ears had been kept +burning with the proposals of many suitors, but none had received any +definite encouragement. There were one or two who would have been quite +willing to forsake their own tribes and follow the exiles had they +not feared too much the ridicule of the braves. Even Angus McLeod, the +trader’s eldest son, had need of all his patience and caution, for he +had never seen any woman he admired so much as the piquant Magaskawee, +called The Swan, one of these belles of the forest. + +The Sioux journeyed northward, toward the Mouse River. They had wintered +on that stream before, and it was then the feeding ground of large herds +of buffalo. When it was discovered that the herds were moving westward, +across the Missouri, there was no little apprehension. The shrewd +medicine-man became aware of the situation, and hastened to announce his +prophecy: + +“The Great Mystery has appeared to me in a dream! He showed me men with +haggard and thin faces. I interpret this to mean a scarcity of food +during the winter.” + +The chief called his counselors together and set before them the dream +of the priest, whose prophecy, he said, was already being fulfilled in +part by the westward movement of the buffalo. It was agreed that they +should lay up all the dried meat they could obtain; but even for this +they were too late. The storms were already at hand, and that winter was +more severe than any that the old men could recall in their traditions. +The braves killed all the small game for a wide circuit around the camp, +but the buffalo had now crossed the river, and that country was not +favorable for deer. The more enterprising young men organized hunting +expeditions to various parts of the open prairie, but each time they +returned with empty hands. + +The “Moon of Sore Eyes,” or March, had come at last, and Wazeah, the God +of Storm, was still angry. Their scant provision of dried meat had held +out wonderfully, but it was now all but consumed. The Sioux had but +little ammunition, and the snow was still so deep that it was impossible +for them to move away to any other region in search of game. The worst +was feared; indeed, some of the children and feeble old people had +already succumbed. + +White Lodge again called his men together in council, and it was +determined to send a messenger to Fort Ellis to ask for relief. A young +man called Face-the-Wind was chosen for his exceptional qualities of +speed and endurance upon long journeys. The old medicine-man, whose +shrewd prophecy had gained for him the confidence of the people, now +came forward. He had closely observed the appearance of the messenger +selected, and had taken note of the storm and distance. Accordingly he +said: + +“My children, the Great Mystery is offended, and this is the cause of +all our suffering! I see a shadow hanging over our messenger, but I will +pray to the Great Spirit--perhaps he may yet save him!--Great Mystery, +be thou merciful! Strengthen this young man for his journey, that he +may be able to finish it and to send us aid! If we see the sun of summer +again, we will offer the choicest of our meats to thee, and do thee +great honor!” + +During this invocation, as occasionally happens in March, a loud peal +of thunder was heard. This coincidence threw the prophet almost into +a frenzy, and the poor people were all of a tremble. Face-the-Wind +believed that the prayer was directly answered, and though weakened by +fasting and unfit for the task before him, he was encouraged to make the +attempt. + +He set out on the following day at dawn, and on the third day staggered +into the fort, looking like a specter and almost frightening the people. +He was taken to McLeod’s house and given good care. The poor fellow, +delirious with hunger, fancied himself engaged in mortal combat with +Eyah, the god of famine, who has a mouth extending from ear to ear. +Wherever he goes there is famine, for he swallows all that he sees, even +whole nations! + +The legend has it that Eyah fears nothing but the jingling of metal: so +finally the dying man looked up into McLeod’s face and cried: “Ring your +bell in his face, Wahadah!” + + +The kind-hearted factor could not refuse, and as the great bell used to +mark the hours of work and of meals pealed out untimely upon the frosty +air, the Indian started up and in that moment breathed his last. He had +given no news, and McLeod and his sons could only guess at the state of +affairs upon the Mouse River. + +While the men were in council with her father, Magaskawee had turned +over the contents of her work-bag. She had found a small roll of +birch-bark in which she kept her porcupine quills for embroidery, and +pulled the delicate layers apart. The White Swan was not altogether the +untutored Indian maiden, for she had lived in the family of a missionary +in the States, and had learned both to speak and write some English. +There was no ink, no pen or pencil, but with her bone awl she pressed +upon the white side of the bark the following words: + + MR. ANGUS McLEOD:-- + + We are near the hollow rock on the Mouse River. The + buffalo went away across the Missouri, and our powder and + shot are gone. We are starving. Good-bye, if I don’t see + you again. + + MAGASKAWEE. + + +The girl entrusted this little note to her grandmother, and she in turn +gave it to the messenger. But he, as we know, was unable to deliver it. + +“Angus, tell the boys to bury the poor fellow to-morrow. I dare say +he brought us some news from White Lodge, but we have got to go to the +happy hunting-grounds to get it, or wait till the exile band returns in +the spring. Evidently,” continued McLeod, “he fell sick on the way: or +else he was starving!” + +This last suggestion horrified Angus. “I believe, father,” he exclaimed, +“that we ought to examine his bundle.” + +A small oblong packet was brought forth from the dead man’s belt and +carefully unrolled. + +There were several pairs of moccasins, and within one of these Angus +found something wrapped up nicely. He proceeded to unwind the long +strings of deerskin with which it was securely tied, and brought forth a +thin sheet of birch-bark. At first, there seemed to be nothing more, +but a closer scrutiny revealed the impression of the awl, and the bit +of nature’s parchment was brought nearer to his face, and scanned with a +zeal equal to that of any student of ancient hieroglyphics. + +“This tells the whole story, father!” exclaimed the young man at last. +“Magaskawee’s note--just listen!” and he read it aloud. “I shall start +to-morrow. We can take enough provision and ammunition on two sleds, +with six dogs to each. I shall want three good men to go with me.” Angus +spoke with decision. + +“Well, we can’t afford to lose our best hunters; and you might also +bring home with you what furs and robes they have on hand,” was his +father’s prudent reply. + +“I don’t care particularly for the skins,” Angus declared; but he at +once began hurried preparations for departure. + +In the meantime affairs grew daily more desperate in the exile village +on the far-away Mouse River, and a sort of Indian hopelessness and +resignation settled down upon the little community. There were few who +really expected their messenger to reach the fort, or believed that even +if he did so, relief would be sent in time to save them. White Lodge, +the father of his people, was determined to share with them the last +mouthful of food, and every morning Winona and Magaskawee went with +scanty portions in their hands to those whose supply had entirely +failed. + +On the outskirts of the camp there dwelt an old woman with an orphan +grandchild, who had been denying herself for some time in order that the +child might live longer. This poor teepee the girls visited often, and +one on each side they raised the exhausted woman and poured into her +mouth the warm broth they had brought with them. + +It was on the very day Face-the-Wind reached Fort Ellis that a young +hunter who had ventured further from the camp than any one else had +the luck to bring down a solitary deer with his bow and arrow. In his +weakness he had reached camp very late, bearing the deer with the utmost +difficulty upon his shoulders. It was instantly separated into as many +pieces as there were lodges of the famishing Sioux. These delicious +morsels were hastily cooked and eagerly devoured, but among so many +there was scarcely more than a mouthful to the share of each, and the +brave youth himself did not receive enough to appease in the least his +craving! + +On the eve of Angus’ departure for the exile village, Three Stars, a +devoted suitor of Winona’s, accompanied by another Assiniboine brave, +appeared unexpectedly at the fort. He at once asked permission to join +the relief party, and they set out at daybreak. + +The lead-dog was the old reliable Mack, who had been in service for +several seasons on winter trips. All of the white men were clad in +buckskin shirts and pantaloons, with long fringes down the sides, fur +caps and fur-lined moccasins. Their guns were fastened to the long, +toboggan-like sleds. + +The snow had thawed a little and formed an icy crust, and over this +fresh snow had fallen, which a northwest wind swept over the surface +like ashes after a prairie fire. The sun appeared for a little time in +the morning, but it seemed as if he were cutting short his course on +account of the bleak day, and had protected himself with pale rings of +fire. + +The dogs laid back their ears, drew in their tails, and struck into +their customary trot, but even old Mack looked back frequently, as if +reluctant to face such a pricking and scarifying wind. The men felt the +cold still more keenly, although they had taken care to cover every bit +of the face except one eye, and that was completely blinded at times by +the granulated snow. + +The sun early retreated behind a wall of cloud, and the wind moaned and +wailed like a living creature in anguish. At last they approached the +creek where they had planned to camp for the night. There was nothing +to be seen but a few stunted willows half buried in the drifts, but the +banks of the little stream afforded some protection from the wind. + +“Whoa!” shouted the leader, and the dogs all stopped, sitting down on +their haunches. “Come, Mack!” (with a wave of the hand), “lead your +fellows down to the creek!” + +The old dog started down at the word, and all the rest followed. A +space was quickly cleared of snow, while one man scoured the thickets +in search of brush for fuel. In a few minutes the tent was up and a fire +kindled in the center, while the floor was thickly strewn with twigs of +willow, over which buffalo robes were spread. Three Stars attended to +supper, and soon in the midst of the snapping willow fire a kettle was +boiling. All partook of strong tea, dried meat of buffalo, and pemmican, +a mixture of pounded dried meat with wild cherries and melted fat. The +dogs, to whom one-half the tent was assigned, enjoyed a hearty meal and +fell into a deep sleep, lying one against another. + +After supper Jerry drove two sticks into the ground, one on each side of +the fire, and connected the two by a third one over the blaze. Upon +this all hung their socks to dry--most of them merely square pieces of +blanket cut to serve that purpose. Soon each man rolled himself in his +own buffalo robe and fell asleep. + +All night the wind raged. The lonely teepee now and then shuddered +violently, as a stronger blast than usual almost lifted it from the +ground. No one stirred except from time to time one of the dogs, who +got up snarling and sniffing the cold air, turned himself round several +times as if on a pivot, and finally lay down for another nap. + +In the morning the travelers one by one raised their heads and looked +through the smoke-hole, then fell back again with a grunt. All the world +appeared without form and void. Presently, however, the light of the sun +was seen as if through a painted window, and by afternoon they were able +to go on, the wind having partially subsided. This was only a taste of +the weather encountered by the party on their unseasonable trip; but had +it been ten times harder, it would never have occurred to Angus to turn +back. + +On the third day the rescuers approached the camp of the exiles. There +was an ominous quiet; no creature was to be seen; but the smoke which +ascended into the air in perpendicular columns assured them that some, +at least, were still alive. The party happened to reach first the teepee +of the poor old woman who had been so faithfully ministered to by the +twin sisters. They had no longer any food to give, but they had come to +build her fire, if she should have survived the night. At the very door +of the lodge they heard the jingle of dog-bells, but they had not time +to announce the joyful news before the men were in sight. + +In another minute Angus and Three Stars were beside them, holding their +wasted hands. + + + + +V. THE CHIEF SOLDIER + +Just outside of a fine large wigwam of smoke-tanned buffalo-skins stood +Tawasuota, very early upon an August morning of the year 1862. Behind +the wigwam there might have been seen a thrifty patch of growing +maize, whose tall, graceful stalks resembled as many warriors in +dancing-dresses and tasseled head-gear. + +“Thanks be to the ‘Great Mystery,’ I have been successful in the +fortunes of war! None can say that Tawasuota is a coward. I have done +well; so well that our chief, Little Crow, has offered me the honored +position of his chief soldier, ta akich-itah!” he said to himself with +satisfaction. + +The sun was just over the eastem bank of the Minnesota River, and he +could distinctly see upon the level prairie the dwellings of logs which +had sprung up there during the year, since Little Crow’s last treaty +with the whites. “Ugh! they are taking from us our beautiful and +game-teeming country!” was his thought as he gazed upon them. + +At that moment, out of the conical white teepee, in shape like a +new-born mushroom, there burst two little frisky boys, leaping and +whooping. They were clad gracefully in garments of fine deerskin, and +each wore a miniature feather upon his head, marking them as children of +a distinguished warrior. + +They danced nimbly around their father, while he stood with all the +dignity of a buck elk, viewing the landscape reddened by sunrise and the +dwellers therein, the old and the new, the red and the white. He noticed +that they were still unmingled; the river divided them. + +At last he took the dancing little embryo warriors one in either hand, +and lifted them to his majestic shoulders. There he placed them +in perfect poise. His haughty spirit found a moment’s happiness in +fatherhood. + +Suddenly Tawasuota set the two boys on the ground again, and signed +to them to enter the teepee. Apparently all was quiet. The camps and +villages of the Minnesota reservation were undisturbed, so far as he +could see, save by the awakening of nature; and the early risers among +his people moved about in seeming security, while the smoke of their +morning fires arose one by one into the blue. Still the warrior gazed +steadily westward, up the river, whence his quick ear had caught the +faint but ominous sound of a distant war-whoop. + +The ridge beyond the Wahpeton village bounded the view, and between this +point and his own village were the agency buildings and the traders’ +stores. The Indian’s keen eye swept the horizon, and finally alighted +once more upon the home of his new neighbor across the river, the +flaxen-haired white man with many children, who with his white squaw +and his little ones worked from sunrise to sunset, much like the beaver +family. + +Ah! the distant war-whoop once more saluted his ear, but this time +nearer and more distinct. + +“What! the Rice Creek band is coming in full war-paint! Can it be +another Ojibway attack? Ugh, ugh! I will show their warriors again this +day what it is to fight!” he exclaimed aloud. + +The white traders and Government employees, those of them who were up +and about, heard and saw the advancing column of warriors. Yet they +showed no sign of anxiety or fear. Most of them thought that there might +be some report of Ojibways coming to attack the Sioux,--a not uncommon +incident,--and that those warriors were on their way to the post to +replenish their powder-horns. A few of the younger men were delighted +with the prospect of witnessing an Indian fight. + +On swept the armed band, in numbers increasing at every village. + +It was true that there had been a growing feeling of distrust among the +Indians, because their annuities had been withheld for a long time, and +the money payments had been delayed again and again. There were many in +great need. The traders had given them credit to some extent (charging +them four times the value of the article purchased), and had likewise +induced Little Crow to sign over to them ninety-eight thousand dollars, +the purchase-price of that part of their reservation lying north of the +Minnesota, and already occupied by the whites. + +This act had made the chief very unpopular, and he was ready for a +desperate venture to regain his influence. Certain warriors among the +upper bands of Sioux had even threatened his life, but no one spoke +openly of a break with the whites. + +When, therefore, the news came to Little Crow that some roving hunters +of the Rice Creek band had killed in a brawl two families of white +settlers, he saw his opportunity to show once for all to the disaffected +that he had no love for the white man. Immediately he sprang upon his +white horse, and prepared to make their cause a general one among his +people. + +Tawasuota had scarcely finished his hasty preparations for war, by +painting his face and seeing to the loading of his gun, when he heard +the voice of Little Crow outside his lodge. + +“You are now my head soldier,” said the chief, “and this is your first +duty. Little Six and his band have inaugurated the war against the +whites. They have already wiped out two families, and are now on their +way to the agency. Let my chief soldier fire the first shot. + +“Those Indians who have cut their hair and donned the white man’s +clothing may give the warning; so make haste! If you fall to-day, there +is no better day on which to die, and the women of our tribe will weep +proud tears for Tawasuota. I leave it with you to lead my warriors.” + With these words the wily chief galloped away to meet the war-party. + +“Here comes Little Crow, the friend of the white man!” exclaimed a +warrior, as he approached. + +“Friends and warriors, you will learn to-day who are the friends of +the white man, and none will dare again to insinuate that I have been +against the interests of my own people,” he replied. + +After a brief consultation with the chiefs he advised the traders: + +“Do not hesitate to fill the powder-horns of my warriors; they may be +compelled to fight all day.” + +Soon loud yells were heard along the road to the Indian village. + +“Ho, ho! Tawasuota u ye do!” (“He is coming; he is coming!”) shouted the +warriors in chorus. + +The famous war-chief dismounted in silence, gun in hand, and walked +directly toward the larger store. + +“Friend,” he exclaimed, “we may both meet the ‘Great Mystery’ to-day, +but you must go first.” + +There was a loud report, and the unsuspecting white man lay dead. It was +James Lynd, one of the early traders, and a good friend to the Indians. + +No sooner had Tawasuota fired the fatal shot than every other Indian +discharged his piece. Hither and thither ran the frantic people, seeking +safety, but seeking it in vain. They were wholly unprepared and at the +mercy of the foe. + +The friendly Indians, too, were taken entirely by surprise. They had +often heard wild talk of revolt, but it had never had the indorsement of +intelligent chiefs, or of such a number as to carry any weight to their +minds. Christian Indians rushed in every direction to save, if possible, +at least the wives and children of the Government employees. Meanwhile, +the new white settlements along the Minnesota River were utterly +unconscious of any danger. Not a soul dreamed of the terrible calamity +that each passing moment was bringing nearer and nearer. + +Tawasuota stepped aside, and took up his pipe. He seemed almost +oblivious of what he had done. While the massacre still raged about +him in all its awful cruelty, he sat smoking and trying to think +collectedly, but his mind was confused, and in his secret thoughts he +rebelled against Little Crow. It was a cowardly deed that he had been +ordered to commit, he thought; for he had won his reputation solely by +brave deeds in battle, and this was more like murdering one of his own +tribesmen--this killing of an unarmed white man. Up to this time the +killing of a white man was not counted the deed of a warrior; it was +murder. + +The lesser braves might now satisfy their spite against the traders to +their hearts’ content, but Tawasuota had been upon the best of terms +with all of them. + +Suddenly a ringing shout was heard. The chief soldier looked up, and +beheld a white man, nearly nude, leap from the roof of the larger store +and alight upon the ground hard by him. + +He had emptied one barrel of his gun, and, if he chose to do so, could +have killed Myrick then and there; but he made no move, exclaiming: + +“Ho, ho! Nina iyaye!” (“Run, run!”) + +Away sped the white man in the direction of the woods and the river. + +“Ah, he is swift; he will save himself,” thought Tawasuota. + +All the Indians had now spied the fugitive; they yelled and fired at him +again and again, as if they were shooting at a running deer; but he +only ran faster. Just as he had reached the very edge of the sheltering +timber a single shot rang out, and he fell headlong. + +A loud war-whoop went up, for many believed that this was one of the men +who had stolen their trust funds. + +Tawasuota continued to sit and smoke in the shade while the carnage and +plunder that he had set on foot proceeded on all sides of him. Presently +men began to form small parties to cross the river on their mission of +death, but he refused to join any of them. At last, several of the older +warriors came up to smoke with him. + +“Ho, nephew,” said one of them with much gravity, “you have precipitated +a dreadful calamity. This means the loss of our country, the destruction +of our nation. What were you thinking of?” + +It was the Wahpeton chief who spoke, a blood-relation to Tawasuota. He +did not at once reply, but filled his pipe in silence, and handed it +to the man who thus reproached him. It was a just rebuke; for he was a +brave man, and he could have refused the request of his chief to open +the massacre. + +At this moment it was announced that a body of white soldiers were on +the march from Fort Ridgeley. A large body of warriors set out to meet +them. + +“Nephew, you have spilled the first blood of the white man; go, join in +battle with the soldiers. They are armed; they can defend themselves,” + remarked the old chief, and Tawasuota replied: + +“Uncle, you speak truth; I have committed the act of a coward. It was +not of my own will I did it; nevertheless, I have raised my weapon, and +I will fight the whites as long as I live. If I am ever taken, they +will first have to kill me.” He arose, took up his gun, and joined the +war-party. + +The dreadful day of massacre was almost ended. The terrified Sioux women +and children had fled up the river before the approaching troops. Long +shafts of light from the setting sun painted every hill; one side red as +with blood, the other dark as the shadow of death. A cloud of smoke +from burning homes hung over the beautiful river. Even the permanent +dwellings of the Indians were empty, and all the teepees which had +dotted with their white cones the west bank of the Minnesota had +disappeared. Here and there were small groups of warriors returning from +their bloody work, and among them was Tawasuota. + +He looked long at the spot where his home had stood; but it was gone, +and with it his family. Ah, the beautiful country of his ancestors! he +must depart from it forever, for he knew now that the white man would +occupy that land. Sadly he sang the spirit-song, and made his appeal to +the “Great Mystery,” excusing himself by the plea that what he had done +had been in the path of duty. There was no glory in it for him; he +could wear no eagle feather, nor could he ever recount the deed. It +was dreadful to him--the thought that he had fired upon an unarmed and +helpless man. + +The chief soldier followed the broad trail of the fleeing host, and +after some hours he came upon a camp. There were no war-songs nor +dances there, as was their wont after a battle, but a strange stillness +reigned. Even the dogs scarcely barked at his approach; everything +seemed conscious of the awful carnage of the day. + +He stopped at a tent and inquired after his beautiful wife and two +little sons, whom he had already trained to uphold their father’s +reputation, but was directed to his mother’s teepee. + +“Ah, my son, my son, what have you done?” cried his old mother when she +saw him. “Come in, come in; let us eat together once more; for I have a +foreboding that it is for the last time. Alas, what have you done?” + +Tawasuota silently entered the tent of his widowed mother, and his three +sisters gave him the place of honor. + +“Mother, it is not right to blame our brother,” said the eldest. “He was +the chief’s head soldier; and if he had disobeyed his orders, he would +have been called a coward. That he could not bear.” + +Food was handed him, and he swallowed a few mouthfuls, and gave back the +dish. + +“You have not yet told me where she is, and the children,” he said with +a deep sigh. + +“My son, my son, I have not, because it will give you pain. I wanted you +to eat first! She has been taken away by her own mother to Faribault, +among the white people. I could not persuade them to wait until you +came. Her people are lovers of the whites. They have even accepted their +religion,” grieved the good old mother. + +Tawasuota’s head dropped upon his chest, and he sat silent for a long +time. The mother and three sisters were also silent, for they knew how +heavy his grief must be. At last he spoke. + +“Mother, I am too proud to desert the tribe now and join my wife among +the white people. My brother-in-law may lie in my behalf, and say that +my hands are not stained with blood; but the spirits of those who died +to-day would rebuke me, and the rebuke would be just. No, I must fight +the whites until I die; and neither have I fought without cause; but I +must see my sons once more before I go.” + +When Tawasuota left his mother’s teepee he walked fast across the circle +toward the council lodge to see Little Crow. He drew his blanket closely +about him, with his gun underneath. The keen eye of the wily chief +detected the severe expression upon the face of his guest, and he +hastened to speak first. + +“There are times in the life of every great man when he must face +hardship and put self aside for the good of his people. You have done +well to-day!” + +“I care little for myself,” replied Tawasuota, “but my heart is heavy +to-night. My wife and two boys have been taken away among the whites by +my mother-in-law. I fear for their safety, when it is known what we have +done.” + +“Ugh, that old woman is too hasty in accepting the ways of the stranger +people!” exclaimed the chief. + +“I am now on my way to see them,” declared Tawasuota. + +“Ugh, ugh, I shall need you to-morrow! My plan is to attack the soldiers +at Fort Ridgeley with a strong force. There are not many. Then we shall +attack New Ulm and other towns. We will drive them all back into Saint +Paul and Fort Snelling.” Little Crow spoke with energy. + +“You must stay,” he added, “and lead the attack either at the fort or at +New Ulm.” + +For some minutes the chief soldier sat in silence. + +At last he said simply, “I will do it.” + +On the following day the attack was made, but it was unsuccessful. The +whole State was now alarmed, and all the frontier settlers left +alive had flocked to the larger and more protected towns. It had also +developed during the day that there was a large party of Sioux who were +ready to surrender, thereby showing that they had not been party to the +massacre nor indorsed the hasty action of the tribe. + +At evening Tawasuota saw that there would be a long war with the whites, +and that the Indians must remove their families out of danger. The +feeling against all Indians was great. Night had brought him no relief +of mind, but it promised to shield him in a hazardous undertaking. He +consulted no one, but set out for the distant village of Faribault. + +He kept to the flats back of the Minnesota, away from the well-traveled +roads, and moved on at a good gait, for he realized that he had to cover +a hundred miles in as few hours as possible. Every day that passed would +make it more difficult for him to rejoin his family. + +Although he kept as far as he could from the settlements, he would come +now and then upon a solitary frame house, razed to the ground by the +war-parties of the day before. The members of the ill-fated family were +to be seen scattered in and about the place; and their white, upturned +faces told him that his race must pay for the deed. + +The dog that howled pitifully over the dead was often the only survivor +of the farmer’s household. + +Occasionally Tawasuota heard at a distance the wagons of the fugitives, +loaded with women and children, while armed men walked before and +behind. These caravans were usually drawn by oxen and moved slowly +toward some large town. + +When the dawn appeared in the east, the chief soldier was compelled to +conceal himself in a secluded place. He rolled up in his blanket, lay +down in a dry creek-bed among the red willows and immediately fell +asleep. + +With the next evening he resumed his journey, and reached Faribault +toward midnight. Even here every approach was guarded against the +possibility of an Indian attack. But there was much forest, and he knew +the country well. He reconnoitred, and soon found the Indian community, +but dared not approach and enter, for these Indians had allied +themselves with the whites; they would be charged with treachery if +it were known that they had received a hostile Sioux, and none were so +hated by the white people as Little Crow and his war-chief. + +He chose a concealed position from which he might watch the movements of +his wife, if she were indeed there, and had not been waylaid and slain +on the journey hither. + +That night was the hardest one that the warrior had ever known. If he +slept, it was only to dream of the war-whoop and attack; but at last he +found himself broad awake, the sun well up, and yes! there were his two +little sons, playing outside their teepee as of old. The next moment he +heard the voice of his wife from the deep woods wailing for her husband! + +“Oh, take us, husband, take us with you! let us all die together!” she +pleaded as she clung to him whom she had regarded as already dead; for +she knew of the price that had been put upon his head, and that some +of the halfbreeds loved money better than the blood of their Indian +mothers. + +Tawasuota stood for a minute without speaking, while his huge frame +trembled like a mighty pine beneath the thunderbolt. + +“No,” he said at last. “I shall go, but you must remain. You are a +woman, and the white people need not know that your little boys are +mine. Bring them here to me this evening that I may kiss them farewell.” + +The sun was hovering among the treetops when they met again. + +“Atay! atay!” (“Papa, papa!”) the little fellows cried out in spite of +her cautions; but the mother put her finger to her lips, and they became +silent. Tawasuota took each boy in his arms, and held him close for a +few moments; he smiled to them, but large tears rolled down his cheeks. +Then he disappeared in the shadows, and they never saw him again. + +The chief soldier lived and died a warrior and an enemy to the white +man; but one of his two sons became in after-years a minister of the +Christian gospel, under the “Long-Haired Praying Man,” Bishop Whipple, +of Minnesota. + + + + +VI. THE WHITE MAN’S ERRAND + +Upon the wide tableland that lies at the back of a certain Indian +agency, a camp of a thousand teepees was pitched in a circle, according +to the ancient usage. In the center of the circle stood the council +lodge, where there were gathered together of an afternoon all the men +of years and distinction, some in blankets, some in uniform, and still +others clad in beggarly white man’s clothing. But the minds of all were +alike upon the days of their youth and freedom. + +Around the council fire they passed and repassed the pipe of peace, and +when the big drum was struck they sang the accompaniment with sad yet +pleasant thoughts of the life that is past. Between the songs stories of +brave deeds and dangerous exploits were related by the actors in turn, +with as much spirit and zest as if they were still living in those days. + +“Tum, tum, tum,” the drum was sounded. + +“Oow, oow!” they hooted in a joyous chorus at the close of each refrain. + +“Ho!” exclaimed finally the master of ceremonies for the evening. “It is +Zuyamani’s story of his great ride that we should now hear! It was +not far from this place, upon the Missouri River, and within the +recollection of many of us that this occurred. Ye young men must hear!” + +“Ho, ho!” was the ready response of all present, and the drum was struck +once according to custom. The pipe was filled and handed to Zuyamani, +who gravely smoked for a few moments in silence. Then he related his +contribution to the unwritten history of our frontier in these words: + +“It was during the winter following that summer in which General Sibley +pursued many of our people across the Muddy River (1863), that +we Hunkpatees, friendly Sioux, were camping at a place called +‘Hunt-the-Deer,’ about two miles from Fort Rice, Dakota Territory. + +“The Chief Soldier of the garrison called one day upon the leading +chiefs of our band. To each one he said: ‘Lend me your bravest warrior!’ +Each chief called his principal warriors together and laid the matter +before them. + +“‘The Chief Soldier at this place,’ they explained, ‘wants to send a +message to Fort Berthold, where the Rees and Mandans live, to another +Chief Soldier there. The soldiers of the Great Father do not know the +way, neither could any of them get through the lines. He asks for a +brave man to carry his message.’ + +“The Mandans and the Rees were our hereditary enemies, but this was not +the principal reason for our hesitation. We had declared allegiance +to the Great Father at Washington; we had taken our stand against the +fighting men of our own nation, and the hostile Sioux were worse than +enemies to us at this time! + +“Each chief had only called on his leading warriors, and each in turn +reported his failure to secure a volunteer. + +“Then the Chief Soldier sent again and said: ‘Is there not a young +man among you who dares to face death? If he reaches the fort with my +message, he will need to be quick-witted as well as brave, and the Great +Father will not forget him!’ + +“Now all the chiefs together called all the young men in a great +council, and submitted to them the demand of the Great Father’s servant. +We knew well that the country between us and Fort Berthold, about one +hundred and fifty miles distant, was alive with hostile Sioux, and that +if any of us should be caught and recognized by them, he would surely +be put to death. It would not be easy to deceive them by professing +hostility to the Government, for the record of each individual Indian +is well known. The warriors were still unwilling to go, for they argued +thus: ‘This is a white man’s errand, and will not be recorded as a +brave deed upon the honor roll of our people.’ I think many would have +volunteered but for that belief. At that time we had not a high opinion +of the white man. + +“Since all the rest were silent, it came into my mind to offer my +services. The warriors looked at me in astonishment, for I was a very +young man and had no experience. + +“Our chief, Two Bears, who was my own uncle, finally presented my name +to the commanding officer. He praised my courage and begged me to +be vigilant. The interpreter told him that I had never been upon the +war-path and would be knocked over like a rabbit, but as no one else +would go, he was obliged to accept me as his messenger. He gave me a +fine horse and saddle; also a rifle and soldier’s uniform. I would not +take the gun nor wear the blue coat. I accepted only a revolver, and I +took my bow and quiver full of arrows, and wore my usual dress. I hid +the letter in my moccasin. + +“I set out before daybreak the next morning. The snow was deep. I rode +up the river, on the west bank, keeping a very close watch all the way, +but seeing nothing. I had been provided with a pair of field glasses, +and I surveyed the country on all sides from the top of every hill. +Having traveled all day and part of the night, I rested my horse and I +took a little sleep. + +“After eating a small quantity of pemmican, I made a very early start +in the morning. It was scarcely light when I headed for a near-by ridge +from which to survey the country beyond. Just as I ascended the rise I +found myself almost surrounded by loose ponies, evidently belonging to a +winter camp of the hostile Sioux. + +“I readjusted my saddle, tightened the girths, and prepared to ride +swiftly around the camp. I saw some men already out after ponies. No one +appeared to have seen me as yet, but I felt that as soon as it became +lighter they could not help observing me. I turned to make the circuit +of the camp, which was a very large one, and as soon as I reached the +timbered bottom lands I began to congratulate myself that I had not been +seen. + +“As I entered the woods at the crossing of a dry creek, I noticed that +my horse was nervous. I knew that horses are quick to discover animals +or men by scent, and I became nervous, too. + +“The animal put his four feet together and almost slid down the steep +bank. As he came out on the opposite side he swerved suddenly and +started to run. Then I saw a man watching me from behind a tree. +Fortunately for me, he carried no weapon. He was out after ponies, and +had only a lariat wound upon one shoulder. + +“He beckoned and made signs for me to stop, but I spurred my horse and +took flight at once. I could hear him yelling far behind me, no doubt to +arouse the camp and set them on my trail. + +“As I fled westward, I came upon another man, mounted, and driving his +ponies before him. He yelled and hooted in vain; then turned and rode +after me. Two others had started in pursuit, but my horse was a good +one, and I easily outdistanced them at the start. + +“After I had fairly circled the camp, I turned again toward the river, +hoping to regain the bottom lands. The traveling was bad. Sometimes we +came to deep gulches filled with snow, where my horse would sink in +up to his body and seem unable to move. When I jumped off his back and +struck him once or twice, he would make several desperate leaps and +recover his footing. My pursuers were equally hindered, but by this +time the pursuit was general, and in order to terrify me they yelled +continually and fired their guns into the air. Now and then I came to +a gulch which I had to follow up in search of a place to cross, and at +such times they gained on me. I began to despair, for I knew that the +white man’s horses have not the endurance of our Indian ponies, and I +expected to be chased most of the day. + +“Finally I came to a ravine that seemed impossible to cross. As I +followed it up, it became evident that some of them had known of this +trap, and had cut in ahead of me. I felt that I must soon abandon my +horse and slide down the steep sides of the gulch to save myself. + +“However, I made one last effort to pass my enemies. They came within +gunshot and several fired at me, although all our horses were going at +full speed. They missed me, and being at last clear of them, I came to a +place where I could cross, and the pursuit stopped.” + +When Zuyamani reached this point in his recital, the great drum was +struck several times, and all the men cheered him. + +“The days are short in winter,” he went on after a short pause, “and +just now the sun sank behind the hills. I did not linger. I continued my +journey by night, and reached Fort Berthold before midnight. I had been +so thoroughly frightened and was so much exhausted that I did not +want to talk, and as soon as I had delivered my letters to the post +commander, I went to the interpreter’s quarters to sleep. + +“The interpreter, however, announced my arrival, and that same night +many Ree, Gros Ventre, and Mandan warriors came to call upon me. Among +them was a great chief of the Rees, called Poor Dog. + +“‘You must be,’ said he to me, ‘either a very young man, or a fool! You +have not told us about your close escape, but a runner came in at dusk +and told us of the pursuit. He reported that you had been killed by +the hostiles, for he heard many guns fired about the middle of the +afternoon. These white men will never give you any credit for your +wonderful ride, nor will they compensate you for the risks you have +taken in their service. They will not give you so much as one eagle +feather for what you have done!’ + +“The next day I was sent for to go to headquarters, and there I related +my all-day pursuit by the hostile Sioux. The commanding officer advised +me to remain at the fort fifteen days before making the return trip, +thinking that by that time my enemies might cease to look for me. + +“At the end of the fortnight he wrote his letters, and I told him that +I was ready to start. ‘I will give you,’ he said, ‘twenty Rees and Gros +Ventres to escort you past the hostile camp.’ We set out very early and +rode all day, so that night overtook us just before we reached the camp. + +“At nightfall we sent two scouts ahead, but before they left us they +took the oath of the pipe in token of their loyalty. You all know the +ancient war custom. A lighted pipe was held toward them and each one +solemnly touched it, after which it was passed as usual. + +“We followed more slowly, and at about midnight we came to the place +where our scouts had agreed to meet us. They were to return from a +reconnaissance of the camp and report on what they had seen. It was a +lonely spot, and the night was very cold and still. We sat there in the +snowy woods near a little creek and smoked in silence while we waited. +I had plenty of time to reflect upon my position. These Gros Ventres +and Rees have been our enemies for generations. I was one man to twenty! +They had their orders from the commander of the fort, and that was my +only safeguard. + +“Soon we heard the howl of a wolf a little to the westward. Immediately +one of the party answered in the same manner. I could not have told +it from the howl of a real wolf. Then we heard a hooting owl down the +creek. Another of our party hooted like an owl. + +“Presently the wolf’s voice sounded nearer, while the owl’s hoot came +nearer in the opposite direction. Then we heard the footsteps of ponies +on the crisp, frosty air. The scout who had been imitating the wolf came +in first, and the owl soon followed. The warriors made a ring and again +filled the pipe, and the scouts took the oath for the second time. + +“After smoking, they reported a trail going up a stream tributary to the +Missouri, but whether going out or coming in it was impossible to tell +in the dark. It was several days old. This was discussed for some time. +The question was whether some had gone out in search of meat, or whether +some additional men had come into camp. + +“The Bunch of Stars was already a little west of the middle sky when we +set out again. They agreed to take me a short distance beyond this creek +and there leave me, as they were afraid to go any further. On the bank +of the creek we took a farewell smoke. There was a faint glow in the +east, showing that it was almost morning. The warriors sang a ‘Strong +Heart’ song for me in an undertone as I went on alone. + +“I tried to make a wide circuit of the camp, but I passed their ponies +grazing all over the side hills at a considerable distance, and I went +as quietly as possible, so as not to frighten them. When I had fairly +passed the camp I came down to the road again, and I let my horse fly! + +“I had been cautioned at the post that the crossings of the creeks on +either side of the camp were the most dangerous places, since they would +be likely to watch for me there. I had left the second crossing far +behind, and I felt quite safe; but I was tired and chilled by the long +ride. My horse, too, began to show signs of fatigue. In a deep ravine +where there was plenty of dry wood and shelter, I cleared the ground of +snow and kindled a small fire. Then I gave the horse his last ration of +oats, and I ate the last of the pemmican that the Ree scouts had given +me. + +“Suddenly he pricked up his ears in the direction of home. He ate a +mouthful and listened again. I began to grow nervous, and I listened, +too. Soon I heard the footsteps of horses in the snow at a considerable +distance. + +“Hastily I mounted and took flight along the ravine until I had to come +out upon the open plain, in full view of a party of about thirty +Sioux in war-paint, coming back from the direction of Fort Rice. They +immediately gave chase, yelling and flourishing their guns and tomahawks +over their heads. I urged my horse to his best speed, for I felt that +if they should overtake me, nothing could save me! My friend, White Elk, +here, was one of that warparty. + +“I saw that I had a fair lead and the best horse, and was gaining upon +them, when about two miles out I met some more of the party who had +lingered behind the rest. I was surrounded! + +“I turned toward the north, to a deep gulch that I knew I should find +there, and I led my horse along a narrow and slippery ridge to a deep +hole. Here I took up my position. I guarded the pass with my bow and +arrows, and they could not reach me unless they should follow the ridge +in single file. I knew that they would not storm my position, for that +is not the Indian way of fighting, but I supposed that they would try +to tire me out. They yelled and hooted, and shot many bullets and arrows +over my head to terrify me into surrender, but I remained motionless and +silent. + +“Night came, with a full round moon. All was light as day except the +place where I stood, half frozen and not daring to move. The bottom of +the gulch was as black as a well and almost as cold. The wolves howled +all around me in the stillness. At last I heard the footsteps of horses +retreating, and then no other sound. Still I dared not come out. I must +have slept, for it was dawn when I seemed to hear faintly the yelling of +warriors, and then I heard my own name. + +“‘Zuyamani, tokiya nunka huwo?’ (Where are you, Zuyamani?) they shouted. +A party of my friends had come out to meet me and had followed our +trail. I was scarcely able to walk when I came out, but they filled the +pipe and held it up to me, as is done in recognition of distinguished +service. They escorted me into the post, singing war songs and songs of +brave deeds, and there I delivered up his letters to the Chief Soldier.” + +Again the drum was struck and the old men cheered Zuyamani, who added: + +“I think that Poor Dog was right, for the Great Father never gave me any +credit, nor did he ever reward me for what I had done. Yet I have not +been without honor, for my own people have not forgotten me, even though +I went upon the white man’s errand.” + + + + +VII. THE GRAVE OF THE DOG + +The full moon was just clear of the high mountain ranges. Surrounded by +a ring of bluish haze, it looked almost as if it were frozen against the +impalpable blueblack of the reckless midwinter sky. + +The game scout moved slowly homeward, well wrapped in his long buffalo +robe, which was securely belted to his strong loins; his quiver tightly +tied to his shoulders so as not to impede his progress. It was enough to +carry upon his feet two strong snow-shoes; for the snow was deep and its +crust too thin to bear his weight. + +As he emerged from the lowlands into the upper regions, he loomed up +a gigantic figure against the clear, moonlit horizon. His picturesque +foxskin cap with all its trimmings was incrusted with frost from the +breath of his nostrils, and his lagging footfall sounded crisply. The +distance he had that day covered was enough for any human endurance; yet +he was neither faint nor hungry; but his feet were frozen into the psay, +the snow-shoes, so that he could not run faster than an easy slip and +slide. + +At last he reached the much-coveted point--the crown of the last ascent; +and when he smelled fire and the savory odor of the jerked buffalo meat, +it well-nigh caused him to waver! But he must not fail to follow the +custom of untold ages, and give the game scout’s wolf call before +entering camp. + +Accordingly he paused upon the highest point of the ridge and uttered +a cry to which the hungry cry of a real wolf would have seemed but a +coyote’s yelp in comparison! Then it was that the rest of the buffalo +hunters knew that their game scout was returning with welcome news; for +the unsuccessful scout enters the camp silently. + +A second time he gave the call to assure his hearers that their ears +did not deceive them. The gray wolves received the news with perfect +understanding. It meant food! “Woo-o-o-o! woo-o-o-o!” came from all +directions, especially from the opposite ridge. Thus the ghostly, cold, +weird night was enlivened with the music from many wild throats. + +Down the gradual slope the scout hastened; his footfall was the only +sound that broke the stillness after the answers to his call had ceased. +As he crossed a little ridge an immense wolf suddenly confronted him, +and instead of retreating, calmly sat up and gazed steadfastly into his +face. + +“Welcome, welcome, friend!” the hunter spoke as he passed. + +In the meantime, the hunters at the temporary camp were aroused to a +high pitch of excitement. Some turned their buffalo robes and put them +on in such a way as to convert themselves into make-believe bison, and +began to tread the snow, while others were singing the buffalo song, +that their spirits might be charmed and allured within the circle of +the camp-fires. The scout, too, was singing his buffalo bull song in a +guttural, lowing chant as he neared the hunting camp. Within arrow-shot +he paused again, while the usual ceremonies were enacted for his +reception. This done, he was seated with the leaders in a chosen place. + +“It was a long run,” he said, “but there were no difficulties. I found +the first herd directly north of here. The second herd, a great one, +is northeast, near Shell Lake. The snow is deep. The buffalo can only +follow their leader in their retreat.” + +“Hi, hi, hi!” the hunters exclaimed solemnly in token of gratitude, +raising their hands heavenward and then pointing them toward the ground. + +“Ho, kola! one more round of the buffalo-pipe, then we shall retire, to +rise before daybreak for the hunt,” advised one of the leaders. Silently +they partook in turn of the long-stemmed pipe, and one by one, with a +dignified “Ho!” departed to their teepees. + +The scout betook himself to his little old buffalo teepee, which he used +for winter hunting expeditions. His faithful Shunka, who had been all +this time its only occupant, met him at the entrance as dogs alone know +how to welcome a lifelong friend. As his master entered he stretched +himself in his old-time way, from the tip of his tail to that of his +tongue, and finished by curling both ends upward. + +“Ho, mita shunka, eat this; for you must be hungry!” So saying, the +scout laid before his canine friend the last piece of his dried buffalo +meat. It was the sweetest meal ever eaten by a dog, judging by his long +smacking of his lips after he had swallowed it! + +The hunting party was soon lost in heavy slumber. Not a sound could be +heard save the gnawing of the ponies upon the cottonwood bark, which was +provided for them instead of hay in the winter time. + +All about Shell Lake the bison were gathered in great herds. The +unmistakable signs of the sky had warned them of approaching bad +weather. The moon’s robe was girdled with the rainbow wampum of heaven. +The very music of the snow under their feet had given them warning. On +the north side of Shell Lake there were several deep gulches, which were +the homes of every wanderer of the plains at such a time at this. When +there was a change toward severe weather, all the four-footed people +headed for this lake. Here was a heavy growth of reeds, rushes, and +coarse grass, making good shelters, and also springs, which afforded +water after the lake was frozen solid. Hence great numbers of the bison +had gathered here. + +When Wapashaw, the game scout, had rolled himself in his warm buffalo +robe and was sound asleep, his faithful companion hunter, the great +Esquimaux wolf dog, silently rose and again stretched himself, then +stood quiet for a moment as if meditating. It was clear that he knew +well what he had planned to do, but was considering how he should do it +without arousing any suspicion of his movements. This is a dog’s art, +and the night tricks and marauding must always be the joy and secret of +his life! + +Softly he emerged from the lodge and gave a sweeping glance around to +assure him that there were none to spy upon him. Suspiciously he sniffed +the air, as if to ascertain whether there could be any danger to his +sleeping master while he should be away. + +His purpose was still a secret. It may be that it was not entirely a +selfish one, or merely the satisfying of his inherited traits. Having +fully convinced himself of the safety of the unguarded camp, he went +forth into the biting cold. The moon was now well up on the prairies of +the sky. There were no cloud hills in the blue field above to conceal +her from view. Her brilliant light set on fire every snow gem upon the +plains and hillsides about the hunters’ camp. + +Up the long ascent he trotted in a northerly direction, yet not +following his master’s trail. He was large and formidable in strength, +combining the features of his wild brothers of the plains with those of +the dogs who keep company with the red men. His jet-black hair and sharp +ears and nose appeared to immense advantage against the spotless and +jeweled snow, until presently his own warm breath had coated him with +heavy frost. + +After a time Shunka struck into his master’s trail and followed it all +the way, only taking a short cut here and there when by dog instinct he +knew that a man must go around such a point to get to his destination. +He met 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. + +At last he reached Shell Lake, and there beheld 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 curiosity 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 preparing 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 buffalo moccasins with the hair inside, and adjusted +his warm leggings. He then adjusted his snowshoes and filled his quiver +full of good arrows. The dog quietly lay down in a warm place, making +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 exclaimed; “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. + +“Hechetu, kola! This is well, friends!” exclaimed 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 +popping from behind the embankments. As the herd finally swept toward +the opposite shore, many dead were left behind. Pierced by the arrows of +the hunters, they lay like black mounds upon the glassy plain. + +It was a great hunt! “Once more the camp will be fed,” they thought, “and +this good fortune will help us to reach the spring alive!” + +A chant of rejoicing rang out from the opposite shore, while the game +scout unsheathed his big knife and began the work which is ever the +sequel of the hunt--to dress the game; although 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 atmosphere. + +“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 arranged +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 telling 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 exclaimed a leader +among them. “He is a brave and experienced man. He will find a safe +resting-place, and join us when the wind ceases to rage.” So they all +wrapped themselves in their robes and lay down to sleep. + +All that night and the following day it was impossible to give succor, +and the hunters felt much concern for the absent. Late in the second +night the great storm subsided. + +“Ho, ho! Iyotanka! Rise up!” So the first hunter to awaken aroused all +the others. + +As after every other storm, it was wonderfully still; so still that one +could hear distinctly the pounding feet of the jack-rabbits coming down +over the slopes to the willows for food. All dry vegetation was buried +beneath the deep snow, and everywhere they saw this white-robed creature +of the prairie coming down to the woods. + +Now the air was full of the wolf and coyote game call, and they were +seen in great numbers upon the ice. + +“See, see! the hungry wolves are dragging the carcasses away! Harken +to the war cries of the scout’s Shunka! Hurry, hurry!” they urged one +another in chorus. + +Away they ran and out upon the lake; now upon the wind-swept ice, now +upon the crusted snow; running when they could, sliding when they must. +There was certainly a great concourse of the wolves, whirling in frantic +circles, but continually moving toward the farther end of the lake. +They could hear distinctly the hoarse bark of the scout’s Shunka, and +occasionally the muffled war-whoop of a man, as if it came from under +the ice! + +As they approached nearer the scene they could hear more distinctly the +voice of their friend, but still as it were from underground. When they +reached the spot to which the wolves had dragged two of the carcasses of +the buffalo, Shunka was seen to stand by one of them, but at that moment +he staggered and fell. The hunters took out their knives and ripped up +the frozen hide covering the abdominal cavity. It revealed a warm nest +of hay and buffalo hair in which the scout lay, wrapped in his own robe! + +He had placed his dog in one of the carcasses and himself in another for +protection from the storm; but the dog was wiser than the man, for +he kept his entrance open. The man lapped the hide over and it froze +solidly, shutting him securely in. When the hungry wolves came Shunka +promptly extricated himself and held them off as long as he could; +meanwhile, sliding and pulling, the wolves continued to drag over the +slippery ice the body of the buffalo in which his master had taken +refuge. The poor, faithful dog, with no care for his own safety, stood +by his imprisoned master until the hunters came up. But it was too late, +for he had received more than one mortal wound. + +As soon as the scout got out, with a face more anxious for another than +for himself, he exclaimed: + +“Where is Shunka, the bravest of his tribe?” + +“Ho, kola, it is so, indeed; and here he lies,” replied one sadly. + +His master knelt by his side, gently stroking the face of the dog. + +“Ah, my friend; you go where all spirits live! The Great Mystery has a +home for every living creature. May he permit our meeting there!” + +At daybreak the scout carried him up to one of the pretty round hills +overlooking the lake, and built up around him walls of loose stone. Red +paints were scattered over the snow, in accordance with Indian custom, +and the farewell song was sung. + +Since that day the place has been known to the Sioux as +Shunkahanakapi--the Grave of the Dog. + + + + +PART TWO. THE WOMAN + + + + +I. WINONA, THE WOMAN-CHILD + + + Hush, hushaby, little woman! + Be brave and weep not! + The spirits sleep not; + ‘Tis they who ordain + To woman, pain. + + Hush, hushaby, little woman! + Now, all things bearing, + A new gift sharing + From those above-- + + To woman, love. + --Sioux Lullaby. + + +“Chinto, weyanna! Yes, indeed; she is a real little woman,” declares the +old grandmother, as she receives and critically examines the tiny bit of +humanity. + +There is no remark as to the color of its hair or eyes, both so black as +almost to be blue, but the old woman scans sharply the delicate profile +of the baby face. + +“Ah, she has the nose of her ancestors! Lips thin as a leaf, and eyes +bright as stars in midwinter!” she exclaims, as she passes on the furry +bundle to the other grandmother for her inspection. + +“Tokee! she is pretty enough to win a twinkle rom the evening star,” + remarks that smiling personage. + +“And what shall her name be? + +“Winona, the First-born, of course. That is hers by right of birth.” + +“Still, it may not fit her. One must prove herself worthy in order to +retain that honorable name.” + +“Ugh,” retorts the first grandmother, “she can at least bear it on +probation!” + +“Tosh, tosh,” the other assents. + +Thus the unconscious little Winona has passed the first stage of the +Indian’s christening. + +Presently she is folded into a soft white doeskin, well lined with the +loose down of cattails, and snugly laced into an upright oaken cradle, +the front of which is a richly embroidered buckskin bag, with porcupine +quills and deers’ hoofs suspended from its profuse fringes. This +gay cradle is strapped upon the second grandmother’s back, and that +dignitary walks off with the newcomer. + +“You must come with me,” she says. “We shall go among the father and +mother trees, and hear them speak with their thousand tongues, that +you may know their language forever. I will hang the cradle of the +woman-child upon Utuhu, the oak; and she shall hear the love-sighs of +the pine maiden!” + +In this fashion Winona is introduced to nature and becomes at once +“nature-born,” in accord with the beliefs and practices of the wild red +man. + +“Here she is! Take her,” says the old woman on her return from the +woods. She presents the child to its mother, who is sitting in the shade +of an elm-tree as quietly as if she had not just passed through woman’s +severest ordeal in giving a daughter to the brave Chetonska! + +“She has a winsome face, as meek and innocent as the face of an ermine,” + graciously adds the grandmother. + +The mother does not speak. Silently and almost reverently she takes her +new and first-born daughter into her arms. She gazes into its velvety +little face of a dusky red tint, and unconsciously presses the closely +swaddled form to her breast. She feels the mother-instinct seize upon +her strongly for the first time. Here is a new life, a new hope, a +possible link between herself and a new race! + +Ah, a smile plays upon her lips, as she realizes that she has kissed her +child! In its eyes and mouth she discerns clearly the features she has +loved in the strong countenance of another, though in the little woman’s +face they are softened and retouched by the hand of the “Great Mystery.” + +The baby girl is called Winona for some months, when the medicine-man +is summoned and requested to name publicly the first-born daughter of +Chetonska, the White Hawk; but not until he has received a present of +a good pony with a finely painted buffalo-robe. It is usual to confer +another name besides that of the “First-born,” which may be resumed +later if the maiden proves worthy. The name Winona implies much of +honor. It means charitable, kind, helpful; all that an eldest sister +should be! + +The herald goes around the ring of lodges announcing in singsong fashion +the christening, and inviting everybody to a feast in honor of the +event. A real American christening is always a gala occasion, when much +savage wealth is distributed among the poor and old people. Winona has +only just walked, and this fact is also announced with additional gifts. +A wellborn child is ever before the tribal eye and in the tribal ear, as +every little step in its progress toward manhood or womanhood--the first +time of walking or swimming, first shot with bow and arrow (if a boy), +first pair of moccasins made (if a girl)--is announced publicly with +feasting and the giving of presents. + +So Winona receives her individual name of Tatiyopa, or Her Door. It +is symbolic, like most Indian names, and implies that the door of the +bearer is hospitable and her home attractive. + +The two grandmothers, who have carried the little maiden upon their +backs, now tell and sing to her by turns all the legends of their most +noted female ancestors, from the twin sisters of the old story, the +maidens who married among the star people of the sky, down to their own +mothers. All her lullabies are feminine, and designed to impress upon +her tender mind the life and duties of her sex. + +As soon as she is old enough to play with dolls she plays mother in all +seriousness and gravity. She is dressed like a miniature woman (and her +dolls are clad likewise), in garments of doeskin to her ankles, adorned +with long fringes, embroidered with porcupine quills, and dyed with root +dyes in various colors. Her little blanket or robe, with which she shyly +drapes or screens her head and shoulders, is the skin of a buffalo calf +or a deer, soft, white, embroidered on the smooth side, and often with +the head and hoofs left on. + +“You must never forget, my little daughter, that you are a woman like +myself. Do always those things that you see me do,” her mother often +admonishes her. + +Even the language of the Sioux has its feminine dialect, and the tiny +girl would be greatly abashed were it ever needful to correct her for +using a masculine termination. + +This mother makes for her little daughter a miniature copy of every +rude tool that she uses in her daily tasks. There is a little scraper of +elk-horn to scrape rawhides preparatory to tanning them, another scraper +of a different shape for tanning, bone knives, and stone mallets for +pounding choke-cherries and jerked meat. + +While her mother is bending over a large buffalo-hide stretched and +pinned upon the ground, standing upon it and scraping off the fleshy +portion as nimbly as a carpenter shaves a board with his plane, Winona, +at five years of age, stands upon a corner of the great hide and +industriously scrapes away with her tiny instrument! When the mother +stops to sharpen her tool, the little woman always sharpens hers +also. Perhaps there is water to be fetched in bags made from the dried +pericardium of an animal; the girl brings some in a smaller water-bag. +When her mother goes for wood she carries one or two sticks on her back. +She pitches her play teepee to form an exact copy of her mother’s. Her +little belongings are nearly all practical, and her very play is real! + +Thus, before she is ten years old, Winona begins to see life honestly +and in earnest; to consider herself a factor in the life of her +people--a link in the genealogy of her race. Yet her effort is not +forced, her work not done from necessity; it is normal and a development +of the play-instinct of the young creature. This sort of training leads +very early to a genuine desire to serve and to do for others. The little +Winona loves to give and to please; to be generous and gracious. There +is no thought of trafficking or economizing in labor and in love. + +“Mother, I want to be like the beavers, the ants, and the spiders, +because my grandmother says those are the people most worthy of +imitation for their industry. She also tells me that I should watch the +bee, the one that has so many daughters, and allows no young men to come +around her daughters while they are at work making sweets,” exclaims the +little maiden. + +“Truly their industry helps us much, for we often take from their +hoard,” remarks the mother. + +“That is not right, is it mother, if they do not wish to share with us?” + asks Winona. “But I think the bee is stingy if she has so much and will +not share with any one else! When I grow up, I shall help the poor! I +shall have a big teepee and invite old people often, for when people get +old they seem to be always hungry, and I think we ought to feed them.” + +“My little daughter will please me and her father if she proves to be +industrious and skillful with her needle and in all woman’s work. Then +she can have a fine teepee and make it all cheerful within. The indolent +woman has a small teepee, and it is very smoky. All her children will +have sore eyes, and her husband will soon become ill-tempered,” declares +the mother, in all seriousness. + +“And, daughter, there is something more than this needed to make a +cheerful home. You must have a good heart, be patient, and speak but +little. Every creature that talks too much is sure to make trouble,” she +concludes, wisely. + +One day this careful mother has completed a beautiful little teepee of +the skin of a buffalo calf, worked with red porcupine quills in a row of +rings just below the smoke-flaps and on each side of the front opening. +In the center of each ring is a tassel of red and white horse-hair. +The tip of each smoke-flap is decorated with the same material, and the +doorflap also. + +Within there are neatly arranged raw-hide boxes for housekeeping, and +square bags of soft buckskin adorned with blue and white beads. On +either side of the fireplace are spread the tanned skins of a buffalo +calf and a deer; but there is no bear, wolf, or wildcat skin, for +on these the foot of a woman must never tread! They are for men, and +symbolical of manly virtues. There are dolls of all sizes, and a play +travois leans against the white wall of the miniature lodge. Even the +pet pup is called in to complete the fanciful home of the little woman. + +“Now, my daughter,” says the mother, “you must keep your lodge in +order!” + +Here the little woman is allowed to invite other little women, her +playmates. This is where the grandmothers hold sway, chaperoning their +young charges, who must never be long out of their sight. The little +visitors bring their work-bags of various skins, artistically made and +trimmed. These contain moccasins and other garments for their dolls, on +which they love to occupy themselves. + +The brightly-painted rawhide boxes are reserved for food, and in these +the girls bring various prepared meats and other delicacies. This is +perhaps the most agreeable part of the play to the chaperon, who is +treated as an honored guest at the feast! + +Winona seldom plays with boys, even her own brothers and cousins, and +after she reaches twelve or fourteen years of age she scarcely speaks to +them. Modesty is a virtue which is deeply impressed upon her from early +childhood, and the bashfully drooping head, the averted look, the voice +low and seldom heard, these are graces much esteemed in a maiden. + +She is taught to pay great attention to the care of her long, glossy +locks, combing, plaiting, and perfuming them with sweet-scented leaves +steeped in oil. Her personal appearance is well understood to be a +matter of real moment, and rich dress and ornaments are highly prized. +Fortunately they never go out of fashion, and once owned are permanent +possessions, unless parted with as ceremonial gifts on some great +occasion of mourning or festivity. + +When she reaches a marriageable age her father allows her to give a +feast to all the other girls of her immediate clan, and this “Feast of +Virgins” may only be attended by those of spotless reputation. To have +given or attended a number of them is regarded as a choice honor. + +Tatiyopa, by the time she is fifteen, has already a name for skill +in needlework, and generosity in distributing the articles of her own +making. She is now generally called Winona--the charitable and kind! She +believes that it is woman’s work to make and keep a home that will be +worthy of the bravest, and hospitable to all, and in this simple faith +she enters upon the realities of her womanhood. + + + + +II. WINONA, THE CHILD-WOMAN + + + Braver than the bravest, + You sought honors at death’s door; + Could you not remember + One who weeps at home-- + Could you not remember me? + + Braver than the bravest, + You sought honors more than love; + Dear, I weep, yet I am not a coward; + My heart weeps for thee-- + My heart weeps when I remember thee! + --Sioux Love Song. + + +The sky is blue overhead, peeping through window-like openings in a roof +of green leaves. Right between a great pine and a birch tree their soft +doeskin shawls are spread, and there sit two Sioux maidens amid their +fineries--variously colored porcupine quills for embroidery laid upon +sheets of thin birch-bark, and moccasin tops worked in colors like +autumn leaves. It is Winona and her friend Miniyata. + +They have arrived at the period during which the young girl is carefully +secluded from her brothers and cousins and future lovers, and retires, +as it were, into the nunnery of the woods, behind a veil of thick +foliage. Thus she is expected to develop fully her womanly qualities. +In meditation and solitude, entirely alone or with a chosen companion of +her own sex and age, she gains a secret strength, as she studies the art +of womanhood from nature herself. + +Winona has the robust beauty of the wild lily of the prairie, pure and +strong in her deep colors of yellow and scarlet against the savage +plain and horizon, basking in the open sun like a child, yet soft and +woman-like, with drooping head when observed. Both girls are beautifully +robed in loose gowns of soft doeskin, girded about the waist with the +usual very wide leather belt. + +“Come, let us practice our sacred dance,” says one to the other. Each +crowns her glossy head with a wreath of wild flowers, and they dance +with slow steps around the white birch, singing meanwhile the sacred +songs. + +Now upon the lake that stretches blue to the eastward there appears a +distant canoe, a mere speck, no bigger than a bird far off against the +shining sky. + +“See the lifting of the paddles!” exclaims Winona. + +“Like the leaping of a trout upon the water!” suggests Miniyata. + +“I hope they will not discover us, yet I would like to know who they +are,” remarks the other, innocently. + +The birch canoe approaches swiftly, with two young men plying the light +cedar paddles. + +The girls now settle down to their needlework, quite as if they had +never laughed or danced or woven garlands, bending over their embroidery +in perfect silence. Surely they would not wish to attract attention, for +the two sturdy young warriors have already landed. + +They pick up the canoe and lay it well up on the bank, out of sight. +Then one procures a strong pole. They lift a buck deer from the +canoe--not a mark upon it, save for the bullet wound; the deer looks as +if it were sleeping! They tie the hind legs together and the fore legs +also and carry it between them on the pole. + +Quickly and cleverly they do all this; and now they start forward and +come unexpectedly upon the maidens’ retreat! They pause for an instant +in mute apology, but the girls smile their forgiveness, and the youths +hurry on toward the village. + +Winona has now attended her first maidens’ feast and is considered +eligible to marriage. She may receive young men, but not in public or in +a social way, for such was not the custom of the Sioux. When he speaks, +she need not answer him unless she chooses. + +The Indian woman in her quiet way preserves the dignity of the home. +From our standpoint the white man is a law-breaker! The “Great Mystery,” + we say, does not adorn the woman above the man. His law is spreading +horns, or flowing mane, or gorgeous plumage for the male; the female +he made plain, but comely, modest and gentle. She is the foundation of +man’s dignity and honor. Upon her rests the life of the home and of the +family. I have often thought that there is much in this philosophy of an +untutored people. Had her husband remained long enough in one place, the +Indian woman, I believe, would have developed no mean civilization and +culture of her own. + +It was no disgrace to the chief’s daughter in the old days to work with +her hands. Indeed, their standard of worth was the willingness to work, +but not for the sake of accumulation, only in order to give. Winona has +learned to prepare skins, to remove the hair and tan the skin of a deer +so that it may be made into moccasins within three days. She has a bone +tool for each stage of the conversion of the stiff raw-hide into velvety +leather. She has been taught the art of painting tents and raw-hide +cases, and the manufacture of garments of all kinds. + +Generosity is a trait that is highly developed in the Sioux woman. +She makes many moccasins and other articles of clothing for her male +relatives, or for any who are not well provided. She loves to see +her brother the best dressed among the young men, and the moccasins +especially of a young brave are the pride of his woman-kind. + +Her own person is neatly attired, but ordinarily with great simplicity. +Her doeskin gown has wide, flowing sleeves; the neck is low, but not so +low as is the evening dress of society. + +Her moccasins are plain; her leggins close-fitting and not as high as her +brother’s. She parts her smooth, jet-black hair in the middle and plaits +it in two. In the old days she used to do it in one plait wound around +with wampum. Her ornaments, sparingly worn, are beads, elks’ teeth, and +a touch of red paint. No feathers are worn by the woman, unless in a +sacred dance. + +She is supposed to be always occupied with some feminine pursuit or +engaged in some social affair, which also is strictly feminine as a +rule. Even her language is peculiar to her sex, some words being used by +women only, while others have a feminine termination. + +There is an etiquette of sitting and standing, which is strictly +observed. The woman must never raise her knees or cross her feet when +seated. She seats herself on the ground sidewise, with both feet under +her. + +Notwithstanding her modesty and undemonstrative ways, there is no lack +of mirth and relaxation for Winona among her girl companions. + +In summer, swimming and playing in the water is a favorite amusement. +She even imitates with the soles of her feet the peculiar, resonant +sound that the beaver makes with her large, flat tail upon the surface +of the water. She is a graceful swimmer, keeping the feet together and +waving them backward and forward like the tail of a fish. + +Nearly all her games are different from those of the men. She has a +sport of wand-throwing which develops fine muscles of the shoulder and +back. The wands are about eight feet long, and taper gradually from +an inch and a half to half an inch in diameter. Some of them are +artistically made, with heads of bone and horn, so that it is remarkable +to what a distance they may be made to slide over the ground. In the +feminine game of ball, which is something like “shinny,” the ball is +driven with curved sticks between two goals. It is played with from +two or three to a hundred on a side, and a game between two bands or +villages is a picturesque event. + +A common indoor diversion is the “deer’s foot” game, played with six +deer hoofs on a string, ending in a bone or steel awl. The object is to +throw it in such a way as to catch one or more hoofs on the point of the +awl, a feat which requires no little dexterity. Another is played with +marked plum-stones in a bowl, which are thrown like dice and count +according to the side that is turned uppermost. + +Winona’s wooing is a typical one. As with any other people, love-making +is more or less in vogue at all times of the year, but more especially +at midsummer, during the characteristic reunions and festivities of +that season. The young men go about usually in pairs, and the maidens do +likewise. They may meet by chance at any time of day, in the woods or +at the spring, but oftenest seek to do so after dark, just outside the +teepee. The girl has her companion, and he has his, for the sake of +propriety or protection. The conversation is carried on in a whisper, so +that even these chaperons do not hear. + +At the sound of the drum on summer evenings, dances are begun within the +circular rows of teepees, but without the circle the young men promenade +in pairs. Each provides himself with the plaintive flute and plays the +simple cadences of his people, while his person is completely covered +with his fine robe, so that he cannot be recognized by the passerby. At +every pause in the melody he gives his yodel-like love-call, to which +the girls respond with their musical, sing-song laughter. + +Matosapa has loved Winona since the time he saw her at the lakeside in +her parlor among the pines. But he has not had much opportunity to speak +until on such a night, after the dances are over. There is no outside +fire; but a dim light from within the skin teepees sheds a mellow glow +over the camp, mingling with the light of a young moon. Thus these +lovers go about like ghosts. Matosapa has already circled the teepees +with his inseparable brother-friend, Brave Elk. + +“Friend, do me an honor to-night!” he exclaims, at last. “Open this +first door for me, since this will be the first time I shall speak to a +woman!” + +“Ah,” suggests Brave Elk, “I hope you have selected a girl whose +grandmother has no cross dogs!” + +“The prize that is won at great risk is usually valued most,” replies +Matosapa. + +“Ho, kola! I shall touch the door-flap as softly as the swallow alights +upon her nest. But I warn you, do not let your heart beat too loudly, +for the old woman’s ears are still good!” + +So, joking and laughing, they proceed toward a large buffalo tent with a +horse’s tail suspended from the highest pole to indicate the rank of +the owner. They have ceased to blow the flute some paces back, and walk +noiselessly as a panther in quest of a doe. + +Brave Elk opens the door. Matosapa enters the tent. As was the wont of +the Sioux, the well-born maid has a little teepee within a teepee--a +private apartment of her own. He passes the sleeping family to this +inner shrine. There he gently wakens Winona with proper apologies. This +is not unusual or strange to her innocence, for it was the custom of the +people. He sits at the door, while his friend waits outside, and tells +his love in a whisper. To this she does not reply at once; even if she +loves him, it is proper that she should be silent. The lover does not +know whether he is favorably received or not, upon this his first visit. +He must now seek her outside upon every favorable occasion. No gifts +are offered at this stage of the affair; the trafficking in ponies and +“buying” a wife is entirely a modern custom. + +Matosapa has improved every opportunity, until Winona has at last +shyly admitted her willingness to listen. For a whole year he has been +compelled at intervals to repeat the story of his love. Through the +autumn hunting of the buffalo and the long, cold winter he often +presents her kinsfolk with his game. + +At the next midsummer the parents on both sides are made acquainted +with the betrothal, and they at once begin preparations for the coming +wedding. Provisions and delicacies of all kinds are laid aside for +a feast. Matosapa’s sisters and his girl cousins are told of the +approaching event, and they too prepare for it, since it is their duty +to dress or adorn the bride with garments made by their own hands. + +With the Sioux of the old days, the great natural crises of human life, +marriage and birth, were considered sacred and hedged about with great +privacy. Therefore the union is publicly celebrated after and not before +its consummation. Suddenly the young couple disappear. They go out into +the wilderness together, and spend some days or weeks away from the +camp. This is their honeymoon, away from all curious or prying eyes. In +due time they quietly return, he to his home and she to hers, and now at +last the marriage is announced and invitations are given to the feast. + +The bride is ceremoniously delivered to her husband’s people, together +with presents of rich clothing collected from all her clan, which she +afterward distributes among her new relations. Winona is carried in a +travois handsomely decorated, and is received with equal ceremony. +For several days following she is dressed and painted by the female +relatives of the groom, each in her turn, while in both clans the +wedding feast is celebrated. + +To illustrate womanly nobility of nature, let me tell the story of +Dowanhotaninwin, Her-Singing-Heard. The maiden was deprived of both +father and mother when scarcely ten years old, by an attack of the Sacs +and Foxes while they were on a hunting expedition. Left alone with her +grandmother, she was carefully reared and trained by this sage of the +wild life. + +Nature had given her more than her share of attractiveness, and she was +womanly and winning as she was handsome. Yet she remained unmarried for +nearly thirty years--a most unusual thing among us; and although she had +worthy suitors in every branch of the Sioux nation, she quietly refused +every offer. + +Certain warriors who had distinguished themselves against the particular +tribe who had made her an orphan, persistently sought her hand in +marriage, but failed utterly. + +One summer the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes were brought together under +a flag of truce by the Commissioners of the Great White Father, for +the purpose of making a treaty with them. During the short period of +friendly intercourse and social dance and feast, a noble warrior of the +enemy’s tribe courted Dowanhotaninwin. + +Several of her old lovers were vying with one another to win her at the +same time, that she might have inter-tribal celebration of her wedding. + +Behold! the maiden accepted the foe of her childhood--one of those who +had cruelly deprived her of her parents! + +By night she fled to the Sac and Fox camp with her lover. It seemed at +first an insult to the Sioux, and there was almost an outbreak among the +young men of the tribe, who were barely restrained by their respect for +the Commissioners of the Great Father. + +But her aged grandfather explained the matter publicly in this fashion: + +“Young men, hear ye! Your hearts are strong; let them not be troubled +by the act of a young woman of your tribe! This has been her secret wish +since she became a woman. She deprecates all tribal warfare. Her young +heart never forgot its early sorrow; yet she has never blamed the Sacs +and Foxes or held them responsible for the deed. She blames rather +the customs of war among us. She believes in the formation of a blood +brotherhood strong enough to prevent all this cruel and useless enmity. +This was her high purpose, and to this end she reserved her hand. +Forgive her, forgive her, I pray!” + +In the morning there was a great commotion. The herald of the Sacs and +Foxes entered the Sioux camp, attired in ceremonial garb and bearing +in one hand an American flag and in the other a peace-pipe. He made +the rounds singing a peace song, and delivering to all an invitation to +attend the wedding feast of Dowanhotaninwin and their chief’s son. Thus +all was well. The simplicity, high purpose, and bravery of the girl won +the hearts of the two tribes, and as long as she lived she was able to +keep the peace between them. + + + + +III. SNANA’S FAWN + +The Little Missouri was in her spring fullness, and the hills among +which she found her way to the Great Muddy were profusely adorned with +colors, much like those worn by the wild red man upon a holiday! +Looking toward the sunrise, one saw mysterious, deep shadows and bright +prominences, while on the opposite side there was really an extravagant +array of variegated hues. Between the gorgeous buttes and rainbow-tinted +ridges there were narrow plains, broken here and there by dry creeks +or gulches, and these again were clothed scantily with poplars and +sad-colored bull-berry bushes, while the bare spots were purple with the +wild Dakota crocuses. + +Upon the lowest of a series of natural terraces there stood on this May +morning a young Sioux girl, whose graceful movements were not unlike +those of a doe which chanced to be lurking in a neighboring gulch. On +the upper plains, not far away, were her young companions, all busily +employed with the wewoptay, as it was called--the sharp-pointed stick +with which the Sioux women dig wild turnips. They were gayly gossiping +together, or each humming a love-song as she worked, only Snana stood +somewhat apart from the rest; in fact, concealed by the crest of the +ridge. + +She had paused in her digging and stood facing the sun-kissed buttes. +Above them in the clear blue sky the father sun was traveling upward as +in haste, while to her receptive spirit there appealed an awful, unknown +force, the silent speech of the Great Mystery, to which it seemed to her +the whole world must be listening! + +“O Great Mystery! the father of earthly things is coming to quicken +us into life. Have pity on me, I pray thee! May I some day become the +mother of a great and brave race of warriors!” So the maiden prayed +silently. + +It was now full-born day. The sun shone hot upon the bare ground, and +the drops stood upon Snana’s forehead as she plied her long pole. There +was a cool spring in the dry creek bed near by, well hidden by a clump +of chokecherry bushes, and she turned thither to cool her thirsty +throat. In the depths of the ravine her eye caught a familiar +footprint--the track of a doe with the young fawn beside it. The hunting +instinct arose within. + +“It will be a great feat if I can find and take from her the babe. The +little tawny skin shall be beautifully dressed by my mother. The legs +and the nose shall be embossed with porcupine quills. It will be my +work-bag,” she said to herself. + +As she stole forward on the fresh trail she scanned every nook, every +clump of bushes. There was a sudden rustle from within a grove of wild +plum trees, thickly festooned with grape and clematis, and the doe +mother bounded away as carelessly as if she were never to return. + +Ah, a mother’s ruse! Snana entered the thorny enclosure, which was +almost a rude teepee, and, tucked away in the furthermost corner, lay +something with a trout-like, speckled, tawny coat. She bent over it. +The fawn was apparently sleeping. Presently its eyes moved a bit, and a +shiver passed through its subtle body. + +“Thou shalt not die; thy skin shall not become my work-bag!” + unconsciously the maiden spoke. The mother sympathy had taken hold on +her mind. She picked the fawn up tenderly, bound its legs, and put it on +her back to carry like an Indian babe in the folds of her robe. + +“I cannot leave you alone, Tachinchala. Your mother is not here. Our +hunters will soon return by this road, and your mother has left behind +her two plain tracks leading to this thicket,” she murmured. + +The wild creature struggled vigorously for a minute, and then became +quiet. Its graceful head protruded from the elkskin robe just over +Snana’s shoulder. She was slowly climbing the slope with her burden, +when suddenly like an apparition the doe-mother stood before her. The +fawn called loudly when it was first seized, and the mother was not too +far away to hear. Now she called frantically for her child, at the same +time stamping with her delicate fore-feet. + +“Yes, sister, you are right; she is yours; but you cannot save her +to-day! The hunters will soon be here. Let me keep her for you; I will +return her to you safely. And hear me, O sister of the woods, that some +day I may become the mother of a noble race of warriors and of fine +women, as handsome as you are!” + +At this moment the quick eyes of the Indian girl detected something +strange in the doe’s actions. She glanced in every direction and behold! +a grizzly bear was cautiously approaching the group from a considerable +distance. + +“Run, run, sister! I shall save your child if I can,” she cried, and +flew for the nearest scrub oak on the edge of the bank. Up the tree she +scrambled, with the fawn still securely bound to her back. The grizzly +came on with teeth exposed, and the doe-mother in her flight came +between him and the tree, giving a series of indignant snorts as she +ran, and so distracted Mato from his object of attack; but only for a +few seconds--then on he came! + +“Desist, O brave Mato! It does not become a great medicine-man to attack +a helpless woman with a burden upon her back!” + +Snana spoke as if the huge brute could understand her, and indeed the +Indians hold that wild animals understand intuitively when appealed to +by human beings in distress. Yet he replied only with a hoarse growl, as +rising upon his hind legs he shook the little tree vigorously. + +“Ye, ye, heyupi ye!” Snana called loudly to her companion +turnip-diggers. Her cry soon brought all the women into sight upon a +near-by ridge, and they immediately gave a general alarm. Mato saw them, +but appeared not at all concerned and was still intent upon dislodging +the girl, who clung frantically to her perch. + +Presently there appeared upon the little knoll several warriors, mounted +and uttering the usual war-whoop, as if they were about to swoop down +upon a human enemy. This touched the dignity of Mato, and he immediately +prepared to accept the challenge. Every Indian was alive to the +possibilities of the occasion, for it is well known that Mato, or +grizzly bear, alone among animals is given the rank of a warrior, so +that whoever conquers him may wear an eagle feather. + +“Woo! woo!” the warriors shouted, as they maneuvered to draw him into +the open plain. + +He answered with hoarse growls, threatening a rider who had ventured +too near. But arrows were many and well-aimed, and in a few minutes the +great and warlike Mato lay dead at the foot of the tree. + +The men ran forward and counted their coups on him, just as when an +enemy is fallen. Then they looked at one another and placed their hands +over their mouths as the young girl descended the tree with a fawn bound +upon her back. + +“So that was the bait!” they cried. “And will you not make a feast with +that fawn for us who came to your rescue?” + +“The fawn is young and tender, and we have not eaten meat for two days. +It will be a generous thing to do,” added her father, who was among +them. + +“Ye-e-e!” she cried out in distress. “Do not ask it! I have seen this +fawn’s mother. I have promised to keep her child safe. See! I have saved +its life, even when my own was in danger.” + +“Ho, ho, wakan ye lo! (Yes, yes, ‘tis holy or mysterious),” they +exclaimed approvingly. + +It was no small trouble for Snana to keep her trust. As may well be +supposed, all the dogs of the teepee village must be watched and kept +at a distance. Neither was it easy to feed the little captive; but in +gaining its confidence the girl was an adept. The fawn soon followed her +everywhere, and called to her when hungry exactly as she had called to +her own mother. + +After several days, when her fright at the encounter with the bear had +somewhat worn off, Snana took her pet into the woods and back to the +very spot in which she had found it. In the furthest corner of the +wild plum grove she laid it down, gently stroked its soft forehead, and +smoothed the leaflike ears. The little thing closed its eyes. Once more +the Sioux girl bent over and laid her cheek against the fawn’s head; +then reluctantly she moved away, hoping and yet dreading that the mother +would return. She crouched under a clump of bushes near by, and gave the +doe call. It was a reckless thing for her to do, for such a call might +bring upon her a mountain lion or ever-watchful silvertip; but Snana did +not think of that. + +In a few minutes she heard the light patter of hoofs, and caught a +glimpse of a doe running straight toward the fawn’s hiding-place. When +she stole near enough to see, the doe and the fawn were examining one +another carefully, as if fearing some treachery. At last both were +apparently satisfied. The doe caressed her natural child, and the little +one accepted the milk she offered. + +In the Sioux maiden’s mind there was turmoil. A close attachment to the +little wild creature had already taken root there, contending with the +sense of justice that was strong within her. Now womanly sympathy for +the mother was in control, and now a desire to possess and protect her +helpless pet. + +“I can take care of her against all hunters, both animal and human. They +are ever ready to seize the helpless fawn for food. Her life will be +often exposed. You cannot save her from disaster. O, Takcha, my sister, +let me still keep her for you!” she finally appealed to the poor doe, +who was nervously watching the intruder, and apparently thinking how she +might best escape with the fawn. + +Just at this moment there came a low call from the wood. It was a doe +call; but the wild mother and her new friend both knew that it was not +the call of a real doe. + +“It is a Sioux hunter!” whispered the girl. “You must go, my sister! Be +off; I will take your child to safety!” + +While she was yet speaking, the doe seemed to realize the danger. She +stopped only an instant to lick fondly the tawny coat of the little one, +who had just finished her dinner; then she bounded away. + +As Snana emerged from the bushes with her charge, a young hunter met her +face to face, and stared at her curiously. He was not of her father’s +camp, but a stranger. + +“Ugh, you have my game.” + +“Tosh!” she replied coquettishly. + +It was so often said among the Indians that the doe was wont to put on +human form to mislead the hunter, that it looked strange to see a woman +with a fawn, and the young man could not forbear to gaze upon Snana. + +“You are not the real mother in maiden’s guise? Tell me truly if you are +of human blood,” he demanded rudely. + +“I am a Sioux maiden! Do you not know my father?” she replied. + +“Ah, but who is your father? What is his name?” he insisted, nervously +fingering his arrows. + +“Do not be a coward! Surely you should know a maid of your own race,” + she replied reproachfully. + +“Ah, you know the tricks of the doe! What is thy name?” + +“Hast thou forgotten the etiquette of thy people, and wouldst compel me +to pronounce my own name? I refuse; thou art jesting!” she retorted with +a smile. + +“Thou dost give the tricky answers of a doe. I cannot wait; I must act +before I lose my natural mind. But already I am yours. Whatever purpose +you may have in thus charming a poor hunter, be merciful,” and, throwing +aside his quiver, he sat down. + +The maiden stole a glance at his face, and then another. He was +handsome. Softly she reentered the thicket and laid down the little +fawn. + +“Promise me never to hunt here again!” she said earnestly, as she came +forth without her pretty burden, and he exacted another promise in +return. Thus Snana lost her fawn, and found a lover. + + + + +IV. SHE-WHO-HAS-A-SOUL + +It was a long time ago, nearly two hundred years ago, that some of our +people were living upon the shores of the Great Lake, Lake Superior. The +chief of this band was called Tatankaota, Many Buffaloes. + +One day the young son of Tatankaota led a war-party against the +Ojibways, who occupied the country east of us, toward the rising sun. + +When they had gone a day’s journey in the direction of Sault Ste. Marie, +in our language Skesketatanka, the warriors took up their position on +the lake shore, at a point which the Ojibways were accustomed to pass in +their canoes. + +Long they gazed, and scanned the surface of the water, watching for +the coming of the foe. The sun had risen above the dark pines, over +the great ridge of woodland across the bay. It was the awakening of all +living things. The birds were singing, and shining fishes leaped out of +the water as if at play. At last, far off, there came the warning cry of +the loon to stir their expectant ears. + +“Warriors, look close to the horizon! This brother of ours does not lie. +The enemy comes!” exclaimed their leader. + +Presently upon the sparkling face of the water there appeared a moving +canoe. There was but one, and it was coming directly toward them. + +“Hahatonwan! Hahatonwan! (The Ojibways! the Ojibways!)” they exclaimed +with one voice, and, grasping their weapons, they hastily concealed +themselves in the bushes. + +“Spare none--take no captives!” ordered the chief’s son. + +Nearer and nearer approached the strange canoe. The glistening blades +of its paddles flashed as it were the signal of good news, or a +welcome challenge. All impatiently waited until it should come within +arrow-shot. + +“Surely it is an Ojibway canoe,” one murmured. “Yet look! the stroke is +ungainly!” Now, among all the tribes only the Ojibway’s art is perfect +in paddling a birch canoe. This was a powerful stroke, but harsh and +unsteady. + +“See! there are no feathers on this man’s head!” exclaimed the son +of the chief. “Hold, warriors, he wears a woman’s dress, and I see +no weapon. No courage is needed to take his life, therefore let it be +spared! I command that only coups (or blows) be counted on him, and he +shall tell us whence he comes, and on what errand.” + +The signal was given; the warriors sprang to their feet, and like wolves +they sped from the forest, out upon the white, sandy beach and straight +into the sparkling waters of the lake, giving the shrill war-cry, the +warning of death! + +The solitary oarsman made no outcry--he offered no defense! Kneeling +calmly in the prow of the little vessel, he merely ceased paddling and +seemed to await with patience the deadly blow of the tomahawk. + +The son of Tatankaota was foremost in the charge, but suddenly an +impulse seized him to stop his warriors, lest one in the heat of +excitement should do a mischief to the stranger. The canoe with its +occupant was now very near, and it could be seen that the expression of +his face was very gentle and even benignant. None could doubt his utter +harmlessness; and the chief’s son afterward declared that at this moment +he felt a premonition of some event, but whether good or evil he could +not tell. + +No blows were struck--no coups counted. The young man bade his warriors +take up the canoe and carry it to the shore; and although they murmured +somewhat among themselves, they did as he commanded them. They seized +the light bark and bore it dripping to a hill covered with tall pines, +and overlooking the waters of the Great Lake. + +Then the warriors lifted their war-clubs over their heads and sang, +standing around the canoe in which the black-robed stranger was still +kneeling. Looking at him closely, they perceived that he was of a +peculiar complexion, pale and inclined to red. He wore a necklace of +beads, from which hung a cross bearing the form of a man. His garments +were strange, and most like the robes of woman. All of these things +perplexed them greatly. + +Presently the Black Robe told them by signs, in response to their +inquiries, that he came from the rising sun, even beyond the Great Salt +Water, and he seemed to say that he formerly came from the sky. Upon +this the warriors believed that he must be a prophet or mysterious man. + +Their leader directed them to take up again the canoe with the man in +it, and appointed the warriors to carry it by turns until they should +reach his father’s village. This was done according to the ancient +custom, as a mark of respect and honor. They took it up forthwith, and +traveled with all convenient speed along the lake shore, through forests +and across streams to a place called the Maiden’s Retreat, a short +distance from the village. + +Thence the chief’s son sent a messenger to announce to his father that +he was bringing home a stranger, and to ask whether or not he should be +allowed to enter the village. “His appearance,” declared the scout, “is +unlike that of any man we have ever seen, and his ways are mysterious!” + +When the chief heard these words, he immediately called his council-men +together to decide what was to be done, for he feared by admitting the +mysterious stranger to bring some disaster upon his people. Finally he +went out with his wisest men to meet his son’s war-party. They looked +with astonishment upon the Black Robe. + +“Dispatch him! Dispatch him! Show him no mercy!” cried some of the +council-men. + +“Let him go on his way unharmed. Trouble him not,” advised others. + +“It is well known that the evil spirits sometimes take the form of a man +or animal. From his strange appearance I judge this to be such a one. +He should be put to death, lest some harm befall our people,” an old man +urged. + +By this time several of the women of the village had reached the spot. +Among them was She-who-has-a-Soul, the chief’s youngest daughter, who +tradition says was a maiden of much beauty, and of a generous heart. The +stranger was evidently footsore from much travel and + +weakened by fasting. When she saw that the poor man clasped his hands +and looked skyward as he uttered words in an unknown tongue, she pleaded +with her father that a stranger who has entered their midst unchallenged +may claim the hospitality of the people, according to the ancient +custom. + +“Father, he is weary and in want of food. Hold him no longer! Delay +your council until he is refreshed!” These were the words of +She-who-has-a-Soul, and her father could not refuse her prayer. The +Black Robe was released, and the Sioux maiden led him to her father’s +teepee. + +Now the warriors had been surprised and indeed displeased to find him +dressed after the fashion of a woman, and they looked upon him with +suspicion. But from the moment that she first beheld him, the heart of +the maiden had turned toward this strange and seemingly unfortunate man. +It appeared to her that great reverence and meekness were in his face, +and with it all she was struck by his utter fearlessness, his apparent +unconsciousness of danger. + +The chief’s daughter, having gained her father’s permission, invited the +Black Robe to his great buffalo-skin tent, and spreading a fine robe, +she gently asked him to be seated. With the aid of her mother, she +prepared wild rice sweetened with maple sugar and some broiled venison +for his repast. The youthful warriors were astonished to observe these +attentions, but the maiden heeded them not. She anointed the blistered +feet of the holy man with perfumed otter oil, and put upon him a pair of +moccasins beautifully worked by her own hands. + +It was only an act of charity on her part, but the young men were +displeased, and again urged that the stranger should at once be turned +away. Some even suggested harsher measures; but they were overruled by +the chief, softened by the persuasions of a well-beloved daughter. + +During the few days that the Black Robe remained in the Sioux village he +preached earnestly to the maiden, for she had been permitted to converse +with him by signs, that she might try to ascertain what manner of man he +was. He told her of the coming of a “Great Prophet” from the sky, and of +his words that he had left with the people. The cross with the figure of +a man he explained as his totem which he had told them to carry. He also +said that those who love him are commanded to go among strange peoples +to tell the news, and that all who believe must be marked with holy +water and accept the totem. + +He asked by signs if She-who-has-a-Soul believed the story. To this she +replied: + +“It is a sweet story--a likely legend! I do believe!” + +Then the good father took out a small cross, and having pressed it +to his heart and crossed his forehead and breast, he gave it to her. +Finally he dipped his finger in water and touched the forehead of the +maiden, repeating meanwhile some words in an unknown tongue. + +The mother was troubled, for she feared that the stranger was trying to +bewitch her daughter, but the chief decided thus: + +“This is a praying-man, and he is not of our people; his customs are +different, but they are not evil. Warriors, take him back to the spot +where you saw him first! It is my desire, and the good custom of our +tribe requires that you free him without injury!” + +Accordingly they formed a large party, and carried the Black Robe in his +canoe back to the shore of the Great Lake, to the place where they had +met him, and he was allowed to depart thence whithersoever he would. +He took his leave with signs of gratitude for their hospitality, and +especially for the kindness of the beautiful Sioux maiden. She seemed to +have understood his mission better than any one else, and as long as +she lived she kept his queer trinket--as it seemed to the others--and +performed the strange acts that he had taught her. + +Furthermore, it was through the pleadings of She-who-has-a-Soul that the +chief Tatankaota advised his people in after days to befriend the white +strangers, and though many of the other chiefs opposed him in this, +his counsels prevailed. Hence it was that both the French and English +received much kindness from our people, mainly through the influence of +this one woman! + +Such was the first coming of the white man among us, as it is told in +our traditions. Other praying-men came later, and many of the Sioux +allowed themselves to be baptized. True, there have been Indian wars, +but not without reason; and it is pleasant to remember that the Sioux +were hospitable to the first white “prayingman,” and that it was a +tender-hearted maiden of my people who first took in her hands the cross +of the new religion. + + + + +V. THE PEACE-MAKER + +One of the most remarkable women of her day and nation was Eyatonkawee, +She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar. It is matter of history among the +Wakpaykootay band of Sioux, the Dwellers among the Leaves, that +when Eyatonkawee was a very young woman she was once victorious in a +hand-to-hand combat with the enemy in the woods of Minnesota, where her +people were hunting the deer. At such times they often met with stray +parties of Sacs and Foxes from the prairies of Iowa and Illinois. + +Now, the custom was among our people that the doer of a notable warlike +deed was held in highest honor, and these deeds were kept constantly in +memory by being recited in public, before many witnesses. The greatest +exploit was that one involving most personal courage and physical +address, and he whose record was adjudged best might claim certain +privileges, not the least of which was the right to interfere in any +quarrel and separate the combatants. The peace-maker might resort to +force, if need be, and no one dared to utter a protest who could not say +that he had himself achieved an equal fame. + +There was a man called Tamahay, known to Minnesota history as the +“One-eyed Sioux,” who was a notable character on the frontier in the +early part of the nineteenth century. He was very reckless, and could +boast of many a perilous adventure. He was the only Sioux who, in the +War of 1812, fought for the Americans, while all the rest of his people +sided with the British, mainly through the influence of the English +traders among them at that time. This same “One-eyed Sioux” became +a warm friend of Lieutenant Pike, who discovered the sources of the +Mississippi, and for whom Pike’s Peak is named. Some say that the Indian +took his friend’s name, for Tamahay in English means Pike or Pickerel. + +Unfortunately, in later life this brave man became a drunkard, and after +the Americans took possession of his country almost any one of them +would supply him with liquor in recognition of his notable services as +a scout and soldier. Thus he was at times no less dangerous in camp than +in battle. + +Now, Eyatonkawee, being a young widow, had married the son of a lesser +chief in Tamahay’s band, and was living among strangers. Moreover, she +was yet young and modest. + +One day this bashful matron heard loud warwhoops and the screams of +women. Looking forth, she saw the people fleeing hither and thither, +while Tamahay, half intoxicated, rushed from his teepee painted for war, +armed with tomahawk and scalping-knife, and approached another warrior +as if to slay him. At this sight her heart became strong, and she +quickly sprang between them with her woman’s knife in her hand. + +“It was a Sac warrior of like proportions and bravery with your own, +who, having slain several of the Sioux, thus approached me with uplifted +tomahawk!” she exclaimed in a clear voice, and went on to recite her +victory on that famous day so that the terrified people paused to hear. + +Tamahay was greatly astonished, but he was not too drunk to realize that +he must give way at once, or be subject to the humiliation of a blow +from the woman-warrior who challenged him thus. The whole camp was +listening; and being unable, in spite of his giant frame and well-known +record, to cite a greater deed than hers, he retreated with as good a +grace as possible. Thus Eyatonkawee recounted her brave deed for the +first time, in order to save a man’s life. From that day her name was +great as a peace-maker--greater even than when she had first defended so +gallantly her babe and home! + +Many years afterward, when she had attained middle age, this woman +averted a serious danger from her people. + +Chief Little Crow the elder was dead, and as he had two wives of two +different bands, the succession was disputed among the half-brothers +and their adherents. Finally the two sons of the wife belonging to the +Wabashaw band plotted against the son of the woman of the Kaposia band, +His-Red-Nation by name, afterward called Little Crow--the man who led +the Minnesota massacre. + +They obtained a quantity of whisky and made a great feast to which +many were invited, intending when all were more or less intoxicated +to precipitate a fight in which he should be killed. It would be easy +afterward to excuse themselves by saying that it was an accident. + +Mendota, near what is now the thriving city of Saint Paul, then a queen +of trading-posts in the Northwest, was the rendezvous of the Sioux. The +event brought many together, for all warriors of note were bidden from +far and near, and even the great traders of the day were present, for +the succession to the chieftainship was one which vitally affected their +interests. During the early part of the day all went well, with speeches +and eulogies of the dead chief, flowing and eloquent, such as only a +native orator can utter. Presently two goodly kegs of whisky were rolled +into the council teepee. + +Eyatonkawee was among the women, and heard their expressions of anxiety +as the voices of the men rose louder and more threatening. Some carried +their children away into the woods for safety, while others sought +speech with their husbands outside the council lodge and besought them +to come away in time. But more than this was needed to cope with the +emergency. Suddenly a familiar form appeared in the door of the council +lodge. + +“Is it becoming in a warrior to spill the blood of his tribesmen? Are +there no longer any Ojibways?” + +It was the voice of Eyatonkawee, that stronghearted woman! Advancing at +the critical moment to the middle of the ring of warriors, she once +more recited her “brave deed” with all the accompaniment of action +and gesture, and to such effect that the disorderly feast broke up in +confusion, and there was peace between the rival bands of Sioux. + +There was seldom a dangerous quarrel among the Indians in those days +that was not precipitated by the use of strong liquor, and this simple +Indian woman, whose good judgment was equal to her courage, fully +recognized this fact. All her life, and especially after her favorite +brother had been killed in a drunken brawl in the early days of the +American Fur Company, she was a determined enemy to strong drink, and +it is said did more to prevent its use among her immediate band than +any other person. Being a woman, her sole means of recognition was the +“brave deed” which she so wonderfully described and enacted before the +people. + +During the lifetime of She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar--and she died only +a few years ago--it behooved the Sioux men, if they drank at all, to +drink secretly and in moderation. There are many who remember her brave +entrance upon the scene of carousal, and her dramatic recital of the +immortal deed of her youth. + +“Hanta! hanta wo! (Out of the way!)” exclaim the dismayed warriors, +scrambling in every direction to avoid the upraised arm of the terrible +old woman, who bursts suddenly upon them with disheveled hair, her gown +torn and streaked here and there with what looks like fresh blood, her +leather leggins loose and ungartered, as if newly come from the famous +struggle. One of the men has a keg of whisky for which he has given a +pony, and the others have been invited in for a night of pleasure. But +scarcely has the first round been drunk to the toast of “great deeds,” + when Eyatonkawee is upon them, her great knife held high in her wrinkled +left hand, her tomahawk in the right. Her black eyes gleam as she +declaims in a voice strong, unterrified: + + “Look! look! brothers and husbands--the Sacs and Foxes are upon us! + + Behold, our braves are surprised--they are unprepared! + + Hear the mothers, the wives and the children screaming in affright! + + “Your brave sister, Eyatonkawee, she, the newly made mother, + is serving the smoking venison to her husband, just returned + from the chase! + + Ah, he plunges into the thickest of the enemy! + He falls, he falls, in full view of his young wife! + + “She desperately presses her babe to her breast, + while on they come yelling and triumphant! + + The foremost of them all enters her white buffalo-skin teepee: + Tossing her babe at the warrior’s feet, she stands before him, defiant; + But he straightway levels his spear at her bosom. + + Quickly she springs aside, and as quickly deals a deadly blow with + her ax: + + Falls at her feet the mighty warrior! + + “Closely following on comes another, + unknowing what fate has met his fellow! + + He too enters her teepee, and upon his feather-decked head her ax falls + --Only his death-groan replies! + + “Another of heroic size and great prowess, + as witnessed by his war-bonnet of eagle-feathers, + + Rushes on, yelling and whooping--for they believe + that victory is with them! + + The third great warrior who has dared to enter Eyatonkawee’s + teepee uninvited, he has already dispatched her husband! + + He it is whose terrible war-cry has scattered her sisters + among the trees of the forest! + + “On he comes with confidence and a brave heart, + seeking one more bloody deed- + One more feather to win for his head! + Behold, he lifts above her woman’s head his battle-ax! + No hope, no chance for her life!... + Ah! he strikes beyond her--only the handle of the ax falls + heavily upon her tired shoulder! + + Her ready knife finds his wicked heart,-- + Down he falls at her feet! + + “Now the din of war grows fainter and further. + The Sioux recover heart, and drive the enemy headlong from their lodges: + Your sister stands victorious over three! + “She takes her baby boy, and makes him count with his tiny + hands the first ‘coup’ on each dead hero; + + Hence he wears the ‘first feathers’ while yet in his oaken cradle. + + “The bravest of the whole Sioux nation have given the war-whoop + in your sister’s honor, and have said: + + ‘Tis Eyatonkawee who is not satisfied with downing + the mighty oaks with her ax-- + She took the mighty Sacs and Foxes for trees, + and she felled them with a will!’” + +In such fashion the old woman was wont to chant her story, and not a +warrior there could tell one to surpass it! The custom was strong, and +there was not one to prevent her when she struck open with a single blow +of her ax the keg of whisky, and the precious liquor trickled upon the +ground. + +“So trickles under the ax of Eyatonkawee the blood of an enemy to the +Sioux!” + + + + +VI. BLUE SKY + +Many years ago a large body of the Sioux were encamped at midsummer +in the valley of the Cheyenne. It was customary at that period for +the Indians to tie up their ponies over night within the circle of the +teepees, whenever they were in disputed territory, for they considered +it no wrong to steal the horses of the enemy. Hence this long procession +of young men and maidens, returning at sunset to the camp with great +bundles of green grass hanging gracefully from their saddles! + +The “green grass parade” became a regular custom, and in fact a +full-dress affair, since it was found to afford unusual opportunities +for courtship. + +Blue Sky, the pretty daughter of the Sioux chief, put on her best +doeskin gown trimmed with elks’ teeth, and investing her favorite +spotted pony with his beaded saddle-blanket, she went forth in company +with one of her maiden friends. Soon two young warriors overtook the +pair; and as they approached they covered their heads with their robes, +exposing only the upper part of the face disguised with paint and the +single eagle feather standing upright. One carried a bow and quiver full +of arrows; the other, a war-club suspended from his right arm. + +“Ah, hay, hun, hay!” saluted one of them; but the modest maidens said +never a word! It was not their way to speak; only the gay calico ponies +pranced about and sportively threw back their ears to snap at the horses +of the two young men. + +“‘Tis a brave welcome your horses are giving us!” he continued, while +the two girls merely looked at one another with perfect understanding. + +Presently Matoska urged his pony close to the Blue Sky’s side. + +“It may be that I am overbold,” he murmured in her ear, “to repeat so +soon my tale of love! I know well that I risk a reprimand, if not in +words, then by a look or action!” + +He paused to note the effect of his speech; but alas! it is the hard +rule of savage courtship that the maiden may with propriety and dignity +keep silence as long as she wishes, and it is often exasperatingly long. + +“I have spoken to no maiden,” he resumed, “because I wished to win the +war-bonnet before doing so. But to you I was forced to yield!” Again +he paused, as if fearing to appear unduly hasty; but deliberate as were +speech and manner, his eyes betrayed him. They were full of intense +eagerness mingled with anxiety. + +“Sometimes I have imagined that I am in the world with you alone, +traveling over the prairie of life, or sitting in our lonely white +teepee, as the oriole sits with his mate before their swaying home. Yet +I seemed to be never lonely, because you were there!” He finished his +plea, and with outward calmness awaited her reply. + +The maiden had not lost a word, but she was still thinking. She thought +that a man is much like the wind of the north, only pleasant and +comfortable in midsummer! She feared that she might some time have to +furnish all the fuel for their love’s fires; therefore she held her +peace. Matoska waited for several minutes and then silently withdrew, +bearing his disappointment with dignity. + +Meanwhile the camp was astir with the returning youths and maidens, +their horses’ sides fringed with the long meadow grass, singing +plaintive serenades around the circular rows of teepees before they +broke up for the night. + +It was a clear and quiet night; the evening fires were kindled and every +teepee transformed into an immense Chinese lantern. There was a glowing +ring two miles in circumference, with the wooded river bottom on one +side and the vast prairie on the other. The Black Hills loomed up in the +distance, and the rapids of the wild Cheyenne sent forth a varying peal +of music on the wind. The people enjoyed their evening meal, and in the +pauses of their talk and laughter the ponies could be heard munching at +the bundles of green grass just outside the teepees. + +Suddenly a chorus of yells broke cruelly the peace of the camp, followed +by the dashing charge of the Crow Indian horsemen! It was met as bravely +and quickly by the Sioux; and in the clear, pale moonlight the dusky +warriors fought, with the occasional flash of a firearm, while silent +weapons flew thick in the air like dragon-flies at sunset. + +The brave mothers, wives, and sisters gave their shrill war-cry to +inspire their men, and show the enemy that even the Sioux women cannot +be daunted by such a fearful surprise! + +When the morning sun sent its golden shafts among the teepees, they saw +it through glistening tears--happy tears, they said, because the brave +dead had met their end in gallant fight--the very end they craved! And +among those who fell that night was Brave Hawk, the handsome brother of +the Blue Sky. + +In a few days the camp was moved to a point further up the Cheyenne and +deeper into the bosom of the hills, leaving behind the decorated +grave lodges belonging to the honored dead. A great council teepee was +pitched, and here the people met to credit those who had earned them +with the honors of the fight, that they might thereafter wear the eagle +feathers which they had won. + +“The first honor,” declared the master of ceremonies, “belongs to Brave +Hawk, who fell in the battle! He it was who compelled the Crows to +retreat, when he bravely charged upon them and knocked from his horse +the Crow chief, their war leader.” + +“Ho, it is true!” exclaimed the warriors in chorus. + +“The second honor,” he resumed, “belongs to Matoska, the White Bear!” + +“Hun, hun, hay!” interposed another, “it is I, Red Owl, who touched the +body of the Crow chief second to Brave Hawk!” + +It was a definite challenge. + +“The warriors who witnessed the act give the coup to Matoska, friend!” + persisted the spokesman. + +Red Owl was a brave youth and a close rival of Matoska, both for war +honors and for the hand of the prettiest maiden in the tribe. He had +hoped to be recognized as one who fought in defense of their homes by +the side of Brave Hawk; that would please the Blue Sky, he thought; but +the honor was conferred upon his rival! + +There was a cloud of suppressed irritation on his dusky face as he +sullenly departed to his own tent--an action which displeased the +council-men. Matoska had not spoken, and this caused him to appear to +the better advantage. The worst of it was that Blue Sky herself +had entered the ring with the “orphan steed,” as it was called--the +war-horse of her dead brother, and had therefore seen and heard +everything! Tanagila, or Hummingbird, the beautiful charger, decorated +according to custom with the honors won by his master, was led away by +the girl amidst resounding war-whoops. + +Unable to remain quiet, Red Owl went out into the hills to fast and +pray. It was sunset of the next day when he again approached the +village, and behind a little ridge came suddenly upon Matoska and the +girl standing together. It was the first time that they had met since +the “green grass parade,” and now only by accident, as the sister of +Brave Hawk was in deep mourning. However, the lover had embraced his +opportunity, and the maiden had said that she was willing to think of +the matter. No more words were spoken. + +That very night the council drum was struck three times, followed by the +warriors’ cheer. Everybody knew what that meant. It was an invitation to +the young men to go upon the war-path against the Crows! + +Blue Sky was unconsciously startled by this sudden announcement. For the +first time in her life she felt a fear that she could not explain. The +truth was that she loved, and was not yet fully aware of it. In spite of +her fresh grief, she had been inexplicably happy since her last meeting +with Matoska, for she had seen in him that which is so beautiful, so +compelling in man to the eyes of the woman who loves. He, too, now +cherished a real hope, and felt as if he could rush into the thickest of +the battle to avenge the brother of his beloved! + +In a few days the war-party had reached the Big Horn and sent out +advance scouts, who reported a large Crow encampment. Their hundreds of +horses covered the flats like a great herd of buffalo, they said. It was +immediately decided to attack at daybreak, and on a given signal they +dashed impetuously upon the formidable camp. Some stampeded and drove +off a number of horses, while the main body plunged into the midst of +the Crows. + +But the enemy were not easily surprised. They knew well the Sioux +tactics, and there was a desperate struggle for supremacy. War-club was +raised against war-club, and the death-song of the arrow filled the +air! Presently the Sioux were forced to retreat, with the Crows in hot +pursuit, like wolves after their prey. + +Red Owl and Matoska had been among the foremost in the charge, and +now they acted as a rear-guard, bravely defending the retreat of their +little army, to the admiration of the enemy. At last a Crow raised his +spear against Matoska, who in a flash dismounted him with a stroke of +his oaken bow; but alas! the blow snapped the bow-string and left him +defenseless. At the same instant his horse uttered a scream and fell, +throwing its rider headlong! + +There was no one near except Red Owl, who clapped his heels to his pony +and joined in the retreat, leaving Matoska behind. He arose, threw down +his quiver, and advanced alone to meet the oncoming rush of the Crows! + +The Sioux had seen him fall. In a few moments he was surrounded by the +enemy, and they saw him no more. + +The pursuit was stopped, and they paused upon a hilltop to collect the +remnant of their force. Red Owl was the last to come up, and it was +observed that he did not look like himself. + +“Tell us, what were Matoska’s last words?” they asked him. + +But he silently dismounted and sent an arrow through his faithful steed, +to the astonishment of the warriors. Immediately afterward he took out +his knife and stabbed himself to the heart. + +“Ah!” they exclaimed, “he could not live to share our humiliation!” + +The war-party returned defeated and cast down by this unexpected ending +to their adventure, having lost some of their bravest and best men. The +camp was instantly thrown into mourning. Many were in heavy grief, but +none was more deeply stricken than the maiden called the Blue Sky, the +daughter of their chief. + +She remained within her teepee and wept in secret, for none knew that +she had the right to mourn. Yet she believed that her lover had met with +misfortune, but not death. Although his name was announced among those +warriors who fell in the field, her own heart assured her that it was +not so. “I must go to him,” she said to herself. “I must know certainly +whether he is still among the living!” + +The next evening, while the village was yet in the confusion of great +trouble and sorrow, Blue Sky rode out upon her favorite pony as if to +take him to water as usual, but none saw her return! She hastened to +the spot where she had concealed two sacks of provisions and her extra +moccasins and materials for sewing. She had no weapon, save her knife +and a small hatchet. She knew the country between the Black Hills and +the Big Horn, and knew that it was full of perils for man and much more +for woman. Yet by traveling only at night and concealing herself in the +daytime she hoped to avoid these dangers, and she rode bravely forth on +the trail of the returning warriors. + +Her dog, Wapayna, had followed the maiden, and she was not sorry to +have so faithful a companion. She cautioned him not to bark at or attack +strange animals unless they attacked first, and he seemed to understand +the propriety of remaining on guard whenever his mistress was asleep. + +She reached the Powder River country in safety, and here she had more +than once to pick her way among the buffaloes. These wily animals seemed +to realize that she was only a woman and unarmed, so that they scarcely +kept out of her path. She also crossed the trails of riders, some of +them quite fresh, but was fortunate enough not to meet any of them. + +At last the maiden attained the divide between the Tongue and the Big +Horn rivers. Her heart beat fast, and the sudden sense of her strange +mission almost overwhelmed her. She remembered the only time in her life +that the Sioux were upon that river, and so had that bit of friendly +welcome from the valley--a recollection of childhood! + +It was near morning; the moon had set and for a short time darkness +prevailed, but the girl’s eyes had by this time become accustomed to +the dark. She knew the day was at hand, and with its first beams she was +safely tucked into one of those round turns left by the river long ago +in changing its bed, now become a little grassy hollow sheltered by +steep banks, and hidden by a fringe of trees. Here she picketed her +pony, and took her own rest. Not until the afternoon shadows were +long did she awake and go forth with determination to seek for the +battlefield and for the Crow encampment. + +It was not long before she came upon the bodies of fallen horses and +men. There was Matoska’s white charger, with a Sioux arrow in his side, +and she divined the treachery of Red Owl! But he was dead, and his death +had atoned for the crime. The body of her lover was nowhere to be found; +yet how should they have taken the bravest of the Sioux a captive? + +“If he had but one arrow left, he would stand and fight! If his +bow-string were broken, he would still welcome death with a strong +heart,” she thought. + +The evening was approaching and the Crow village in plain sight. Blue +Sky arranged her hair and dress as well as she could like that of a Crow +woman, and with an extra robe she made for herself a bundle that looked +as if it held a baby in its many wrappings. The community was still +celebrating its recent victory over the Sioux, and the camp was alive +with songs and dances. In the darkness she approached unnoticed, and +singing in an undertone a Crow lullaby, walked back and forth among the +lodges, watching eagerly for any signs of him she sought. + +At last she came near to the council lodge. There she beheld his face +like an apparition through the dusk and the fire-light! He was sitting +within, dressed in the gala costume of a Crow. + +“O, he is living! he is living!” thought the brave maiden. “O, what +shall I do?” Unconsciously she crept nearer and nearer, until the sharp +eyes of an Indian detected the slight difference in her manner and +dress, and he at once gave the alarm. + +“Wah, wah! Epsaraka! Epsaraka! A Sioux! A Sioux!” + +In an instant the whole camp had surrounded the girl, who stood in their +midst a prisoner, yet undaunted, for she had seen her lover, and the +spirit of her ancestors rose within her. + +An interpreter was brought, a man who was half Crow and half Sioux. + +“Young and pretty daughter of the Sioux!” exclaimed the chief, “tell us +how you came here in our midst undetected, and why!” + +“Because,” replied the Blue Sky, “your brave warriors have slain my only +brother, and captured my lover, whom you now hold a prisoner. It is for +his sake that I have thus risked my life and honor!” + +“Ho, ho! You are the bravest woman I have ever seen. Your lover was +betrayed into our hands by the treachery of one of his own tribe, who +shot his horse from behind. He faced us without fear, but it was not his +courage that saved his life. He resembles my own son, who lately fell in +battle, and according to the custom I have adopted him as my son!” + +Thus the brave maiden captured the heart of the wily Crow, and was +finally allowed to return home with her lover, bearing many and rich +presents. Her name is remembered among the two tribes, for this act of +hers resulted in a treaty of peace between them which was kept for a +generation. + + + + +VII. THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS + +Away beyond the Thin Hills, above the Big Lone Tree upon the Powder +River, the Uncpapa Sioux had celebrated their Sun Dance, some forty +years ago. It was midsummer and the red folk were happy. They lacked +for nothing. The yellowish green flat on either side of the Powder was +studded with wild flowers, and the cottonwood trees were in full leaf. +One large circle of buffalo skin teepees formed the movable village. The +Big Horn Mountains loomed up against the deep blue sky to the westward, +and the Black Hills appeared in the far southeast. + +The tribal rites had all been observed, and the usual summer festivities +enjoyed to the full. The camp as it broke up divided itself in three +parts, each of which had determined to seek a favorite hunting-ground. + +One band journeyed west, toward the Tongue River. One followed a +tributary of the Powder to the south. The third merely changed camp, on +account of the grazing for ponies, and for four days remained near the +old place. + +The party that went west did not fail to realize the perilous nature +of their wanderings, for they were trespassing upon the country of the +warlike Crows. + +On the third day at sunrise, the Sioux crier’s voice resounded in the +valley of the Powder, announcing that the lodges must be razed and the +villagers must take up their march. + +Breakfast of jerked buffalo meat had been served and the women were +adjusting their packs, not without much chatter and apparent confusion. +Weeko (Beautiful Woman), the young wife of the war-chief Shunkaska, who +had made many presents at the dances in honor of her twin boys, now +gave one of her remaining ponies to a poor old woman whose only beast of +burden, a large dog, had died during the night. + +This made it necessary to shift the packs of the others. Nakpa, or Long +Ears, her kittenlike gray mule, which had heretofore been honored with +the precious burden of the twin babies, was to be given a heavier and +more cumbersome load. Weeko’s two-year-old spotted pony was selected to +carry the babies. + +Accordingly, the two children, in their gorgeously beaded buckskin +hoods, were suspended upon either side of the pony’s saddle. As Weeko’s +first-born, they were beautifully dressed; even the saddle and bridle +were daintily worked by her own hands. + +The caravan was now in motion, and Weeko started all her ponies after +the leader, while she adjusted the mule’s clumsy burden of kettles and +other household gear. In a moment: + +“Go on, let us see how you move with your new load! Go on!” she +exclaimed again, with a light blow of the horse-hair lariat, as the +animal stood perfectly still. + +Nakpa simply gave an angry side glance at her load and shifted her +position once or twice. Then she threw herself headlong into the air and +landed stiff-legged, uttering at the same time her unearthly protest. +First she dove straight through the crowd, then proceeded in a circle, +her heels describing wonderful curves and sweeps in the air. Her +pack, too, began to come to pieces and to take forced flights from her +undignified body and heels, in the midst of the screams of women and +children, the barking of dogs, and the war-whoops of the amused young +braves. + +The cowskin tent became detached from her saddle, and a moment later +Nakpa stood free. Her sides worked like a bellows as she stood there +meekly indignant, apparently considering herself to be the victim of an +uncalled-for misunderstanding. + +“I should put an arrow through her at once, only she is not worth a +good arrow,” said Shunkaska, or White Dog, the husband of Weeko. At his +wife’s answer, he opened his eyes in surprised displeasure. + +“No, she shall have her own pack again. She wants her twins. I ought +never to have taken them from her!” + +Weeko approached Nakpa as she stood alone and unfriended in the face +of her little world, all of whom considered that she had committed the +unpardonable sin. As for her, she evidently felt that her misfortunes +had not been of her own making. She gave a hesitating, sidelong look at +her mistress. + +“Nakpa, you should not have acted so. I knew you were stronger than the +others, therefore I gave you that load,” said Weeko in a conciliatory +tone, and patted her on the nose. “Come, now, you shall have your own +pet pack,” and she led her back to where the young pony stood silently +with the babies. + +Nakpa threw back her ears and cast savage looks at him, while Shunkaska, +with no small annoyance, gathered together as much as he could of their +scattered household effects. The sleeping brown-skinned babies in +their chrysalis-like hoods were gently lowered from the pony’s back and +attached securely to Nakpa’s padded wooden saddle. The family pots and +kettles were divided among the pack ponies. Order was restored and the +village once more in motion. + +“Come now, Nakpa; you have your wish. You must take good care of my +babies. Be good, because I have trusted you,” murmured the young mother +in her softest tones. + +“Really, Weeko, you have some common ground with Nakpa, for you both +always want to have your own way, and stick to it, too! I tell you, I +fear this Long Ears. She is not to be trusted with babies,” remarked +Shunkaska, with a good deal of severity. But his wife made no reply, for +she well knew that though he might criticise, he would not actually +interfere with her domestic arrangements. + +He now started ahead to join the men in advance of the slow-moving +procession, thus leaving her in undivided charge of her household. One +or two of the pack ponies were not well-trained and required all her +attention. Nakpa had been a faithful servant until her escapade of +the morning, and she was now obviously satisfied with her mistress’ +arrangements. She walked alongside with her lariat dragging, and +perfectly free to do as she pleased. + +Some hours later, the party ascended a slope from the river bottom to +cross over the divide which lay between the Powder River and a tributary +stream. They had hitherto followed that river in a westerly direction, +but here it took its course southward, winding in a blue streak until +lost to view among the foot-hills of the Big Horn Mountains. The ford +was deep, with a swift current. Here and there a bald butte stood out +in full relief against the brilliant blue sky. The Sioux followed a deep +ravine until they came almost up to the second row of terraces. + +“Whoo! whoo!” came the blood-curdling signal of danger from the front. +It was no unfamiliar sound--the rovers knew it only too well. It meant +sudden death--or at best a cruel struggle and frantic flight. + +Terrified, yet self-possessed, the women turned to fly while yet there +was time. Instantly the mother looked to Nakpa, who carried on either +side of the saddle her precious boys. She hurriedly examined the +fastenings to see that all was secure, and then caught her swiftest +pony, for, like all Indian women, she knew just what was happening, and +that while her husband was engaged in front with the enemy, she must +seek safety with her babies. + +Hardly was she in the saddle when a heartrending war-whoop sounded on +their flank, and she knew that they were surrounded! Instinctively she +reached for her husband’s second quiver of arrows, which was carried by +one of the pack ponies. Alas! the Crow warriors were already upon +them! The ponies became unmanageable, and the wild screams of women and +children pierced the awful confusion. + +Quick as a flash, Weeko turned again to her babies, but Nakpa had +already disappeared! + +Then, maddened by fright and the loss of her children, Weeko became +forgetful of her sex and tenderness, for she sternly grasped her +husband’s bow in her left hand to do battle. + +That charge of the Crows was a disastrous one, but the Sioux were +equally brave and desperate. Charges and counter-charges were made, and +the slain were many on both sides. The fight lasted until darkness came. +Then the Crows departed and the Sioux buried their dead. + +When the Crows made their flank charge, Nakpa apparently appreciated the +situation. To save herself and the babies, she took a desperate chance. +She fled straight through the attacking force. + +When the warriors came howling upon her in great numbers, she at once +started back the way she had come, to the camp left behind. They had +traveled nearly three days. To be sure, they did not travel more than +fifteen miles a day, but it was full forty miles to cover before dark. + +“Look! look!” exclaimed a warrior, “two babies hung from the saddle of a +mule!” + +No one heeded this man’s call, and his arrow did not touch Nakpa or +either of the boys, but it struck the thick part of the saddle over the +mule’s back. + +“Lasso her! lasso her!” he yelled once more; but Nakpa was too cunning +for them. She dodged in and out with active heels, and they could not +afford to waste many arrows on a mule at that stage of the fight. Down +the ravine, then over the expanse of prairie dotted with gray-green +sage-brush, she sped with her unconscious burden. + +“Whoo! whoo!” yelled another Crow to his comrades, “the Sioux have +dispatched a runner to get reinforcements! There he goes, down on the +flat! Now he has almost reached the river bottom!” + +It was only Nakpa. She laid back her cars and stretched out more and +more to gain the river, for she realized that when she had crossed the +ford the Crows would not pursue her farther. + +Now she had reached the bank. With the intense heat from her exertions, +she was extremely nervous, and she imagined a warrior behind every bush. +Yet she had enough sense left to realize that she must not satisfy her +thirst. She tried the bottom with her fore-foot, then waded carefully +into the deep stream. + +She kept her big ears well to the front as she swam to catch the +slightest sound. As she stepped on the opposite shore, she shook herself +and the boys vigorously, then pulled a few mouthfuls of grass and +started on. + +Soon one of the babies began to cry, and the other was not long in +joining him. Nakpa did not know what to do. She gave a gentle whinny and +both babies apparently stopped to listen; then she took up an easy gait +as if to put them to sleep. + +These tactics answered only for a time. As she fairly flew over the +lowlands, the babies’ hunger increased and they screamed so loud that a +passing coyote had to sit upon his haunches and wonder what in the world +the fleeing longeared horse was carrying on his saddle. Even magpies and +crows flew near as if to ascertain the meaning of this curious sound. + +Nakpa now came to the Little Trail Creek, a tributary of the Powder, not +far from the old camp. No need of wasting any time here, she thought. +Then she swerved aside so suddenly as almost to jerk her babies out +of their cradles. Two gray wolves, one on each side, approached her, +growling low--their white teeth showing. + +Never in her humble life had Nakpa been in more desperate straits. The +larger of the wolves came fiercely forward to engage her attention, +while his mate was to attack her behind and cut her hamstrings. But for +once the pair had made a miscalculation. The mule used her front hoofs +vigorously on the foremost wolf, while her hind ones were doing even +more effective work. The larger wolf soon went limping away with a +broken hip, and the one in the rear received a deep cut on the jaw which +proved an effectual discouragement. + +A little further on, an Indian hunter drew near on horseback, but Nakpa +did not pause or slacken her pace. On she fled through the long dry +grass of the river bottoms, while her babies slept again from sheer +exhaustion. Toward sunset, she entered the Sioux camp amid great +excitement, for some one had spied her afar off, and the boys and the +dogs announced her coming. + +“Whoo, whoo! Weeko’s Nakpa has come back with the twins! Whoo, whoo!” + exclaimed the men. “Tokee! tokee!” cried the women. + +A sister to Weeko who was in the village came forward and released the +children, as Nakpa gave a low whinny and stopped. Tenderly Zeezeewin +nursed them at her own motherly bosom, assisted by another young mother +of the band. + +“Ugh, there is a Crow arrow sticking in the saddle! A fight! a fight!” + exclaimed the warriors. + +“Sing a Brave-Heart song for the Long-Eared one! She has escaped alone +with her charge. She is entitled to wear an eagle’s feather! Look at the +arrow in her saddle! and more, she has a knife wound in her jaw and an +arrow cut on her hind leg.--No, those are the marks of a wolf’s teeth! +She has passed through many dangers and saved two chief’s sons, who will +some day make the Crows sorry for this day’s work!” + +The speaker was an old man who thus addressed the fast gathering throng. + +Zeezeewin now came forward again with an eagle feather and some white +paint in her hands. The young men rubbed Nakpa down, and the feather, +marked with red to indicate her wounds, was fastened to her mane. +Shoulders and hips were touched with red paint to show her endurance in +running. Then the crier, praising her brave deed in heroic verse, led +her around the camp, inside of the circle of teepees. All the people +stood outside their lodges and listened respectfully, for the Dakota +loves well to honor the faithful and the brave. + +During the next day, riders came in from the ill-fated party, bringing +the sad news of the fight and heavy loss. Late in the afternoon came +Weeko, her face swollen with crying, her beautiful hair cut short in +mourning, her garments torn and covered with dust and blood. Her husband +had fallen in the fight, and her twin boys she supposed to have been +taken captive by the Crows. Singing in a hoarse voice the praises of her +departed warrior, she entered the camp. As she approached her sister’s +teepee, there stood Nakpa, still wearing her honorable decorations. At +the same moment, Zeezeewin came out to meet her with both babies in her +arms. + +“Mechinkshee! meechinkshee! (my sons, my sons!)” was all that the poor +mother could say, as she all but fell from her saddle to the ground. The +despised Long Ears had not betrayed her trust. + + + + +VIII. THE WAR MAIDEN + +The old man, Smoky Day, was for many years the best-known story-teller +and historian of his tribe. He it was who told me the story of the War +Maiden. In the old days it was unusual but not unheard of for a woman to +go upon the war-path--perhaps a young girl, the last of her line, or a +widow whose well-loved husband had fallen on the field--and there could +be no greater incentive to feats of desperate daring on the part of the +warriors. “A long time ago,” said old Smoky Day, “the Unkpapa and the +Cut-Head bands of Sioux united their camps upon a vast prairie east of +the Minne Wakan (now called Devil’s Lake). It was midsummer, and the +people shared in the happiness of every living thing. We had food in +abundance, for bison in countless numbers overspread the plain. + +“The teepee village was laid out in two great rings, and all was in +readiness for the midsummer entertainments. There were ball games, +feasts and dances every day, and late into the night. You have heard of +the festivities of those days; there are none like them now,” said the +old man, and he sighed heavily as he laid down the red pipe which was to +be passed from hand to hand during the recital. + +“The head chief of the Unkpapas then was Tamakoche (His Country). He was +in his time a notable warrior, a hunter and a feastmaker, much beloved +by his people. He was the father of three sons, but he was so anxious +to make them warriors of great reputation that they had all, despising +danger, been killed in battle. + +“The chief had also a very pretty daughter, whose name was Makatah. +Since all his sons were slain he had placed his affections solely upon +the girl, and she grew up listening to the praises of the brave deeds +of her brothers, which her father never tired of chanting when they were +together in the lodge. At times Makatah was called upon to dance to the +‘Strong-Heart’ songs. Thus even as a child she loved the thought of war, +although she was the prettiest and most modest maiden in the two tribes. +As she grew into womanhood she became the belle of her father’s village, +and her beauty and spirit were talked of even among the neighboring +bands of Sioux. But it appeared that Makatah did not care to marry. She +had only two ambitions. One was to prove to her father that, though +only a maid, she had the heart of a warrior. The other was to visit the +graves of her brothers--that is, the country of the enemy. + +“At this pleasant reunion of two kindred peoples one of the principal +events was the Feast of Virgins, given by Makatah. All young maidens of +virtue and good repute were invited to be present; but woe to her who +should dare to pollute the sacred feast! If her right to be there were +challenged by any it meant a public disgrace. The two arrows and the red +stone upon which the virgins took their oath of chastity were especially +prepared for the occasion. Every girl was beautifully dressed, for +at that time the white doeskin gowns, with a profusion of fringes and +colored embroidery, were the gala attire of the Sioux maidens. Red +paint was added, and ornaments of furs and wampum. Many youths eagerly +surveyed the maiden gathering, at which the daughter of Tamakoche +outshone all the rest. + +“Several eligible warriors now pressed their suits at the chieftain’s +lodge, and among them were one or two whom he would have gladly called +son-in-law; but no! Makatah would not listen to words of courtship. She +had vowed, she said, to the spirits of her three brothers--each of whom +fell in the country of the Crows--that she would see that country before +she became a wife. + +“Red Horn, who was something of a leader among the young men, was a +persistent and determined suitor. He had urged every influential friend +of his and hers to persuade her to listen to him. His presents were more +valuable than those of any one else. He even made use of his father’s +position as a leading chief of the Cut-Head band to force a decision in +his favor; and while the maiden remained indifferent her father seemed +inclined to countenance this young man’s pretensions. + +“She had many other lovers, as I have said,” the old man added, “and +among them was one Little Eagle, an orphan and a poor young man, unknown +and unproved as a warrior. He was so insignificant that nobody thought +much about him, and if Makatah regarded him with any favor the matter +was her secret, for it is certain that she did not openly encourage him. + +“One day it was reported in the village that their neighbors, the +Cut-Head Sioux, would organize a great attack upon the Crows at the +mouth of the Redwater, a tributary of the Missouri. Makatah immediately +inquired of her male cousins whether any of them expected to join the +war-party. + +“‘Three of us will go,’ they replied. + +“‘Then,’ said the girl, ‘I beg that you will allow me to go with you! +I have a good horse, and I shall not handicap you in battle. I only ask +your protection in camp as your kinswoman and a maid of the war-party.’ + +“‘If our uncle Tamakoche sanctions your going,’ they replied, ‘we shall +be proud to have our cousin with us, to inspire us to brave deeds!’ + +“The maiden now sought her father and asked his permission to accompany +the warparty. + +“‘I wish,’ said she, ‘to visit the graves of my brothers! I shall carry +with me their war-bonnets and their weapons, to give to certain young +men on the eve of battle, according to the ancient custom. Long ago I +resolved to do this, and the time is now come.’ + +“The chief was at this time well advanced in years, and had been sitting +quite alone in his lodge, thinking upon the days of his youth, when he +was noted for daring and success in battle. In silence he listened as +he filled his pipe, and seemed to meditate while he smoked the fragrant +tobacco. At last he spoke with tears in his eyes. + +“‘Daughter, I am an old man! My heart beats in my throat, and my old +eyes cannot keep back the tears. My three sons, on whom I had placed all +my hopes, are gone to a far country! You are the only child left to my +old age, and you, too, are brave--as brave as any of your brothers. If +you go I fear that you may not return to me; yet I cannot refuse you my +permission!” + +“The old man began to chant a war-song, and some of his people, hearing +him, came in to learn what was in his mind. He told them all, and +immediately many young men volunteered for the war-party, in order to +have the honor of going with the daughter of their chief. + +“Several of Makatah’s suitors were among them, and each watched eagerly +for an opportunity to ride at her side. At night she pitched her little +teepee within the circle of her cousins’ campfires, and there she slept +without fear. Courteous youths brought to her every morning and evening +fresh venison for her repast. Yet there was no courting, for all +attentions paid to a maiden when on the war-path must be those of a +brother to a sister, and all must be equally received by her. + +“Two days later, when the two parties of Sioux met on the plains, the +maiden’s presence was heralded throughout the camp, as an inspiration to +the young and untried warriors of both bands to distinguish themselves +in the field. It is true that some of the older men considered it unwise +to allow Makatah to accompany the war-party. + +“‘The girl,’ said they to one another, ‘is very ambitious as well as +brave. She will surely risk her own life in battle, which will make the +young men desperate, and we shall lose many of them!’ + +“Nevertheless they loved her and her father; therefore they did not +protest openly. + +“On the third day the Sioux scouts returned with the word that the Crows +were camping, as had been supposed, at the confluence of the Redwater +and the Missouri Rivers. It was a great camp. All the Crow tribe were +there, they said, with their thousands of fine horses. + +“There was excitement in the Sioux camp, and all of the head men +immediately met in council. It was determined to make the attack early +on the following morning, just as the sun came over the hills. The +councilors agreed that in honor of the great chief, her father, as well +as in recognition of her own courage, Makatah should be permitted to +lead the charge at the outset, but that she must drop behind as they +neared the enemy. The maiden, who had one of the fleetest ponies in that +part of the country, had no intention of falling back, but she did not +tell any one what was in her mind. + +“That evening every warrior sang his warsong, and announced the +particular war-charm or ‘medicine’ of his clan, according to the custom. +The youths were vying with one another in brave tales of what they would +do on the morrow. The voice of Red Horn was loud among the boasters, for +he was known to be a vain youth, although truly not without reputation. +Little Eagle, who was also of the company, remained modestly silent, as +indeed became one without experience in the field. In the midst of the +clamor there fell a silence. + +“‘Hush! hush!’ they whispered. ‘Look, look! The War Maiden comes!’ + +“All eyes were turned upon Makatah, who rode her fine buckskin steed +with a single lariat. He held his head proudly, and his saddle was heavy +with fringes and gay with colored embroidery. The maiden was attired in +her best and wore her own father’s war-bonnet, while she carried in her +hands two which had belonged to two of her dead brothers. Singing in a +clear voice the songs of her clan, she completed the circle, according +to custom, before she singled out one of the young braves for special +honor by giving him the bonnet which she held in her right hand. She +then crossed over to the Cut-Heads, and presented the other bonnet to +one of their young men. She was very handsome; even the old men’s blood +was stirred by her brave appearance! + +“At daybreak the two war-parties of the Sioux, mounted on their best +horses, stood side by side, ready for the word to charge. All of the +warriors were painted for the battle--prepared for death--their +nearly nude bodies decorated with their individual war-totems. Their +well-filled quivers were fastened to their sides, and each tightly +grasped his oaken bow. + +“The young man with the finest voice had been chosen to give the +signal--a single highpitched yell. This was an imitation of the one +long howl of the gray wolf before he makes the attack. It was an ancient +custom of our people. + +“‘Woo-o-o-o!’--at last it came! As the sound ceased a shrill war-whoop +from five hundred throats burst forth in chorus, and at the same instant +Makatah, upon her splendid buckskin pony, shot far out upon the plain, +like an arrow as it leaves the bow. It was a glorious sight! No man has +ever looked upon the like again!” + +The eyes of the old man sparkled as he spoke, and his bent shoulders +straightened. + +“The white doeskin gown of the War Maiden,” he continued, “was trimmed +with elk’s teeth and tails of ermine. Her long black hair hung loose, +bound only with a strip of otter-skin, and with her eagle-feather +war-bonnet floated far behind. In her hand she held a long coup-staff +decorated with eagle-feathers. Thus she went forth in advance of them +all! + +“War cries of men and screams of terrified women and children were borne +upon the clear morning air as our warriors neared the Crow camp. The +charge was made over a wide plain, and the Crows came yelling from +their lodges, fully armed, to meet the attacking party. In spite of the +surprise they easily held their own, and even began to press us hard, as +their number was much greater than that of the Sioux. + +“The fight was a long and hard one. Toward the end of the day the enemy +made a counter-charge. By that time many of our ponies had fallen or +were exhausted. The Sioux retreated, and the slaughter was great. The +Cut-Heads fled womanlike; but the people of Tamakoche fought gallantly +to the very last. + +“Makatah remained with her father’s people. Many cried out to her, +‘Go back! Go back!’ but she paid no attention. She carried no weapon +throughout the day--nothing but her coup-staff--but by her presence and +her cries of encouragement or praise she urged on the men to deeds of +desperate valor. + +“Finally, however, the Sioux braves were hotly pursued and the retreat +became general. Now at last Makatah tried to follow; but her pony was +tired, and the maiden fell farther and farther behind. Many of her +lovers passed her silently, intent upon saving their own lives. Only a +few still remained behind, fighting desperately to cover the retreat, +when Red Horn came up with the girl. His pony was still fresh. He might +have put her up behind him and carried her to safety, but he did not +even look at her as he galloped by. + +“Makatah did not call out, but she could not help looking after him. He +had declared his love for her more loudly than any of the others, and +she now gave herself up to die. + +“Presently another overtook the maiden. It was Little Eagle, unhurt and +smiling. + +“‘Take my horse!’ he said to her. ‘I shall remain here and fight!’ + +“The maiden looked at him and shook her head, but he sprang off and +lifted her upon his horse. He struck him a smart blow upon the flank +that sent him at full speed in the direction of the Sioux encampment. +Then he seized the exhausted buckskin by the lariat, and turned back to +join the rear-guard. + +“That little group still withstood in some fashion the all but +irresistible onset of the Crows. When their comrade came back to them, +leading the War Maiden’s pony, they were inspired to fresh endeavor, and +though few in number they made a counter-charge with such fury that the +Crows in their turn were forced to retreat! + +“The Sioux got fresh mounts and returned to the field, and by sunset the +day was won! Little Eagle was among the first who rode straight through +the Crow camp, causing terror and consternation. It was afterward +remembered that he looked unlike his former self and was scarcely +recognized by the warriors for the modest youth they had so little +regarded. + +“It was this famous battle which drove that warlike nation, the Crows, +to go away from the Missouri and to make their home up the Yellowstone +River and in the Bighorn country. But many of our men fell, and among +them the brave Little Eagle! + +“The sun was almost over the hills when the Sioux gathered about their +campfires, recounting the honors won in battle, and naming the brave +dead. Then came the singing of dirges and weeping for the slain! The +sadness of loss was mingled with exultation. + +“Hush! listen! the singing and wailing have ceased suddenly at both +camps. There is one voice coming around the circle of campfires. It is +the voice of a woman! Stripped of all her ornaments, her dress shorn +of its fringes, her ankles bare, her hair cropped close to her neck, +leading a pony with mane and tail cut short, she is mourning as widows +mourn. It is Makatah! + +“Publicly, with many tears, she declared herself the widow of the brave +Little Eagle, although she had never been his wife! He it was, she said +with truth, who had saved her people’s honor and her life at the cost of +his own. He was a true man! + +“‘Ho, ho!’ was the response from many of the older warriors; but the +young men, the lovers of Makatah, were surprised and sat in silence. + +“The War Maiden lived to be a very old woman, but she remained true +to her vow. She never accepted a husband; and all her lifetime she was +known as the widow of the brave Little Eagle.” + +THE END + + + + +GLOSSARY + +A-no-ka-san, white on both sides (Bald Eagle). +A-tay, father. +Cha-ton’-ska, White Hawk. +Chin-o-te-dah, Lives-in-the-Wood. +Chin-to, yes, indeed. +E-na-ka-nee, hurry. +E-ya-tonk-a-wee, She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar. +E-yo-tank-a, rise up, or sit down. +Ha-ha-ton-wan, Ojibway. +Ha-na-ka-pe, a grave. +Han-ta-wo, Out of the way! +He-che-tu, it is well. +He-yu-pe-ya, come here! +Hi! an exclamation of thanks. +Hunk-pa-tees, a band of Sioux. +Ka-po-sia, Light Lodges, a band of Sioux. +Ke-chu-wa, darling. +Ko-da, friend. +Ma-ga-ska-wee, Swan Maiden. +Ma-ka-tah, Earth Woman. +Ma-to, bear. +Ma-to-ska, White Bear. +Ma-to-sa-pa, Black Bear. +Me-chink-she, my son or sons. +Me-ta, my. +Min-ne-wa-kan, Sacred Water (Devil’s Lake.) +Min-ne-ya-ta, By-the-Water. +Nak-pa, Ears or Long Ears. +Ne-na e-ya-ya! run fast! +O-glu-ge-chan-a, Mysterious Wood-Dweller. +Psay, snow-shoes. +Shunk-a, dog. +Shunk-a-ska, White Dog. +Shunk-ik-chek-a, domestic dog. +Ske-ske-ta-tonk-a, Sault Sainte Marie. +Sna-na, Rattle. +Sta-su, Shield (Arickaree). +Ta-ake-che-ta, his soldier. +Ta-chin-cha-la, fawn. +Tak-cha, doe. +Ta-lu-ta, Scarlet. +Ta-ma-hay, Pike. +Ta-ma-ko-che, His Country. +Ta-na-ge-la, Humming-Bird. +Ta-tank-a-o-ta, Many Buffaloes. +Ta-te-yo-pa, Her Door. +Ta-to-ka, Antelope. +Ta-wa-su-o-ta, Many Hailstones. +Tee-pee, tent. +Te-yo-tee-pee, Council lodge. +To-ke-ya nun-ka hu-wo? where are you? +Tunk-a-she-dah, grandfather. +Un-chee-dah, grandmother. +Unk-pa-pa, a band of Sioux. +U-ya-yo! come here! +Wa-ba-shaw, Red Hat (name of a Sioux chief). +Wa-ha-dah, Buyer of Furs. +Wah-pay-ton, a band of Sioux. +Wa-ho, Howler. +Wa-kan, sacred, mysterious. +Wak-pay-ku-tay, a band of Sioux. +Wa-pay-na, Little Barker. +Wee-ko, Beautiful Woman. +We-no-na, Firstborn Daughter. +We-sha-wee, Red Girl. +We-wop-tay, a sharpened pole. +We-yan-na, little woman. +We-zee, Smoky Lodge. +Yank-ton-nais, a band of Sioux. +Zee-zee-win, Yellow Woman. +Zu-ya-ma-ni, Walks-to-War. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Indian Days, by +[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. 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Eastman + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +Project Gutenberg's Old Indian Days, by [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Old Indian Days + +Author: [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +Release Date: July 5, 2008 [EBook #339] +Last Updated: October 7, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD INDIAN DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + OLD INDIAN DAYS + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Charles A. Eastman + </h2> + <h3> + (Ohiyesa) + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h4> + To<br /> My Daughters<br /> DORA, IRENE, VIRGINIA, ELEANOR, AND FLORENCE<br /> + I Dedicate<br /> these Stories of the Old Indian Life,<br /> and especially + of<br /> the Courageous and Womanly Indian Woman + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART"> <b>PART ONE. THE WARRIOR</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> I. THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> II. THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> III. THE SINGING SPIRIT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> IV. THE FAMINE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> V. THE CHIEF SOLDIER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> VI. THE WHITE MAN’S ERRAND </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> VII. THE GRAVE OF THE DOG </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PART2"> <b>PART TWO. THE WOMAN</b> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> I. WINONA, THE WOMAN-CHILD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> II. WINONA, THE CHILD-WOMAN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> III. SNANA’S FAWN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> IV. SHE-WHO-HAS-A-SOUL </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> V. THE PEACE-MAKER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> VI. BLUE SKY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> VII. THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> VIII. THE WAR MAIDEN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_GLOS"> GLOSSARY </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_PART" id="link2H_PART"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + PART ONE. THE WARRIOR + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I + </h2> + <p> + Upon a hanging precipice atop of the Eagle Scout Butte there appeared a + motionless and solitary figure—almost eagle-like he perched! The + people in the camp below saw him, but none looked at him long. They turned + their heads quickly away with a nervous tingling, for the height above the + plains was great. Almost spirit-like among the upper clouds the young + warrior sat immovable. + </p> + <p> + It was Antelope. He was fasting and seeking a sign from the “Great + Mystery,” for such was the first step of the young and ambitious Sioux + [who wished to be a noted warrior among his people]. + </p> + <p> + He is a princely youth, among the wild Sioux, who hunts for his tribe and + not for himself! His voice is soft and low at the campfire of his nation, + but terror-giving in the field of battle. Such was Antelope’s reputation. + The more he sought the “Great Mystery” in solitude, the more gentle and + retiring he became, and in the same proportion his courage and manliness + grew. None could say that he was not a kind son and a good hunter, for he + had already passed the “two-arrow-to-kill,” his buffalo examination. + </p> + <p> + On a hot midsummer morning a few weeks later, while most of the inmates of + the teepees were breakfasting in the open air, the powerful voice of the + herald resounded among the pine-clad heights and green valleys. + </p> + <p> + “Hear ye, hear ye, warriors!” he chanted loudly. “The council has decreed + that four brave young men must scout the country to the sunsetward of the + camp, for the peace and protection of our people!” + </p> + <p> + All listened eagerly for the names of the chosen warriors, and in another + moment there came the sonorous call: “Antelope, Antelope! the council has + selected you!” + </p> + <p> + The camp was large—fully four hundred paces across; but in that + country, in the clear morning air, such an announcement can be heard a + great way, and in the silence that followed the hills repeated over and + over the musical name of Antelope. + </p> + <p> + In due time the four chosen youths appeared before the council fire. The + oath of the pipe was administered, and each took a few whiffs as + reverently as a Churchman would partake of the sacrament. The chief of the + council, who was old and of a striking appearance, gave the charge and + command to the youthful braves. + </p> + <p> + There was a score or more of warriors ready mounted to escort them beyond + the precincts of the camp, and the “fearless heart” song was sung + according to the custom, as the four ran lightly from the door of the + council teepee and disappeared in the woods. + </p> + <p> + It was a peculiarly trying and hazardous moment in which to perform the + duties of a scout. The Sioux were encroaching upon the territory of + hostile tribes, here in the foot-hills of the Big Horn Mountains, and now + and then one of their hunters was cut off by the enemy. If continual + vigilance could not save them, it might soon become necessary to retreat + to their own hunting-grounds. + </p> + <p> + It was a savage fetish that a warrior must be proof against the alluring + ways of pretty maidens; that he must place his honor far above the + temptations of self-indulgence and indolence. Cold, hunger, and personal + hardship did not count with Antelope when there was required of him any + special exertion for the common good. It was cause to him of secret + satisfaction that the council-men had selected him for a dangerous service + in preference to some of his rivals and comrades. + </p> + <p> + He had been running for two or three hours at a good, even gait, and had + crossed more than one of the smaller creeks, yet many deep gulches and bad + lands lay between him and the furthest peak that melted into the blue dome + above. + </p> + <p> + “I shall stand upon the Bear’s Heart,” he said to himself. “If I can do + that, and still report before the others, I shall do well!” His keen eyes + were constantly sweeping the country in his front, and suddenly he paused + and shrank back motionless in a crouching attitude, still steadily keeping + an eye upon a moving object. It was soon evident that some one was + stealthily eying him from behind cover, and he was outwitted by the enemy! + Still stooping, he glided down a little ravine, and as he reached the bed + of the creek there emerged from it a large gray wolf. + </p> + <p> + This was very opportune for Antelope. He gave the gray wolf’s danger-call + with all his might; waited an instant and gave it a second time; then he + turned and ran fleetly down the stream. At the same moment the wolf + appeared upon the top of the bank, in full view of the enemy. + </p> + <p> + “Here he comes!” they whispered, and had their arrows on the string as the + wolf trotted leisurely along, exposing only his head, for this was a + common disguise among the plains Indians. But when he came out into the + open, behold! it was only a gray wolf! + </p> + <p> + “Ugh!” the Utes grunted, as they looked at each other in much chagrin. + </p> + <p> + “Surely he was a man, and coming directly into our trap! We sang and + prayed to the gods of war when our war chief sent us ahead to scout the + Sioux people, to find their camp. This is a mystery, a magic! Either he is + a Sioux in disguise, or we don’t know their tricks!” exclaimed the leader. + </p> + <p> + Now they gave the war-whoop, and their arrows flew through the air. The + wolf gave a yelp of distress, staggered and fell dead. Instantly they ran + to examine the body, and found it to be truly that of a wolf. + </p> + <p> + “Either this is a wonderful medicine-man, or we are shamefully fooled by a + Sioux warrior,” they muttered. + </p> + <p> + They lost several minutes before they caught sight of Antelope, who had + followed the bed of the creek as far as it lay in his direction and then + came out of it at full speed. It would be safer for him to remain in + concealment until dark; but in the meantime the Ute warriors would reach + the camp, and his people were unprepared! It was necessary to expose + himself to the enemy. He knew that it would be chiefly a contest of speed + and he had an excellent start; but on the other hand, the Utes doubtless + had their horses. + </p> + <p> + “The Sioux who played this trick on us must die to-day!” exclaimed their + leader. “Come, friends, we cannot afford to let him tell this joke on us + at the camp-fires of his people!” + </p> + <p> + Antelope was headed directly for Eagle Scout Butte, for the camp was in + plain view from the top of this hill. He had run pretty much all day, but + then, that was nothing! + </p> + <p> + “I shall reach the summit first, unless the Ute horses have wings!” he + said to himself. + </p> + <p> + Looking over his shoulder, he saw five horsemen approaching, so he + examined his bow and arrows as he ran. + </p> + <p> + “All is well,” he muttered. “One of their spirits at the least must guide + mine to the spirit land!” where, it was believed by them, there was no + fighting. + </p> + <p> + Now he was within hearing of their whoops, but he was already at the foot + of the butte. Their horses could not run up the steep ascent, and they + were obliged to dismount. Like a deer the Sioux leaped from rock to rock, + and almost within arrow-shot came his pursuers, wildly whooping and + yelling. + </p> + <p> + When he had achieved the summit, he took his stand between two great + rocks, and flashed his tiny looking-glass for a distress signal into the + distant camp of his people. + </p> + <p> + For a long time no reply came, and many arrows flew over his head, as the + Utes approached gradually from rock to rock. He, too, sent down a swift + arrow now and then, to show them that he was no child or woman in fight, + but brave as a bear when it is brought to bay. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho!” he shouted to the enemy, in token of a brave man’s welcome to + danger and death. + </p> + <p> + They replied with yells of triumph, as they pressed more and more closely + upon him. One of their number had been dispatched to notify the main + war-party when they first saw Antelope, but he did not know this, and his + courage was undiminished. From time to time he continued to flash his + signal, and at last like lightning the little white flash came in reply. + </p> + <p> + The sun was low when the besieged warrior discovered a large body of + horsemen approaching from the northwest. It was the Ute warparty! He + looked earnestly once more toward the Sioux camp, shading his eyes with + his right palm. There, too, were many moving specks upon the plain, + drawing toward the foot of the hill! + </p> + <p> + At the middle of the afternoon they had caught his distress signal, and + the entire camp was thrown into confusion, for but few of the men had + returned from the daily hunt. As fast as they came in, the warriors + hurried away upon their best horses, singing and yelling. When they + reached the well-known butte, towering abruptly in the midst of the plain, + they could distinguish their enemies massed behind the hanging rocks and + scattered cedar-trees, crawling up closer and closer, for the large + warparty reached the hill just as the scouts who held Antelope at bay + discovered the approach of his kinsmen. + </p> + <p> + Antelope had long since exhausted his quiver of arrows and was gathering + up many of those that fell about him to send them back among his pursuers. + When their attention was withdrawn from him for an instant by the sudden + onset of the Sioux, he sprang to his feet. + </p> + <p> + He raised both his hands heavenward in token of gratitude for his rescue, + and his friends announced with loud shouts the daring of Antelope. + </p> + <p> + Both sides fought bravely, but the Utes at last retreated and were + fiercely pursued. Antelope stood at his full height upon the huge rock + that had sheltered him, and gave his yell of defiance and exultation. + Below him the warriors took it up, and among the gathering shadows the + rocks echoed praises of his name. + </p> + <p> + In the Sioux camp upon Lost Water there were dances and praise songs, but + there was wailing and mourning, too, for many lay dead among the crags. + The name of Antelope was indelibly recorded upon Eagle Scout Butte. + </p> + <p> + “If he wished for a war-bonnet of eagle feathers, it is his to wear,” + declared one of the young men. “But he is modest, and scarcely even joins + in the scalp dances. It is said of him that he has never yet spoken to any + young woman!” + </p> + <p> + “True, it is not announced publicly that he has addressed a maiden. Many + parents would like to have their daughters the first one he would speak + to, but I am told he desires to go upon one or two more war-paths before + seeking woman’s company,” replied another. + </p> + <p> + “Hun, hun, hay!” exclaimed a third youth ill-naturedly. He is already old + enough to be a father!” + </p> + <p> + “This is told of him,” rejoined the first speaker. “He wants to hold the + record of being the young man who made the greatest number of coups before + he spoke to a maiden. I know that there are not only mothers who would be + glad to have him for a son-in-law, but their young daughters would not + refuse to look upon the brave Antelope as a husband!” + </p> + <p> + It was true that in the dance his name was often mentioned, and at every + repetition it seemed that the young women danced with more spirit, while + even grandmothers joined in the whirl with a show of youthful abandon. + </p> + <p> + Wezee, the father of Antelope, was receiving congratulations throughout + the afternoon. Many of the old men came to his lodge to smoke with him, + and the host was more than gratified, for he was of a common family and + had never before known what it is to bask in the sunshine of popularity + and distinction. He spoke complacently as he crowded a handful of tobacco + into the bowl of the long red pipe. + </p> + <p> + “Friends, our life here is short, and the life of a brave youth is apt to + be shorter than most! We crave all the happiness that we can get, and it + is right that we should do so. One who says that he does not care for + reputation or success, is not likely to be telling the truth. So you will + forgive me if I say too much about the honorable career of my son.” This + was the old man’s philosophic apology. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho,” his guests graciously responded. “It is your moon! Every moon + has its fullness, when it lights up the night, while the little stars + dance before it. So to every man there comes his full moon!” + </p> + <p> + Somewhat later in the day all the young people of the great camp were seen + to be moving in one direction. All wore their best attire and finest + ornaments, and even the parti-colored steeds were decorated to the + satisfaction of their beauty-loving riders. + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, Taluta is making a maidens’ feast! She, the prettiest of all the + Unkpapa maidens!” exclaimed one of the young braves. + </p> + <p> + “She, the handsomest of all our young women!” repeated another. + </p> + <p> + Taluta was indeed a handsome maid in the height and bloom of womanhood, + with all that wonderful freshness and magnetism which was developed and + preserved by the life of the wilderness. She had already given five + maidens’ feasts, beginning with her fifteenth year, and her shy and + diffident purity was held sacred by her people. + </p> + <p> + The maidens’ circle was now complete. Behind it the outer circle of old + women was equally picturesque and even more dignified. The grandmother, + not the mother, was regarded as the natural protector of the young maiden, + and the dowagers derived much honor from their position, especially upon + public occasions, taking to themselves no small amount of credit for the + good reputations of their charges. + </p> + <p> + Weshawee, whose protege had many suitors and was a decided coquette, + fidgeted nervously and frequently adjusted her robe or fingered her + necklace to ease her mind, for she dreaded lest, in spite of watchfulness, + some mishap might have befallen her charge. Her anxiety was apparently + shared by several other chaperons who stole occasional suspicious glances + in the direction of certain of the young braves. It had been known to + happen that a girl unworthy to join in the sacred feast was publicly + disgraced. + </p> + <p> + A special police force was appointed to keep order on this occasion, each + member of which was gorgeously painted and bedecked with eagle feathers, + and carried in his hand a long switch with which to threaten the + encroaching throng. Their horses wore head-skins of fierce animals to add + to their awe-inspiring appearance. + </p> + <p> + The wild youths formed the outer circle of the gathering, attired like the + woods in autumn, their long locks glossy with oil and perfumed with + scented grass and leaves. Many pulled their blankets over their heads as + if to avoid recognition, and loitered shyly at a distance. + </p> + <p> + Among these last were Antelope and his cousin, Red Eagle. They stood in + the angle formed by the bodies of their steeds, whose noses were together. + The young hero was completely enveloped in his handsome robe with a + rainbow of bead-work acros the middle, and his small moccasined feet + projected from beneath the lower border. Red Eagle held up an eagle-wing + fan, partially concealing his face, and both gazed intently toward the + center of the maidens’ circle. + </p> + <p> + “Woo! woo!” was the sonorous exclamation of the police, announcing the + beginning of the ceremonies. In the midst of the ring of girls stood the + traditional heart-shaped red stone, with its bristling hedge of arrows. In + this case there were five arrows, indicating that Taluta had already made + as many maidens’ feasts. Each of the maidens must lay her hand upon the + stone in token of her purity and chastity, touching also as many arrows as + she herself has attended maidens’ feasts. + </p> + <p> + Taluta advanced first to the center. As she stood for a moment beside the + sacred stone, she appeared to the gazing bystanders the embodiment of + grace and modesty. Her gown, adorned with long fringes at the seams, was + beaded in blue and white across the shoulders and half way to her waist. + Her shining black hair was arranged in two thick plaits which hung down + upon her bosom. There was a native dignity in her gestures and in her + utterance of the maidens’ oath, and as she turned to face the circle, all + the other virgins followed her. + </p> + <p> + When the feast was ended and the gay concourse had dispersed, Antelope and + his cousin were among the last to withdraw. The young man’s eyes had + followed every movement of Taluta as long as she remained in sight, and it + was only when she vanished in the gathering shadows that he was willing to + retire. + </p> + <p> + In savage courtship, it was the custom to introduce one’s self boldly to + the young lady, although sometimes it was convenient to have a sister + introduce her brother. But Antelope had no sister to perform this office + for him, and if he had had one, he would not have made the request. He did + not choose to admit any one to his secret, for he had no confidence in + himself or in the outcome of the affair. If it had been anything like + trailing the doe, or scouting the Ojibway, he would have ridiculed the + very notion of missing the object sought. But this was a new warfare—an + unknown hunting! Although he was very anxious to meet Taluta, whenever the + idea occurred to him he trembled like a leaf in the wind, and profuse + perspiration rolled down his stoic visage. It was not customary to hold + any social intercourse with the members of the opposite sex, and he had + never spoken familiarly to any woman since he became a man, except his old + grandmother. It was well known that the counsel of the aged brings luck to + the youth in warfare and love. + </p> + <p> + Antelope arose early the next morning, and without speaking to any one he + made a ceremonious toilet. He put on his finest buckskin shirt and a + handsome robe, threw a beaded quiver over his shoulder, and walked + directly away from the teepees and into the forest—he did not know + why nor whither. The sounds of the camp grew fainter and fainter, until at + last he found himself alone. + </p> + <p> + “How is it,” mused the young man, “that I have hoped to become a leader + among my people? My father is not a chief, and none of my ancestors were + distinguished in war. I know well that, if I desire to be great, I must + deny myself the pleasure of woman’s company until I have made my + reputation. I must not boast nor exhibit myself on my first success. The + spirits do not visit the common haunts of men! All these rules I have thus + far kept, and I must not now yield to temptation.... Man has much to + weaken his ambition after he is married. A young man may seek + opportunities to prove his worth, but to a married man the opportunity + must come to try him. He acts only when compelled to act.... Ah, I must + flee from the woman!... Besides, if she should like someone else better, I + should be humiliated.... I must go upon a long war-path. I shall forget + her....” + </p> + <p> + At this point his revery was interrupted by the joyous laughter of two + young women. The melodious sing-song laughter of the Sioux maiden stirred + the very soul of the young warrior. + </p> + <p> + All his philosophy deserted him, and he stood hesitating, looking about + him as if for a chance of escape. A man who had never before felt the + magnetic influence of woman in her simplicity and childlike purity, he + became for the moment incapable of speech or action. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the two girls were wholly unconscious of any disturbing presence + in the forest. They were telling each other the signals that each had + received in the dance. Taluta’s companion had stopped at the first + raspberry bushes, while she herself passed on to the next thicket. When + she emerged from the pines into an opening, she suddenly beheld Antelope, + in his full-dress suit of courtship. Instantly she dropped her eyes. + </p> + <p> + Luckily the customs of courtship among the Sioux allow the covering of + one’s head with the blanket. In this attitude, the young man made a signal + to Taluta with trembling fingers. + </p> + <p> + The wild red man’s wooing was natural and straightforward; there was no + circumspection, no maneuvering for time or advantage. Hot words of love + burst forth from the young warrior’s lips, with heavy breathing behind the + folds of the robe with which he sought to shield his embarrassment. + </p> + <p> + “For once the spirits are guiding my fortunes! It may seem strange to you, + when we meet thus by accident, that I should speak immediately of my love + for you; but we live in a world where one must speak when the opportunity + offers. I have thought much of you since I saw you at the maidens’ + feast.... Is Taluta willing to become the wife of Tatoka? The moccasins of + her making will cause his feet to be swift in pursuit of the game, and on + the trail of the enemy.... I beg of you, maiden, let our meeting be known + only to the birds of the air, while you consider my proposal!” + </p> + <p> + All this while the maiden stood demurely at his side, playing with the + lariat of her pony in her brown, fine hands. Her doeskin gown with profuse + fringes hung gracefully as the drooping long leaves of the willow, and her + two heavy braids of black hair, mingled with strings of deers’ hoofs and + wampum, fell upon her bosom. There was a faint glow underneath her brown + skin, and her black eyes were calm and soft, yet full of native fire. + </p> + <p> + “You will not press for an answer now,” she gently replied, without + looking at him. “I expected to see no one here, and your words have taken + me by surprise.... I grant your last request. The birds alone can indulge + in gossip about our meeting,—unless my cousin, who is in the next + ravine, should see us together!” She sprang lightly upon the back of her + pony, and disappeared among the scattered pines. + </p> + <p> + Between the first lovers’ meeting and the second was a period of one moon. + This was wholly the fault of Antelope, who had been a prey to indecision + and painful thoughts. Half regretting his impulsive declaration, and + hoping to forget his pangs in the chances of travel and war, he had + finally enlisted in the number of those who were to go with the war-leader + Crowhead into the Ute country. As was the custom of the Sioux warriors + upon the eve of departure, the young men consulted their spiritual + advisers, and were frequently in the purifying vapor-bath, and fasting in + prayer. + </p> + <p> + The last evening had come, and Antelope was on the way to the top of the + hill behind the camp for a night of prayer. Suddenly in the half-light he + came full upon Taluta, leading her pony down the narrow trail. She had + never looked more beautiful to the youth than at that moment. + </p> + <p> + “Ho,” he greeted her. She simply smiled shyly. + </p> + <p> + “It is long since we met,” he ventured. + </p> + <p> + “I have concluded that you do not care to hear my reply,” retorted the + girl. + </p> + <p> + “I have nothing to say in my defense, but I hope that you will be + generous. I have suffered much.... You will understand why I stand far + from you,” he added gently. “I have been preparing myself to go upon the + warpath. We start at daylight for the Ute country. Every day for ten days + I have been in the vapor-bath, and ten nights fasting.” + </p> + <p> + As Taluta well knew, a young warrior under these circumstances dared not + approach a woman, not even his own wife. + </p> + <p> + “I still urge you to be my wife. Are you ready to give me your answer?” + continued Antelope. + </p> + <p> + “My answer was sent to you by your grandmother this very day,” she replied + softly. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, tell me, tell me,...” pressed the youth eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “All is well. Fear nothing,” murmured the maiden. + </p> + <p> + “I have given my word—I have made my prayers and undergone + purification. I must not withdraw from this war-path,” he said after a + silence. “But I know that I shall be fortunate!... My grandmother will + give you my love token.... Ah, kechuwa (dear love)! watch the big star + every night! I will watch it, too—then we shall both be watching! + Although far apart, our spirits will be together.” + </p> + <p> + The moon had risen above the hill, and the cold light discovered the two + who stood sadly apart, their hearts hot with longing. Reluctantly, yet + without a backward look or farewell gesture, the warrior went on up the + hill, and the maiden hurried homeward. Only a few moments before she had + been happy in the anticipation of making her lover happy. The truth was + she had been building air-castles in the likeness of a white teepee + pitched upon a virgin prairie all alone, surrounded by mountains. Tatoka’s + war-horse and hunting pony were picketed near by, and there she saw + herself preparing the simple meal for him! But now he has clouded her + dreams by this untimely departure. + </p> + <p> + “He is too brave.... His life will be a short one,” she said to herself + with foreboding. + </p> + <p> + For a few hours all was quiet, and just before the appearance of day the + warriors’ departure was made known by their farewell songs. Antelope was + in the line early, but he was heavy of heart, for he knew that his + sweetheart was sorely puzzled and disappointed by his abrupt departure. + His only consolation was the knowledge that he had in his bundle a pair of + moccasins made by her hands. He had not yet seen them, because it was the + custom not to open any farewell gifts until the first camp was made, and + then they must be opened before the eyes of all the young men! It brings + luck to the war-party, they said. He would have preferred to keep his + betrothal secret, but there was no escaping the custom. + </p> + <p> + All the camp-fires were burning and supper had been eaten, when the herald + approached every group and announced the programme for the evening. It + fell to Antelope to open his bundle first. Loud laughter pealed forth when + the reluctant youth brought forth a superb pair of moccasins—the + recognized lovegift! At such times the warriors’ jokes were unmerciful, + for it was considered a last indulgence in jesting, perhaps for many + moons. The recipient was well known to be a novice in love, and this token + first disclosed the fact that he had at last succumbed to the allurements + of woman. When he sang his love-song he was obliged to name the giver of + the token, and many a disappointed suitor was astonished to hear Taluta’s + name. + </p> + <p> + It was a long journey to the Ute country, and when they reached it there + was a stubbornly contested fight. Both sides claimed the victory, and both + lost several men. Here again Antelope was signally favored by the gods of + war. He counted many coups or blows, and exhibited his bravery again and + again in the charges, but he received no wound. + </p> + <p> + On the return journey Taluta’s beautiful face was constantly before him. + He was so impatient to see her that he hurried on in advance of his party, + when they were still several days’ travel from the Sioux camp. + </p> + <p> + “This time I shall join in all the dances and participate in the + rejoicings, for she will surely like to have me do so,” he thought to + himself. “She will join also, and I know that none is a better dancer than + Taluta!” + </p> + <p> + In fancy, Antelope was practicing the songs of victory as he rode alone + over the vast wild country. + </p> + <p> + He had now passed Wild Horse Creek and the Black Hills lay to the + southeast, while the Big Horn range loomed up to the north in gigantic + proportions. He felt himself at home. + </p> + <p> + “I shall now be a man indeed. I shall have a wife!” he said aloud. + </p> + <p> + At last he reached the point from which he expected to view the distant + camp. Alas, there was no camp there! Only a solitary teepee gleamed forth + upon the green plain, which was almost surrounded by a quick turn of the + River of Deep Woods. The teepee appeared very white. A peculiar tingling + sensation passed through his frame, and the pony whinnied often as he was + urged forward at a gallop. + </p> + <p> + When Antelope beheld the solitary teepee he knew instantly what it was. It + was a grave! Sometimes a new white lodge was pitched thus for the dead, + who lay in state within upon a couch of finest skins, and surrounded by + his choicest possessions. + </p> + <p> + Antelope’s excitement increased as he neared the teepee, which was + protected by a barricade of thick brush. It stood alone and silent in the + midst of the deserted camp. He kicked the sides of his tired horse to make + him go faster. At last he jumped from the saddle and ran toward the door. + There he paused for a moment, and at the thought of desecrating a grave, a + cold terror came over him. + </p> + <p> + “I must see—I must see!” he said aloud, and desperately he broke + through the thorny fence and drew aside the oval swinging door. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II + </h2> + <p> + In the stately white teepee, seen from afar, both grave and monument, + there lay the fair body of Taluta! The bier was undisturbed, and the + maiden looked beautiful as if sleeping, dressed in her robes of ceremony + and surrounded by all her belongings. + </p> + <p> + Her lover looked upon her still face and cried aloud. “Hey, hey, hey! + Alas! alas! If I had known of this while in the Ute country, you would not + be lonely on the spirit path.” + </p> + <p> + He withdrew, and laid the doorflap reverently back in its place. How long + he stood without the threshold he could not tell. He stood with head bowed + down upon his breast, tearless and motionless, utterly oblivious to + everything save the bier of his beloved. His charger grazed about for a + long time where he had left him, but at last he endeavored by a low whinny + to attract his master’s attention, and Antelope awoke from his trance of + sorrow. + </p> + <p> + The sun was now hovering over the western ridges. The mourner’s throat was + parched, and perspiration rolled down his cheeks, yet he was conscious of + nothing but a strong desire to look upon her calm, sweet face once more. + </p> + <p> + He kindled a small fire a little way off, and burned some cedar berries + and sweet-smelling grass. Then he fumigated himself thoroughly to dispel + the human atmosphere, so that the spirit might not be offended by his + approach, for he greatly desired to obtain a sign from her spirit. He had + removed his garments and stood up perfectly nude save for the breechclout. + His long hair was unbraided and hung upon his shoulders, veiling the upper + half of his splendid body. Thus standing, the lover sang a dirge of his + own making. The words were something like this: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Ah, spirit, thy flight is mysterious! + + While the clouds are stirred by our wailing, + + And our tears fall faster in sorrow— +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + While the cold sweat of night benumbs us, + + Thou goest alone on thy journey, + + In the midst of the shining star people! +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Thou goest alone on thy journey— + + Thy memory shall be our portion; + + Until death we must watch for the spirit! +</pre> + <p> + The eyes of Antelope were closed while he chanted the dirge. He sang it + over and over, pausing between the lines, and straining as it were every + sense lest he might not catch the rapt whisper of her spirit, but only the + distant howls of coyotes answered him. His body became cold and numb from + sheer exhaustion, and at last his knees bent under him and he sank down + upon the ground, still facing the teepee. Unconsciousness overtook him, + and in his sleep or trance the voice came: + </p> + <p> + “Do not mourn for me, my friend! Come into my teepee, and eat of my food.” + </p> + <p> + It seemed to Antelope that he faltered for a moment; then he entered the + teepee. There was a cheerful fire burning in the center. A basin of + broiled buffalo meat was placed opposite the couch of Taluta, on the other + side of the fire. Its odor was delicious to him, yet he hesitated to eat + of it. + </p> + <p> + “Fear not, kechuwa (my darling)! It will give you strength,” said the + voice. + </p> + <p> + The maid was natural as in life. Beautifully attired, she sat up on her + bed, and her demeanor was cheerful and kind. + </p> + <p> + The young man ate of the food in silence and without looking at the + spirit. “Ho, kechuwa!” he said to her when returning the dish, according + to the custom of his people. + </p> + <p> + Silently the two sat for some minutes, while the youth gazed into the + burning embers. + </p> + <p> + “Be of good heart,” said Taluta, at last, “for you shall meet my twin + spirit! She will love you as I do, and you will love her as you love me. + This was our covenant before we came into this world.” + </p> + <p> + The conception of a “twin spirit” was familiar to the Sioux. “Ho,” + responded the warrior, with dignity and all seriousness. He felt a great + awe for the spirit, and dared not lift his eyes to her face. + </p> + <p> + “Weep no more, kechuwa, weep no more,” she softly added; and the next + moment Antelope found himself outside the mysterious teepee. His limbs + were stiff and cold, but he did not feel faint nor hungry. Having filled + his pipe, he held it up to the spirits and then partook of the smoke; and + thus revived, he slowly and reluctantly left the sacred spot. + </p> + <p> + The main war-party also visited the old camp and saw the solitary teepee + grave, but did not linger there. They continued on the trail of the + caravan until they reached the new camping ground. They called themselves + successful, although they had left several of their number on the field. + Their triumph songs indicated this; therefore the people hurried to + receive the news and to learn who were the unfortunates. + </p> + <p> + The father of Antelope was foremost among those who ran to meet the + war-party. He learned that his son had distinguished himself in the fight, + and that his name was not mentioned among the brave dead. + </p> + <p> + “And where, then, is he?” he asked, with unconcealed anxiety. + </p> + <p> + “He left us three days ago to come in advance,” they replied. + </p> + <p> + “But he has not arrived!” exclaimed old Wezee, in much agitation. + </p> + <p> + He returned to his teepee, where he consoled himself as best he could by + smoking the pipe in solitude. He could neither sing praises nor indulge in + the death dirge, and none came in either to congratulate or mourn with + him. + </p> + <p> + The sun had disappeared behind the hills, and the old man still sat gazing + into the burning embers, when he heard a horse’s footfall at the door of + his lodge. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, atay (father)!” came the welcome call. + </p> + <p> + “Mechinkshe! mechinkshe!” (my son, my son), he replied in unrestrained + joy. Old Wezee now stood on the threshold and sang the praise song for his + son, ending with a warwhoop such as he had not indulged in since he was + quite a young man. + </p> + <p> + The camp was once more alive with the dances, and the dull thud of the + Indian drum was continually in the air. The council had agreed that + Antelope was entitled to wear a war-bonnet of eagles’ feathers. He was + accordingly summoned before the aboriginal parliament, and from the wise + men of the tribe he received his degree of war-bonnet. + </p> + <p> + It was a public ceremony. The great pipe was held up for him to take the + smoke of high honor. + </p> + <p> + The happiest person present was the father of Antelope; but he himself + remained calm and unmoved throughout the ceremony. + </p> + <p> + “He is a strange person,” was the whisper among a group of youths who were + watching the proceedings with envious eyes. + </p> + <p> + The young man was strangely listless and depressed in spirit. His old + grandmother knew why, but none of the others understood. He never joined + in the village festivities, while the rest of his family were untiring in + the dances, and old Wezee was at the height of his happiness. + </p> + <p> + It was a crisp October morning, and the family were eating their breakfast + of broiled bison meat, when the large drum at the council lodge was struck + three times. The old man set down his wooden basin. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my son, the war-chiefs will make an announcement! It may be a call + for the enlistment of warriors! I am sorry,” he said, and paused. “I am + sorry, because I would rather no war-party went out at present. I am + getting old. I have enjoyed your success, my son. I love to hear the + people speak your name. If you go again upon the war-path, I shall no + longer be able to join in the celebrations. Something tells me that you + will not return!” + </p> + <p> + Young braves were already on their way to the council lodge. Tatoka + looked, and the temptation was great. + </p> + <p> + “Father, it is not becoming for me to remain at home when others go,” he + said, at last. + </p> + <p> + “Ho,” was the assent uttered by the father, with a deep sigh. + </p> + <p> + “Five hundred braves have enlisted to go with the great war prophet + against the three confederated tribes,” he afterward reported at home, + with an air of elation which he had not worn for some moons. + </p> + <p> + Since Antelope had received the degree of war-bonnet, his father had + spared neither time nor his meager means in his behalf. He had bartered + his most cherished possessions for several eagles that were brought in by + various hunters of the camp, and with his own hands had made a handsome + war-bonnet for his son. + </p> + <p> + “You will now wear a war-bonnet for the first time, and you are the first + of our family who has earned the right to wear one for many generations. I + am proud of you, my son,” he said as he presented it. + </p> + <p> + But when the youth replied: “Ho, ho, father! I ought to be a brave man in + recognition of this honor,” he again sighed heavily. + </p> + <p> + “It is that I feared, my son! Many a young man has lost his life for + vanity and love of display!” + </p> + <p> + The evening serenades began early, for the party was to leave at once. In + groups upon their favorite ponies the warriors rode around the inner + circle of the great camp, singing their war-songs. All the people came out + of the teepees, and sitting by twos and threes upon the ground, bedecked + with savage finery, they watched and listened. The pretty wild maidens had + this last opportunity given them to look upon the faces of their + sweethearts, whom they might never see again. Here and there an old man + was singing the gratitude song or thank-offering, while announcing the + first warpath of a novice, for such an announcement meant the giving of + many presents to the poor and aged. So the camp was filled with songs of + joy and pride in the departing husbands, brothers, and sons. + </p> + <p> + As soon as darkness set in the sound of the rude native flute was added to + the celebration. This is the lover’s farewell. The young braves, wrapped + from head to foot in their finest robes, each sounded the plaintive + strains near the teepee of the beloved. The playful yodeling of many + voices in chorus was heard at the close of each song. + </p> + <p> + At midnight the army of five hundred, the flower of the Sioux, marched + against their ancient enemy. Antelope was in the best of spirits. He had + his war-bonnet to display before the enemy! He was now regarded as one of + the foremost warriors of his band, and might probably be asked to perform + some specially hazardous duty, so that he was fully prepared to earn + further distinction. + </p> + <p> + In five days the Sioux were encamped within a day’s travel of the + permanent village of the confederated tribes—the Rees, Mandans, and + Gros Ventres. The war-chief selected two men, Antelope and Eaglechild, to + scout at night in advance of the main force. It was thought that most of + the hunters had already returned to their winter quarters, and in this + case the Sioux would have no mean enemy to face. On the other hand, a + battle was promised that would enlarge their important traditions. + </p> + <p> + The two made their way as rapidly as possible toward the ancestral home of + their enemies. It was a night perfectly suited to what they had to do, for + the moon was full, the fleeting clouds hiding it from time to time and + casting deceptive shadows. + </p> + <p> + When they had come within a short distance of the lodges unperceived, they + lay flat for a long time, and studied the ways of the young men in every + particular, for it was Antelope’s plan to enter the great village and + mingle boldly with its inhabitants. Even their hoots and love-calls were + carefully noted, so that they might be able to imitate them. There were + several entertainments in progress in different parts of the village, yet + it was apparent that the greatest vigilance was observed. The lodges of + poles covered with earth were partly underground, and at one end the + war-horses were stabled, as a precaution against a possible surprise. + </p> + <p> + At the moment that a large cloud floated over the moon, casting a shadow + large enough to cover the entire village, the drum in one of the principal + lodges was struck in quick time, accompanied by boisterous war-whoops and + singing. The two scouts adjusted their robes about them in the fashion of + the strangers, and walked openly in that direction. + </p> + <p> + They glanced quickly from side to side as they approached, but no one paid + any attention, so they came up with other young men and peeped through the + chinks in the earth wigwam. It was a great gambling party. Among the + guests were several distinguished warriors, and each at an opportune time + would rise and recount his great deeds in warfare against the Sioux. The + strangers could read their gestures, and Antelope was once or twice almost + on the point of stringing his bow to send an arrow through the audacious + speaker. + </p> + <p> + As they moved about the village, taking note of its numbers and situation, + and waiting an opportunity to withdraw without exciting suspicion, they + observed some of the younger braves standing near another large wigwam, + and one or two even peeped within. Moved by sudden curiosity, Antelope + followed their example. He uttered a low exclamation and at once withdrew. + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” asked his companion, but received no answer. + </p> + <p> + It was evidently the home of a chief. The family were seated within at + their usual occupations, and the bright light of the central fire shone + full upon the face of a most lovely maiden. + </p> + <p> + Antelope stood apparently motionless, but he was trembling under his robe + like a leaf. + </p> + <p> + “Come, friend, there is another large cloud almost over the moon! We must + move away under its concealing shadow,” urged Eaglechild. + </p> + <p> + The other stood still as if undecided, but at last he approached the lodge + and looked in a second time. There sat his sweetheart in human form once + more! The maiden was attired in a doeskin gown set with elk’s teeth like + ivory. Her eyes were cast down demurely over her embroidery, but in every + feature she was the living counterpart of Taluta! + </p> + <p> + At last the two got away unobserved, and hastened toward the place where + they had concealed their horses. But here Antelope sent his companion on + in advance, making the excuse that he wished to study further the best + position from which to make the attack. + </p> + <p> + When he was left alone he stood still for a moment to decide upon a plan. + He could think of nothing but that he must meet the Ree maiden before + daylight! He realized the extreme hazard of the attempt, but he also + recalled what he had been told by the spirit of Taluta, and the + supernatural command seemed to justify him even in going thus upon the eve + of battle to meet the enemy of his people. + </p> + <p> + He skirted the heavy timber and retraced his steps to a point from which + he could see the village. The drum of the gambling party had ceased with + the shouts and laughter of the players. Apparently the village was lost in + slumber. The moon had set, and without pausing he advanced to the home of + the girl. As he came near some dogs began to bark, but he silenced them + after the manner of the Rees, and they obeyed him. + </p> + <p> + When Antelope softly raised the robe that hung over the entrance to the + chief’s lodge, he saw the fire smoldering in the center, and the members + of the household lying in their respective places, all seemingly in a deep + sleep. The girl lay opposite the entrance, where he had seen her seated in + the early part of the evening. + </p> + <p> + The heart of the Sioux beat violently, and he glanced nervously to left + and right. There was neither sound nor movement. Then he pulled his robe + completely over his head, after the fashion of a Ree lover, and softly + entered the wigwam. + </p> + <p> + The Ree maiden, having industriously worked on her embroidery until far + into the night, had retired to rest. In her dreams, the twin sister came + to her of whom she had had visions ever since she could remember, and + especially when something of importance was about to happen. + </p> + <p> + This time she came with a handsome young man of another tribe, and said: + “Sister, I bring you a Sioux, who will be your husband!” + </p> + <p> + The dreamer opened her eyes to behold a youth bending over her and gently + pulling her robe, as a suitor is permitted to do to awaken his beloved. + </p> + <p> + When he saw that she was awake, the Sioux touched his breast, saying in a + whisper, “Tatoka,” and made the sign for Antelope. This pleased the Ree + girl, for her own brother, who had died the year before, had borne that + name. She immediately sat up and stirred the embers into a light blaze. + Then she took hold of his blanket and drew it from his face; and there she + seemed to see the very features of the man of her vision! + </p> + <p> + He took her hand in his, and she felt the force of love stream through his + long, nervous fingers, and instinctively knew his thoughts. In her turn + she touched her breast and made the sign for Shield, pronouncing in her + own tongue the word, Stasu. This seemed to him also a name of good omen, + and in the sign language which was common to all the people of the plains, + he asked her to be his wife. + </p> + <p> + Vividly her dream came back to her, and she could not refuse the stranger. + Her soul already responded to his; and for a few minutes they sat silently + side by side. When he arose and beckoned, “Come with me,” she had no + question to make, and without a word she followed him from her father’s + lodge and out into the forest. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of his ascending fame, at a moment when opportunity seemed to + favor his ambition, the brave Antelope had mysteriously disappeared! His + companion scout returned with a favorable report. He said that the men of + the three confederated tribes were gambling and feasting, wholly + unconscious of danger, and that Antelope would follow him with a further + report upon the best point of attack. The red warriors impatiently awaited + his return, until it became apparent that they could wait no longer + without sacrificing their chance of success. When the attack was made it + was already rather late. The sun had fairly cleared the eastern hills, and + most of the men were outside their lodges. + </p> + <p> + It was a great battle! Again and again the Sioux were repulsed, but as + often they rallied and repeated the charge until sundown, when they + effected their retreat with considerable loss. Had Antelope returned in + due season, the charge would have been made before dawn, while the people + were yet asleep. + </p> + <p> + When the battle was over, the Rees, Mandans, and Gros Ventres gathered + their dead and wounded. The night was filled with mourning. Soon the sad + news was heralded throughout the camp that the beautiful daughter of the + Ree chief was among the missing. It was supposed that she must have been + captured while driving her ponies to water in the early morning. The grief + for her loss was mingled with horror, because of a fear that she might + suffer humiliation at the hands of the Sioux warriors, and among the young + men there were muttered threats that the Sioux would pay dearly for this. + </p> + <p> + Though partially successful, the Sioux had lost many of their bravest + warriors, and none could tell what had happened to Antelope—he who + had been believed the favorite of the gods of war. It was suggested by + some envious ones that perhaps he had recognized the strongly entrenched + position of the three tribes, and believing the battle would be a + disastrous one, had set out for home without making his report. But this + supposition was not deemed credible. On the other hand, the idea was + entertained that he had reentered the village, was detected and slain; and + therefore the enemy was on the lookout when the attack was made. + </p> + <p> + “Hay, hay, hay, mechinkshe (Alas, alas, my son)!” was the sorrowful cry + with which his old father received the news. His head fell upon his + breast, and all the others groaned in sympathy. + </p> + <p> + The sunset sky was a blanket of beautiful painting. There were camp-fires + among the clouds in orange and scarlet, while some were black as night. So + the camp fairly glowed in celebration of its heroes; yet there was deep + grief in many families. When the evening meal had been eaten and the + people were sitting outside their lodges, a tall old man, almost nude, + appeared in the circle, riding a fine horse. He had blackened his face, + his hair was cut short, and the horse also had been deprived of his + flowing mane and tail. Both were in deep mourning, after the fashion of + the Sioux. + </p> + <p> + “Ho ho!” exclaimed many warriors as he passed them, singing in a hoarse, + guttural voice. + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, he sings a war-song!” remarked one. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I am told that he will find his son’s bones, or leave his own in the + country of the enemy!” + </p> + <p> + The rain had fallen incessantly for two days. The fleeing lovers had + reached this lonely mountain valley of the Big Horn region on the night + that the cold fall rains set in, and Antelope had hurriedly constructed an + arbor house or rude shelter of pine and cedar boughs. + </p> + <p> + It was enough. There they sat, man and wife, in their first home of living + green! The cheerful fire was burning in the center, and the happy smoke + went straight up among the tall pines. There was no human eye to gaze upon + them to embarrass—not even a common language in which to express + their love for one another. + </p> + <p> + Their marriage, they believed, was made by a spirit, and it was holy in + their minds. Each had cast away his people and his all for the sake of + this emotion which had suddenly overtaken them both with overwhelming + force, and the warrior’s ambition had disappeared before it like a morning + mist before the sun. + </p> + <p> + To them a new life was just beginning, and they had all but forgotten the + existence of any world save this. The young bride was enshrined in a bower + of spicy fragrance, and her face shone whenever her eyes met those of her + husband. + </p> + <p> + “This is as I would have it, kechuwa (darling)!” exclaimed the Sioux in + his own language. She simply responded with a childlike smile. Although + she did not understand his words, she read in the tones of his voice only + happy and loving thoughts. + </p> + <p> + The Ree girl had prepared a broiled bison steak, and her husband was + keeping the fire well fed with dry fagots. The odor of the buming fat was + delicious, and the gentle patter of the rain made a weird music outside + their wigwam. + </p> + <p> + As soon as her husband had left her alone—for he must go to water + the ponies and conceal them at a distance—Stasu came out to collect + more wood. Instinctively she looked all about her. Huge mountains towered + skyward, clad in pines. The narrow valley in which she was wound its way + between them, and on every side there was heavy forest. + </p> + <p> + She stood silent and awed, scarcely able to realize that she had begun her + new life absolutely alone, with no other woman to advise or congratulate + her, and visited only by the birds of the air. Yet all the world to her + just now was Antelope! No other woman could smile on him. He could not + talk to any one but her. The evening drum at the council lodge could not + summon him away from her, and she was well content. + </p> + <p> + When the young wife had done everything she could think of in preparation + for her husband’s return, including the making of several birch-bark + basins and pails for water, the rain had quite ceased, so she spread her + robe just outside the lodge and took up her work-bag, in which she had + several pairs of moccasin-tops already beaded. + </p> + <p> + While she bent over her work, getting up from time to time to turn the + roast which she had impaled upon a sharp stick above the glowing coals, + the bride had a stream of shy callers, of the little people of the woods. + She sat very still, so as not to startle them, and there is much curiosity + among these people concerning a stranger. + </p> + <p> + Presently she was startled by a footfall not unlike that of a man. She had + not been married long enough to know the sound of her husband’s step, and + she felt a thrill of joy and fear alternately. It might be he, and it + might be a stranger! She was loath to look up, but at last gave a furtive + glance, and met squarely the eyes of a large grizzly bear, who was seated + upon his haunches not far away. + </p> + <p> + Stasu was surprised, but she showed no fear; and fearlessness is the best + shield against wild animals. In a moment she got up unconcernedly, and + threw a large piece of meat to the stranger. + </p> + <p> + “Take of my wedding feast, O great Bear!” she addressed him, “and be good + to me to bless my first teepee! O be kind and recognize my brave act in + taking for my husband one of the warriors of the Sioux, the ancient enemy + of my people! I have accepted a husband of a language other than mine, and + am come to live among you as your neighbor. I offer you my friendship!” + </p> + <p> + The bear’s only answer to her prayer was a low growl, but having eaten the + meat, he turned and clumsily departed. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime Antelope had set himself to master the geography of that + region, to study the outlook for game, and ascertain the best approaches + to their secret home. It was already settled in his mind that he could + never return either to his wife’s people or to his own. His + fellow-warriors would not forgive his desertion, and the Rees could not be + expected to welcome as a kinsman one of the foremost of their ancient + foes. There was nothing to be done but to remain in seclusion, and let + them say what they would of him! + </p> + <p> + He had loved the Ree maiden from the first moment he beheld her by the + light of the blazing embers, and that love must satisfy him. It was well + that he had never cared much for company, but had spent many of his young + days in solitude and fasting. It did not seem at all strange to him that + he had been forced to retreat into an unknown and wild country with a + woman whom he saw in the evening for the first time, and fled with as his + own wife before sunrise! + </p> + <p> + By the afternoon he had thoroughly informed himself upon the nature of the + surrounding country. Everything on the face of the map was surveyed and + charted in his mind, in accordance with his habits and training. This + done, he turned toward his secret dwelling. As he walked rapidly and + noiselessly through the hidden valleys and along the singing streams, he + noticed fresh signs of the deer, elk, and other wild tribes among whom he + had chosen to abide. “They shall be my people,” he said to himself. + </p> + <p> + Behind a group of cedars he paused to reconnoiter, and saw the pine-bough + wigwam like a giant plant, each row of boughs overlapping the preceding + circular row like the scales of a fish. Stasu was sitting before it upon a + buffalorobe, attired in her best doeskin gown. Her delicate oval face was + touched with red paint, and her slender brown hands were occupied with a + moccasin meant for him to wear. He could scarcely believe that it was a + mortal woman that he saw before him in broad day—the pride of No + Man’s Trail, for that is what the Crow Indians call that valley! + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho, kechuwa!” he exclaimed as he approached her, and her heart leaped + in recognition of the magnetic words of love. + </p> + <p> + “It is good that we are alone! I shall never want to go back to my people + so long as I have you. I can dwell here with you forever, unless you + should think otherwise!” she exclaimed in her own tongue, accompanied by + graphic signs. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, I think of nothing else! I can see in every creature only friendly + ways and good feeling. We can live alone here, happily, unless you should + feel differently,” he replied in his own language with the signs, so that + his bride understood him. + </p> + <p> + The environment was just what it should be when two people are united in + marriage. The wedding music was played by Nature, and trees, brooks, and + the birds of the air contributed their peculiar strains to a great + harmony. All of the people on No Man’s Trail were polite, and understood + the reserves of love. These two had yielded to a simple and natural + impulse; but its only justification to their minds was the mysterious + leading of the twin spirit! That was the sum total of their excuse, and it + was enough. + </p> + <p> + Before the rigor of winter had set in, Tatoka brought to his bride many + buffalo skins. She was thoroughly schooled in the arts of savage + womanhood; in fact, every Indian maid was trained with this thought in + view—that she should become a beautiful, strong, skillful wife and + mother—the mother of a noble race of warriors! + </p> + <p> + In a short time within that green and pine-scented enclosure there smiled + a little wild paradise. Hard by the pine-bough wigwam there stood a new + white buffalo-skin teepee, tanned, cut, sewed, and pitched by the hands of + Stasu. Away in the woods, down by the rushing brook, was her tannery, and + not far away, in a sunny, open spot, she prepared her sun-cured meats for + winter use. Her kitchen was a stone fireplace in a shady spot, and her + parlor was the lodge of evergreen, overhung on two sides by inaccessible + ledges, and bounded on the other two by the sparkling stream. It was a + secret place, and yet a citadel; a silent place, and yet not lonely! + </p> + <p> + The winter was cold and long, but the pair were happy in one another’s + company, and accepted their strange lot as one that was chosen for them by + the spirits. Stasu had insisted upon her husband speaking to her in his + own language, that she might learn it quickly. In a little while she was + able to converse with him, and when she had acquired his language she + taught him hers. + </p> + <p> + While Antelope was occupied with hunting and exploring the country, always + keeping in mind the danger of discovery by some wandering scout or hunter, + his wife grew well acquainted with the wild inhabitants of No Man’s Trail. + These people are as full of curiosity as man, and as the Sioux never + hunted near his home, they were entirely fearless. Many came to the door + of Stasu’s lodge, and she was not afraid, but offered them food and spoke + to them kindly. All animals judge by signs and are quick in reading tones + and gestures; so that the Ree girl soon had grandfathers and grandmothers, + after the Indian fashion, among the wolves and bears that came oftenest + for food. + </p> + <p> + Her husband in the field had also his fellow-hunters and friends. When he + killed the buffalo he always left enough meat for the wolves, the eagles, + and the ravens to feast upon, and these watched for the coming of the + lonely wild man. More than once they told him by their actions of the + presence of a distant campfire, but in each instance it proved to be a + small war-party which had passed below them on the trail. + </p> + <p> + Again it was summer. Never had the mountains looked grander or more + mysterious to the eyes of the two. The valley was full of the music and + happiness of the winged summer people; the trees wore their summer attire, + and the meadow its green blanket. There were many homes made happy by the + coming of little people everywhere, but no pair was happier than Stasu and + her husband when one morning they saw their little brave lying wrapped in + soft deerskins, and heard for the first time his plaintive voice! + </p> + <p> + That morning, when Antelope set out on the hunt, he stopped at the stream + and looked at himself seriously to see whether he had changed since the + day before. He must now appear much graver, he said to himself, because he + is the father of a new man! + </p> + <p> + In spite of himself, his thoughts were with his own people, and he + wondered what his old grandmother would have said to his child! He looked + away off toward the Black Hills, to the Sioux country, and in his heart he + said, “I am a coward!” + </p> + <p> + The boy grew naturally, and never felt the lack of playmates and + companions, for his mother was ingenious in devising plays for him, and in + winning for him the confidence and kindness of the animal friends. He was + the young chief and the hero of No Man’s Trail! The bears and wolves were + his warriors; the buffalo and elk the hostile tribes upon whom he went to + war. Small as he was, he soon preferred to roam alone in the woods. His + parents were often anxious, but, on the other hand, they entertained the + hope that he would some day be “wakan,” a mysterious or supernatural man, + for he was getting power from his wild companions and from the silent + forces of nature. + </p> + <p> + One day, when he was about five years old, he gave a dance for his wild + pets upon the little plateau which was still their home. He had clothed + Mato, the bear, in one of his father’s suits as a great medicine-man. + Waho, the wolf, was painted up as a brave; and the young buffalo calf was + attired in one of his mother’s gowns. The boy acted as chief and master of + ceremonies. + </p> + <p> + The savage mother watched him with undisguised pride, mingled with sorrow. + Tears coursed down her dusky cheeks, although at the same time she could + not help laughing heartily at the strange performance. When the play was + ended, and she had served the feast at its close, Stasu seemed lost in + thought. + </p> + <p> + “He should not live in this way,” she was saying to herself. “He should + know the traditions and great deeds of my people! Surely his grandfather + would be proud of the boy!” + </p> + <p> + That evening, while the boy slept, and Mato lay outside the lodge eagerly + listening and sniffing the night air, the parents sat silent and ill at + ease. After a long time Stasu spoke her mind. + </p> + <p> + “My husband, you ask me why I am sad. It is because I think that the Great + Mystery will be displeased if we keep this little boy forever in the + wilderness. It is wrong to allow him to grow up among wild animals; and if + sickness or accident should deprive him of his father and mother, our + spirits would never rest, because we had left him alone! I have decided to + ask you to take us back, either to your people or to my people. We must + sacrifice our pride, or, if needs be, our lives, for his life and + happiness!” + </p> + <p> + This speech of Stasu’s was a surprise to her husband. His eyes rested upon + the ground as he listened, and his face assumed the proverbial stoical + aspect, yet in it there was not lacking a certain nobleness. At last he + lifted his eyes to hers, and said: + </p> + <p> + “You have spoken wise words, and it shall be as you have said. We shall + return to your people. If I am to die at the hands of the ancient enemy of + the Sioux, I shall die because of my love for you, and for our child. But + I cannot go back to my own people to be ridiculed by unworthy young men + for yielding to love of a Ree maiden!” + </p> + <p> + There was much feeling behind these words of Antelope. The rigid customs + of his people are almost a religion, and there is one thing above all else + which a Sioux cannot bear—that is the ridicule of his + fellow-warriors. Yes, he can endure severe punishment or even death at the + hands of the enemy rather than a single laugh of derision from a Sioux! + </p> + <p> + In a few days the household articles were packed, and the three sadly + turned their backs upon their home. Stasu and her husband were very silent + as they traveled slowly along. When they reached the hill called + “Born-of-Day,” and she saw from its summit the country of her people lying + below her, she cried aloud, weeping happy tears. Antelope sat near by with + bowed head, silently smoking. + </p> + <p> + Finally on the fifth day they arrived within sight of the great permanent + village of the three tribes. They saw the earth lodges as of old, thickly + clustered along the flats of the Missouri, among their rustling + maize-fields. Antelope stopped. “I think you had better give me something + to eat, woman,” he said, smiling. It was the Sioux way of saying, “Let me + have my last meal!” + </p> + <p> + After they had eaten, Stasu opened her buckskin bags and gave her husband + his finest suit. He dressed himself carefully in the fashion of his tribe, + putting on all the feathers to which he was entitled as a warrior. The boy + also was decked out in gala attire, and Stasu, the matron, had never + looked more beautiful in her gown of ceremony with the decoration of elks’ + teeth, the same that she had worn on the evening of her disappearance. + </p> + <p> + As she dressed herself, the unwelcome thought forced itself upon her,—“What + if my love is killed by my own countrymen in their frenzy? This beautiful + gown must then give place to a poor one, and this hair will be cut short!” + for such is the mourning of the widow among her people. + </p> + <p> + The three rode openly down the long slope, and were instantly discovered + by the people of the village. Soon the plain was black with the + approaching riders. Stasu had begged her husband to remain behind, while + she went on alone with the boy to obtain forgiveness, but he sternly + refused, and continued in advance. When the foremost Ree warriors came + within arrow-shot they began to shoot, to which he paid no attention. + </p> + <p> + But the child screamed with terror, and Stasu cried out in her own tongue: + </p> + <p> + “Do not shoot! I am the daughter of your chief!” + </p> + <p> + One of them returned the reply: “She is killed by the Sioux!” But when the + leaders saw her plainly they were astounded. + </p> + <p> + For a time there was great confusion. Some held that they should all die, + for the woman had been guilty of treason to her people, and even now she + might be playing a trick upon them. Who could say that behind that hill + there was not a Sioux war-party? + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” replied others. “They are in our power. Let them tell their + story!” + </p> + <p> + Stasu told it simply, and said in conclusion: + </p> + <p> + “This man, one of the bravest and most honorable men of his tribe, + deserted on the night of the attack, and all because he loved a Ree + maiden! He now comes to be your brother-in-law, who will fight henceforth + for you and with you, even if it be against his own people. + </p> + <p> + “He does not beg for mercy—he can dare anything! But I am a woman—my + heart is soft—I ask for the lives of my husband and my son, who is + the grandson of your chief!” + </p> + <p> + “He is a coward who touches this man!” exclaimed the leader, and a thunder + of warwhoops went up in approval of his words. + </p> + <p> + The warriors formed themselves in two great columns, riding twenty + abreast, behind and in front of the strangers. The old chief came out to + meet them, and took his son-inlaw’s hand. Thus they entered the village in + battle array, but with hearts touched with wonder and great gladness, + discharging their arrows upward in clouds and singing peace-songs. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE + </h2> + <p> + “It was many years ago, when I was only a child,” began White Ghost, the + patriarchal old chief of the Yanktonnais Sioux, “that our band was engaged + in a desperate battle with the Rees and Mandans. The cause of the fight + was a peculiar one. I will tell you about it.” And he laid aside his + longstemmed pipe and settled himself to the recital. + </p> + <p> + “At that time the Yanktonnais numbered a little over forty families. We + were nicknamed by the other bands Shunkikcheka, or Domestic Dogs, because + of our owning large numbers of these animals. My father was the head + chief. + </p> + <p> + “Our favorite wintering place was a timbered tract near the mouth of the + Grand River, and it was here that we met the Blackfoot Sioux in the fall + hunt. On the opposite side of the river from our camp was the permanent + village of the Rees and Mandans, whose houses were of dirt and partly + underground. For a hundred years before this time they had planted large + gardens, and we were accustomed to buy of them corn, beans, and pumpkins. + From time to time our people had made treaties of peace with them. Each + family of the Rees had one or two buffalo boats—not round, as the + Sioux made them, but two or three skins long. In these boats they brought + quantities of dried beans and other vegetables to trade with us for jerked + buffalo meat. + </p> + <p> + “It was a great gathering and a time of general festivity and hospitality. + The Sioux young men were courting the Ree girls, and the Ree braves were + courting our girls, while the old people bartered their produce. All day + the river was alive with canoes and its banks rang with the laughter of + the youths and maidens. + </p> + <p> + “My father’s younger brother, whose name was Big Whip, had a close friend, + a young man who ever after the event of which I am about to tell you was + known as Bald Eagle. They were both daring young men and very ambitious + for distinction. They had been following the Ree girls to their canoes as + they returned to their homes in the evening. + </p> + <p> + “Big Whip and his friend stood upon the river bank at sunset, one with a + quiver full of arrows upon his back while the other carried a gun under + his blanket. Nearly all the people of the other village had crossed the + river, and the chief of the Rees, whose name was Bald Eagle, went home + with his wife last of all. It was about dusk as they entered their + bullhide boat, and the two Sioux stood there looking at them. + </p> + <p> + “Suddenly Big Whip exclaimed: ‘Friend, let us kill the chief. I dare you + to kill and scalp him!’ His friend replied: + </p> + <p> + “‘It shall be as you say. I will stand by you in all things. I am willing + to die with you.’ + </p> + <p> + “Accordingly Bald Eagle pulled out his gun and shot the Ree dead. From + that day he took his name. The old man fell backward into his boat, and + the old woman screamed and wept as she rowed him across the river. The + other young man shot an arrow or two at the wife, but she continued to row + until she reached the other bank. + </p> + <p> + “There was great excitement on both sides of the river as soon as the + people saw what had happened. There were two camps of Sioux, the Blackfoot + Sioux and the Yanktonnais, or our people. Of course the Mandans and Rees + greatly outnumbered us; their camp must have numbered two or three + thousand, which was more than we had in our combined camps. + </p> + <p> + “There was a Sioux whose name was Black Shield, who had intermarried among + the Rees. He came down to the opposite bank of the Missouri and shouted to + us: + </p> + <p> + “‘Of which one of your bands is the man who killed Bald Eagle?’ + </p> + <p> + “One of the Blackfoot Sioux replied: + </p> + <p> + “‘It is a man of the Yanktonnais Sioux who killed Bald Eagle.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then he said: ‘The Rees wish to do battle with them; you had better + withdraw from their camp.’ + </p> + <p> + “Accordingly the Blackfeet retired about a mile from us upon the bluffs + and pitched their tents, while the Yanktonnais remained on the flats. The + two bands had been great rivals in courage and the art of war, so we did + not ask for help from our kinsfolk, but during the night we dug trenches + about the camp, the inner one for the women and children, and the outer + one for the men to stay in and do battle. + </p> + <p> + “The next morning at daybreak the enemy landed and approached our camp in + great numbers. Some of their women and old men came also, and sat upon the + bluffs to watch the fight and to carry off their dead and wounded. The + Blackfeet likewise were watching the battle from the bluffs, and just + before the fight began one Blackfoot came in with his wife and joined us. + His name was Red Dog’s Track, but from that day he was called + He-Came-Back. His wife was a Yanktonnais, and he had said to her: ‘If I + don’t join your tribe to-day, my brothers-in-law will call me a coward.’ + </p> + <p> + “The Sioux were well entrenched and well armed with guns and arrows, and + their aim was deadly, so that the Rees crawled up gradually and took every + opportunity to pick off any Sioux who ventured to show his head above the + trenches. In like manner every Ree who exposed himself was sure to die. + </p> + <p> + “Up to this time no one had seen the two men who made all the trouble. + There was a natural hollow in the bank, concealed by buffalo berry bushes, + very near where they stood when Bald Eagle shot the Ree. + </p> + <p> + “‘Friend,’ said Big Whip, ‘it is likely that our own people will punish us + for this deed. They will pursue and kill us wherever they find us. They + have the right to do this. The best thing is to drop into this washout and + remain there until they cease to look for us.’ + </p> + <p> + “They did so, and remained hidden during the night. But, after the fight + began, Big Whip said again: ‘Friend, we are the cause of the deaths of + many brave men this day. We committed the act to show our bravery. We + dared each other to do it. It will now become us as warriors to join our + band.’ + </p> + <p> + “They both stripped, and taking their weapons in hand, ran toward the + camp. They had to pass directly through the enemy’s lines, but they were + not recognized till they had fairly passed them. Then they were between + two fires. When they had almost reached the entrenchment they faced about + and fired at the Rees, jumping about incessantly to avoid being hit, as is + the Indian fashion. Bullets and arrows were flying all about them like + hail, but at last they dropped back unhurt into the Sioux trenches. Thus + the two men saved their reputation for bravery, and their people never + openly reproached them for the events of that day. Young men are often + rash, but it is not well to reprove one for a brave deed lest he become a + coward. + </p> + <p> + “Many were killed, but more of the Rees than of our band. About the middle + of the afternoon there came a cold rain. It was in the fall of the year. + The bow-strings were wet, and the guns were only flint-locks. You know + when the flint becomes wet it is useless, and it looked as if the fight + must be with knives. + </p> + <p> + “But the Rees were much disheartened. They had lost many. The women were + all the time carrying off the wounded, and there were the Blackfoot Sioux + watching them from the hills. They turned and fled toward the river. The + Sioux followed like crazy wolves, tomahawking the tired and slow ones. + Many were killed at the boats, and some of the boats were punctured with + shot and sank. Some carried a load of Sioux arrows back across the river. + That was the greatest battle ever fought by our band,” the old man + concluded, with a deep sigh of mingled satisfaction and regret. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. THE SINGING SPIRIT + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I + </h2> + <p> + “Ho my steed, we must climb one more hill! My reputation depends upon my + report!” + </p> + <p> + Anookasan addressed his pony as if he were a human companion, urged on + like himself by human need and human ambition. And yet in his heart he had + very little hope of sighting any buffalo in that region at just that time + of the year. + </p> + <p> + The Yankton Sioux were ordinarily the most far-sighted of their people in + selecting a winter camp, but this year the late fall had caught them + rather far east of the Missouri bottoms, their favorite camping-ground. + The upper Jim River, called by the Sioux the River of Gray Woods, was + usually bare of large game at that season. Their store of jerked buffalo + meat did not hold out as they had hoped, and by March it became an urgent + necessity to send out scouts for buffalo. + </p> + <p> + The old men at the tiyo teepee (council lodge) held a long council. It was + decided to select ten of their bravest and hardiest young men to explore + the country within three days’ journey of their camp. + </p> + <p> + “Anookasan, uyeyo-o-o, woo, woo!” Thus the ten men were summoned to the + council lodge early in the evening to receive their commission. Anookasan + was the first called and first to cross the circle of the teepees. A young + man of some thirty years, of the original native type, his massive form + was wrapped in a fine buffalo robe with the hair inside. He wore a stately + eagle feather in his scalp-lock, but no paint about his face. + </p> + <p> + As he entered the lodge all the inmates greeted him with marked respect, + and he was given the place of honor. When all were seated the great drum + was struck and a song sung by four deep-chested men. This was the prelude + to a peculiar ceremony. + </p> + <p> + A large red pipe, which had been filled and laid carefully upon the + central hearth, was now taken up by an old man, whose face was painted + red. First he held it to the ground with the words: “Great Mother, partake + of this!” Then he held it toward the sky, saying: “Great Father, smoke + this!” Finally he lighted it, took four puffs, pointing it to the four + corners of the earth in turn, and lastly presented it to Anookasan. This + was the oath of office, administered by the chief of the council lodge. + The other nine were similarly commissioned, and all accepted the + appointment. + </p> + <p> + It was no light task that was thus religiously enjoined upon these ten + men. It meant at the least several days and nights of wandering in search + of signs of the wily buffalo. It was a public duty, and a personal one as + well; one that must involve untold hardship; and if overtaken by storm the + messengers were in peril of death! + </p> + <p> + Anookasan returned to his teepee with some misgiving. His old charger, + which had so often carried him to victory, was not so strong as he had + been in his prime. As his master approached the lodge the old horse + welcomed him with a gentle whinny. He was always tethered near by, ready + for any emergency. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Wakan! we are once more called upon to do duty! We shall set out + before daybreak.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, he pushed nearer a few strips of the poplar bark, which was + oats to the Indian pony of the olden time. + </p> + <p> + Anookasan had his extra pair of buffaloskin moccasins with the hair + inside, and his scanty provision of dried meat neatly done up in a small + packet and fastened to his saddle. With his companions he started + northward, up the River of the Gray Woods, five on the east side and a + like number on the west. + </p> + <p> + 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 themselves equal to the + occasion. + </p> + <p> + The sun, now well toward the western horizon, 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. + </p> + <p> + “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 faithful + nag. At the same time he started a “Strong Heart” song to keep his courage + up! + </p> + <p> + 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 already set behind the hilltops. It was a + great herd of buffaloes, he thought, which was grazing on the foot-hills. + </p> + <p> + “Hi hi, uncheedah! Hi, hi, tunkasheedah!” he was about to exclaim in + gratitude, when, looking more closely, he discovered his mistake. The dark + patch was only timber. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, what success?” one cried. + </p> + <p> + “Not a sign of even a lone bull,” replied another. + </p> + <p> + “Yet I saw a gray wolf going north this evening. His direction is + propitious,” remarked 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. + </p> + <p> + The braves were all downhearted because of their ill-luck, and only the + sanguine spirit of Anookasan kept them from utter discouragement. 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 material, in the center of which there was a generous + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + For a time they all smoked in silence; then came a distant call. + </p> + <p> + “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 trouble. + 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!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “It sounds like the song of a mosquito, and one might forget while he + listens that this is not midsummer,” said one. + </p> + <p> + “I hear also the medicine-man’s single drumbeat,” suggested another. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “The home of Oglugechana is usually a hollow 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. + </p> + <p> + “It is told by the old men that Oglugechana has a weird music by which he + sometimes bewitches 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 medicinemen, 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.” + </p> + <p> + The warrior who related this legend assumed the air of one who narrates + authentic history, and his listeners appeared to be seriously impressed. + What we call the supernatural was as real to them as any part of their + lives. + </p> + <p> + “This thing does not stop to breathe at all. His music seems to go on + endlessly,” said one, with considerable uneasiness. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Anookasan, you are our leader—tell 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 + spirits. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “I am just like yourselves—nothing more than flesh—with 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 + together next summer if need be!” + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho, ho!” was the full-throated response. + </p> + <p> + “All put on your war-paint,” suggested Anookasan. “Have your knives and + arrows ready!” + </p> + <p> + They did so, and all stole silently through the black forest in the + direction of the mysterious sound. Clearer and clearer it came through the + frosty air; but it was a foreign sound to the savage ear. Now it seemed to + them almost like a distant water-fall; then it recalled the low hum of + summer insects and the drowsy drone of the bumblebee. Thump, thump, thump! + was the regular accompaniment. + </p> + <p> + Nearer and nearer to the cliff they came, deeper into the wild heart of + the woods. At last out of the gray, formless night a dark shape appeared! + It looked to them like a huge buffalo bull standing motionless in the + forest, and from his throat there apparently proceeded the thump of the + medicine drum, and the song of the beguiling spirit! + </p> + <p> + All of a sudden a spark went up into the air. As they continued to + approach, there became visible a deep glow about the middle of the dark + object. Whatever it was, they had never heard of anything like it in all + their lives! + </p> + <p> + Anookasan was a little in advance of his companions, and it was he who + finally discovered a wall of logs laid one upon another. Half way up there + seemed to be stretched a par-fleche (raw-hide), from which a dim light + emanated. He still thought of Oglugechana, who dwells within a hollow + tree, and determined to surprise and if possible to overpower this + wonderworking old man. + </p> + <p> + All now took their knives in their hands and advanced with their leader to + the attack upon the log hut. “Wa-wa-wa-wa, woo, woo!” they cried. Zip, + zip! went the par-fleche door and window, and they all rushed in! + </p> + <p> + There sat a man upon a roughly hewn stool. He was attired in wolfskins and + wore a foxskin cap upon his head. The larger portion of his face was + clothed with natural fur. A rudely made cedar fiddle was tucked under his + furred chin. Supporting it with his left hand, he sawed it vigorously with + a bow that was not unlike an Indian boy’s miniature weapon, while his + moccasined left foot came down upon the sod floor in time with the music. + When the shrill war-whoop came, and the door and window were cut in strips + by the knives of the Indians, he did not even cease playing, but + instinctively he closed his eyes, so as not to behold the horror of his + own end. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II + </h2> + <p> + It was long ago, upon the rolling prairie south of the Devil’s Lake, that + a motley body of hunters gathered near a mighty herd of the bison, in the + Moon of Falling Leaves. These were the first generation of the Canadian + mixed-bloods, who sprang up in such numbers as to form almost a new + people. These semi-wild Americans soon became a necessity to the Hudson + Bay Company, as they were the greatest hunters of the bison, and made more + use of this wonderful animal than even their aboriginal ancestors. + </p> + <p> + A curious race of people this, in their make-up and their customs! Their + shaggy black hair was allowed to grow long, reaching to their broad + shoulders, then cut off abruptly, making their heads look like a thatched + house. Their dark faces were in most cases well covered with hair, their + teeth large and white, and their eyes usually liquid black, although + occasionally one had a tiger-brown or cold-gray eye. Their costume was a + buckskin shirt with abundance of fringes, buckskin pantaloons with short + leggins, a gay sash, and a cap of fox-fur. Their arms consisted of + flint-lock guns, hatchets, and butcher-knives. Their ponies were small, + but as hardy as themselves. + </p> + <p> + As these men gathered in the neighborhood of an immense herd of buffaloes, + they busied themselves in adjusting the girths of their beautifully beaded + pillow-like saddles. Among them there were exceptional riders and hunters. + It was said that few could equal Antoine Michaud in feats of riding into + and through the herd. There he stood, all alone, the observed of many + others. It was his habit to give several Indian yells when the onset + began, so as to insure a successful hunt. + </p> + <p> + In this instance, Antoine gave his usual whoops, and when they had almost + reached the herd, he lifted his flint-lock over his head and plunged into + the black moving mass. With a sound like the distant rumbling of thunder, + those tens of thousands of buffalo hoofs were pounding the earth in + retreat. Thus Antoine disappeared! + </p> + <p> + His wild steed dashed into the midst of the vast herd. Fortunately for + him, the animals kept clear of him; but alas! the gap through which he had + entered instantly closed again. + </p> + <p> + He yelled frantically to secure an outlet, but without effect. He had tied + a red bandanna around his head to keep the hair off his face, and he now + took this off and swung it crazily about him to scatter the buffalo, but + it availed him nothing. + </p> + <p> + With such a mighty herd in flight, the speed could not be great; therefore + the “Bois Brule” settled himself to the situation, allowing his pony to + canter along slowly to save his strength. It required much tact and + presence of mind to keep an open space, for the few paces of obstruction + behind had gradually grown into a mile. + </p> + <p> + The mighty host moved continually southward, walking and running + alternately. As the sun neared the western horizon, it fired the sky above + them, and all the distant hills and prairies were in the glow of it, but + immediately about them was a thick cloud of dust, and the ground appeared + like a fire-swept plain. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly Antoine was aware of a tremendous push from behind. The animals + smelled the cool water of a spring which formed a large bog in the midst + of the plain. This solitary pond or marsh was a watering-place for the + wild animals. All pushed and edged toward it; it was impossible for any + one to withstand the combined strength of so many. + </p> + <p> + Antoine and his steed were in imminent danger of being pushed into the + mire and trampled upon, but a mere chance brought them upon solid ground. + As they were crowded across the marsh, his pony drank heartily, and he, + for the first time, let go his bridle, put his two palms together for a + dipper, and drank greedily of the bitter water. He had not eaten since + early morning, so he now pulled up some bulrushes and ate of the tender + bulbs, while the pony grazed as best he could on the tops of the tall + grass. + </p> + <p> + It was now dark. The night was wellnigh intolerable for Antoine. The + buffalo were about him in countless numbers, regarding him with vicious + glances. It was only by reason of the natural offensiveness of man that + they gave him any space. The bellowing of the bulls became general, and + there was a marked uneasiness on the part of the herd. This was a sign of + approaching storm, therefore the unfortunate hunter had this additional + cause for anxiety. Upon the western horizon were seen some flashes of + lightning. + </p> + <p> + The cloud which had been a mere speck upon the horizon had now increased + to large proportions. Suddenly the wind came, and lightning flashes became + more frequent, showing the ungainly forms of the animals like strange + monsters in the white light. The colossal herd was again in violent + motion. It was a blind rush for shelter, and no heed was paid to buffalo + wallows or even deep gulches. All was in the deepest of darkness. There + seemed to be groaning in heaven and earth—millions of hoofs and + throats roaring in unison! + </p> + <p> + As a shipwrecked man clings to a mere fragment of wood, so Antoine, + although almost exhausted with fatigue, still stuck to the back of his + equally plucky pony. Death was imminent for them both. As the mad rush + continued, every flash displayed heaps of bison in death struggle under + the hoofs of their companions. + </p> + <p> + From time to time Antoine crossed himself and whispered a prayer to the + Virgin; and again he spoke to his horse after the fashion of an Indian: + </p> + <p> + “Be brave, be strong, my horse! If we survive this trial, you shall have + great honor!” + </p> + <p> + The stampede continued until they reached the bottom lands, and, like a + rushing stream, their course was turned aside by the steep bank of a creek + or small river. Then they moved more slowly in wide sweeps or circles, + until the storm ceased, and the exhausted hunter, still in his saddle, + took some snatches of sleep. + </p> + <p> + When he awoke and looked about him again it was morning. The herd had + entered the strip of timber which lay on both sides of the river, and it + was here that Antoine conceived his first distinct hope of saving himself. + </p> + <p> + “Waw, waw, waw!” was the hoarse cry that came to his ears, apparently from + a human being in distress. Antoine strained his eyes and craned his neck + to see who it could be. Through an opening in the branches ahead he + perceived a large grizzly bear, lying along an inclined limb and hugging + it desperately to maintain his position. The herd had now thoroughly + pervaded the timber, and the bear was likewise hemmed in. He had taken to + his unaccustomed refuge after making a brave stand against several bulls, + one of which lay dead near by, while he himself was bleeding from many + wounds. + </p> + <p> + Antoine had been assiduously looking for a friendly tree, by means of + which he hoped to effect his escape from captivity by the army of bison. + His horse, by chance, made his way directly under the very box-elder that + was sustaining the bear and there was a convenient branch just within his + reach. The Bois Brule was not then in an aggressive mood, and he saw at a + glance that the occupant of the tree would not interfere with him. They + were, in fact, companions in distress. Antoine tried to give a war-whoop + as he sprang desperately from the pony’s back and seized the cross limb + with both his hands. + </p> + <p> + The hunter dangled in the air for a minute that to him seemed a year. Then + he gathered up all the strength that was in him, and with one grand effort + he pulled himself up on the limb. + </p> + <p> + If he had failed in this, he would have fallen to the ground under the + hoofs of the buffaloes, and at their mercy. + </p> + <p> + After he had adjusted his seat as comfortably as he could, Antoine + surveyed the situation. He had at least escaped from sudden and certain + death. It grieved him that he had been forced to abandon his horse, and he + had no idea how far he had come nor any means of returning to his friends, + who had, no doubt, given him up for lost. His immediate needs were rest + and food. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly he selected a fat cow and emptied into her sides one barrel of + his gun, which had been slung across his chest. He went on shooting until + he had killed many fat cows, greatly to the discomfiture of his neighbor, + the bear, while the bison vainly struggled among themselves to keep the + fatal spot clear. + </p> + <p> + By the middle of the afternoon the main body of the herd had passed, and + Antoine was sure that his captivity had at last come to an end. Then he + swung himself from his limb to the ground, and walked stiffly to the + carcass of the nearest cow, which he dressed and prepared himself a meal. + But first he took a piece of liver on a long pole to the bear! + </p> + <p> + Antoine finally decided to settle in the recesses of the heavy timber for + the winter, as he was on foot and alone, and not able to travel any great + distance. He jerked the meat of all the animals he had killed, and + prepared their skins for bedding and clothing. The Bois Brule and Ami, as + he called the bear, soon became necessary to one another. The former + considered the bear very good company, and the latter had learned that + man’s business, after all, is not to kill every animal he meets. He had + been fed and kindly treated, when helpless from his wounds, and this he + could not forget. + </p> + <p> + Antoine was soon busy erecting a small log hut, while the other partner + kept a sharp lookout, and, after his hurts were healed, often brought in + some small game. The two had a perfect understanding without many words; + at least, the speech was all upon one side! In his leisure moments Antoine + had occupied himself with whittling out a rude fiddle of cedar-wood, + strung with the guts of a wild cat that he had killed. Every evening that + winter he would sit down after supper and play all the old familiar + pieces, varied with improvisations of his own. At first, the music and the + incessant pounding time with his foot annoyed the bear. At times, too, the + Canadian would call out the figures for the dance. All this Ami became + accustomed to in time, and even showed no small interest in the buzzing of + the little cedar box. Not infrequently, he was out in the evening, and the + human partner was left alone. It chanced, quite fortunately, that the bear + was absent on the night that the red folk rudely invaded the lonely hut. + </p> + <p> + The calmness of the strange being had stayed their hands. They had never + before seen a man of other race than their own! + </p> + <p> + “Is this Chanotedah? Is he man, or beast?” the warriors asked one another. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, wake up, koda!” exclaimed Anookasan. “Maybe he is of the porcupine + tribe, ashamed to look at us!” + </p> + <p> + At this moment they spied the haunch of venison which swung from a + cross-stick over a fine bed of coals, in front of the rude mud chimney. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, koda has something to eat! Sit down, sit down!” they shouted to one + another. + </p> + <p> + Now Antoine opened his eyes for the first time upon his unlooked-for + guests. They were a haggard and hungry-looking set. Anookasan extended his + hand, and Antoine gave it a hearty shake. He set his fiddle against the + wall and began to cut up the smoking venison into generous pieces and + place it before them. All ate like famished men, while the firelight + intensified the red paint upon their wild and warlike faces. + </p> + <p> + When he had satisfied his first hunger, Anookasan spoke in signs. “Friend, + we have never before heard a song like that of your little cedar box! We + had supposed it to be a spirit, or some harmful thing, hence our attack + upon it. We never saw any people of your sort. What is your tribe?” + </p> + <p> + Antoine explained his plight in the same manner, and the two soon came to + an understanding. The Canadian told the starving hunters of a buffalo herd + a little way to the north, and one of their number was dispatched homeward + with the news. In two days the entire band reached Antoine’s place. The + Bois Brule was treated with kindness and honor, and the tribe gave him a + wife. Suffice it to say that Antoine lived and died among the Yanktons at + a good old age; but Ami could not brook the invasion upon their hermit + life. He was never seen after that first evening. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. THE FAMINE + </h2> + <p> + On the Assiniboine River in western Manitoba there stands an old, historic + trading-post, whose crumbling walls crown a high promontory in the angle + formed by its junction with a tributary stream. This is Fort Ellis, a + mistress of the wilderness and lodestone of savage tribes between the + years 1830 and 1870. + </p> + <p> + Hither at that early day the Indians brought their buffalo robes and + beaver skins to exchange for merchandise, ammunition, and the “spirit + water.” Among the others there presently appeared a band of renegade Sioux—the + exiles, as they called themselves—under White Lodge, whose father, + Little Crow, had been a leader in the outbreak of 1862. Now the great + warchief was dead, and his people were prisoners or fugitives. The shrewd + Scotch trader, McLeod, soon discovered that the Sioux were skilled + hunters, and therefore he exerted himself to befriend them, as well as to + encourage a feeling of good will between them and the Canadian tribes who + were accustomed to make the old fort their summer rendezvous. + </p> + <p> + Now the autumn had come, after a long summer of feasts and dances, and the + three tribes broke up and dispersed as usual in various directions. White + Lodge had twin daughters, very handsome, whose ears had been kept burning + with the proposals of many suitors, but none had received any definite + encouragement. There were one or two who would have been quite willing to + forsake their own tribes and follow the exiles had they not feared too + much the ridicule of the braves. Even Angus McLeod, the trader’s eldest + son, had need of all his patience and caution, for he had never seen any + woman he admired so much as the piquant Magaskawee, called The Swan, one + of these belles of the forest. + </p> + <p> + The Sioux journeyed northward, toward the Mouse River. They had wintered + on that stream before, and it was then the feeding ground of large herds + of buffalo. When it was discovered that the herds were moving westward, + across the Missouri, there was no little apprehension. The shrewd + medicine-man became aware of the situation, and hastened to announce his + prophecy: + </p> + <p> + “The Great Mystery has appeared to me in a dream! He showed me men with + haggard and thin faces. I interpret this to mean a scarcity of food during + the winter.” + </p> + <p> + The chief called his counselors together and set before them the dream of + the priest, whose prophecy, he said, was already being fulfilled in part + by the westward movement of the buffalo. It was agreed that they should + lay up all the dried meat they could obtain; but even for this they were + too late. The storms were already at hand, and that winter was more severe + than any that the old men could recall in their traditions. The braves + killed all the small game for a wide circuit around the camp, but the + buffalo had now crossed the river, and that country was not favorable for + deer. The more enterprising young men organized hunting expeditions to + various parts of the open prairie, but each time they returned with empty + hands. + </p> + <p> + The “Moon of Sore Eyes,” or March, had come at last, and Wazeah, the God + of Storm, was still angry. Their scant provision of dried meat had held + out wonderfully, but it was now all but consumed. The Sioux had but little + ammunition, and the snow was still so deep that it was impossible for them + to move away to any other region in search of game. The worst was feared; + indeed, some of the children and feeble old people had already succumbed. + </p> + <p> + White Lodge again called his men together in council, and it was + determined to send a messenger to Fort Ellis to ask for relief. A young + man called Face-the-Wind was chosen for his exceptional qualities of speed + and endurance upon long journeys. The old medicine-man, whose shrewd + prophecy had gained for him the confidence of the people, now came + forward. He had closely observed the appearance of the messenger selected, + and had taken note of the storm and distance. Accordingly he said: + </p> + <p> + “My children, the Great Mystery is offended, and this is the cause of all + our suffering! I see a shadow hanging over our messenger, but I will pray + to the Great Spirit—perhaps he may yet save him!—Great + Mystery, be thou merciful! Strengthen this young man for his journey, that + he may be able to finish it and to send us aid! If we see the sun of + summer again, we will offer the choicest of our meats to thee, and do thee + great honor!” + </p> + <p> + During this invocation, as occasionally happens in March, a loud peal of + thunder was heard. This coincidence threw the prophet almost into a + frenzy, and the poor people were all of a tremble. Face-the-Wind believed + that the prayer was directly answered, and though weakened by fasting and + unfit for the task before him, he was encouraged to make the attempt. + </p> + <p> + He set out on the following day at dawn, and on the third day staggered + into the fort, looking like a specter and almost frightening the people. + He was taken to McLeod’s house and given good care. The poor fellow, + delirious with hunger, fancied himself engaged in mortal combat with Eyah, + the god of famine, who has a mouth extending from ear to ear. Wherever he + goes there is famine, for he swallows all that he sees, even whole + nations! + </p> + <p> + The legend has it that Eyah fears nothing but the jingling of metal: so + finally the dying man looked up into McLeod’s face and cried: “Ring your + bell in his face, Wahadah!” + </p> + <p> + The kind-hearted factor could not refuse, and as the great bell used to + mark the hours of work and of meals pealed out untimely upon the frosty + air, the Indian started up and in that moment breathed his last. He had + given no news, and McLeod and his sons could only guess at the state of + affairs upon the Mouse River. + </p> + <p> + While the men were in council with her father, Magaskawee had turned over + the contents of her work-bag. She had found a small roll of birch-bark in + which she kept her porcupine quills for embroidery, and pulled the + delicate layers apart. The White Swan was not altogether the untutored + Indian maiden, for she had lived in the family of a missionary in the + States, and had learned both to speak and write some English. There was no + ink, no pen or pencil, but with her bone awl she pressed upon the white + side of the bark the following words: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + MR. ANGUS McLEOD:— + + We are near the hollow rock on the Mouse River. The + buffalo went away across the Missouri, and our powder and + shot are gone. We are starving. Good-bye, if I don’t see + you again. + + MAGASKAWEE. +</pre> + <p> + The girl entrusted this little note to her grandmother, and she in turn + gave it to the messenger. But he, as we know, was unable to deliver it. + </p> + <p> + “Angus, tell the boys to bury the poor fellow to-morrow. I dare say he + brought us some news from White Lodge, but we have got to go to the happy + hunting-grounds to get it, or wait till the exile band returns in the + spring. Evidently,” continued McLeod, “he fell sick on the way: or else he + was starving!” + </p> + <p> + This last suggestion horrified Angus. “I believe, father,” he exclaimed, + “that we ought to examine his bundle.” + </p> + <p> + A small oblong packet was brought forth from the dead man’s belt and + carefully unrolled. + </p> + <p> + There were several pairs of moccasins, and within one of these Angus found + something wrapped up nicely. He proceeded to unwind the long strings of + deerskin with which it was securely tied, and brought forth a thin sheet + of birch-bark. At first, there seemed to be nothing more, but a closer + scrutiny revealed the impression of the awl, and the bit of nature’s + parchment was brought nearer to his face, and scanned with a zeal equal to + that of any student of ancient hieroglyphics. + </p> + <p> + “This tells the whole story, father!” exclaimed the young man at last. + “Magaskawee’s note—just listen!” and he read it aloud. “I shall + start to-morrow. We can take enough provision and ammunition on two sleds, + with six dogs to each. I shall want three good men to go with me.” Angus + spoke with decision. + </p> + <p> + “Well, we can’t afford to lose our best hunters; and you might also bring + home with you what furs and robes they have on hand,” was his father’s + prudent reply. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t care particularly for the skins,” Angus declared; but he at once + began hurried preparations for departure. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime affairs grew daily more desperate in the exile village on + the far-away Mouse River, and a sort of Indian hopelessness and + resignation settled down upon the little community. There were few who + really expected their messenger to reach the fort, or believed that even + if he did so, relief would be sent in time to save them. White Lodge, the + father of his people, was determined to share with them the last mouthful + of food, and every morning Winona and Magaskawee went with scanty portions + in their hands to those whose supply had entirely failed. + </p> + <p> + On the outskirts of the camp there dwelt an old woman with an orphan + grandchild, who had been denying herself for some time in order that the + child might live longer. This poor teepee the girls visited often, and one + on each side they raised the exhausted woman and poured into her mouth the + warm broth they had brought with them. + </p> + <p> + It was on the very day Face-the-Wind reached Fort Ellis that a young + hunter who had ventured further from the camp than any one else had the + luck to bring down a solitary deer with his bow and arrow. In his weakness + he had reached camp very late, bearing the deer with the utmost difficulty + upon his shoulders. It was instantly separated into as many pieces as + there were lodges of the famishing Sioux. These delicious morsels were + hastily cooked and eagerly devoured, but among so many there was scarcely + more than a mouthful to the share of each, and the brave youth himself did + not receive enough to appease in the least his craving! + </p> + <p> + On the eve of Angus’ departure for the exile village, Three Stars, a + devoted suitor of Winona’s, accompanied by another Assiniboine brave, + appeared unexpectedly at the fort. He at once asked permission to join the + relief party, and they set out at daybreak. + </p> + <p> + The lead-dog was the old reliable Mack, who had been in service for + several seasons on winter trips. All of the white men were clad in + buckskin shirts and pantaloons, with long fringes down the sides, fur caps + and fur-lined moccasins. Their guns were fastened to the long, + toboggan-like sleds. + </p> + <p> + The snow had thawed a little and formed an icy crust, and over this fresh + snow had fallen, which a northwest wind swept over the surface like ashes + after a prairie fire. The sun appeared for a little time in the morning, + but it seemed as if he were cutting short his course on account of the + bleak day, and had protected himself with pale rings of fire. + </p> + <p> + The dogs laid back their ears, drew in their tails, and struck into their + customary trot, but even old Mack looked back frequently, as if reluctant + to face such a pricking and scarifying wind. The men felt the cold still + more keenly, although they had taken care to cover every bit of the face + except one eye, and that was completely blinded at times by the granulated + snow. + </p> + <p> + The sun early retreated behind a wall of cloud, and the wind moaned and + wailed like a living creature in anguish. At last they approached the + creek where they had planned to camp for the night. There was nothing to + be seen but a few stunted willows half buried in the drifts, but the banks + of the little stream afforded some protection from the wind. + </p> + <p> + “Whoa!” shouted the leader, and the dogs all stopped, sitting down on + their haunches. “Come, Mack!” (with a wave of the hand), “lead your + fellows down to the creek!” + </p> + <p> + The old dog started down at the word, and all the rest followed. A space + was quickly cleared of snow, while one man scoured the thickets in search + of brush for fuel. In a few minutes the tent was up and a fire kindled in + the center, while the floor was thickly strewn with twigs of willow, over + which buffalo robes were spread. Three Stars attended to supper, and soon + in the midst of the snapping willow fire a kettle was boiling. All partook + of strong tea, dried meat of buffalo, and pemmican, a mixture of pounded + dried meat with wild cherries and melted fat. The dogs, to whom one-half + the tent was assigned, enjoyed a hearty meal and fell into a deep sleep, + lying one against another. + </p> + <p> + After supper Jerry drove two sticks into the ground, one on each side of + the fire, and connected the two by a third one over the blaze. Upon this + all hung their socks to dry—most of them merely square pieces of + blanket cut to serve that purpose. Soon each man rolled himself in his own + buffalo robe and fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + All night the wind raged. The lonely teepee now and then shuddered + violently, as a stronger blast than usual almost lifted it from the + ground. No one stirred except from time to time one of the dogs, who got + up snarling and sniffing the cold air, turned himself round several times + as if on a pivot, and finally lay down for another nap. + </p> + <p> + In the morning the travelers one by one raised their heads and looked + through the smoke-hole, then fell back again with a grunt. All the world + appeared without form and void. Presently, however, the light of the sun + was seen as if through a painted window, and by afternoon they were able + to go on, the wind having partially subsided. This was only a taste of the + weather encountered by the party on their unseasonable trip; but had it + been ten times harder, it would never have occurred to Angus to turn back. + </p> + <p> + On the third day the rescuers approached the camp of the exiles. There was + an ominous quiet; no creature was to be seen; but the smoke which ascended + into the air in perpendicular columns assured them that some, at least, + were still alive. The party happened to reach first the teepee of the poor + old woman who had been so faithfully ministered to by the twin sisters. + They had no longer any food to give, but they had come to build her fire, + if she should have survived the night. At the very door of the lodge they + heard the jingle of dog-bells, but they had not time to announce the + joyful news before the men were in sight. + </p> + <p> + In another minute Angus and Three Stars were beside them, holding their + wasted hands. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. THE CHIEF SOLDIER + </h2> + <p> + Just outside of a fine large wigwam of smoke-tanned buffalo-skins stood + Tawasuota, very early upon an August morning of the year 1862. Behind the + wigwam there might have been seen a thrifty patch of growing maize, whose + tall, graceful stalks resembled as many warriors in dancing-dresses and + tasseled head-gear. + </p> + <p> + “Thanks be to the ‘Great Mystery,’ I have been successful in the fortunes + of war! None can say that Tawasuota is a coward. I have done well; so well + that our chief, Little Crow, has offered me the honored position of his + chief soldier, ta akich-itah!” he said to himself with satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + The sun was just over the eastem bank of the Minnesota River, and he could + distinctly see upon the level prairie the dwellings of logs which had + sprung up there during the year, since Little Crow’s last treaty with the + whites. “Ugh! they are taking from us our beautiful and game-teeming + country!” was his thought as he gazed upon them. + </p> + <p> + At that moment, out of the conical white teepee, in shape like a new-born + mushroom, there burst two little frisky boys, leaping and whooping. They + were clad gracefully in garments of fine deerskin, and each wore a + miniature feather upon his head, marking them as children of a + distinguished warrior. + </p> + <p> + They danced nimbly around their father, while he stood with all the + dignity of a buck elk, viewing the landscape reddened by sunrise and the + dwellers therein, the old and the new, the red and the white. He noticed + that they were still unmingled; the river divided them. + </p> + <p> + At last he took the dancing little embryo warriors one in either hand, and + lifted them to his majestic shoulders. There he placed them in perfect + poise. His haughty spirit found a moment’s happiness in fatherhood. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly Tawasuota set the two boys on the ground again, and signed to + them to enter the teepee. Apparently all was quiet. The camps and villages + of the Minnesota reservation were undisturbed, so far as he could see, + save by the awakening of nature; and the early risers among his people + moved about in seeming security, while the smoke of their morning fires + arose one by one into the blue. Still the warrior gazed steadily westward, + up the river, whence his quick ear had caught the faint but ominous sound + of a distant war-whoop. + </p> + <p> + The ridge beyond the Wahpeton village bounded the view, and between this + point and his own village were the agency buildings and the traders’ + stores. The Indian’s keen eye swept the horizon, and finally alighted once + more upon the home of his new neighbor across the river, the flaxen-haired + white man with many children, who with his white squaw and his little ones + worked from sunrise to sunset, much like the beaver family. + </p> + <p> + Ah! the distant war-whoop once more saluted his ear, but this time nearer + and more distinct. + </p> + <p> + “What! the Rice Creek band is coming in full war-paint! Can it be another + Ojibway attack? Ugh, ugh! I will show their warriors again this day what + it is to fight!” he exclaimed aloud. + </p> + <p> + The white traders and Government employees, those of them who were up and + about, heard and saw the advancing column of warriors. Yet they showed no + sign of anxiety or fear. Most of them thought that there might be some + report of Ojibways coming to attack the Sioux,—a not uncommon + incident,—and that those warriors were on their way to the post to + replenish their powder-horns. A few of the younger men were delighted with + the prospect of witnessing an Indian fight. + </p> + <p> + On swept the armed band, in numbers increasing at every village. + </p> + <p> + It was true that there had been a growing feeling of distrust among the + Indians, because their annuities had been withheld for a long time, and + the money payments had been delayed again and again. There were many in + great need. The traders had given them credit to some extent (charging + them four times the value of the article purchased), and had likewise + induced Little Crow to sign over to them ninety-eight thousand dollars, + the purchase-price of that part of their reservation lying north of the + Minnesota, and already occupied by the whites. + </p> + <p> + This act had made the chief very unpopular, and he was ready for a + desperate venture to regain his influence. Certain warriors among the + upper bands of Sioux had even threatened his life, but no one spoke openly + of a break with the whites. + </p> + <p> + When, therefore, the news came to Little Crow that some roving hunters of + the Rice Creek band had killed in a brawl two families of white settlers, + he saw his opportunity to show once for all to the disaffected that he had + no love for the white man. Immediately he sprang upon his white horse, and + prepared to make their cause a general one among his people. + </p> + <p> + Tawasuota had scarcely finished his hasty preparations for war, by + painting his face and seeing to the loading of his gun, when he heard the + voice of Little Crow outside his lodge. + </p> + <p> + “You are now my head soldier,” said the chief, “and this is your first + duty. Little Six and his band have inaugurated the war against the whites. + They have already wiped out two families, and are now on their way to the + agency. Let my chief soldier fire the first shot. + </p> + <p> + “Those Indians who have cut their hair and donned the white man’s clothing + may give the warning; so make haste! If you fall to-day, there is no + better day on which to die, and the women of our tribe will weep proud + tears for Tawasuota. I leave it with you to lead my warriors.” With these + words the wily chief galloped away to meet the war-party. + </p> + <p> + “Here comes Little Crow, the friend of the white man!” exclaimed a + warrior, as he approached. + </p> + <p> + “Friends and warriors, you will learn to-day who are the friends of the + white man, and none will dare again to insinuate that I have been against + the interests of my own people,” he replied. + </p> + <p> + After a brief consultation with the chiefs he advised the traders: + </p> + <p> + “Do not hesitate to fill the powder-horns of my warriors; they may be + compelled to fight all day.” + </p> + <p> + Soon loud yells were heard along the road to the Indian village. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho! Tawasuota u ye do!” (“He is coming; he is coming!”) shouted the + warriors in chorus. + </p> + <p> + The famous war-chief dismounted in silence, gun in hand, and walked + directly toward the larger store. + </p> + <p> + “Friend,” he exclaimed, “we may both meet the ‘Great Mystery’ to-day, but + you must go first.” + </p> + <p> + There was a loud report, and the unsuspecting white man lay dead. It was + James Lynd, one of the early traders, and a good friend to the Indians. + </p> + <p> + No sooner had Tawasuota fired the fatal shot than every other Indian + discharged his piece. Hither and thither ran the frantic people, seeking + safety, but seeking it in vain. They were wholly unprepared and at the + mercy of the foe. + </p> + <p> + The friendly Indians, too, were taken entirely by surprise. They had often + heard wild talk of revolt, but it had never had the indorsement of + intelligent chiefs, or of such a number as to carry any weight to their + minds. Christian Indians rushed in every direction to save, if possible, + at least the wives and children of the Government employees. Meanwhile, + the new white settlements along the Minnesota River were utterly + unconscious of any danger. Not a soul dreamed of the terrible calamity + that each passing moment was bringing nearer and nearer. + </p> + <p> + Tawasuota stepped aside, and took up his pipe. He seemed almost oblivious + of what he had done. While the massacre still raged about him in all its + awful cruelty, he sat smoking and trying to think collectedly, but his + mind was confused, and in his secret thoughts he rebelled against Little + Crow. It was a cowardly deed that he had been ordered to commit, he + thought; for he had won his reputation solely by brave deeds in battle, + and this was more like murdering one of his own tribesmen—this + killing of an unarmed white man. Up to this time the killing of a white + man was not counted the deed of a warrior; it was murder. + </p> + <p> + The lesser braves might now satisfy their spite against the traders to + their hearts’ content, but Tawasuota had been upon the best of terms with + all of them. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a ringing shout was heard. The chief soldier looked up, and + beheld a white man, nearly nude, leap from the roof of the larger store + and alight upon the ground hard by him. + </p> + <p> + He had emptied one barrel of his gun, and, if he chose to do so, could + have killed Myrick then and there; but he made no move, exclaiming: + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho! Nina iyaye!” (“Run, run!”) + </p> + <p> + Away sped the white man in the direction of the woods and the river. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, he is swift; he will save himself,” thought Tawasuota. + </p> + <p> + All the Indians had now spied the fugitive; they yelled and fired at him + again and again, as if they were shooting at a running deer; but he only + ran faster. Just as he had reached the very edge of the sheltering timber + a single shot rang out, and he fell headlong. + </p> + <p> + A loud war-whoop went up, for many believed that this was one of the men + who had stolen their trust funds. + </p> + <p> + Tawasuota continued to sit and smoke in the shade while the carnage and + plunder that he had set on foot proceeded on all sides of him. Presently + men began to form small parties to cross the river on their mission of + death, but he refused to join any of them. At last, several of the older + warriors came up to smoke with him. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, nephew,” said one of them with much gravity, “you have precipitated a + dreadful calamity. This means the loss of our country, the destruction of + our nation. What were you thinking of?” + </p> + <p> + It was the Wahpeton chief who spoke, a blood-relation to Tawasuota. He did + not at once reply, but filled his pipe in silence, and handed it to the + man who thus reproached him. It was a just rebuke; for he was a brave man, + and he could have refused the request of his chief to open the massacre. + </p> + <p> + At this moment it was announced that a body of white soldiers were on the + march from Fort Ridgeley. A large body of warriors set out to meet them. + </p> + <p> + “Nephew, you have spilled the first blood of the white man; go, join in + battle with the soldiers. They are armed; they can defend themselves,” + remarked the old chief, and Tawasuota replied: + </p> + <p> + “Uncle, you speak truth; I have committed the act of a coward. It was not + of my own will I did it; nevertheless, I have raised my weapon, and I will + fight the whites as long as I live. If I am ever taken, they will first + have to kill me.” He arose, took up his gun, and joined the war-party. + </p> + <p> + The dreadful day of massacre was almost ended. The terrified Sioux women + and children had fled up the river before the approaching troops. Long + shafts of light from the setting sun painted every hill; one side red as + with blood, the other dark as the shadow of death. A cloud of smoke from + burning homes hung over the beautiful river. Even the permanent dwellings + of the Indians were empty, and all the teepees which had dotted with their + white cones the west bank of the Minnesota had disappeared. Here and there + were small groups of warriors returning from their bloody work, and among + them was Tawasuota. + </p> + <p> + He looked long at the spot where his home had stood; but it was gone, and + with it his family. Ah, the beautiful country of his ancestors! he must + depart from it forever, for he knew now that the white man would occupy + that land. Sadly he sang the spirit-song, and made his appeal to the + “Great Mystery,” excusing himself by the plea that what he had done had + been in the path of duty. There was no glory in it for him; he could wear + no eagle feather, nor could he ever recount the deed. It was dreadful to + him—the thought that he had fired upon an unarmed and helpless man. + </p> + <p> + The chief soldier followed the broad trail of the fleeing host, and after + some hours he came upon a camp. There were no war-songs nor dances there, + as was their wont after a battle, but a strange stillness reigned. Even + the dogs scarcely barked at his approach; everything seemed conscious of + the awful carnage of the day. + </p> + <p> + He stopped at a tent and inquired after his beautiful wife and two little + sons, whom he had already trained to uphold their father’s reputation, but + was directed to his mother’s teepee. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my son, my son, what have you done?” cried his old mother when she + saw him. “Come in, come in; let us eat together once more; for I have a + foreboding that it is for the last time. Alas, what have you done?” + </p> + <p> + Tawasuota silently entered the tent of his widowed mother, and his three + sisters gave him the place of honor. + </p> + <p> + “Mother, it is not right to blame our brother,” said the eldest. “He was + the chief’s head soldier; and if he had disobeyed his orders, he would + have been called a coward. That he could not bear.” + </p> + <p> + Food was handed him, and he swallowed a few mouthfuls, and gave back the + dish. + </p> + <p> + “You have not yet told me where she is, and the children,” he said with a + deep sigh. + </p> + <p> + “My son, my son, I have not, because it will give you pain. I wanted you + to eat first! She has been taken away by her own mother to Faribault, + among the white people. I could not persuade them to wait until you came. + Her people are lovers of the whites. They have even accepted their + religion,” grieved the good old mother. + </p> + <p> + Tawasuota’s head dropped upon his chest, and he sat silent for a long + time. The mother and three sisters were also silent, for they knew how + heavy his grief must be. At last he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Mother, I am too proud to desert the tribe now and join my wife among the + white people. My brother-in-law may lie in my behalf, and say that my + hands are not stained with blood; but the spirits of those who died to-day + would rebuke me, and the rebuke would be just. No, I must fight the whites + until I die; and neither have I fought without cause; but I must see my + sons once more before I go.” + </p> + <p> + When Tawasuota left his mother’s teepee he walked fast across the circle + toward the council lodge to see Little Crow. He drew his blanket closely + about him, with his gun underneath. The keen eye of the wily chief + detected the severe expression upon the face of his guest, and he hastened + to speak first. + </p> + <p> + “There are times in the life of every great man when he must face hardship + and put self aside for the good of his people. You have done well to-day!” + </p> + <p> + “I care little for myself,” replied Tawasuota, “but my heart is heavy + to-night. My wife and two boys have been taken away among the whites by my + mother-in-law. I fear for their safety, when it is known what we have + done.” + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, that old woman is too hasty in accepting the ways of the stranger + people!” exclaimed the chief. + </p> + <p> + “I am now on my way to see them,” declared Tawasuota. + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, ugh, I shall need you to-morrow! My plan is to attack the soldiers + at Fort Ridgeley with a strong force. There are not many. Then we shall + attack New Ulm and other towns. We will drive them all back into Saint + Paul and Fort Snelling.” Little Crow spoke with energy. + </p> + <p> + “You must stay,” he added, “and lead the attack either at the fort or at + New Ulm.” + </p> + <p> + For some minutes the chief soldier sat in silence. + </p> + <p> + At last he said simply, “I will do it.” + </p> + <p> + On the following day the attack was made, but it was unsuccessful. The + whole State was now alarmed, and all the frontier settlers left alive had + flocked to the larger and more protected towns. It had also developed + during the day that there was a large party of Sioux who were ready to + surrender, thereby showing that they had not been party to the massacre + nor indorsed the hasty action of the tribe. + </p> + <p> + At evening Tawasuota saw that there would be a long war with the whites, + and that the Indians must remove their families out of danger. The feeling + against all Indians was great. Night had brought him no relief of mind, + but it promised to shield him in a hazardous undertaking. He consulted no + one, but set out for the distant village of Faribault. + </p> + <p> + He kept to the flats back of the Minnesota, away from the well-traveled + roads, and moved on at a good gait, for he realized that he had to cover a + hundred miles in as few hours as possible. Every day that passed would + make it more difficult for him to rejoin his family. + </p> + <p> + Although he kept as far as he could from the settlements, he would come + now and then upon a solitary frame house, razed to the ground by the + war-parties of the day before. The members of the ill-fated family were to + be seen scattered in and about the place; and their white, upturned faces + told him that his race must pay for the deed. + </p> + <p> + The dog that howled pitifully over the dead was often the only survivor of + the farmer’s household. + </p> + <p> + Occasionally Tawasuota heard at a distance the wagons of the fugitives, + loaded with women and children, while armed men walked before and behind. + These caravans were usually drawn by oxen and moved slowly toward some + large town. + </p> + <p> + When the dawn appeared in the east, the chief soldier was compelled to + conceal himself in a secluded place. He rolled up in his blanket, lay down + in a dry creek-bed among the red willows and immediately fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + With the next evening he resumed his journey, and reached Faribault toward + midnight. Even here every approach was guarded against the possibility of + an Indian attack. But there was much forest, and he knew the country well. + He reconnoitred, and soon found the Indian community, but dared not + approach and enter, for these Indians had allied themselves with the + whites; they would be charged with treachery if it were known that they + had received a hostile Sioux, and none were so hated by the white people + as Little Crow and his war-chief. + </p> + <p> + He chose a concealed position from which he might watch the movements of + his wife, if she were indeed there, and had not been waylaid and slain on + the journey hither. + </p> + <p> + That night was the hardest one that the warrior had ever known. If he + slept, it was only to dream of the war-whoop and attack; but at last he + found himself broad awake, the sun well up, and yes! there were his two + little sons, playing outside their teepee as of old. The next moment he + heard the voice of his wife from the deep woods wailing for her husband! + </p> + <p> + “Oh, take us, husband, take us with you! let us all die together!” she + pleaded as she clung to him whom she had regarded as already dead; for she + knew of the price that had been put upon his head, and that some of the + halfbreeds loved money better than the blood of their Indian mothers. + </p> + <p> + Tawasuota stood for a minute without speaking, while his huge frame + trembled like a mighty pine beneath the thunderbolt. + </p> + <p> + “No,” he said at last. “I shall go, but you must remain. You are a woman, + and the white people need not know that your little boys are mine. Bring + them here to me this evening that I may kiss them farewell.” + </p> + <p> + The sun was hovering among the treetops when they met again. + </p> + <p> + “Atay! atay!” (“Papa, papa!”) the little fellows cried out in spite of her + cautions; but the mother put her finger to her lips, and they became + silent. Tawasuota took each boy in his arms, and held him close for a few + moments; he smiled to them, but large tears rolled down his cheeks. Then + he disappeared in the shadows, and they never saw him again. + </p> + <p> + The chief soldier lived and died a warrior and an enemy to the white man; + but one of his two sons became in after-years a minister of the Christian + gospel, under the “Long-Haired Praying Man,” Bishop Whipple, of Minnesota. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. THE WHITE MAN’S ERRAND + </h2> + <p> + Upon the wide tableland that lies at the back of a certain Indian agency, + a camp of a thousand teepees was pitched in a circle, according to the + ancient usage. In the center of the circle stood the council lodge, where + there were gathered together of an afternoon all the men of years and + distinction, some in blankets, some in uniform, and still others clad in + beggarly white man’s clothing. But the minds of all were alike upon the + days of their youth and freedom. + </p> + <p> + Around the council fire they passed and repassed the pipe of peace, and + when the big drum was struck they sang the accompaniment with sad yet + pleasant thoughts of the life that is past. Between the songs stories of + brave deeds and dangerous exploits were related by the actors in turn, + with as much spirit and zest as if they were still living in those days. + </p> + <p> + “Tum, tum, tum,” the drum was sounded. + </p> + <p> + “Oow, oow!” they hooted in a joyous chorus at the close of each refrain. + </p> + <p> + “Ho!” exclaimed finally the master of ceremonies for the evening. “It is + Zuyamani’s story of his great ride that we should now hear! It was not far + from this place, upon the Missouri River, and within the recollection of + many of us that this occurred. Ye young men must hear!” + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho!” was the ready response of all present, and the drum was struck + once according to custom. The pipe was filled and handed to Zuyamani, who + gravely smoked for a few moments in silence. Then he related his + contribution to the unwritten history of our frontier in these words: + </p> + <p> + “It was during the winter following that summer in which General Sibley + pursued many of our people across the Muddy River (1863), that we + Hunkpatees, friendly Sioux, were camping at a place called + ‘Hunt-the-Deer,’ about two miles from Fort Rice, Dakota Territory. + </p> + <p> + “The Chief Soldier of the garrison called one day upon the leading chiefs + of our band. To each one he said: ‘Lend me your bravest warrior!’ Each + chief called his principal warriors together and laid the matter before + them. + </p> + <p> + “‘The Chief Soldier at this place,’ they explained, ‘wants to send a + message to Fort Berthold, where the Rees and Mandans live, to another + Chief Soldier there. The soldiers of the Great Father do not know the way, + neither could any of them get through the lines. He asks for a brave man + to carry his message.’ + </p> + <p> + “The Mandans and the Rees were our hereditary enemies, but this was not + the principal reason for our hesitation. We had declared allegiance to the + Great Father at Washington; we had taken our stand against the fighting + men of our own nation, and the hostile Sioux were worse than enemies to us + at this time! + </p> + <p> + “Each chief had only called on his leading warriors, and each in turn + reported his failure to secure a volunteer. + </p> + <p> + “Then the Chief Soldier sent again and said: ‘Is there not a young man + among you who dares to face death? If he reaches the fort with my message, + he will need to be quick-witted as well as brave, and the Great Father + will not forget him!’ + </p> + <p> + “Now all the chiefs together called all the young men in a great council, + and submitted to them the demand of the Great Father’s servant. We knew + well that the country between us and Fort Berthold, about one hundred and + fifty miles distant, was alive with hostile Sioux, and that if any of us + should be caught and recognized by them, he would surely be put to death. + It would not be easy to deceive them by professing hostility to the + Government, for the record of each individual Indian is well known. The + warriors were still unwilling to go, for they argued thus: ‘This is a + white man’s errand, and will not be recorded as a brave deed upon the + honor roll of our people.’ I think many would have volunteered but for + that belief. At that time we had not a high opinion of the white man. + </p> + <p> + “Since all the rest were silent, it came into my mind to offer my + services. The warriors looked at me in astonishment, for I was a very + young man and had no experience. + </p> + <p> + “Our chief, Two Bears, who was my own uncle, finally presented my name to + the commanding officer. He praised my courage and begged me to be + vigilant. The interpreter told him that I had never been upon the war-path + and would be knocked over like a rabbit, but as no one else would go, he + was obliged to accept me as his messenger. He gave me a fine horse and + saddle; also a rifle and soldier’s uniform. I would not take the gun nor + wear the blue coat. I accepted only a revolver, and I took my bow and + quiver full of arrows, and wore my usual dress. I hid the letter in my + moccasin. + </p> + <p> + “I set out before daybreak the next morning. The snow was deep. I rode up + the river, on the west bank, keeping a very close watch all the way, but + seeing nothing. I had been provided with a pair of field glasses, and I + surveyed the country on all sides from the top of every hill. Having + traveled all day and part of the night, I rested my horse and I took a + little sleep. + </p> + <p> + “After eating a small quantity of pemmican, I made a very early start in + the morning. It was scarcely light when I headed for a near-by ridge from + which to survey the country beyond. Just as I ascended the rise I found + myself almost surrounded by loose ponies, evidently belonging to a winter + camp of the hostile Sioux. + </p> + <p> + “I readjusted my saddle, tightened the girths, and prepared to ride + swiftly around the camp. I saw some men already out after ponies. No one + appeared to have seen me as yet, but I felt that as soon as it became + lighter they could not help observing me. I turned to make the circuit of + the camp, which was a very large one, and as soon as I reached the + timbered bottom lands I began to congratulate myself that I had not been + seen. + </p> + <p> + “As I entered the woods at the crossing of a dry creek, I noticed that my + horse was nervous. I knew that horses are quick to discover animals or men + by scent, and I became nervous, too. + </p> + <p> + “The animal put his four feet together and almost slid down the steep + bank. As he came out on the opposite side he swerved suddenly and started + to run. Then I saw a man watching me from behind a tree. Fortunately for + me, he carried no weapon. He was out after ponies, and had only a lariat + wound upon one shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “He beckoned and made signs for me to stop, but I spurred my horse and + took flight at once. I could hear him yelling far behind me, no doubt to + arouse the camp and set them on my trail. + </p> + <p> + “As I fled westward, I came upon another man, mounted, and driving his + ponies before him. He yelled and hooted in vain; then turned and rode + after me. Two others had started in pursuit, but my horse was a good one, + and I easily outdistanced them at the start. + </p> + <p> + “After I had fairly circled the camp, I turned again toward the river, + hoping to regain the bottom lands. The traveling was bad. Sometimes we + came to deep gulches filled with snow, where my horse would sink in up to + his body and seem unable to move. When I jumped off his back and struck + him once or twice, he would make several desperate leaps and recover his + footing. My pursuers were equally hindered, but by this time the pursuit + was general, and in order to terrify me they yelled continually and fired + their guns into the air. Now and then I came to a gulch which I had to + follow up in search of a place to cross, and at such times they gained on + me. I began to despair, for I knew that the white man’s horses have not + the endurance of our Indian ponies, and I expected to be chased most of + the day. + </p> + <p> + “Finally I came to a ravine that seemed impossible to cross. As I followed + it up, it became evident that some of them had known of this trap, and had + cut in ahead of me. I felt that I must soon abandon my horse and slide + down the steep sides of the gulch to save myself. + </p> + <p> + “However, I made one last effort to pass my enemies. They came within + gunshot and several fired at me, although all our horses were going at + full speed. They missed me, and being at last clear of them, I came to a + place where I could cross, and the pursuit stopped.” + </p> + <p> + When Zuyamani reached this point in his recital, the great drum was struck + several times, and all the men cheered him. + </p> + <p> + “The days are short in winter,” he went on after a short pause, “and just + now the sun sank behind the hills. I did not linger. I continued my + journey by night, and reached Fort Berthold before midnight. I had been so + thoroughly frightened and was so much exhausted that I did not want to + talk, and as soon as I had delivered my letters to the post commander, I + went to the interpreter’s quarters to sleep. + </p> + <p> + “The interpreter, however, announced my arrival, and that same night many + Ree, Gros Ventre, and Mandan warriors came to call upon me. Among them was + a great chief of the Rees, called Poor Dog. + </p> + <p> + “‘You must be,’ said he to me, ‘either a very young man, or a fool! You + have not told us about your close escape, but a runner came in at dusk and + told us of the pursuit. He reported that you had been killed by the + hostiles, for he heard many guns fired about the middle of the afternoon. + These white men will never give you any credit for your wonderful ride, + nor will they compensate you for the risks you have taken in their + service. They will not give you so much as one eagle feather for what you + have done!’ + </p> + <p> + “The next day I was sent for to go to headquarters, and there I related my + all-day pursuit by the hostile Sioux. The commanding officer advised me to + remain at the fort fifteen days before making the return trip, thinking + that by that time my enemies might cease to look for me. + </p> + <p> + “At the end of the fortnight he wrote his letters, and I told him that I + was ready to start. ‘I will give you,’ he said, ‘twenty Rees and Gros + Ventres to escort you past the hostile camp.’ We set out very early and + rode all day, so that night overtook us just before we reached the camp. + </p> + <p> + “At nightfall we sent two scouts ahead, but before they left us they took + the oath of the pipe in token of their loyalty. You all know the ancient + war custom. A lighted pipe was held toward them and each one solemnly + touched it, after which it was passed as usual. + </p> + <p> + “We followed more slowly, and at about midnight we came to the place where + our scouts had agreed to meet us. They were to return from a + reconnaissance of the camp and report on what they had seen. It was a + lonely spot, and the night was very cold and still. We sat there in the + snowy woods near a little creek and smoked in silence while we waited. I + had plenty of time to reflect upon my position. These Gros Ventres and + Rees have been our enemies for generations. I was one man to twenty! They + had their orders from the commander of the fort, and that was my only + safeguard. + </p> + <p> + “Soon we heard the howl of a wolf a little to the westward. Immediately + one of the party answered in the same manner. I could not have told it + from the howl of a real wolf. Then we heard a hooting owl down the creek. + Another of our party hooted like an owl. + </p> + <p> + “Presently the wolf’s voice sounded nearer, while the owl’s hoot came + nearer in the opposite direction. Then we heard the footsteps of ponies on + the crisp, frosty air. The scout who had been imitating the wolf came in + first, and the owl soon followed. The warriors made a ring and again + filled the pipe, and the scouts took the oath for the second time. + </p> + <p> + “After smoking, they reported a trail going up a stream tributary to the + Missouri, but whether going out or coming in it was impossible to tell in + the dark. It was several days old. This was discussed for some time. The + question was whether some had gone out in search of meat, or whether some + additional men had come into camp. + </p> + <p> + “The Bunch of Stars was already a little west of the middle sky when we + set out again. They agreed to take me a short distance beyond this creek + and there leave me, as they were afraid to go any further. On the bank of + the creek we took a farewell smoke. There was a faint glow in the east, + showing that it was almost morning. The warriors sang a ‘Strong Heart’ + song for me in an undertone as I went on alone. + </p> + <p> + “I tried to make a wide circuit of the camp, but I passed their ponies + grazing all over the side hills at a considerable distance, and I went as + quietly as possible, so as not to frighten them. When I had fairly passed + the camp I came down to the road again, and I let my horse fly! + </p> + <p> + “I had been cautioned at the post that the crossings of the creeks on + either side of the camp were the most dangerous places, since they would + be likely to watch for me there. I had left the second crossing far + behind, and I felt quite safe; but I was tired and chilled by the long + ride. My horse, too, began to show signs of fatigue. In a deep ravine + where there was plenty of dry wood and shelter, I cleared the ground of + snow and kindled a small fire. Then I gave the horse his last ration of + oats, and I ate the last of the pemmican that the Ree scouts had given me. + </p> + <p> + “Suddenly he pricked up his ears in the direction of home. He ate a + mouthful and listened again. I began to grow nervous, and I listened, too. + Soon I heard the footsteps of horses in the snow at a considerable + distance. + </p> + <p> + “Hastily I mounted and took flight along the ravine until I had to come + out upon the open plain, in full view of a party of about thirty Sioux in + war-paint, coming back from the direction of Fort Rice. They immediately + gave chase, yelling and flourishing their guns and tomahawks over their + heads. I urged my horse to his best speed, for I felt that if they should + overtake me, nothing could save me! My friend, White Elk, here, was one of + that warparty. + </p> + <p> + “I saw that I had a fair lead and the best horse, and was gaining upon + them, when about two miles out I met some more of the party who had + lingered behind the rest. I was surrounded! + </p> + <p> + “I turned toward the north, to a deep gulch that I knew I should find + there, and I led my horse along a narrow and slippery ridge to a deep + hole. Here I took up my position. I guarded the pass with my bow and + arrows, and they could not reach me unless they should follow the ridge in + single file. I knew that they would not storm my position, for that is not + the Indian way of fighting, but I supposed that they would try to tire me + out. They yelled and hooted, and shot many bullets and arrows over my head + to terrify me into surrender, but I remained motionless and silent. + </p> + <p> + “Night came, with a full round moon. All was light as day except the place + where I stood, half frozen and not daring to move. The bottom of the gulch + was as black as a well and almost as cold. The wolves howled all around me + in the stillness. At last I heard the footsteps of horses retreating, and + then no other sound. Still I dared not come out. I must have slept, for it + was dawn when I seemed to hear faintly the yelling of warriors, and then I + heard my own name. + </p> + <p> + “‘Zuyamani, tokiya nunka huwo?’ (Where are you, Zuyamani?) they shouted. A + party of my friends had come out to meet me and had followed our trail. I + was scarcely able to walk when I came out, but they filled the pipe and + held it up to me, as is done in recognition of distinguished service. They + escorted me into the post, singing war songs and songs of brave deeds, and + there I delivered up his letters to the Chief Soldier.” + </p> + <p> + Again the drum was struck and the old men cheered Zuyamani, who added: + </p> + <p> + “I think that Poor Dog was right, for the Great Father never gave me any + credit, nor did he ever reward me for what I had done. Yet I have not been + without honor, for my own people have not forgotten me, even though I went + upon the white man’s errand.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. THE GRAVE OF THE DOG + </h2> + <p> + The full moon was just clear of the high mountain ranges. Surrounded by a + ring of bluish haze, it looked almost as if it were frozen against the + impalpable blueblack of the reckless midwinter sky. + </p> + <p> + The game scout moved slowly homeward, well wrapped in his long buffalo + robe, which was securely belted to his strong loins; his quiver tightly + tied to his shoulders so as not to impede his progress. It was enough to + carry upon his feet two strong snow-shoes; for the snow was deep and its + crust too thin to bear his weight. + </p> + <p> + As he emerged from the lowlands into the upper regions, he loomed up a + gigantic figure against the clear, moonlit horizon. His picturesque + foxskin cap with all its trimmings was incrusted with frost from the + breath of his nostrils, and his lagging footfall sounded crisply. The + distance he had that day covered was enough for any human endurance; yet + he was neither faint nor hungry; but his feet were frozen into the psay, + the snow-shoes, so that he could not run faster than an easy slip and + slide. + </p> + <p> + At last he reached the much-coveted point—the crown of the last + ascent; and when he smelled fire and the savory odor of the jerked buffalo + meat, it well-nigh caused him to waver! But he must not fail to follow the + custom of untold ages, and give the game scout’s wolf call before entering + camp. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly he paused upon the highest point of the ridge and uttered a + cry to which the hungry cry of a real wolf would have seemed but a + coyote’s yelp in comparison! Then it was that the rest of the buffalo + hunters knew that their game scout was returning with welcome news; for + the unsuccessful scout enters the camp silently. + </p> + <p> + A second time he gave the call to assure his hearers that their ears did + not deceive them. The gray wolves received the news with perfect + understanding. It meant food! “Woo-o-o-o! woo-o-o-o!” came from all + directions, especially from the opposite ridge. Thus the ghostly, cold, + weird night was enlivened with the music from many wild throats. + </p> + <p> + Down the gradual slope the scout hastened; his footfall was the only sound + that broke the stillness after the answers to his call had ceased. As he + crossed a little ridge an immense wolf suddenly confronted him, and + instead of retreating, calmly sat up and gazed steadfastly into his face. + </p> + <p> + “Welcome, welcome, friend!” the hunter spoke as he passed. + </p> + <p> + In the meantime, the hunters at the temporary camp were aroused to a high + pitch of excitement. Some turned their buffalo robes and put them on in + such a way as to convert themselves into make-believe bison, and began to + tread the snow, while others were singing the buffalo song, that their + spirits might be charmed and allured within the circle of the camp-fires. + The scout, too, was singing his buffalo bull song in a guttural, lowing + chant as he neared the hunting camp. Within arrow-shot he paused again, + while the usual ceremonies were enacted for his reception. This done, he + was seated with the leaders in a chosen place. + </p> + <p> + “It was a long run,” he said, “but there were no difficulties. I found the + first herd directly north of here. The second herd, a great one, is + northeast, near Shell Lake. The snow is deep. The buffalo can only follow + their leader in their retreat.” + </p> + <p> + “Hi, hi, hi!” the hunters exclaimed solemnly in token of gratitude, + raising their hands heavenward and then pointing them toward the ground. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, kola! one more round of the buffalo-pipe, then we shall retire, to + rise before daybreak for the hunt,” advised one of the leaders. Silently + they partook in turn of the long-stemmed pipe, and one by one, with a + dignified “Ho!” departed to their teepees. + </p> + <p> + The scout betook himself to his little old buffalo teepee, which he used + for winter hunting expeditions. His faithful Shunka, who had been all this + time its only occupant, met him at the entrance as dogs alone know how to + welcome a lifelong friend. As his master entered he stretched himself in + his old-time way, from the tip of his tail to that of his tongue, and + finished by curling both ends upward. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, mita shunka, eat this; for you must be hungry!” So saying, the scout + laid before his canine friend the last piece of his dried buffalo meat. It + was the sweetest meal ever eaten by a dog, judging by his long smacking of + his lips after he had swallowed it! + </p> + <p> + The hunting party was soon lost in heavy slumber. Not a sound could be + heard save the gnawing of the ponies upon the cottonwood bark, which was + provided for them instead of hay in the winter time. + </p> + <p> + All about Shell Lake the bison were gathered in great herds. The + unmistakable signs of the sky had warned them of approaching bad weather. + The moon’s robe was girdled with the rainbow wampum of heaven. The very + music of the snow under their feet had given them warning. On the north + side of Shell Lake there were several deep gulches, which were the homes + of every wanderer of the plains at such a time at this. When there was a + change toward severe weather, all the four-footed people headed for this + lake. Here was a heavy growth of reeds, rushes, and coarse grass, making + good shelters, and also springs, which afforded water after the lake was + frozen solid. Hence great numbers of the bison had gathered here. + </p> + <p> + When Wapashaw, the game scout, had rolled himself in his warm buffalo robe + and was sound asleep, his faithful companion hunter, the great Esquimaux + wolf dog, silently rose and again stretched himself, then stood quiet for + a moment as if meditating. It was clear that he knew well what he had + planned to do, but was considering how he should do it without arousing + any suspicion of his movements. This is a dog’s art, and the night tricks + and marauding must always be the joy and secret of his life! + </p> + <p> + Softly he emerged from the lodge and gave a sweeping glance around to + assure him that there were none to spy upon him. Suspiciously he sniffed + the air, as if to ascertain whether there could be any danger to his + sleeping master while he should be away. + </p> + <p> + His purpose was still a secret. It may be that it was not entirely a + selfish one, or merely the satisfying of his inherited traits. Having + fully convinced himself of the safety of the unguarded camp, he went forth + into the biting cold. The moon was now well up on the prairies of the sky. + There were no cloud hills in the blue field above to conceal her from + view. Her brilliant light set on fire every snow gem upon the plains and + hillsides about the hunters’ camp. + </p> + <p> + Up the long ascent he trotted in a northerly direction, yet not following + his master’s trail. He was large and formidable in strength, combining the + features of his wild brothers of the plains with those of the dogs who + keep company with the red men. His jet-black hair and sharp ears and nose + appeared to immense advantage against the spotless and jeweled snow, until + presently his own warm breath had coated him with heavy frost. + </p> + <p> + After a time Shunka struck into his master’s trail and followed it all the + way, only taking a short cut here and there when by dog instinct he knew + that a man must go around such a point to get to his destination. He met + 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. + </p> + <p> + At last he reached Shell Lake, and there beheld 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. + </p> + <p> + Shunka sat upon his haunches and gazed. + </p> + <p> + “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 curiosity 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. + </p> + <p> + At daybreak the great dog meekly entered his master’s rude teepee, and + found him already preparing 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 buffalo moccasins with the hair inside, and adjusted his + warm leggings. He then adjusted his snowshoes and filled his quiver full + of good arrows. The dog quietly lay down in a warm place, making himself + as small as possible, as if to escape observation, and calmly watched his + master. + </p> + <p> + “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!” + </p> + <p> + All had now donned their snow-shoes. There was no food left; therefore no + delay to prepare breakfast. + </p> + <p> + “It is very propitious for our hunt,” one exclaimed; “everything is in our + favor. There is a good crust on the snow, and the promise of a good clear + day!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “Hechetu, kola! This is well, friends!” exclaimed 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!” + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho, ho!” agreed all the hunters. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, he is always right! Our dogs must help us here. The meat will be + theirs as well as ours,” another added. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + 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 popping from + behind the embankments. As the herd finally swept toward the opposite + shore, many dead were left behind. Pierced by the arrows of the hunters, + they lay like black mounds upon the glassy plain. + </p> + <p> + It was a great hunt! “Once more the camp will be fed,” they thought, “and + this good fortune will help us to reach the spring alive!” + </p> + <p> + A chant of rejoicing rang out from the opposite shore, while the game + scout unsheathed his big knife and began the work which is ever the sequel + of the hunt—to dress the game; although 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 atmosphere. + </p> + <p> + “There are signs of a blizzard! We must hurry into the near woods before + it reaches us!” he shouted. + </p> + <p> + Some heard him; others did not. Those who saw or heard passed on the + signal and hurried toward the wood, where others had already arranged rude + shelters and gathered piles of dry wood for fuel. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + 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! + </p> + <p> + The hunters passed the time in eating and telling stories until a late + hour, occasionally giving a united shout to guide the lost one should he + chance to pass near their camp. + </p> + <p> + “Fear not for our scout, friends!” finally exclaimed a leader among them. + “He is a brave and experienced man. He will find a safe resting-place, and + join us when the wind ceases to rage.” So they all wrapped themselves in + their robes and lay down to sleep. + </p> + <p> + All that night and the following day it was impossible to give succor, and + the hunters felt much concern for the absent. Late in the second night the + great storm subsided. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho! Iyotanka! Rise up!” So the first hunter to awaken aroused all the + others. + </p> + <p> + As after every other storm, it was wonderfully still; so still that one + could hear distinctly the pounding feet of the jack-rabbits coming down + over the slopes to the willows for food. All dry vegetation was buried + beneath the deep snow, and everywhere they saw this white-robed creature + of the prairie coming down to the woods. + </p> + <p> + Now the air was full of the wolf and coyote game call, and they were seen + in great numbers upon the ice. + </p> + <p> + “See, see! the hungry wolves are dragging the carcasses away! Harken to + the war cries of the scout’s Shunka! Hurry, hurry!” they urged one another + in chorus. + </p> + <p> + Away they ran and out upon the lake; now upon the wind-swept ice, now upon + the crusted snow; running when they could, sliding when they must. There + was certainly a great concourse of the wolves, whirling in frantic + circles, but continually moving toward the farther end of the lake. They + could hear distinctly the hoarse bark of the scout’s Shunka, and + occasionally the muffled war-whoop of a man, as if it came from under the + ice! + </p> + <p> + As they approached nearer the scene they could hear more distinctly the + voice of their friend, but still as it were from underground. When they + reached the spot to which the wolves had dragged two of the carcasses of + the buffalo, Shunka was seen to stand by one of them, but at that moment + he staggered and fell. The hunters took out their knives and ripped up the + frozen hide covering the abdominal cavity. It revealed a warm nest of hay + and buffalo hair in which the scout lay, wrapped in his own robe! + </p> + <p> + He had placed his dog in one of the carcasses and himself in another for + protection from the storm; but the dog was wiser than the man, for he kept + his entrance open. The man lapped the hide over and it froze solidly, + shutting him securely in. When the hungry wolves came Shunka promptly + extricated himself and held them off as long as he could; meanwhile, + sliding and pulling, the wolves continued to drag over the slippery ice + the body of the buffalo in which his master had taken refuge. The poor, + faithful dog, with no care for his own safety, stood by his imprisoned + master until the hunters came up. But it was too late, for he had received + more than one mortal wound. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the scout got out, with a face more anxious for another than + for himself, he exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Where is Shunka, the bravest of his tribe?” + </p> + <p> + “Ho, kola, it is so, indeed; and here he lies,” replied one sadly. + </p> + <p> + His master knelt by his side, gently stroking the face of the dog. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my friend; you go where all spirits live! The Great Mystery has a + home for every living creature. May he permit our meeting there!” + </p> + <p> + At daybreak the scout carried him up to one of the pretty round hills + overlooking the lake, and built up around him walls of loose stone. Red + paints were scattered over the snow, in accordance with Indian custom, and + the farewell song was sung. + </p> + <p> + Since that day the place has been known to the Sioux as Shunkahanakapi—the + Grave of the Dog. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_PART2" id="link2H_PART2"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PART TWO. THE WOMAN + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. WINONA, THE WOMAN-CHILD + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Hush, hushaby, little woman! + Be brave and weep not! + The spirits sleep not; + ‘Tis they who ordain + To woman, pain. + + Hush, hushaby, little woman! + Now, all things bearing, + A new gift sharing + From those above— + + To woman, love. + —Sioux Lullaby. +</pre> + <p> + “Chinto, weyanna! Yes, indeed; she is a real little woman,” declares the + old grandmother, as she receives and critically examines the tiny bit of + humanity. + </p> + <p> + There is no remark as to the color of its hair or eyes, both so black as + almost to be blue, but the old woman scans sharply the delicate profile of + the baby face. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, she has the nose of her ancestors! Lips thin as a leaf, and eyes + bright as stars in midwinter!” she exclaims, as she passes on the furry + bundle to the other grandmother for her inspection. + </p> + <p> + “Tokee! she is pretty enough to win a twinkle rom the evening star,” + remarks that smiling personage. + </p> + <p> + “And what shall her name be? + </p> + <p> + “Winona, the First-born, of course. That is hers by right of birth.” + </p> + <p> + “Still, it may not fit her. One must prove herself worthy in order to + retain that honorable name.” + </p> + <p> + “Ugh,” retorts the first grandmother, “she can at least bear it on + probation!” + </p> + <p> + “Tosh, tosh,” the other assents. + </p> + <p> + Thus the unconscious little Winona has passed the first stage of the + Indian’s christening. + </p> + <p> + Presently she is folded into a soft white doeskin, well lined with the + loose down of cattails, and snugly laced into an upright oaken cradle, the + front of which is a richly embroidered buckskin bag, with porcupine quills + and deers’ hoofs suspended from its profuse fringes. This gay cradle is + strapped upon the second grandmother’s back, and that dignitary walks off + with the newcomer. + </p> + <p> + “You must come with me,” she says. “We shall go among the father and + mother trees, and hear them speak with their thousand tongues, that you + may know their language forever. I will hang the cradle of the woman-child + upon Utuhu, the oak; and she shall hear the love-sighs of the pine + maiden!” + </p> + <p> + In this fashion Winona is introduced to nature and becomes at once + “nature-born,” in accord with the beliefs and practices of the wild red + man. + </p> + <p> + “Here she is! Take her,” says the old woman on her return from the woods. + She presents the child to its mother, who is sitting in the shade of an + elm-tree as quietly as if she had not just passed through woman’s severest + ordeal in giving a daughter to the brave Chetonska! + </p> + <p> + “She has a winsome face, as meek and innocent as the face of an ermine,” + graciously adds the grandmother. + </p> + <p> + The mother does not speak. Silently and almost reverently she takes her + new and first-born daughter into her arms. She gazes into its velvety + little face of a dusky red tint, and unconsciously presses the closely + swaddled form to her breast. She feels the mother-instinct seize upon her + strongly for the first time. Here is a new life, a new hope, a possible + link between herself and a new race! + </p> + <p> + Ah, a smile plays upon her lips, as she realizes that she has kissed her + child! In its eyes and mouth she discerns clearly the features she has + loved in the strong countenance of another, though in the little woman’s + face they are softened and retouched by the hand of the “Great Mystery.” + </p> + <p> + The baby girl is called Winona for some months, when the medicine-man is + summoned and requested to name publicly the first-born daughter of + Chetonska, the White Hawk; but not until he has received a present of a + good pony with a finely painted buffalo-robe. It is usual to confer + another name besides that of the “First-born,” which may be resumed later + if the maiden proves worthy. The name Winona implies much of honor. It + means charitable, kind, helpful; all that an eldest sister should be! + </p> + <p> + The herald goes around the ring of lodges announcing in singsong fashion + the christening, and inviting everybody to a feast in honor of the event. + A real American christening is always a gala occasion, when much savage + wealth is distributed among the poor and old people. Winona has only just + walked, and this fact is also announced with additional gifts. A wellborn + child is ever before the tribal eye and in the tribal ear, as every little + step in its progress toward manhood or womanhood—the first time of + walking or swimming, first shot with bow and arrow (if a boy), first pair + of moccasins made (if a girl)—is announced publicly with feasting + and the giving of presents. + </p> + <p> + So Winona receives her individual name of Tatiyopa, or Her Door. It is + symbolic, like most Indian names, and implies that the door of the bearer + is hospitable and her home attractive. + </p> + <p> + The two grandmothers, who have carried the little maiden upon their backs, + now tell and sing to her by turns all the legends of their most noted + female ancestors, from the twin sisters of the old story, the maidens who + married among the star people of the sky, down to their own mothers. All + her lullabies are feminine, and designed to impress upon her tender mind + the life and duties of her sex. + </p> + <p> + As soon as she is old enough to play with dolls she plays mother in all + seriousness and gravity. She is dressed like a miniature woman (and her + dolls are clad likewise), in garments of doeskin to her ankles, adorned + with long fringes, embroidered with porcupine quills, and dyed with root + dyes in various colors. Her little blanket or robe, with which she shyly + drapes or screens her head and shoulders, is the skin of a buffalo calf or + a deer, soft, white, embroidered on the smooth side, and often with the + head and hoofs left on. + </p> + <p> + “You must never forget, my little daughter, that you are a woman like + myself. Do always those things that you see me do,” her mother often + admonishes her. + </p> + <p> + Even the language of the Sioux has its feminine dialect, and the tiny girl + would be greatly abashed were it ever needful to correct her for using a + masculine termination. + </p> + <p> + This mother makes for her little daughter a miniature copy of every rude + tool that she uses in her daily tasks. There is a little scraper of + elk-horn to scrape rawhides preparatory to tanning them, another scraper + of a different shape for tanning, bone knives, and stone mallets for + pounding choke-cherries and jerked meat. + </p> + <p> + While her mother is bending over a large buffalo-hide stretched and pinned + upon the ground, standing upon it and scraping off the fleshy portion as + nimbly as a carpenter shaves a board with his plane, Winona, at five years + of age, stands upon a corner of the great hide and industriously scrapes + away with her tiny instrument! When the mother stops to sharpen her tool, + the little woman always sharpens hers also. Perhaps there is water to be + fetched in bags made from the dried pericardium of an animal; the girl + brings some in a smaller water-bag. When her mother goes for wood she + carries one or two sticks on her back. She pitches her play teepee to form + an exact copy of her mother’s. Her little belongings are nearly all + practical, and her very play is real! + </p> + <p> + Thus, before she is ten years old, Winona begins to see life honestly and + in earnest; to consider herself a factor in the life of her people—a + link in the genealogy of her race. Yet her effort is not forced, her work + not done from necessity; it is normal and a development of the + play-instinct of the young creature. This sort of training leads very + early to a genuine desire to serve and to do for others. The little Winona + loves to give and to please; to be generous and gracious. There is no + thought of trafficking or economizing in labor and in love. + </p> + <p> + “Mother, I want to be like the beavers, the ants, and the spiders, because + my grandmother says those are the people most worthy of imitation for + their industry. She also tells me that I should watch the bee, the one + that has so many daughters, and allows no young men to come around her + daughters while they are at work making sweets,” exclaims the little + maiden. + </p> + <p> + “Truly their industry helps us much, for we often take from their hoard,” + remarks the mother. + </p> + <p> + “That is not right, is it mother, if they do not wish to share with us?” + asks Winona. “But I think the bee is stingy if she has so much and will + not share with any one else! When I grow up, I shall help the poor! I + shall have a big teepee and invite old people often, for when people get + old they seem to be always hungry, and I think we ought to feed them.” + </p> + <p> + “My little daughter will please me and her father if she proves to be + industrious and skillful with her needle and in all woman’s work. Then she + can have a fine teepee and make it all cheerful within. The indolent woman + has a small teepee, and it is very smoky. All her children will have sore + eyes, and her husband will soon become ill-tempered,” declares the mother, + in all seriousness. + </p> + <p> + “And, daughter, there is something more than this needed to make a + cheerful home. You must have a good heart, be patient, and speak but + little. Every creature that talks too much is sure to make trouble,” she + concludes, wisely. + </p> + <p> + One day this careful mother has completed a beautiful little teepee of the + skin of a buffalo calf, worked with red porcupine quills in a row of rings + just below the smoke-flaps and on each side of the front opening. In the + center of each ring is a tassel of red and white horse-hair. The tip of + each smoke-flap is decorated with the same material, and the doorflap + also. + </p> + <p> + Within there are neatly arranged raw-hide boxes for housekeeping, and + square bags of soft buckskin adorned with blue and white beads. On either + side of the fireplace are spread the tanned skins of a buffalo calf and a + deer; but there is no bear, wolf, or wildcat skin, for on these the foot + of a woman must never tread! They are for men, and symbolical of manly + virtues. There are dolls of all sizes, and a play travois leans against + the white wall of the miniature lodge. Even the pet pup is called in to + complete the fanciful home of the little woman. + </p> + <p> + “Now, my daughter,” says the mother, “you must keep your lodge in order!” + </p> + <p> + Here the little woman is allowed to invite other little women, her + playmates. This is where the grandmothers hold sway, chaperoning their + young charges, who must never be long out of their sight. The little + visitors bring their work-bags of various skins, artistically made and + trimmed. These contain moccasins and other garments for their dolls, on + which they love to occupy themselves. + </p> + <p> + The brightly-painted rawhide boxes are reserved for food, and in these the + girls bring various prepared meats and other delicacies. This is perhaps + the most agreeable part of the play to the chaperon, who is treated as an + honored guest at the feast! + </p> + <p> + Winona seldom plays with boys, even her own brothers and cousins, and + after she reaches twelve or fourteen years of age she scarcely speaks to + them. Modesty is a virtue which is deeply impressed upon her from early + childhood, and the bashfully drooping head, the averted look, the voice + low and seldom heard, these are graces much esteemed in a maiden. + </p> + <p> + She is taught to pay great attention to the care of her long, glossy + locks, combing, plaiting, and perfuming them with sweet-scented leaves + steeped in oil. Her personal appearance is well understood to be a matter + of real moment, and rich dress and ornaments are highly prized. + Fortunately they never go out of fashion, and once owned are permanent + possessions, unless parted with as ceremonial gifts on some great occasion + of mourning or festivity. + </p> + <p> + When she reaches a marriageable age her father allows her to give a feast + to all the other girls of her immediate clan, and this “Feast of Virgins” + may only be attended by those of spotless reputation. To have given or + attended a number of them is regarded as a choice honor. + </p> + <p> + Tatiyopa, by the time she is fifteen, has already a name for skill in + needlework, and generosity in distributing the articles of her own making. + She is now generally called Winona—the charitable and kind! She + believes that it is woman’s work to make and keep a home that will be + worthy of the bravest, and hospitable to all, and in this simple faith she + enters upon the realities of her womanhood. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. WINONA, THE CHILD-WOMAN + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Braver than the bravest, + You sought honors at death’s door; + Could you not remember + One who weeps at home— + Could you not remember me? + + Braver than the bravest, + You sought honors more than love; + Dear, I weep, yet I am not a coward; + My heart weeps for thee— + My heart weeps when I remember thee! + —Sioux Love Song. +</pre> + <p> + The sky is blue overhead, peeping through window-like openings in a roof + of green leaves. Right between a great pine and a birch tree their soft + doeskin shawls are spread, and there sit two Sioux maidens amid their + fineries—variously colored porcupine quills for embroidery laid upon + sheets of thin birch-bark, and moccasin tops worked in colors like autumn + leaves. It is Winona and her friend Miniyata. + </p> + <p> + They have arrived at the period during which the young girl is carefully + secluded from her brothers and cousins and future lovers, and retires, as + it were, into the nunnery of the woods, behind a veil of thick foliage. + Thus she is expected to develop fully her womanly qualities. In meditation + and solitude, entirely alone or with a chosen companion of her own sex and + age, she gains a secret strength, as she studies the art of womanhood from + nature herself. + </p> + <p> + Winona has the robust beauty of the wild lily of the prairie, pure and + strong in her deep colors of yellow and scarlet against the savage plain + and horizon, basking in the open sun like a child, yet soft and + woman-like, with drooping head when observed. Both girls are beautifully + robed in loose gowns of soft doeskin, girded about the waist with the + usual very wide leather belt. + </p> + <p> + “Come, let us practice our sacred dance,” says one to the other. Each + crowns her glossy head with a wreath of wild flowers, and they dance with + slow steps around the white birch, singing meanwhile the sacred songs. + </p> + <p> + Now upon the lake that stretches blue to the eastward there appears a + distant canoe, a mere speck, no bigger than a bird far off against the + shining sky. + </p> + <p> + “See the lifting of the paddles!” exclaims Winona. + </p> + <p> + “Like the leaping of a trout upon the water!” suggests Miniyata. + </p> + <p> + “I hope they will not discover us, yet I would like to know who they are,” + remarks the other, innocently. + </p> + <p> + The birch canoe approaches swiftly, with two young men plying the light + cedar paddles. + </p> + <p> + The girls now settle down to their needlework, quite as if they had never + laughed or danced or woven garlands, bending over their embroidery in + perfect silence. Surely they would not wish to attract attention, for the + two sturdy young warriors have already landed. + </p> + <p> + They pick up the canoe and lay it well up on the bank, out of sight. Then + one procures a strong pole. They lift a buck deer from the canoe—not + a mark upon it, save for the bullet wound; the deer looks as if it were + sleeping! They tie the hind legs together and the fore legs also and carry + it between them on the pole. + </p> + <p> + Quickly and cleverly they do all this; and now they start forward and come + unexpectedly upon the maidens’ retreat! They pause for an instant in mute + apology, but the girls smile their forgiveness, and the youths hurry on + toward the village. + </p> + <p> + Winona has now attended her first maidens’ feast and is considered + eligible to marriage. She may receive young men, but not in public or in a + social way, for such was not the custom of the Sioux. When he speaks, she + need not answer him unless she chooses. + </p> + <p> + The Indian woman in her quiet way preserves the dignity of the home. From + our standpoint the white man is a law-breaker! The “Great Mystery,” we + say, does not adorn the woman above the man. His law is spreading horns, + or flowing mane, or gorgeous plumage for the male; the female he made + plain, but comely, modest and gentle. She is the foundation of man’s + dignity and honor. Upon her rests the life of the home and of the family. + I have often thought that there is much in this philosophy of an untutored + people. Had her husband remained long enough in one place, the Indian + woman, I believe, would have developed no mean civilization and culture of + her own. + </p> + <p> + It was no disgrace to the chief’s daughter in the old days to work with + her hands. Indeed, their standard of worth was the willingness to work, + but not for the sake of accumulation, only in order to give. Winona has + learned to prepare skins, to remove the hair and tan the skin of a deer so + that it may be made into moccasins within three days. She has a bone tool + for each stage of the conversion of the stiff raw-hide into velvety + leather. She has been taught the art of painting tents and raw-hide cases, + and the manufacture of garments of all kinds. + </p> + <p> + Generosity is a trait that is highly developed in the Sioux woman. She + makes many moccasins and other articles of clothing for her male + relatives, or for any who are not well provided. She loves to see her + brother the best dressed among the young men, and the moccasins especially + of a young brave are the pride of his woman-kind. + </p> + <p> + Her own person is neatly attired, but ordinarily with great simplicity. + Her doeskin gown has wide, flowing sleeves; the neck is low, but not so + low as is the evening dress of society. + </p> + <p> + Her moccasins are plain; her leggins close-fitting and not as high as her + brother’s. She parts her smooth, jet-black hair in the middle and plaits + it in two. In the old days she used to do it in one plait wound around + with wampum. Her ornaments, sparingly worn, are beads, elks’ teeth, and a + touch of red paint. No feathers are worn by the woman, unless in a sacred + dance. + </p> + <p> + She is supposed to be always occupied with some feminine pursuit or + engaged in some social affair, which also is strictly feminine as a rule. + Even her language is peculiar to her sex, some words being used by women + only, while others have a feminine termination. + </p> + <p> + There is an etiquette of sitting and standing, which is strictly observed. + The woman must never raise her knees or cross her feet when seated. She + seats herself on the ground sidewise, with both feet under her. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding her modesty and undemonstrative ways, there is no lack of + mirth and relaxation for Winona among her girl companions. + </p> + <p> + In summer, swimming and playing in the water is a favorite amusement. She + even imitates with the soles of her feet the peculiar, resonant sound that + the beaver makes with her large, flat tail upon the surface of the water. + She is a graceful swimmer, keeping the feet together and waving them + backward and forward like the tail of a fish. + </p> + <p> + Nearly all her games are different from those of the men. She has a sport + of wand-throwing which develops fine muscles of the shoulder and back. The + wands are about eight feet long, and taper gradually from an inch and a + half to half an inch in diameter. Some of them are artistically made, with + heads of bone and horn, so that it is remarkable to what a distance they + may be made to slide over the ground. In the feminine game of ball, which + is something like “shinny,” the ball is driven with curved sticks between + two goals. It is played with from two or three to a hundred on a side, and + a game between two bands or villages is a picturesque event. + </p> + <p> + A common indoor diversion is the “deer’s foot” game, played with six deer + hoofs on a string, ending in a bone or steel awl. The object is to throw + it in such a way as to catch one or more hoofs on the point of the awl, a + feat which requires no little dexterity. Another is played with marked + plum-stones in a bowl, which are thrown like dice and count according to + the side that is turned uppermost. + </p> + <p> + Winona’s wooing is a typical one. As with any other people, love-making is + more or less in vogue at all times of the year, but more especially at + midsummer, during the characteristic reunions and festivities of that + season. The young men go about usually in pairs, and the maidens do + likewise. They may meet by chance at any time of day, in the woods or at + the spring, but oftenest seek to do so after dark, just outside the + teepee. The girl has her companion, and he has his, for the sake of + propriety or protection. The conversation is carried on in a whisper, so + that even these chaperons do not hear. + </p> + <p> + At the sound of the drum on summer evenings, dances are begun within the + circular rows of teepees, but without the circle the young men promenade + in pairs. Each provides himself with the plaintive flute and plays the + simple cadences of his people, while his person is completely covered with + his fine robe, so that he cannot be recognized by the passerby. At every + pause in the melody he gives his yodel-like love-call, to which the girls + respond with their musical, sing-song laughter. + </p> + <p> + Matosapa has loved Winona since the time he saw her at the lakeside in her + parlor among the pines. But he has not had much opportunity to speak until + on such a night, after the dances are over. There is no outside fire; but + a dim light from within the skin teepees sheds a mellow glow over the + camp, mingling with the light of a young moon. Thus these lovers go about + like ghosts. Matosapa has already circled the teepees with his inseparable + brother-friend, Brave Elk. + </p> + <p> + “Friend, do me an honor to-night!” he exclaims, at last. “Open this first + door for me, since this will be the first time I shall speak to a woman!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” suggests Brave Elk, “I hope you have selected a girl whose + grandmother has no cross dogs!” + </p> + <p> + “The prize that is won at great risk is usually valued most,” replies + Matosapa. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, kola! I shall touch the door-flap as softly as the swallow alights + upon her nest. But I warn you, do not let your heart beat too loudly, for + the old woman’s ears are still good!” + </p> + <p> + So, joking and laughing, they proceed toward a large buffalo tent with a + horse’s tail suspended from the highest pole to indicate the rank of the + owner. They have ceased to blow the flute some paces back, and walk + noiselessly as a panther in quest of a doe. + </p> + <p> + Brave Elk opens the door. Matosapa enters the tent. As was the wont of the + Sioux, the well-born maid has a little teepee within a teepee—a + private apartment of her own. He passes the sleeping family to this inner + shrine. There he gently wakens Winona with proper apologies. This is not + unusual or strange to her innocence, for it was the custom of the people. + He sits at the door, while his friend waits outside, and tells his love in + a whisper. To this she does not reply at once; even if she loves him, it + is proper that she should be silent. The lover does not know whether he is + favorably received or not, upon this his first visit. He must now seek her + outside upon every favorable occasion. No gifts are offered at this stage + of the affair; the trafficking in ponies and “buying” a wife is entirely a + modern custom. + </p> + <p> + Matosapa has improved every opportunity, until Winona has at last shyly + admitted her willingness to listen. For a whole year he has been compelled + at intervals to repeat the story of his love. Through the autumn hunting + of the buffalo and the long, cold winter he often presents her kinsfolk + with his game. + </p> + <p> + At the next midsummer the parents on both sides are made acquainted with + the betrothal, and they at once begin preparations for the coming wedding. + Provisions and delicacies of all kinds are laid aside for a feast. + Matosapa’s sisters and his girl cousins are told of the approaching event, + and they too prepare for it, since it is their duty to dress or adorn the + bride with garments made by their own hands. + </p> + <p> + With the Sioux of the old days, the great natural crises of human life, + marriage and birth, were considered sacred and hedged about with great + privacy. Therefore the union is publicly celebrated after and not before + its consummation. Suddenly the young couple disappear. They go out into + the wilderness together, and spend some days or weeks away from the camp. + This is their honeymoon, away from all curious or prying eyes. In due time + they quietly return, he to his home and she to hers, and now at last the + marriage is announced and invitations are given to the feast. + </p> + <p> + The bride is ceremoniously delivered to her husband’s people, together + with presents of rich clothing collected from all her clan, which she + afterward distributes among her new relations. Winona is carried in a + travois handsomely decorated, and is received with equal ceremony. For + several days following she is dressed and painted by the female relatives + of the groom, each in her turn, while in both clans the wedding feast is + celebrated. + </p> + <p> + To illustrate womanly nobility of nature, let me tell the story of + Dowanhotaninwin, Her-Singing-Heard. The maiden was deprived of both father + and mother when scarcely ten years old, by an attack of the Sacs and Foxes + while they were on a hunting expedition. Left alone with her grandmother, + she was carefully reared and trained by this sage of the wild life. + </p> + <p> + Nature had given her more than her share of attractiveness, and she was + womanly and winning as she was handsome. Yet she remained unmarried for + nearly thirty years—a most unusual thing among us; and although she + had worthy suitors in every branch of the Sioux nation, she quietly + refused every offer. + </p> + <p> + Certain warriors who had distinguished themselves against the particular + tribe who had made her an orphan, persistently sought her hand in + marriage, but failed utterly. + </p> + <p> + One summer the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes were brought together under a + flag of truce by the Commissioners of the Great White Father, for the + purpose of making a treaty with them. During the short period of friendly + intercourse and social dance and feast, a noble warrior of the enemy’s + tribe courted Dowanhotaninwin. + </p> + <p> + Several of her old lovers were vying with one another to win her at the + same time, that she might have inter-tribal celebration of her wedding. + </p> + <p> + Behold! the maiden accepted the foe of her childhood—one of those + who had cruelly deprived her of her parents! + </p> + <p> + By night she fled to the Sac and Fox camp with her lover. It seemed at + first an insult to the Sioux, and there was almost an outbreak among the + young men of the tribe, who were barely restrained by their respect for + the Commissioners of the Great Father. + </p> + <p> + But her aged grandfather explained the matter publicly in this fashion: + </p> + <p> + “Young men, hear ye! Your hearts are strong; let them not be troubled by + the act of a young woman of your tribe! This has been her secret wish + since she became a woman. She deprecates all tribal warfare. Her young + heart never forgot its early sorrow; yet she has never blamed the Sacs and + Foxes or held them responsible for the deed. She blames rather the customs + of war among us. She believes in the formation of a blood brotherhood + strong enough to prevent all this cruel and useless enmity. This was her + high purpose, and to this end she reserved her hand. Forgive her, forgive + her, I pray!” + </p> + <p> + In the morning there was a great commotion. The herald of the Sacs and + Foxes entered the Sioux camp, attired in ceremonial garb and bearing in + one hand an American flag and in the other a peace-pipe. He made the + rounds singing a peace song, and delivering to all an invitation to attend + the wedding feast of Dowanhotaninwin and their chief’s son. Thus all was + well. The simplicity, high purpose, and bravery of the girl won the hearts + of the two tribes, and as long as she lived she was able to keep the peace + between them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. SNANA’S FAWN + </h2> + <p> + The Little Missouri was in her spring fullness, and the hills among which + she found her way to the Great Muddy were profusely adorned with colors, + much like those worn by the wild red man upon a holiday! Looking toward + the sunrise, one saw mysterious, deep shadows and bright prominences, + while on the opposite side there was really an extravagant array of + variegated hues. Between the gorgeous buttes and rainbow-tinted ridges + there were narrow plains, broken here and there by dry creeks or gulches, + and these again were clothed scantily with poplars and sad-colored + bull-berry bushes, while the bare spots were purple with the wild Dakota + crocuses. + </p> + <p> + Upon the lowest of a series of natural terraces there stood on this May + morning a young Sioux girl, whose graceful movements were not unlike those + of a doe which chanced to be lurking in a neighboring gulch. On the upper + plains, not far away, were her young companions, all busily employed with + the wewoptay, as it was called—the sharp-pointed stick with which + the Sioux women dig wild turnips. They were gayly gossiping together, or + each humming a love-song as she worked, only Snana stood somewhat apart + from the rest; in fact, concealed by the crest of the ridge. + </p> + <p> + She had paused in her digging and stood facing the sun-kissed buttes. + Above them in the clear blue sky the father sun was traveling upward as in + haste, while to her receptive spirit there appealed an awful, unknown + force, the silent speech of the Great Mystery, to which it seemed to her + the whole world must be listening! + </p> + <p> + “O Great Mystery! the father of earthly things is coming to quicken us + into life. Have pity on me, I pray thee! May I some day become the mother + of a great and brave race of warriors!” So the maiden prayed silently. + </p> + <p> + It was now full-born day. The sun shone hot upon the bare ground, and the + drops stood upon Snana’s forehead as she plied her long pole. There was a + cool spring in the dry creek bed near by, well hidden by a clump of + chokecherry bushes, and she turned thither to cool her thirsty throat. In + the depths of the ravine her eye caught a familiar footprint—the + track of a doe with the young fawn beside it. The hunting instinct arose + within. + </p> + <p> + “It will be a great feat if I can find and take from her the babe. The + little tawny skin shall be beautifully dressed by my mother. The legs and + the nose shall be embossed with porcupine quills. It will be my work-bag,” + she said to herself. + </p> + <p> + As she stole forward on the fresh trail she scanned every nook, every + clump of bushes. There was a sudden rustle from within a grove of wild + plum trees, thickly festooned with grape and clematis, and the doe mother + bounded away as carelessly as if she were never to return. + </p> + <p> + Ah, a mother’s ruse! Snana entered the thorny enclosure, which was almost + a rude teepee, and, tucked away in the furthermost corner, lay something + with a trout-like, speckled, tawny coat. She bent over it. The fawn was + apparently sleeping. Presently its eyes moved a bit, and a shiver passed + through its subtle body. + </p> + <p> + “Thou shalt not die; thy skin shall not become my work-bag!” unconsciously + the maiden spoke. The mother sympathy had taken hold on her mind. She + picked the fawn up tenderly, bound its legs, and put it on her back to + carry like an Indian babe in the folds of her robe. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot leave you alone, Tachinchala. Your mother is not here. Our + hunters will soon return by this road, and your mother has left behind her + two plain tracks leading to this thicket,” she murmured. + </p> + <p> + The wild creature struggled vigorously for a minute, and then became + quiet. Its graceful head protruded from the elkskin robe just over Snana’s + shoulder. She was slowly climbing the slope with her burden, when suddenly + like an apparition the doe-mother stood before her. The fawn called loudly + when it was first seized, and the mother was not too far away to hear. Now + she called frantically for her child, at the same time stamping with her + delicate fore-feet. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sister, you are right; she is yours; but you cannot save her to-day! + The hunters will soon be here. Let me keep her for you; I will return her + to you safely. And hear me, O sister of the woods, that some day I may + become the mother of a noble race of warriors and of fine women, as + handsome as you are!” + </p> + <p> + At this moment the quick eyes of the Indian girl detected something + strange in the doe’s actions. She glanced in every direction and behold! a + grizzly bear was cautiously approaching the group from a considerable + distance. + </p> + <p> + “Run, run, sister! I shall save your child if I can,” she cried, and flew + for the nearest scrub oak on the edge of the bank. Up the tree she + scrambled, with the fawn still securely bound to her back. The grizzly + came on with teeth exposed, and the doe-mother in her flight came between + him and the tree, giving a series of indignant snorts as she ran, and so + distracted Mato from his object of attack; but only for a few seconds—then + on he came! + </p> + <p> + “Desist, O brave Mato! It does not become a great medicine-man to attack a + helpless woman with a burden upon her back!” + </p> + <p> + Snana spoke as if the huge brute could understand her, and indeed the + Indians hold that wild animals understand intuitively when appealed to by + human beings in distress. Yet he replied only with a hoarse growl, as + rising upon his hind legs he shook the little tree vigorously. + </p> + <p> + “Ye, ye, heyupi ye!” Snana called loudly to her companion turnip-diggers. + Her cry soon brought all the women into sight upon a near-by ridge, and + they immediately gave a general alarm. Mato saw them, but appeared not at + all concerned and was still intent upon dislodging the girl, who clung + frantically to her perch. + </p> + <p> + Presently there appeared upon the little knoll several warriors, mounted + and uttering the usual war-whoop, as if they were about to swoop down upon + a human enemy. This touched the dignity of Mato, and he immediately + prepared to accept the challenge. Every Indian was alive to the + possibilities of the occasion, for it is well known that Mato, or grizzly + bear, alone among animals is given the rank of a warrior, so that whoever + conquers him may wear an eagle feather. + </p> + <p> + “Woo! woo!” the warriors shouted, as they maneuvered to draw him into the + open plain. + </p> + <p> + He answered with hoarse growls, threatening a rider who had ventured too + near. But arrows were many and well-aimed, and in a few minutes the great + and warlike Mato lay dead at the foot of the tree. + </p> + <p> + The men ran forward and counted their coups on him, just as when an enemy + is fallen. Then they looked at one another and placed their hands over + their mouths as the young girl descended the tree with a fawn bound upon + her back. + </p> + <p> + “So that was the bait!” they cried. “And will you not make a feast with + that fawn for us who came to your rescue?” + </p> + <p> + “The fawn is young and tender, and we have not eaten meat for two days. It + will be a generous thing to do,” added her father, who was among them. + </p> + <p> + “Ye-e-e!” she cried out in distress. “Do not ask it! I have seen this + fawn’s mother. I have promised to keep her child safe. See! I have saved + its life, even when my own was in danger.” + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho, wakan ye lo! (Yes, yes, ‘tis holy or mysterious),” they exclaimed + approvingly. + </p> + <p> + It was no small trouble for Snana to keep her trust. As may well be + supposed, all the dogs of the teepee village must be watched and kept at a + distance. Neither was it easy to feed the little captive; but in gaining + its confidence the girl was an adept. The fawn soon followed her + everywhere, and called to her when hungry exactly as she had called to her + own mother. + </p> + <p> + After several days, when her fright at the encounter with the bear had + somewhat worn off, Snana took her pet into the woods and back to the very + spot in which she had found it. In the furthest corner of the wild plum + grove she laid it down, gently stroked its soft forehead, and smoothed the + leaflike ears. The little thing closed its eyes. Once more the Sioux girl + bent over and laid her cheek against the fawn’s head; then reluctantly she + moved away, hoping and yet dreading that the mother would return. She + crouched under a clump of bushes near by, and gave the doe call. It was a + reckless thing for her to do, for such a call might bring upon her a + mountain lion or ever-watchful silvertip; but Snana did not think of that. + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes she heard the light patter of hoofs, and caught a glimpse + of a doe running straight toward the fawn’s hiding-place. When she stole + near enough to see, the doe and the fawn were examining one another + carefully, as if fearing some treachery. At last both were apparently + satisfied. The doe caressed her natural child, and the little one accepted + the milk she offered. + </p> + <p> + In the Sioux maiden’s mind there was turmoil. A close attachment to the + little wild creature had already taken root there, contending with the + sense of justice that was strong within her. Now womanly sympathy for the + mother was in control, and now a desire to possess and protect her + helpless pet. + </p> + <p> + “I can take care of her against all hunters, both animal and human. They + are ever ready to seize the helpless fawn for food. Her life will be often + exposed. You cannot save her from disaster. O, Takcha, my sister, let me + still keep her for you!” she finally appealed to the poor doe, who was + nervously watching the intruder, and apparently thinking how she might + best escape with the fawn. + </p> + <p> + Just at this moment there came a low call from the wood. It was a doe + call; but the wild mother and her new friend both knew that it was not the + call of a real doe. + </p> + <p> + “It is a Sioux hunter!” whispered the girl. “You must go, my sister! Be + off; I will take your child to safety!” + </p> + <p> + While she was yet speaking, the doe seemed to realize the danger. She + stopped only an instant to lick fondly the tawny coat of the little one, + who had just finished her dinner; then she bounded away. + </p> + <p> + As Snana emerged from the bushes with her charge, a young hunter met her + face to face, and stared at her curiously. He was not of her father’s + camp, but a stranger. + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, you have my game.” + </p> + <p> + “Tosh!” she replied coquettishly. + </p> + <p> + It was so often said among the Indians that the doe was wont to put on + human form to mislead the hunter, that it looked strange to see a woman + with a fawn, and the young man could not forbear to gaze upon Snana. + </p> + <p> + “You are not the real mother in maiden’s guise? Tell me truly if you are + of human blood,” he demanded rudely. + </p> + <p> + “I am a Sioux maiden! Do you not know my father?” she replied. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but who is your father? What is his name?” he insisted, nervously + fingering his arrows. + </p> + <p> + “Do not be a coward! Surely you should know a maid of your own race,” she + replied reproachfully. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you know the tricks of the doe! What is thy name?” + </p> + <p> + “Hast thou forgotten the etiquette of thy people, and wouldst compel me to + pronounce my own name? I refuse; thou art jesting!” she retorted with a + smile. + </p> + <p> + “Thou dost give the tricky answers of a doe. I cannot wait; I must act + before I lose my natural mind. But already I am yours. Whatever purpose + you may have in thus charming a poor hunter, be merciful,” and, throwing + aside his quiver, he sat down. + </p> + <p> + The maiden stole a glance at his face, and then another. He was handsome. + Softly she reentered the thicket and laid down the little fawn. + </p> + <p> + “Promise me never to hunt here again!” she said earnestly, as she came + forth without her pretty burden, and he exacted another promise in return. + Thus Snana lost her fawn, and found a lover. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. SHE-WHO-HAS-A-SOUL + </h2> + <p> + It was a long time ago, nearly two hundred years ago, that some of our + people were living upon the shores of the Great Lake, Lake Superior. The + chief of this band was called Tatankaota, Many Buffaloes. + </p> + <p> + One day the young son of Tatankaota led a war-party against the Ojibways, + who occupied the country east of us, toward the rising sun. + </p> + <p> + When they had gone a day’s journey in the direction of Sault Ste. Marie, + in our language Skesketatanka, the warriors took up their position on the + lake shore, at a point which the Ojibways were accustomed to pass in their + canoes. + </p> + <p> + Long they gazed, and scanned the surface of the water, watching for the + coming of the foe. The sun had risen above the dark pines, over the great + ridge of woodland across the bay. It was the awakening of all living + things. The birds were singing, and shining fishes leaped out of the water + as if at play. At last, far off, there came the warning cry of the loon to + stir their expectant ears. + </p> + <p> + “Warriors, look close to the horizon! This brother of ours does not lie. + The enemy comes!” exclaimed their leader. + </p> + <p> + Presently upon the sparkling face of the water there appeared a moving + canoe. There was but one, and it was coming directly toward them. + </p> + <p> + “Hahatonwan! Hahatonwan! (The Ojibways! the Ojibways!)” they exclaimed + with one voice, and, grasping their weapons, they hastily concealed + themselves in the bushes. + </p> + <p> + “Spare none—take no captives!” ordered the chief’s son. + </p> + <p> + Nearer and nearer approached the strange canoe. The glistening blades of + its paddles flashed as it were the signal of good news, or a welcome + challenge. All impatiently waited until it should come within arrow-shot. + </p> + <p> + “Surely it is an Ojibway canoe,” one murmured. “Yet look! the stroke is + ungainly!” Now, among all the tribes only the Ojibway’s art is perfect in + paddling a birch canoe. This was a powerful stroke, but harsh and + unsteady. + </p> + <p> + “See! there are no feathers on this man’s head!” exclaimed the son of the + chief. “Hold, warriors, he wears a woman’s dress, and I see no weapon. No + courage is needed to take his life, therefore let it be spared! I command + that only coups (or blows) be counted on him, and he shall tell us whence + he comes, and on what errand.” + </p> + <p> + The signal was given; the warriors sprang to their feet, and like wolves + they sped from the forest, out upon the white, sandy beach and straight + into the sparkling waters of the lake, giving the shrill war-cry, the + warning of death! + </p> + <p> + The solitary oarsman made no outcry—he offered no defense! Kneeling + calmly in the prow of the little vessel, he merely ceased paddling and + seemed to await with patience the deadly blow of the tomahawk. + </p> + <p> + The son of Tatankaota was foremost in the charge, but suddenly an impulse + seized him to stop his warriors, lest one in the heat of excitement should + do a mischief to the stranger. The canoe with its occupant was now very + near, and it could be seen that the expression of his face was very gentle + and even benignant. None could doubt his utter harmlessness; and the + chief’s son afterward declared that at this moment he felt a premonition + of some event, but whether good or evil he could not tell. + </p> + <p> + No blows were struck—no coups counted. The young man bade his warriors + take up the canoe and carry it to the shore; and although they murmured + somewhat among themselves, they did as he commanded them. They seized the + light bark and bore it dripping to a hill covered with tall pines, and + overlooking the waters of the Great Lake. + </p> + <p> + Then the warriors lifted their war-clubs over their heads and sang, + standing around the canoe in which the black-robed stranger was still + kneeling. Looking at him closely, they perceived that he was of a peculiar + complexion, pale and inclined to red. He wore a necklace of beads, from + which hung a cross bearing the form of a man. His garments were strange, + and most like the robes of woman. All of these things perplexed them + greatly. + </p> + <p> + Presently the Black Robe told them by signs, in response to their + inquiries, that he came from the rising sun, even beyond the Great Salt + Water, and he seemed to say that he formerly came from the sky. Upon this + the warriors believed that he must be a prophet or mysterious man. + </p> + <p> + Their leader directed them to take up again the canoe with the man in it, + and appointed the warriors to carry it by turns until they should reach + his father’s village. This was done according to the ancient custom, as a + mark of respect and honor. They took it up forthwith, and traveled with + all convenient speed along the lake shore, through forests and across + streams to a place called the Maiden’s Retreat, a short distance from the + village. + </p> + <p> + Thence the chief’s son sent a messenger to announce to his father that he + was bringing home a stranger, and to ask whether or not he should be + allowed to enter the village. “His appearance,” declared the scout, “is + unlike that of any man we have ever seen, and his ways are mysterious!” + </p> + <p> + When the chief heard these words, he immediately called his council-men + together to decide what was to be done, for he feared by admitting the + mysterious stranger to bring some disaster upon his people. Finally he + went out with his wisest men to meet his son’s war-party. They looked with + astonishment upon the Black Robe. + </p> + <p> + “Dispatch him! Dispatch him! Show him no mercy!” cried some of the + council-men. + </p> + <p> + “Let him go on his way unharmed. Trouble him not,” advised others. + </p> + <p> + “It is well known that the evil spirits sometimes take the form of a man + or animal. From his strange appearance I judge this to be such a one. He + should be put to death, lest some harm befall our people,” an old man + urged. + </p> + <p> + By this time several of the women of the village had reached the spot. + Among them was She-who-has-a-Soul, the chief’s youngest daughter, who + tradition says was a maiden of much beauty, and of a generous heart. The + stranger was evidently footsore from much travel and + </p> + <p> + weakened by fasting. When she saw that the poor man clasped his hands and + looked skyward as he uttered words in an unknown tongue, she pleaded with + her father that a stranger who has entered their midst unchallenged may + claim the hospitality of the people, according to the ancient custom. + </p> + <p> + “Father, he is weary and in want of food. Hold him no longer! Delay your + council until he is refreshed!” These were the words of + She-who-has-a-Soul, and her father could not refuse her prayer. The Black + Robe was released, and the Sioux maiden led him to her father’s teepee. + </p> + <p> + Now the warriors had been surprised and indeed displeased to find him + dressed after the fashion of a woman, and they looked upon him with + suspicion. But from the moment that she first beheld him, the heart of the + maiden had turned toward this strange and seemingly unfortunate man. It + appeared to her that great reverence and meekness were in his face, and + with it all she was struck by his utter fearlessness, his apparent + unconsciousness of danger. + </p> + <p> + The chief’s daughter, having gained her father’s permission, invited the + Black Robe to his great buffalo-skin tent, and spreading a fine robe, she + gently asked him to be seated. With the aid of her mother, she prepared + wild rice sweetened with maple sugar and some broiled venison for his + repast. The youthful warriors were astonished to observe these attentions, + but the maiden heeded them not. She anointed the blistered feet of the + holy man with perfumed otter oil, and put upon him a pair of moccasins + beautifully worked by her own hands. + </p> + <p> + It was only an act of charity on her part, but the young men were + displeased, and again urged that the stranger should at once be turned + away. Some even suggested harsher measures; but they were overruled by the + chief, softened by the persuasions of a well-beloved daughter. + </p> + <p> + During the few days that the Black Robe remained in the Sioux village he + preached earnestly to the maiden, for she had been permitted to converse + with him by signs, that she might try to ascertain what manner of man he + was. He told her of the coming of a “Great Prophet” from the sky, and of + his words that he had left with the people. The cross with the figure of a + man he explained as his totem which he had told them to carry. He also + said that those who love him are commanded to go among strange peoples to + tell the news, and that all who believe must be marked with holy water and + accept the totem. + </p> + <p> + He asked by signs if She-who-has-a-Soul believed the story. To this she + replied: + </p> + <p> + “It is a sweet story—a likely legend! I do believe!” + </p> + <p> + Then the good father took out a small cross, and having pressed it to his + heart and crossed his forehead and breast, he gave it to her. Finally he + dipped his finger in water and touched the forehead of the maiden, + repeating meanwhile some words in an unknown tongue. + </p> + <p> + The mother was troubled, for she feared that the stranger was trying to + bewitch her daughter, but the chief decided thus: + </p> + <p> + “This is a praying-man, and he is not of our people; his customs are + different, but they are not evil. Warriors, take him back to the spot + where you saw him first! It is my desire, and the good custom of our tribe + requires that you free him without injury!” + </p> + <p> + Accordingly they formed a large party, and carried the Black Robe in his + canoe back to the shore of the Great Lake, to the place where they had met + him, and he was allowed to depart thence whithersoever he would. He took + his leave with signs of gratitude for their hospitality, and especially + for the kindness of the beautiful Sioux maiden. She seemed to have + understood his mission better than any one else, and as long as she lived + she kept his queer trinket—as it seemed to the others—and + performed the strange acts that he had taught her. + </p> + <p> + Furthermore, it was through the pleadings of She-who-has-a-Soul that the + chief Tatankaota advised his people in after days to befriend the white + strangers, and though many of the other chiefs opposed him in this, his + counsels prevailed. Hence it was that both the French and English received + much kindness from our people, mainly through the influence of this one + woman! + </p> + <p> + Such was the first coming of the white man among us, as it is told in our + traditions. Other praying-men came later, and many of the Sioux allowed + themselves to be baptized. True, there have been Indian wars, but not + without reason; and it is pleasant to remember that the Sioux were + hospitable to the first white “prayingman,” and that it was a + tender-hearted maiden of my people who first took in her hands the cross + of the new religion. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. THE PEACE-MAKER + </h2> + <p> + One of the most remarkable women of her day and nation was Eyatonkawee, + She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar. It is matter of history among the + Wakpaykootay band of Sioux, the Dwellers among the Leaves, that when + Eyatonkawee was a very young woman she was once victorious in a + hand-to-hand combat with the enemy in the woods of Minnesota, where her + people were hunting the deer. At such times they often met with stray + parties of Sacs and Foxes from the prairies of Iowa and Illinois. + </p> + <p> + Now, the custom was among our people that the doer of a notable warlike + deed was held in highest honor, and these deeds were kept constantly in + memory by being recited in public, before many witnesses. The greatest + exploit was that one involving most personal courage and physical address, + and he whose record was adjudged best might claim certain privileges, not + the least of which was the right to interfere in any quarrel and separate + the combatants. The peace-maker might resort to force, if need be, and no + one dared to utter a protest who could not say that he had himself + achieved an equal fame. + </p> + <p> + There was a man called Tamahay, known to Minnesota history as the + “One-eyed Sioux,” who was a notable character on the frontier in the early + part of the nineteenth century. He was very reckless, and could boast of + many a perilous adventure. He was the only Sioux who, in the War of 1812, + fought for the Americans, while all the rest of his people sided with the + British, mainly through the influence of the English traders among them at + that time. This same “One-eyed Sioux” became a warm friend of Lieutenant + Pike, who discovered the sources of the Mississippi, and for whom Pike’s + Peak is named. Some say that the Indian took his friend’s name, for + Tamahay in English means Pike or Pickerel. + </p> + <p> + Unfortunately, in later life this brave man became a drunkard, and after + the Americans took possession of his country almost any one of them would + supply him with liquor in recognition of his notable services as a scout + and soldier. Thus he was at times no less dangerous in camp than in + battle. + </p> + <p> + Now, Eyatonkawee, being a young widow, had married the son of a lesser + chief in Tamahay’s band, and was living among strangers. Moreover, she was + yet young and modest. + </p> + <p> + One day this bashful matron heard loud warwhoops and the screams of women. + Looking forth, she saw the people fleeing hither and thither, while + Tamahay, half intoxicated, rushed from his teepee painted for war, armed + with tomahawk and scalping-knife, and approached another warrior as if to + slay him. At this sight her heart became strong, and she quickly sprang + between them with her woman’s knife in her hand. + </p> + <p> + “It was a Sac warrior of like proportions and bravery with your own, who, + having slain several of the Sioux, thus approached me with uplifted + tomahawk!” she exclaimed in a clear voice, and went on to recite her + victory on that famous day so that the terrified people paused to hear. + </p> + <p> + Tamahay was greatly astonished, but he was not too drunk to realize that + he must give way at once, or be subject to the humiliation of a blow from + the woman-warrior who challenged him thus. The whole camp was listening; + and being unable, in spite of his giant frame and well-known record, to + cite a greater deed than hers, he retreated with as good a grace as + possible. Thus Eyatonkawee recounted her brave deed for the first time, in + order to save a man’s life. From that day her name was great as a + peace-maker—greater even than when she had first defended so + gallantly her babe and home! + </p> + <p> + Many years afterward, when she had attained middle age, this woman averted + a serious danger from her people. + </p> + <p> + Chief Little Crow the elder was dead, and as he had two wives of two + different bands, the succession was disputed among the half-brothers and + their adherents. Finally the two sons of the wife belonging to the + Wabashaw band plotted against the son of the woman of the Kaposia band, + His-Red-Nation by name, afterward called Little Crow—the man who led + the Minnesota massacre. + </p> + <p> + They obtained a quantity of whisky and made a great feast to which many + were invited, intending when all were more or less intoxicated to + precipitate a fight in which he should be killed. It would be easy + afterward to excuse themselves by saying that it was an accident. + </p> + <p> + Mendota, near what is now the thriving city of Saint Paul, then a queen of + trading-posts in the Northwest, was the rendezvous of the Sioux. The event + brought many together, for all warriors of note were bidden from far and + near, and even the great traders of the day were present, for the + succession to the chieftainship was one which vitally affected their + interests. During the early part of the day all went well, with speeches + and eulogies of the dead chief, flowing and eloquent, such as only a + native orator can utter. Presently two goodly kegs of whisky were rolled + into the council teepee. + </p> + <p> + Eyatonkawee was among the women, and heard their expressions of anxiety as + the voices of the men rose louder and more threatening. Some carried their + children away into the woods for safety, while others sought speech with + their husbands outside the council lodge and besought them to come away in + time. But more than this was needed to cope with the emergency. Suddenly a + familiar form appeared in the door of the council lodge. + </p> + <p> + “Is it becoming in a warrior to spill the blood of his tribesmen? Are + there no longer any Ojibways?” + </p> + <p> + It was the voice of Eyatonkawee, that stronghearted woman! Advancing at + the critical moment to the middle of the ring of warriors, she once more + recited her “brave deed” with all the accompaniment of action and gesture, + and to such effect that the disorderly feast broke up in confusion, and + there was peace between the rival bands of Sioux. + </p> + <p> + There was seldom a dangerous quarrel among the Indians in those days that + was not precipitated by the use of strong liquor, and this simple Indian + woman, whose good judgment was equal to her courage, fully recognized this + fact. All her life, and especially after her favorite brother had been + killed in a drunken brawl in the early days of the American Fur Company, + she was a determined enemy to strong drink, and it is said did more to + prevent its use among her immediate band than any other person. Being a + woman, her sole means of recognition was the “brave deed” which she so + wonderfully described and enacted before the people. + </p> + <p> + During the lifetime of She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar—and she died + only a few years ago—it behooved the Sioux men, if they drank at + all, to drink secretly and in moderation. There are many who remember her + brave entrance upon the scene of carousal, and her dramatic recital of the + immortal deed of her youth. + </p> + <p> + “Hanta! hanta wo! (Out of the way!)” exclaim the dismayed warriors, + scrambling in every direction to avoid the upraised arm of the terrible + old woman, who bursts suddenly upon them with disheveled hair, her gown + torn and streaked here and there with what looks like fresh blood, her + leather leggins loose and ungartered, as if newly come from the famous + struggle. One of the men has a keg of whisky for which he has given a + pony, and the others have been invited in for a night of pleasure. But + scarcely has the first round been drunk to the toast of “great deeds,” + when Eyatonkawee is upon them, her great knife held high in her wrinkled + left hand, her tomahawk in the right. Her black eyes gleam as she declaims + in a voice strong, unterrified: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Look! look! brothers and husbands—the Sacs and Foxes are upon us! + + Behold, our braves are surprised—they are unprepared! + + Hear the mothers, the wives and the children screaming in affright! + + “Your brave sister, Eyatonkawee, she, the newly made mother, + is serving the smoking venison to her husband, just returned + from the chase! + + Ah, he plunges into the thickest of the enemy! + He falls, he falls, in full view of his young wife! + + “She desperately presses her babe to her breast, + while on they come yelling and triumphant! + + The foremost of them all enters her white buffalo-skin teepee: + Tossing her babe at the warrior’s feet, she stands before him, defiant; + But he straightway levels his spear at her bosom. + + Quickly she springs aside, and as quickly deals a deadly blow with + her ax: + + Falls at her feet the mighty warrior! + + “Closely following on comes another, + unknowing what fate has met his fellow! + + He too enters her teepee, and upon his feather-decked head her ax falls + —Only his death-groan replies! + + “Another of heroic size and great prowess, + as witnessed by his war-bonnet of eagle-feathers, + + Rushes on, yelling and whooping—for they believe + that victory is with them! + + The third great warrior who has dared to enter Eyatonkawee’s + teepee uninvited, he has already dispatched her husband! + + He it is whose terrible war-cry has scattered her sisters + among the trees of the forest! + + “On he comes with confidence and a brave heart, + seeking one more bloody deed- + One more feather to win for his head! + Behold, he lifts above her woman’s head his battle-ax! + No hope, no chance for her life!... + Ah! he strikes beyond her—only the handle of the ax falls + heavily upon her tired shoulder! + + Her ready knife finds his wicked heart,— + Down he falls at her feet! + + “Now the din of war grows fainter and further. + The Sioux recover heart, and drive the enemy headlong from their lodges: + Your sister stands victorious over three! + “She takes her baby boy, and makes him count with his tiny + hands the first ‘coup’ on each dead hero; + + Hence he wears the ‘first feathers’ while yet in his oaken cradle. + + “The bravest of the whole Sioux nation have given the war-whoop + in your sister’s honor, and have said: + + ‘Tis Eyatonkawee who is not satisfied with downing + the mighty oaks with her ax— + She took the mighty Sacs and Foxes for trees, + and she felled them with a will!’” + </pre> + <p> + In such fashion the old woman was wont to chant her story, and not a + warrior there could tell one to surpass it! The custom was strong, and + there was not one to prevent her when she struck open with a single blow + of her ax the keg of whisky, and the precious liquor trickled upon the + ground. + </p> + <p> + “So trickles under the ax of Eyatonkawee the blood of an enemy to the + Sioux!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. BLUE SKY + </h2> + <p> + Many years ago a large body of the Sioux were encamped at midsummer in the + valley of the Cheyenne. It was customary at that period for the Indians to + tie up their ponies over night within the circle of the teepees, whenever + they were in disputed territory, for they considered it no wrong to steal + the horses of the enemy. Hence this long procession of young men and + maidens, returning at sunset to the camp with great bundles of green grass + hanging gracefully from their saddles! + </p> + <p> + The “green grass parade” became a regular custom, and in fact a full-dress + affair, since it was found to afford unusual opportunities for courtship. + </p> + <p> + Blue Sky, the pretty daughter of the Sioux chief, put on her best doeskin + gown trimmed with elks’ teeth, and investing her favorite spotted pony + with his beaded saddle-blanket, she went forth in company with one of her + maiden friends. Soon two young warriors overtook the pair; and as they + approached they covered their heads with their robes, exposing only the + upper part of the face disguised with paint and the single eagle feather + standing upright. One carried a bow and quiver full of arrows; the other, + a war-club suspended from his right arm. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, hay, hun, hay!” saluted one of them; but the modest maidens said + never a word! It was not their way to speak; only the gay calico ponies + pranced about and sportively threw back their ears to snap at the horses + of the two young men. + </p> + <p> + “‘Tis a brave welcome your horses are giving us!” he continued, while the + two girls merely looked at one another with perfect understanding. + </p> + <p> + Presently Matoska urged his pony close to the Blue Sky’s side. + </p> + <p> + “It may be that I am overbold,” he murmured in her ear, “to repeat so soon + my tale of love! I know well that I risk a reprimand, if not in words, + then by a look or action!” + </p> + <p> + He paused to note the effect of his speech; but alas! it is the hard rule + of savage courtship that the maiden may with propriety and dignity keep + silence as long as she wishes, and it is often exasperatingly long. + </p> + <p> + “I have spoken to no maiden,” he resumed, “because I wished to win the + war-bonnet before doing so. But to you I was forced to yield!” Again he + paused, as if fearing to appear unduly hasty; but deliberate as were + speech and manner, his eyes betrayed him. They were full of intense + eagerness mingled with anxiety. + </p> + <p> + “Sometimes I have imagined that I am in the world with you alone, + traveling over the prairie of life, or sitting in our lonely white teepee, + as the oriole sits with his mate before their swaying home. Yet I seemed + to be never lonely, because you were there!” He finished his plea, and + with outward calmness awaited her reply. + </p> + <p> + The maiden had not lost a word, but she was still thinking. She thought + that a man is much like the wind of the north, only pleasant and + comfortable in midsummer! She feared that she might some time have to + furnish all the fuel for their love’s fires; therefore she held her peace. + Matoska waited for several minutes and then silently withdrew, bearing his + disappointment with dignity. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the camp was astir with the returning youths and maidens, their + horses’ sides fringed with the long meadow grass, singing plaintive + serenades around the circular rows of teepees before they broke up for the + night. + </p> + <p> + It was a clear and quiet night; the evening fires were kindled and every + teepee transformed into an immense Chinese lantern. There was a glowing + ring two miles in circumference, with the wooded river bottom on one side + and the vast prairie on the other. The Black Hills loomed up in the + distance, and the rapids of the wild Cheyenne sent forth a varying peal of + music on the wind. The people enjoyed their evening meal, and in the + pauses of their talk and laughter the ponies could be heard munching at + the bundles of green grass just outside the teepees. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly a chorus of yells broke cruelly the peace of the camp, followed + by the dashing charge of the Crow Indian horsemen! It was met as bravely + and quickly by the Sioux; and in the clear, pale moonlight the dusky + warriors fought, with the occasional flash of a firearm, while silent + weapons flew thick in the air like dragon-flies at sunset. + </p> + <p> + The brave mothers, wives, and sisters gave their shrill war-cry to inspire + their men, and show the enemy that even the Sioux women cannot be daunted + by such a fearful surprise! + </p> + <p> + When the morning sun sent its golden shafts among the teepees, they saw it + through glistening tears—happy tears, they said, because the brave + dead had met their end in gallant fight—the very end they craved! + And among those who fell that night was Brave Hawk, the handsome brother + of the Blue Sky. + </p> + <p> + In a few days the camp was moved to a point further up the Cheyenne and + deeper into the bosom of the hills, leaving behind the decorated grave + lodges belonging to the honored dead. A great council teepee was pitched, + and here the people met to credit those who had earned them with the + honors of the fight, that they might thereafter wear the eagle feathers + which they had won. + </p> + <p> + “The first honor,” declared the master of ceremonies, “belongs to Brave + Hawk, who fell in the battle! He it was who compelled the Crows to + retreat, when he bravely charged upon them and knocked from his horse the + Crow chief, their war leader.” + </p> + <p> + “Ho, it is true!” exclaimed the warriors in chorus. + </p> + <p> + “The second honor,” he resumed, “belongs to Matoska, the White Bear!” + </p> + <p> + “Hun, hun, hay!” interposed another, “it is I, Red Owl, who touched the + body of the Crow chief second to Brave Hawk!” + </p> + <p> + It was a definite challenge. + </p> + <p> + “The warriors who witnessed the act give the coup to Matoska, friend!” + persisted the spokesman. + </p> + <p> + Red Owl was a brave youth and a close rival of Matoska, both for war + honors and for the hand of the prettiest maiden in the tribe. He had hoped + to be recognized as one who fought in defense of their homes by the side + of Brave Hawk; that would please the Blue Sky, he thought; but the honor + was conferred upon his rival! + </p> + <p> + There was a cloud of suppressed irritation on his dusky face as he + sullenly departed to his own tent—an action which displeased the + council-men. Matoska had not spoken, and this caused him to appear to the + better advantage. The worst of it was that Blue Sky herself had entered + the ring with the “orphan steed,” as it was called—the war-horse of + her dead brother, and had therefore seen and heard everything! Tanagila, + or Hummingbird, the beautiful charger, decorated according to custom with + the honors won by his master, was led away by the girl amidst resounding + war-whoops. + </p> + <p> + Unable to remain quiet, Red Owl went out into the hills to fast and pray. + It was sunset of the next day when he again approached the village, and + behind a little ridge came suddenly upon Matoska and the girl standing + together. It was the first time that they had met since the “green grass + parade,” and now only by accident, as the sister of Brave Hawk was in deep + mourning. However, the lover had embraced his opportunity, and the maiden + had said that she was willing to think of the matter. No more words were + spoken. + </p> + <p> + That very night the council drum was struck three times, followed by the + warriors’ cheer. Everybody knew what that meant. It was an invitation to + the young men to go upon the war-path against the Crows! + </p> + <p> + Blue Sky was unconsciously startled by this sudden announcement. For the + first time in her life she felt a fear that she could not explain. The + truth was that she loved, and was not yet fully aware of it. In spite of + her fresh grief, she had been inexplicably happy since her last meeting + with Matoska, for she had seen in him that which is so beautiful, so + compelling in man to the eyes of the woman who loves. He, too, now + cherished a real hope, and felt as if he could rush into the thickest of + the battle to avenge the brother of his beloved! + </p> + <p> + In a few days the war-party had reached the Big Horn and sent out advance + scouts, who reported a large Crow encampment. Their hundreds of horses + covered the flats like a great herd of buffalo, they said. It was + immediately decided to attack at daybreak, and on a given signal they + dashed impetuously upon the formidable camp. Some stampeded and drove off + a number of horses, while the main body plunged into the midst of the + Crows. + </p> + <p> + But the enemy were not easily surprised. They knew well the Sioux tactics, + and there was a desperate struggle for supremacy. War-club was raised + against war-club, and the death-song of the arrow filled the air! + Presently the Sioux were forced to retreat, with the Crows in hot pursuit, + like wolves after their prey. + </p> + <p> + Red Owl and Matoska had been among the foremost in the charge, and now + they acted as a rear-guard, bravely defending the retreat of their little + army, to the admiration of the enemy. At last a Crow raised his spear + against Matoska, who in a flash dismounted him with a stroke of his oaken + bow; but alas! the blow snapped the bow-string and left him defenseless. + At the same instant his horse uttered a scream and fell, throwing its + rider headlong! + </p> + <p> + There was no one near except Red Owl, who clapped his heels to his pony + and joined in the retreat, leaving Matoska behind. He arose, threw down + his quiver, and advanced alone to meet the oncoming rush of the Crows! + </p> + <p> + The Sioux had seen him fall. In a few moments he was surrounded by the + enemy, and they saw him no more. + </p> + <p> + The pursuit was stopped, and they paused upon a hilltop to collect the + remnant of their force. Red Owl was the last to come up, and it was + observed that he did not look like himself. + </p> + <p> + “Tell us, what were Matoska’s last words?” they asked him. + </p> + <p> + But he silently dismounted and sent an arrow through his faithful steed, + to the astonishment of the warriors. Immediately afterward he took out his + knife and stabbed himself to the heart. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” they exclaimed, “he could not live to share our humiliation!” + </p> + <p> + The war-party returned defeated and cast down by this unexpected ending to + their adventure, having lost some of their bravest and best men. The camp + was instantly thrown into mourning. Many were in heavy grief, but none was + more deeply stricken than the maiden called the Blue Sky, the daughter of + their chief. + </p> + <p> + She remained within her teepee and wept in secret, for none knew that she + had the right to mourn. Yet she believed that her lover had met with + misfortune, but not death. Although his name was announced among those + warriors who fell in the field, her own heart assured her that it was not + so. “I must go to him,” she said to herself. “I must know certainly + whether he is still among the living!” + </p> + <p> + The next evening, while the village was yet in the confusion of great + trouble and sorrow, Blue Sky rode out upon her favorite pony as if to take + him to water as usual, but none saw her return! She hastened to the spot + where she had concealed two sacks of provisions and her extra moccasins + and materials for sewing. She had no weapon, save her knife and a small + hatchet. She knew the country between the Black Hills and the Big Horn, + and knew that it was full of perils for man and much more for woman. Yet + by traveling only at night and concealing herself in the daytime she hoped + to avoid these dangers, and she rode bravely forth on the trail of the + returning warriors. + </p> + <p> + Her dog, Wapayna, had followed the maiden, and she was not sorry to have + so faithful a companion. She cautioned him not to bark at or attack + strange animals unless they attacked first, and he seemed to understand + the propriety of remaining on guard whenever his mistress was asleep. + </p> + <p> + She reached the Powder River country in safety, and here she had more than + once to pick her way among the buffaloes. These wily animals seemed to + realize that she was only a woman and unarmed, so that they scarcely kept + out of her path. She also crossed the trails of riders, some of them quite + fresh, but was fortunate enough not to meet any of them. + </p> + <p> + At last the maiden attained the divide between the Tongue and the Big Horn + rivers. Her heart beat fast, and the sudden sense of her strange mission + almost overwhelmed her. She remembered the only time in her life that the + Sioux were upon that river, and so had that bit of friendly welcome from + the valley—a recollection of childhood! + </p> + <p> + It was near morning; the moon had set and for a short time darkness + prevailed, but the girl’s eyes had by this time become accustomed to the + dark. She knew the day was at hand, and with its first beams she was + safely tucked into one of those round turns left by the river long ago in + changing its bed, now become a little grassy hollow sheltered by steep + banks, and hidden by a fringe of trees. Here she picketed her pony, and + took her own rest. Not until the afternoon shadows were long did she awake + and go forth with determination to seek for the battlefield and for the + Crow encampment. + </p> + <p> + It was not long before she came upon the bodies of fallen horses and men. + There was Matoska’s white charger, with a Sioux arrow in his side, and she + divined the treachery of Red Owl! But he was dead, and his death had + atoned for the crime. The body of her lover was nowhere to be found; yet + how should they have taken the bravest of the Sioux a captive? + </p> + <p> + “If he had but one arrow left, he would stand and fight! If his bow-string + were broken, he would still welcome death with a strong heart,” she + thought. + </p> + <p> + The evening was approaching and the Crow village in plain sight. Blue Sky + arranged her hair and dress as well as she could like that of a Crow + woman, and with an extra robe she made for herself a bundle that looked as + if it held a baby in its many wrappings. The community was still + celebrating its recent victory over the Sioux, and the camp was alive with + songs and dances. In the darkness she approached unnoticed, and singing in + an undertone a Crow lullaby, walked back and forth among the lodges, + watching eagerly for any signs of him she sought. + </p> + <p> + At last she came near to the council lodge. There she beheld his face like + an apparition through the dusk and the fire-light! He was sitting within, + dressed in the gala costume of a Crow. + </p> + <p> + “O, he is living! he is living!” thought the brave maiden. “O, what shall + I do?” Unconsciously she crept nearer and nearer, until the sharp eyes of + an Indian detected the slight difference in her manner and dress, and he + at once gave the alarm. + </p> + <p> + “Wah, wah! Epsaraka! Epsaraka! A Sioux! A Sioux!” + </p> + <p> + In an instant the whole camp had surrounded the girl, who stood in their + midst a prisoner, yet undaunted, for she had seen her lover, and the + spirit of her ancestors rose within her. + </p> + <p> + An interpreter was brought, a man who was half Crow and half Sioux. + </p> + <p> + “Young and pretty daughter of the Sioux!” exclaimed the chief, “tell us + how you came here in our midst undetected, and why!” + </p> + <p> + “Because,” replied the Blue Sky, “your brave warriors have slain my only + brother, and captured my lover, whom you now hold a prisoner. It is for + his sake that I have thus risked my life and honor!” + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho! You are the bravest woman I have ever seen. Your lover was + betrayed into our hands by the treachery of one of his own tribe, who shot + his horse from behind. He faced us without fear, but it was not his + courage that saved his life. He resembles my own son, who lately fell in + battle, and according to the custom I have adopted him as my son!” + </p> + <p> + Thus the brave maiden captured the heart of the wily Crow, and was finally + allowed to return home with her lover, bearing many and rich presents. Her + name is remembered among the two tribes, for this act of hers resulted in + a treaty of peace between them which was kept for a generation. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS + </h2> + <p> + Away beyond the Thin Hills, above the Big Lone Tree upon the Powder River, + the Uncpapa Sioux had celebrated their Sun Dance, some forty years ago. It + was midsummer and the red folk were happy. They lacked for nothing. The + yellowish green flat on either side of the Powder was studded with wild + flowers, and the cottonwood trees were in full leaf. One large circle of + buffalo skin teepees formed the movable village. The Big Horn Mountains + loomed up against the deep blue sky to the westward, and the Black Hills + appeared in the far southeast. + </p> + <p> + The tribal rites had all been observed, and the usual summer festivities + enjoyed to the full. The camp as it broke up divided itself in three + parts, each of which had determined to seek a favorite hunting-ground. + </p> + <p> + One band journeyed west, toward the Tongue River. One followed a tributary + of the Powder to the south. The third merely changed camp, on account of + the grazing for ponies, and for four days remained near the old place. + </p> + <p> + The party that went west did not fail to realize the perilous nature of + their wanderings, for they were trespassing upon the country of the + warlike Crows. + </p> + <p> + On the third day at sunrise, the Sioux crier’s voice resounded in the + valley of the Powder, announcing that the lodges must be razed and the + villagers must take up their march. + </p> + <p> + Breakfast of jerked buffalo meat had been served and the women were + adjusting their packs, not without much chatter and apparent confusion. + Weeko (Beautiful Woman), the young wife of the war-chief Shunkaska, who + had made many presents at the dances in honor of her twin boys, now gave + one of her remaining ponies to a poor old woman whose only beast of + burden, a large dog, had died during the night. + </p> + <p> + This made it necessary to shift the packs of the others. Nakpa, or Long + Ears, her kittenlike gray mule, which had heretofore been honored with the + precious burden of the twin babies, was to be given a heavier and more + cumbersome load. Weeko’s two-year-old spotted pony was selected to carry + the babies. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, the two children, in their gorgeously beaded buckskin hoods, + were suspended upon either side of the pony’s saddle. As Weeko’s + first-born, they were beautifully dressed; even the saddle and bridle were + daintily worked by her own hands. + </p> + <p> + The caravan was now in motion, and Weeko started all her ponies after the + leader, while she adjusted the mule’s clumsy burden of kettles and other + household gear. In a moment: + </p> + <p> + “Go on, let us see how you move with your new load! Go on!” she exclaimed + again, with a light blow of the horse-hair lariat, as the animal stood + perfectly still. + </p> + <p> + Nakpa simply gave an angry side glance at her load and shifted her + position once or twice. Then she threw herself headlong into the air and + landed stiff-legged, uttering at the same time her unearthly protest. + First she dove straight through the crowd, then proceeded in a circle, her + heels describing wonderful curves and sweeps in the air. Her pack, too, + began to come to pieces and to take forced flights from her undignified + body and heels, in the midst of the screams of women and children, the + barking of dogs, and the war-whoops of the amused young braves. + </p> + <p> + The cowskin tent became detached from her saddle, and a moment later Nakpa + stood free. Her sides worked like a bellows as she stood there meekly + indignant, apparently considering herself to be the victim of an + uncalled-for misunderstanding. + </p> + <p> + “I should put an arrow through her at once, only she is not worth a good + arrow,” said Shunkaska, or White Dog, the husband of Weeko. At his wife’s + answer, he opened his eyes in surprised displeasure. + </p> + <p> + “No, she shall have her own pack again. She wants her twins. I ought never + to have taken them from her!” + </p> + <p> + Weeko approached Nakpa as she stood alone and unfriended in the face of + her little world, all of whom considered that she had committed the + unpardonable sin. As for her, she evidently felt that her misfortunes had + not been of her own making. She gave a hesitating, sidelong look at her + mistress. + </p> + <p> + “Nakpa, you should not have acted so. I knew you were stronger than the + others, therefore I gave you that load,” said Weeko in a conciliatory + tone, and patted her on the nose. “Come, now, you shall have your own pet + pack,” and she led her back to where the young pony stood silently with + the babies. + </p> + <p> + Nakpa threw back her ears and cast savage looks at him, while Shunkaska, + with no small annoyance, gathered together as much as he could of their + scattered household effects. The sleeping brown-skinned babies in their + chrysalis-like hoods were gently lowered from the pony’s back and attached + securely to Nakpa’s padded wooden saddle. The family pots and kettles were + divided among the pack ponies. Order was restored and the village once + more in motion. + </p> + <p> + “Come now, Nakpa; you have your wish. You must take good care of my + babies. Be good, because I have trusted you,” murmured the young mother in + her softest tones. + </p> + <p> + “Really, Weeko, you have some common ground with Nakpa, for you both + always want to have your own way, and stick to it, too! I tell you, I fear + this Long Ears. She is not to be trusted with babies,” remarked Shunkaska, + with a good deal of severity. But his wife made no reply, for she well + knew that though he might criticise, he would not actually interfere with + her domestic arrangements. + </p> + <p> + He now started ahead to join the men in advance of the slow-moving + procession, thus leaving her in undivided charge of her household. One or + two of the pack ponies were not well-trained and required all her + attention. Nakpa had been a faithful servant until her escapade of the + morning, and she was now obviously satisfied with her mistress’ + arrangements. She walked alongside with her lariat dragging, and perfectly + free to do as she pleased. + </p> + <p> + Some hours later, the party ascended a slope from the river bottom to + cross over the divide which lay between the Powder River and a tributary + stream. They had hitherto followed that river in a westerly direction, but + here it took its course southward, winding in a blue streak until lost to + view among the foot-hills of the Big Horn Mountains. The ford was deep, + with a swift current. Here and there a bald butte stood out in full relief + against the brilliant blue sky. The Sioux followed a deep ravine until + they came almost up to the second row of terraces. + </p> + <p> + “Whoo! whoo!” came the blood-curdling signal of danger from the front. It + was no unfamiliar sound—the rovers knew it only too well. It meant + sudden death—or at best a cruel struggle and frantic flight. + </p> + <p> + Terrified, yet self-possessed, the women turned to fly while yet there was + time. Instantly the mother looked to Nakpa, who carried on either side of + the saddle her precious boys. She hurriedly examined the fastenings to see + that all was secure, and then caught her swiftest pony, for, like all + Indian women, she knew just what was happening, and that while her husband + was engaged in front with the enemy, she must seek safety with her babies. + </p> + <p> + Hardly was she in the saddle when a heartrending war-whoop sounded on + their flank, and she knew that they were surrounded! Instinctively she + reached for her husband’s second quiver of arrows, which was carried by + one of the pack ponies. Alas! the Crow warriors were already upon them! + The ponies became unmanageable, and the wild screams of women and children + pierced the awful confusion. + </p> + <p> + Quick as a flash, Weeko turned again to her babies, but Nakpa had already + disappeared! + </p> + <p> + Then, maddened by fright and the loss of her children, Weeko became + forgetful of her sex and tenderness, for she sternly grasped her husband’s + bow in her left hand to do battle. + </p> + <p> + That charge of the Crows was a disastrous one, but the Sioux were equally + brave and desperate. Charges and counter-charges were made, and the slain + were many on both sides. The fight lasted until darkness came. Then the + Crows departed and the Sioux buried their dead. + </p> + <p> + When the Crows made their flank charge, Nakpa apparently appreciated the + situation. To save herself and the babies, she took a desperate chance. + She fled straight through the attacking force. + </p> + <p> + When the warriors came howling upon her in great numbers, she at once + started back the way she had come, to the camp left behind. They had + traveled nearly three days. To be sure, they did not travel more than + fifteen miles a day, but it was full forty miles to cover before dark. + </p> + <p> + “Look! look!” exclaimed a warrior, “two babies hung from the saddle of a + mule!” + </p> + <p> + No one heeded this man’s call, and his arrow did not touch Nakpa or either + of the boys, but it struck the thick part of the saddle over the mule’s + back. + </p> + <p> + “Lasso her! lasso her!” he yelled once more; but Nakpa was too cunning for + them. She dodged in and out with active heels, and they could not afford + to waste many arrows on a mule at that stage of the fight. Down the + ravine, then over the expanse of prairie dotted with gray-green + sage-brush, she sped with her unconscious burden. + </p> + <p> + “Whoo! whoo!” yelled another Crow to his comrades, “the Sioux have + dispatched a runner to get reinforcements! There he goes, down on the + flat! Now he has almost reached the river bottom!” + </p> + <p> + It was only Nakpa. She laid back her cars and stretched out more and more + to gain the river, for she realized that when she had crossed the ford the + Crows would not pursue her farther. + </p> + <p> + Now she had reached the bank. With the intense heat from her exertions, + she was extremely nervous, and she imagined a warrior behind every bush. + Yet she had enough sense left to realize that she must not satisfy her + thirst. She tried the bottom with her fore-foot, then waded carefully into + the deep stream. + </p> + <p> + She kept her big ears well to the front as she swam to catch the slightest + sound. As she stepped on the opposite shore, she shook herself and the + boys vigorously, then pulled a few mouthfuls of grass and started on. + </p> + <p> + Soon one of the babies began to cry, and the other was not long in joining + him. Nakpa did not know what to do. She gave a gentle whinny and both + babies apparently stopped to listen; then she took up an easy gait as if + to put them to sleep. + </p> + <p> + These tactics answered only for a time. As she fairly flew over the + lowlands, the babies’ hunger increased and they screamed so loud that a + passing coyote had to sit upon his haunches and wonder what in the world + the fleeing longeared horse was carrying on his saddle. Even magpies and + crows flew near as if to ascertain the meaning of this curious sound. + </p> + <p> + Nakpa now came to the Little Trail Creek, a tributary of the Powder, not + far from the old camp. No need of wasting any time here, she thought. Then + she swerved aside so suddenly as almost to jerk her babies out of their + cradles. Two gray wolves, one on each side, approached her, growling low—their + white teeth showing. + </p> + <p> + Never in her humble life had Nakpa been in more desperate straits. The + larger of the wolves came fiercely forward to engage her attention, while + his mate was to attack her behind and cut her hamstrings. But for once the + pair had made a miscalculation. The mule used her front hoofs vigorously + on the foremost wolf, while her hind ones were doing even more effective + work. The larger wolf soon went limping away with a broken hip, and the + one in the rear received a deep cut on the jaw which proved an effectual + discouragement. + </p> + <p> + A little further on, an Indian hunter drew near on horseback, but Nakpa + did not pause or slacken her pace. On she fled through the long dry grass + of the river bottoms, while her babies slept again from sheer exhaustion. + Toward sunset, she entered the Sioux camp amid great excitement, for some + one had spied her afar off, and the boys and the dogs announced her + coming. + </p> + <p> + “Whoo, whoo! Weeko’s Nakpa has come back with the twins! Whoo, whoo!” + exclaimed the men. “Tokee! tokee!” cried the women. + </p> + <p> + A sister to Weeko who was in the village came forward and released the + children, as Nakpa gave a low whinny and stopped. Tenderly Zeezeewin + nursed them at her own motherly bosom, assisted by another young mother of + the band. + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, there is a Crow arrow sticking in the saddle! A fight! a fight!” + exclaimed the warriors. + </p> + <p> + “Sing a Brave-Heart song for the Long-Eared one! She has escaped alone + with her charge. She is entitled to wear an eagle’s feather! Look at the + arrow in her saddle! and more, she has a knife wound in her jaw and an + arrow cut on her hind leg.—No, those are the marks of a wolf’s + teeth! She has passed through many dangers and saved two chief’s sons, who + will some day make the Crows sorry for this day’s work!” + </p> + <p> + The speaker was an old man who thus addressed the fast gathering throng. + </p> + <p> + Zeezeewin now came forward again with an eagle feather and some white + paint in her hands. The young men rubbed Nakpa down, and the feather, + marked with red to indicate her wounds, was fastened to her mane. + Shoulders and hips were touched with red paint to show her endurance in + running. Then the crier, praising her brave deed in heroic verse, led her + around the camp, inside of the circle of teepees. All the people stood + outside their lodges and listened respectfully, for the Dakota loves well + to honor the faithful and the brave. + </p> + <p> + During the next day, riders came in from the ill-fated party, bringing the + sad news of the fight and heavy loss. Late in the afternoon came Weeko, + her face swollen with crying, her beautiful hair cut short in mourning, + her garments torn and covered with dust and blood. Her husband had fallen + in the fight, and her twin boys she supposed to have been taken captive by + the Crows. Singing in a hoarse voice the praises of her departed warrior, + she entered the camp. As she approached her sister’s teepee, there stood + Nakpa, still wearing her honorable decorations. At the same moment, + Zeezeewin came out to meet her with both babies in her arms. + </p> + <p> + “Mechinkshee! meechinkshee! (my sons, my sons!)” was all that the poor + mother could say, as she all but fell from her saddle to the ground. The + despised Long Ears had not betrayed her trust. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. THE WAR MAIDEN + </h2> + <p> + The old man, Smoky Day, was for many years the best-known story-teller and + historian of his tribe. He it was who told me the story of the War Maiden. + In the old days it was unusual but not unheard of for a woman to go upon + the war-path—perhaps a young girl, the last of her line, or a widow + whose well-loved husband had fallen on the field—and there could be + no greater incentive to feats of desperate daring on the part of the + warriors. “A long time ago,” said old Smoky Day, “the Unkpapa and the + Cut-Head bands of Sioux united their camps upon a vast prairie east of the + Minne Wakan (now called Devil’s Lake). It was midsummer, and the people + shared in the happiness of every living thing. We had food in abundance, + for bison in countless numbers overspread the plain. + </p> + <p> + “The teepee village was laid out in two great rings, and all was in + readiness for the midsummer entertainments. There were ball games, feasts + and dances every day, and late into the night. You have heard of the + festivities of those days; there are none like them now,” said the old + man, and he sighed heavily as he laid down the red pipe which was to be + passed from hand to hand during the recital. + </p> + <p> + “The head chief of the Unkpapas then was Tamakoche (His Country). He was + in his time a notable warrior, a hunter and a feastmaker, much beloved by + his people. He was the father of three sons, but he was so anxious to make + them warriors of great reputation that they had all, despising danger, + been killed in battle. + </p> + <p> + “The chief had also a very pretty daughter, whose name was Makatah. Since + all his sons were slain he had placed his affections solely upon the girl, + and she grew up listening to the praises of the brave deeds of her + brothers, which her father never tired of chanting when they were together + in the lodge. At times Makatah was called upon to dance to the + ‘Strong-Heart’ songs. Thus even as a child she loved the thought of war, + although she was the prettiest and most modest maiden in the two tribes. + As she grew into womanhood she became the belle of her father’s village, + and her beauty and spirit were talked of even among the neighboring bands + of Sioux. But it appeared that Makatah did not care to marry. She had only + two ambitions. One was to prove to her father that, though only a maid, + she had the heart of a warrior. The other was to visit the graves of her + brothers—that is, the country of the enemy. + </p> + <p> + “At this pleasant reunion of two kindred peoples one of the principal + events was the Feast of Virgins, given by Makatah. All young maidens of + virtue and good repute were invited to be present; but woe to her who + should dare to pollute the sacred feast! If her right to be there were + challenged by any it meant a public disgrace. The two arrows and the red + stone upon which the virgins took their oath of chastity were especially + prepared for the occasion. Every girl was beautifully dressed, for at that + time the white doeskin gowns, with a profusion of fringes and colored + embroidery, were the gala attire of the Sioux maidens. Red paint was + added, and ornaments of furs and wampum. Many youths eagerly surveyed the + maiden gathering, at which the daughter of Tamakoche outshone all the + rest. + </p> + <p> + “Several eligible warriors now pressed their suits at the chieftain’s + lodge, and among them were one or two whom he would have gladly called + son-in-law; but no! Makatah would not listen to words of courtship. She + had vowed, she said, to the spirits of her three brothers—each of + whom fell in the country of the Crows—that she would see that + country before she became a wife. + </p> + <p> + “Red Horn, who was something of a leader among the young men, was a + persistent and determined suitor. He had urged every influential friend of + his and hers to persuade her to listen to him. His presents were more + valuable than those of any one else. He even made use of his father’s + position as a leading chief of the Cut-Head band to force a decision in + his favor; and while the maiden remained indifferent her father seemed + inclined to countenance this young man’s pretensions. + </p> + <p> + “She had many other lovers, as I have said,” the old man added, “and among + them was one Little Eagle, an orphan and a poor young man, unknown and + unproved as a warrior. He was so insignificant that nobody thought much + about him, and if Makatah regarded him with any favor the matter was her + secret, for it is certain that she did not openly encourage him. + </p> + <p> + “One day it was reported in the village that their neighbors, the Cut-Head + Sioux, would organize a great attack upon the Crows at the mouth of the + Redwater, a tributary of the Missouri. Makatah immediately inquired of her + male cousins whether any of them expected to join the war-party. + </p> + <p> + “‘Three of us will go,’ they replied. + </p> + <p> + “‘Then,’ said the girl, ‘I beg that you will allow me to go with you! I + have a good horse, and I shall not handicap you in battle. I only ask your + protection in camp as your kinswoman and a maid of the war-party.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘If our uncle Tamakoche sanctions your going,’ they replied, ‘we shall be + proud to have our cousin with us, to inspire us to brave deeds!’ + </p> + <p> + “The maiden now sought her father and asked his permission to accompany + the warparty. + </p> + <p> + “‘I wish,’ said she, ‘to visit the graves of my brothers! I shall carry + with me their war-bonnets and their weapons, to give to certain young men + on the eve of battle, according to the ancient custom. Long ago I resolved + to do this, and the time is now come.’ + </p> + <p> + “The chief was at this time well advanced in years, and had been sitting + quite alone in his lodge, thinking upon the days of his youth, when he was + noted for daring and success in battle. In silence he listened as he + filled his pipe, and seemed to meditate while he smoked the fragrant + tobacco. At last he spoke with tears in his eyes. + </p> + <p> + “‘Daughter, I am an old man! My heart beats in my throat, and my old eyes + cannot keep back the tears. My three sons, on whom I had placed all my + hopes, are gone to a far country! You are the only child left to my old + age, and you, too, are brave—as brave as any of your brothers. If + you go I fear that you may not return to me; yet I cannot refuse you my + permission!” + </p> + <p> + “The old man began to chant a war-song, and some of his people, hearing + him, came in to learn what was in his mind. He told them all, and + immediately many young men volunteered for the war-party, in order to have + the honor of going with the daughter of their chief. + </p> + <p> + “Several of Makatah’s suitors were among them, and each watched eagerly + for an opportunity to ride at her side. At night she pitched her little + teepee within the circle of her cousins’ campfires, and there she slept + without fear. Courteous youths brought to her every morning and evening + fresh venison for her repast. Yet there was no courting, for all + attentions paid to a maiden when on the war-path must be those of a + brother to a sister, and all must be equally received by her. + </p> + <p> + “Two days later, when the two parties of Sioux met on the plains, the + maiden’s presence was heralded throughout the camp, as an inspiration to + the young and untried warriors of both bands to distinguish themselves in + the field. It is true that some of the older men considered it unwise to + allow Makatah to accompany the war-party. + </p> + <p> + “‘The girl,’ said they to one another, ‘is very ambitious as well as + brave. She will surely risk her own life in battle, which will make the + young men desperate, and we shall lose many of them!’ + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless they loved her and her father; therefore they did not + protest openly. + </p> + <p> + “On the third day the Sioux scouts returned with the word that the Crows + were camping, as had been supposed, at the confluence of the Redwater and + the Missouri Rivers. It was a great camp. All the Crow tribe were there, + they said, with their thousands of fine horses. + </p> + <p> + “There was excitement in the Sioux camp, and all of the head men + immediately met in council. It was determined to make the attack early on + the following morning, just as the sun came over the hills. The councilors + agreed that in honor of the great chief, her father, as well as in + recognition of her own courage, Makatah should be permitted to lead the + charge at the outset, but that she must drop behind as they neared the + enemy. The maiden, who had one of the fleetest ponies in that part of the + country, had no intention of falling back, but she did not tell any one + what was in her mind. + </p> + <p> + “That evening every warrior sang his warsong, and announced the particular + war-charm or ‘medicine’ of his clan, according to the custom. The youths + were vying with one another in brave tales of what they would do on the + morrow. The voice of Red Horn was loud among the boasters, for he was + known to be a vain youth, although truly not without reputation. Little + Eagle, who was also of the company, remained modestly silent, as indeed + became one without experience in the field. In the midst of the clamor + there fell a silence. + </p> + <p> + “‘Hush! hush!’ they whispered. ‘Look, look! The War Maiden comes!’ + </p> + <p> + “All eyes were turned upon Makatah, who rode her fine buckskin steed with + a single lariat. He held his head proudly, and his saddle was heavy with + fringes and gay with colored embroidery. The maiden was attired in her + best and wore her own father’s war-bonnet, while she carried in her hands + two which had belonged to two of her dead brothers. Singing in a clear + voice the songs of her clan, she completed the circle, according to + custom, before she singled out one of the young braves for special honor + by giving him the bonnet which she held in her right hand. She then + crossed over to the Cut-Heads, and presented the other bonnet to one of + their young men. She was very handsome; even the old men’s blood was + stirred by her brave appearance! + </p> + <p> + “At daybreak the two war-parties of the Sioux, mounted on their best + horses, stood side by side, ready for the word to charge. All of the + warriors were painted for the battle—prepared for death—their + nearly nude bodies decorated with their individual war-totems. Their + well-filled quivers were fastened to their sides, and each tightly grasped + his oaken bow. + </p> + <p> + “The young man with the finest voice had been chosen to give the signal—a + single highpitched yell. This was an imitation of the one long howl of the + gray wolf before he makes the attack. It was an ancient custom of our + people. + </p> + <p> + “‘Woo-o-o-o!’—at last it came! As the sound ceased a shrill + war-whoop from five hundred throats burst forth in chorus, and at the same + instant Makatah, upon her splendid buckskin pony, shot far out upon the + plain, like an arrow as it leaves the bow. It was a glorious sight! No man + has ever looked upon the like again!” + </p> + <p> + The eyes of the old man sparkled as he spoke, and his bent shoulders + straightened. + </p> + <p> + “The white doeskin gown of the War Maiden,” he continued, “was trimmed + with elk’s teeth and tails of ermine. Her long black hair hung loose, + bound only with a strip of otter-skin, and with her eagle-feather + war-bonnet floated far behind. In her hand she held a long coup-staff + decorated with eagle-feathers. Thus she went forth in advance of them all! + </p> + <p> + “War cries of men and screams of terrified women and children were borne + upon the clear morning air as our warriors neared the Crow camp. The + charge was made over a wide plain, and the Crows came yelling from their + lodges, fully armed, to meet the attacking party. In spite of the surprise + they easily held their own, and even began to press us hard, as their + number was much greater than that of the Sioux. + </p> + <p> + “The fight was a long and hard one. Toward the end of the day the enemy + made a counter-charge. By that time many of our ponies had fallen or were + exhausted. The Sioux retreated, and the slaughter was great. The Cut-Heads + fled womanlike; but the people of Tamakoche fought gallantly to the very + last. + </p> + <p> + “Makatah remained with her father’s people. Many cried out to her, ‘Go + back! Go back!’ but she paid no attention. She carried no weapon + throughout the day—nothing but her coup-staff—but by her + presence and her cries of encouragement or praise she urged on the men to + deeds of desperate valor. + </p> + <p> + “Finally, however, the Sioux braves were hotly pursued and the retreat + became general. Now at last Makatah tried to follow; but her pony was + tired, and the maiden fell farther and farther behind. Many of her lovers + passed her silently, intent upon saving their own lives. Only a few still + remained behind, fighting desperately to cover the retreat, when Red Horn + came up with the girl. His pony was still fresh. He might have put her up + behind him and carried her to safety, but he did not even look at her as + he galloped by. + </p> + <p> + “Makatah did not call out, but she could not help looking after him. He + had declared his love for her more loudly than any of the others, and she + now gave herself up to die. + </p> + <p> + “Presently another overtook the maiden. It was Little Eagle, unhurt and + smiling. + </p> + <p> + “‘Take my horse!’ he said to her. ‘I shall remain here and fight!’ + </p> + <p> + “The maiden looked at him and shook her head, but he sprang off and lifted + her upon his horse. He struck him a smart blow upon the flank that sent + him at full speed in the direction of the Sioux encampment. Then he seized + the exhausted buckskin by the lariat, and turned back to join the + rear-guard. + </p> + <p> + “That little group still withstood in some fashion the all but + irresistible onset of the Crows. When their comrade came back to them, + leading the War Maiden’s pony, they were inspired to fresh endeavor, and + though few in number they made a counter-charge with such fury that the + Crows in their turn were forced to retreat! + </p> + <p> + “The Sioux got fresh mounts and returned to the field, and by sunset the + day was won! Little Eagle was among the first who rode straight through + the Crow camp, causing terror and consternation. It was afterward + remembered that he looked unlike his former self and was scarcely + recognized by the warriors for the modest youth they had so little + regarded. + </p> + <p> + “It was this famous battle which drove that warlike nation, the Crows, to + go away from the Missouri and to make their home up the Yellowstone River + and in the Bighorn country. But many of our men fell, and among them the + brave Little Eagle! + </p> + <p> + “The sun was almost over the hills when the Sioux gathered about their + campfires, recounting the honors won in battle, and naming the brave dead. + Then came the singing of dirges and weeping for the slain! The sadness of + loss was mingled with exultation. + </p> + <p> + “Hush! listen! the singing and wailing have ceased suddenly at both camps. + There is one voice coming around the circle of campfires. It is the voice + of a woman! Stripped of all her ornaments, her dress shorn of its fringes, + her ankles bare, her hair cropped close to her neck, leading a pony with + mane and tail cut short, she is mourning as widows mourn. It is Makatah! + </p> + <p> + “Publicly, with many tears, she declared herself the widow of the brave + Little Eagle, although she had never been his wife! He it was, she said + with truth, who had saved her people’s honor and her life at the cost of + his own. He was a true man! + </p> + <p> + “‘Ho, ho!’ was the response from many of the older warriors; but the young + men, the lovers of Makatah, were surprised and sat in silence. + </p> + <p> + “The War Maiden lived to be a very old woman, but she remained true to her + vow. She never accepted a husband; and all her lifetime she was known as + the widow of the brave Little Eagle.” + </p> + <p> + THE END <a name="link2H_GLOS" id="link2H_GLOS"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h3> + GLOSSARY + </h3> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +A-no-ka-san, white on both sides (Bald Eagle). +A-tay, father. +Cha-ton’-ska, White Hawk. +Chin-o-te-dah, Lives-in-the-Wood. +Chin-to, yes, indeed. +E-na-ka-nee, hurry. +E-ya-tonk-a-wee, She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar. +E-yo-tank-a, rise up, or sit down. +Ha-ha-ton-wan, Ojibway. +Ha-na-ka-pe, a grave. +Han-ta-wo, Out of the way! +He-che-tu, it is well. +He-yu-pe-ya, come here! +Hi! an exclamation of thanks. +Hunk-pa-tees, a band of Sioux. +Ka-po-sia, Light Lodges, a band of Sioux. +Ke-chu-wa, darling. +Ko-da, friend. +Ma-ga-ska-wee, Swan Maiden. +Ma-ka-tah, Earth Woman. +Ma-to, bear. +Ma-to-ska, White Bear. +Ma-to-sa-pa, Black Bear. +Me-chink-she, my son or sons. +Me-ta, my. +Min-ne-wa-kan, Sacred Water (Devil’s Lake.) +Min-ne-ya-ta, By-the-Water. +Nak-pa, Ears or Long Ears. +Ne-na e-ya-ya! run fast! +O-glu-ge-chan-a, Mysterious Wood-Dweller. +Psay, snow-shoes. +Shunk-a, dog. +Shunk-a-ska, White Dog. +Shunk-ik-chek-a, domestic dog. +Ske-ske-ta-tonk-a, Sault Sainte Marie. +Sna-na, Rattle. +Sta-su, Shield (Arickaree). +Ta-ake-che-ta, his soldier. +Ta-chin-cha-la, fawn. +Tak-cha, doe. +Ta-lu-ta, Scarlet. +Ta-ma-hay, Pike. +Ta-ma-ko-che, His Country. +Ta-na-ge-la, Humming-Bird. +Ta-tank-a-o-ta, Many Buffaloes. +Ta-te-yo-pa, Her Door. +Ta-to-ka, Antelope. +Ta-wa-su-o-ta, Many Hailstones. +Tee-pee, tent. +Te-yo-tee-pee, Council lodge. +To-ke-ya nun-ka hu-wo? where are you? +Tunk-a-she-dah, grandfather. +Un-chee-dah, grandmother. +Unk-pa-pa, a band of Sioux. +U-ya-yo! come here! +Wa-ba-shaw, Red Hat (name of a Sioux chief). +Wa-ha-dah, Buyer of Furs. +Wah-pay-ton, a band of Sioux. +Wa-ho, Howler. +Wa-kan, sacred, mysterious. +Wak-pay-ku-tay, a band of Sioux. +Wa-pay-na, Little Barker. +Wee-ko, Beautiful Woman. +We-no-na, Firstborn Daughter. +We-sha-wee, Red Girl. +We-wop-tay, a sharpened pole. +We-yan-na, little woman. +We-zee, Smoky Lodge. +Yank-ton-nais, a band of Sioux. +Zee-zee-win, Yellow Woman. +Zu-ya-ma-ni, Walks-to-War. +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Indian Days, by +[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. 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Eastman + +Release Date: July 5, 2008 [EBook #339] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD INDIAN DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss + + + + + +OLD INDIAN DAYS + +By Charles A. Eastman + +(Ohiyesa) + + + + + + To + My Daughters + DORA, IRENE, VIRGINIA, ELEANOR, AND FLORENCE + I Dedicate + these Stories of the Old Indian Life, + and especially of + the Courageous and Womanly Indian Woman + + +CONTENTS + + INTRODUCTION + + PART I. THE WARRIOR + + I. THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE + II. THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE + III. THE SINGING SPIRIT + IV. THE FAMINE + V. THE CHIEF SOLDIER + VI. THE WHITE MAN'S ERRAND + VII. THE GRAVE OF THE DOG + + PART II. THE WOMAN + + I. WINONA, THE WOMAN-CHILD + II. WINONA, THE CHILD-WOMAN + III. SNANA'S FAWN + IV. SHE-WHO-HAS-A-SOUL + V. THE PEACE-MAKER + VI. BLUE SKY + VII. THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS + VIII. THE WAR MAIDEN + + GLOSSARY + + + + +PART ONE. THE WARRIOR + + + + +I. THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE + + + + +I + +Upon a hanging precipice atop of the Eagle Scout Butte there appeared a +motionless and solitary figure--almost eagle-like he perched! The people +in the camp below saw him, but none looked at him long. They turned +their heads quickly away with a nervous tingling, for the height above +the plains was great. Almost spirit-like among the upper clouds the +young warrior sat immovable. + +It was Antelope. He was fasting and seeking a sign from the "Great +Mystery," for such was the first step of the young and ambitious Sioux +[who wished to be a noted warrior among his people]. + +He is a princely youth, among the wild Sioux, who hunts for his tribe +and not for himself! His voice is soft and low at the campfire of his +nation, but terror-giving in the field of battle. Such was Antelope's +reputation. The more he sought the "Great Mystery" in solitude, the more +gentle and retiring he became, and in the same proportion his courage +and manliness grew. None could say that he was not a kind son and a good +hunter, for he had already passed the "two-arrow-to-kill," his buffalo +examination. + +On a hot midsummer morning a few weeks later, while most of the inmates +of the teepees were breakfasting in the open air, the powerful voice of +the herald resounded among the pine-clad heights and green valleys. + +"Hear ye, hear ye, warriors!" he chanted loudly. "The council has +decreed that four brave young men must scout the country to the +sunsetward of the camp, for the peace and protection of our people!" + +All listened eagerly for the names of the chosen warriors, and in +another moment there came the sonorous call: "Antelope, Antelope! the +council has selected you!" + +The camp was large--fully four hundred paces across; but in that +country, in the clear morning air, such an announcement can be heard a +great way, and in the silence that followed the hills repeated over and +over the musical name of Antelope. + +In due time the four chosen youths appeared before the council fire. +The oath of the pipe was administered, and each took a few whiffs as +reverently as a Churchman would partake of the sacrament. The chief of +the council, who was old and of a striking appearance, gave the charge +and command to the youthful braves. + +There was a score or more of warriors ready mounted to escort them +beyond the precincts of the camp, and the "fearless heart" song was sung +according to the custom, as the four ran lightly from the door of the +council teepee and disappeared in the woods. + +It was a peculiarly trying and hazardous moment in which to perform +the duties of a scout. The Sioux were encroaching upon the territory of +hostile tribes, here in the foot-hills of the Big Horn Mountains, and +now and then one of their hunters was cut off by the enemy. If continual +vigilance could not save them, it might soon become necessary to retreat +to their own hunting-grounds. + +It was a savage fetish that a warrior must be proof against the alluring +ways of pretty maidens; that he must place his honor far above the +temptations of self-indulgence and indolence. Cold, hunger, and personal +hardship did not count with Antelope when there was required of him +any special exertion for the common good. It was cause to him of secret +satisfaction that the council-men had selected him for a dangerous +service in preference to some of his rivals and comrades. + +He had been running for two or three hours at a good, even gait, and had +crossed more than one of the smaller creeks, yet many deep gulches and +bad lands lay between him and the furthest peak that melted into the +blue dome above. + +"I shall stand upon the Bear's Heart," he said to himself. "If I can +do that, and still report before the others, I shall do well!" His keen +eyes were constantly sweeping the country in his front, and suddenly +he paused and shrank back motionless in a crouching attitude, still +steadily keeping an eye upon a moving object. It was soon evident +that some one was stealthily eying him from behind cover, and he was +outwitted by the enemy! Still stooping, he glided down a little ravine, +and as he reached the bed of the creek there emerged from it a large +gray wolf. + +This was very opportune for Antelope. He gave the gray wolf's +danger-call with all his might; waited an instant and gave it a second +time; then he turned and ran fleetly down the stream. At the same moment +the wolf appeared upon the top of the bank, in full view of the enemy. + +"Here he comes!" they whispered, and had their arrows on the string as +the wolf trotted leisurely along, exposing only his head, for this was a +common disguise among the plains Indians. But when he came out into the +open, behold! it was only a gray wolf! + +"Ugh!" the Utes grunted, as they looked at each other in much chagrin. + +"Surely he was a man, and coming directly into our trap! We sang and +prayed to the gods of war when our war chief sent us ahead to scout the +Sioux people, to find their camp. This is a mystery, a magic! Either he +is a Sioux in disguise, or we don't know their tricks!" exclaimed the +leader. + +Now they gave the war-whoop, and their arrows flew through the air. The +wolf gave a yelp of distress, staggered and fell dead. Instantly they +ran to examine the body, and found it to be truly that of a wolf. + +"Either this is a wonderful medicine-man, or we are shamefully fooled by +a Sioux warrior," they muttered. + +They lost several minutes before they caught sight of Antelope, who had +followed the bed of the creek as far as it lay in his direction and then +came out of it at full speed. It would be safer for him to remain in +concealment until dark; but in the meantime the Ute warriors would reach +the camp, and his people were unprepared! It was necessary to expose +himself to the enemy. He knew that it would be chiefly a contest of +speed and he had an excellent start; but on the other hand, the Utes +doubtless had their horses. + +"The Sioux who played this trick on us must die to-day!" exclaimed their +leader. "Come, friends, we cannot afford to let him tell this joke on us +at the camp-fires of his people!" + +Antelope was headed directly for Eagle Scout Butte, for the camp was in +plain view from the top of this hill. He had run pretty much all day, +but then, that was nothing! + +"I shall reach the summit first, unless the Ute horses have wings!" he +said to himself. + +Looking over his shoulder, he saw five horsemen approaching, so he +examined his bow and arrows as he ran. + +"All is well," he muttered. "One of their spirits at the least must +guide mine to the spirit land!" where, it was believed by them, there +was no fighting. + +Now he was within hearing of their whoops, but he was already at the +foot of the butte. Their horses could not run up the steep ascent, and +they were obliged to dismount. Like a deer the Sioux leaped from rock +to rock, and almost within arrow-shot came his pursuers, wildly whooping +and yelling. + +When he had achieved the summit, he took his stand between two great +rocks, and flashed his tiny looking-glass for a distress signal into the +distant camp of his people. + +For a long time no reply came, and many arrows flew over his head, as +the Utes approached gradually from rock to rock. He, too, sent down a +swift arrow now and then, to show them that he was no child or woman in +fight, but brave as a bear when it is brought to bay. + +"Ho, ho!" he shouted to the enemy, in token of a brave man's welcome to +danger and death. + +They replied with yells of triumph, as they pressed more and more +closely upon him. One of their number had been dispatched to notify the +main war-party when they first saw Antelope, but he did not know this, +and his courage was undiminished. From time to time he continued to +flash his signal, and at last like lightning the little white flash came +in reply. + +The sun was low when the besieged warrior discovered a large body of +horsemen approaching from the northwest. It was the Ute warparty! He +looked earnestly once more toward the Sioux camp, shading his eyes with +his right palm. There, too, were many moving specks upon the plain, +drawing toward the foot of the hill! + +At the middle of the afternoon they had caught his distress signal, and +the entire camp was thrown into confusion, for but few of the men had +returned from the daily hunt. As fast as they came in, the warriors +hurried away upon their best horses, singing and yelling. When they +reached the well-known butte, towering abruptly in the midst of the +plain, they could distinguish their enemies massed behind the hanging +rocks and scattered cedar-trees, crawling up closer and closer, for the +large warparty reached the hill just as the scouts who held Antelope at +bay discovered the approach of his kinsmen. + +Antelope had long since exhausted his quiver of arrows and was gathering +up many of those that fell about him to send them back among his +pursuers. When their attention was withdrawn from him for an instant by +the sudden onset of the Sioux, he sprang to his feet. + +He raised both his hands heavenward in token of gratitude for his +rescue, and his friends announced with loud shouts the daring of +Antelope. + +Both sides fought bravely, but the Utes at last retreated and were +fiercely pursued. Antelope stood at his full height upon the huge rock +that had sheltered him, and gave his yell of defiance and exultation. +Below him the warriors took it up, and among the gathering shadows the +rocks echoed praises of his name. + +In the Sioux camp upon Lost Water there were dances and praise songs, +but there was wailing and mourning, too, for many lay dead among the +crags. The name of Antelope was indelibly recorded upon Eagle Scout +Butte. + +"If he wished for a war-bonnet of eagle feathers, it is his to wear," +declared one of the young men. "But he is modest, and scarcely even +joins in the scalp dances. It is said of him that he has never yet +spoken to any young woman!" + +"True, it is not announced publicly that he has addressed a maiden. Many +parents would like to have their daughters the first one he would speak +to, but I am told he desires to go upon one or two more war-paths before +seeking woman's company," replied another. + +"Hun, hun, hay!" exclaimed a third youth ill-naturedly. He is already +old enough to be a father!" + +"This is told of him," rejoined the first speaker. "He wants to hold +the record of being the young man who made the greatest number of coups +before he spoke to a maiden. I know that there are not only mothers who +would be glad to have him for a son-in-law, but their young daughters +would not refuse to look upon the brave Antelope as a husband!" + +It was true that in the dance his name was often mentioned, and at every +repetition it seemed that the young women danced with more spirit, while +even grandmothers joined in the whirl with a show of youthful abandon. + +Wezee, the father of Antelope, was receiving congratulations throughout +the afternoon. Many of the old men came to his lodge to smoke with him, +and the host was more than gratified, for he was of a common family and +had never before known what it is to bask in the sunshine of popularity +and distinction. He spoke complacently as he crowded a handful of +tobacco into the bowl of the long red pipe. + +"Friends, our life here is short, and the life of a brave youth is apt +to be shorter than most! We crave all the happiness that we can get, and +it is right that we should do so. One who says that he does not care +for reputation or success, is not likely to be telling the truth. So you +will forgive me if I say too much about the honorable career of my son." +This was the old man's philosophic apology. + +"Ho, ho," his guests graciously responded. "It is your moon! Every moon +has its fullness, when it lights up the night, while the little stars +dance before it. So to every man there comes his full moon!" + +Somewhat later in the day all the young people of the great camp were +seen to be moving in one direction. All wore their best attire and +finest ornaments, and even the parti-colored steeds were decorated to +the satisfaction of their beauty-loving riders. + +"Ugh, Taluta is making a maidens' feast! She, the prettiest of all the +Unkpapa maidens!" exclaimed one of the young braves. + +"She, the handsomest of all our young women!" repeated another. + +Taluta was indeed a handsome maid in the height and bloom of womanhood, +with all that wonderful freshness and magnetism which was developed +and preserved by the life of the wilderness. She had already given five +maidens' feasts, beginning with her fifteenth year, and her shy and +diffident purity was held sacred by her people. + +The maidens' circle was now complete. Behind it the outer circle of old +women was equally picturesque and even more dignified. The grandmother, +not the mother, was regarded as the natural protector of the young +maiden, and the dowagers derived much honor from their position, +especially upon public occasions, taking to themselves no small amount +of credit for the good reputations of their charges. + +Weshawee, whose protege had many suitors and was a decided coquette, +fidgeted nervously and frequently adjusted her robe or fingered +her necklace to ease her mind, for she dreaded lest, in spite of +watchfulness, some mishap might have befallen her charge. Her anxiety +was apparently shared by several other chaperons who stole occasional +suspicious glances in the direction of certain of the young braves. +It had been known to happen that a girl unworthy to join in the sacred +feast was publicly disgraced. + +A special police force was appointed to keep order on this occasion, +each member of which was gorgeously painted and bedecked with eagle +feathers, and carried in his hand a long switch with which to threaten +the encroaching throng. Their horses wore head-skins of fierce animals +to add to their awe-inspiring appearance. + +The wild youths formed the outer circle of the gathering, attired like +the woods in autumn, their long locks glossy with oil and perfumed with +scented grass and leaves. Many pulled their blankets over their heads as +if to avoid recognition, and loitered shyly at a distance. + +Among these last were Antelope and his cousin, Red Eagle. They stood +in the angle formed by the bodies of their steeds, whose noses were +together. The young hero was completely enveloped in his handsome robe +with a rainbow of bead-work acros the middle, and his small moccasined +feet projected from beneath the lower border. Red Eagle held up an +eagle-wing fan, partially concealing his face, and both gazed intently +toward the center of the maidens' circle. + +"Woo! woo!" was the sonorous exclamation of the police, announcing the +beginning of the ceremonies. In the midst of the ring of girls stood the +traditional heart-shaped red stone, with its bristling hedge of arrows. +In this case there were five arrows, indicating that Taluta had already +made as many maidens' feasts. Each of the maidens must lay her hand upon +the stone in token of her purity and chastity, touching also as many +arrows as she herself has attended maidens' feasts. + +Taluta advanced first to the center. As she stood for a moment beside +the sacred stone, she appeared to the gazing bystanders the embodiment +of grace and modesty. Her gown, adorned with long fringes at the seams, +was beaded in blue and white across the shoulders and half way to her +waist. Her shining black hair was arranged in two thick plaits which +hung down upon her bosom. There was a native dignity in her gestures +and in her utterance of the maidens' oath, and as she turned to face the +circle, all the other virgins followed her. + +When the feast was ended and the gay concourse had dispersed, Antelope +and his cousin were among the last to withdraw. The young man's eyes had +followed every movement of Taluta as long as she remained in sight, +and it was only when she vanished in the gathering shadows that he was +willing to retire. + +In savage courtship, it was the custom to introduce one's self boldly +to the young lady, although sometimes it was convenient to have a sister +introduce her brother. But Antelope had no sister to perform this office +for him, and if he had had one, he would not have made the request. He +did not choose to admit any one to his secret, for he had no confidence +in himself or in the outcome of the affair. If it had been anything like +trailing the doe, or scouting the Ojibway, he would have ridiculed the +very notion of missing the object sought. But this was a new warfare--an +unknown hunting! Although he was very anxious to meet Taluta, whenever +the idea occurred to him he trembled like a leaf in the wind, and +profuse perspiration rolled down his stoic visage. It was not customary +to hold any social intercourse with the members of the opposite sex, +and he had never spoken familiarly to any woman since he became a man, +except his old grandmother. It was well known that the counsel of the +aged brings luck to the youth in warfare and love. + +Antelope arose early the next morning, and without speaking to any one +he made a ceremonious toilet. He put on his finest buckskin shirt and +a handsome robe, threw a beaded quiver over his shoulder, and walked +directly away from the teepees and into the forest--he did not know why +nor whither. The sounds of the camp grew fainter and fainter, until at +last he found himself alone. + +"How is it," mused the young man, "that I have hoped to become a leader +among my people? My father is not a chief, and none of my ancestors were +distinguished in war. I know well that, if I desire to be great, I +must deny myself the pleasure of woman's company until I have made my +reputation. I must not boast nor exhibit myself on my first success. The +spirits do not visit the common haunts of men! All these rules I have +thus far kept, and I must not now yield to temptation.... Man has +much to weaken his ambition after he is married. A young man may seek +opportunities to prove his worth, but to a married man the opportunity +must come to try him. He acts only when compelled to act.... Ah, I +must flee from the woman!... Besides, if she should like someone else +better, I should be humiliated.... I must go upon a long war-path. I +shall forget her...." + +At this point his revery was interrupted by the joyous laughter of +two young women. The melodious sing-song laughter of the Sioux maiden +stirred the very soul of the young warrior. + +All his philosophy deserted him, and he stood hesitating, looking about +him as if for a chance of escape. A man who had never before felt the +magnetic influence of woman in her simplicity and childlike purity, he +became for the moment incapable of speech or action. + +Meanwhile the two girls were wholly unconscious of any disturbing +presence in the forest. They were telling each other the signals that +each had received in the dance. Taluta's companion had stopped at the +first raspberry bushes, while she herself passed on to the next thicket. +When she emerged from the pines into an opening, she suddenly beheld +Antelope, in his full-dress suit of courtship. Instantly she dropped her +eyes. + +Luckily the customs of courtship among the Sioux allow the covering +of one's head with the blanket. In this attitude, the young man made a +signal to Taluta with trembling fingers. + +The wild red man's wooing was natural and straightforward; there was no +circumspection, no maneuvering for time or advantage. Hot words of love +burst forth from the young warrior's lips, with heavy breathing behind +the folds of the robe with which he sought to shield his embarrassment. + +"For once the spirits are guiding my fortunes! It may seem strange to +you, when we meet thus by accident, that I should speak immediately of +my love for you; but we live in a world where one must speak when the +opportunity offers. I have thought much of you since I saw you at the +maidens' feast.... Is Taluta willing to become the wife of Tatoka? The +moccasins of her making will cause his feet to be swift in pursuit of +the game, and on the trail of the enemy.... I beg of you, maiden, let +our meeting be known only to the birds of the air, while you consider my +proposal!" + +All this while the maiden stood demurely at his side, playing with +the lariat of her pony in her brown, fine hands. Her doeskin gown with +profuse fringes hung gracefully as the drooping long leaves of the +willow, and her two heavy braids of black hair, mingled with strings +of deers' hoofs and wampum, fell upon her bosom. There was a faint glow +underneath her brown skin, and her black eyes were calm and soft, yet +full of native fire. + +"You will not press for an answer now," she gently replied, without +looking at him. "I expected to see no one here, and your words have +taken me by surprise.... I grant your last request. The birds alone can +indulge in gossip about our meeting,--unless my cousin, who is in the +next ravine, should see us together!" She sprang lightly upon the back +of her pony, and disappeared among the scattered pines. + +Between the first lovers' meeting and the second was a period of one +moon. This was wholly the fault of Antelope, who had been a prey +to indecision and painful thoughts. Half regretting his impulsive +declaration, and hoping to forget his pangs in the chances of travel and +war, he had finally enlisted in the number of those who were to go with +the war-leader Crowhead into the Ute country. As was the custom of the +Sioux warriors upon the eve of departure, the young men consulted their +spiritual advisers, and were frequently in the purifying vapor-bath, and +fasting in prayer. + +The last evening had come, and Antelope was on the way to the top of the +hill behind the camp for a night of prayer. Suddenly in the half-light +he came full upon Taluta, leading her pony down the narrow trail. She +had never looked more beautiful to the youth than at that moment. + +"Ho," he greeted her. She simply smiled shyly. + +"It is long since we met," he ventured. + +"I have concluded that you do not care to hear my reply," retorted the +girl. + +"I have nothing to say in my defense, but I hope that you will be +generous. I have suffered much.... You will understand why I stand far +from you," he added gently. "I have been preparing myself to go upon +the warpath. We start at daylight for the Ute country. Every day for ten +days I have been in the vapor-bath, and ten nights fasting." + +As Taluta well knew, a young warrior under these circumstances dared not +approach a woman, not even his own wife. + +"I still urge you to be my wife. Are you ready to give me your answer?" +continued Antelope. + +"My answer was sent to you by your grandmother this very day," she +replied softly. + +"Ah, tell me, tell me,..." pressed the youth eagerly. + +"All is well. Fear nothing," murmured the maiden. + +"I have given my word--I have made my prayers and undergone +purification. I must not withdraw from this war-path," he said after a +silence. "But I know that I shall be fortunate!... My grandmother will +give you my love token.... Ah, kechuwa (dear love)! watch the big star +every night! I will watch it, too--then we shall both be watching! +Although far apart, our spirits will be together." + +The moon had risen above the hill, and the cold light discovered the two +who stood sadly apart, their hearts hot with longing. Reluctantly, yet +without a backward look or farewell gesture, the warrior went on up the +hill, and the maiden hurried homeward. Only a few moments before she had +been happy in the anticipation of making her lover happy. The truth +was she had been building air-castles in the likeness of a white teepee +pitched upon a virgin prairie all alone, surrounded by mountains. +Tatoka's war-horse and hunting pony were picketed near by, and there she +saw herself preparing the simple meal for him! But now he has clouded +her dreams by this untimely departure. + +"He is too brave.... His life will be a short one," she said to herself +with foreboding. + +For a few hours all was quiet, and just before the appearance of day the +warriors' departure was made known by their farewell songs. Antelope +was in the line early, but he was heavy of heart, for he knew that his +sweetheart was sorely puzzled and disappointed by his abrupt departure. +His only consolation was the knowledge that he had in his bundle a pair +of moccasins made by her hands. He had not yet seen them, because it was +the custom not to open any farewell gifts until the first camp was made, +and then they must be opened before the eyes of all the young men! It +brings luck to the war-party, they said. He would have preferred to keep +his betrothal secret, but there was no escaping the custom. + +All the camp-fires were burning and supper had been eaten, when the +herald approached every group and announced the programme for the +evening. It fell to Antelope to open his bundle first. Loud laughter +pealed forth when the reluctant youth brought forth a superb pair of +moccasins--the recognized lovegift! At such times the warriors' jokes +were unmerciful, for it was considered a last indulgence in jesting, +perhaps for many moons. The recipient was well known to be a novice +in love, and this token first disclosed the fact that he had at last +succumbed to the allurements of woman. When he sang his love-song he was +obliged to name the giver of the token, and many a disappointed suitor +was astonished to hear Taluta's name. + +It was a long journey to the Ute country, and when they reached it there +was a stubbornly contested fight. Both sides claimed the victory, and +both lost several men. Here again Antelope was signally favored by the +gods of war. He counted many coups or blows, and exhibited his bravery +again and again in the charges, but he received no wound. + + +On the return journey Taluta's beautiful face was constantly before +him. He was so impatient to see her that he hurried on in advance of his +party, when they were still several days' travel from the Sioux camp. + +"This time I shall join in all the dances and participate in the +rejoicings, for she will surely like to have me do so," he thought to +himself. "She will join also, and I know that none is a better dancer +than Taluta!" + +In fancy, Antelope was practicing the songs of victory as he rode alone +over the vast wild country. + +He had now passed Wild Horse Creek and the Black Hills lay to the +southeast, while the Big Horn range loomed up to the north in gigantic +proportions. He felt himself at home. + +"I shall now be a man indeed. I shall have a wife!" he said aloud. + +At last he reached the point from which he expected to view the distant +camp. Alas, there was no camp there! Only a solitary teepee gleamed +forth upon the green plain, which was almost surrounded by a quick turn +of the River of Deep Woods. The teepee appeared very white. A peculiar +tingling sensation passed through his frame, and the pony whinnied often +as he was urged forward at a gallop. + +When Antelope beheld the solitary teepee he knew instantly what it was. +It was a grave! Sometimes a new white lodge was pitched thus for +the dead, who lay in state within upon a couch of finest skins, and +surrounded by his choicest possessions. + +Antelope's excitement increased as he neared the teepee, which was +protected by a barricade of thick brush. It stood alone and silent in +the midst of the deserted camp. He kicked the sides of his tired horse +to make him go faster. At last he jumped from the saddle and ran +toward the door. There he paused for a moment, and at the thought of +desecrating a grave, a cold terror came over him. + +"I must see--I must see!" he said aloud, and desperately he broke +through the thorny fence and drew aside the oval swinging door. + + + + +II + +In the stately white teepee, seen from afar, both grave and monument, +there lay the fair body of Taluta! The bier was undisturbed, and the +maiden looked beautiful as if sleeping, dressed in her robes of ceremony +and surrounded by all her belongings. + +Her lover looked upon her still face and cried aloud. "Hey, hey, hey! +Alas! alas! If I had known of this while in the Ute country, you would +not be lonely on the spirit path." + +He withdrew, and laid the doorflap reverently back in its place. How +long he stood without the threshold he could not tell. He stood with +head bowed down upon his breast, tearless and motionless, utterly +oblivious to everything save the bier of his beloved. His charger grazed +about for a long time where he had left him, but at last he endeavored +by a low whinny to attract his master's attention, and Antelope awoke +from his trance of sorrow. + +The sun was now hovering over the western ridges. The mourner's throat +was parched, and perspiration rolled down his cheeks, yet he was +conscious of nothing but a strong desire to look upon her calm, sweet +face once more. + +He kindled a small fire a little way off, and burned some cedar berries +and sweet-smelling grass. Then he fumigated himself thoroughly to dispel +the human atmosphere, so that the spirit might not be offended by his +approach, for he greatly desired to obtain a sign from her spirit. +He had removed his garments and stood up perfectly nude save for the +breechclout. His long hair was unbraided and hung upon his shoulders, +veiling the upper half of his splendid body. Thus standing, the lover +sang a dirge of his own making. The words were something like this: + + + Ah, spirit, thy flight is mysterious! + + While the clouds are stirred by our wailing, + + And our tears fall faster in sorrow-- + + + While the cold sweat of night benumbs us, + + Thou goest alone on thy journey, + + In the midst of the shining star people! + + + Thou goest alone on thy journey-- + + Thy memory shall be our portion; + + Until death we must watch for the spirit! + + +The eyes of Antelope were closed while he chanted the dirge. He sang it +over and over, pausing between the lines, and straining as it were every +sense lest he might not catch the rapt whisper of her spirit, but only +the distant howls of coyotes answered him. His body became cold and numb +from sheer exhaustion, and at last his knees bent under him and he sank +down upon the ground, still facing the teepee. Unconsciousness overtook +him, and in his sleep or trance the voice came: + +"Do not mourn for me, my friend! Come into my teepee, and eat of my +food." + +It seemed to Antelope that he faltered for a moment; then he entered +the teepee. There was a cheerful fire burning in the center. A basin +of broiled buffalo meat was placed opposite the couch of Taluta, on the +other side of the fire. Its odor was delicious to him, yet he hesitated +to eat of it. + +"Fear not, kechuwa (my darling)! It will give you strength," said the +voice. + +The maid was natural as in life. Beautifully attired, she sat up on her +bed, and her demeanor was cheerful and kind. + +The young man ate of the food in silence and without looking at the +spirit. "Ho, kechuwa!" he said to her when returning the dish, according +to the custom of his people. + +Silently the two sat for some minutes, while the youth gazed into the +burning embers. + +"Be of good heart," said Taluta, at last, "for you shall meet my twin +spirit! She will love you as I do, and you will love her as you love me. +This was our covenant before we came into this world." + +The conception of a "twin spirit" was familiar to the Sioux. "Ho," +responded the warrior, with dignity and all seriousness. He felt a great +awe for the spirit, and dared not lift his eyes to her face. + +"Weep no more, kechuwa, weep no more," she softly added; and the next +moment Antelope found himself outside the mysterious teepee. His limbs +were stiff and cold, but he did not feel faint nor hungry. Having filled +his pipe, he held it up to the spirits and then partook of the smoke; +and thus revived, he slowly and reluctantly left the sacred spot. + +The main war-party also visited the old camp and saw the solitary teepee +grave, but did not linger there. They continued on the trail of +the caravan until they reached the new camping ground. They called +themselves successful, although they had left several of their number +on the field. Their triumph songs indicated this; therefore the people +hurried to receive the news and to learn who were the unfortunates. + +The father of Antelope was foremost among those who ran to meet the +war-party. He learned that his son had distinguished himself in the +fight, and that his name was not mentioned among the brave dead. + +"And where, then, is he?" he asked, with unconcealed anxiety. + +"He left us three days ago to come in advance," they replied. + +"But he has not arrived!" exclaimed old Wezee, in much agitation. + +He returned to his teepee, where he consoled himself as best he could by +smoking the pipe in solitude. He could neither sing praises nor indulge +in the death dirge, and none came in either to congratulate or mourn +with him. + +The sun had disappeared behind the hills, and the old man still sat +gazing into the burning embers, when he heard a horse's footfall at the +door of his lodge. + +"Ho, atay (father)!" came the welcome call. + +"Mechinkshe! mechinkshe!" (my son, my son), he replied in unrestrained +joy. Old Wezee now stood on the threshold and sang the praise song for +his son, ending with a warwhoop such as he had not indulged in since he +was quite a young man. + +The camp was once more alive with the dances, and the dull thud of the +Indian drum was continually in the air. The council had agreed that +Antelope was entitled to wear a war-bonnet of eagles' feathers. He was +accordingly summoned before the aboriginal parliament, and from the wise +men of the tribe he received his degree of war-bonnet. + +It was a public ceremony. The great pipe was held up for him to take the +smoke of high honor. + +The happiest person present was the father of Antelope; but he himself +remained calm and unmoved throughout the ceremony. + +"He is a strange person," was the whisper among a group of youths who +were watching the proceedings with envious eyes. + +The young man was strangely listless and depressed in spirit. His old +grandmother knew why, but none of the others understood. He never joined +in the village festivities, while the rest of his family were untiring +in the dances, and old Wezee was at the height of his happiness. + +It was a crisp October morning, and the family were eating their +breakfast of broiled bison meat, when the large drum at the council +lodge was struck three times. The old man set down his wooden basin. + +"Ah, my son, the war-chiefs will make an announcement! It may be a call +for the enlistment of warriors! I am sorry," he said, and paused. "I +am sorry, because I would rather no war-party went out at present. I +am getting old. I have enjoyed your success, my son. I love to hear the +people speak your name. If you go again upon the war-path, I shall no +longer be able to join in the celebrations. Something tells me that you +will not return!" + +Young braves were already on their way to the council lodge. Tatoka +looked, and the temptation was great. + +"Father, it is not becoming for me to remain at home when others go," he +said, at last. + +"Ho," was the assent uttered by the father, with a deep sigh. + +"Five hundred braves have enlisted to go with the great war prophet +against the three confederated tribes," he afterward reported at home, +with an air of elation which he had not worn for some moons. + +Since Antelope had received the degree of war-bonnet, his father had +spared neither time nor his meager means in his behalf. He had bartered +his most cherished possessions for several eagles that were brought +in by various hunters of the camp, and with his own hands had made a +handsome war-bonnet for his son. + +"You will now wear a war-bonnet for the first time, and you are the +first of our family who has earned the right to wear one for many +generations. I am proud of you, my son," he said as he presented it. + +But when the youth replied: "Ho, ho, father! I ought to be a brave man +in recognition of this honor," he again sighed heavily. + +"It is that I feared, my son! Many a young man has lost his life for +vanity and love of display!" + +The evening serenades began early, for the party was to leave at once. +In groups upon their favorite ponies the warriors rode around the inner +circle of the great camp, singing their war-songs. All the people came +out of the teepees, and sitting by twos and threes upon the ground, +bedecked with savage finery, they watched and listened. The pretty wild +maidens had this last opportunity given them to look upon the faces of +their sweethearts, whom they might never see again. Here and there +an old man was singing the gratitude song or thank-offering, while +announcing the first warpath of a novice, for such an announcement meant +the giving of many presents to the poor and aged. So the camp was filled +with songs of joy and pride in the departing husbands, brothers, and +sons. + +As soon as darkness set in the sound of the rude native flute was added +to the celebration. This is the lover's farewell. The young braves, +wrapped from head to foot in their finest robes, each sounded the +plaintive strains near the teepee of the beloved. The playful yodeling +of many voices in chorus was heard at the close of each song. + +At midnight the army of five hundred, the flower of the Sioux, marched +against their ancient enemy. Antelope was in the best of spirits. He had +his war-bonnet to display before the enemy! He was now regarded as one +of the foremost warriors of his band, and might probably be asked to +perform some specially hazardous duty, so that he was fully prepared to +earn further distinction. + +In five days the Sioux were encamped within a day's travel of the +permanent village of the confederated tribes--the Rees, Mandans, and +Gros Ventres. The war-chief selected two men, Antelope and Eaglechild, +to scout at night in advance of the main force. It was thought that most +of the hunters had already returned to their winter quarters, and in +this case the Sioux would have no mean enemy to face. On the other hand, +a battle was promised that would enlarge their important traditions. + +The two made their way as rapidly as possible toward the ancestral home +of their enemies. It was a night perfectly suited to what they had to +do, for the moon was full, the fleeting clouds hiding it from time to +time and casting deceptive shadows. + +When they had come within a short distance of the lodges unperceived, +they lay flat for a long time, and studied the ways of the young men in +every particular, for it was Antelope's plan to enter the great village +and mingle boldly with its inhabitants. Even their hoots and love-calls +were carefully noted, so that they might be able to imitate them. +There were several entertainments in progress in different parts of the +village, yet it was apparent that the greatest vigilance was observed. +The lodges of poles covered with earth were partly underground, and at +one end the war-horses were stabled, as a precaution against a possible +surprise. + +At the moment that a large cloud floated over the moon, casting a +shadow large enough to cover the entire village, the drum in one of the +principal lodges was struck in quick time, accompanied by boisterous +war-whoops and singing. The two scouts adjusted their robes about them +in the fashion of the strangers, and walked openly in that direction. + +They glanced quickly from side to side as they approached, but no one +paid any attention, so they came up with other young men and peeped +through the chinks in the earth wigwam. It was a great gambling party. +Among the guests were several distinguished warriors, and each at an +opportune time would rise and recount his great deeds in warfare against +the Sioux. The strangers could read their gestures, and Antelope was +once or twice almost on the point of stringing his bow to send an arrow +through the audacious speaker. + +As they moved about the village, taking note of its numbers and +situation, and waiting an opportunity to withdraw without exciting +suspicion, they observed some of the younger braves standing near +another large wigwam, and one or two even peeped within. Moved by sudden +curiosity, Antelope followed their example. He uttered a low exclamation +and at once withdrew. + +"What is it?" asked his companion, but received no answer. + +It was evidently the home of a chief. The family were seated within at +their usual occupations, and the bright light of the central fire shone +full upon the face of a most lovely maiden. + +Antelope stood apparently motionless, but he was trembling under his +robe like a leaf. + +"Come, friend, there is another large cloud almost over the moon! We +must move away under its concealing shadow," urged Eaglechild. + +The other stood still as if undecided, but at last he approached the +lodge and looked in a second time. There sat his sweetheart in human +form once more! The maiden was attired in a doeskin gown set with elk's +teeth like ivory. Her eyes were cast down demurely over her embroidery, +but in every feature she was the living counterpart of Taluta! + +At last the two got away unobserved, and hastened toward the place where +they had concealed their horses. But here Antelope sent his companion on +in advance, making the excuse that he wished to study further the best +position from which to make the attack. + +When he was left alone he stood still for a moment to decide upon a +plan. He could think of nothing but that he must meet the Ree maiden +before daylight! He realized the extreme hazard of the attempt, but he +also recalled what he had been told by the spirit of Taluta, and the +supernatural command seemed to justify him even in going thus upon the +eve of battle to meet the enemy of his people. + +He skirted the heavy timber and retraced his steps to a point from which +he could see the village. The drum of the gambling party had ceased with +the shouts and laughter of the players. Apparently the village was lost +in slumber. The moon had set, and without pausing he advanced to the +home of the girl. As he came near some dogs began to bark, but he +silenced them after the manner of the Rees, and they obeyed him. + +When Antelope softly raised the robe that hung over the entrance to the +chief's lodge, he saw the fire smoldering in the center, and the members +of the household lying in their respective places, all seemingly in a +deep sleep. The girl lay opposite the entrance, where he had seen her +seated in the early part of the evening. + +The heart of the Sioux beat violently, and he glanced nervously to left +and right. There was neither sound nor movement. Then he pulled his robe +completely over his head, after the fashion of a Ree lover, and softly +entered the wigwam. + +The Ree maiden, having industriously worked on her embroidery until far +into the night, had retired to rest. In her dreams, the twin sister came +to her of whom she had had visions ever since she could remember, and +especially when something of importance was about to happen. + +This time she came with a handsome young man of another tribe, and said: +"Sister, I bring you a Sioux, who will be your husband!" + +The dreamer opened her eyes to behold a youth bending over her and +gently pulling her robe, as a suitor is permitted to do to awaken his +beloved. + +When he saw that she was awake, the Sioux touched his breast, saying in +a whisper, "Tatoka," and made the sign for Antelope. This pleased the +Ree girl, for her own brother, who had died the year before, had borne +that name. She immediately sat up and stirred the embers into a light +blaze. Then she took hold of his blanket and drew it from his face; and +there she seemed to see the very features of the man of her vision! + +He took her hand in his, and she felt the force of love stream through +his long, nervous fingers, and instinctively knew his thoughts. In her +turn she touched her breast and made the sign for Shield, pronouncing in +her own tongue the word, Stasu. This seemed to him also a name of good +omen, and in the sign language which was common to all the people of the +plains, he asked her to be his wife. + +Vividly her dream came back to her, and she could not refuse the +stranger. Her soul already responded to his; and for a few minutes they +sat silently side by side. When he arose and beckoned, "Come with me," +she had no question to make, and without a word she followed him from +her father's lodge and out into the forest. + + +In the midst of his ascending fame, at a moment when opportunity seemed +to favor his ambition, the brave Antelope had mysteriously disappeared! +His companion scout returned with a favorable report. He said that the +men of the three confederated tribes were gambling and feasting, wholly +unconscious of danger, and that Antelope would follow him with a further +report upon the best point of attack. The red warriors impatiently +awaited his return, until it became apparent that they could wait no +longer without sacrificing their chance of success. When the attack was +made it was already rather late. The sun had fairly cleared the eastern +hills, and most of the men were outside their lodges. + +It was a great battle! Again and again the Sioux were repulsed, but +as often they rallied and repeated the charge until sundown, when they +effected their retreat with considerable loss. Had Antelope returned +in due season, the charge would have been made before dawn, while the +people were yet asleep. + +When the battle was over, the Rees, Mandans, and Gros Ventres gathered +their dead and wounded. The night was filled with mourning. Soon the sad +news was heralded throughout the camp that the beautiful daughter of the +Ree chief was among the missing. It was supposed that she must have been +captured while driving her ponies to water in the early morning. The +grief for her loss was mingled with horror, because of a fear that she +might suffer humiliation at the hands of the Sioux warriors, and among +the young men there were muttered threats that the Sioux would pay +dearly for this. + +Though partially successful, the Sioux had lost many of their bravest +warriors, and none could tell what had happened to Antelope--he who had +been believed the favorite of the gods of war. It was suggested by some +envious ones that perhaps he had recognized the strongly entrenched +position of the three tribes, and believing the battle would be a +disastrous one, had set out for home without making his report. But this +supposition was not deemed credible. On the other hand, the idea was +entertained that he had reentered the village, was detected and slain; +and therefore the enemy was on the lookout when the attack was made. + +"Hay, hay, hay, mechinkshe (Alas, alas, my son)!" was the sorrowful +cry with which his old father received the news. His head fell upon his +breast, and all the others groaned in sympathy. + +The sunset sky was a blanket of beautiful painting. There were +camp-fires among the clouds in orange and scarlet, while some were black +as night. So the camp fairly glowed in celebration of its heroes; yet +there was deep grief in many families. When the evening meal had been +eaten and the people were sitting outside their lodges, a tall old +man, almost nude, appeared in the circle, riding a fine horse. He had +blackened his face, his hair was cut short, and the horse also had been +deprived of his flowing mane and tail. Both were in deep mourning, after +the fashion of the Sioux. + +"Ho ho!" exclaimed many warriors as he passed them, singing in a hoarse, +guttural voice. + +"Ugh, he sings a war-song!" remarked one. + +"Yes, I am told that he will find his son's bones, or leave his own in +the country of the enemy!" + + +The rain had fallen incessantly for two days. The fleeing lovers had +reached this lonely mountain valley of the Big Horn region on the night +that the cold fall rains set in, and Antelope had hurriedly constructed +an arbor house or rude shelter of pine and cedar boughs. + +It was enough. There they sat, man and wife, in their first home of +living green! The cheerful fire was burning in the center, and the happy +smoke went straight up among the tall pines. There was no human eye +to gaze upon them to embarrass--not even a common language in which to +express their love for one another. + +Their marriage, they believed, was made by a spirit, and it was holy in +their minds. Each had cast away his people and his all for the sake of +this emotion which had suddenly overtaken them both with overwhelming +force, and the warrior's ambition had disappeared before it like a +morning mist before the sun. + +To them a new life was just beginning, and they had all but forgotten +the existence of any world save this. The young bride was enshrined in a +bower of spicy fragrance, and her face shone whenever her eyes met those +of her husband. + +"This is as I would have it, kechuwa (darling)!" exclaimed the Sioux in +his own language. She simply responded with a childlike smile. Although +she did not understand his words, she read in the tones of his voice +only happy and loving thoughts. + +The Ree girl had prepared a broiled bison steak, and her husband was +keeping the fire well fed with dry fagots. The odor of the buming fat +was delicious, and the gentle patter of the rain made a weird music +outside their wigwam. + +As soon as her husband had left her alone--for he must go to water the +ponies and conceal them at a distance--Stasu came out to collect more +wood. Instinctively she looked all about her. Huge mountains towered +skyward, clad in pines. The narrow valley in which she was wound its way +between them, and on every side there was heavy forest. + +She stood silent and awed, scarcely able to realize that she had +begun her new life absolutely alone, with no other woman to advise or +congratulate her, and visited only by the birds of the air. Yet all the +world to her just now was Antelope! No other woman could smile on him. +He could not talk to any one but her. The evening drum at the council +lodge could not summon him away from her, and she was well content. + +When the young wife had done everything she could think of in +preparation for her husband's return, including the making of several +birch-bark basins and pails for water, the rain had quite ceased, so +she spread her robe just outside the lodge and took up her work-bag, in +which she had several pairs of moccasin-tops already beaded. + +While she bent over her work, getting up from time to time to turn the +roast which she had impaled upon a sharp stick above the glowing coals, +the bride had a stream of shy callers, of the little people of the +woods. She sat very still, so as not to startle them, and there is much +curiosity among these people concerning a stranger. + +Presently she was startled by a footfall not unlike that of a man. She +had not been married long enough to know the sound of her husband's +step, and she felt a thrill of joy and fear alternately. It might be he, +and it might be a stranger! She was loath to look up, but at last gave +a furtive glance, and met squarely the eyes of a large grizzly bear, who +was seated upon his haunches not far away. + +Stasu was surprised, but she showed no fear; and fearlessness is the +best shield against wild animals. In a moment she got up unconcernedly, +and threw a large piece of meat to the stranger. + +"Take of my wedding feast, O great Bear!" she addressed him, "and be +good to me to bless my first teepee! O be kind and recognize my brave +act in taking for my husband one of the warriors of the Sioux, the +ancient enemy of my people! I have accepted a husband of a language +other than mine, and am come to live among you as your neighbor. I offer +you my friendship!" + +The bear's only answer to her prayer was a low growl, but having eaten +the meat, he turned and clumsily departed. + +In the meantime Antelope had set himself to master the geography of that +region, to study the outlook for game, and ascertain the best approaches +to their secret home. It was already settled in his mind that he +could never return either to his wife's people or to his own. His +fellow-warriors would not forgive his desertion, and the Rees could not +be expected to welcome as a kinsman one of the foremost of their ancient +foes. There was nothing to be done but to remain in seclusion, and let +them say what they would of him! + +He had loved the Ree maiden from the first moment he beheld her by the +light of the blazing embers, and that love must satisfy him. It was +well that he had never cared much for company, but had spent many of his +young days in solitude and fasting. It did not seem at all strange to +him that he had been forced to retreat into an unknown and wild country +with a woman whom he saw in the evening for the first time, and fled +with as his own wife before sunrise! + +By the afternoon he had thoroughly informed himself upon the nature of +the surrounding country. Everything on the face of the map was surveyed +and charted in his mind, in accordance with his habits and training. +This done, he turned toward his secret dwelling. As he walked rapidly +and noiselessly through the hidden valleys and along the singing +streams, he noticed fresh signs of the deer, elk, and other wild tribes +among whom he had chosen to abide. "They shall be my people," he said to +himself. + +Behind a group of cedars he paused to reconnoiter, and saw the +pine-bough wigwam like a giant plant, each row of boughs overlapping +the preceding circular row like the scales of a fish. Stasu was sitting +before it upon a buffalorobe, attired in her best doeskin gown. Her +delicate oval face was touched with red paint, and her slender brown +hands were occupied with a moccasin meant for him to wear. He could +scarcely believe that it was a mortal woman that he saw before him +in broad day--the pride of No Man's Trail, for that is what the Crow +Indians call that valley! + +"Ho, ho, kechuwa!" he exclaimed as he approached her, and her heart +leaped in recognition of the magnetic words of love. + +"It is good that we are alone! I shall never want to go back to my +people so long as I have you. I can dwell here with you forever, +unless you should think otherwise!" she exclaimed in her own tongue, +accompanied by graphic signs. + +"Ho, I think of nothing else! I can see in every creature only friendly +ways and good feeling. We can live alone here, happily, unless you +should feel differently," he replied in his own language with the signs, +so that his bride understood him. + +The environment was just what it should be when two people are united in +marriage. The wedding music was played by Nature, and trees, brooks, +and the birds of the air contributed their peculiar strains to a great +harmony. All of the people on No Man's Trail were polite, and understood +the reserves of love. These two had yielded to a simple and natural +impulse; but its only justification to their minds was the mysterious +leading of the twin spirit! That was the sum total of their excuse, and +it was enough. + +Before the rigor of winter had set in, Tatoka brought to his bride +many buffalo skins. She was thoroughly schooled in the arts of savage +womanhood; in fact, every Indian maid was trained with this thought +in view--that she should become a beautiful, strong, skillful wife and +mother--the mother of a noble race of warriors! + +In a short time within that green and pine-scented enclosure there smiled +a little wild paradise. Hard by the pine-bough wigwam there stood a new +white buffalo-skin teepee, tanned, cut, sewed, and pitched by the hands +of Stasu. Away in the woods, down by the rushing brook, was her tannery, +and not far away, in a sunny, open spot, she prepared her sun-cured +meats for winter use. Her kitchen was a stone fireplace in a shady spot, +and her parlor was the lodge of evergreen, overhung on two sides by +inaccessible ledges, and bounded on the other two by the sparkling +stream. It was a secret place, and yet a citadel; a silent place, and +yet not lonely! + +The winter was cold and long, but the pair were happy in one another's +company, and accepted their strange lot as one that was chosen for them +by the spirits. Stasu had insisted upon her husband speaking to her in +his own language, that she might learn it quickly. In a little while she +was able to converse with him, and when she had acquired his language +she taught him hers. + +While Antelope was occupied with hunting and exploring the country, +always keeping in mind the danger of discovery by some wandering scout +or hunter, his wife grew well acquainted with the wild inhabitants of +No Man's Trail. These people are as full of curiosity as man, and as the +Sioux never hunted near his home, they were entirely fearless. Many came +to the door of Stasu's lodge, and she was not afraid, but offered them +food and spoke to them kindly. All animals judge by signs and are +quick in reading tones and gestures; so that the Ree girl soon had +grandfathers and grandmothers, after the Indian fashion, among the +wolves and bears that came oftenest for food. + +Her husband in the field had also his fellow-hunters and friends. When +he killed the buffalo he always left enough meat for the wolves, the +eagles, and the ravens to feast upon, and these watched for the coming +of the lonely wild man. More than once they told him by their actions of +the presence of a distant campfire, but in each instance it proved to be +a small war-party which had passed below them on the trail. + +Again it was summer. Never had the mountains looked grander or more +mysterious to the eyes of the two. The valley was full of the music +and happiness of the winged summer people; the trees wore their summer +attire, and the meadow its green blanket. There were many homes made +happy by the coming of little people everywhere, but no pair was happier +than Stasu and her husband when one morning they saw their little +brave lying wrapped in soft deerskins, and heard for the first time his +plaintive voice! + +That morning, when Antelope set out on the hunt, he stopped at the +stream and looked at himself seriously to see whether he had changed +since the day before. He must now appear much graver, he said to +himself, because he is the father of a new man! + +In spite of himself, his thoughts were with his own people, and he +wondered what his old grandmother would have said to his child! He +looked away off toward the Black Hills, to the Sioux country, and in his +heart he said, "I am a coward!" + +The boy grew naturally, and never felt the lack of playmates and +companions, for his mother was ingenious in devising plays for him, and +in winning for him the confidence and kindness of the animal friends. He +was the young chief and the hero of No Man's Trail! The bears and wolves +were his warriors; the buffalo and elk the hostile tribes upon whom he +went to war. Small as he was, he soon preferred to roam alone in the +woods. His parents were often anxious, but, on the other hand, they +entertained the hope that he would some day be "wakan," a mysterious or +supernatural man, for he was getting power from his wild companions and +from the silent forces of nature. + +One day, when he was about five years old, he gave a dance for his wild +pets upon the little plateau which was still their home. He had clothed +Mato, the bear, in one of his father's suits as a great medicine-man. +Waho, the wolf, was painted up as a brave; and the young buffalo calf +was attired in one of his mother's gowns. The boy acted as chief and +master of ceremonies. + +The savage mother watched him with undisguised pride, mingled with +sorrow. Tears coursed down her dusky cheeks, although at the same time +she could not help laughing heartily at the strange performance. When +the play was ended, and she had served the feast at its close, Stasu +seemed lost in thought. + +"He should not live in this way," she was saying to herself. "He should +know the traditions and great deeds of my people! Surely his grandfather +would be proud of the boy!" + +That evening, while the boy slept, and Mato lay outside the lodge +eagerly listening and sniffing the night air, the parents sat silent and +ill at ease. After a long time Stasu spoke her mind. + +"My husband, you ask me why I am sad. It is because I think that the +Great Mystery will be displeased if we keep this little boy forever in +the wilderness. It is wrong to allow him to grow up among wild animals; +and if sickness or accident should deprive him of his father and mother, +our spirits would never rest, because we had left him alone! I have +decided to ask you to take us back, either to your people or to my +people. We must sacrifice our pride, or, if needs be, our lives, for his +life and happiness!" + +This speech of Stasu's was a surprise to her husband. His eyes rested +upon the ground as he listened, and his face assumed the proverbial +stoical aspect, yet in it there was not lacking a certain nobleness. At +last he lifted his eyes to hers, and said: + +"You have spoken wise words, and it shall be as you have said. We shall +return to your people. If I am to die at the hands of the ancient enemy +of the Sioux, I shall die because of my love for you, and for our child. +But I cannot go back to my own people to be ridiculed by unworthy young +men for yielding to love of a Ree maiden!" + +There was much feeling behind these words of Antelope. The rigid customs +of his people are almost a religion, and there is one thing above +all else which a Sioux cannot bear--that is the ridicule of his +fellow-warriors. Yes, he can endure severe punishment or even death at +the hands of the enemy rather than a single laugh of derision from a +Sioux! + +In a few days the household articles were packed, and the three sadly +turned their backs upon their home. Stasu and her husband were very +silent as they traveled slowly along. When they reached the hill called +"Born-of-Day," and she saw from its summit the country of her people +lying below her, she cried aloud, weeping happy tears. Antelope sat near +by with bowed head, silently smoking. + +Finally on the fifth day they arrived within sight of the great +permanent village of the three tribes. They saw the earth lodges as +of old, thickly clustered along the flats of the Missouri, among their +rustling maize-fields. Antelope stopped. "I think you had better give +me something to eat, woman," he said, smiling. It was the Sioux way of +saying, "Let me have my last meal!" + +After they had eaten, Stasu opened her buckskin bags and gave her +husband his finest suit. He dressed himself carefully in the fashion +of his tribe, putting on all the feathers to which he was entitled as +a warrior. The boy also was decked out in gala attire, and Stasu, the +matron, had never looked more beautiful in her gown of ceremony with the +decoration of elks' teeth, the same that she had worn on the evening of +her disappearance. + +As she dressed herself, the unwelcome thought forced itself upon +her,--"What if my love is killed by my own countrymen in their frenzy? +This beautiful gown must then give place to a poor one, and this hair +will be cut short!" for such is the mourning of the widow among her +people. + +The three rode openly down the long slope, and were instantly discovered +by the people of the village. Soon the plain was black with the +approaching riders. Stasu had begged her husband to remain behind, while +she went on alone with the boy to obtain forgiveness, but he sternly +refused, and continued in advance. When the foremost Ree warriors came +within arrow-shot they began to shoot, to which he paid no attention. + +But the child screamed with terror, and Stasu cried out in her own +tongue: + +"Do not shoot! I am the daughter of your chief!" + +One of them returned the reply: "She is killed by the Sioux!" But when +the leaders saw her plainly they were astounded. + +For a time there was great confusion. Some held that they should all +die, for the woman had been guilty of treason to her people, and even +now she might be playing a trick upon them. Who could say that behind +that hill there was not a Sioux war-party? + +"No, no," replied others. "They are in our power. Let them tell their +story!" + +Stasu told it simply, and said in conclusion: + +"This man, one of the bravest and most honorable men of his tribe, +deserted on the night of the attack, and all because he loved a +Ree maiden! He now comes to be your brother-in-law, who will fight +henceforth for you and with you, even if it be against his own people. + +"He does not beg for mercy--he can dare anything! But I am a woman--my +heart is soft--I ask for the lives of my husband and my son, who is the +grandson of your chief!" + +"He is a coward who touches this man!" exclaimed the leader, and a +thunder of warwhoops went up in approval of his words. + +The warriors formed themselves in two great columns, riding twenty +abreast, behind and in front of the strangers. The old chief came out to +meet them, and took his son-inlaw's hand. Thus they entered the village +in battle array, but with hearts touched with wonder and great gladness, +discharging their arrows upward in clouds and singing peace-songs. + + + + +II. THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE + +"It was many years ago, when I was only a child," began White Ghost, +the patriarchal old chief of the Yanktonnais Sioux, "that our band was +engaged in a desperate battle with the Rees and Mandans. The cause of +the fight was a peculiar one. I will tell you about it." And he laid +aside his longstemmed pipe and settled himself to the recital. + +"At that time the Yanktonnais numbered a little over forty families. +We were nicknamed by the other bands Shunkikcheka, or Domestic Dogs, +because of our owning large numbers of these animals. My father was the +head chief. + +"Our favorite wintering place was a timbered tract near the mouth of the +Grand River, and it was here that we met the Blackfoot Sioux in the fall +hunt. On the opposite side of the river from our camp was the permanent +village of the Rees and Mandans, whose houses were of dirt and partly +underground. For a hundred years before this time they had planted +large gardens, and we were accustomed to buy of them corn, beans, and +pumpkins. From time to time our people had made treaties of peace with +them. Each family of the Rees had one or two buffalo boats--not round, +as the Sioux made them, but two or three skins long. In these boats they +brought quantities of dried beans and other vegetables to trade with us +for jerked buffalo meat. + +"It was a great gathering and a time of general festivity and +hospitality. The Sioux young men were courting the Ree girls, and the +Ree braves were courting our girls, while the old people bartered their +produce. All day the river was alive with canoes and its banks rang with +the laughter of the youths and maidens. + +"My father's younger brother, whose name was Big Whip, had a close +friend, a young man who ever after the event of which I am about to tell +you was known as Bald Eagle. They were both daring young men and very +ambitious for distinction. They had been following the Ree girls to +their canoes as they returned to their homes in the evening. + +"Big Whip and his friend stood upon the river bank at sunset, one with a +quiver full of arrows upon his back while the other carried a gun under +his blanket. Nearly all the people of the other village had crossed the +river, and the chief of the Rees, whose name was Bald Eagle, went home +with his wife last of all. It was about dusk as they entered their +bullhide boat, and the two Sioux stood there looking at them. + +"Suddenly Big Whip exclaimed: 'Friend, let us kill the chief. I dare you +to kill and scalp him!' His friend replied: + +"'It shall be as you say. I will stand by you in all things. I am +willing to die with you.' + +"Accordingly Bald Eagle pulled out his gun and shot the Ree dead. From +that day he took his name. The old man fell backward into his boat, and +the old woman screamed and wept as she rowed him across the river. The +other young man shot an arrow or two at the wife, but she continued to +row until she reached the other bank. + +"There was great excitement on both sides of the river as soon as +the people saw what had happened. There were two camps of Sioux, the +Blackfoot Sioux and the Yanktonnais, or our people. Of course the +Mandans and Rees greatly outnumbered us; their camp must have numbered +two or three thousand, which was more than we had in our combined camps. + +"There was a Sioux whose name was Black Shield, who had intermarried +among the Rees. He came down to the opposite bank of the Missouri and +shouted to us: + +"'Of which one of your bands is the man who killed Bald Eagle?' + +"One of the Blackfoot Sioux replied: + +"'It is a man of the Yanktonnais Sioux who killed Bald Eagle.' + +"Then he said: 'The Rees wish to do battle with them; you had better +withdraw from their camp.' + +"Accordingly the Blackfeet retired about a mile from us upon the bluffs +and pitched their tents, while the Yanktonnais remained on the flats. +The two bands had been great rivals in courage and the art of war, so +we did not ask for help from our kinsfolk, but during the night we dug +trenches about the camp, the inner one for the women and children, and +the outer one for the men to stay in and do battle. + +"The next morning at daybreak the enemy landed and approached our camp +in great numbers. Some of their women and old men came also, and sat +upon the bluffs to watch the fight and to carry off their dead and +wounded. The Blackfeet likewise were watching the battle from the +bluffs, and just before the fight began one Blackfoot came in with his +wife and joined us. His name was Red Dog's Track, but from that day he +was called He-Came-Back. His wife was a Yanktonnais, and he had said to +her: 'If I don't join your tribe to-day, my brothers-in-law will call me +a coward.' + +"The Sioux were well entrenched and well armed with guns and arrows, +and their aim was deadly, so that the Rees crawled up gradually and took +every opportunity to pick off any Sioux who ventured to show his head +above the trenches. In like manner every Ree who exposed himself was +sure to die. + +"Up to this time no one had seen the two men who made all the trouble. +There was a natural hollow in the bank, concealed by buffalo berry +bushes, very near where they stood when Bald Eagle shot the Ree. + +"'Friend,' said Big Whip, 'it is likely that our own people will punish +us for this deed. They will pursue and kill us wherever they find us. +They have the right to do this. The best thing is to drop into this +washout and remain there until they cease to look for us.' + +"They did so, and remained hidden during the night. But, after the fight +began, Big Whip said again: 'Friend, we are the cause of the deaths of +many brave men this day. We committed the act to show our bravery. We +dared each other to do it. It will now become us as warriors to join our +band.' + +"They both stripped, and taking their weapons in hand, ran toward the +camp. They had to pass directly through the enemy's lines, but they were +not recognized till they had fairly passed them. Then they were between +two fires. When they had almost reached the entrenchment they faced +about and fired at the Rees, jumping about incessantly to avoid being +hit, as is the Indian fashion. Bullets and arrows were flying all about +them like hail, but at last they dropped back unhurt into the Sioux +trenches. Thus the two men saved their reputation for bravery, and their +people never openly reproached them for the events of that day. Young +men are often rash, but it is not well to reprove one for a brave deed +lest he become a coward. + +"Many were killed, but more of the Rees than of our band. About the +middle of the afternoon there came a cold rain. It was in the fall of +the year. The bow-strings were wet, and the guns were only flint-locks. +You know when the flint becomes wet it is useless, and it looked as if +the fight must be with knives. + +"But the Rees were much disheartened. They had lost many. The women +were all the time carrying off the wounded, and there were the Blackfoot +Sioux watching them from the hills. They turned and fled toward the +river. The Sioux followed like crazy wolves, tomahawking the tired and +slow ones. Many were killed at the boats, and some of the boats were +punctured with shot and sank. Some carried a load of Sioux arrows back +across the river. That was the greatest battle ever fought by our band," +the old man concluded, with a deep sigh of mingled satisfaction and +regret. + + + + +III. THE SINGING SPIRIT + + + + +I + +"Ho my steed, we must climb one more hill! My reputation depends upon my +report!" + +Anookasan addressed his pony as if he were a human companion, urged on +like himself by human need and human ambition. And yet in his heart he +had very little hope of sighting any buffalo in that region at just that +time of the year. + +The Yankton Sioux were ordinarily the most far-sighted of their people +in selecting a winter camp, but this year the late fall had caught them +rather far east of the Missouri bottoms, their favorite camping-ground. +The upper Jim River, called by the Sioux the River of Gray Woods, was +usually bare of large game at that season. Their store of jerked buffalo +meat did not hold out as they had hoped, and by March it became an +urgent necessity to send out scouts for buffalo. + +The old men at the tiyo teepee (council lodge) held a long council. It +was decided to select ten of their bravest and hardiest young men to +explore the country within three days' journey of their camp. + +"Anookasan, uyeyo-o-o, woo, woo!" Thus the ten men were summoned to +the council lodge early in the evening to receive their commission. +Anookasan was the first called and first to cross the circle of the +teepees. A young man of some thirty years, of the original native +type, his massive form was wrapped in a fine buffalo robe with the hair +inside. He wore a stately eagle feather in his scalp-lock, but no paint +about his face. + +As he entered the lodge all the inmates greeted him with marked respect, +and he was given the place of honor. When all were seated the great +drum was struck and a song sung by four deep-chested men. This was the +prelude to a peculiar ceremony. + +A large red pipe, which had been filled and laid carefully upon the +central hearth, was now taken up by an old man, whose face was painted +red. First he held it to the ground with the words: "Great Mother, +partake of this!" Then he held it toward the sky, saying: "Great Father, +smoke this!" Finally he lighted it, took four puffs, pointing it to the +four corners of the earth in turn, and lastly presented it to Anookasan. +This was the oath of office, administered by the chief of the council +lodge. The other nine were similarly commissioned, and all accepted the +appointment. + +It was no light task that was thus religiously enjoined upon these +ten men. It meant at the least several days and nights of wandering +in search of signs of the wily buffalo. It was a public duty, and a +personal one as well; one that must involve untold hardship; and if +overtaken by storm the messengers were in peril of death! + +Anookasan returned to his teepee with some misgiving. His old charger, +which had so often carried him to victory, was not so strong as he had +been in his prime. As his master approached the lodge the old horse +welcomed him with a gentle whinny. He was always tethered near by, ready +for any emergency. + +"Ah, Wakan! we are once more called upon to do duty! We shall set out +before daybreak." + +As he spoke, he pushed nearer a few strips of the poplar bark, which was +oats to the Indian pony of the olden time. + +Anookasan had his extra pair of buffaloskin moccasins with the hair +inside, and his scanty provision of dried meat neatly done up in a +small packet and fastened to his saddle. With his companions he started +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 themselves equal to the +occasion. + +The sun, now well toward the western horizon, 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 faithful +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 already set behind the hilltops. It was +a great herd of buffaloes, he thought, which was grazing 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 +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 another. + +"Yet I saw a gray wolf going north this evening. His direction is +propitious," remarked 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 discouragement. 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 material, in the center of which there was a generous +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 trouble. 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 +listens that this is not midsummer," said one. + +"I hear also the medicine-man's single drumbeat," 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 hollow 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 bewitches 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 medicinemen, 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 impressed. +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 leader--tell 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 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 yourselves--nothing more than flesh--with 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 together +next summer if need be!" + +"Ho, ho, ho!" was the full-throated response. + +"All put on your war-paint," suggested Anookasan. "Have your knives and +arrows ready!" + +They did so, and all stole silently through the black forest in the +direction of the mysterious sound. Clearer and clearer it came through +the frosty air; but it was a foreign sound to the savage ear. Now it +seemed to them almost like a distant water-fall; then it recalled the +low hum of summer insects and the drowsy drone of the bumblebee. Thump, +thump, thump! was the regular accompaniment. + +Nearer and nearer to the cliff they came, deeper into the wild heart +of the woods. At last out of the gray, formless night a dark shape +appeared! It looked to them like a huge buffalo bull standing motionless +in the forest, and from his throat there apparently proceeded the thump +of the medicine drum, and the song of the beguiling spirit! + +All of a sudden a spark went up into the air. As they continued to +approach, there became visible a deep glow about the middle of the dark +object. Whatever it was, they had never heard of anything like it in all +their lives! + +Anookasan was a little in advance of his companions, and it was he who +finally discovered a wall of logs laid one upon another. Half way up +there seemed to be stretched a par-fleche (raw-hide), from which a dim +light emanated. He still thought of Oglugechana, who dwells within a +hollow tree, and determined to surprise and if possible to overpower +this wonderworking old man. + +All now took their knives in their hands and advanced with their leader +to the attack upon the log hut. "Wa-wa-wa-wa, woo, woo!" they cried. +Zip, zip! went the par-fleche door and window, and they all rushed in! + +There sat a man upon a roughly hewn stool. He was attired in wolfskins +and wore a foxskin cap upon his head. The larger portion of his face was +clothed with natural fur. A rudely made cedar fiddle was tucked +under his furred chin. Supporting it with his left hand, he sawed it +vigorously with a bow that was not unlike an Indian boy's miniature +weapon, while his moccasined left foot came down upon the sod floor in +time with the music. When the shrill war-whoop came, and the door and +window were cut in strips by the knives of the Indians, he did not even +cease playing, but instinctively he closed his eyes, so as not to behold +the horror of his own end. + + + + +II + +It was long ago, upon the rolling prairie south of the Devil's Lake, +that a motley body of hunters gathered near a mighty herd of the bison, +in the Moon of Falling Leaves. These were the first generation of the +Canadian mixed-bloods, who sprang up in such numbers as to form almost +a new people. These semi-wild Americans soon became a necessity to the +Hudson Bay Company, as they were the greatest hunters of the bison, +and made more use of this wonderful animal than even their aboriginal +ancestors. + +A curious race of people this, in their make-up and their customs! Their +shaggy black hair was allowed to grow long, reaching to their broad +shoulders, then cut off abruptly, making their heads look like a +thatched house. Their dark faces were in most cases well covered with +hair, their teeth large and white, and their eyes usually liquid black, +although occasionally one had a tiger-brown or cold-gray eye. Their +costume was a buckskin shirt with abundance of fringes, buckskin +pantaloons with short leggins, a gay sash, and a cap of fox-fur. Their +arms consisted of flint-lock guns, hatchets, and butcher-knives. Their +ponies were small, but as hardy as themselves. + +As these men gathered in the neighborhood of an immense herd of +buffaloes, they busied themselves in adjusting the girths of their +beautifully beaded pillow-like saddles. Among them there were +exceptional riders and hunters. It was said that few could equal Antoine +Michaud in feats of riding into and through the herd. There he stood, +all alone, the observed of many others. It was his habit to give several +Indian yells when the onset began, so as to insure a successful hunt. + +In this instance, Antoine gave his usual whoops, and when they had +almost reached the herd, he lifted his flint-lock over his head and +plunged into the black moving mass. With a sound like the distant +rumbling of thunder, those tens of thousands of buffalo hoofs were +pounding the earth in retreat. Thus Antoine disappeared! + +His wild steed dashed into the midst of the vast herd. Fortunately for +him, the animals kept clear of him; but alas! the gap through which he +had entered instantly closed again. + +He yelled frantically to secure an outlet, but without effect. He had +tied a red bandanna around his head to keep the hair off his face, +and he now took this off and swung it crazily about him to scatter the +buffalo, but it availed him nothing. + +With such a mighty herd in flight, the speed could not be great; +therefore the "Bois Brule" settled himself to the situation, allowing +his pony to canter along slowly to save his strength. It required much +tact and presence of mind to keep an open space, for the few paces of +obstruction behind had gradually grown into a mile. + +The mighty host moved continually southward, walking and running +alternately. As the sun neared the western horizon, it fired the sky +above them, and all the distant hills and prairies were in the glow of +it, but immediately about them was a thick cloud of dust, and the ground +appeared like a fire-swept plain. + +Suddenly Antoine was aware of a tremendous push from behind. The animals +smelled the cool water of a spring which formed a large bog in the midst +of the plain. This solitary pond or marsh was a watering-place for the +wild animals. All pushed and edged toward it; it was impossible for any +one to withstand the combined strength of so many. + +Antoine and his steed were in imminent danger of being pushed into +the mire and trampled upon, but a mere chance brought them upon solid +ground. As they were crowded across the marsh, his pony drank heartily, +and he, for the first time, let go his bridle, put his two palms +together for a dipper, and drank greedily of the bitter water. He had +not eaten since early morning, so he now pulled up some bulrushes and +ate of the tender bulbs, while the pony grazed as best he could on the +tops of the tall grass. + +It was now dark. The night was wellnigh intolerable for Antoine. The +buffalo were about him in countless numbers, regarding him with vicious +glances. It was only by reason of the natural offensiveness of man that +they gave him any space. The bellowing of the bulls became general, and +there was a marked uneasiness on the part of the herd. This was a +sign of approaching storm, therefore the unfortunate hunter had this +additional cause for anxiety. Upon the western horizon were seen some +flashes of lightning. + +The cloud which had been a mere speck upon the horizon had now increased +to large proportions. Suddenly the wind came, and lightning flashes +became more frequent, showing the ungainly forms of the animals like +strange monsters in the white light. The colossal herd was again in +violent motion. It was a blind rush for shelter, and no heed was paid +to buffalo wallows or even deep gulches. All was in the deepest of +darkness. There seemed to be groaning in heaven and earth--millions of +hoofs and throats roaring in unison! + +As a shipwrecked man clings to a mere fragment of wood, so Antoine, +although almost exhausted with fatigue, still stuck to the back of his +equally plucky pony. Death was imminent for them both. As the mad rush +continued, every flash displayed heaps of bison in death struggle under +the hoofs of their companions. + +From time to time Antoine crossed himself and whispered a prayer to the +Virgin; and again he spoke to his horse after the fashion of an Indian: + +"Be brave, be strong, my horse! If we survive this trial, you shall have +great honor!" + +The stampede continued until they reached the bottom lands, and, like +a rushing stream, their course was turned aside by the steep bank of +a creek or small river. Then they moved more slowly in wide sweeps or +circles, until the storm ceased, and the exhausted hunter, still in his +saddle, took some snatches of sleep. + +When he awoke and looked about him again it was morning. The herd had +entered the strip of timber which lay on both sides of the river, and +it was here that Antoine conceived his first distinct hope of saving +himself. + +"Waw, waw, waw!" was the hoarse cry that came to his ears, apparently +from a human being in distress. Antoine strained his eyes and craned his +neck to see who it could be. Through an opening in the branches ahead he +perceived a large grizzly bear, lying along an inclined limb and hugging +it desperately to maintain his position. The herd had now thoroughly +pervaded the timber, and the bear was likewise hemmed in. He had taken +to his unaccustomed refuge after making a brave stand against several +bulls, one of which lay dead near by, while he himself was bleeding from +many wounds. + +Antoine had been assiduously looking for a friendly tree, by means of +which he hoped to effect his escape from captivity by the army of bison. +His horse, by chance, made his way directly under the very box-elder +that was sustaining the bear and there was a convenient branch just +within his reach. The Bois Brule was not then in an aggressive mood, +and he saw at a glance that the occupant of the tree would not interfere +with him. They were, in fact, companions in distress. Antoine tried +to give a war-whoop as he sprang desperately from the pony's back and +seized the cross limb with both his hands. + +The hunter dangled in the air for a minute that to him seemed a year. +Then he gathered up all the strength that was in him, and with one grand +effort he pulled himself up on the limb. + +If he had failed in this, he would have fallen to the ground under the +hoofs of the buffaloes, and at their mercy. + +After he had adjusted his seat as comfortably as he could, Antoine +surveyed the situation. He had at least escaped from sudden and certain +death. It grieved him that he had been forced to abandon his horse, and +he had no idea how far he had come nor any means of returning to his +friends, who had, no doubt, given him up for lost. His immediate needs +were rest and food. + +Accordingly he selected a fat cow and emptied into her sides one barrel +of his gun, which had been slung across his chest. He went on shooting +until he had killed many fat cows, greatly to the discomfiture of his +neighbor, the bear, while the bison vainly struggled among themselves to +keep the fatal spot clear. + +By the middle of the afternoon the main body of the herd had passed, and +Antoine was sure that his captivity had at last come to an end. Then +he swung himself from his limb to the ground, and walked stiffly to +the carcass of the nearest cow, which he dressed and prepared himself a +meal. But first he took a piece of liver on a long pole to the bear! + +Antoine finally decided to settle in the recesses of the heavy timber +for the winter, as he was on foot and alone, and not able to travel any +great distance. He jerked the meat of all the animals he had killed, and +prepared their skins for bedding and clothing. The Bois Brule and Ami, +as he called the bear, soon became necessary to one another. The former +considered the bear very good company, and the latter had learned that +man's business, after all, is not to kill every animal he meets. He had +been fed and kindly treated, when helpless from his wounds, and this he +could not forget. + +Antoine was soon busy erecting a small log hut, while the other partner +kept a sharp lookout, and, after his hurts were healed, often brought in +some small game. The two had a perfect understanding without many words; +at least, the speech was all upon one side! In his leisure moments +Antoine had occupied himself with whittling out a rude fiddle of +cedar-wood, strung with the guts of a wild cat that he had killed. Every +evening that winter he would sit down after supper and play all the old +familiar pieces, varied with improvisations of his own. At first, the +music and the incessant pounding time with his foot annoyed the bear. At +times, too, the Canadian would call out the figures for the dance. All +this Ami became accustomed to in time, and even showed no small interest +in the buzzing of the little cedar box. Not infrequently, he was out +in the evening, and the human partner was left alone. It chanced, quite +fortunately, that the bear was absent on the night that the red folk +rudely invaded the lonely hut. + +The calmness of the strange being had stayed their hands. They had never +before seen a man of other race than their own! + +"Is this Chanotedah? Is he man, or beast?" the warriors asked one +another. + +"Ho, wake up, koda!" exclaimed Anookasan. "Maybe he is of the porcupine +tribe, ashamed to look at us!" + +At this moment they spied the haunch of venison which swung from a +cross-stick over a fine bed of coals, in front of the rude mud chimney. + +"Ho, koda has something to eat! Sit down, sit down!" they shouted to one +another. + +Now Antoine opened his eyes for the first time upon his unlooked-for +guests. They were a haggard and hungry-looking set. Anookasan extended +his hand, and Antoine gave it a hearty shake. He set his fiddle against +the wall and began to cut up the smoking venison into generous pieces +and place it before them. All ate like famished men, while the firelight +intensified the red paint upon their wild and warlike faces. + +When he had satisfied his first hunger, Anookasan spoke in signs. +"Friend, we have never before heard a song like that of your little +cedar box! We had supposed it to be a spirit, or some harmful thing, +hence our attack upon it. We never saw any people of your sort. What is +your tribe?" + +Antoine explained his plight in the same manner, and the two soon came +to an understanding. The Canadian told the starving hunters of a buffalo +herd a little way to the north, and one of their number was dispatched +homeward with the news. In two days the entire band reached Antoine's +place. The Bois Brule was treated with kindness and honor, and the tribe +gave him a wife. Suffice it to say that Antoine lived and died among the +Yanktons at a good old age; but Ami could not brook the invasion upon +their hermit life. He was never seen after that first evening. + + + + +IV. THE FAMINE + +On the Assiniboine River in western Manitoba there stands an old, +historic trading-post, whose crumbling walls crown a high promontory in +the angle formed by its junction with a tributary stream. This is Fort +Ellis, a mistress of the wilderness and lodestone of savage tribes +between the years 1830 and 1870. + +Hither at that early day the Indians brought their buffalo robes and +beaver skins to exchange for merchandise, ammunition, and the "spirit +water." Among the others there presently appeared a band of renegade +Sioux--the exiles, as they called themselves--under White Lodge, whose +father, Little Crow, had been a leader in the outbreak of 1862. Now the +great warchief was dead, and his people were prisoners or fugitives. +The shrewd Scotch trader, McLeod, soon discovered that the Sioux were +skilled hunters, and therefore he exerted himself to befriend them, +as well as to encourage a feeling of good will between them and the +Canadian tribes who were accustomed to make the old fort their summer +rendezvous. + +Now the autumn had come, after a long summer of feasts and dances, and +the three tribes broke up and dispersed as usual in various directions. +White Lodge had twin daughters, very handsome, whose ears had been kept +burning with the proposals of many suitors, but none had received any +definite encouragement. There were one or two who would have been quite +willing to forsake their own tribes and follow the exiles had they +not feared too much the ridicule of the braves. Even Angus McLeod, the +trader's eldest son, had need of all his patience and caution, for he +had never seen any woman he admired so much as the piquant Magaskawee, +called The Swan, one of these belles of the forest. + +The Sioux journeyed northward, toward the Mouse River. They had wintered +on that stream before, and it was then the feeding ground of large herds +of buffalo. When it was discovered that the herds were moving westward, +across the Missouri, there was no little apprehension. The shrewd +medicine-man became aware of the situation, and hastened to announce his +prophecy: + +"The Great Mystery has appeared to me in a dream! He showed me men with +haggard and thin faces. I interpret this to mean a scarcity of food +during the winter." + +The chief called his counselors together and set before them the dream +of the priest, whose prophecy, he said, was already being fulfilled in +part by the westward movement of the buffalo. It was agreed that they +should lay up all the dried meat they could obtain; but even for this +they were too late. The storms were already at hand, and that winter was +more severe than any that the old men could recall in their traditions. +The braves killed all the small game for a wide circuit around the camp, +but the buffalo had now crossed the river, and that country was not +favorable for deer. The more enterprising young men organized hunting +expeditions to various parts of the open prairie, but each time they +returned with empty hands. + +The "Moon of Sore Eyes," or March, had come at last, and Wazeah, the God +of Storm, was still angry. Their scant provision of dried meat had held +out wonderfully, but it was now all but consumed. The Sioux had but +little ammunition, and the snow was still so deep that it was impossible +for them to move away to any other region in search of game. The worst +was feared; indeed, some of the children and feeble old people had +already succumbed. + +White Lodge again called his men together in council, and it was +determined to send a messenger to Fort Ellis to ask for relief. A young +man called Face-the-Wind was chosen for his exceptional qualities of +speed and endurance upon long journeys. The old medicine-man, whose +shrewd prophecy had gained for him the confidence of the people, now +came forward. He had closely observed the appearance of the messenger +selected, and had taken note of the storm and distance. Accordingly he +said: + +"My children, the Great Mystery is offended, and this is the cause of +all our suffering! I see a shadow hanging over our messenger, but I will +pray to the Great Spirit--perhaps he may yet save him!--Great Mystery, +be thou merciful! Strengthen this young man for his journey, that he +may be able to finish it and to send us aid! If we see the sun of summer +again, we will offer the choicest of our meats to thee, and do thee +great honor!" + +During this invocation, as occasionally happens in March, a loud peal +of thunder was heard. This coincidence threw the prophet almost into +a frenzy, and the poor people were all of a tremble. Face-the-Wind +believed that the prayer was directly answered, and though weakened by +fasting and unfit for the task before him, he was encouraged to make the +attempt. + +He set out on the following day at dawn, and on the third day staggered +into the fort, looking like a specter and almost frightening the people. +He was taken to McLeod's house and given good care. The poor fellow, +delirious with hunger, fancied himself engaged in mortal combat with +Eyah, the god of famine, who has a mouth extending from ear to ear. +Wherever he goes there is famine, for he swallows all that he sees, even +whole nations! + +The legend has it that Eyah fears nothing but the jingling of metal: so +finally the dying man looked up into McLeod's face and cried: "Ring your +bell in his face, Wahadah!" + + +The kind-hearted factor could not refuse, and as the great bell used to +mark the hours of work and of meals pealed out untimely upon the frosty +air, the Indian started up and in that moment breathed his last. He had +given no news, and McLeod and his sons could only guess at the state of +affairs upon the Mouse River. + +While the men were in council with her father, Magaskawee had turned +over the contents of her work-bag. She had found a small roll of +birch-bark in which she kept her porcupine quills for embroidery, and +pulled the delicate layers apart. The White Swan was not altogether the +untutored Indian maiden, for she had lived in the family of a missionary +in the States, and had learned both to speak and write some English. +There was no ink, no pen or pencil, but with her bone awl she pressed +upon the white side of the bark the following words: + + MR. ANGUS McLEOD:-- + + We are near the hollow rock on the Mouse River. The + buffalo went away across the Missouri, and our powder and + shot are gone. We are starving. Good-bye, if I don't see + you again. + + MAGASKAWEE. + + +The girl entrusted this little note to her grandmother, and she in turn +gave it to the messenger. But he, as we know, was unable to deliver it. + +"Angus, tell the boys to bury the poor fellow to-morrow. I dare say +he brought us some news from White Lodge, but we have got to go to the +happy hunting-grounds to get it, or wait till the exile band returns in +the spring. Evidently," continued McLeod, "he fell sick on the way: or +else he was starving!" + +This last suggestion horrified Angus. "I believe, father," he exclaimed, +"that we ought to examine his bundle." + +A small oblong packet was brought forth from the dead man's belt and +carefully unrolled. + +There were several pairs of moccasins, and within one of these Angus +found something wrapped up nicely. He proceeded to unwind the long +strings of deerskin with which it was securely tied, and brought forth a +thin sheet of birch-bark. At first, there seemed to be nothing more, +but a closer scrutiny revealed the impression of the awl, and the bit +of nature's parchment was brought nearer to his face, and scanned with a +zeal equal to that of any student of ancient hieroglyphics. + +"This tells the whole story, father!" exclaimed the young man at last. +"Magaskawee's note--just listen!" and he read it aloud. "I shall start +to-morrow. We can take enough provision and ammunition on two sleds, +with six dogs to each. I shall want three good men to go with me." Angus +spoke with decision. + +"Well, we can't afford to lose our best hunters; and you might also +bring home with you what furs and robes they have on hand," was his +father's prudent reply. + +"I don't care particularly for the skins," Angus declared; but he at +once began hurried preparations for departure. + +In the meantime affairs grew daily more desperate in the exile village +on the far-away Mouse River, and a sort of Indian hopelessness and +resignation settled down upon the little community. There were few who +really expected their messenger to reach the fort, or believed that even +if he did so, relief would be sent in time to save them. White Lodge, +the father of his people, was determined to share with them the last +mouthful of food, and every morning Winona and Magaskawee went with +scanty portions in their hands to those whose supply had entirely +failed. + +On the outskirts of the camp there dwelt an old woman with an orphan +grandchild, who had been denying herself for some time in order that the +child might live longer. This poor teepee the girls visited often, and +one on each side they raised the exhausted woman and poured into her +mouth the warm broth they had brought with them. + +It was on the very day Face-the-Wind reached Fort Ellis that a young +hunter who had ventured further from the camp than any one else had +the luck to bring down a solitary deer with his bow and arrow. In his +weakness he had reached camp very late, bearing the deer with the utmost +difficulty upon his shoulders. It was instantly separated into as many +pieces as there were lodges of the famishing Sioux. These delicious +morsels were hastily cooked and eagerly devoured, but among so many +there was scarcely more than a mouthful to the share of each, and the +brave youth himself did not receive enough to appease in the least his +craving! + +On the eve of Angus' departure for the exile village, Three Stars, a +devoted suitor of Winona's, accompanied by another Assiniboine brave, +appeared unexpectedly at the fort. He at once asked permission to join +the relief party, and they set out at daybreak. + +The lead-dog was the old reliable Mack, who had been in service for +several seasons on winter trips. All of the white men were clad in +buckskin shirts and pantaloons, with long fringes down the sides, fur +caps and fur-lined moccasins. Their guns were fastened to the long, +toboggan-like sleds. + +The snow had thawed a little and formed an icy crust, and over this +fresh snow had fallen, which a northwest wind swept over the surface +like ashes after a prairie fire. The sun appeared for a little time in +the morning, but it seemed as if he were cutting short his course on +account of the bleak day, and had protected himself with pale rings of +fire. + +The dogs laid back their ears, drew in their tails, and struck into +their customary trot, but even old Mack looked back frequently, as if +reluctant to face such a pricking and scarifying wind. The men felt the +cold still more keenly, although they had taken care to cover every bit +of the face except one eye, and that was completely blinded at times by +the granulated snow. + +The sun early retreated behind a wall of cloud, and the wind moaned and +wailed like a living creature in anguish. At last they approached the +creek where they had planned to camp for the night. There was nothing +to be seen but a few stunted willows half buried in the drifts, but the +banks of the little stream afforded some protection from the wind. + +"Whoa!" shouted the leader, and the dogs all stopped, sitting down on +their haunches. "Come, Mack!" (with a wave of the hand), "lead your +fellows down to the creek!" + +The old dog started down at the word, and all the rest followed. A +space was quickly cleared of snow, while one man scoured the thickets +in search of brush for fuel. In a few minutes the tent was up and a fire +kindled in the center, while the floor was thickly strewn with twigs of +willow, over which buffalo robes were spread. Three Stars attended to +supper, and soon in the midst of the snapping willow fire a kettle was +boiling. All partook of strong tea, dried meat of buffalo, and pemmican, +a mixture of pounded dried meat with wild cherries and melted fat. The +dogs, to whom one-half the tent was assigned, enjoyed a hearty meal and +fell into a deep sleep, lying one against another. + +After supper Jerry drove two sticks into the ground, one on each side of +the fire, and connected the two by a third one over the blaze. Upon +this all hung their socks to dry--most of them merely square pieces of +blanket cut to serve that purpose. Soon each man rolled himself in his +own buffalo robe and fell asleep. + +All night the wind raged. The lonely teepee now and then shuddered +violently, as a stronger blast than usual almost lifted it from the +ground. No one stirred except from time to time one of the dogs, who +got up snarling and sniffing the cold air, turned himself round several +times as if on a pivot, and finally lay down for another nap. + +In the morning the travelers one by one raised their heads and looked +through the smoke-hole, then fell back again with a grunt. All the world +appeared without form and void. Presently, however, the light of the sun +was seen as if through a painted window, and by afternoon they were able +to go on, the wind having partially subsided. This was only a taste of +the weather encountered by the party on their unseasonable trip; but had +it been ten times harder, it would never have occurred to Angus to turn +back. + +On the third day the rescuers approached the camp of the exiles. There +was an ominous quiet; no creature was to be seen; but the smoke which +ascended into the air in perpendicular columns assured them that some, +at least, were still alive. The party happened to reach first the teepee +of the poor old woman who had been so faithfully ministered to by the +twin sisters. They had no longer any food to give, but they had come to +build her fire, if she should have survived the night. At the very door +of the lodge they heard the jingle of dog-bells, but they had not time +to announce the joyful news before the men were in sight. + +In another minute Angus and Three Stars were beside them, holding their +wasted hands. + + + + +V. THE CHIEF SOLDIER + +Just outside of a fine large wigwam of smoke-tanned buffalo-skins stood +Tawasuota, very early upon an August morning of the year 1862. Behind +the wigwam there might have been seen a thrifty patch of growing +maize, whose tall, graceful stalks resembled as many warriors in +dancing-dresses and tasseled head-gear. + +"Thanks be to the 'Great Mystery,' I have been successful in the +fortunes of war! None can say that Tawasuota is a coward. I have done +well; so well that our chief, Little Crow, has offered me the honored +position of his chief soldier, ta akich-itah!" he said to himself with +satisfaction. + +The sun was just over the eastem bank of the Minnesota River, and he +could distinctly see upon the level prairie the dwellings of logs which +had sprung up there during the year, since Little Crow's last treaty +with the whites. "Ugh! they are taking from us our beautiful and +game-teeming country!" was his thought as he gazed upon them. + +At that moment, out of the conical white teepee, in shape like a +new-born mushroom, there burst two little frisky boys, leaping and +whooping. They were clad gracefully in garments of fine deerskin, and +each wore a miniature feather upon his head, marking them as children of +a distinguished warrior. + +They danced nimbly around their father, while he stood with all the +dignity of a buck elk, viewing the landscape reddened by sunrise and the +dwellers therein, the old and the new, the red and the white. He noticed +that they were still unmingled; the river divided them. + +At last he took the dancing little embryo warriors one in either hand, +and lifted them to his majestic shoulders. There he placed them +in perfect poise. His haughty spirit found a moment's happiness in +fatherhood. + +Suddenly Tawasuota set the two boys on the ground again, and signed +to them to enter the teepee. Apparently all was quiet. The camps and +villages of the Minnesota reservation were undisturbed, so far as he +could see, save by the awakening of nature; and the early risers among +his people moved about in seeming security, while the smoke of their +morning fires arose one by one into the blue. Still the warrior gazed +steadily westward, up the river, whence his quick ear had caught the +faint but ominous sound of a distant war-whoop. + +The ridge beyond the Wahpeton village bounded the view, and between this +point and his own village were the agency buildings and the traders' +stores. The Indian's keen eye swept the horizon, and finally alighted +once more upon the home of his new neighbor across the river, the +flaxen-haired white man with many children, who with his white squaw +and his little ones worked from sunrise to sunset, much like the beaver +family. + +Ah! the distant war-whoop once more saluted his ear, but this time +nearer and more distinct. + +"What! the Rice Creek band is coming in full war-paint! Can it be +another Ojibway attack? Ugh, ugh! I will show their warriors again this +day what it is to fight!" he exclaimed aloud. + +The white traders and Government employees, those of them who were up +and about, heard and saw the advancing column of warriors. Yet they +showed no sign of anxiety or fear. Most of them thought that there might +be some report of Ojibways coming to attack the Sioux,--a not uncommon +incident,--and that those warriors were on their way to the post to +replenish their powder-horns. A few of the younger men were delighted +with the prospect of witnessing an Indian fight. + +On swept the armed band, in numbers increasing at every village. + +It was true that there had been a growing feeling of distrust among the +Indians, because their annuities had been withheld for a long time, and +the money payments had been delayed again and again. There were many in +great need. The traders had given them credit to some extent (charging +them four times the value of the article purchased), and had likewise +induced Little Crow to sign over to them ninety-eight thousand dollars, +the purchase-price of that part of their reservation lying north of the +Minnesota, and already occupied by the whites. + +This act had made the chief very unpopular, and he was ready for a +desperate venture to regain his influence. Certain warriors among the +upper bands of Sioux had even threatened his life, but no one spoke +openly of a break with the whites. + +When, therefore, the news came to Little Crow that some roving hunters +of the Rice Creek band had killed in a brawl two families of white +settlers, he saw his opportunity to show once for all to the disaffected +that he had no love for the white man. Immediately he sprang upon his +white horse, and prepared to make their cause a general one among his +people. + +Tawasuota had scarcely finished his hasty preparations for war, by +painting his face and seeing to the loading of his gun, when he heard +the voice of Little Crow outside his lodge. + +"You are now my head soldier," said the chief, "and this is your first +duty. Little Six and his band have inaugurated the war against the +whites. They have already wiped out two families, and are now on their +way to the agency. Let my chief soldier fire the first shot. + +"Those Indians who have cut their hair and donned the white man's +clothing may give the warning; so make haste! If you fall to-day, there +is no better day on which to die, and the women of our tribe will weep +proud tears for Tawasuota. I leave it with you to lead my warriors." +With these words the wily chief galloped away to meet the war-party. + +"Here comes Little Crow, the friend of the white man!" exclaimed a +warrior, as he approached. + +"Friends and warriors, you will learn to-day who are the friends of +the white man, and none will dare again to insinuate that I have been +against the interests of my own people," he replied. + +After a brief consultation with the chiefs he advised the traders: + +"Do not hesitate to fill the powder-horns of my warriors; they may be +compelled to fight all day." + +Soon loud yells were heard along the road to the Indian village. + +"Ho, ho! Tawasuota u ye do!" ("He is coming; he is coming!") shouted the +warriors in chorus. + +The famous war-chief dismounted in silence, gun in hand, and walked +directly toward the larger store. + +"Friend," he exclaimed, "we may both meet the 'Great Mystery' to-day, +but you must go first." + +There was a loud report, and the unsuspecting white man lay dead. It was +James Lynd, one of the early traders, and a good friend to the Indians. + +No sooner had Tawasuota fired the fatal shot than every other Indian +discharged his piece. Hither and thither ran the frantic people, seeking +safety, but seeking it in vain. They were wholly unprepared and at the +mercy of the foe. + +The friendly Indians, too, were taken entirely by surprise. They had +often heard wild talk of revolt, but it had never had the indorsement of +intelligent chiefs, or of such a number as to carry any weight to their +minds. Christian Indians rushed in every direction to save, if possible, +at least the wives and children of the Government employees. Meanwhile, +the new white settlements along the Minnesota River were utterly +unconscious of any danger. Not a soul dreamed of the terrible calamity +that each passing moment was bringing nearer and nearer. + +Tawasuota stepped aside, and took up his pipe. He seemed almost +oblivious of what he had done. While the massacre still raged about +him in all its awful cruelty, he sat smoking and trying to think +collectedly, but his mind was confused, and in his secret thoughts he +rebelled against Little Crow. It was a cowardly deed that he had been +ordered to commit, he thought; for he had won his reputation solely by +brave deeds in battle, and this was more like murdering one of his own +tribesmen--this killing of an unarmed white man. Up to this time the +killing of a white man was not counted the deed of a warrior; it was +murder. + +The lesser braves might now satisfy their spite against the traders to +their hearts' content, but Tawasuota had been upon the best of terms +with all of them. + +Suddenly a ringing shout was heard. The chief soldier looked up, and +beheld a white man, nearly nude, leap from the roof of the larger store +and alight upon the ground hard by him. + +He had emptied one barrel of his gun, and, if he chose to do so, could +have killed Myrick then and there; but he made no move, exclaiming: + +"Ho, ho! Nina iyaye!" ("Run, run!") + +Away sped the white man in the direction of the woods and the river. + +"Ah, he is swift; he will save himself," thought Tawasuota. + +All the Indians had now spied the fugitive; they yelled and fired at him +again and again, as if they were shooting at a running deer; but he +only ran faster. Just as he had reached the very edge of the sheltering +timber a single shot rang out, and he fell headlong. + +A loud war-whoop went up, for many believed that this was one of the men +who had stolen their trust funds. + +Tawasuota continued to sit and smoke in the shade while the carnage and +plunder that he had set on foot proceeded on all sides of him. Presently +men began to form small parties to cross the river on their mission of +death, but he refused to join any of them. At last, several of the older +warriors came up to smoke with him. + +"Ho, nephew," said one of them with much gravity, "you have precipitated +a dreadful calamity. This means the loss of our country, the destruction +of our nation. What were you thinking of?" + +It was the Wahpeton chief who spoke, a blood-relation to Tawasuota. He +did not at once reply, but filled his pipe in silence, and handed it +to the man who thus reproached him. It was a just rebuke; for he was a +brave man, and he could have refused the request of his chief to open +the massacre. + +At this moment it was announced that a body of white soldiers were on +the march from Fort Ridgeley. A large body of warriors set out to meet +them. + +"Nephew, you have spilled the first blood of the white man; go, join in +battle with the soldiers. They are armed; they can defend themselves," +remarked the old chief, and Tawasuota replied: + +"Uncle, you speak truth; I have committed the act of a coward. It was +not of my own will I did it; nevertheless, I have raised my weapon, and +I will fight the whites as long as I live. If I am ever taken, they +will first have to kill me." He arose, took up his gun, and joined the +war-party. + +The dreadful day of massacre was almost ended. The terrified Sioux women +and children had fled up the river before the approaching troops. Long +shafts of light from the setting sun painted every hill; one side red as +with blood, the other dark as the shadow of death. A cloud of smoke +from burning homes hung over the beautiful river. Even the permanent +dwellings of the Indians were empty, and all the teepees which had +dotted with their white cones the west bank of the Minnesota had +disappeared. Here and there were small groups of warriors returning from +their bloody work, and among them was Tawasuota. + +He looked long at the spot where his home had stood; but it was gone, +and with it his family. Ah, the beautiful country of his ancestors! he +must depart from it forever, for he knew now that the white man would +occupy that land. Sadly he sang the spirit-song, and made his appeal to +the "Great Mystery," excusing himself by the plea that what he had done +had been in the path of duty. There was no glory in it for him; he +could wear no eagle feather, nor could he ever recount the deed. It +was dreadful to him--the thought that he had fired upon an unarmed and +helpless man. + +The chief soldier followed the broad trail of the fleeing host, and +after some hours he came upon a camp. There were no war-songs nor +dances there, as was their wont after a battle, but a strange stillness +reigned. Even the dogs scarcely barked at his approach; everything +seemed conscious of the awful carnage of the day. + +He stopped at a tent and inquired after his beautiful wife and two +little sons, whom he had already trained to uphold their father's +reputation, but was directed to his mother's teepee. + +"Ah, my son, my son, what have you done?" cried his old mother when she +saw him. "Come in, come in; let us eat together once more; for I have a +foreboding that it is for the last time. Alas, what have you done?" + +Tawasuota silently entered the tent of his widowed mother, and his three +sisters gave him the place of honor. + +"Mother, it is not right to blame our brother," said the eldest. "He was +the chief's head soldier; and if he had disobeyed his orders, he would +have been called a coward. That he could not bear." + +Food was handed him, and he swallowed a few mouthfuls, and gave back the +dish. + +"You have not yet told me where she is, and the children," he said with +a deep sigh. + +"My son, my son, I have not, because it will give you pain. I wanted you +to eat first! She has been taken away by her own mother to Faribault, +among the white people. I could not persuade them to wait until you +came. Her people are lovers of the whites. They have even accepted their +religion," grieved the good old mother. + +Tawasuota's head dropped upon his chest, and he sat silent for a long +time. The mother and three sisters were also silent, for they knew how +heavy his grief must be. At last he spoke. + +"Mother, I am too proud to desert the tribe now and join my wife among +the white people. My brother-in-law may lie in my behalf, and say that +my hands are not stained with blood; but the spirits of those who died +to-day would rebuke me, and the rebuke would be just. No, I must fight +the whites until I die; and neither have I fought without cause; but I +must see my sons once more before I go." + +When Tawasuota left his mother's teepee he walked fast across the circle +toward the council lodge to see Little Crow. He drew his blanket closely +about him, with his gun underneath. The keen eye of the wily chief +detected the severe expression upon the face of his guest, and he +hastened to speak first. + +"There are times in the life of every great man when he must face +hardship and put self aside for the good of his people. You have done +well to-day!" + +"I care little for myself," replied Tawasuota, "but my heart is heavy +to-night. My wife and two boys have been taken away among the whites by +my mother-in-law. I fear for their safety, when it is known what we have +done." + +"Ugh, that old woman is too hasty in accepting the ways of the stranger +people!" exclaimed the chief. + +"I am now on my way to see them," declared Tawasuota. + +"Ugh, ugh, I shall need you to-morrow! My plan is to attack the soldiers +at Fort Ridgeley with a strong force. There are not many. Then we shall +attack New Ulm and other towns. We will drive them all back into Saint +Paul and Fort Snelling." Little Crow spoke with energy. + +"You must stay," he added, "and lead the attack either at the fort or at +New Ulm." + +For some minutes the chief soldier sat in silence. + +At last he said simply, "I will do it." + +On the following day the attack was made, but it was unsuccessful. The +whole State was now alarmed, and all the frontier settlers left +alive had flocked to the larger and more protected towns. It had also +developed during the day that there was a large party of Sioux who were +ready to surrender, thereby showing that they had not been party to the +massacre nor indorsed the hasty action of the tribe. + +At evening Tawasuota saw that there would be a long war with the whites, +and that the Indians must remove their families out of danger. The +feeling against all Indians was great. Night had brought him no relief +of mind, but it promised to shield him in a hazardous undertaking. He +consulted no one, but set out for the distant village of Faribault. + +He kept to the flats back of the Minnesota, away from the well-traveled +roads, and moved on at a good gait, for he realized that he had to cover +a hundred miles in as few hours as possible. Every day that passed would +make it more difficult for him to rejoin his family. + +Although he kept as far as he could from the settlements, he would come +now and then upon a solitary frame house, razed to the ground by the +war-parties of the day before. The members of the ill-fated family were +to be seen scattered in and about the place; and their white, upturned +faces told him that his race must pay for the deed. + +The dog that howled pitifully over the dead was often the only survivor +of the farmer's household. + +Occasionally Tawasuota heard at a distance the wagons of the fugitives, +loaded with women and children, while armed men walked before and +behind. These caravans were usually drawn by oxen and moved slowly +toward some large town. + +When the dawn appeared in the east, the chief soldier was compelled to +conceal himself in a secluded place. He rolled up in his blanket, lay +down in a dry creek-bed among the red willows and immediately fell +asleep. + +With the next evening he resumed his journey, and reached Faribault +toward midnight. Even here every approach was guarded against the +possibility of an Indian attack. But there was much forest, and he knew +the country well. He reconnoitred, and soon found the Indian community, +but dared not approach and enter, for these Indians had allied +themselves with the whites; they would be charged with treachery if +it were known that they had received a hostile Sioux, and none were so +hated by the white people as Little Crow and his war-chief. + +He chose a concealed position from which he might watch the movements of +his wife, if she were indeed there, and had not been waylaid and slain +on the journey hither. + +That night was the hardest one that the warrior had ever known. If he +slept, it was only to dream of the war-whoop and attack; but at last he +found himself broad awake, the sun well up, and yes! there were his two +little sons, playing outside their teepee as of old. The next moment he +heard the voice of his wife from the deep woods wailing for her husband! + +"Oh, take us, husband, take us with you! let us all die together!" she +pleaded as she clung to him whom she had regarded as already dead; for +she knew of the price that had been put upon his head, and that some +of the halfbreeds loved money better than the blood of their Indian +mothers. + +Tawasuota stood for a minute without speaking, while his huge frame +trembled like a mighty pine beneath the thunderbolt. + +"No," he said at last. "I shall go, but you must remain. You are a +woman, and the white people need not know that your little boys are +mine. Bring them here to me this evening that I may kiss them farewell." + +The sun was hovering among the treetops when they met again. + +"Atay! atay!" ("Papa, papa!") the little fellows cried out in spite of +her cautions; but the mother put her finger to her lips, and they became +silent. Tawasuota took each boy in his arms, and held him close for a +few moments; he smiled to them, but large tears rolled down his cheeks. +Then he disappeared in the shadows, and they never saw him again. + +The chief soldier lived and died a warrior and an enemy to the white +man; but one of his two sons became in after-years a minister of the +Christian gospel, under the "Long-Haired Praying Man," Bishop Whipple, +of Minnesota. + + + + +VI. THE WHITE MAN'S ERRAND + +Upon the wide tableland that lies at the back of a certain Indian +agency, a camp of a thousand teepees was pitched in a circle, according +to the ancient usage. In the center of the circle stood the council +lodge, where there were gathered together of an afternoon all the men +of years and distinction, some in blankets, some in uniform, and still +others clad in beggarly white man's clothing. But the minds of all were +alike upon the days of their youth and freedom. + +Around the council fire they passed and repassed the pipe of peace, and +when the big drum was struck they sang the accompaniment with sad yet +pleasant thoughts of the life that is past. Between the songs stories of +brave deeds and dangerous exploits were related by the actors in turn, +with as much spirit and zest as if they were still living in those days. + +"Tum, tum, tum," the drum was sounded. + +"Oow, oow!" they hooted in a joyous chorus at the close of each refrain. + +"Ho!" exclaimed finally the master of ceremonies for the evening. "It is +Zuyamani's story of his great ride that we should now hear! It was +not far from this place, upon the Missouri River, and within the +recollection of many of us that this occurred. Ye young men must hear!" + +"Ho, ho!" was the ready response of all present, and the drum was struck +once according to custom. The pipe was filled and handed to Zuyamani, +who gravely smoked for a few moments in silence. Then he related his +contribution to the unwritten history of our frontier in these words: + +"It was during the winter following that summer in which General Sibley +pursued many of our people across the Muddy River (1863), that +we Hunkpatees, friendly Sioux, were camping at a place called +'Hunt-the-Deer,' about two miles from Fort Rice, Dakota Territory. + +"The Chief Soldier of the garrison called one day upon the leading +chiefs of our band. To each one he said: 'Lend me your bravest warrior!' +Each chief called his principal warriors together and laid the matter +before them. + +"'The Chief Soldier at this place,' they explained, 'wants to send a +message to Fort Berthold, where the Rees and Mandans live, to another +Chief Soldier there. The soldiers of the Great Father do not know the +way, neither could any of them get through the lines. He asks for a +brave man to carry his message.' + +"The Mandans and the Rees were our hereditary enemies, but this was not +the principal reason for our hesitation. We had declared allegiance +to the Great Father at Washington; we had taken our stand against the +fighting men of our own nation, and the hostile Sioux were worse than +enemies to us at this time! + +"Each chief had only called on his leading warriors, and each in turn +reported his failure to secure a volunteer. + +"Then the Chief Soldier sent again and said: 'Is there not a young +man among you who dares to face death? If he reaches the fort with my +message, he will need to be quick-witted as well as brave, and the Great +Father will not forget him!' + +"Now all the chiefs together called all the young men in a great +council, and submitted to them the demand of the Great Father's servant. +We knew well that the country between us and Fort Berthold, about one +hundred and fifty miles distant, was alive with hostile Sioux, and that +if any of us should be caught and recognized by them, he would surely +be put to death. It would not be easy to deceive them by professing +hostility to the Government, for the record of each individual Indian +is well known. The warriors were still unwilling to go, for they argued +thus: 'This is a white man's errand, and will not be recorded as a +brave deed upon the honor roll of our people.' I think many would have +volunteered but for that belief. At that time we had not a high opinion +of the white man. + +"Since all the rest were silent, it came into my mind to offer my +services. The warriors looked at me in astonishment, for I was a very +young man and had no experience. + +"Our chief, Two Bears, who was my own uncle, finally presented my name +to the commanding officer. He praised my courage and begged me to +be vigilant. The interpreter told him that I had never been upon the +war-path and would be knocked over like a rabbit, but as no one else +would go, he was obliged to accept me as his messenger. He gave me a +fine horse and saddle; also a rifle and soldier's uniform. I would not +take the gun nor wear the blue coat. I accepted only a revolver, and I +took my bow and quiver full of arrows, and wore my usual dress. I hid +the letter in my moccasin. + +"I set out before daybreak the next morning. The snow was deep. I rode +up the river, on the west bank, keeping a very close watch all the way, +but seeing nothing. I had been provided with a pair of field glasses, +and I surveyed the country on all sides from the top of every hill. +Having traveled all day and part of the night, I rested my horse and I +took a little sleep. + +"After eating a small quantity of pemmican, I made a very early start +in the morning. It was scarcely light when I headed for a near-by ridge +from which to survey the country beyond. Just as I ascended the rise I +found myself almost surrounded by loose ponies, evidently belonging to a +winter camp of the hostile Sioux. + +"I readjusted my saddle, tightened the girths, and prepared to ride +swiftly around the camp. I saw some men already out after ponies. No one +appeared to have seen me as yet, but I felt that as soon as it became +lighter they could not help observing me. I turned to make the circuit +of the camp, which was a very large one, and as soon as I reached the +timbered bottom lands I began to congratulate myself that I had not been +seen. + +"As I entered the woods at the crossing of a dry creek, I noticed that +my horse was nervous. I knew that horses are quick to discover animals +or men by scent, and I became nervous, too. + +"The animal put his four feet together and almost slid down the steep +bank. As he came out on the opposite side he swerved suddenly and +started to run. Then I saw a man watching me from behind a tree. +Fortunately for me, he carried no weapon. He was out after ponies, and +had only a lariat wound upon one shoulder. + +"He beckoned and made signs for me to stop, but I spurred my horse and +took flight at once. I could hear him yelling far behind me, no doubt to +arouse the camp and set them on my trail. + +"As I fled westward, I came upon another man, mounted, and driving his +ponies before him. He yelled and hooted in vain; then turned and rode +after me. Two others had started in pursuit, but my horse was a good +one, and I easily outdistanced them at the start. + +"After I had fairly circled the camp, I turned again toward the river, +hoping to regain the bottom lands. The traveling was bad. Sometimes we +came to deep gulches filled with snow, where my horse would sink in +up to his body and seem unable to move. When I jumped off his back and +struck him once or twice, he would make several desperate leaps and +recover his footing. My pursuers were equally hindered, but by this +time the pursuit was general, and in order to terrify me they yelled +continually and fired their guns into the air. Now and then I came to +a gulch which I had to follow up in search of a place to cross, and at +such times they gained on me. I began to despair, for I knew that the +white man's horses have not the endurance of our Indian ponies, and I +expected to be chased most of the day. + +"Finally I came to a ravine that seemed impossible to cross. As I +followed it up, it became evident that some of them had known of this +trap, and had cut in ahead of me. I felt that I must soon abandon my +horse and slide down the steep sides of the gulch to save myself. + +"However, I made one last effort to pass my enemies. They came within +gunshot and several fired at me, although all our horses were going at +full speed. They missed me, and being at last clear of them, I came to a +place where I could cross, and the pursuit stopped." + +When Zuyamani reached this point in his recital, the great drum was +struck several times, and all the men cheered him. + +"The days are short in winter," he went on after a short pause, "and +just now the sun sank behind the hills. I did not linger. I continued my +journey by night, and reached Fort Berthold before midnight. I had been +so thoroughly frightened and was so much exhausted that I did not +want to talk, and as soon as I had delivered my letters to the post +commander, I went to the interpreter's quarters to sleep. + +"The interpreter, however, announced my arrival, and that same night +many Ree, Gros Ventre, and Mandan warriors came to call upon me. Among +them was a great chief of the Rees, called Poor Dog. + +"'You must be,' said he to me, 'either a very young man, or a fool! You +have not told us about your close escape, but a runner came in at dusk +and told us of the pursuit. He reported that you had been killed by +the hostiles, for he heard many guns fired about the middle of the +afternoon. These white men will never give you any credit for your +wonderful ride, nor will they compensate you for the risks you have +taken in their service. They will not give you so much as one eagle +feather for what you have done!' + +"The next day I was sent for to go to headquarters, and there I related +my all-day pursuit by the hostile Sioux. The commanding officer advised +me to remain at the fort fifteen days before making the return trip, +thinking that by that time my enemies might cease to look for me. + +"At the end of the fortnight he wrote his letters, and I told him that +I was ready to start. 'I will give you,' he said, 'twenty Rees and Gros +Ventres to escort you past the hostile camp.' We set out very early and +rode all day, so that night overtook us just before we reached the camp. + +"At nightfall we sent two scouts ahead, but before they left us they +took the oath of the pipe in token of their loyalty. You all know the +ancient war custom. A lighted pipe was held toward them and each one +solemnly touched it, after which it was passed as usual. + +"We followed more slowly, and at about midnight we came to the place +where our scouts had agreed to meet us. They were to return from a +reconnaissance of the camp and report on what they had seen. It was a +lonely spot, and the night was very cold and still. We sat there in the +snowy woods near a little creek and smoked in silence while we waited. +I had plenty of time to reflect upon my position. These Gros Ventres +and Rees have been our enemies for generations. I was one man to twenty! +They had their orders from the commander of the fort, and that was my +only safeguard. + +"Soon we heard the howl of a wolf a little to the westward. Immediately +one of the party answered in the same manner. I could not have told +it from the howl of a real wolf. Then we heard a hooting owl down the +creek. Another of our party hooted like an owl. + +"Presently the wolf's voice sounded nearer, while the owl's hoot came +nearer in the opposite direction. Then we heard the footsteps of ponies +on the crisp, frosty air. The scout who had been imitating the wolf came +in first, and the owl soon followed. The warriors made a ring and again +filled the pipe, and the scouts took the oath for the second time. + +"After smoking, they reported a trail going up a stream tributary to the +Missouri, but whether going out or coming in it was impossible to tell +in the dark. It was several days old. This was discussed for some time. +The question was whether some had gone out in search of meat, or whether +some additional men had come into camp. + +"The Bunch of Stars was already a little west of the middle sky when we +set out again. They agreed to take me a short distance beyond this creek +and there leave me, as they were afraid to go any further. On the bank +of the creek we took a farewell smoke. There was a faint glow in the +east, showing that it was almost morning. The warriors sang a 'Strong +Heart' song for me in an undertone as I went on alone. + +"I tried to make a wide circuit of the camp, but I passed their ponies +grazing all over the side hills at a considerable distance, and I went +as quietly as possible, so as not to frighten them. When I had fairly +passed the camp I came down to the road again, and I let my horse fly! + +"I had been cautioned at the post that the crossings of the creeks on +either side of the camp were the most dangerous places, since they would +be likely to watch for me there. I had left the second crossing far +behind, and I felt quite safe; but I was tired and chilled by the long +ride. My horse, too, began to show signs of fatigue. In a deep ravine +where there was plenty of dry wood and shelter, I cleared the ground of +snow and kindled a small fire. Then I gave the horse his last ration of +oats, and I ate the last of the pemmican that the Ree scouts had given +me. + +"Suddenly he pricked up his ears in the direction of home. He ate a +mouthful and listened again. I began to grow nervous, and I listened, +too. Soon I heard the footsteps of horses in the snow at a considerable +distance. + +"Hastily I mounted and took flight along the ravine until I had to come +out upon the open plain, in full view of a party of about thirty +Sioux in war-paint, coming back from the direction of Fort Rice. They +immediately gave chase, yelling and flourishing their guns and tomahawks +over their heads. I urged my horse to his best speed, for I felt that +if they should overtake me, nothing could save me! My friend, White Elk, +here, was one of that warparty. + +"I saw that I had a fair lead and the best horse, and was gaining upon +them, when about two miles out I met some more of the party who had +lingered behind the rest. I was surrounded! + +"I turned toward the north, to a deep gulch that I knew I should find +there, and I led my horse along a narrow and slippery ridge to a deep +hole. Here I took up my position. I guarded the pass with my bow and +arrows, and they could not reach me unless they should follow the ridge +in single file. I knew that they would not storm my position, for that +is not the Indian way of fighting, but I supposed that they would try +to tire me out. They yelled and hooted, and shot many bullets and arrows +over my head to terrify me into surrender, but I remained motionless and +silent. + +"Night came, with a full round moon. All was light as day except the +place where I stood, half frozen and not daring to move. The bottom of +the gulch was as black as a well and almost as cold. The wolves howled +all around me in the stillness. At last I heard the footsteps of horses +retreating, and then no other sound. Still I dared not come out. I must +have slept, for it was dawn when I seemed to hear faintly the yelling of +warriors, and then I heard my own name. + +"'Zuyamani, tokiya nunka huwo?' (Where are you, Zuyamani?) they shouted. +A party of my friends had come out to meet me and had followed our +trail. I was scarcely able to walk when I came out, but they filled the +pipe and held it up to me, as is done in recognition of distinguished +service. They escorted me into the post, singing war songs and songs of +brave deeds, and there I delivered up his letters to the Chief Soldier." + +Again the drum was struck and the old men cheered Zuyamani, who added: + +"I think that Poor Dog was right, for the Great Father never gave me any +credit, nor did he ever reward me for what I had done. Yet I have not +been without honor, for my own people have not forgotten me, even though +I went upon the white man's errand." + + + + +VII. THE GRAVE OF THE DOG + +The full moon was just clear of the high mountain ranges. Surrounded by +a ring of bluish haze, it looked almost as if it were frozen against the +impalpable blueblack of the reckless midwinter sky. + +The game scout moved slowly homeward, well wrapped in his long buffalo +robe, which was securely belted to his strong loins; his quiver tightly +tied to his shoulders so as not to impede his progress. It was enough to +carry upon his feet two strong snow-shoes; for the snow was deep and its +crust too thin to bear his weight. + +As he emerged from the lowlands into the upper regions, he loomed up +a gigantic figure against the clear, moonlit horizon. His picturesque +foxskin cap with all its trimmings was incrusted with frost from the +breath of his nostrils, and his lagging footfall sounded crisply. The +distance he had that day covered was enough for any human endurance; yet +he was neither faint nor hungry; but his feet were frozen into the psay, +the snow-shoes, so that he could not run faster than an easy slip and +slide. + +At last he reached the much-coveted point--the crown of the last ascent; +and when he smelled fire and the savory odor of the jerked buffalo meat, +it well-nigh caused him to waver! But he must not fail to follow the +custom of untold ages, and give the game scout's wolf call before +entering camp. + +Accordingly he paused upon the highest point of the ridge and uttered +a cry to which the hungry cry of a real wolf would have seemed but a +coyote's yelp in comparison! Then it was that the rest of the buffalo +hunters knew that their game scout was returning with welcome news; for +the unsuccessful scout enters the camp silently. + +A second time he gave the call to assure his hearers that their ears +did not deceive them. The gray wolves received the news with perfect +understanding. It meant food! "Woo-o-o-o! woo-o-o-o!" came from all +directions, especially from the opposite ridge. Thus the ghostly, cold, +weird night was enlivened with the music from many wild throats. + +Down the gradual slope the scout hastened; his footfall was the only +sound that broke the stillness after the answers to his call had ceased. +As he crossed a little ridge an immense wolf suddenly confronted him, +and instead of retreating, calmly sat up and gazed steadfastly into his +face. + +"Welcome, welcome, friend!" the hunter spoke as he passed. + +In the meantime, the hunters at the temporary camp were aroused to a +high pitch of excitement. Some turned their buffalo robes and put them +on in such a way as to convert themselves into make-believe bison, and +began to tread the snow, while others were singing the buffalo song, +that their spirits might be charmed and allured within the circle of +the camp-fires. The scout, too, was singing his buffalo bull song in a +guttural, lowing chant as he neared the hunting camp. Within arrow-shot +he paused again, while the usual ceremonies were enacted for his +reception. This done, he was seated with the leaders in a chosen place. + +"It was a long run," he said, "but there were no difficulties. I found +the first herd directly north of here. The second herd, a great one, +is northeast, near Shell Lake. The snow is deep. The buffalo can only +follow their leader in their retreat." + +"Hi, hi, hi!" the hunters exclaimed solemnly in token of gratitude, +raising their hands heavenward and then pointing them toward the ground. + +"Ho, kola! one more round of the buffalo-pipe, then we shall retire, to +rise before daybreak for the hunt," advised one of the leaders. Silently +they partook in turn of the long-stemmed pipe, and one by one, with a +dignified "Ho!" departed to their teepees. + +The scout betook himself to his little old buffalo teepee, which he used +for winter hunting expeditions. His faithful Shunka, who had been all +this time its only occupant, met him at the entrance as dogs alone know +how to welcome a lifelong friend. As his master entered he stretched +himself in his old-time way, from the tip of his tail to that of his +tongue, and finished by curling both ends upward. + +"Ho, mita shunka, eat this; for you must be hungry!" So saying, the +scout laid before his canine friend the last piece of his dried buffalo +meat. It was the sweetest meal ever eaten by a dog, judging by his long +smacking of his lips after he had swallowed it! + +The hunting party was soon lost in heavy slumber. Not a sound could be +heard save the gnawing of the ponies upon the cottonwood bark, which was +provided for them instead of hay in the winter time. + +All about Shell Lake the bison were gathered in great herds. The +unmistakable signs of the sky had warned them of approaching bad +weather. The moon's robe was girdled with the rainbow wampum of heaven. +The very music of the snow under their feet had given them warning. On +the north side of Shell Lake there were several deep gulches, which were +the homes of every wanderer of the plains at such a time at this. When +there was a change toward severe weather, all the four-footed people +headed for this lake. Here was a heavy growth of reeds, rushes, and +coarse grass, making good shelters, and also springs, which afforded +water after the lake was frozen solid. Hence great numbers of the bison +had gathered here. + +When Wapashaw, the game scout, had rolled himself in his warm buffalo +robe and was sound asleep, his faithful companion hunter, the great +Esquimaux wolf dog, silently rose and again stretched himself, then +stood quiet for a moment as if meditating. It was clear that he knew +well what he had planned to do, but was considering how he should do it +without arousing any suspicion of his movements. This is a dog's art, +and the night tricks and marauding must always be the joy and secret of +his life! + +Softly he emerged from the lodge and gave a sweeping glance around to +assure him that there were none to spy upon him. Suspiciously he sniffed +the air, as if to ascertain whether there could be any danger to his +sleeping master while he should be away. + +His purpose was still a secret. It may be that it was not entirely a +selfish one, or merely the satisfying of his inherited traits. Having +fully convinced himself of the safety of the unguarded camp, he went +forth into the biting cold. The moon was now well up on the prairies of +the sky. There were no cloud hills in the blue field above to conceal +her from view. Her brilliant light set on fire every snow gem upon the +plains and hillsides about the hunters' camp. + +Up the long ascent he trotted in a northerly direction, yet not +following his master's trail. He was large and formidable in strength, +combining the features of his wild brothers of the plains with those of +the dogs who keep company with the red men. His jet-black hair and sharp +ears and nose appeared to immense advantage against the spotless and +jeweled snow, until presently his own warm breath had coated him with +heavy frost. + +After a time Shunka struck into his master's trail and followed it all +the way, only taking a short cut here and there when by dog instinct he +knew that a man must go around such a point to get to his destination. +He met 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. + +At last he reached Shell Lake, and there beheld 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 curiosity 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 preparing 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 buffalo moccasins with the hair inside, and adjusted +his warm leggings. He then adjusted his snowshoes and filled his quiver +full of good arrows. The dog quietly lay down in a warm place, making +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 exclaimed; "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. + +"Hechetu, kola! This is well, friends!" exclaimed 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 +popping from behind the embankments. As the herd finally swept toward +the opposite shore, many dead were left behind. Pierced by the arrows of +the hunters, they lay like black mounds upon the glassy plain. + +It was a great hunt! "Once more the camp will be fed," they thought, "and +this good fortune will help us to reach the spring alive!" + +A chant of rejoicing rang out from the opposite shore, while the game +scout unsheathed his big knife and began the work which is ever the +sequel of the hunt--to dress the game; although 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 atmosphere. + +"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 arranged +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 telling 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 exclaimed a leader +among them. "He is a brave and experienced man. He will find a safe +resting-place, and join us when the wind ceases to rage." So they all +wrapped themselves in their robes and lay down to sleep. + +All that night and the following day it was impossible to give succor, +and the hunters felt much concern for the absent. Late in the second +night the great storm subsided. + +"Ho, ho! Iyotanka! Rise up!" So the first hunter to awaken aroused all +the others. + +As after every other storm, it was wonderfully still; so still that one +could hear distinctly the pounding feet of the jack-rabbits coming down +over the slopes to the willows for food. All dry vegetation was buried +beneath the deep snow, and everywhere they saw this white-robed creature +of the prairie coming down to the woods. + +Now the air was full of the wolf and coyote game call, and they were +seen in great numbers upon the ice. + +"See, see! the hungry wolves are dragging the carcasses away! Harken +to the war cries of the scout's Shunka! Hurry, hurry!" they urged one +another in chorus. + +Away they ran and out upon the lake; now upon the wind-swept ice, now +upon the crusted snow; running when they could, sliding when they must. +There was certainly a great concourse of the wolves, whirling in frantic +circles, but continually moving toward the farther end of the lake. +They could hear distinctly the hoarse bark of the scout's Shunka, and +occasionally the muffled war-whoop of a man, as if it came from under +the ice! + +As they approached nearer the scene they could hear more distinctly the +voice of their friend, but still as it were from underground. When they +reached the spot to which the wolves had dragged two of the carcasses of +the buffalo, Shunka was seen to stand by one of them, but at that moment +he staggered and fell. The hunters took out their knives and ripped up +the frozen hide covering the abdominal cavity. It revealed a warm nest +of hay and buffalo hair in which the scout lay, wrapped in his own robe! + +He had placed his dog in one of the carcasses and himself in another for +protection from the storm; but the dog was wiser than the man, for +he kept his entrance open. The man lapped the hide over and it froze +solidly, shutting him securely in. When the hungry wolves came Shunka +promptly extricated himself and held them off as long as he could; +meanwhile, sliding and pulling, the wolves continued to drag over the +slippery ice the body of the buffalo in which his master had taken +refuge. The poor, faithful dog, with no care for his own safety, stood +by his imprisoned master until the hunters came up. But it was too late, +for he had received more than one mortal wound. + +As soon as the scout got out, with a face more anxious for another than +for himself, he exclaimed: + +"Where is Shunka, the bravest of his tribe?" + +"Ho, kola, it is so, indeed; and here he lies," replied one sadly. + +His master knelt by his side, gently stroking the face of the dog. + +"Ah, my friend; you go where all spirits live! The Great Mystery has a +home for every living creature. May he permit our meeting there!" + +At daybreak the scout carried him up to one of the pretty round hills +overlooking the lake, and built up around him walls of loose stone. Red +paints were scattered over the snow, in accordance with Indian custom, +and the farewell song was sung. + +Since that day the place has been known to the Sioux as +Shunkahanakapi--the Grave of the Dog. + + + + +PART TWO. THE WOMAN + + + + +I. WINONA, THE WOMAN-CHILD + + + Hush, hushaby, little woman! + Be brave and weep not! + The spirits sleep not; + 'Tis they who ordain + To woman, pain. + + Hush, hushaby, little woman! + Now, all things bearing, + A new gift sharing + From those above-- + + To woman, love. + --Sioux Lullaby. + + +"Chinto, weyanna! Yes, indeed; she is a real little woman," declares the +old grandmother, as she receives and critically examines the tiny bit of +humanity. + +There is no remark as to the color of its hair or eyes, both so black as +almost to be blue, but the old woman scans sharply the delicate profile +of the baby face. + +"Ah, she has the nose of her ancestors! Lips thin as a leaf, and eyes +bright as stars in midwinter!" she exclaims, as she passes on the furry +bundle to the other grandmother for her inspection. + +"Tokee! she is pretty enough to win a twinkle rom the evening star," +remarks that smiling personage. + +"And what shall her name be? + +"Winona, the First-born, of course. That is hers by right of birth." + +"Still, it may not fit her. One must prove herself worthy in order to +retain that honorable name." + +"Ugh," retorts the first grandmother, "she can at least bear it on +probation!" + +"Tosh, tosh," the other assents. + +Thus the unconscious little Winona has passed the first stage of the +Indian's christening. + +Presently she is folded into a soft white doeskin, well lined with the +loose down of cattails, and snugly laced into an upright oaken cradle, +the front of which is a richly embroidered buckskin bag, with porcupine +quills and deers' hoofs suspended from its profuse fringes. This +gay cradle is strapped upon the second grandmother's back, and that +dignitary walks off with the newcomer. + +"You must come with me," she says. "We shall go among the father and +mother trees, and hear them speak with their thousand tongues, that +you may know their language forever. I will hang the cradle of the +woman-child upon Utuhu, the oak; and she shall hear the love-sighs of +the pine maiden!" + +In this fashion Winona is introduced to nature and becomes at once +"nature-born," in accord with the beliefs and practices of the wild red +man. + +"Here she is! Take her," says the old woman on her return from the +woods. She presents the child to its mother, who is sitting in the shade +of an elm-tree as quietly as if she had not just passed through woman's +severest ordeal in giving a daughter to the brave Chetonska! + +"She has a winsome face, as meek and innocent as the face of an ermine," +graciously adds the grandmother. + +The mother does not speak. Silently and almost reverently she takes her +new and first-born daughter into her arms. She gazes into its velvety +little face of a dusky red tint, and unconsciously presses the closely +swaddled form to her breast. She feels the mother-instinct seize upon +her strongly for the first time. Here is a new life, a new hope, a +possible link between herself and a new race! + +Ah, a smile plays upon her lips, as she realizes that she has kissed her +child! In its eyes and mouth she discerns clearly the features she has +loved in the strong countenance of another, though in the little woman's +face they are softened and retouched by the hand of the "Great Mystery." + +The baby girl is called Winona for some months, when the medicine-man +is summoned and requested to name publicly the first-born daughter of +Chetonska, the White Hawk; but not until he has received a present of +a good pony with a finely painted buffalo-robe. It is usual to confer +another name besides that of the "First-born," which may be resumed +later if the maiden proves worthy. The name Winona implies much of +honor. It means charitable, kind, helpful; all that an eldest sister +should be! + +The herald goes around the ring of lodges announcing in singsong fashion +the christening, and inviting everybody to a feast in honor of the +event. A real American christening is always a gala occasion, when much +savage wealth is distributed among the poor and old people. Winona has +only just walked, and this fact is also announced with additional gifts. +A wellborn child is ever before the tribal eye and in the tribal ear, as +every little step in its progress toward manhood or womanhood--the first +time of walking or swimming, first shot with bow and arrow (if a boy), +first pair of moccasins made (if a girl)--is announced publicly with +feasting and the giving of presents. + +So Winona receives her individual name of Tatiyopa, or Her Door. It +is symbolic, like most Indian names, and implies that the door of the +bearer is hospitable and her home attractive. + +The two grandmothers, who have carried the little maiden upon their +backs, now tell and sing to her by turns all the legends of their most +noted female ancestors, from the twin sisters of the old story, the +maidens who married among the star people of the sky, down to their own +mothers. All her lullabies are feminine, and designed to impress upon +her tender mind the life and duties of her sex. + +As soon as she is old enough to play with dolls she plays mother in all +seriousness and gravity. She is dressed like a miniature woman (and her +dolls are clad likewise), in garments of doeskin to her ankles, adorned +with long fringes, embroidered with porcupine quills, and dyed with root +dyes in various colors. Her little blanket or robe, with which she shyly +drapes or screens her head and shoulders, is the skin of a buffalo calf +or a deer, soft, white, embroidered on the smooth side, and often with +the head and hoofs left on. + +"You must never forget, my little daughter, that you are a woman like +myself. Do always those things that you see me do," her mother often +admonishes her. + +Even the language of the Sioux has its feminine dialect, and the tiny +girl would be greatly abashed were it ever needful to correct her for +using a masculine termination. + +This mother makes for her little daughter a miniature copy of every +rude tool that she uses in her daily tasks. There is a little scraper of +elk-horn to scrape rawhides preparatory to tanning them, another scraper +of a different shape for tanning, bone knives, and stone mallets for +pounding choke-cherries and jerked meat. + +While her mother is bending over a large buffalo-hide stretched and +pinned upon the ground, standing upon it and scraping off the fleshy +portion as nimbly as a carpenter shaves a board with his plane, Winona, +at five years of age, stands upon a corner of the great hide and +industriously scrapes away with her tiny instrument! When the mother +stops to sharpen her tool, the little woman always sharpens hers +also. Perhaps there is water to be fetched in bags made from the dried +pericardium of an animal; the girl brings some in a smaller water-bag. +When her mother goes for wood she carries one or two sticks on her back. +She pitches her play teepee to form an exact copy of her mother's. Her +little belongings are nearly all practical, and her very play is real! + +Thus, before she is ten years old, Winona begins to see life honestly +and in earnest; to consider herself a factor in the life of her +people--a link in the genealogy of her race. Yet her effort is not +forced, her work not done from necessity; it is normal and a development +of the play-instinct of the young creature. This sort of training leads +very early to a genuine desire to serve and to do for others. The little +Winona loves to give and to please; to be generous and gracious. There +is no thought of trafficking or economizing in labor and in love. + +"Mother, I want to be like the beavers, the ants, and the spiders, +because my grandmother says those are the people most worthy of +imitation for their industry. She also tells me that I should watch the +bee, the one that has so many daughters, and allows no young men to come +around her daughters while they are at work making sweets," exclaims the +little maiden. + +"Truly their industry helps us much, for we often take from their +hoard," remarks the mother. + +"That is not right, is it mother, if they do not wish to share with us?" +asks Winona. "But I think the bee is stingy if she has so much and will +not share with any one else! When I grow up, I shall help the poor! I +shall have a big teepee and invite old people often, for when people get +old they seem to be always hungry, and I think we ought to feed them." + +"My little daughter will please me and her father if she proves to be +industrious and skillful with her needle and in all woman's work. Then +she can have a fine teepee and make it all cheerful within. The indolent +woman has a small teepee, and it is very smoky. All her children will +have sore eyes, and her husband will soon become ill-tempered," declares +the mother, in all seriousness. + +"And, daughter, there is something more than this needed to make a +cheerful home. You must have a good heart, be patient, and speak but +little. Every creature that talks too much is sure to make trouble," she +concludes, wisely. + +One day this careful mother has completed a beautiful little teepee of +the skin of a buffalo calf, worked with red porcupine quills in a row of +rings just below the smoke-flaps and on each side of the front opening. +In the center of each ring is a tassel of red and white horse-hair. +The tip of each smoke-flap is decorated with the same material, and the +doorflap also. + +Within there are neatly arranged raw-hide boxes for housekeeping, and +square bags of soft buckskin adorned with blue and white beads. On +either side of the fireplace are spread the tanned skins of a buffalo +calf and a deer; but there is no bear, wolf, or wildcat skin, for +on these the foot of a woman must never tread! They are for men, and +symbolical of manly virtues. There are dolls of all sizes, and a play +travois leans against the white wall of the miniature lodge. Even the +pet pup is called in to complete the fanciful home of the little woman. + +"Now, my daughter," says the mother, "you must keep your lodge in +order!" + +Here the little woman is allowed to invite other little women, her +playmates. This is where the grandmothers hold sway, chaperoning their +young charges, who must never be long out of their sight. The little +visitors bring their work-bags of various skins, artistically made and +trimmed. These contain moccasins and other garments for their dolls, on +which they love to occupy themselves. + +The brightly-painted rawhide boxes are reserved for food, and in these +the girls bring various prepared meats and other delicacies. This is +perhaps the most agreeable part of the play to the chaperon, who is +treated as an honored guest at the feast! + +Winona seldom plays with boys, even her own brothers and cousins, and +after she reaches twelve or fourteen years of age she scarcely speaks to +them. Modesty is a virtue which is deeply impressed upon her from early +childhood, and the bashfully drooping head, the averted look, the voice +low and seldom heard, these are graces much esteemed in a maiden. + +She is taught to pay great attention to the care of her long, glossy +locks, combing, plaiting, and perfuming them with sweet-scented leaves +steeped in oil. Her personal appearance is well understood to be a +matter of real moment, and rich dress and ornaments are highly prized. +Fortunately they never go out of fashion, and once owned are permanent +possessions, unless parted with as ceremonial gifts on some great +occasion of mourning or festivity. + +When she reaches a marriageable age her father allows her to give a +feast to all the other girls of her immediate clan, and this "Feast of +Virgins" may only be attended by those of spotless reputation. To have +given or attended a number of them is regarded as a choice honor. + +Tatiyopa, by the time she is fifteen, has already a name for skill +in needlework, and generosity in distributing the articles of her own +making. She is now generally called Winona--the charitable and kind! She +believes that it is woman's work to make and keep a home that will be +worthy of the bravest, and hospitable to all, and in this simple faith +she enters upon the realities of her womanhood. + + + + +II. WINONA, THE CHILD-WOMAN + + + Braver than the bravest, + You sought honors at death's door; + Could you not remember + One who weeps at home-- + Could you not remember me? + + Braver than the bravest, + You sought honors more than love; + Dear, I weep, yet I am not a coward; + My heart weeps for thee-- + My heart weeps when I remember thee! + --Sioux Love Song. + + +The sky is blue overhead, peeping through window-like openings in a roof +of green leaves. Right between a great pine and a birch tree their soft +doeskin shawls are spread, and there sit two Sioux maidens amid their +fineries--variously colored porcupine quills for embroidery laid upon +sheets of thin birch-bark, and moccasin tops worked in colors like +autumn leaves. It is Winona and her friend Miniyata. + +They have arrived at the period during which the young girl is carefully +secluded from her brothers and cousins and future lovers, and retires, +as it were, into the nunnery of the woods, behind a veil of thick +foliage. Thus she is expected to develop fully her womanly qualities. +In meditation and solitude, entirely alone or with a chosen companion of +her own sex and age, she gains a secret strength, as she studies the art +of womanhood from nature herself. + +Winona has the robust beauty of the wild lily of the prairie, pure and +strong in her deep colors of yellow and scarlet against the savage +plain and horizon, basking in the open sun like a child, yet soft and +woman-like, with drooping head when observed. Both girls are beautifully +robed in loose gowns of soft doeskin, girded about the waist with the +usual very wide leather belt. + +"Come, let us practice our sacred dance," says one to the other. Each +crowns her glossy head with a wreath of wild flowers, and they dance +with slow steps around the white birch, singing meanwhile the sacred +songs. + +Now upon the lake that stretches blue to the eastward there appears a +distant canoe, a mere speck, no bigger than a bird far off against the +shining sky. + +"See the lifting of the paddles!" exclaims Winona. + +"Like the leaping of a trout upon the water!" suggests Miniyata. + +"I hope they will not discover us, yet I would like to know who they +are," remarks the other, innocently. + +The birch canoe approaches swiftly, with two young men plying the light +cedar paddles. + +The girls now settle down to their needlework, quite as if they had +never laughed or danced or woven garlands, bending over their embroidery +in perfect silence. Surely they would not wish to attract attention, for +the two sturdy young warriors have already landed. + +They pick up the canoe and lay it well up on the bank, out of sight. +Then one procures a strong pole. They lift a buck deer from the +canoe--not a mark upon it, save for the bullet wound; the deer looks as +if it were sleeping! They tie the hind legs together and the fore legs +also and carry it between them on the pole. + +Quickly and cleverly they do all this; and now they start forward and +come unexpectedly upon the maidens' retreat! They pause for an instant +in mute apology, but the girls smile their forgiveness, and the youths +hurry on toward the village. + +Winona has now attended her first maidens' feast and is considered +eligible to marriage. She may receive young men, but not in public or in +a social way, for such was not the custom of the Sioux. When he speaks, +she need not answer him unless she chooses. + +The Indian woman in her quiet way preserves the dignity of the home. +From our standpoint the white man is a law-breaker! The "Great Mystery," +we say, does not adorn the woman above the man. His law is spreading +horns, or flowing mane, or gorgeous plumage for the male; the female +he made plain, but comely, modest and gentle. She is the foundation of +man's dignity and honor. Upon her rests the life of the home and of the +family. I have often thought that there is much in this philosophy of an +untutored people. Had her husband remained long enough in one place, the +Indian woman, I believe, would have developed no mean civilization and +culture of her own. + +It was no disgrace to the chief's daughter in the old days to work with +her hands. Indeed, their standard of worth was the willingness to work, +but not for the sake of accumulation, only in order to give. Winona has +learned to prepare skins, to remove the hair and tan the skin of a deer +so that it may be made into moccasins within three days. She has a bone +tool for each stage of the conversion of the stiff raw-hide into velvety +leather. She has been taught the art of painting tents and raw-hide +cases, and the manufacture of garments of all kinds. + +Generosity is a trait that is highly developed in the Sioux woman. +She makes many moccasins and other articles of clothing for her male +relatives, or for any who are not well provided. She loves to see +her brother the best dressed among the young men, and the moccasins +especially of a young brave are the pride of his woman-kind. + +Her own person is neatly attired, but ordinarily with great simplicity. +Her doeskin gown has wide, flowing sleeves; the neck is low, but not so +low as is the evening dress of society. + +Her moccasins are plain; her leggins close-fitting and not as high as her +brother's. She parts her smooth, jet-black hair in the middle and plaits +it in two. In the old days she used to do it in one plait wound around +with wampum. Her ornaments, sparingly worn, are beads, elks' teeth, and +a touch of red paint. No feathers are worn by the woman, unless in a +sacred dance. + +She is supposed to be always occupied with some feminine pursuit or +engaged in some social affair, which also is strictly feminine as a +rule. Even her language is peculiar to her sex, some words being used by +women only, while others have a feminine termination. + +There is an etiquette of sitting and standing, which is strictly +observed. The woman must never raise her knees or cross her feet when +seated. She seats herself on the ground sidewise, with both feet under +her. + +Notwithstanding her modesty and undemonstrative ways, there is no lack +of mirth and relaxation for Winona among her girl companions. + +In summer, swimming and playing in the water is a favorite amusement. +She even imitates with the soles of her feet the peculiar, resonant +sound that the beaver makes with her large, flat tail upon the surface +of the water. She is a graceful swimmer, keeping the feet together and +waving them backward and forward like the tail of a fish. + +Nearly all her games are different from those of the men. She has a +sport of wand-throwing which develops fine muscles of the shoulder and +back. The wands are about eight feet long, and taper gradually from +an inch and a half to half an inch in diameter. Some of them are +artistically made, with heads of bone and horn, so that it is remarkable +to what a distance they may be made to slide over the ground. In the +feminine game of ball, which is something like "shinny," the ball is +driven with curved sticks between two goals. It is played with from +two or three to a hundred on a side, and a game between two bands or +villages is a picturesque event. + +A common indoor diversion is the "deer's foot" game, played with six +deer hoofs on a string, ending in a bone or steel awl. The object is to +throw it in such a way as to catch one or more hoofs on the point of the +awl, a feat which requires no little dexterity. Another is played with +marked plum-stones in a bowl, which are thrown like dice and count +according to the side that is turned uppermost. + +Winona's wooing is a typical one. As with any other people, love-making +is more or less in vogue at all times of the year, but more especially +at midsummer, during the characteristic reunions and festivities of +that season. The young men go about usually in pairs, and the maidens do +likewise. They may meet by chance at any time of day, in the woods or +at the spring, but oftenest seek to do so after dark, just outside the +teepee. The girl has her companion, and he has his, for the sake of +propriety or protection. The conversation is carried on in a whisper, so +that even these chaperons do not hear. + +At the sound of the drum on summer evenings, dances are begun within the +circular rows of teepees, but without the circle the young men promenade +in pairs. Each provides himself with the plaintive flute and plays the +simple cadences of his people, while his person is completely covered +with his fine robe, so that he cannot be recognized by the passerby. At +every pause in the melody he gives his yodel-like love-call, to which +the girls respond with their musical, sing-song laughter. + +Matosapa has loved Winona since the time he saw her at the lakeside in +her parlor among the pines. But he has not had much opportunity to speak +until on such a night, after the dances are over. There is no outside +fire; but a dim light from within the skin teepees sheds a mellow glow +over the camp, mingling with the light of a young moon. Thus these +lovers go about like ghosts. Matosapa has already circled the teepees +with his inseparable brother-friend, Brave Elk. + +"Friend, do me an honor to-night!" he exclaims, at last. "Open this +first door for me, since this will be the first time I shall speak to a +woman!" + +"Ah," suggests Brave Elk, "I hope you have selected a girl whose +grandmother has no cross dogs!" + +"The prize that is won at great risk is usually valued most," replies +Matosapa. + +"Ho, kola! I shall touch the door-flap as softly as the swallow alights +upon her nest. But I warn you, do not let your heart beat too loudly, +for the old woman's ears are still good!" + +So, joking and laughing, they proceed toward a large buffalo tent with a +horse's tail suspended from the highest pole to indicate the rank of +the owner. They have ceased to blow the flute some paces back, and walk +noiselessly as a panther in quest of a doe. + +Brave Elk opens the door. Matosapa enters the tent. As was the wont of +the Sioux, the well-born maid has a little teepee within a teepee--a +private apartment of her own. He passes the sleeping family to this +inner shrine. There he gently wakens Winona with proper apologies. This +is not unusual or strange to her innocence, for it was the custom of the +people. He sits at the door, while his friend waits outside, and tells +his love in a whisper. To this she does not reply at once; even if she +loves him, it is proper that she should be silent. The lover does not +know whether he is favorably received or not, upon this his first visit. +He must now seek her outside upon every favorable occasion. No gifts +are offered at this stage of the affair; the trafficking in ponies and +"buying" a wife is entirely a modern custom. + +Matosapa has improved every opportunity, until Winona has at last +shyly admitted her willingness to listen. For a whole year he has been +compelled at intervals to repeat the story of his love. Through the +autumn hunting of the buffalo and the long, cold winter he often +presents her kinsfolk with his game. + +At the next midsummer the parents on both sides are made acquainted +with the betrothal, and they at once begin preparations for the coming +wedding. Provisions and delicacies of all kinds are laid aside for +a feast. Matosapa's sisters and his girl cousins are told of the +approaching event, and they too prepare for it, since it is their duty +to dress or adorn the bride with garments made by their own hands. + +With the Sioux of the old days, the great natural crises of human life, +marriage and birth, were considered sacred and hedged about with great +privacy. Therefore the union is publicly celebrated after and not before +its consummation. Suddenly the young couple disappear. They go out into +the wilderness together, and spend some days or weeks away from the +camp. This is their honeymoon, away from all curious or prying eyes. In +due time they quietly return, he to his home and she to hers, and now at +last the marriage is announced and invitations are given to the feast. + +The bride is ceremoniously delivered to her husband's people, together +with presents of rich clothing collected from all her clan, which she +afterward distributes among her new relations. Winona is carried in a +travois handsomely decorated, and is received with equal ceremony. +For several days following she is dressed and painted by the female +relatives of the groom, each in her turn, while in both clans the +wedding feast is celebrated. + +To illustrate womanly nobility of nature, let me tell the story of +Dowanhotaninwin, Her-Singing-Heard. The maiden was deprived of both +father and mother when scarcely ten years old, by an attack of the Sacs +and Foxes while they were on a hunting expedition. Left alone with her +grandmother, she was carefully reared and trained by this sage of the +wild life. + +Nature had given her more than her share of attractiveness, and she was +womanly and winning as she was handsome. Yet she remained unmarried for +nearly thirty years--a most unusual thing among us; and although she had +worthy suitors in every branch of the Sioux nation, she quietly refused +every offer. + +Certain warriors who had distinguished themselves against the particular +tribe who had made her an orphan, persistently sought her hand in +marriage, but failed utterly. + +One summer the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes were brought together under +a flag of truce by the Commissioners of the Great White Father, for +the purpose of making a treaty with them. During the short period of +friendly intercourse and social dance and feast, a noble warrior of the +enemy's tribe courted Dowanhotaninwin. + +Several of her old lovers were vying with one another to win her at the +same time, that she might have inter-tribal celebration of her wedding. + +Behold! the maiden accepted the foe of her childhood--one of those who +had cruelly deprived her of her parents! + +By night she fled to the Sac and Fox camp with her lover. It seemed at +first an insult to the Sioux, and there was almost an outbreak among the +young men of the tribe, who were barely restrained by their respect for +the Commissioners of the Great Father. + +But her aged grandfather explained the matter publicly in this fashion: + +"Young men, hear ye! Your hearts are strong; let them not be troubled +by the act of a young woman of your tribe! This has been her secret wish +since she became a woman. She deprecates all tribal warfare. Her young +heart never forgot its early sorrow; yet she has never blamed the Sacs +and Foxes or held them responsible for the deed. She blames rather +the customs of war among us. She believes in the formation of a blood +brotherhood strong enough to prevent all this cruel and useless enmity. +This was her high purpose, and to this end she reserved her hand. +Forgive her, forgive her, I pray!" + +In the morning there was a great commotion. The herald of the Sacs and +Foxes entered the Sioux camp, attired in ceremonial garb and bearing +in one hand an American flag and in the other a peace-pipe. He made +the rounds singing a peace song, and delivering to all an invitation to +attend the wedding feast of Dowanhotaninwin and their chief's son. Thus +all was well. The simplicity, high purpose, and bravery of the girl won +the hearts of the two tribes, and as long as she lived she was able to +keep the peace between them. + + + + +III. SNANA'S FAWN + +The Little Missouri was in her spring fullness, and the hills among +which she found her way to the Great Muddy were profusely adorned with +colors, much like those worn by the wild red man upon a holiday! +Looking toward the sunrise, one saw mysterious, deep shadows and bright +prominences, while on the opposite side there was really an extravagant +array of variegated hues. Between the gorgeous buttes and rainbow-tinted +ridges there were narrow plains, broken here and there by dry creeks +or gulches, and these again were clothed scantily with poplars and +sad-colored bull-berry bushes, while the bare spots were purple with the +wild Dakota crocuses. + +Upon the lowest of a series of natural terraces there stood on this May +morning a young Sioux girl, whose graceful movements were not unlike +those of a doe which chanced to be lurking in a neighboring gulch. On +the upper plains, not far away, were her young companions, all busily +employed with the wewoptay, as it was called--the sharp-pointed stick +with which the Sioux women dig wild turnips. They were gayly gossiping +together, or each humming a love-song as she worked, only Snana stood +somewhat apart from the rest; in fact, concealed by the crest of the +ridge. + +She had paused in her digging and stood facing the sun-kissed buttes. +Above them in the clear blue sky the father sun was traveling upward as +in haste, while to her receptive spirit there appealed an awful, unknown +force, the silent speech of the Great Mystery, to which it seemed to her +the whole world must be listening! + +"O Great Mystery! the father of earthly things is coming to quicken +us into life. Have pity on me, I pray thee! May I some day become the +mother of a great and brave race of warriors!" So the maiden prayed +silently. + +It was now full-born day. The sun shone hot upon the bare ground, and +the drops stood upon Snana's forehead as she plied her long pole. There +was a cool spring in the dry creek bed near by, well hidden by a clump +of chokecherry bushes, and she turned thither to cool her thirsty +throat. In the depths of the ravine her eye caught a familiar +footprint--the track of a doe with the young fawn beside it. The hunting +instinct arose within. + +"It will be a great feat if I can find and take from her the babe. The +little tawny skin shall be beautifully dressed by my mother. The legs +and the nose shall be embossed with porcupine quills. It will be my +work-bag," she said to herself. + +As she stole forward on the fresh trail she scanned every nook, every +clump of bushes. There was a sudden rustle from within a grove of wild +plum trees, thickly festooned with grape and clematis, and the doe +mother bounded away as carelessly as if she were never to return. + +Ah, a mother's ruse! Snana entered the thorny enclosure, which was +almost a rude teepee, and, tucked away in the furthermost corner, lay +something with a trout-like, speckled, tawny coat. She bent over it. +The fawn was apparently sleeping. Presently its eyes moved a bit, and a +shiver passed through its subtle body. + +"Thou shalt not die; thy skin shall not become my work-bag!" +unconsciously the maiden spoke. The mother sympathy had taken hold on +her mind. She picked the fawn up tenderly, bound its legs, and put it on +her back to carry like an Indian babe in the folds of her robe. + +"I cannot leave you alone, Tachinchala. Your mother is not here. Our +hunters will soon return by this road, and your mother has left behind +her two plain tracks leading to this thicket," she murmured. + +The wild creature struggled vigorously for a minute, and then became +quiet. Its graceful head protruded from the elkskin robe just over +Snana's shoulder. She was slowly climbing the slope with her burden, +when suddenly like an apparition the doe-mother stood before her. The +fawn called loudly when it was first seized, and the mother was not too +far away to hear. Now she called frantically for her child, at the same +time stamping with her delicate fore-feet. + +"Yes, sister, you are right; she is yours; but you cannot save her +to-day! The hunters will soon be here. Let me keep her for you; I will +return her to you safely. And hear me, O sister of the woods, that some +day I may become the mother of a noble race of warriors and of fine +women, as handsome as you are!" + +At this moment the quick eyes of the Indian girl detected something +strange in the doe's actions. She glanced in every direction and behold! +a grizzly bear was cautiously approaching the group from a considerable +distance. + +"Run, run, sister! I shall save your child if I can," she cried, and +flew for the nearest scrub oak on the edge of the bank. Up the tree she +scrambled, with the fawn still securely bound to her back. The grizzly +came on with teeth exposed, and the doe-mother in her flight came +between him and the tree, giving a series of indignant snorts as she +ran, and so distracted Mato from his object of attack; but only for a +few seconds--then on he came! + +"Desist, O brave Mato! It does not become a great medicine-man to attack +a helpless woman with a burden upon her back!" + +Snana spoke as if the huge brute could understand her, and indeed the +Indians hold that wild animals understand intuitively when appealed to +by human beings in distress. Yet he replied only with a hoarse growl, as +rising upon his hind legs he shook the little tree vigorously. + +"Ye, ye, heyupi ye!" Snana called loudly to her companion +turnip-diggers. Her cry soon brought all the women into sight upon a +near-by ridge, and they immediately gave a general alarm. Mato saw them, +but appeared not at all concerned and was still intent upon dislodging +the girl, who clung frantically to her perch. + +Presently there appeared upon the little knoll several warriors, mounted +and uttering the usual war-whoop, as if they were about to swoop down +upon a human enemy. This touched the dignity of Mato, and he immediately +prepared to accept the challenge. Every Indian was alive to the +possibilities of the occasion, for it is well known that Mato, or +grizzly bear, alone among animals is given the rank of a warrior, so +that whoever conquers him may wear an eagle feather. + +"Woo! woo!" the warriors shouted, as they maneuvered to draw him into +the open plain. + +He answered with hoarse growls, threatening a rider who had ventured +too near. But arrows were many and well-aimed, and in a few minutes the +great and warlike Mato lay dead at the foot of the tree. + +The men ran forward and counted their coups on him, just as when an +enemy is fallen. Then they looked at one another and placed their hands +over their mouths as the young girl descended the tree with a fawn bound +upon her back. + +"So that was the bait!" they cried. "And will you not make a feast with +that fawn for us who came to your rescue?" + +"The fawn is young and tender, and we have not eaten meat for two days. +It will be a generous thing to do," added her father, who was among +them. + +"Ye-e-e!" she cried out in distress. "Do not ask it! I have seen this +fawn's mother. I have promised to keep her child safe. See! I have saved +its life, even when my own was in danger." + +"Ho, ho, wakan ye lo! (Yes, yes, 'tis holy or mysterious)," they +exclaimed approvingly. + +It was no small trouble for Snana to keep her trust. As may well be +supposed, all the dogs of the teepee village must be watched and kept +at a distance. Neither was it easy to feed the little captive; but in +gaining its confidence the girl was an adept. The fawn soon followed her +everywhere, and called to her when hungry exactly as she had called to +her own mother. + +After several days, when her fright at the encounter with the bear had +somewhat worn off, Snana took her pet into the woods and back to the +very spot in which she had found it. In the furthest corner of the +wild plum grove she laid it down, gently stroked its soft forehead, and +smoothed the leaflike ears. The little thing closed its eyes. Once more +the Sioux girl bent over and laid her cheek against the fawn's head; +then reluctantly she moved away, hoping and yet dreading that the mother +would return. She crouched under a clump of bushes near by, and gave the +doe call. It was a reckless thing for her to do, for such a call might +bring upon her a mountain lion or ever-watchful silvertip; but Snana did +not think of that. + +In a few minutes she heard the light patter of hoofs, and caught a +glimpse of a doe running straight toward the fawn's hiding-place. When +she stole near enough to see, the doe and the fawn were examining one +another carefully, as if fearing some treachery. At last both were +apparently satisfied. The doe caressed her natural child, and the little +one accepted the milk she offered. + +In the Sioux maiden's mind there was turmoil. A close attachment to the +little wild creature had already taken root there, contending with the +sense of justice that was strong within her. Now womanly sympathy for +the mother was in control, and now a desire to possess and protect her +helpless pet. + +"I can take care of her against all hunters, both animal and human. They +are ever ready to seize the helpless fawn for food. Her life will be +often exposed. You cannot save her from disaster. O, Takcha, my sister, +let me still keep her for you!" she finally appealed to the poor doe, +who was nervously watching the intruder, and apparently thinking how she +might best escape with the fawn. + +Just at this moment there came a low call from the wood. It was a doe +call; but the wild mother and her new friend both knew that it was not +the call of a real doe. + +"It is a Sioux hunter!" whispered the girl. "You must go, my sister! Be +off; I will take your child to safety!" + +While she was yet speaking, the doe seemed to realize the danger. She +stopped only an instant to lick fondly the tawny coat of the little one, +who had just finished her dinner; then she bounded away. + +As Snana emerged from the bushes with her charge, a young hunter met her +face to face, and stared at her curiously. He was not of her father's +camp, but a stranger. + +"Ugh, you have my game." + +"Tosh!" she replied coquettishly. + +It was so often said among the Indians that the doe was wont to put on +human form to mislead the hunter, that it looked strange to see a woman +with a fawn, and the young man could not forbear to gaze upon Snana. + +"You are not the real mother in maiden's guise? Tell me truly if you are +of human blood," he demanded rudely. + +"I am a Sioux maiden! Do you not know my father?" she replied. + +"Ah, but who is your father? What is his name?" he insisted, nervously +fingering his arrows. + +"Do not be a coward! Surely you should know a maid of your own race," +she replied reproachfully. + +"Ah, you know the tricks of the doe! What is thy name?" + +"Hast thou forgotten the etiquette of thy people, and wouldst compel me +to pronounce my own name? I refuse; thou art jesting!" she retorted with +a smile. + +"Thou dost give the tricky answers of a doe. I cannot wait; I must act +before I lose my natural mind. But already I am yours. Whatever purpose +you may have in thus charming a poor hunter, be merciful," and, throwing +aside his quiver, he sat down. + +The maiden stole a glance at his face, and then another. He was +handsome. Softly she reentered the thicket and laid down the little +fawn. + +"Promise me never to hunt here again!" she said earnestly, as she came +forth without her pretty burden, and he exacted another promise in +return. Thus Snana lost her fawn, and found a lover. + + + + +IV. SHE-WHO-HAS-A-SOUL + +It was a long time ago, nearly two hundred years ago, that some of our +people were living upon the shores of the Great Lake, Lake Superior. The +chief of this band was called Tatankaota, Many Buffaloes. + +One day the young son of Tatankaota led a war-party against the +Ojibways, who occupied the country east of us, toward the rising sun. + +When they had gone a day's journey in the direction of Sault Ste. Marie, +in our language Skesketatanka, the warriors took up their position on +the lake shore, at a point which the Ojibways were accustomed to pass in +their canoes. + +Long they gazed, and scanned the surface of the water, watching for +the coming of the foe. The sun had risen above the dark pines, over +the great ridge of woodland across the bay. It was the awakening of all +living things. The birds were singing, and shining fishes leaped out of +the water as if at play. At last, far off, there came the warning cry of +the loon to stir their expectant ears. + +"Warriors, look close to the horizon! This brother of ours does not lie. +The enemy comes!" exclaimed their leader. + +Presently upon the sparkling face of the water there appeared a moving +canoe. There was but one, and it was coming directly toward them. + +"Hahatonwan! Hahatonwan! (The Ojibways! the Ojibways!)" they exclaimed +with one voice, and, grasping their weapons, they hastily concealed +themselves in the bushes. + +"Spare none--take no captives!" ordered the chief's son. + +Nearer and nearer approached the strange canoe. The glistening blades +of its paddles flashed as it were the signal of good news, or a +welcome challenge. All impatiently waited until it should come within +arrow-shot. + +"Surely it is an Ojibway canoe," one murmured. "Yet look! the stroke is +ungainly!" Now, among all the tribes only the Ojibway's art is perfect +in paddling a birch canoe. This was a powerful stroke, but harsh and +unsteady. + +"See! there are no feathers on this man's head!" exclaimed the son +of the chief. "Hold, warriors, he wears a woman's dress, and I see +no weapon. No courage is needed to take his life, therefore let it be +spared! I command that only coups (or blows) be counted on him, and he +shall tell us whence he comes, and on what errand." + +The signal was given; the warriors sprang to their feet, and like wolves +they sped from the forest, out upon the white, sandy beach and straight +into the sparkling waters of the lake, giving the shrill war-cry, the +warning of death! + +The solitary oarsman made no outcry--he offered no defense! Kneeling +calmly in the prow of the little vessel, he merely ceased paddling and +seemed to await with patience the deadly blow of the tomahawk. + +The son of Tatankaota was foremost in the charge, but suddenly an +impulse seized him to stop his warriors, lest one in the heat of +excitement should do a mischief to the stranger. The canoe with its +occupant was now very near, and it could be seen that the expression of +his face was very gentle and even benignant. None could doubt his utter +harmlessness; and the chief's son afterward declared that at this moment +he felt a premonition of some event, but whether good or evil he could +not tell. + +No blows were struck--no coups counted. The young man bade his warriors +take up the canoe and carry it to the shore; and although they murmured +somewhat among themselves, they did as he commanded them. They seized +the light bark and bore it dripping to a hill covered with tall pines, +and overlooking the waters of the Great Lake. + +Then the warriors lifted their war-clubs over their heads and sang, +standing around the canoe in which the black-robed stranger was still +kneeling. Looking at him closely, they perceived that he was of a +peculiar complexion, pale and inclined to red. He wore a necklace of +beads, from which hung a cross bearing the form of a man. His garments +were strange, and most like the robes of woman. All of these things +perplexed them greatly. + +Presently the Black Robe told them by signs, in response to their +inquiries, that he came from the rising sun, even beyond the Great Salt +Water, and he seemed to say that he formerly came from the sky. Upon +this the warriors believed that he must be a prophet or mysterious man. + +Their leader directed them to take up again the canoe with the man in +it, and appointed the warriors to carry it by turns until they should +reach his father's village. This was done according to the ancient +custom, as a mark of respect and honor. They took it up forthwith, and +traveled with all convenient speed along the lake shore, through forests +and across streams to a place called the Maiden's Retreat, a short +distance from the village. + +Thence the chief's son sent a messenger to announce to his father that +he was bringing home a stranger, and to ask whether or not he should be +allowed to enter the village. "His appearance," declared the scout, "is +unlike that of any man we have ever seen, and his ways are mysterious!" + +When the chief heard these words, he immediately called his council-men +together to decide what was to be done, for he feared by admitting the +mysterious stranger to bring some disaster upon his people. Finally he +went out with his wisest men to meet his son's war-party. They looked +with astonishment upon the Black Robe. + +"Dispatch him! Dispatch him! Show him no mercy!" cried some of the +council-men. + +"Let him go on his way unharmed. Trouble him not," advised others. + +"It is well known that the evil spirits sometimes take the form of a man +or animal. From his strange appearance I judge this to be such a one. +He should be put to death, lest some harm befall our people," an old man +urged. + +By this time several of the women of the village had reached the spot. +Among them was She-who-has-a-Soul, the chief's youngest daughter, who +tradition says was a maiden of much beauty, and of a generous heart. The +stranger was evidently footsore from much travel and + +weakened by fasting. When she saw that the poor man clasped his hands +and looked skyward as he uttered words in an unknown tongue, she pleaded +with her father that a stranger who has entered their midst unchallenged +may claim the hospitality of the people, according to the ancient +custom. + +"Father, he is weary and in want of food. Hold him no longer! Delay +your council until he is refreshed!" These were the words of +She-who-has-a-Soul, and her father could not refuse her prayer. The +Black Robe was released, and the Sioux maiden led him to her father's +teepee. + +Now the warriors had been surprised and indeed displeased to find him +dressed after the fashion of a woman, and they looked upon him with +suspicion. But from the moment that she first beheld him, the heart of +the maiden had turned toward this strange and seemingly unfortunate man. +It appeared to her that great reverence and meekness were in his face, +and with it all she was struck by his utter fearlessness, his apparent +unconsciousness of danger. + +The chief's daughter, having gained her father's permission, invited the +Black Robe to his great buffalo-skin tent, and spreading a fine robe, +she gently asked him to be seated. With the aid of her mother, she +prepared wild rice sweetened with maple sugar and some broiled venison +for his repast. The youthful warriors were astonished to observe these +attentions, but the maiden heeded them not. She anointed the blistered +feet of the holy man with perfumed otter oil, and put upon him a pair of +moccasins beautifully worked by her own hands. + +It was only an act of charity on her part, but the young men were +displeased, and again urged that the stranger should at once be turned +away. Some even suggested harsher measures; but they were overruled by +the chief, softened by the persuasions of a well-beloved daughter. + +During the few days that the Black Robe remained in the Sioux village he +preached earnestly to the maiden, for she had been permitted to converse +with him by signs, that she might try to ascertain what manner of man he +was. He told her of the coming of a "Great Prophet" from the sky, and of +his words that he had left with the people. The cross with the figure of +a man he explained as his totem which he had told them to carry. He also +said that those who love him are commanded to go among strange peoples +to tell the news, and that all who believe must be marked with holy +water and accept the totem. + +He asked by signs if She-who-has-a-Soul believed the story. To this she +replied: + +"It is a sweet story--a likely legend! I do believe!" + +Then the good father took out a small cross, and having pressed it +to his heart and crossed his forehead and breast, he gave it to her. +Finally he dipped his finger in water and touched the forehead of the +maiden, repeating meanwhile some words in an unknown tongue. + +The mother was troubled, for she feared that the stranger was trying to +bewitch her daughter, but the chief decided thus: + +"This is a praying-man, and he is not of our people; his customs are +different, but they are not evil. Warriors, take him back to the spot +where you saw him first! It is my desire, and the good custom of our +tribe requires that you free him without injury!" + +Accordingly they formed a large party, and carried the Black Robe in his +canoe back to the shore of the Great Lake, to the place where they had +met him, and he was allowed to depart thence whithersoever he would. +He took his leave with signs of gratitude for their hospitality, and +especially for the kindness of the beautiful Sioux maiden. She seemed to +have understood his mission better than any one else, and as long as +she lived she kept his queer trinket--as it seemed to the others--and +performed the strange acts that he had taught her. + +Furthermore, it was through the pleadings of She-who-has-a-Soul that the +chief Tatankaota advised his people in after days to befriend the white +strangers, and though many of the other chiefs opposed him in this, +his counsels prevailed. Hence it was that both the French and English +received much kindness from our people, mainly through the influence of +this one woman! + +Such was the first coming of the white man among us, as it is told in +our traditions. Other praying-men came later, and many of the Sioux +allowed themselves to be baptized. True, there have been Indian wars, +but not without reason; and it is pleasant to remember that the Sioux +were hospitable to the first white "prayingman," and that it was a +tender-hearted maiden of my people who first took in her hands the cross +of the new religion. + + + + +V. THE PEACE-MAKER + +One of the most remarkable women of her day and nation was Eyatonkawee, +She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar. It is matter of history among the +Wakpaykootay band of Sioux, the Dwellers among the Leaves, that +when Eyatonkawee was a very young woman she was once victorious in a +hand-to-hand combat with the enemy in the woods of Minnesota, where her +people were hunting the deer. At such times they often met with stray +parties of Sacs and Foxes from the prairies of Iowa and Illinois. + +Now, the custom was among our people that the doer of a notable warlike +deed was held in highest honor, and these deeds were kept constantly in +memory by being recited in public, before many witnesses. The greatest +exploit was that one involving most personal courage and physical +address, and he whose record was adjudged best might claim certain +privileges, not the least of which was the right to interfere in any +quarrel and separate the combatants. The peace-maker might resort to +force, if need be, and no one dared to utter a protest who could not say +that he had himself achieved an equal fame. + +There was a man called Tamahay, known to Minnesota history as the +"One-eyed Sioux," who was a notable character on the frontier in the +early part of the nineteenth century. He was very reckless, and could +boast of many a perilous adventure. He was the only Sioux who, in the +War of 1812, fought for the Americans, while all the rest of his people +sided with the British, mainly through the influence of the English +traders among them at that time. This same "One-eyed Sioux" became +a warm friend of Lieutenant Pike, who discovered the sources of the +Mississippi, and for whom Pike's Peak is named. Some say that the Indian +took his friend's name, for Tamahay in English means Pike or Pickerel. + +Unfortunately, in later life this brave man became a drunkard, and after +the Americans took possession of his country almost any one of them +would supply him with liquor in recognition of his notable services as +a scout and soldier. Thus he was at times no less dangerous in camp than +in battle. + +Now, Eyatonkawee, being a young widow, had married the son of a lesser +chief in Tamahay's band, and was living among strangers. Moreover, she +was yet young and modest. + +One day this bashful matron heard loud warwhoops and the screams of +women. Looking forth, she saw the people fleeing hither and thither, +while Tamahay, half intoxicated, rushed from his teepee painted for war, +armed with tomahawk and scalping-knife, and approached another warrior +as if to slay him. At this sight her heart became strong, and she +quickly sprang between them with her woman's knife in her hand. + +"It was a Sac warrior of like proportions and bravery with your own, +who, having slain several of the Sioux, thus approached me with uplifted +tomahawk!" she exclaimed in a clear voice, and went on to recite her +victory on that famous day so that the terrified people paused to hear. + +Tamahay was greatly astonished, but he was not too drunk to realize that +he must give way at once, or be subject to the humiliation of a blow +from the woman-warrior who challenged him thus. The whole camp was +listening; and being unable, in spite of his giant frame and well-known +record, to cite a greater deed than hers, he retreated with as good a +grace as possible. Thus Eyatonkawee recounted her brave deed for the +first time, in order to save a man's life. From that day her name was +great as a peace-maker--greater even than when she had first defended so +gallantly her babe and home! + +Many years afterward, when she had attained middle age, this woman +averted a serious danger from her people. + +Chief Little Crow the elder was dead, and as he had two wives of two +different bands, the succession was disputed among the half-brothers +and their adherents. Finally the two sons of the wife belonging to the +Wabashaw band plotted against the son of the woman of the Kaposia band, +His-Red-Nation by name, afterward called Little Crow--the man who led +the Minnesota massacre. + +They obtained a quantity of whisky and made a great feast to which +many were invited, intending when all were more or less intoxicated +to precipitate a fight in which he should be killed. It would be easy +afterward to excuse themselves by saying that it was an accident. + +Mendota, near what is now the thriving city of Saint Paul, then a queen +of trading-posts in the Northwest, was the rendezvous of the Sioux. The +event brought many together, for all warriors of note were bidden from +far and near, and even the great traders of the day were present, for +the succession to the chieftainship was one which vitally affected their +interests. During the early part of the day all went well, with speeches +and eulogies of the dead chief, flowing and eloquent, such as only a +native orator can utter. Presently two goodly kegs of whisky were rolled +into the council teepee. + +Eyatonkawee was among the women, and heard their expressions of anxiety +as the voices of the men rose louder and more threatening. Some carried +their children away into the woods for safety, while others sought +speech with their husbands outside the council lodge and besought them +to come away in time. But more than this was needed to cope with the +emergency. Suddenly a familiar form appeared in the door of the council +lodge. + +"Is it becoming in a warrior to spill the blood of his tribesmen? Are +there no longer any Ojibways?" + +It was the voice of Eyatonkawee, that stronghearted woman! Advancing at +the critical moment to the middle of the ring of warriors, she once +more recited her "brave deed" with all the accompaniment of action +and gesture, and to such effect that the disorderly feast broke up in +confusion, and there was peace between the rival bands of Sioux. + +There was seldom a dangerous quarrel among the Indians in those days +that was not precipitated by the use of strong liquor, and this simple +Indian woman, whose good judgment was equal to her courage, fully +recognized this fact. All her life, and especially after her favorite +brother had been killed in a drunken brawl in the early days of the +American Fur Company, she was a determined enemy to strong drink, and +it is said did more to prevent its use among her immediate band than +any other person. Being a woman, her sole means of recognition was the +"brave deed" which she so wonderfully described and enacted before the +people. + +During the lifetime of She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar--and she died only +a few years ago--it behooved the Sioux men, if they drank at all, to +drink secretly and in moderation. There are many who remember her brave +entrance upon the scene of carousal, and her dramatic recital of the +immortal deed of her youth. + +"Hanta! hanta wo! (Out of the way!)" exclaim the dismayed warriors, +scrambling in every direction to avoid the upraised arm of the terrible +old woman, who bursts suddenly upon them with disheveled hair, her gown +torn and streaked here and there with what looks like fresh blood, her +leather leggins loose and ungartered, as if newly come from the famous +struggle. One of the men has a keg of whisky for which he has given a +pony, and the others have been invited in for a night of pleasure. But +scarcely has the first round been drunk to the toast of "great deeds," +when Eyatonkawee is upon them, her great knife held high in her wrinkled +left hand, her tomahawk in the right. Her black eyes gleam as she +declaims in a voice strong, unterrified: + + "Look! look! brothers and husbands--the Sacs and Foxes are upon us! + + Behold, our braves are surprised--they are unprepared! + + Hear the mothers, the wives and the children screaming in affright! + + "Your brave sister, Eyatonkawee, she, the newly made mother, + is serving the smoking venison to her husband, just returned + from the chase! + + Ah, he plunges into the thickest of the enemy! + He falls, he falls, in full view of his young wife! + + "She desperately presses her babe to her breast, + while on they come yelling and triumphant! + + The foremost of them all enters her white buffalo-skin teepee: + Tossing her babe at the warrior's feet, she stands before him, defiant; + But he straightway levels his spear at her bosom. + + Quickly she springs aside, and as quickly deals a deadly blow with + her ax: + + Falls at her feet the mighty warrior! + + "Closely following on comes another, + unknowing what fate has met his fellow! + + He too enters her teepee, and upon his feather-decked head her ax falls + --Only his death-groan replies! + + "Another of heroic size and great prowess, + as witnessed by his war-bonnet of eagle-feathers, + + Rushes on, yelling and whooping--for they believe + that victory is with them! + + The third great warrior who has dared to enter Eyatonkawee's + teepee uninvited, he has already dispatched her husband! + + He it is whose terrible war-cry has scattered her sisters + among the trees of the forest! + + "On he comes with confidence and a brave heart, + seeking one more bloody deed- + One more feather to win for his head! + Behold, he lifts above her woman's head his battle-ax! + No hope, no chance for her life!... + Ah! he strikes beyond her--only the handle of the ax falls + heavily upon her tired shoulder! + + Her ready knife finds his wicked heart,-- + Down he falls at her feet! + + "Now the din of war grows fainter and further. + The Sioux recover heart, and drive the enemy headlong from their lodges: + Your sister stands victorious over three! + "She takes her baby boy, and makes him count with his tiny + hands the first 'coup' on each dead hero; + + Hence he wears the 'first feathers' while yet in his oaken cradle. + + "The bravest of the whole Sioux nation have given the war-whoop + in your sister's honor, and have said: + + 'Tis Eyatonkawee who is not satisfied with downing + the mighty oaks with her ax-- + She took the mighty Sacs and Foxes for trees, + and she felled them with a will!'" + +In such fashion the old woman was wont to chant her story, and not a +warrior there could tell one to surpass it! The custom was strong, and +there was not one to prevent her when she struck open with a single blow +of her ax the keg of whisky, and the precious liquor trickled upon the +ground. + +"So trickles under the ax of Eyatonkawee the blood of an enemy to the +Sioux!" + + + + +VI. BLUE SKY + +Many years ago a large body of the Sioux were encamped at midsummer +in the valley of the Cheyenne. It was customary at that period for +the Indians to tie up their ponies over night within the circle of the +teepees, whenever they were in disputed territory, for they considered +it no wrong to steal the horses of the enemy. Hence this long procession +of young men and maidens, returning at sunset to the camp with great +bundles of green grass hanging gracefully from their saddles! + +The "green grass parade" became a regular custom, and in fact a +full-dress affair, since it was found to afford unusual opportunities +for courtship. + +Blue Sky, the pretty daughter of the Sioux chief, put on her best +doeskin gown trimmed with elks' teeth, and investing her favorite +spotted pony with his beaded saddle-blanket, she went forth in company +with one of her maiden friends. Soon two young warriors overtook the +pair; and as they approached they covered their heads with their robes, +exposing only the upper part of the face disguised with paint and the +single eagle feather standing upright. One carried a bow and quiver full +of arrows; the other, a war-club suspended from his right arm. + +"Ah, hay, hun, hay!" saluted one of them; but the modest maidens said +never a word! It was not their way to speak; only the gay calico ponies +pranced about and sportively threw back their ears to snap at the horses +of the two young men. + +"'Tis a brave welcome your horses are giving us!" he continued, while +the two girls merely looked at one another with perfect understanding. + +Presently Matoska urged his pony close to the Blue Sky's side. + +"It may be that I am overbold," he murmured in her ear, "to repeat so +soon my tale of love! I know well that I risk a reprimand, if not in +words, then by a look or action!" + +He paused to note the effect of his speech; but alas! it is the hard +rule of savage courtship that the maiden may with propriety and dignity +keep silence as long as she wishes, and it is often exasperatingly long. + +"I have spoken to no maiden," he resumed, "because I wished to win the +war-bonnet before doing so. But to you I was forced to yield!" Again +he paused, as if fearing to appear unduly hasty; but deliberate as were +speech and manner, his eyes betrayed him. They were full of intense +eagerness mingled with anxiety. + +"Sometimes I have imagined that I am in the world with you alone, +traveling over the prairie of life, or sitting in our lonely white +teepee, as the oriole sits with his mate before their swaying home. Yet +I seemed to be never lonely, because you were there!" He finished his +plea, and with outward calmness awaited her reply. + +The maiden had not lost a word, but she was still thinking. She thought +that a man is much like the wind of the north, only pleasant and +comfortable in midsummer! She feared that she might some time have to +furnish all the fuel for their love's fires; therefore she held her +peace. Matoska waited for several minutes and then silently withdrew, +bearing his disappointment with dignity. + +Meanwhile the camp was astir with the returning youths and maidens, +their horses' sides fringed with the long meadow grass, singing +plaintive serenades around the circular rows of teepees before they +broke up for the night. + +It was a clear and quiet night; the evening fires were kindled and every +teepee transformed into an immense Chinese lantern. There was a glowing +ring two miles in circumference, with the wooded river bottom on one +side and the vast prairie on the other. The Black Hills loomed up in the +distance, and the rapids of the wild Cheyenne sent forth a varying peal +of music on the wind. The people enjoyed their evening meal, and in the +pauses of their talk and laughter the ponies could be heard munching at +the bundles of green grass just outside the teepees. + +Suddenly a chorus of yells broke cruelly the peace of the camp, followed +by the dashing charge of the Crow Indian horsemen! It was met as bravely +and quickly by the Sioux; and in the clear, pale moonlight the dusky +warriors fought, with the occasional flash of a firearm, while silent +weapons flew thick in the air like dragon-flies at sunset. + +The brave mothers, wives, and sisters gave their shrill war-cry to +inspire their men, and show the enemy that even the Sioux women cannot +be daunted by such a fearful surprise! + +When the morning sun sent its golden shafts among the teepees, they saw +it through glistening tears--happy tears, they said, because the brave +dead had met their end in gallant fight--the very end they craved! And +among those who fell that night was Brave Hawk, the handsome brother of +the Blue Sky. + +In a few days the camp was moved to a point further up the Cheyenne and +deeper into the bosom of the hills, leaving behind the decorated +grave lodges belonging to the honored dead. A great council teepee was +pitched, and here the people met to credit those who had earned them +with the honors of the fight, that they might thereafter wear the eagle +feathers which they had won. + +"The first honor," declared the master of ceremonies, "belongs to Brave +Hawk, who fell in the battle! He it was who compelled the Crows to +retreat, when he bravely charged upon them and knocked from his horse +the Crow chief, their war leader." + +"Ho, it is true!" exclaimed the warriors in chorus. + +"The second honor," he resumed, "belongs to Matoska, the White Bear!" + +"Hun, hun, hay!" interposed another, "it is I, Red Owl, who touched the +body of the Crow chief second to Brave Hawk!" + +It was a definite challenge. + +"The warriors who witnessed the act give the coup to Matoska, friend!" +persisted the spokesman. + +Red Owl was a brave youth and a close rival of Matoska, both for war +honors and for the hand of the prettiest maiden in the tribe. He had +hoped to be recognized as one who fought in defense of their homes by +the side of Brave Hawk; that would please the Blue Sky, he thought; but +the honor was conferred upon his rival! + +There was a cloud of suppressed irritation on his dusky face as he +sullenly departed to his own tent--an action which displeased the +council-men. Matoska had not spoken, and this caused him to appear to +the better advantage. The worst of it was that Blue Sky herself +had entered the ring with the "orphan steed," as it was called--the +war-horse of her dead brother, and had therefore seen and heard +everything! Tanagila, or Hummingbird, the beautiful charger, decorated +according to custom with the honors won by his master, was led away by +the girl amidst resounding war-whoops. + +Unable to remain quiet, Red Owl went out into the hills to fast and +pray. It was sunset of the next day when he again approached the +village, and behind a little ridge came suddenly upon Matoska and the +girl standing together. It was the first time that they had met since +the "green grass parade," and now only by accident, as the sister of +Brave Hawk was in deep mourning. However, the lover had embraced his +opportunity, and the maiden had said that she was willing to think of +the matter. No more words were spoken. + +That very night the council drum was struck three times, followed by the +warriors' cheer. Everybody knew what that meant. It was an invitation to +the young men to go upon the war-path against the Crows! + +Blue Sky was unconsciously startled by this sudden announcement. For the +first time in her life she felt a fear that she could not explain. The +truth was that she loved, and was not yet fully aware of it. In spite of +her fresh grief, she had been inexplicably happy since her last meeting +with Matoska, for she had seen in him that which is so beautiful, so +compelling in man to the eyes of the woman who loves. He, too, now +cherished a real hope, and felt as if he could rush into the thickest of +the battle to avenge the brother of his beloved! + +In a few days the war-party had reached the Big Horn and sent out +advance scouts, who reported a large Crow encampment. Their hundreds of +horses covered the flats like a great herd of buffalo, they said. It was +immediately decided to attack at daybreak, and on a given signal they +dashed impetuously upon the formidable camp. Some stampeded and drove +off a number of horses, while the main body plunged into the midst of +the Crows. + +But the enemy were not easily surprised. They knew well the Sioux +tactics, and there was a desperate struggle for supremacy. War-club was +raised against war-club, and the death-song of the arrow filled the +air! Presently the Sioux were forced to retreat, with the Crows in hot +pursuit, like wolves after their prey. + +Red Owl and Matoska had been among the foremost in the charge, and +now they acted as a rear-guard, bravely defending the retreat of their +little army, to the admiration of the enemy. At last a Crow raised his +spear against Matoska, who in a flash dismounted him with a stroke of +his oaken bow; but alas! the blow snapped the bow-string and left him +defenseless. At the same instant his horse uttered a scream and fell, +throwing its rider headlong! + +There was no one near except Red Owl, who clapped his heels to his pony +and joined in the retreat, leaving Matoska behind. He arose, threw down +his quiver, and advanced alone to meet the oncoming rush of the Crows! + +The Sioux had seen him fall. In a few moments he was surrounded by the +enemy, and they saw him no more. + +The pursuit was stopped, and they paused upon a hilltop to collect the +remnant of their force. Red Owl was the last to come up, and it was +observed that he did not look like himself. + +"Tell us, what were Matoska's last words?" they asked him. + +But he silently dismounted and sent an arrow through his faithful steed, +to the astonishment of the warriors. Immediately afterward he took out +his knife and stabbed himself to the heart. + +"Ah!" they exclaimed, "he could not live to share our humiliation!" + +The war-party returned defeated and cast down by this unexpected ending +to their adventure, having lost some of their bravest and best men. The +camp was instantly thrown into mourning. Many were in heavy grief, but +none was more deeply stricken than the maiden called the Blue Sky, the +daughter of their chief. + +She remained within her teepee and wept in secret, for none knew that +she had the right to mourn. Yet she believed that her lover had met with +misfortune, but not death. Although his name was announced among those +warriors who fell in the field, her own heart assured her that it was +not so. "I must go to him," she said to herself. "I must know certainly +whether he is still among the living!" + +The next evening, while the village was yet in the confusion of great +trouble and sorrow, Blue Sky rode out upon her favorite pony as if to +take him to water as usual, but none saw her return! She hastened to +the spot where she had concealed two sacks of provisions and her extra +moccasins and materials for sewing. She had no weapon, save her knife +and a small hatchet. She knew the country between the Black Hills and +the Big Horn, and knew that it was full of perils for man and much more +for woman. Yet by traveling only at night and concealing herself in the +daytime she hoped to avoid these dangers, and she rode bravely forth on +the trail of the returning warriors. + +Her dog, Wapayna, had followed the maiden, and she was not sorry to +have so faithful a companion. She cautioned him not to bark at or attack +strange animals unless they attacked first, and he seemed to understand +the propriety of remaining on guard whenever his mistress was asleep. + +She reached the Powder River country in safety, and here she had more +than once to pick her way among the buffaloes. These wily animals seemed +to realize that she was only a woman and unarmed, so that they scarcely +kept out of her path. She also crossed the trails of riders, some of +them quite fresh, but was fortunate enough not to meet any of them. + +At last the maiden attained the divide between the Tongue and the Big +Horn rivers. Her heart beat fast, and the sudden sense of her strange +mission almost overwhelmed her. She remembered the only time in her life +that the Sioux were upon that river, and so had that bit of friendly +welcome from the valley--a recollection of childhood! + +It was near morning; the moon had set and for a short time darkness +prevailed, but the girl's eyes had by this time become accustomed to +the dark. She knew the day was at hand, and with its first beams she was +safely tucked into one of those round turns left by the river long ago +in changing its bed, now become a little grassy hollow sheltered by +steep banks, and hidden by a fringe of trees. Here she picketed her +pony, and took her own rest. Not until the afternoon shadows were +long did she awake and go forth with determination to seek for the +battlefield and for the Crow encampment. + +It was not long before she came upon the bodies of fallen horses and +men. There was Matoska's white charger, with a Sioux arrow in his side, +and she divined the treachery of Red Owl! But he was dead, and his death +had atoned for the crime. The body of her lover was nowhere to be found; +yet how should they have taken the bravest of the Sioux a captive? + +"If he had but one arrow left, he would stand and fight! If his +bow-string were broken, he would still welcome death with a strong +heart," she thought. + +The evening was approaching and the Crow village in plain sight. Blue +Sky arranged her hair and dress as well as she could like that of a Crow +woman, and with an extra robe she made for herself a bundle that looked +as if it held a baby in its many wrappings. The community was still +celebrating its recent victory over the Sioux, and the camp was alive +with songs and dances. In the darkness she approached unnoticed, and +singing in an undertone a Crow lullaby, walked back and forth among the +lodges, watching eagerly for any signs of him she sought. + +At last she came near to the council lodge. There she beheld his face +like an apparition through the dusk and the fire-light! He was sitting +within, dressed in the gala costume of a Crow. + +"O, he is living! he is living!" thought the brave maiden. "O, what +shall I do?" Unconsciously she crept nearer and nearer, until the sharp +eyes of an Indian detected the slight difference in her manner and +dress, and he at once gave the alarm. + +"Wah, wah! Epsaraka! Epsaraka! A Sioux! A Sioux!" + +In an instant the whole camp had surrounded the girl, who stood in their +midst a prisoner, yet undaunted, for she had seen her lover, and the +spirit of her ancestors rose within her. + +An interpreter was brought, a man who was half Crow and half Sioux. + +"Young and pretty daughter of the Sioux!" exclaimed the chief, "tell us +how you came here in our midst undetected, and why!" + +"Because," replied the Blue Sky, "your brave warriors have slain my only +brother, and captured my lover, whom you now hold a prisoner. It is for +his sake that I have thus risked my life and honor!" + +"Ho, ho! You are the bravest woman I have ever seen. Your lover was +betrayed into our hands by the treachery of one of his own tribe, who +shot his horse from behind. He faced us without fear, but it was not his +courage that saved his life. He resembles my own son, who lately fell in +battle, and according to the custom I have adopted him as my son!" + +Thus the brave maiden captured the heart of the wily Crow, and was +finally allowed to return home with her lover, bearing many and rich +presents. Her name is remembered among the two tribes, for this act of +hers resulted in a treaty of peace between them which was kept for a +generation. + + + + +VII. THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS + +Away beyond the Thin Hills, above the Big Lone Tree upon the Powder +River, the Uncpapa Sioux had celebrated their Sun Dance, some forty +years ago. It was midsummer and the red folk were happy. They lacked +for nothing. The yellowish green flat on either side of the Powder was +studded with wild flowers, and the cottonwood trees were in full leaf. +One large circle of buffalo skin teepees formed the movable village. The +Big Horn Mountains loomed up against the deep blue sky to the westward, +and the Black Hills appeared in the far southeast. + +The tribal rites had all been observed, and the usual summer festivities +enjoyed to the full. The camp as it broke up divided itself in three +parts, each of which had determined to seek a favorite hunting-ground. + +One band journeyed west, toward the Tongue River. One followed a +tributary of the Powder to the south. The third merely changed camp, on +account of the grazing for ponies, and for four days remained near the +old place. + +The party that went west did not fail to realize the perilous nature +of their wanderings, for they were trespassing upon the country of the +warlike Crows. + +On the third day at sunrise, the Sioux crier's voice resounded in the +valley of the Powder, announcing that the lodges must be razed and the +villagers must take up their march. + +Breakfast of jerked buffalo meat had been served and the women were +adjusting their packs, not without much chatter and apparent confusion. +Weeko (Beautiful Woman), the young wife of the war-chief Shunkaska, who +had made many presents at the dances in honor of her twin boys, now +gave one of her remaining ponies to a poor old woman whose only beast of +burden, a large dog, had died during the night. + +This made it necessary to shift the packs of the others. Nakpa, or Long +Ears, her kittenlike gray mule, which had heretofore been honored with +the precious burden of the twin babies, was to be given a heavier and +more cumbersome load. Weeko's two-year-old spotted pony was selected to +carry the babies. + +Accordingly, the two children, in their gorgeously beaded buckskin +hoods, were suspended upon either side of the pony's saddle. As Weeko's +first-born, they were beautifully dressed; even the saddle and bridle +were daintily worked by her own hands. + +The caravan was now in motion, and Weeko started all her ponies after +the leader, while she adjusted the mule's clumsy burden of kettles and +other household gear. In a moment: + +"Go on, let us see how you move with your new load! Go on!" she +exclaimed again, with a light blow of the horse-hair lariat, as the +animal stood perfectly still. + +Nakpa simply gave an angry side glance at her load and shifted her +position once or twice. Then she threw herself headlong into the air and +landed stiff-legged, uttering at the same time her unearthly protest. +First she dove straight through the crowd, then proceeded in a circle, +her heels describing wonderful curves and sweeps in the air. Her +pack, too, began to come to pieces and to take forced flights from her +undignified body and heels, in the midst of the screams of women and +children, the barking of dogs, and the war-whoops of the amused young +braves. + +The cowskin tent became detached from her saddle, and a moment later +Nakpa stood free. Her sides worked like a bellows as she stood there +meekly indignant, apparently considering herself to be the victim of an +uncalled-for misunderstanding. + +"I should put an arrow through her at once, only she is not worth a +good arrow," said Shunkaska, or White Dog, the husband of Weeko. At his +wife's answer, he opened his eyes in surprised displeasure. + +"No, she shall have her own pack again. She wants her twins. I ought +never to have taken them from her!" + +Weeko approached Nakpa as she stood alone and unfriended in the face +of her little world, all of whom considered that she had committed the +unpardonable sin. As for her, she evidently felt that her misfortunes +had not been of her own making. She gave a hesitating, sidelong look at +her mistress. + +"Nakpa, you should not have acted so. I knew you were stronger than the +others, therefore I gave you that load," said Weeko in a conciliatory +tone, and patted her on the nose. "Come, now, you shall have your own +pet pack," and she led her back to where the young pony stood silently +with the babies. + +Nakpa threw back her ears and cast savage looks at him, while Shunkaska, +with no small annoyance, gathered together as much as he could of their +scattered household effects. The sleeping brown-skinned babies in +their chrysalis-like hoods were gently lowered from the pony's back and +attached securely to Nakpa's padded wooden saddle. The family pots and +kettles were divided among the pack ponies. Order was restored and the +village once more in motion. + +"Come now, Nakpa; you have your wish. You must take good care of my +babies. Be good, because I have trusted you," murmured the young mother +in her softest tones. + +"Really, Weeko, you have some common ground with Nakpa, for you both +always want to have your own way, and stick to it, too! I tell you, I +fear this Long Ears. She is not to be trusted with babies," remarked +Shunkaska, with a good deal of severity. But his wife made no reply, for +she well knew that though he might criticise, he would not actually +interfere with her domestic arrangements. + +He now started ahead to join the men in advance of the slow-moving +procession, thus leaving her in undivided charge of her household. One +or two of the pack ponies were not well-trained and required all her +attention. Nakpa had been a faithful servant until her escapade of +the morning, and she was now obviously satisfied with her mistress' +arrangements. She walked alongside with her lariat dragging, and +perfectly free to do as she pleased. + +Some hours later, the party ascended a slope from the river bottom to +cross over the divide which lay between the Powder River and a tributary +stream. They had hitherto followed that river in a westerly direction, +but here it took its course southward, winding in a blue streak until +lost to view among the foot-hills of the Big Horn Mountains. The ford +was deep, with a swift current. Here and there a bald butte stood out +in full relief against the brilliant blue sky. The Sioux followed a deep +ravine until they came almost up to the second row of terraces. + +"Whoo! whoo!" came the blood-curdling signal of danger from the front. +It was no unfamiliar sound--the rovers knew it only too well. It meant +sudden death--or at best a cruel struggle and frantic flight. + +Terrified, yet self-possessed, the women turned to fly while yet there +was time. Instantly the mother looked to Nakpa, who carried on either +side of the saddle her precious boys. She hurriedly examined the +fastenings to see that all was secure, and then caught her swiftest +pony, for, like all Indian women, she knew just what was happening, and +that while her husband was engaged in front with the enemy, she must +seek safety with her babies. + +Hardly was she in the saddle when a heartrending war-whoop sounded on +their flank, and she knew that they were surrounded! Instinctively she +reached for her husband's second quiver of arrows, which was carried by +one of the pack ponies. Alas! the Crow warriors were already upon +them! The ponies became unmanageable, and the wild screams of women and +children pierced the awful confusion. + +Quick as a flash, Weeko turned again to her babies, but Nakpa had +already disappeared! + +Then, maddened by fright and the loss of her children, Weeko became +forgetful of her sex and tenderness, for she sternly grasped her +husband's bow in her left hand to do battle. + +That charge of the Crows was a disastrous one, but the Sioux were +equally brave and desperate. Charges and counter-charges were made, and +the slain were many on both sides. The fight lasted until darkness came. +Then the Crows departed and the Sioux buried their dead. + +When the Crows made their flank charge, Nakpa apparently appreciated the +situation. To save herself and the babies, she took a desperate chance. +She fled straight through the attacking force. + +When the warriors came howling upon her in great numbers, she at once +started back the way she had come, to the camp left behind. They had +traveled nearly three days. To be sure, they did not travel more than +fifteen miles a day, but it was full forty miles to cover before dark. + +"Look! look!" exclaimed a warrior, "two babies hung from the saddle of a +mule!" + +No one heeded this man's call, and his arrow did not touch Nakpa or +either of the boys, but it struck the thick part of the saddle over the +mule's back. + +"Lasso her! lasso her!" he yelled once more; but Nakpa was too cunning +for them. She dodged in and out with active heels, and they could not +afford to waste many arrows on a mule at that stage of the fight. Down +the ravine, then over the expanse of prairie dotted with gray-green +sage-brush, she sped with her unconscious burden. + +"Whoo! whoo!" yelled another Crow to his comrades, "the Sioux have +dispatched a runner to get reinforcements! There he goes, down on the +flat! Now he has almost reached the river bottom!" + +It was only Nakpa. She laid back her cars and stretched out more and +more to gain the river, for she realized that when she had crossed the +ford the Crows would not pursue her farther. + +Now she had reached the bank. With the intense heat from her exertions, +she was extremely nervous, and she imagined a warrior behind every bush. +Yet she had enough sense left to realize that she must not satisfy her +thirst. She tried the bottom with her fore-foot, then waded carefully +into the deep stream. + +She kept her big ears well to the front as she swam to catch the +slightest sound. As she stepped on the opposite shore, she shook herself +and the boys vigorously, then pulled a few mouthfuls of grass and +started on. + +Soon one of the babies began to cry, and the other was not long in +joining him. Nakpa did not know what to do. She gave a gentle whinny and +both babies apparently stopped to listen; then she took up an easy gait +as if to put them to sleep. + +These tactics answered only for a time. As she fairly flew over the +lowlands, the babies' hunger increased and they screamed so loud that a +passing coyote had to sit upon his haunches and wonder what in the world +the fleeing longeared horse was carrying on his saddle. Even magpies and +crows flew near as if to ascertain the meaning of this curious sound. + +Nakpa now came to the Little Trail Creek, a tributary of the Powder, not +far from the old camp. No need of wasting any time here, she thought. +Then she swerved aside so suddenly as almost to jerk her babies out +of their cradles. Two gray wolves, one on each side, approached her, +growling low--their white teeth showing. + +Never in her humble life had Nakpa been in more desperate straits. The +larger of the wolves came fiercely forward to engage her attention, +while his mate was to attack her behind and cut her hamstrings. But for +once the pair had made a miscalculation. The mule used her front hoofs +vigorously on the foremost wolf, while her hind ones were doing even +more effective work. The larger wolf soon went limping away with a +broken hip, and the one in the rear received a deep cut on the jaw which +proved an effectual discouragement. + +A little further on, an Indian hunter drew near on horseback, but Nakpa +did not pause or slacken her pace. On she fled through the long dry +grass of the river bottoms, while her babies slept again from sheer +exhaustion. Toward sunset, she entered the Sioux camp amid great +excitement, for some one had spied her afar off, and the boys and the +dogs announced her coming. + +"Whoo, whoo! Weeko's Nakpa has come back with the twins! Whoo, whoo!" +exclaimed the men. "Tokee! tokee!" cried the women. + +A sister to Weeko who was in the village came forward and released the +children, as Nakpa gave a low whinny and stopped. Tenderly Zeezeewin +nursed them at her own motherly bosom, assisted by another young mother +of the band. + +"Ugh, there is a Crow arrow sticking in the saddle! A fight! a fight!" +exclaimed the warriors. + +"Sing a Brave-Heart song for the Long-Eared one! She has escaped alone +with her charge. She is entitled to wear an eagle's feather! Look at the +arrow in her saddle! and more, she has a knife wound in her jaw and an +arrow cut on her hind leg.--No, those are the marks of a wolf's teeth! +She has passed through many dangers and saved two chief's sons, who will +some day make the Crows sorry for this day's work!" + +The speaker was an old man who thus addressed the fast gathering throng. + +Zeezeewin now came forward again with an eagle feather and some white +paint in her hands. The young men rubbed Nakpa down, and the feather, +marked with red to indicate her wounds, was fastened to her mane. +Shoulders and hips were touched with red paint to show her endurance in +running. Then the crier, praising her brave deed in heroic verse, led +her around the camp, inside of the circle of teepees. All the people +stood outside their lodges and listened respectfully, for the Dakota +loves well to honor the faithful and the brave. + +During the next day, riders came in from the ill-fated party, bringing +the sad news of the fight and heavy loss. Late in the afternoon came +Weeko, her face swollen with crying, her beautiful hair cut short in +mourning, her garments torn and covered with dust and blood. Her husband +had fallen in the fight, and her twin boys she supposed to have been +taken captive by the Crows. Singing in a hoarse voice the praises of her +departed warrior, she entered the camp. As she approached her sister's +teepee, there stood Nakpa, still wearing her honorable decorations. At +the same moment, Zeezeewin came out to meet her with both babies in her +arms. + +"Mechinkshee! meechinkshee! (my sons, my sons!)" was all that the poor +mother could say, as she all but fell from her saddle to the ground. The +despised Long Ears had not betrayed her trust. + + + + +VIII. THE WAR MAIDEN + +The old man, Smoky Day, was for many years the best-known story-teller +and historian of his tribe. He it was who told me the story of the War +Maiden. In the old days it was unusual but not unheard of for a woman to +go upon the war-path--perhaps a young girl, the last of her line, or a +widow whose well-loved husband had fallen on the field--and there could +be no greater incentive to feats of desperate daring on the part of the +warriors. "A long time ago," said old Smoky Day, "the Unkpapa and the +Cut-Head bands of Sioux united their camps upon a vast prairie east of +the Minne Wakan (now called Devil's Lake). It was midsummer, and the +people shared in the happiness of every living thing. We had food in +abundance, for bison in countless numbers overspread the plain. + +"The teepee village was laid out in two great rings, and all was in +readiness for the midsummer entertainments. There were ball games, +feasts and dances every day, and late into the night. You have heard of +the festivities of those days; there are none like them now," said the +old man, and he sighed heavily as he laid down the red pipe which was to +be passed from hand to hand during the recital. + +"The head chief of the Unkpapas then was Tamakoche (His Country). He was +in his time a notable warrior, a hunter and a feastmaker, much beloved +by his people. He was the father of three sons, but he was so anxious +to make them warriors of great reputation that they had all, despising +danger, been killed in battle. + +"The chief had also a very pretty daughter, whose name was Makatah. +Since all his sons were slain he had placed his affections solely upon +the girl, and she grew up listening to the praises of the brave deeds +of her brothers, which her father never tired of chanting when they were +together in the lodge. At times Makatah was called upon to dance to the +'Strong-Heart' songs. Thus even as a child she loved the thought of war, +although she was the prettiest and most modest maiden in the two tribes. +As she grew into womanhood she became the belle of her father's village, +and her beauty and spirit were talked of even among the neighboring +bands of Sioux. But it appeared that Makatah did not care to marry. She +had only two ambitions. One was to prove to her father that, though +only a maid, she had the heart of a warrior. The other was to visit the +graves of her brothers--that is, the country of the enemy. + +"At this pleasant reunion of two kindred peoples one of the principal +events was the Feast of Virgins, given by Makatah. All young maidens of +virtue and good repute were invited to be present; but woe to her who +should dare to pollute the sacred feast! If her right to be there were +challenged by any it meant a public disgrace. The two arrows and the red +stone upon which the virgins took their oath of chastity were especially +prepared for the occasion. Every girl was beautifully dressed, for +at that time the white doeskin gowns, with a profusion of fringes and +colored embroidery, were the gala attire of the Sioux maidens. Red +paint was added, and ornaments of furs and wampum. Many youths eagerly +surveyed the maiden gathering, at which the daughter of Tamakoche +outshone all the rest. + +"Several eligible warriors now pressed their suits at the chieftain's +lodge, and among them were one or two whom he would have gladly called +son-in-law; but no! Makatah would not listen to words of courtship. She +had vowed, she said, to the spirits of her three brothers--each of whom +fell in the country of the Crows--that she would see that country before +she became a wife. + +"Red Horn, who was something of a leader among the young men, was a +persistent and determined suitor. He had urged every influential friend +of his and hers to persuade her to listen to him. His presents were more +valuable than those of any one else. He even made use of his father's +position as a leading chief of the Cut-Head band to force a decision in +his favor; and while the maiden remained indifferent her father seemed +inclined to countenance this young man's pretensions. + +"She had many other lovers, as I have said," the old man added, "and +among them was one Little Eagle, an orphan and a poor young man, unknown +and unproved as a warrior. He was so insignificant that nobody thought +much about him, and if Makatah regarded him with any favor the matter +was her secret, for it is certain that she did not openly encourage him. + +"One day it was reported in the village that their neighbors, the +Cut-Head Sioux, would organize a great attack upon the Crows at the +mouth of the Redwater, a tributary of the Missouri. Makatah immediately +inquired of her male cousins whether any of them expected to join the +war-party. + +"'Three of us will go,' they replied. + +"'Then,' said the girl, 'I beg that you will allow me to go with you! +I have a good horse, and I shall not handicap you in battle. I only ask +your protection in camp as your kinswoman and a maid of the war-party.' + +"'If our uncle Tamakoche sanctions your going,' they replied, 'we shall +be proud to have our cousin with us, to inspire us to brave deeds!' + +"The maiden now sought her father and asked his permission to accompany +the warparty. + +"'I wish,' said she, 'to visit the graves of my brothers! I shall carry +with me their war-bonnets and their weapons, to give to certain young +men on the eve of battle, according to the ancient custom. Long ago I +resolved to do this, and the time is now come.' + +"The chief was at this time well advanced in years, and had been sitting +quite alone in his lodge, thinking upon the days of his youth, when he +was noted for daring and success in battle. In silence he listened as +he filled his pipe, and seemed to meditate while he smoked the fragrant +tobacco. At last he spoke with tears in his eyes. + +"'Daughter, I am an old man! My heart beats in my throat, and my old +eyes cannot keep back the tears. My three sons, on whom I had placed all +my hopes, are gone to a far country! You are the only child left to my +old age, and you, too, are brave--as brave as any of your brothers. If +you go I fear that you may not return to me; yet I cannot refuse you my +permission!" + +"The old man began to chant a war-song, and some of his people, hearing +him, came in to learn what was in his mind. He told them all, and +immediately many young men volunteered for the war-party, in order to +have the honor of going with the daughter of their chief. + +"Several of Makatah's suitors were among them, and each watched eagerly +for an opportunity to ride at her side. At night she pitched her little +teepee within the circle of her cousins' campfires, and there she slept +without fear. Courteous youths brought to her every morning and evening +fresh venison for her repast. Yet there was no courting, for all +attentions paid to a maiden when on the war-path must be those of a +brother to a sister, and all must be equally received by her. + +"Two days later, when the two parties of Sioux met on the plains, the +maiden's presence was heralded throughout the camp, as an inspiration to +the young and untried warriors of both bands to distinguish themselves +in the field. It is true that some of the older men considered it unwise +to allow Makatah to accompany the war-party. + +"'The girl,' said they to one another, 'is very ambitious as well as +brave. She will surely risk her own life in battle, which will make the +young men desperate, and we shall lose many of them!' + +"Nevertheless they loved her and her father; therefore they did not +protest openly. + +"On the third day the Sioux scouts returned with the word that the Crows +were camping, as had been supposed, at the confluence of the Redwater +and the Missouri Rivers. It was a great camp. All the Crow tribe were +there, they said, with their thousands of fine horses. + +"There was excitement in the Sioux camp, and all of the head men +immediately met in council. It was determined to make the attack early +on the following morning, just as the sun came over the hills. The +councilors agreed that in honor of the great chief, her father, as well +as in recognition of her own courage, Makatah should be permitted to +lead the charge at the outset, but that she must drop behind as they +neared the enemy. The maiden, who had one of the fleetest ponies in that +part of the country, had no intention of falling back, but she did not +tell any one what was in her mind. + +"That evening every warrior sang his warsong, and announced the +particular war-charm or 'medicine' of his clan, according to the custom. +The youths were vying with one another in brave tales of what they would +do on the morrow. The voice of Red Horn was loud among the boasters, for +he was known to be a vain youth, although truly not without reputation. +Little Eagle, who was also of the company, remained modestly silent, as +indeed became one without experience in the field. In the midst of the +clamor there fell a silence. + +"'Hush! hush!' they whispered. 'Look, look! The War Maiden comes!' + +"All eyes were turned upon Makatah, who rode her fine buckskin steed +with a single lariat. He held his head proudly, and his saddle was heavy +with fringes and gay with colored embroidery. The maiden was attired in +her best and wore her own father's war-bonnet, while she carried in her +hands two which had belonged to two of her dead brothers. Singing in a +clear voice the songs of her clan, she completed the circle, according +to custom, before she singled out one of the young braves for special +honor by giving him the bonnet which she held in her right hand. She +then crossed over to the Cut-Heads, and presented the other bonnet to +one of their young men. She was very handsome; even the old men's blood +was stirred by her brave appearance! + +"At daybreak the two war-parties of the Sioux, mounted on their best +horses, stood side by side, ready for the word to charge. All of the +warriors were painted for the battle--prepared for death--their +nearly nude bodies decorated with their individual war-totems. Their +well-filled quivers were fastened to their sides, and each tightly +grasped his oaken bow. + +"The young man with the finest voice had been chosen to give the +signal--a single highpitched yell. This was an imitation of the one +long howl of the gray wolf before he makes the attack. It was an ancient +custom of our people. + +"'Woo-o-o-o!'--at last it came! As the sound ceased a shrill war-whoop +from five hundred throats burst forth in chorus, and at the same instant +Makatah, upon her splendid buckskin pony, shot far out upon the plain, +like an arrow as it leaves the bow. It was a glorious sight! No man has +ever looked upon the like again!" + +The eyes of the old man sparkled as he spoke, and his bent shoulders +straightened. + +"The white doeskin gown of the War Maiden," he continued, "was trimmed +with elk's teeth and tails of ermine. Her long black hair hung loose, +bound only with a strip of otter-skin, and with her eagle-feather +war-bonnet floated far behind. In her hand she held a long coup-staff +decorated with eagle-feathers. Thus she went forth in advance of them +all! + +"War cries of men and screams of terrified women and children were borne +upon the clear morning air as our warriors neared the Crow camp. The +charge was made over a wide plain, and the Crows came yelling from +their lodges, fully armed, to meet the attacking party. In spite of the +surprise they easily held their own, and even began to press us hard, as +their number was much greater than that of the Sioux. + +"The fight was a long and hard one. Toward the end of the day the enemy +made a counter-charge. By that time many of our ponies had fallen or +were exhausted. The Sioux retreated, and the slaughter was great. The +Cut-Heads fled womanlike; but the people of Tamakoche fought gallantly +to the very last. + +"Makatah remained with her father's people. Many cried out to her, +'Go back! Go back!' but she paid no attention. She carried no weapon +throughout the day--nothing but her coup-staff--but by her presence and +her cries of encouragement or praise she urged on the men to deeds of +desperate valor. + +"Finally, however, the Sioux braves were hotly pursued and the retreat +became general. Now at last Makatah tried to follow; but her pony was +tired, and the maiden fell farther and farther behind. Many of her +lovers passed her silently, intent upon saving their own lives. Only a +few still remained behind, fighting desperately to cover the retreat, +when Red Horn came up with the girl. His pony was still fresh. He might +have put her up behind him and carried her to safety, but he did not +even look at her as he galloped by. + +"Makatah did not call out, but she could not help looking after him. He +had declared his love for her more loudly than any of the others, and +she now gave herself up to die. + +"Presently another overtook the maiden. It was Little Eagle, unhurt and +smiling. + +"'Take my horse!' he said to her. 'I shall remain here and fight!' + +"The maiden looked at him and shook her head, but he sprang off and +lifted her upon his horse. He struck him a smart blow upon the flank +that sent him at full speed in the direction of the Sioux encampment. +Then he seized the exhausted buckskin by the lariat, and turned back to +join the rear-guard. + +"That little group still withstood in some fashion the all but +irresistible onset of the Crows. When their comrade came back to them, +leading the War Maiden's pony, they were inspired to fresh endeavor, and +though few in number they made a counter-charge with such fury that the +Crows in their turn were forced to retreat! + +"The Sioux got fresh mounts and returned to the field, and by sunset the +day was won! Little Eagle was among the first who rode straight through +the Crow camp, causing terror and consternation. It was afterward +remembered that he looked unlike his former self and was scarcely +recognized by the warriors for the modest youth they had so little +regarded. + +"It was this famous battle which drove that warlike nation, the Crows, +to go away from the Missouri and to make their home up the Yellowstone +River and in the Bighorn country. But many of our men fell, and among +them the brave Little Eagle! + +"The sun was almost over the hills when the Sioux gathered about their +campfires, recounting the honors won in battle, and naming the brave +dead. Then came the singing of dirges and weeping for the slain! The +sadness of loss was mingled with exultation. + +"Hush! listen! the singing and wailing have ceased suddenly at both +camps. There is one voice coming around the circle of campfires. It is +the voice of a woman! Stripped of all her ornaments, her dress shorn +of its fringes, her ankles bare, her hair cropped close to her neck, +leading a pony with mane and tail cut short, she is mourning as widows +mourn. It is Makatah! + +"Publicly, with many tears, she declared herself the widow of the brave +Little Eagle, although she had never been his wife! He it was, she said +with truth, who had saved her people's honor and her life at the cost of +his own. He was a true man! + +"'Ho, ho!' was the response from many of the older warriors; but the +young men, the lovers of Makatah, were surprised and sat in silence. + +"The War Maiden lived to be a very old woman, but she remained true +to her vow. She never accepted a husband; and all her lifetime she was +known as the widow of the brave Little Eagle." + +THE END + + + + +GLOSSARY + +A-no-ka-san, white on both sides (Bald Eagle). +A-tay, father. +Cha-ton'-ska, White Hawk. +Chin-o-te-dah, Lives-in-the-Wood. +Chin-to, yes, indeed. +E-na-ka-nee, hurry. +E-ya-tonk-a-wee, She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar. +E-yo-tank-a, rise up, or sit down. +Ha-ha-ton-wan, Ojibway. +Ha-na-ka-pe, a grave. +Han-ta-wo, Out of the way! +He-che-tu, it is well. +He-yu-pe-ya, come here! +Hi! an exclamation of thanks. +Hunk-pa-tees, a band of Sioux. +Ka-po-sia, Light Lodges, a band of Sioux. +Ke-chu-wa, darling. +Ko-da, friend. +Ma-ga-ska-wee, Swan Maiden. +Ma-ka-tah, Earth Woman. +Ma-to, bear. +Ma-to-ska, White Bear. +Ma-to-sa-pa, Black Bear. +Me-chink-she, my son or sons. +Me-ta, my. +Min-ne-wa-kan, Sacred Water (Devil's Lake.) +Min-ne-ya-ta, By-the-Water. +Nak-pa, Ears or Long Ears. +Ne-na e-ya-ya! run fast! +O-glu-ge-chan-a, Mysterious Wood-Dweller. +Psay, snow-shoes. +Shunk-a, dog. +Shunk-a-ska, White Dog. +Shunk-ik-chek-a, domestic dog. +Ske-ske-ta-tonk-a, Sault Sainte Marie. +Sna-na, Rattle. +Sta-su, Shield (Arickaree). +Ta-ake-che-ta, his soldier. +Ta-chin-cha-la, fawn. +Tak-cha, doe. +Ta-lu-ta, Scarlet. +Ta-ma-hay, Pike. +Ta-ma-ko-che, His Country. +Ta-na-ge-la, Humming-Bird. +Ta-tank-a-o-ta, Many Buffaloes. +Ta-te-yo-pa, Her Door. +Ta-to-ka, Antelope. +Ta-wa-su-o-ta, Many Hailstones. +Tee-pee, tent. +Te-yo-tee-pee, Council lodge. +To-ke-ya nun-ka hu-wo? where are you? +Tunk-a-she-dah, grandfather. +Un-chee-dah, grandmother. +Unk-pa-pa, a band of Sioux. +U-ya-yo! come here! +Wa-ba-shaw, Red Hat (name of a Sioux chief). +Wa-ha-dah, Buyer of Furs. +Wah-pay-ton, a band of Sioux. +Wa-ho, Howler. +Wa-kan, sacred, mysterious. +Wak-pay-ku-tay, a band of Sioux. +Wa-pay-na, Little Barker. +Wee-ko, Beautiful Woman. +We-no-na, Firstborn Daughter. +We-sha-wee, Red Girl. +We-wop-tay, a sharpened pole. +We-yan-na, little woman. +We-zee, Smoky Lodge. +Yank-ton-nais, a band of Sioux. +Zee-zee-win, Yellow Woman. +Zu-ya-ma-ni, Walks-to-War. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Indian Days, by +[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. 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EASTMAN +(Ohiyesa) + + + + + +To +My Daughters +DORA, IRENE, VIRGINIA, ELEANOR, AND FLORENCE +I Dedicate +these Stories of the Old Indian Life, +and especially of +the Courageous and Womanly Indian Woman + + +CONTENTS + +INTRODUCTION + +PART I. THE WARRIOR + + I. THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE + II. THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE + III. THE SINGING SPIRIT + IV. THE FAMINE + V. THE CHIEF SOLDIER + VI. THE WHITE MAN'S ERRAND + VII. THE GRAVE OF THE DOG + +PART II. THE WOMAN + + I. WINONA, THE WOMAN-CHILD + II. WINONA, THE CHILD-WOMAN + III. SNANA'S FAWN + IV. SHE-WHO-HAS-A-SOUL + V. THE PEACE-MAKER + VI. BLUE SKY + VII. THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS +VIII. THE WAR MAIDEN + +GLOSSARY + + + + +PART ONE + +THE WARRIOR + + + + I + + + THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE + + + I +Upon a hanging precipice atop of the +Eagle Scout Butte there appeared a +motionless and solitary figure--almost +eagle-like he perched! The people in the camp +below saw him, but none looked at him long. +They turned their heads quickly away with a +nervous tingling, for the height above the plains +was great. Almost spirit-like among the upper +clouds the young warrior sat immovable. + +It was Antelope. He was fasting and seek- +ing a sign from the "Great Mystery," for such +was the first step of the young and ambitious +Sioux [who wished to be a noted warrior among +his people. + +He is a princely youth, among the wild +Sioux, who hunts for his tribe and not for him- +self! His voice is soft and low at the camp- +fire of his nation, but terror-giving in the field +of battle. Such was Antelope's reputation. +The more he sought the "Great Mystery" in +solitude, the more gentle and retiring he be- +came, and in the same proportion his courage +and manliness grew. None could say that he +was not a kind son and a good hunter, for he +had already passed the "two-arrow-to-kill," +his buffalo examination. + +On a hot midsummer morning a few weeks +later, while most of the inmates of the teepees +were breakfasting in the open air, the powerful +voice of the herald resounded among the pine- +clad heights and green valleys. + +"Hear ye, hear ye, warriors!" he chanted +loudly. "The council has decreed that four +brave young men must scout the country to +the sunsetward of the camp, for the peace and +protection of our people!" + +All listened eagerly for the names of the +chosen warriors, and in another moment there +came the sonorous call: "Antelope, Ante- +lope! the council has selected you!" + +The camp was large--fully four hundred +paces across; but in that country, in the clear +morning air, such an announcement can be +heard a great way, and in the silence that fol- +lowed the hills repeated over and over the mu- +sical name of Antelope. + +In due time the four chosen youths appeared +before the council fire. The oath of the pipe +was administered, and each took a few whiffs +as reverently as a Churchman would partake +of the sacrament. The chief of the council, +who was old and of a striking appearance, gave +the charge and command to the youthful +braves. + +There was a score or more of warriors ready +mounted to escort them beyond the precincts +of the camp, and the "fearless heart" song +was sung according to the custom, as the four +ran lightly from the door of the council teepee +and disappeared in the woods. + +It was a peculiarly trying and hazardous +moment in which to perform the duties of a +scout. The Sioux were encroaching upon the +territory of hostile tribes, here in the foot-hills +of the Big Horn Mountains, and now and then +one of their hunters was cut off by the enemy. +If continual vigilance could not save them, it +might soon become necessary to retreat to their +own hunting-grounds. + +It was a savage fetish that a warrior must +be proof against the alluring ways of pretty +maidens; that he must place his honor far +above the temptations of self-indulgence and +indolence. Cold, hunger, and personal hard- +ship did not count with Antelope when there +was required of him any special exertion for +the common good. It was cause to him of +secret satisfaction that the council-men had se- +lected him for a dangerous service in prefer- +ence to some of his rivals and comrades. + +He had been running for two or three hours +at a good, even gait, and had crossed more +than one of the smaller creeks, yet many deep +gulches and bad lands lay between him and the +furthest peak that melted into the blue dome +above. + +"I shall stand upon the Bear's Heart," he +said to himself. "If I can do that, and still +report before the others, I shall do well!" +His keen eyes were constantly sweeping the +country in his front, and suddenly he paused +and shrank back motionless in a crouching at- +titude, still steadily keeping an eye upon a +moving object. It was soon evident that some +one was stealthily eying him from behind +cover, and he was outwitted by the enemy! +Still stooping, he glided down a little ravine, +and as he reached the bed of the creek there +emerged from it a large gray wolf. + +This was very opportune for Antelope. He +gave the gray wolf's danger-call with all his +might; waited an instant and gave it a sec- +ond time; then he turned and ran fleetly down +the stream. At the same moment the wolf ap- +peared upon the top of the bank, in full view +of the enemy. + +"Here he comes!" they whispered, and had +their arrows on the string as the wolf trotted +leisurely along, exposing only his head, for this +was a common disguise among the plains In- +dians. But when he came out into the open, +behold! it was only a gray wolf! + +"Ugh!" the Utes grunted, as they looked +at each other in much chagrin. + +"Surely he was a man, and coming directly +into our trap! We sang and prayed to the +gods of war when our war chief sent us ahead +to scout the Sioux people, to find their camp. +This is a mystery, a magic! Either he +is a Sioux in disguise, or we don't know their +tricks!" exclaimed the leader. + +Now they gave the war-whoop, and their +arrows flew through the air. The wolf gave +a yelp of distress, staggered and fell dead. In- +stantly they ran to examine the body, and found +it to be truly that of a wolf. + +"Either this is a wonderful medicine-man, +or we are shamefully fooled by a Sioux war- +rior," they muttered. + +They lost several minutes before they caught +sight of Antelope, who had followed the bed +of the creek as far as it lay in his direction +and then came out of it at full speed. It would +be safer for him to remain in concealment +until dark; but in the meantime the Ute war- +riors would reach the camp, and his people +were unprepared! It was necessary to expose +himself to the enemy. He knew that it would +be chiefly a contest of speed and he had an ex- +cellent start; but on the other hand, the Utes +doubtless had their horses. + +"The Sioux who played this trick on us must +die to-day!" exclaimed their leader. "Come, +friends, we cannot afford to let him tell this +joke on us at the camp-fires of his people!" + +Antelope was headed directly for Eagle +Scout Butte, for the camp was in plain view +from the top of this hill. He had run pretty +much all day, but then, that was nothing! + +"I shall reach the summit first, unless the +Ute horses have wings!" he said to him- +self. + +Looking over his shoulder, he saw five horse- +men approaching, so he examined his bow and +arrows as he ran. + +"All is well," he muttered. "One of their +spirits at the least must guide mine to the spirit +land!" where, it was believed by them, there +was no fighting. + +Now he was within hearing of their whoops, +but he was already at the foot of the butte. +Their horses could not run up the steep ascent, +and they were obliged to dismount. Like a +deer the Sioux leaped from rock to rock, and +almost within arrow-shot came his pursuers, +wildly whooping and yelling. + +When he had achieved the summit, he took +his stand between two great rocks, and flashed +his tiny looking-glass for a distress signal into +the distant camp of his people. + +For a long time no reply came, and many +arrows flew over his head, as the Utes ap- +proached gradually from rock to rock. He, +too, sent down a swift arrow now and then, to +show them that he was no child or woman in +fight, but brave as a bear when it is brought to +bay. + +"Ho, ho!" he shouted to the enemy, in +token of a brave man's welcome to danger and +death. + +They replied with yells of triumph, as they +pressed more and more closely upon him. One +of their number had been dispatched to notify +the main war-party when they first saw Ante- +lope, but he did not know this, and his courage +was undiminished. From time to time he con- +tinued to flash his signal, and at last like light- +ning the little white flash came in reply. + +The sun was low when the besieged warrior +discovered a large body of horsemen approach- +ing from the northwest. It was the Ute war- +party! He looked earnestly once more +toward the Sioux camp, shading his eyes with +his right palm. There, too, were many moving +specks upon the plain, drawing toward the foot +of the hill! + +At the middle of the afternoon they had +caught his distress signal, and the entire camp +was thrown into confusion, for but few of the +men had returned from the daily hunt. As +fast as they came in, the warriors hurried away +upon their best horses, singing and yelling. +When they reached the well-known butte, tow- +ering abruptly in the midst of the plain, they +could distinguish their enemies massed behind +the hanging rocks and scattered cedar-trees, +crawling up closer and closer, for the large war- +party reached the hill just as the scouts who +held Antelope at bay discovered the approach +of his kinsmen. + +Antelope had long since exhausted his quiver +of arrows and was gathering up many of +those that fell about him to send them back +among his pursuers. When their attention was +withdrawn from him for an instant by the sud- +den onset of the Sioux, he sprang to his feet. + +He raised both his hands heavenward in +token of gratitude for his rescue, and his friends +announced with loud shouts the daring of Ante- +lope. + +Both sides fought bravely, but the Utes at +last retreated and were fiercely pursued. An- +telope stood at his full height upon the huge +rock that had sheltered him, and gave his yell +of defiance and exultation. Below him the war- +riors took it up, and among the gathering +shadows the rocks echoed praises of his name. + +In the Sioux camp upon Lost Water there +were dances and praise songs, but there was +wailing and mourning, too, for many lay dead +among the crags. The name of Antelope was +indelibly recorded upon Eagle Scout Butte. + +"If he wished for a war-bonnet of eagle +feathers, it is his to wear," declared one of +the young men. "But he is modest, and scarcely +even joins in the scalp dances. lt is said of +him that he has never yet spoken to any young +woman!" + +"True, it is not announced publicly that he +has addressed a maiden. Many parents would +like to have their daughters the first one he +would speak to, but I am told he desires to +go upon one or two more war-paths before +seeking woman's company," replied another. + +"Hun, hun, hay!" exclaimed a third youth +ill-naturedly. He is already old enough to +be a father!" + +"This is told of him," rejoined the first +speaker. "He wants to hold the record of +being the young man who made the greatest +number of coups before he spoke to a maiden. +I know that there are not only mothers who +would be glad to have him for a son-in-law, +but their young daughters would not refuse to +look upon the brave Antelope as a husband!" + +It was true that in the dance his name was +often mentioned, and at every repetition it +seemed that the young women danced with +more spirit, while even grandmothers joined +in the whirl with a show of youthful abandon. + +Wezee, the father of Antelope, was receiv- +ing congratulations throughout the afternoon. +Many of the old men came to his lodge to +smoke with him, and the host was more than +gratified, for he was of a common family and +had never before known what it is to bask +in the sunshine of popularity and distinction. +He spoke complacently as he crowded a hand- +ful of tobacco into the bowl of the long red +pipe. + +"Friends, our life here is short, and the life +of a brave youth is apt to be shorter than most! +We crave all the happiness that we can get, +and it is right that we should do so. One who +says that he does not care for reputation or +success, is not likely to be telling the truth. So +you will forgive me if I say too much about +the honorable career of my son." This was the +old man's philosophic apology. + +"Ho, ho," his guests graciously responded. +"It is your moon! Every moon has its full- +ness, when it lights up the night, while the little +stars dance before it. So to every man there +comes his full moon!" + +Somewhat later in the day all the young +people of the great camp were seen to be mov- +ing in one direction. All wore their best attire +and finest ornaments, and even the parti-col- +ored steeds were decorated to the satisfaction +of their beauty-loving riders. + +"Ugh, Taluta is making a maidens' feast! +She, the prettiest of all the Unkpapa maid- +ens!" exclaimed one of the young braves. + +"She, the handsomest of all our young +women!" repeated another. + +Taluta was indeed a handsome maid in the +height and bloom of womanhood, with all that +wonderful freshness and magnetism which was +developed and preserved by the life of the wil- +derness. She had already given five maidens' +feasts, beginning with her fifteenth year, and +her shy and diffident purity was held sacred by +her people. + +The maidens' circle was now complete. Be- +hind it the outer circle of old women was equally +picturesque and even more dignified. The +grandmother, not the mother, was regarded as +the natural protector of the young maiden, and +the dowagers derived much honor from their +position, especially upon public occasions, tak- +ing to themselves no small amount of credit +for the good reputations of their charges. + +Weshawee, whose protege had many suitors +and was a decided coquette, fidgeted nervously +and frequently adjusted her robe or fingered +her necklace to ease her mind, for she dreaded +lest, in spite of watchfulness, some mishap +might have befallen her charge. Her anxiety +was apparently shared by several other chap- +erons who stole occasional suspicious glances +in the direction of certain of the young braves. +It had been known to happen that a girl un- +worthy to join in the sacred feast was publicly +disgraced. + +A special police force was appointed to keep +order on this occasion, each member of which +was gorgeously painted and bedecked with +eagle feathers, and carried in his hand a long +switch with which to threaten the encroaching +throng. Their horses wore head-skins of fierce +animals to add to their awe-inspiring appear- +ance. + +The wild youths formed the outer circle of +the gathering, attired like the woods in au- +tumn, their long locks glossy with oil and per- +fumed with scented grass and leaves. Many +pulled their blankets over their heads as if to +avoid recognition, and loitered shyly at a dis- +tance. + +Among these last were Antelope and his +cousin, Red Eagle. They stood in the angle +formed by the bodies of their steeds, whose +noses were together. The young hero was com- +pletely enveloped in his handsome robe with +a rainbow of bead-work acros the middle, and +his small moccasined feet projected from be- +neath the lower border. Red Eagle held up +an eagle-wing fan, partially concealing his face, +and both gazed intently toward the center of +the maidens' circle. + +"Woo! woo!" was the sonorous exclama- +tion of the police, announcing the beginning +of the ceremonies. In the midst of the ring +of girls stood the traditional heart-shaped red +stone, with its bristling hedge of arrows. In +this case there were five arrows, indicating that +Taluta had already made as many maidens' +feasts. Each of the maidens must lay her hand +upon the stone in token of her purity and chas- +tity, touching also as many arrows as she her- +self has attended maidens' feasts. + +Taluta advanced first to the center. As she +stood for a moment beside the sacred stone, she +appeared to the gazing bystanders the embodi- +ment of grace and modesty. Her gown, +adorned with long fringes at the seams, was +beaded in blue and white across the shoulders +and half way to her waist. Her shining black +hair was arranged in two thick plaits which +hung down upon her bosom. There was a native +dignity in her gestures and in her utterance of +the maidens' oath, and as she turned to face the +circle, all the other virgins followed her. + +When the feast was ended and the gay con- +course had dispersed, Antelope and his cousin +were among the last to withdraw. The young +man's eyes had followed every movement of +Taluta as long as she remained in sight, and +it was only when she vanished in the gathering +shadows that he was willing to retire. + +In savage courtship, it was the custom to +introduce one's self boldly to the young lady, +although sometimes it was convenient to have +a sister introduce her brother. But Antelope +had no sister to perform this office for him, +and if he had had one, he would not have made +the request. He did not choose to admit any +one to his secret, for he had no confidence in +himself or in the outcome of the affair. If +it had been anything like trailing the doe, or +scouting the Ojibway, he would have ridiculed +the very notion of missing the object sought. +But this was a new warfare--an unknown hunt- +ing! Although he was very anxious to meet +Taluta, whenever the idea occurred to him he +trembled like a leaf in the wind, and profuse +perspiration rolled down his stoic visage. It +was not customary to hold any social inter- +course with the members of the opposite sex, +and he had never spoken familiarly to any +woman since he became a man, except his old +grandmother. It was well known that the +counsel of the aged brings luck to the youth +in warfare and love. + +Antelope arose early the next morning, and +without speaking to any one he made a cere- +monious toilet. He put on his finest buckskin +shirt and a handsome robe, threw a beaded +quiver over his shoulder, and walked directly +away from the teepees and into the forest--he +did not know why nor whither. The sounds +of the camp grew fainter and fainter, until at +last he found himself alone. + +"How is it," mused the young man, "that +I have hoped to become a leader among my +people? My father is not a chief, and none +of my ancestors were distinguished in war. I +know well that, if I desire to be great, I must +deny myself the pleasure of woman's company +until I have made my reputation. I must not +boast nor exhibit myself on my first success. +The spirits do not visit the common haunts of +men! All these rules I have thus far kept, +and I must not now yield to temptation. . . . +Man has much to weaken his ambition after +he is married. A young man may seek oppor- +tunities to prove his worth, but to a married +man the opportunity must come to try him. +He acts only when compelled to act. . . . Ah, +I must flee from the woman!. . . . Besides, +if she should like someone else better, I should +be humiliated. . . . I must go upon a long +war-path. I shall forget her. . . ." + +At this point his revery was interrupted by +the joyous laughter of two young women. The +melodious sing-song laughter of the Sioux +maiden stirred the very soul of the young war- +rior. + +All his philosophy deserted him, and he +stood hesitating, looking about him as if for +a chance of escape. A man who had never +before felt the magnetic influence of woman +in her simplicity and childlike purity, he be- +came for the moment incapable of speech or +action. + +Meanwhile the two girls were wholly uncon- +scious of any disturbing presence in the forest. +They were telling each other the signals that +each had received in the dance. Taluta's com- +panion had stopped at the first raspberry bushes, +while she herself passed on to the next +thicket. When she emerged from the pines +into an opening, she suddenly beheld Antelope, +in his full-dress suit of courtship. Instantly +she dropped her eyes. + +Luckily the customs of courtship among the +Sioux allow the covering of one's head with the +blanket. In this attitude, the young man made +a signal to Taluta with trembling fingers. + +The wild red man's wooing was natural and +straightforward; there was no circumspection, +no maneuvering for time or advantage. Hot +words of love burst forth from the young +warrior's lips, with heavy breathing behind +the folds of the robe with which he sought to +shield his embarrassment. + +"For once the spirits are guiding my for- +tunes! It may seem strange to you, when we +meet thus by accident, that I should speak im- +mediately of my love for you; but we live in +a world where one must speak when the oppor- +tunity offers. I have thought much of you +since I saw you at the maidens' feast. . . . Is +Taluta willing to become the wife of Tatoka? +The moccasins of her making will cause his +feet to be swift in pursuit of the game, and +on the trail of the enemy. . . . I beg of you, +maiden, let our meeting be known only to the +birds of the air, while you consider my pro- +posal!" + +All this while the maiden stood demurely +at his side, playing with the lariat of her pony +in her brown, fine hands. Her doeskin gown +with profuse fringes hung gracefully as the +drooping long leaves of the willow, and her +two heavy braids of black hair, mingled with +strings of deers' hoofs and wampum, fell upon +her bosom. There was a faint glow under- +neath her brown skin, and her black eyes were +calm and soft, yet full of native fire. + +"You will not press for an answer now," +she gently replied, without looking at him. "I +expected to see no one here, and your words +have taken me by surprise. . . . I grant your +last request. The birds alone can indulge in +gossip about our meeting,--unless my cousin, +who is in the next ravine, should see us to- +gether!" She sprang lightly upon the back +of her pony, and disappeared among the scat- +tered pines. + +Between the first lovers' meeting and the sec- +ond was a period of one moon. This was wholly +the fault of Antelope, who had been a prey +to indecision and painful thoughts. Half re- +gretting his impulsive declaration, and hoping +to forget his pangs in the chances of travel +and war, he had finally enlisted in the number +of those who were to go with the war-leader +Crowhead into the Ute country. As was the +custom of the Sioux warriors upon the eve of +departure, the young men consulted their spirit- +ual advisers, and were frequently in the purify- +ing vapor-bath, and fasting in prayer. + +The last evening had come, and Antelope +was on the way to the top of the hill behind +the camp for a night of prayer. Suddenly in +the half-light he came full upon Taluta, lead- +ing her pony down the narrow trail. She had +never looked more beautiful to the youth than +at that moment. + +"Ho," he greeted her. She simply smiled +shyly. + +"It is long since we met," he ventured. + +"I have concluded that you do not care to +hear my reply," retorted the girl. + +"I have nothing to say in my defense, but +I hope that you will be generous. I have suf- +fered much. . . . You will understand why +I stand far from you," he added gently. "I +have been preparing myself to go upon the war- +path. We start at daylight for the Ute coun- +try. Every day for ten days I have been in the +vapor-bath, and ten nights fasting." + +As Taluta well knew, a young warrior under +these circumstances dared not approach a wo- +man, not even his own wife. + +"I still urge you to be my wife. Are you +ready to give me your answer?" continued An- +telope. + +"My answer was sent to you by your grand- +mother this very day," she replied softly. + +"Ah, tell me, tell me, . . ." pressed the +youth eagerly. + +"All is well. Fear nothing," murmured +the maiden. + +"I have given my word--I have made my +prayers and undergone purification. I must +not withdraw from this war-path," he said +after a silence. "But I know that I shall be for- +tunate! . . . My grandmother will give you +my love token. . . . Ah, kechuwa (dear love)! +watch the big star every night! I will watch +it, too--then we shall both be watching! +Although far apart, our spirits will be to- +gether." + +The moon had risen above the hill, and the +cold light discovered the two who stood sadly +apart, their hearts hot with longing. Reluc- +tantly, yet without a backward look or farewell +gesture, the warrior went on up the hill, and the +maiden hurried homeward. Only a few moments +before she had been happy in the anticipation +of making her lover happy. The truth was +she had been building air-castles in the likeness +of a white teepee pitched upon a virgin prairie +all alone, surrounded by mountains. Tatoka's +war-horse and hunting pony were picketed near +by, and there she saw herself preparing the +simple meal for him! But now he has clouded +her dreams by this untimely departure. + +"He is too brave. . . . His life will be a +short one," she said to herself with fore- +boding. + +For a few hours all was quiet, and just be- +fore the appearance of day the warriors' de- +parture was made known by their farewell +songs. Antelope was in the line early, but he +was heavy of heart, for he knew that his sweet- +heart was sorely puzzled and disappointed by +his abrupt departure. His only consolation +was the knowledge that he had in his bundle +a pair of moccasins made by her hands. He +had not yet seen them, because it was the cus- +tom not to open any farewell gifts until the +first camp was made, and then they must be +opened before the eyes of all the young men! +It brings luck to the war-party, they said. He +would have preferred to keep his betrothal se- +cret, but there was no escaping the custom. + +All the camp-fires were burning and supper +had been eaten, when the herald approached +every group and announced the programme +for the evening. It fell to Antelope to open +his bundle first. Loud laughter pealed forth +when the reluctant youth brought forth a su- +perb pair of moccasins--the recognized love- +gift! At such times the warriors' jokes were +unmerciful, for it was considered a last indul- +gence in jesting, perhaps for many moons. +The recipient was well known to be a novice +in love, and this token first disclosed the fact +that he had at last succumbed to the allure- +ments of woman. When he sang his love-song +he was obliged to name the giver of the token, +and many a disappointed suitor was astonished +to hear Taluta's name. + +It was a long journey to the Ute country, and +when they reached it there was a stubbornly +contested fight. Both sides claimed the vic- +tory, and both lost several men. Here again +Antelope was signally favored by the gods of +war. He counted many coups or blows, and +exhibited his bravery again and again in the +charges, but he received no wound. + + +On the return journey Taluta's beautiful +face was constantly before him. He was so +impatient to see her that he hurried on in ad- +vance of his party, when they were still several +days' travel from the Sioux camp. + +"This time I shall join in all the dances and +participate in the rejoicings, for she will surely +like to have me do so," he thought to himself. +"She will join also, and I know that none is +a better dancer than Taluta!" + +In fancy, Antelope was practicing the songs +of victory as he rode alone over the vast wild +country. + +He had now passed Wild Horse Creek and +the Black Hills lay to the southeast, while the +Big Horn range loomed up to the north in +gigantic proportions. He felt himself at home. + +"I shall now be a man indeed. I shall have +a wife!" he said aloud. + +At last he reached the point from which he +expected to view the distant camp. Alas, there +was no camp there! Only a solitary teepee +gleamed forth upon the green plain, which was +almost surrounded by a quick turn of the River +of Deep Woods. The teepee appeared very +white. A peculiar tingling sensation passed +through his frame, and the pony whinnied +often as he was urged forward at a gallop. + +When Antelope beheld the solitary teepee +he knew instantly what it was. It was a grave! +Sometimes a new white lodge was pitched thus +for the dead, who lay in state within upon a +couch of finest skins, and surrounded by his +choicest possessions. + +Antelope's excitement increased as he neared +the teepee, which was protected by a barricade +of thick brush. It stood alone and silent in +the midst of the deserted camp. He kicked the +sides of his tired horse to make him go faster. +At last he jumped from the saddle and ran +toward the door. There he paused for a mo- +ment, and at the thought of desecrating a +grave, a cold terror came over him. + +"I must see--I must see!" he said aloud, +and desperately he broke through the thorny +fence and drew aside the oval swinging door. + + + +II + +In the stately white teepee, seen from afar, both +grave and monument, there lay the fair body +of Taluta! The bier was undisturbed, and the +maiden looked beautiful as if sleeping, dressed +in her robes of ceremony and surrounded by all +her belongings. + +Her lover looked upon her still face and +cried aloud. "Hey, hey, hey! Alas! alas! If +I had known of this while in the Ute country, +you would not be lonely on the spirit path." + +He withdrew, and laid the doorflap rever- +ently back in its place. How long he stood with- +out the threshold he could not tell. He stood +with head bowed down upon his breast, tear- +less and motionless, utterly oblivious to every- +thing save the bier of his beloved. His charger +grazed about for a long time where he had +left him, but at last he endeavored by a low +whinny to attract his master's attention, and +Antelope awoke from his trance of sorrow. + +The sun was now hovering over the western +ridges. The mourner's throat was parched, +and perspiration rolled down his cheeks, yet +he was conscious of nothing but a strong de- +sire to look upon her calm, sweet face once +more. + +He kindled a small fire a little way off, and +burned some cedar berries and sweet-smelling +grass. Then he fumigated himself thoroughly +to dispel the human atmosphere, so that the +spirit might not be offended by his approach, +for he greatly desired to obtain a sign from +her spirit. He had removed his garments and +stood up perfectly nude save for the breech- +clout. His long hair was unbraided and hung +upon his shoulders, veiling the upper half of +his splendid body. Thus standing, the lover +sang a dirge of his own making. The words +were something like this: + + +Ah, spirit, thy flight is mysterious! + +While the clouds are stirred by our wailing, + +And our tears fall faster in sorrow-- + + +While the cold sweat of night benumbs us, + +Thou goest alone on thy journey, + +In the midst of the shining star people! + + +Thou goest alone on thy journey-- + +Thy memory shall be our portion; + +Until death we must watch for the spirit! + + +The eyes of Antelope were closed while he +chanted the dirge. He sang it over and over, +pausing between the lines, and straining as it +were every sense lest he might not catch the +rapt whisper of her spirit, but only the distant +howls of coyotes answered him. His body be- +came cold and numb from sheer exhaustion, +and at last his knees bent under him and he +sank down upon the ground, still facing the +teepee. Unconsciousness overtook him, and in +his sleep or trance the voice came: + +"Do not mourn for me, my friend! Come +into my teepee, and eat of my food." + +It seemed to Antelope that he faltered for +a moment; then he entered the teepee. There +was a cheerful fire burning in the center. A +basin of broiled buffalo meat was placed oppo- +site the couch of Taluta, on the other side of +the fire. Its odor was delicious to him, yet +he hesitated to eat of it. + +"Fear not, kechuwa (my darling)! It will +give you strength," said the voice. + +The maid was natural as in life. Beautifully +attired, she sat up on her bed, and her de- +meanor was cheerful and kind. + +The young man ate of the food in silence +and without looking at the spirit. "Ho, ke- +chuwa!" he said to her when returning the +dish, according to the custom of his people. + +Silently the two sat for some minutes, while +the youth gazed into the burning embers. + +"Be of good heart," said Taluta, at last, +"for you shall meet my twin spirit! She will +love you as I do, and you will love her as you +love me. This was our covenant before we +came into this world." + +The conception of a "twin spirit" was famil- +iar to the Sioux. "Ho," responded the war- +rior, with dignity and all seriousness. He felt +a great awe for the spirit, and dared not lift +his eyes to her face. + +"Weep no more, kechuwa, weep no more," +she softly added; and the next moment Ante- +lope found himself outside the mysterious tee- +pee. His limbs were stiff and cold, but he did +not feel faint nor hungry. Having filled his +pipe, he held it up to the spirits and then par- +took of the smoke; and thus revived, he slowly +and reluctantly left the sacred spot. + +The main war-party also visited the old +camp and saw the solitary teepee grave, but did +not linger there. They continued on the trail +of the caravan until they reached the new camp- +ing ground. They called themselves successful, +although they had left several of their number +on the field. Their triumph songs indicated +this; therefore the people hurried to receive +the news and to learn who were the unfor- +tunates. + +The father of Antelope was foremost among +those who ran to meet the war-party. He +learned that his son had distinguished himself in +the fight, and that his name was not mentioned +among the brave dead. + +"And where, then, is he?" he asked, with +unconcealed anxiety. + +"He left us three days ago to come in ad- +vance," they replied. + +"But he has not arrived!" exclaimed old +Wezee, in much agitation. + +He returned to his teepee, where he consoled +himself as best he could by smoking the pipe +in solitude. He could neither sing praises nor +indulge in the death dirge, and none came in +either to congratulate or mourn with him. + +The sun had disappeared behind the hills, +and the old man still sat gazing into the burn- +ing embers, when he heard a horse's footfall +at the door of his lodge. + +"Ho, atay (father)!" came the welcome +call. + +"Mechinkshe! mechinkshe!" (my son, my +son), he replied in unrestrained joy. Old We- +zee now stood on the threshold and sang the +praise song for his son, ending with a war- +whoop such as he had not indulged in since he +was quite a young man. + +The camp was once more alive with the +dances, and the dull thud of the Indian drum +was continually in the air. The council had +agreed that Antelope was entitled to wear a +war-bonnet of eagles' feathers. He was ac- +cordingly summoned before the aboriginal par- +liament, and from the wise men of the tribe he +received his degree of war-bonnet. + +It was a public ceremony. The great pipe +was held up for him to take the smoke of high +honor. + +The happiest person present was the father +of Antelope; but he himself remained calm and +unmoved throughout the ceremony. + +"He is a strange person," was the whisper +among a group of youths who were watching +the proceedings with envious eyes. + +The young man was strangely listless and +depressed in spirit. His old grandmother knew +why, but none of the others understood. He +never joined in the village festivities, while the +rest of his family were untiring in the dances, +and old Wezee was at the height of his hap- +piness. + +It was a crisp October morning, and the fam- +ily were eating their breakfast of broiled bison +meat, when the large drum at the council lodge +was struck three times. The old man set down +his wooden basin. + +"Ah, my son, the war-chiefs will make an +announcement! It may be a call for the en- +listment of warriors! I am sorry," he said, +and paused. "I am sorry, because I would +rather no war-party went out at present. I am +getting old. I have enjoyed your success, my +son. I love to hear the people speak your +name. If you go again upon the war-path, I +shall no longer be able to join in the celebra- +tions. Something tells me that you will not re- +turn!" + +Young braves were already on their way to +the council lodge. Tatoka looked, and the +temptation was great. + +"Father, it is not becoming for me to re- +main at home when others go," he said, at last. + +"Ho," was the assent uttered by the father, +with a deep sigh. + +"Five hundred braves have enlisted to go +with the great war prophet against the three +confederated tribes," he afterward reported at +home, with an air of elation which he had not +worn for some moons. + +Since Antelope had received the degree of +war-bonnet, his father had spared neither time +nor his meager means in his behalf. He had +bartered his most cherished possessions for sev- +eral eagles that were brought in by various +hunters of the camp, and with his own hands +had made a handsome war-bonnet for his son. + +"You will now wear a war-bonnet for the +first time, and you are the first of our family +who has earned the right to wear one for many +generations. I am proud of you, my son," he +said as he presented it. + +But when the youth replied: "Ho, ho, +father! I ought to be a brave man in recog- +nition of this honor," he again sighed heavily. + +"It is that I feared, my son! Many a young +man has lost his life for vanity and love of dis- +play!" + +The evening serenades began early, for the +party was to leave at once. In groups upon +their favorite ponies the warriors rode around +the inner circle of the great camp, singing their +war-songs. All the people came out of the tee- +pees, and sitting by twos and threes upon the +ground, bedecked with savage finery, they +watched and listened. The pretty wild maid- +ens had this last opportunity given them to +look upon the faces of their sweethearts, whom +they might never see again. Here and there +an old man was singing the gratitude song or +thank-offering, while announcing the first war- +path of a novice, for such an announcement +meant the giving of many presents to the poor +and aged. So the camp was filled with songs +of joy and pride in the departing husbands, +brothers, and sons. + +As soon as darkness set in the sound of the +rude native flute was added to the celebration. +This is the lover' s farewell. The young braves, +wrapped from head to foot in their finest robes, +each sounded the plaintive strains near the tee- +pee of the beloved. The playful yodeling of +many voices in chorus was heard at the close +of each song. + +At midnight the army of five hundred, the +flower of the Sioux, marched against their an- +cient enemy. Antelope was in the best of spir- +its. He had his war-bonnet to display before +the enemy! He was now regarded as one of +the foremost warriors of his band, and might +probably be asked to perform some specially +hazardous duty, so that he was fully prepared +to earn further distinction. + +In five days the Sioux were encamped within +a day's travel of the permanent village of the +confederated tribes--the Rees, Mandans, and +Gros Ventres. The war-chief selected two +men, Antelope and Eaglechild, to scout at night +in advance of the main force. It was thought +that most of the hunters had already returned +to their winter quarters, and in this case the +Sioux would have no mean enemy to face. On +the other hand, a battle was promised that +would enlarge their important traditions. + +The two made their way as rapidly as pos- +sible toward the ancestral home of their ene- +mies. It was a night perfectly suited to what +they had to do, for the moon was full, the +fleeting clouds hiding it from time to time and +casting deceptive shadows. + +When they had come within a short distance +of the lodges unperceived, they lay flat for a +long time, and studied the ways of the young +men in every particular, for it was Antelope's +plan to enter the great village and mingle +boldly with its inhabitants. Even their hoots and +love-calls were carefully noted, so that they +might be able to imitate them. There were +several entertainments in progress in different +parts of the village, yet it was apparent that +the greatest vigilance was observed. The +lodges of poles covered with earth were partly +underground, and at one end the war-horses +were stabled, as a precaution against a possible +surprise. + +At the moment that a large cloud floated +over the moon, casting a shadow large enough +to cover the entire village, the drum in one of +the principal lodges was struck in quick time, +accompanied by boisterous war-whoops and +singing. The two scouts adjusted their robes +about them in the fashion of the strangers, and +walked openly in that direction. + +They glanced quickly from side to side as +they approached, but no one paid any attention, +so they came up with other young men and +peeped through the chinks in the earth wig- +wam. It was a great gambling party. Among +the guests were several distinguished warriors, +and each at an opportune time would rise and +recount his great deeds in warfare against the +Sioux. The strangers could read their gestures, +and Antelope was once or twice almost on the +point of stringing his bow to send an arrow +through the audacious speaker. + +As they moved about the village, taking note +of its numbers and situation, and waiting an +opportunity to withdraw without exciting sus- +picion, they observed some of the younger +braves standing near another large wigwam, +and one or two even peeped within. Moved by +sudden curiosity, Antelope followed their ex- +ample. He uttered a low exclamation and at +once withdrew. + +"What is it?" asked his companion, but +received no answer. + +It was evidently the home of a chief. The +family were seated within at their usual occu- +pations, and the bright light of the central fire +shone full upon the face of a most lovely +maiden. + +Antelope stood apparently motionless, but he +was trembling under his robe like a leaf. + +"Come, friend, there is another large cloud +almost over the moon! We must move away +under its concealing shadow," urged Eagle- +child. + +the other stood still as if undecided, but at +last he approached the lodge and looked in +a second time. There sat his sweetheart in +human form once more! The maiden was at- +tired in a doeskin gown set with elk's teeth +like ivory. Her eyes were cast down demurely +over her embroidery, but in every feature she +was the living counterpart of Taluta! + +At last the two got away unobserved, and +hastened toward the place where they had con- +cealed their horses. But here Antelope sent +his companion on in advance, making the ex- +cuse that he wished to study further the best +position from which to make the attack. + +When he was left alone he stood still for a +moment to decide upon a plan. He could think +of nothing but that he must meet the Ree maiden +before daylight! He realized the extreme +hazard of the attempt, but he also recalled +what he had been told by the spirit of Taluta, +and the supernatural command seemed to jus- +tify him even in going thus upon the eve of +battle to meet the enemy of his people. + +He skirted the heavy timber and retraced +his steps to a point from which he could see +the village. The drum of the gambling party +had ceased with the shouts and laughter of +the players. Apparently the village was lost +in slumber. The moon had set, and without +pausing he advanced to the home of the girl. +As he came near some dogs began to bark, but +he silenced them after the manner of the Rees, +and they obeyed him. + +When Antelope softly raised the robe that +hung over the entrance to the chief's lodge, +he saw the fire smoldering in the center, and +the members of the household lying in their +respective places, all seemingly in a deep sleep. +The girl lay opposite the entrance, where he +had seen her seated in the early part of the +evening. + +The heart of the Sioux beat violently, and he +glanced nervously to left and right. There was +neither sound nor movement. Then he pulled +his robe completely over his head, after the +fashion of a Ree lover, and softly entered the +wigwam. + +The Ree maiden, having industriously +worked on her embroidery until far into the +night, had retired to rest. In her dreams, the +twin sister came to her of whom she had had +visions ever since she could remember, and es- +pecially when something of importance was +about to happen. + +This time she came with a handsome young +man of another tribe, and said: "Sister, I +bring you a Sioux, who will be your husband!" + +The dreamer opened her eyes to behold a +youth bending over her and gently pulling her +robe, as a suitor is permitted to do to awaken +his beloved. + +When he saw that she was awake, the Sioux +touched his breast, saying in a whisper, "Ta- +toka," and made the sign for Antelope. This +pleased the Ree girl, for her own brother, who +had died the year before, had borne that name. +She immediately sat up and stirred the embers +into a light blaze. Then she took hold of his +blanket and drew it from his face; and there +she seemed to see the very features of the man +of her vision! + +He took her hand in his, and she felt the +force of love stream through his long, nervous +fingers, and instinctively knew his thoughts. In +her turn she touched her breast and made the +sign for Shield, pronouncing in her own tongue +the word, Stasu. This seemed to him also a +name of good omen, and in the sign language +which was common to all the people of the +plains, he asked her to be his wife. + +Vividly her dream came back to her, and +she could not refuse the stranger. Her soul +already responded to his; and for a few min- +utes they sat silently side by side. When he +arose and beckoned, "Come with me," she had +no question to make, and without a word she +followed him from her father's lodge and out +into the forest. + + +In the midst of his ascending fame, at a mo- +ment when opportunity seemed to favor his am- +bition, the brave Antelope had mysteriously +disappeared! His companion scout returned +with a favorable report. He said that the men +of the three confederated tribes were gambling +and feasting, wholly unconscious of danger, +and that Antelope would follow him with a +further report upon the best point of attack. +The red warriors impatiently awaited his re- +turn, until it became apparent that they could +wait no longer without sacrificing their chance +of success. When the attack was made it was +already rather late. The sun had fairly cleared +the eastern hills, and most of the men were out- +side their lodges. + +It was a great battle! Again and again the +Sioux were repulsed, but as often they rallied +and repeated the charge until sundown, when +they effected their retreat with considerable loss. +Had Antelope returned in due season, the +charge would have been made before dawn, +while the people were yet asleep. + +When the battle was over, the Rees, Man- +dans, and Gros Ventres gathered their dead and +wounded. The night was filled with mourning. +Soon the sad news was heralded throughout +the camp that the beautiful daughter of the +Ree chief was among the missing. It was sup- +posed that she must have been captured while +driving her ponies to water in the early morn- +ing. The grief for her loss was mingled with +horror, because of a fear that she might suf- +fer humiliation at the hands of the Sioux war- +riors, and among the young men there were mut- +tered threats that the Sioux would pay dearly +for this. + +Though partially successful, the Sioux had +lost many of their bravest warriors, and none +could tell what had happened to Antelope--he +who had been believed the favorite of the gods +of war. It was suggested by some envious ones +that perhaps he had recognized the strongly +entrenched position of the three tribes, and be- +lieving the battle would be a disastrous one, +had set out for home without making his re- +port. But this supposition was not deemed +credible. On the other hand, the idea was en- +tertained that he had reentered the village, was +detected and slain; and therefore the enemy +was on the lookout when the attack was made. + +"Hay, hay, hay, mechinkshe (Alas, alas, +my son)!" was the sorrowful cry with which +his old father received the news. His head +fell upon his breast, and all the others groaned +in sympathy. + +The sunset sky was a blanket of beautiful +painting. There were camp-fires among the +clouds in orange and scarlet, while some were +black as night. So the camp fairly glowed in +celebration of its heroes; yet there was deep +grief in many families. When the evening meal +had been eaten and the people were sitting out- +side their lodges, a tall old man, almost nude, +appeared in the circle, riding a fine horse. +He had blackened his face, his hair was cut +short, and the horse also had been deprived of +his flowing mane and tail. Both were in deep +mourning, after the fashion of the Sioux. + +"Ho ho!" exclaimed many warriors as he +passed them, singing in a hoarse, guttural voice. + +"Ugh, he sings a war-song!" remarked one. + +"Yes, I am told that he will find his son's +bones, or leave his own in the country of the +enemy!" + + +The rain had fallen incessantly for two days. +The fleeing lovers had reached this lonely +mountain valley of the Big Horn region on the +night that the cold fall rains set in, and Ante- +lope had hurriedly constructed an arbor house or +rude shelter of pine and cedar boughs. + +It was enough. There they sat, man and +wife, in their first home of living green! The +cheerful fire was burning in the center, and the +happy smoke went straight up among the tall +pines. There was no human eye to gaze upon +them to embarrass--not even a common lan- +guage in which to express their love for one +another. + +Their marriage, they believed, was made by +a spirit, and it was holy in their minds. Each +had cast away his people and his all for the +sake of this emotion which had suddenly over- +taken them both with overwhelming force, and +the warrior's ambition had disappeared before +it like a morning mist before the sun. + +To them a new life was just beginning, and +they had all but forgotten the existence of any +world save this. The young bride was en- +shrined in a bower of spicy fragrance, and her +face shone whenever her eyes met those of her +husband. + +"This is as I would have it, kechuwa (dar- +ling)!" exclaimed the Sioux in his own lan- +guage. She simply responded with a childlike +smile. Although she did not understand his +words, she read in the tones of his voice only +happy and loving thoughts. + +The Ree girl had prepared a broiled bison +steak, and her husband was keeping the fire +well fed with dry fagots. The odor of the +buming fat was delicious, and the gentle patter +of the rain made a weird music outside their +wigwam. + +As soon as her husband had left her alone +--for he must go to water the ponies and con- +ceal them at a distance--Stasu came out to +collect more wood. Instinctively she looked all +about her. Huge mountains towered skyward, +clad in pines. The narrow valley in which she +was wound its way between them, and on every +side there was heavy forest. + +She stood silent and awed, scarcely able to +realize that she had begun her new life abso- +lutely alone, with no other woman to advise +or congratulate her, and visited only by the +birds of the air. Yet all the world to her just +now was Antelope! No other woman could +smile on him. He could not talk to any one +but her. The evening drum at the council +lodge could not summon him away from her, +and she was well content. + +When the young wife had done everything +she could think of in preparation for her hus- +band's return, including the making of several +birch-bark basins and pails for water, the rain +had quite ceased, so she spread her robe just +outside the lodge and took up her work-bag, in +which she had several pairs of moccasin-tops +already beaded. + +While she bent over her work, getting up +from time to time to turn the roast which she +had impaled upon a sharp stick above the +glowing coals, the bride had a stream of shy +callers, of the little people of the woods. She +sat very still, so as not to startle them, and +there is much curiosity among these people con- +cerning a stranger. + +Presently she was startled by a footfall not +unlike that of a man. She had not been mar- +ried long enough to know the sound of her +husband's step, and she felt a thrill of joy and +fear alternately. It might be he, and it might +be a stranger! She was loath to look up, but +at last gave a furtive glance, and met squarely +the eyes of a large grizzly bear, who was seated +upon his haunches not far away. + +Stasu was surprised, but she showed no fear; +and fearlessness is the best shield against wild +animals. In a moment she got up unconcern- +edly, and threw a large piece of meat to the +stranger. + +"Take of my wedding feast, O great Bear!" +she addressed him, "and be good to me to bless +my first teepee! O be kind and recognize my +brave act in taking for my husband one of the +warriors of the Sioux, the ancient enemy of my +people! I have accepted a husband of a lan- +guage other than mine, and am come to live +among you as your neighbor. I offer you my +friendship!" + +The bear's only answer to her prayer was a +low growl, but having eaten the meat, he turned +and clumsily departed. + +In the meantime Antelope had set himself +to master the geography of that region, to +study the outlook for game, and ascertain the +best approaches to their secret home. It was +already settled in his mind that he could never +return either to his wife's people or to his own. +His fellow-warriors would not forgive his de- +sertion, and the Rees could not be expected to +welcome as a kinsman one of the foremost of +their ancient foes. There was nothing to be +done but to remain in seclusion, and let them +say what they would of him! + +He had loved the Ree maiden from the first +moment he beheld her by the light of the blaz- +ing embers, and that love must satisfy him. It +was well that he had never cared much for +company, but had spent many of his young days +in solitude and fasting. It did not seem at all +strange to him that he had been forced to re- +treat into an unknown and wild country with a +woman whom he saw in the evening for the +first time, and fled with as his own wife before +sunrise! + +By the afternoon he had thoroughly in- +formed himself upon the nature of the sur- +rounding country. Everything on the face of +the map was surveyed and charted in his mind, +in accordance with his habits and training. +This done, he turned toward his secret dwelling. +As he walked rapidly and noiselessly through +the hidden valleys and along the singing +streams, he noticed fresh signs of the deer, elk, +and other wild tribes among whom he had chosen +to abide. "They shall be my people," he said +to himself. + +Behind a group of cedars he paused to rec- +onnoiter, and saw the pine-bough wigwam like +a giant plant, each row of boughs overlapping +the preceding circular row like the scales of a +fish. Stasu was sitting before it upon a buffalo- +robe, attired in her best doeskin gown. Her +delicate oval face was touched with red paint, +and her slender brown hands were occupied +with a moccasin meant for him to wear. He +could scarcely believe that it was a mortal +woman that he saw before him in broad day +--the pride of No Man's Trail, for that is +what the Crow Indians call that valley! + +"Ho, ho, kechuwa!" he exclaimed as he +approached her, and her heart leaped in recog- +nition of the magnetic words of love. + +"It is good that we are alone! I shall never +want to go back to my people so long as I have +you. I can dwell here with you forever, un- +less you should think otherwise!" she exclaimed +in her own tongue, accompanied by graphic +signs. + +"Ho, I think of nothing else! I can see in +every creature only friendly ways and good +feeling. We can live alone here, happily, un- +less you should feel differently," he replied in +his own language with the signs, so that his +bride understood him. + +The environment was just what it should be +when two people are united in marriage. The +wedding music was played by Nature, and trees, +brooks, and the birds of the air contributed their +peculiar strains to a great harmony. All of +the people on No Man's Trail were polite, +and understood the reserves of love. These +two had yielded to a simple and natural im- +pulse; but its only justification to their minds +was the mysterious leading of the twin spirit! +That was the sum total of their excuse, and it +was enough. + +Before the rigor of winter had set in, Tatoka +brought to his bride many buffalo skins. She +was thoroughly schooled in the arts of sav- +age womanhood; in fact, every Indian maid +was trained with this thought in view--that +she should become a beautiful, strong, skillful +wife and mother--the mother of a noble race +of warriors! + +In a short time within that green and pine- +scented enclosure there smiled a little wild para- +dise. Hard by the pine-bough wigwam there +stood a new white buffalo-skin teepee, tanned, +cut, sewed, and pitched by the hands of Stasu. +Away in the woods, down by the rushing brook, +was her tannery, and not far away, in a sunny, +open spot, she prepared her sun-cured meats for +winter use. Her kitchen was a stone fireplace +in a shady spot, and her parlor was the lodge +of evergreen, overhung on two sides by inac- +cessible ledges, and bounded on the other two +by the sparkling stream. It was a secret place, +and yet a citadel; a silent place, and yet not +lonely! + +The winter was cold and long, but the pair +were happy in one another's company, and ac- +cepted their strange lot as one that was chosen +for them by the spirits. Stasu had insisted +upon her husband speaking to her in his own +language, that she might learn it quickly. In +a little while she was able to converse with +him, and when she had acquired his language +she taught him hers. + +While Antelope was occupied with hunting +and exploring the country, always keeping in +mind the danger of discovery by some wander- +ing scout or hunter, his wife grew well ac- +quainted with the wild inhabitants of No Man's +Trail. These people are as full of curiosity +as man, and as the Sioux never hunted near +his home, they were entirely fearless. Many +came to the door of Stasu's lodge, and she was +not afraid, but offered them food and spoke +to them kindly. All animals judge by signs +and are quick in reading tones and gestures; +so that the Ree girl soon had grandfathers and +grandmothers, after the Indian fashion, among +the wolves and bears that came oftenest for +food. + +Her husband in the field had also his fellow- +hunters and friends. When he killed the buf- +falo he always left enough meat for the wolves, +the eagles, and the ravens to feast upon, and +these watched for the coming of the lonely +wild man. More than once they told him by +their actions of the presence of a distant camp- +fire, but in each instance it proved to be a small +war-party which had passed below them on the +trail. + +Again it was summer. Never had the moun- +tains looked grander or more mysterious to the +eyes of the two. The valley was full of the +music and happiness of the winged summer peo- +ple; the trees wore their summer attire, and the +meadow its green blanket. There were many +homes made happy by the coming of little peo- +ple everywhere, but no pair was happier than +Stasu and her husband when one morning they +saw their little brave lying wrapped in soft +deerskins, and heard for the first time his +plaintive voice! + +That morning, when Antelope set out on the +hunt, he stopped at the stream and looked at +himself seriously to see whether he had changed +since the day before. He must now appear +much graver, he said to himself, because he is +the father of a new man! + +In spite of himself, his thoughts were with +his own people, and he wondered what his old +grandmother would have said to his child! He +looked away off toward the Black Hills, to the +Sioux country, and in his heart he said, "I am +a coward!" + +The boy grew naturally, and never felt the +lack of playmates and companions, for his +mother was ingenious in devising plays for +him, and in winning for him the confidence and +kindness of the animal friends. He was the +young chief and the hero of No Man's Trail! +The bears and wolves were his warriors; the +buffalo and elk the hostile tribes upon whom he +went to war. Small as he was, he soon pre- +ferred to roam alone in the woods. His par- +ents were often anxious, but, on the other hand, +they entertained the hope that he would some +day be "wakan," a mysterious or supernatural +man, for he was getting power from his wild +companions and from the silent forces of +nature. + +One day, when he was about five years old, +he gave a dance for his wild pets upon the +little plateau which was still their home. He +had clothed Mato, the bear, in one of his +father's suits as a great medicine-man. Waho, +the wolf, was painted up as a brave; and the +young buffalo calf was attired in one of his +mother's gowns. The boy acted as chief and +master of ceremonies. + +The savage mother watched him with un- +disguised pride, mingled with sorrow. Tears +coursed down her dusky cheeks, although at the +same time she could not help laughing heartily +at the strange performance. When the play +was ended, and she had served the feast at its +close, Stasu seemed lost in thought. + +"He should not live in this way," she was +saying to herself. "He should know the tra- +ditions and great deeds of my people! Surely +his grandfather would be proud of the boy!" + +That evening, while the boy slept, and Mato +lay outside the lodge eagerly listening and snif- +fing the night air, the parents sat silent and ill +at ease. After a long time Stasu spoke her +mind. + +"My husband, you ask me why I am sad. +It is because I think that the Great Mystery +will be displeased if we keep this little boy for- +ever in the wilderness. It is wrong to allow +him to grow up among wild animals; and if +sickness or accident should deprive him of his +father and mother, our spirits would never rest, +because we had left him alone! I have decided +to ask you to take us back, either to your peo- +ple or to my people. We must sacrifice our +pride, or, if needs be, our lives, for his life and +happiness!" + +This speech of Stasu's was a surprise to her +husband. His eyes rested upon the ground as +he listened, and his face assumed the proverbial +stoical aspect, yet in it there was not lacking a +certain nobleness. At last he lifted his eyes to +hers, and said: + +"You have spoken wise words, and it shall +be as you have said. We shall return to your +people. If I am to die at the hands of the an- +cient enemy of the Sioux, I shall die because +of my love for you, and for our child. But I +cannot go back to my own people to be ridiculed +by unworthy young men for yielding to love of +a Ree maiden!" + +There was much feeling behind these words +of Antelope. The rigid customs of his people +are almost a religion, and there is one thing +above all else which a Sioux cannot bear--that +is the ridicule of his fellow-warriors. Yes, +he can endure severe punishment or even death +at the hands of the enemy rather than a single +laugh of derision from a Sioux! + +In a few days the houshold articles were +packed, and the three sadly turned their backs +upon their home. Stasu and her husband were +very silent as they traveled slowly along. When +they reached the hill called "Born-of-Day," +and she saw from its summit the country of her +people lying below her, she cried aloud, weep- +ing happy tears. Antelope sat near by with +bowed head, silently smoking. + +Finally on the fifth day they arrived within +sight of the great permanent village of the +three tribes. They saw the earth lodges as of +old, thickly clustered along the flats of the Mis- +souri, among their rustling maize-fields. Ante- +lope stopped. "I think you had better give +me something to eat, woman," he said, smil- +ing. It was the Sioux way of saying, "Let me +have my last meal!" + +After they had eaten, Stasu opened her buck- +skin bags and gave her husband his finest suit. +He dressed himself carefully in the fashion of +his tribe, putting on all the feathers to which +he was entitled as a warrior. The boy also was +decked out in gala attire, and Stasu, the matron, +had never looked more beautiful in her gown of +ceremony with the decoration of elks' teeth, +the same that she had worn on the evening of +her disappearance. + +As she dressed herself, the unwelcome +thought forced itself upon her,--"What if my +love is killed by my own countrymen in their +frenzy? This beautiful gown must then give +place to a poor one, and this hair will be cut +short!" for such is the mourning of the widow +among her people. + +The three rode openly down the long slope, +and were instantly discovered by the people of +the village. Soon the plain was black with the +approaching riders. Stasu had begged her hus- +band to remain behind, while she went on alone +with the boy to obtain forgiveness, but he +sternly refused, and continued in advance. +When the foremost Ree warriors came within +arrow-shot they began to shoot, to which he +paid no attention. + +But the child screamed with terror, and +Stasu cried out in her own tongue: + +"Do not shoot! I am the daughter of your +chief!" + +One of them returned the reply: "She is +killed by the Sioux!" But when the leaders +saw her plainly they were astounded. + +For a time there was great confusion. Some +held that they should all die, for the woman +had been guilty of treason to her people, and +even now she might be playing a trick upon +them. Who could say that behind that hill +there was not a Sioux war-party? + +"No, no," replied others. "They are in +our power. Let them tell their story!" + +Stasu told it simply, and said in conclusion: + +"This man, one of the bravest and most +honorable men of his tribe, deserted on the +night of the attack, and all because he loved +a Ree maiden! He now comes to be your +brother-in-law, who will fight henceforth for +you and with you, even if it be against his own +people. + +"He does not beg for mercy--he can dare +anything! But I am a woman--my heart is +soft--I ask for the lives of my husband and +my son, who is the grandson of your chief!" + +"He is a coward who touches this man!" +exclaimed the leader, and a thunder of war- +whoops went up in approval of his words. + +The warriors formed themselves in two +great columns, riding twenty abreast, behind +and in front of the strangers. The old chief +came out to meet them, and took his son-in- +law's hand. Thus they entered the village in +battle array, but with hearts touched with won- +der and great gladness, discharging their ar- +rows upward in clouds and singing peace-songs. + + + +II + + +THE MADNESS OF BALD EAGLE + +"It was many years ago, when I was only +a child," began White Ghost, the patri- +archal old chief of the Yanktonnais +Sioux, "that our band was engaged in a des- +perate battle with the Rees and Mandans. The +cause of the fight was a peculiar one. I will +tell you about it." And he laid aside his long- +stemmed pipe and settled himself to the recital. + +"At that time the Yanktonnais numbered a +little over forty families. We were nicknamed +by the other bands Shunkikcheka, or Domestic +Dogs, because of our owning large numbers of +these animals. My father was the head chief. + +"Our favorite wintering place was a tim- +bered tract near the mouth of the Grand River, +and it was here that we met the Blackfoot Sioux +in the fall hunt. On the opposite side of the +river from our camp was the permanent village +of the Rees and Mandans, whose houses were +of dirt and partly underground. For a hun- +dred years before this time they had planted +large gardens, and we were accustomed to buy +of them corn, beans, and pumpkins. From time +to time our people had made treaties of peace +with them. Each family of the Rees had one +or two buffalo boats--not round, as the Sioux +made them, but two or three skins long. In +these boats they brought quantities of dried +beans and other vegetables to trade with us for +jerked buffalo meat. + +"It was a great gathering and a time of gen- +eral festivity and hospitality. The Sioux young +men were courting the Ree girls, and the Ree +braves were courting our girls, while the old +people bartered their produce. All day the +river was alive with canoes and its banks rang +with the laughter of the youths and maidens. + +"My father's younger brother, whose name +was Big Whip, had a close friend, a young man +who ever after the event of which I am about +to tell you was known as Bald Eagle. They +were both daring young men and very ambitious +for distinction. They had been following the +Ree girls to their canoes as they returned to +their homes in the evening. + +"Big Whip and his friend stood upon the +river bank at sunset, one with a quiver full of +arrows upon his back while the other carried +a gun under his blanket. Nearly all the peo- +ple of the other village had crossed the river, +and the chief of the Rees, whose name was +Bald Eagle, went home with his wife last of +all. It was about dusk as they entered their +bullhide boat, and the two Sioux stood there +looking at them. + +"Suddenly Big Whip exclaimed: 'Friend, +let us kill the chief. I dare you to kill and +scalp him!' His friend replied: + +"'It shall be as you say. I will stand by +you in all things. I am willing to die with +you.' + +"Accordingly Bald Eagle pulled out his gun +and shot the Ree dead. From that day he took +his name. The old man fell backward into his +boat, and the old woman screamed and wept as +she rowed him across the river. The other +young man shot an arrow or two at the wife, +but she continued to row until she reached the +other bank. + +"There was great excitement on both sides +of the river as soon as the people saw what had +happened. There were two camps of Sioux, +the Blackfoot Sioux and the Yanktonnais, or +our people. Of course the Mandans and Rees +greatly outnumbered us; their camp must have +numbered two or three thousand, which was +more than we had in our combined camps. + +"There was a Sioux whose name was Black +Shield, who had intermarried among the Rees. +He came down to the opposite bank of the Mis- +souri and shouted to us: + +"'Of which one of your bands is the man +who killed Bald Eagle?' + +"One of the Blackfoot Sioux replied: + +"'It is a man of the Yanktonnais Sioux who +killed Bald Eagle.' + +"Then he said: 'The Rees wish to do battle +with them; you had better withdraw from their +camp.' + +"Accordingly the Blackfeet retired about a +mile from us upon the bluffs and pitched their +tents, while the Yanktonnais remained on the +flats. The two bands had been great rivals in +courage and the art of war, so we did not ask +for help from our kinsfolk, but during the night +we dug trenches about the camp, the inner one +for the women and children, and the outer one +for the men to stay in and do battle. + +"The next morning at daybreak the enemy +landed and approached our camp in great num- +bers. Some of their women and old men came +also, and sat upon the bluffs to watch the fight +and to carry off their dead and wounded. The +Blackfeet likewise were watching the battle +from the bluffs, and just before the fight began +one Blackfoot came in with his wife and joined +us. His name was Red Dog's Track, but from +that day he was called He-Came-Back. His +wife was a Yanktonnais, and he had said to +her: 'If I don't join your tribe to-day, my +brothers-in-law will call me a coward.' + +"The Sioux were well entrenched and well +armed with guns and arrows, and their aim +was deadly, so that the Rees crawled up gradu- +ally and took every opportunity to pick off any +Sioux who ventured to show his head above the +trenches. In like manner every Ree who ex- +posed himself was sure to die. + +"Up to this time no one had seen the two +men who made all the trouble. There was a +natural hollow in the bank, concealed by buffalo +berry bushes, very near where they stood when +Bald Eagle shot the Ree. + +"'Friend,' said Big Whip, 'it is likely that +our own people will punish us for this deed. +They will pursue and kill us wherever they find +us. They have the right to do this. The best +thing is to drop into this washout and remain +there until they cease to look for us.' + +"They did so, and remained hidden during +the night. But, after the fight began, Big Whip +said again: 'Friend, we are the cause of the +deaths of many brave men this day. We com- +mitted the act to show our bravery. We dared +each other to do it. It will now become us as +warriors to join our band.' + +"They both stripped, and taking their weap- +ons in hand, ran toward the camp. They had +to pass directly through the enemy's lines, but +they were not recognized till they had fairly +passed them. Then they were between two +fires. When they had almost reached the en- +trenchment they faced about and fired at the +Rees, jumping about incessantly to avoid being +hit, as is the Indian fashion. Bullets and ar- +rows were flying all about them like hail, but +at last they dropped back unhurt into the Sioux +trenches. Thus the two men saved their repu- +tation for bravery, and their people never +openly reproached them for the events of that +day. Young men are often rash, but it is not +well to reprove one for a brave deed lest he +become a coward. + +"Many were killed, but more of the Rees +than of our band. About the middle of the +afternoon there came a cold rain. It was in +the fall of the year. The bow-strings were wet, +and the guns were only flint-locks. You know +when the flint becomes wet it is useless, and it +looked as if the fight must be with knives. + +"But the Rees were much disheartened. +They had lost many. The women were all the +time carrying off the wounded, and there were +the Blackfoot Sioux watching them from the +hills. They turned and fled toward the river. +The Sioux followed like crazy wolves, toma- +hawking the tired and slow ones. Many were +killed at the boats, and some of the boats were +punctured with shot and sank. Some carried +a load of Sioux arrows back across the river. +That was the greatest battle ever fought by our +band," the old man concluded, with a deep sigh +of mingled satisfaction and regret. + + + + +THE SINGING SPIRIT + + + I + +"Ho my steed, we must climb one more +hill! My reputation depends upon +my report!" + +Anookasan addressed his pony as if he were +a human companion, urged on like himself by +human need and human ambition. And yet +in his heart he had very little hope of sighting +any buffalo in that region at just that time of +the year. + +The Yankton Sioux were ordinarily the most +far-sighted of their people in selecting a winter +camp, but this year the late fall had caught +them rather far east of the Missouri bottoms, +their favorite camping-ground. The upper +Jim River, called by the Sioux the River of +Gray Woods, was usually bare of large game +at that season. Their store of jerked buffalo +meat did not hold out as they had hoped, and +by March it became an urgent necessity to send +out scouts for buffalo. + +The old men at the tiyo teepee (council +lodge) held a long council. It was decided to +select ten of their bravest and hardiest young +men to explore the country within three days' +journey of their camp. + +"Anookasan, uyeyo-o-o, woo, woo!" Thus +the ten men were summoned to the council lodge +early in the evening to receive their commis- +sion. Anookasan was the first called and first +to cross the circle of the teepees. A young man +of some thirty years, of the original native type, +his massive form was wrapped in a fine buffalo +robe with the hair inside. He wore a stately +eagle feather in his scalp-lock, but no paint +about his face. + +As he entered the lodge all the inmates +greeted him with marked respect, and he was +given the place of honor. When all were +seated the great drum was struck and a song +sung by four deep-chested men. This was the +prelude to a peculiar ceremony. + +A large red pipe, which had been filled and +laid carefully upon the central hearth, was now +taken up by an old man, whose face was painted +red. First he held it to the ground with the +words: "Great Mother, partake of this!" +Then he held it toward the sky, saying: "Great +Father, smoke this!" Finally he lighted it, +took four puffs, pointing it to the four corners +of the earth in turn, and lastly presented it +to Anookasan. This was the oath of office, +administered by the chief of the council lodge. +The other nine were similarly commissioned, +and all accepted the appointment. + +It was no light task that was thus religiously +enjoined upon these ten men. It meant at the +least several days and nights of wandering in +search of signs of the wily buffalo. It was a +public duty, and a personal one as well; one +that must involve untold hardship; and if over- +taken by storm the messengers were in peril of +death! + +Anookasan returned to his teepee with some +misgiving. His old charger, which had so +often carried him to victory, was not so strong +as he had been in his prime. As his master +approached the lodge the old horse welcomed +him with a gentle whinny. He was always +tethered near by, ready for any emergency. + +"Ah, Wakan! we are once more called upon +to do duty! We shall set out before day- +break." + +As he spoke, he pushed nearer a few strips +of the poplar bark, which was oats to the Indian +pony of the olden time. + +Anookasan had his extra pair of buffaloskin +moccasins with the hair inside, and his scanty +provision of dried meat neatly done up in a +small packet and fastened to his saddle. With +his companions he started 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 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 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 leader--tell 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 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 yourselves--nothing more +than flesh--with 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 knives and arrows +ready!" + +They did so, and all stole silently through the +black forest in the direction of the mysterious +sound. Clearer and clearer it came through the +frosty air; but it was a foreign sound to the +savage ear. Now it seemed to them almost +like a distant water-fall; then it recalled the +low hum of summer insects and the drowsy +drone of the bumblebee. Thump, thump, +thump! was the regular accompaniment. + +Nearer and nearer to the cliff they came, +deeper into the wild heart of the woods. At +last out of the gray, formless night a dark shape +appeared! It looked to them like a huge buf- +falo bull standing motionless in the forest, and +from his throat there apparently proceeded the +thump of the medicine drum, and the song of +the beguiling spirit! + +All of a sudden a spark went up into the air. +As they continued to approach, there became +visible a deep glow about the middle of the +dark object. Whatever it was, they had never +heard of anything like it in all their lives! + +Anookasan was a little in advance of his com- +panions, and it was he who finally discovered a +wall of logs laid one upon another. Half way +up there seemed to be stretched a par-fleche +(raw-hide), from which a dim light emanated. +He still thought of Oglugechana, who dwells +within a hollow tree, and determined to sur- +prise and if possible to overpower this wonder- +working old man. + +All now took their knives in their hands and +advanced with their leader to the attack upon +the log hut. "Wa-wa-wa-wa, woo, woo!" +they cried. Zip, zip! went the par-fleche door +and window, and they all rushed in! + +There sat a man upon a roughly hewn stool. +He was attired in wolfskins and wore a fox- +skin cap upon his head. The larger portion of +his face was clothed with natural fur. A rudely +made cedar fiddle was tucked under his furred +chin. Supporting it with his left hand, he +sawed it vigorously with a bow that was not +unlike an Indian boy's miniature weapon, while +his moccasined left foot came down upon the +sod floor in time with the music. When the +shrill war-whoop came, and the door and win- +dow were cut in strips by the knives of the In- +dians, he did not even cease playing, but in- +stinctively he closed his eyes, so as not to behold +the horror of his own end. + + + +II + +It was long ago, upon the rolling prairie +south of the Devil's Lake, that a motley +body of hunters gathered near a mighty +herd of the bison, in the Moon of Falling +Leaves. These were the first generation of the +Canadian mixed-bloods, who sprang up in such +numbers as to form almost a new people. +These semi-wild Americans soon became a ne- +cessity to the Hudson Bay Company, as they +were the greatest hunters of the bison, and +made more use of this wonderful animal than +even their aboriginal ancestors. + +A curious race of people this, in their make-up +and their customs! Their shaggy black hair +was allowed to grow long, reaching to their +broad shoulders, then cut off abruptly, making +their heads look like a thatched house. Their +dark faces were in most cases well covered with +hair, their teeth large and white, and their eyes +usually liquid black, although occasionally one +had a tiger-brown or cold-gray eye. Their cos- +tume was a buckskin shirt with abundance of +fringes, buckskin pantaloons with short leg- +gins, a gay sash, and a cap of fox-fur. Their +arms consisted of flint-lock guns, hatchets, and +butcher-knives. Their ponies were small, but +as hardy as themselves. + +As these men gathered in the neighborhood +of an immense herd of buffaloes, they busied +themselves in adjusting the girths of their +beautifully beaded pillow-like saddles. Among +them there were exceptional riders and hunters. +It was said that few could equal Antoine Mich- +aud in feats of riding into and through the +herd. There he stood, all alone, the observed +of many others. It was his habit to give sev- +eral Indian yells when the onset began, so as +to insure a successful hunt. + +In this instance, Antoine gave his usual +whoops, and when they had almost reached the +herd, he lifted his flint-lock over his head and +plunged into the black moving mass. With +a sound like the distant rumbling of thunder, +those tens of thousands of buffalo hoofs were +pounding the earth in retreat. Thus Antoine +disappeared! + +His wild steed dashed into the midst of the +vast herd. Fortunately for him, the animals +kept clear of him; but alas! the gap through +which he had entered instantly closed again. + +He yelled frantically to secure an outlet, but +without effect. He had tied a red bandanna +around his head to keep the hair off his face, +and he now took this off and swung it crazily +about him to scatter the buffalo, but it availed +him nothing. + +With such a mighty herd in flight, the speed +could not be great; therefore the "Bois Brule" +settled himself to the situation, allowing his +pony to canter along slowly to save his strength. +It required much tact and presence of mind to +keep an open space, for the few paces of ob- +struction behind had gradually grown into a +mile. + +The mighty host moved continually south- +ward, walking and running alternately. As the +sun neared the western horizon, it fired the sky +above them, and all the distant hills and prairies +were in the glow of it, but immediately about +them was a thick cloud of dust, and the ground +appeared like a fire-swept plain. + +Suddenly Antoine was aware of a tremendous +push from behind. The animals smelled the +cool water of a spring which formed a large +bog in the midst of the plain. This solitary +pond or marsh was a watering-place for the +wild animals. All pushed and edged toward +it; it was impossible for any one to withstand +the combined strength of so many. + +Antoine and his steed were in imminent dan- +ger of being pushed into the mire and trampled +upon, but a mere chance brought them upon +solid ground. As they were crowded across the +marsh, his pony drank heartily, and he, for the +first time, let go his bridle, put his two palms +together for a dipper, and drank greedily of +the bitter water. He had not eaten since early +morning, so he now pulled up some bulrushes +and ate of the tender bulbs, while the pony +grazed as best he could on the tops of the tall +grass. + +It was now dark. The night was well- +nigh intolerable for Antoine. The buffalo were +about him in countless numbers, regarding him +with vicious glances. It was only by reason +of the natural offensiveness of man that they +gave him any space. The bellowing of the +bulls became general, and there was a marked +uneasiness on the part of the herd. This was +a sign of approaching storm, therefore the un- +fortunate hunter had this additional cause for +anxiety. Upon the western horizon were seen +some flashes of lightning. + +The cloud which had been a mere speck upon +the horizon had now increased to large propor- +tions. Suddenly the wind came, and lightning +flashes became more frequent, showing the un- +gainly forms of the animals like strange mon- +sters in the white light. The colossal herd was +again in violent motion. It was a blind rush +for shelter, and no heed was paid to buffalo +wallows or even deep gulches. All was in the +deepest of darkness. There seemed to be +groaning in heaven and earth--millions of +hoofs and throats roaring in unison! + +As a shipwrecked man clings to a mere frag- +ment of wood, so Antoine, although almost +exhausted with fatigue, still stuck to the back +of his equally plucky pony. Death was immi- +nent for them both. As the mad rush con- +tinued, every flash displayed heaps of bison in +death struggle under the hoofs of their com- +panions. + +From time to time Antoine crossed himself +and whispered a prayer to the Virgin; and +again he spoke to his horse after the fashion +of an Indian: + +"Be brave, be strong, my horse! If we sur- +vive this trial, you shall have great honor!" + +The stampede continued until they reached +the bottom lands, and, like a rushing stream, +their course was turned aside by the steep bank +of a creek or small river. Then they moved +more slowly in wide sweeps or circles, until the +storm ceased, and the exhausted hunter, still +in his saddle, took some snatches of sleep. + +When he awoke and looked about him again +it was morning. The herd had entered the +strip of timber which lay on both sides of the +river, and it was here that Antoine conceived +his first distinct hope of saving himself. + +"Waw, waw, waw!" was the hoarse cry +that came to his ears, apparently from a human +being in distress. Antoine strained his eyes +and craned his neck to see who it could be. +Through an opening in the branches ahead he +perceived a large grizzly bear, lying along an +inclined limb and hugging it desperately to +maintain his position. The herd had now thor- +oughly pervaded the timber, and the bear was +likewise hemmed in. He had taken to his unac- +customed refuge after making a brave stand +against several bulls, one of which lay dead +near by, while he himself was bleeding from +many wounds. + +Antoine had been assiduously looking for a +friendly tree, by means of which he hoped to +effect his escape from captivity by the army of +bison. His horse, by chance, made his way +directly under the very box-elder that was sus- +taining the bear and there was a convenient +branch just within his reach. The Bois Brule +was not then in an aggressive mood, and he saw +at a glance that the occupant of the tree would +not interfere with him. They were, in fact, +companions in distress. Antoine tried to give +a war-whoop as he sprang desperately from the +pony's back and seized the cross limb with both +his hands. + +The hunter dangled in the air for a minute +that to him seemed a year. Then he gathered +up all the strength that was in him, and with +one grand effort he pulled himself up on the +limb. + +If he had failed in this, he would have fallen +to the ground under the hoofs of the buffaloes, +and at their mercy. + +After he had adjusted his seat as comfort- +ably as he could, Antoine surveyed the situation. +He had at least escaped from sudden and cer- +tain death. It grieved him that he had been +forced to abandon his horse, and he had no +idea how far he had come nor any means of +returning to his friends, who had, no doubt, +given him up for lost. His immediate needs +were rest and food. + +Accordingly he selected a fat cow and emp- +tied into her sides one barrel of his gun, which +had been slung across his chest. He went on +shooting until he had killed many fat cows, +greatly to the discomfiture of his neighbor, the +bear, while the bison vainly struggled among +themselves to keep the fatal spot clear. + +By the middle of the afternoon the main +body of the herd had passed, and Antoine was +sure that his captivity had at last come to an +end. Then he swung himself from his limb to +the ground, and walked stiffly to the carcass of +the nearest cow, which he dressed and prepared +himself a meal. But first he took a piece of +liver on a long pole to the bear! + +Antoine finally decided to settle in the re- +cesses of the heavy timber for the winter, as he +was on foot and alone, and not able to travel +any great distance. He jerked the meat of all +the animals he had killed, and prepared their +skins for bedding and clothing. The Bois +Brule and Ami, as he called the bear, soon be- +came necessary to one another. The former +considered the bear very good company, and +the latter had learned that man's business, after +all, is not to kill every animal he meets. He +had been fed and kindly treated, when helpless +from his wounds, and this he could not forget. + +Antoine was soon busy erecting a small log +hut, while the other partner kept a sharp look- +out, and, after his hurts were healed, often +brought in some small game. The two had a +perfect understanding without many words; at +least, the speech was all upon one side! In his +leisure moments Antoine had occupied himself +with whittling out a rude fiddle of cedar-wood, +strung with the guts of a wild cat that he had +killed. Every evening that winter he would sit +down after supper and play all the old familiar +pieces, varied with improvisations of his own. +At first, the music and the incessant pounding +time with his foot annoyed the bear. At times, +too, the Canadian would call out the figures for +the dance. All this Ami became accustomed to +in time, and even showed no small interest in +the buzzing of the little cedar box. Not infre- +quently, he was out in the evening, and the +human partner was left alone. It chanced, +quite fortunately, that the bear was absent on +the night that the red folk rudely invaded the +lonely hut. + +The calmness of the strange being had stayed +their hands. They had never before seen a +man of other race than their own! + +"Is this Chanotedah? Is he man, or beast?" +the warriors asked one another. + +"Ho, wake up, koda!" exclaimed Anooka- +san. "Maybe he is of the porcupine tribe, +ashamed to look at us!" + +At this moment they spied the haunch of +venison which swung from a cross-stick over +a fine bed of coals, in front of the rude mud +chimney. + +"Ho, koda has something to eat! Sit down, +sit down!" they shouted to one another. + +Now Antoine opened his eyes for the first +time upon his unlooked-for guests. They were +a haggard and hungry-looking set. Anookasan +extended his hand, and Antoine gave it a hearty +shake. He set his fiddle against the wall and +began to cut up the smoking venison into gen- +erous pieces and place it before them. All ate +like famished men, while the firelight intensified +the red paint upon their wild and warlike faces. + +When he had satisfied his first hunger, +Anookasan spoke in signs. "Friend, we have +never before heard a song like that of your +little cedar box! We had supposed it to be a +spirit, or some harmful thing, hence our attack +upon it. We never saw any people of your +sort. What is your tribe?" + +Antoine explained his plight in the same +manner, and the two soon came to an under- +standing. The Canadian told the starving hun- +ters of a buffalo herd a little way to the north, +and one of their number was dispatched home- +ward with the news. In two days the entire +band reached Antoine's place. The Bois Brule +was treated with kindness and honor, and the +tribe gave him a wife. Suffice it to say that +Antoine lived and died among the Yanktons +at a good old age; but Ami could not brook +the invasion upon their hermit life. He was +never seen after that first evening. + + + +IV + + + THE FAMINE + +On the Assiniboine River in western +Manitoba there stands an old, his- +toric trading-post, whose crumbling +walls crown a high promontory in the angle +formed by its junction with a tributary stream. +This is Fort Ellis, a mistress of the wilderness +and lodestone of savage tribes between the +years 1830 and 1870. + +Hither at that early day the Indians brought +their buffalo robes and beaver skins to exchange +for merchandise, ammunition, and the "spirit +water." Among the others there presently ap- +peared a band of renegade Sioux--the exiles, +as they called themselves--under White Lodge, +whose father, Little Crow, had been a leader +in the outbreak of 1862. Now the great war- +chief was dead, and his people were prisoners +or fugitives. The shrewd Scotch trader, Mc- +Leod, soon discovered that the Sioux were +skilled hunters, and therefore he exerted him- +self to befriend them, as well as to encourage a +feeling of good will between them and the Ca- +nadian tribes who were accustomed to make the +old fort their summer rendezvous. + +Now the autumn had come, after a long sum- +mer of feasts and dances, and the three tribes +broke up and dispersed as usual in various di- +rections. White Lodge had twin daughters, +very handsome, whose ears had been kept burn- +ing with the proposals of many suitors, but none +had received any definite encouragement. There +were one or two who would have been quite +willing to forsake their own tribes and follow +the exiles had they not feared too much the +ridicule of the braves. Even Angus McLeod, +the trader's eldest son, had need of all his +patience and caution, for he had never seen +any woman he admired so much as the piquant +Magaskawee, called The Swan, one of these +belles of the forest. + +The Sioux journeyed northward, toward the +Mouse River. They had wintered on that +stream before, and it was then the feeding +ground of large herds of buffalo. When it was +discovered that the herds were moving west- +ward, across the Missouri, there was no little +apprehension. The shrewd medicine-man be- +came aware of the situation, and hastened to +announce his prophecy: + +"The Great Mystery has appeared to me in +a dream! He showed me men with haggard +and thin faces. I interpret this to mean a +scarcity of food during the winter." + +The chief called his counselors together and +set before them the dream of the priest, whose +prophecy, he said, was already being fulfilled in +part by the westward movement of the buffalo. +It was agreed that they should lay up all the +dried meat they could obtain; but even for +this they were too late. The storms were al- +ready at hand, and that winter was more severe +than any that the old men could recall in their +traditions. The braves killed all the small +game for a wide circuit around the camp, but +the buffalo had now crossed the river, and that +country was not favorable for deer. The more +enterprising young men organized hunting ex- +peditions to various parts of the open prairie, +but each time they returned with empty hands. + +The "Moon of Sore Eyes," or March, had +come at last, and Wazeah, the God of Storm, +was still angry. Their scant provision of dried +meat had held out wonderfully, but it was now +all but consumed. The Sioux had but little am- +munition, and the snow was still so deep that +it was impossible for them to move away to +any other region in search of game. The worst +was feared; indeed, some of the children and +feeble old people had already succumbed. + +White Lodge again called his men together +in council, and it was determined to send a mes- +senger to Fort Ellis to ask for relief. A young +man called Face-the-Wind was chosen for his +exceptional qualities of speed and endurance +upon long journeys. The old medicine-man, +whose shrewd prophecy had gained for him the +confidence of the people, now came forward. +He had closely observed the appearance of the +messenger selected, and had taken note of the +storm and distance. Accordingly he said: + +"My children, the Great Mystery is of- +fended, and this is the cause of all our suffering! +I see a shadow hanging over our messenger, but +I will pray to the Great Spirit--perhaps he +may yet save him!--Great Mystery, be thou +merciful! Strengthen this young man for his +journey, that he may be able to finish it and to +send us aid! If we see the sun of summer +again, we will offer the choicest of our meats to +thee, and do thee great honor!" + +During this invocation, as occasionally hap- +pens in March, a loud peal of thunder was +heard. This coincidence threw the prophet al- +most into a frenzy, and the poor people were +all of a tremble. Face-the-Wind believed that +the prayer was directly answered, and though +weakened by fasting and unfit for the task be- +fore him, he was encouraged to make the at- +tempt. + +He set out on the following day at dawn, +and on the third day staggered into the fort, +looking like a specter and almost frightening +the people. He was taken to McLeod's house +and given good care. The poor fellow, deli- +rious with hunger, fancied himself engaged in +mortal combat with Eyah, the god of famine, +who has a mouth extending from ear to ear. +Wherever he goes there is famine, for he swal- +lows all that he sees, even whole nations! + +The legend has it that Eyah fears nothing +but the jingling of metal: so finally the dying +man looked up into McLeod's face and cried: +"Ring your bell in his face, Wahadah!" + + +The kind-hearted factor could not refuse, and +as the great bell used to mark the hours of work +and of meals pealed out untimely upon the +frosty air, the Indian started up and in that +moment breathed his last. He had given no +news, and McLeod and his sons could only +guess at the state of affairs upon the Mouse +River. + +While the men were in council with her +father, Magaskawee had turned over the con- +tents of her work-bag. She had found a small +roll of birch-bark in which she kept her porcu- +pine quills for embroidery, and pulled the deli- +cate layers apart. The White Swan was not +altogether the untutored Indian maiden, for +she had lived in the family of a missionary in +the States, and had learned both to speak and +write some English. There was no ink, no pen +or pencil, but with her bone awl she pressed +upon the white side of the bark the following +words: + +MR. ANGUS McLEOD:-- + + +We are near the hollow rock on the Mouse River. The +buffalo went away across the Missouri, and our powder and +shot are gone. We are starving. Good-bye, if I don't see +you again. + +MAGASKAWEE. + + +The girl entrusted this little note to her +grandmother, and she in turn gave it to the +messenger. But he, as we know, was unable +to deliver it. + +"Angus, tell the boys to bury the poor fel- +low to-morrow. I dare say he brought us some +news from White Lodge, but we have got to +go to the happy hunting-grounds to get it, or +wait till the exile band returns in the spring. +Evidently," continued McLeod, "he fell sick +on the way: or else he was starving!" + +This last suggestion horrified Angus. "I +believe, father," he exclaimed, "that we ought +to examine his bundle." + +A small oblong packet was brought forth +from the dead man's belt and carefully un- +rolled. + +There were several pairs of moccasins, and +within one of these Angus found something +wrapped up nicely. He proceeded to unwind +the long strings of deerskin with which it was +securely tied, and brought forth a thin sheet +of birch-bark. At first, there seemed to be noth- +ing more, but a closer scrutiny revealed the im- +pression of the awl, and the bit of nature's +parchment was brought nearer to his face, and +scanned with a zeal equal to that of any student +of ancient hieroglyphics. + +"This tells the whole story, father!" ex- +claimed the young man at last. "Magaska- +wee's note--just listen!" and he read it aloud. +"I shall start to-morrow. We can take +enough provision and ammunition on two sleds, +with six dogs to each. I shall want three good +men to go with me." Angus spoke with deci- +sion. + +"Well, we can't afford to lose our best hunt- +ers; and you might also bring home with you +what furs and robes they have on hand," was +his father's prudent reply. + +"I don't care particularly for the skins," +Angus declared; but he at once began hurried +preparations for departure. + +In the meantime affairs grew daily more +desperate in the exile village on the far-away +Mouse River, and a sort of Indian hopelessness +and resignation settled down upon the little +community. There were few who really ex- +pected their messenger to reach the fort, or be- +lieved that even if he did so, relief would be +sent in time to save them. White Lodge, the +father of his people, was determined to share +with them the last mouthful of food, and every +morning Winona and Magaskawee went with +scanty portions in their hands to those whose +supply had entirely failed. + +On the outskirts of the camp there dwelt an +old woman with an orphan grandchild, who +had been denying herself for some time in order +that the child might live longer. This poor +teepee the girls visited often, and one on each +side they raised the exhausted woman and +poured into her mouth the warm broth they +had brought with them. + +It was on the very day Face-the-Wind +reached Fort Ellis that a young hunter who had +ventured further from the camp than any one +else had the luck to bring down a solitary deer +with his bow and arrow. In his weakness he +had reached camp very late, bearing the deer +with the utmost difficulty upon his shoulders. +It was instantly separated into as many pieces +as there were lodges of the famishing Sioux. +These delicious morsels were hastily cooked and +eagerly devoured, but among so many there +was scarcely more than a mouthful to the share +of each, and the brave youth himself did not +receive enough to appease in the least his crav- +ing! + +On the eve of Angus' departure for the exile +village, Three Stars, a devoted suitor of Wi- +nona's, accompanied by another Assiniboine +brave, appeared unexpectedly at the fort. He +at once asked permission to join the relief party, +and they set out at daybreak. + +The lead-dog was the old reliable Mack, who +had been in service for several seasons on win- +ter trips. All of the white men were clad in +buckskin shirts and pantaloons, with long +fringes down the sides, fur caps and fur-lined +moccasins. Their guns were fastened to the +long, toboggan-like sleds. + +The snow had thawed a little and formed an +icy crust, and over this fresh snow had fallen, +which a northwest wind swept over the surface +like ashes after a prairie fire. The sun appeared +for a little time in the morning, but it seemed +as if he were cutting short his course on account +of the bleak day, and had protected himself +with pale rings of fire. + +The dogs laid back their ears, drew in their +tails, and struck into their customary trot, but +even old Mack looked back frequently, as if +reluctant to face such a pricking and scarifying +wind. The men felt the cold still more keenly, +although they had taken care to cover every bit +of the face except one eye, and that was com- +pletely blinded at times by the granulated snow. + +The sun early retreated behind a wall of cloud, +and the wind moaned and wailed like a living +creature in anguish. At last they approached the +creek where they had planned to camp for the +night. There was nothing to be seen but a few +stunted willows half buried in the drifts, but +the banks of the little stream afforded some pro- +tection from the wind. + +"Whoa!" shouted the leader, and the dogs +all stopped, sitting down on their haunches. +"Come, Mack!" (with a wave of the hand), +"lead your fellows down to the creek!" + +The old dog started down at the word, and +all the rest followed. A space was quickly +cleared of snow, while one man scoured the +thickets in search of brush for fuel. In a few +minutes the tent was up and a fire kindled in +the center, while the floor was thickly strewn +with twigs of willow, over which buffalo robes +were spread. Three Stars attended to supper, +and soon in the midst of the snapping willow +fire a kettle was boiling. All partook of strong +tea, dried meat of buffalo, and pemmican, a mix- +ture of pounded dried meat with wild cherries +and melted fat. The dogs, to whom one-half +the tent was assigned, enjoyed a hearty meal +and fell into a deep sleep, lying one against an- +other. + +After supper Jerry drove two sticks into the +ground, one on each side of the fire, and con- +nected the two by a third one over the blaze. +Upon this all hung their socks to dry--most +of them merely square pieces of blanket cut to +serve that purpose. Soon each man rolled him- +self in his own buffalo robe and fell asleep. + +All night the wind raged. The lonely tee- +pee now and then shuddered violently, as a +stronger blast than usual almost lifted it from +the ground. No one stirred except from time +to time one of the dogs, who got up snarling +and sniffing the cold air, turned himself round +several times as if on a pivot, and finally lay +down for another nap. + +In the morning the travelers one by one +raised their heads and looked through the +smoke-hole, then fell back again with a grunt. +All the world appeared without form and void. +Presently, however, the light of the sun was +seen as if through a painted window, and by +afternoon they were able to go on, the wind +having partially subsided. This was only a +taste of the weather encountered by the party +on their unseasonable trip; but had it been ten +times harder, it would never have occurred to +Angus to turn back. + +On the third day the rescuers approached +the camp of the exiles. There was an ominous +quiet; no creature was to be seen; but the smoke +which ascended into the air in perpendicular +columns assured them that some, at least, were +still alive. The party happened to reach first +the teepee of the poor old woman who had been +so faithfully ministered to by the twin sisters. +They had no longer any food to give, but they +had come to build her fire, if she should have +survived the night. At the very door of the +lodge they heard the jingle of dog-bells, but +they had not time to announce the joyful news +before the men were in sight. + +In another minute Angus and Three Stars +were beside them, holding their wasted hands. + + + + +V + + +THE CHIEF SOLDIER + +Just outside of a fine large wigwam of +smoke-tanned buffalo-skins stood Tawasu- +ota, very early upon an August morning +of the year 1862. Behind the wigwam there +might have been seen a thrifty patch of growing +maize, whose tall, graceful stalks resembled as +many warriors in dancing-dresses and tasseled +head-gear. + +"Thanks be to the 'Great Mystery,' I have +been successful in the fortunes of war! None +can say that Tawasuota is a coward. I have +done well; so well that our chief, Little Crow, +has offered me the honored position of his chief +soldier, ta akich-itah!" he said to himself with +satisfaction. + +The sun was just over the eastem bank of the +Minnesota River, and he could distinctly see +upon the level prairie the dwellings of logs +which had sprung up there during the year, +since Little Crow's last treaty with the whites. +"Ugh! they are taking from us our beautiful +and game-teeming country!" was his thought +as he gazed upon them. + +At that moment, out of the conical white +teepee, in shape like a new-born mushroom, +there burst two little frisky boys, leaping and +whooping. They were clad gracefully in gar- +ments of fine deerskin, and each wore a minia- +ture feather upon his head, marking them as +children of a distinguished warrior. + +They danced nimbly around their father, +while he stood with all the dignity of a buck +elk, viewing the landscape reddened by sunrise +and the dwellers therein, the old and the new, +the red and the white. He noticed that they +were still unmingled; the river divided them. + +At last he took the dancing little embryo +warriors one in either hand, and lifted them to +his majestic shoulders. There he placed them +in perfect poise. His haughty spirit found a +moment's happiness in fatherhood. + +Suddenly Tawasuota set the two boys on the +ground again, and signed to them to enter the +teepee. Apparently all was quiet. The camps +and villages of the Minnesota reservation were +undisturbed, so far as he could see, save by the +awakening of nature; and the early risers +among his people moved about in seeming se- +curity, while the smoke of their morning fires +arose one by one into the blue. Still the war- +rior gazed steadily westward, up the river, +whence his quick ear had caught the faint but +ominous sound of a distant war-whoop. + +The ridge beyond the Wahpeton village +bounded the view, and between this point and +his own village were the agency buildings and +the traders' stores. The Indian's keen eye +swept the horizon, and finally alighted once +more upon the home of his new neighbor across +the river, the flaxen-haired white man with +many children, who with his white squaw and +his little ones worked from sunrise to sunset, +much like the beaver family. + +Ah! the distant war-whoop once more saluted +his ear, but this time nearer and more distinct. + +"What! the Rice Creek band is coming in +full war-paint! Can it be another Ojibway at- +tack? Ugh, ugh! I will show their warriors +again this day what it is to fight!" he exclaimed +aloud. + +The white traders and Government employ- +ees, those of them who were up and about, +heard and saw the advancing column of war- +riors. Yet they showed no sign of anxiety or +fear. Most of them thought that there might +be some report of Ojibways coming to attack +the Sioux,--a not uncommon incident,--and +that those warriors were on their way to the +post to replenish their powder-horns. A few +of the younger men were delighted with the +prospect of witnessing an Indian fight. + +On swept the armed band, in numbers in- +creasing at every village. + +It was true that there had been a growing +feeling of distrust among the Indians, because +their annuities had been withheld for a long +time, and the money payments had been delayed +again and again. There were many in great +need. The traders had given them credit to +some extent (charging them four times the +value of the article purchased), and had like- +wise induced Little Crow to sign over to them +ninety-eight thousand dollars, the purchase-price +of that part of their reservation lying north +of the Minnesota, and already occupied by the +whites. + +This act had made the chief very unpop- +ular, and he was ready for a desperate ven- +ture to regain his influence. Certain warriors +among the upper bands of Sioux had even +threatened his life, but no one spoke openly of +a break with the whites. + +When, therefore, the news came to Little +Crow that some roving hunters of the Rice +Creek band had killed in a brawl two families +of white settlers, he saw his opportunity to show +once for all to the disaffected that he had no +love for the white man. Immediately he sprang +upon his white horse, and prepared to make +their cause a general one among his people. + +Tawasuota had scarcely finished his hasty +preparations for war, by painting his face and +seeing to the loading of his gun, when he heard +the voice of Little Crow outside his lodge. + +"You are now my head soldier," said the +chief, "and this is your first duty. Little Six +and his band have inaugurated the war against +the whites. They have already wiped out two +families, and are now on their way to the agency. +Let my chief soldier fire the first shot. + +"Those Indians who have cut their hair and +donned the white man's clothing may give the +warning; so make haste! If you fall to-day, +there is no better day on which to die, and the +women of our tribe will weep proud tears for +Tawasuota. I leave it with you to lead my +warriors." With these words the wily chief +galloped away to meet the war-party. + +"Here comes Little Crow, the friend of the +white man!" exclaimed a warrior, as he ap- +proached. + +"Friends and warriors, you will learn to-day +who are the friends of the white man, and none +will dare again to insinuate that I have been +against the interests of my own people," he +replied. + +After a brief consultation with the chiefs he +advised the traders: + +"Do not hesitate to fill the powder-horns of +my warriors; they may be compelled to fight all +day." + +Soon loud yells were heard along the road +to the Indian village. + +"Ho, ho! Tawasuota u ye do!" (He is +coming; he is coming!") shouted the warriors +in chorus. + +The famous war-chief dismounted in silence, +gun in hand, and walked directly toward the +larger store. + +"Friend," he exclaimed, "we may both meet +the 'Great Mystery' to-day, but you must go +first." + +There was a loud report, and the unsuspect- +ing white man lay dead. It was James Lynd, +one of the early traders, and a good friend to +the Indians. + +No sooner had Tawasuota fired the fatal shot +than every other Indian discharged his piece. +Hither and thither ran the frantic people, seek- +ing safety, but seeking it in vain. They were +wholly unprepared and at the mercy of the foe. + +The friendly Indians, too, were taken entirely +by surprise. They had often heard wild talk +of revolt, but it had never had the indorsement +of intelligent chiefs, or of such a number as to +carry any weight to their minds. Christian In- +dians rushed in every direction to save, if pos- +sible, at least the wives and children of the Gov- +ernment employees. Meanwhile, the new white +settlements along the Minnesota River were +utterly unconscious of any danger. Not a soul +dreamed of the terrible calamity that each pass- +ing moment was bringing nearer and nearer. + +Tawasuota stepped aside, and took up his +pipe. He seemed almost oblivious of what he +had done. While the massacre still raged about +him in all its awful cruelty, he sat smoking and +trying to think collectedly, but his mind was +confused, and in his secret thoughts he rebelled +against Little Crow. It was a cowardly deed +that he had been ordered to commit, he +thought; for he had won his reputation solely +by brave deeds in battle, and this was more like +murdering one of his own tribesmen--this kill- +ing of an unarmed white man. Up to this time +the killing of a white man was not counted the +deed of a warrior; it was murder. + +The lesser braves might now satisfy their +spite against the traders to their hearts' con- +tent, but Tawasuota had been upon the best of +terms with all of them. + +Suddenly a ringing shout was heard. The +chief soldier looked up, and beheld a white man, +nearly nude, leap from the roof of the larger +store and alight upon the ground hard by +him. + +He had emptied one barrel of his gun, and, +if he chose to do so, could have killed Myrick +then and there; but he made no move, exclaim- +ing: + +"Ho, ho! Nina iyaye!" ("Run, run!") + +Away sped the white man in the direction of +the woods and the river. + +"Ah, he is swift; he will save himself," +thought Tawasuota. + +All the Indians had now spied the fugitive; +they yelled and fired at him again and again, +as if they were shooting at a running deer; but +he only ran faster. Just as he had reached the +very edge of the sheltering timber a single shot +rang out, and he fell headlong. + +A loud war-whoop went up, for many be- +lieved that this was one of the men who had +stolen their trust funds. + +Tawasuota continued to sit and smoke in the +shade while the carnage and plunder that he +had set on foot proceeded on all sides of him. +Presently men began to form small parties to +cross the river on their mission of death, but +he refused to join any of them. At last, several +of the older warriors came up to smoke with +him. + +"Ho, nephew," said one of them with much +gravity, "you have precipitated a dreadful ca- +lamity. This means the loss of our country, +the destruction of our nation. What were you +thinking of?" + +It was the Wahpeton chief who spoke, a +blood-relation to Tawasuota. He did not at +once reply, but filled his pipe in silence, and +handed it to the man who thus reproached him. +It was a just rebuke; for he was a brave man, +and he could have refused the request of his +chief to open the massacre. + +At this moment it was announced that a body +of white soldiers were on the march from Fort +Ridgeley. A large body of warriors set out to +meet them. + +"Nephew, you have spilled the first blood +of the white man; go, join in battle with the sol- +diers. They are armed; they can defend them- +selves," remarked the old chief, and Tawasuota +replied: + +"Uncle, you speak truth; I have committed +the act of a coward. It was not of my own +will I did it; nevertheless, I have raised my +weapon, and I will fight the whites as long as +I live. If I am ever taken, they will first have +to kill me." He arose, took up his gun, and +joined the war-party. + +The dreadful day of massacre was almost +ended. The terrified Sioux women and children +had fled up the river before the approaching +troops. Long shafts of light from the setting +sun painted every hill; one side red as with +blood, the other dark as the shadow of death. +A cloud of smoke from burning homes hung +over the beautiful river. Even the permanent +dwellings of the Indians were empty, and all +the teepees which had dotted with their white +cones the west bank of the Minnesota had dis- +appeared. Here and there were small groups +of warriors returning from their bloody work, +and among them was Tawasuota. + +He looked long at the spot where his home +had stood; but it was gone, and with it his +family. Ah, the beautiful country of his an- +cestors! he must depart from it forever, for he +knew now that the white man would occupy +that land. Sadly he sang the spirit-song, and +made his appeal to the "Great Mystery," ex- +cusing himself by the plea that what he had done +had been in the path of duty. There was no +glory in it for him; he could wear no eagle +feather, nor could he ever recount the deed. It +was dreadful to him--the thought that he had +fired upon an unarmed and helpless man. + +The chief soldier followed the broad trail +of the fleeing host, and after some hours he +came upon a camp. There were no war-songs +nor dances there, as was their wont after a bat- +tle, but a strange stillness reigned. Even the +dogs scarcely barked at his approach; every- +thing seemed conscious of the awful carnage +of the day. + +He stopped at a tent and inquired after his +beautiful wife and two little sons, whom he had +already trained to uphold their father's repu- +tation, but was directed to his mother's teepee. + +"Ah, my son, my son, what have you done?" +cried his old mother when she saw him. +"Come in, come in; let us eat together once +more ; for I have a foreboding that it is for +the last time. Alas, what have you done?" + +Tawasuota silently entered the tent of his +widowed mother, and his three sisters gave him +the place of honor. + +"Mother, it is not right to blame our +brother," said the eldest. "He was the chief's +head soldier; and if he had disobeyed his orders, +he would have been called a coward. That he +could not bear." + +Food was handed him, and he swallowed a +few mouthfuls, and gave back the dish. + +"You have not yet told me where she is, +and the children," he said with a deep sigh. + +"My son, my son, I have not, because it will +give you pain. I wanted you to eat first! She +has been taken away by her own mother to Fari- +bault, among the white people. I could not +persuade them to wait until you came. Her peo- +ple are lovers of the whites. They have even +accepted their religion," grieved the good old +mother. + +Tawasuota's head dropped upon his chest, +and he sat silent for a long time. The mother +and three sisters were also silent, for they knew +how heavy his grief must be. At last he spoke. + +"Mother, I am too proud to desert the tribe +now and join my wife among the white people. +My brother-in-law may lie in my behalf, and +say that my hands are not stained with blood; +but the spirits of those who died to-day would +rebuke me, and the rebuke would be just. No, +I must fight the whites until I die; and neither +have I fought without cause; but I must see +my sons once more before I go." + +When Tawasuota left his mother's teepee +he walked fast across the circle toward the coun- +cil lodge to see Little Crow. He drew his +blanket closely about him, with his gun under- +neath. The keen eye of the wily chief detected +the severe expression upon the face of his guest, +and he hastened to speak first. + +"There are times in the life of every great +man when he must face hardship and put self +aside for the good of his people. You have +done well to-day!" + +"I care little for myself," replied Tawasu- +ota, "but my heart is heavy to-night. My wife +and two boys have been taken away among the +whites by my mother-in-law. I fear for their +safety, when it is known what we have done." + +"Ugh, that old woman is too hasty in ac- +cepting the ways of the stranger people!" ex- +claimed the chief. + +"I am now on my way to see them," declared +Tawasuota. + +"Ugh, ugh, I shall need you to-morrow! +My plan is to attack the soldiers at Fort Ridge- +ley with a strong force. There are not many. +Then we shall attack New Ulm and other +towns. We will drive them all back into Saint +Paul and Fort Snelling." Little Crow spoke +with energy. + +"You must stay," he added, "and lead the +attack either at the fort or at New Ulm." + +For some minutes the chief soldier sat in +silence. + +At last he said simply, "I will do it." + +On the following day the attack was made, +but it was unsuccessful. The whole State was +now alarmed, and all the frontier settlers left +alive had flocked to the larger and more pro- +tected towns. It had also developed during the +day that there was a large party of Sioux who +were ready to surrender, thereby showing that +they had not been party to the massacre nor in- +dorsed the hasty action of the tribe. + +At evening Tawasuota saw that there would +be a long war with the whites, and that the In- +dians must remove their families out of danger. +The feeling against all Indians was great. +Night had brought him no relief of mind, but +it promised to shield him in a hazardous under- +taking. He consulted no one, but set out for +the distant village of Faribault. + +He kept to the flats back of the Minnesota, +away from the well-traveled roads, and moved +on at a good gait, for he realized that he had +to cover a hundred miles in as few hours as +possible. Every day that passed would make +it more difficult for him to rejoin his family. + +Although he kept as far as he could from the +settlements, he would come now and then upon +a solitary frame house, razed to the ground by +the war-parties of the day before. The mem- +bers of the ill-fated family were to be seen scat- +tered in and about the place; and their white, +upturned faces told him that his race must pay +for the deed. + +The dog that howled pitifully over the dead +was often the only survivor of the farmer's +household. + +Occasionally Tawasuota heard at a distance +the wagons of the fugitives, loaded with women +and children, while armed men walked before +and behind. These caravans were usually +drawn by oxen and moved slowly toward some +large town. + +When the dawn appeared in the east, the +chief soldier was compelled to conceal himself +in a secluded place. He rolled up in his +blanket, lay down in a dry creek-bed among the +red willows and immediately fell asleep. + +With the next evening he resumed his jour- +ney, and reached Faribault toward midnight. +Even here every approach was guarded against +the possibility of an Indian attack. But there +was much forest, and he knew the country well. +He reconnoitred, and soon found the Indian +community, but dared not approach and enter, +for these Indians had allied themselves with +the whites; they would be charged with treach- +ery if it were known that they had received a +hostile Sioux, and none were so hated by the +white people as Little Crow and his war-chief. + +He chose a concealed position from which +he might watch the movements of his wife, if +she were indeed there, and had not been way- +laid and slain on the journey hither. + +That night was the hardest one that the war- +rior had ever known. If he slept, it was only +to dream of the war-whoop and attack; but at +last he found himself broad awake, the sun well +up, and yes! there were his two little sons, play- +ing outside their teepee as of old. The next +moment he heard the voice of his wife from the +deep woods wailing for her husband! + +"Oh, take us, husband, take us with you! let +us all die together!" she pleaded as she clung +to him whom she had regarded as already +dead; for she knew of the price that had been +put upon his head, and that some of the half- +breeds loved money better than the blood of +their Indian mothers. + +Tawasuota stood for a minute without speak- +ing, while his huge frame trembled like a mighty +pine beneath the thunderbolt. + +"No," he said at last. "I shall go, but you +must remain. You are a woman, and the white +people need not know that your little boys are +mine. Bring them here to me this evening that +I may kiss them farewell." + +The sun was hovering among the treetops +when they met again. + +"Atay! atay!" ("Papa, papa!") the little +fellows cried out in spite of her cautions; but +the mother put her finger to her lips, and they +became silent. Tawasuota took each boy in his +arms, and held him close for a few moments; +he smiled to them, but large tears rolled down +his cheeks. Then he disappeared in the shad- +ows, and they never saw him again. + +The chief soldier lived and died a warrior +and an enemy to the white man; but one of his +two sons became in after-years a minister of the +Christian gospel, under the "Long-Haired +Praying Man," Bishop Whipple, of Minnesota. + + + + +VI + + +THE WHITE MAN'S ERRAND + +Upon the wide tableland that lies at the +back of a certain Indian agency, a camp +of a thousand teepees was pitched in a +circle, according to the ancient usage. In the +center of the circle stood the council lodge, where +there were gathered together of an afternoon all +the men of years and distinction, some in blank- +ets, some in uniform, and still others clad in +beggarly white man's clothing. But the minds +of all were alike upon the days of their youth +and freedom. + +Around the council fire they passed and re- +passed the pipe of peace, and when the big drum +was struck they sang the accompaniment with +sad yet pleasant thoughts of the life that is past. +Between the songs stories of brave deeds and +dangerous exploits were related by the actors in +turn, with as much spirit and zest as if they were +still living in those days. + +"Tum, tum, tum," the drum was sounded. + +"Oow, oow!" they hooted in a joyous chorus +at the close of each refrain. + +"Ho!" exclaimed finally the master of cere- +monies for the evening. "It is Zuyamani's story +of his great ride that we should now hear! It +was not far from this place, upon the Missouri +River, and within the recollection of many of +us that this occurred. Ye young men must +hear!" + +"Ho, ho!" was the ready response of all pres- +ent, and the drum was struck once according to +custom. The pipe was filled and handed to Zuy- +amani, who gravely smoked for a few moments +in silence. Then he related his contribution to +the unwritten history of our frontier in these +words: + +"It was during the winter following that sum- +mer in which General Sibley pursued many of our +people across the Muddy River (1863), that we +Hunkpatees, friendly Sioux, were camping at a +place called 'Hunt-the-Deer,' about two miles +from Fort Rice, Dakota Territory. + +"The Chief Soldier of the garrison called one +day upon the leading chiefs of our band. To +each one he said: 'Lend me your bravest war- +rior!' Each chief called his principal warriors +together and laid the matter before them. + +"'The Chief Soldier at this place,' they ex- +plained, 'wants to send a message to Fort Ber- +thold, where the Rees and Mandans live, to an- +other Chief Soldier there. The soldiers of the +Great Father do not know the way, neither could +any of them get through the lines. He asks for +a brave man to carry his message.' + +"The Mandans and the Rees were our hered- +itary enemies, but this was not the principal rea- +son for our hesitation. We had declared alle- +giance to the Great Father at Washington; we +had taken our stand against the fighting men +of our own nation, and the hostile Sioux were +worse than enemies to us at this time! + +"Each chief had only called on his leading +warriors, and each in turn reported his failure to +secure a volunteer. + +"Then the Chief Soldier sent again and said: +'Is there not a young man among you who dares +to face death? If he reaches the fort with my +message, he will need to be quick-witted as well +as brave, and the Great Father will not forget +him!' + +"Now all the chiefs together called all the +young men in a great council, and submitted to +them the demand of the Great Father's servant. +We knew well that the country between us and +Fort Berthold, about one hundred and fifty miles +distant, was alive with hostile Sioux, and that if +any of us should be caught and recognized by +them, he would surely be put to death. It would +not be easy to deceive them by professing hostil- +ity to the Government, for the record of each +individual Indian is well known. The warriors +were still unwilling to go, for they argued thus: +'This is a white man's errand, and will not be +recorded as a brave deed upon the honor roll +of our people.' I think many would have vol- +unteered but for that belief. At that time we +had not a high opinion of the white man. + +"Since all the rest were silent, it came into +my mind to offer my services. The warriors +looked at me in astonishment, for I was a very +young man and had no experience. + +"Our chief, Two Bears, who was my own +uncle, finally presented my name to the command- +ing officer. He praised my courage and begged +me to be vigilant. The interpreter told him +that I had never been upon the war-path and +would be knocked over like a rabbit, but as no +one else would go, he was obliged to accept me +as his messenger. He gave me a fine horse and +saddle; also a rifle and soldier's uniform. I +would not take the gun nor wear the blue coat. +I accepted only a revolver, and I took my bow +and quiver full of arrows, and wore my usual +dress. I hid the letter in my moccasin. + +"I set out before daybreak the next morning. +The snow was deep. I rode up the river, on +the west bank, keeping a very close watch all the +way, but seeing nothing. I had been provided +with a pair of field glasses, and I surveyed the +country on all sides from the top of every hill. +Having traveled all day and part of the night, +I rested my horse and I took a little sleep. + +"After eating a small quantity of pemmican, +I made a very early start in the morning. It was +scarcely light when I headed for a near-by ridge +from which to survey the country beyond. Just +as I ascended the rise I found myself almost sur- +rounded by loose ponies, evidently belonging to +a winter camp of the hostile Sioux. + +"I readjusted my saddle, tightened the girths, +and prepared to ride swiftly around the camp. +I saw some men already out after ponies. No +one appeared to have seen me as yet, but I felt +that as soon as it became lighter they could not +help observing me. I turned to make the circuit +of the camp, which was a very large one, and +as soon as I reached the timbered bottom lands +I began to congratulate myself that I had not +been seen. + +"As I entered the woods at the crossing of a +dry creek, I noticed that my horse was nervous. +I knew that horses are quick to discover animals +or men by scent, and I became nervous, too. + +"The animal put his four feet together and +almost slid down the steep bank. As he came +out on the opposite side he swerved suddenly and +started to run. Then I saw a man watching me +from behind a tree. Fortunately for me, he +carried no weapon. He was out after ponies, +and had only a lariat wound upon one shoulder. + +"He beckoned and made signs for me to stop, +but I spurred my horse and took flight at once. +I could hear him yelling far behind me, no doubt +to arouse the camp and set them on my trail. + +"As I fled westward, I came upon another +man, mounted, and driving his ponies before him. +He yelled and hooted in vain; then turned and +rode after me. Two others had started in pur- +suit, but my horse was a good one, and I easily +outdistanced them at the start. + +"After I had fairly circled the camp, I turned +again toward the river, hoping to regain the bot- +tom lands. The traveling was bad. Sometimes +we came to deep gulches filled with snow, where +my horse would sink in up to his body and seem +unable to move. When I jumped off his back +and struck him once or twice, he would make +several desperate leaps and recover his footing. +My pursuers were equally hindered, but by this +time the pursuit was general, and in order to +terrify me they yelled continually and fired their +guns into the air. Now and then I came to a +gulch which I had to follow up in search of a +place to cross, and at such times they gained on +me. I began to despair, for I knew that the +white man's horses have not the endurance of +our Indian ponies, and I expected to be chased +most of the day. + +"Finally I came to a ravine that seemed im- +possible to cross. As I followed it up, it became +evident that some of them had known of this +trap, and had cut in ahead of me. I felt that I +must soon abandon my horse and slide down the +steep sides of the gulch to save myself. + +"However, I made one last effort to pass my +enemies. They came within gunshot and several +fired at me, although all our horses were going +at full speed. They missed me, and being at +last clear of them, I came to a place where I +could cross, and the pursuit stopped." + +When Zuyamani reached this point in his +recital, the great drum was struck several times, +and all the men cheered him. + +"The days are short in winter," he went on +after a short pause, "and just now the sun sank +behind the hills. I did not linger. I continued +my journey by night, and reached Fort Berthold +before midnight. I had been so thoroughly +frightened and was so much exhausted that I +did not want to talk, and as soon as I had de- +livered my letters to the post commander, I went +to the interpreter's quarters to sleep. + +"The interpreter, however, announced my +arrival, and that same night many Ree, Gros +Ventre, and Mandan warriors came to call upon +me. Among them was a great chief of the Rees, +called Poor Dog. + +"'You must be,' said he to me, 'either a very +young man, or a fool! You have not told us +about your close escape, but a runner came in at +dusk and told us of the pursuit. He reported +that you had been killed by the hostiles, for he +heard many guns fired about the middle of the +afternoon. These white men will never give +you any credit for your wonderful ride, nor will +they compensate you for the risks you have +taken in their service. They will not give you +so much as one eagle feather for what you have +done!' + +"The next day I was sent for to go to head- +quarters, and there I related my all-day pursuit +by the hostile Sioux. The commanding officer +advised me to remain at the fort fifteen days +before making the return trip, thinking that by +that time my enemies might cease to look for me. + +"At the end of the fortnight he wrote his +letters, and I told him that I was ready to start. +'I will give you,' he said, 'twenty Rees and +Gros Ventres to escort you past the hostile +camp.' We set out very early and rode all day, +so that night overtook us just before we reached +the camp. + +"At nightfall we sent two scouts ahead, but +before they left us they took the oath of the +pipe in token of their loyalty. You all know the +ancient war custom. A lighted pipe was held +toward them and each one solemnly touched it, +after which it was passed as usual. + +"We followed more slowly, and at about +midnight we came to the place where our scouts +had agreed to meet us. They were to return +from a reconnaissance of the camp and report +on what they had seen. It was a lonely spot, +and the night was very cold and still. We sat +there in the snowy woods near a little creek and +smoked in silence while we waited. I had plenty +of time to reflect upon my position. These +Gros Ventres and Rees have been our enemies +for generations. I was one man to twenty! +They had their orders from the commander of +the fort, and that was my only safeguard. + +"Soon we heard the howl of a wolf a little +to the westward. Immediately one of the party +answered in the same manner. I could not have +told it from the howl of a real wolf. Then we +heard a hooting owl down the creek. Another +of our party hooted like an owl. + +"Presently the wolf's voice sounded nearer, +while the owl's hoot came nearer in the opposite +direction. Then we heard the footsteps of +ponies on the crisp, frosty air. The scout who +had been imitating the wolf came in first, and +the owl soon followed. The warriors made a +ring and again filled the pipe, and the scouts +took the oath for the second time. + +"After smoking, they reported a trail going +up a stream tributary to the Missouri, but +whether going out or coming in it was impos- +sible to tell in the dark. It was several days +old. This was discussed for some time. The +question was whether some had gone out in +search of meat, or whether some additional men +had come into camp. + +"The Bunch of Stars was already a little west +of the middle sky when we set out again. They +agreed to take me a short distance beyond this +creek and there leave me, as they were afraid +to go any further. On the bank of the creek +we took a farewell smoke. There was a faint +glow in the east, showing that it was almost +morning. The warriors sang a 'Strong Heart' +song for me in an undertone as I went on alone. + +"I tried to make a wide circuit of the camp, +but I passed their ponies grazing all over the +side hills at a considerable distance, and I went +as quietly as possible, so as not to frighten them. +When I had fairly passed the camp I came down +to the road again, and I let my horse fly! + +"I had been cautioned at the post that the +crossings of the creeks on either side of the +camp were the most dangerous places, since they +would be likely to watch for me there. I had +left the second crossing far behind, and I felt +quite safe; but I was tired and chilled by the +long ride. My horse, too, began to show signs +of fatigue. In a deep ravine where there was +plenty of dry wood and shelter, I cleared the +ground of snow and kindled a small fire. Then +I gave the horse his last ration of oats, and I +ate the last of the pemmican that the Ree scouts +had given me. + +"Suddenly he pricked up his ears in the di- +rection of home. He ate a mouthful and listened +again. I began to grow nervous, and I listened, +too. Soon I heard the footsteps of horses in +the snow at a considerable distance. + +"Hastily I mounted and took flight along +the ravine until I had to come out upon the +open plain, in full view of a party of about +thirty Sioux in war-paint, coming back from the +direction of Fort Rice. They immediately gave +chase, yelling and flourishing their guns and +tomahawks over their heads. I urged my horse +to his best speed, for I felt that if they should +overtake me, nothing could save me! My +friend, White Elk, here, was one of that war- +party. + +"I saw that I had a fair lead and the best +horse, and was gaining upon them, when about +two miles out I met some more of the party +who had lingered behind the rest. I was sur- +rounded! + +"I turned toward the north, to a deep gulch +that I knew I should find there, and I led my +horse along a narrow and slippery ridge to a +deep hole. Here I took up my position. I +guarded the pass with my bow and arrows, and +they could not reach me unless they should fol- +low the ridge in single file. I knew that they +would not storm my position, for that is not the +Indian way of fighting, but I supposed that +they would try to tire me out. They yelled and +hooted, and shot many bullets and arrows over +my head to terrify me into surrender, but I re- +mained motionless and silent. + +"Night came, with a full round moon. All +was light as day except the place where I stood, +half frozen and not daring to move. The bot- +tom of the gulch was as black as a well and +almost as cold. The wolves howled all around +me in the stillness. + +At last I heard the footsteps of horses re- +treating, and then no other sound. Still I dared +not come out. I must have slept, for it was +dawn when I seemed to hear faintly the yelling +of warriors, and then I heard my own name. + +"'Zuyamani, tokiya nunka huwo?' (Where +are you, Zuyamani?) they shouted. A party +of my friends had come out to meet me and had +followed our trail. I was scarcely able to walk +when I came out, but they filled the pipe and +held it up to me, as is done in recognition of +distinguished service. They escorted me into +the post, singing war songs and songs of brave +deeds, and there I delivered up his letters to the +Chief Soldier." + +Again the drum was struck and the old men +cheered Zuyamani, who added: + +"I think that Poor Dog was right, for the +Great Father never gave me any credit, nor did +he ever reward me for what I had done. Yet +I have not been without honor, for my own +people have not forgotten me, even though I +went upon the white man's errand." + + + + +VII + + +THE GRAVE OF THE DOG + +The full moon was just clear of the high +mountain ranges. Surrounded by a +ring of bluish haze, it looked almost +as if it were frozen against the impalpable blue- +black of the reckless midwinter sky. + +The game scout moved slowly homeward, +well wrapped in his long buffalo robe, which was +securely belted to his strong loins; his quiver +tightly tied to his shoulders so as not to impede +his progress. It was enough to carry upon his +feet two strong snow-shoes; for the snow was +deep and its crust too thin to bear his weight. + +As he emerged from the lowlands into the +upper regions, he loomed up a gigantic figure +against the clear, moonlit horizon. His pic- +turesque foxskin cap with all its trimmings was +incrusted with frost from the breath of his nos- +trils, and his lagging footfall sounded crisply. +The distance he had that day covered was enough +for any human endurance; yet he was neither +faint nor hungry; but his feet were frozen into +the psay, the snow-shoes, so that he could not +run faster than an easy slip and slide. + +At last he reached the much-coveted point-- +the crown of the last ascent; and when he smelled +fire and the savory odor of the jerked buffalo +meat, it well-nigh caused him to waver! But he +must not fail to follow the custom of untold ages, +and give the game scout's wolf call before enter- +ing camp. + +Accordingly he paused upon the highest point +of the ridge and uttered a cry to which the +hungry cry of a real wolf would have seemed +but a coyote's yelp in comparison! Then it was +that the rest of the buffalo hunters knew that +their game scout was returning with welcome +news; for the unsuccessful scout enters the camp +silently. + +A second time he gave the call to assure his +hearers that their ears did not deceive them. The +gray wolves received the news with perfect un- +derstanding. It meant food! "Woo-o-o-o! +woo-o-o-o!" came from all directions, especially +from the opposite ridge. Thus the ghostly, cold, +weird night was enlivened with the music from +many wild throats. + +Down the gradual slope the scout hastened; +his footfall was the only sound that broke the +stillness after the answers to his call had ceased. +As he crossed a little ridge an immense wolf +suddenly confronted him, and instead of retreat- +ing, calmly sat up and gazed steadfastly into +his face. + +"Welcome, welcome, friend!" the hunter +spoke as he passed. + +In the meantime, the hunters at the temporary +camp were aroused to a high pitch of excitement. +Some turned their buffalo robes and put them +on in such a way as to convert themselves into +make-believe bison, and began to tread the snow, +while others were singing the buffalo song, that +their spirits might be charmed and allured within +the circle of the camp-fires. The scout, too, was +singing his buffalo bull song in a guttural, lowing +chant as he neared the hunting camp. Within +arrow-shot he paused again, while the usual cere- +monies were enacted for his reception. This +done, he was seated with the leaders in a chosen +place. + +"It was a long run," he said, "but there were +no difficulties. I found the first herd directly +north of here. The second herd, a great one, +is northeast, near Shell Lake. The snow is deep. +The buffalo can only follow their leader in their +retreat." + +"Hi, hi, hi!" the hunters exclaimed solemnly +in token of gratitude, raising their hands heaven- +ward and then pointing them toward the ground. + +"Ho, kola! one more round of the buffalo- +pipe, then we shall retire, to rise before daybreak +for the hunt," advised one of the leaders. Si- +lently they partook in turn of the long-stemmed +pipe, and one by one, with a dignified "Ho!" +departed to their teepees. + +The scout betook himself to his little old buf- +falo teepee, which he used for winter hunting +expeditions. His faithful Shunka, who had been +all this time its only occupant, met him at the +entrance as dogs alone know how to welcome a +lifelong friend. As his master entered he +stretched himself in his old-time way, from the +tip of his tail to that of his tongue, and finished +by curling both ends upward. + +"Ho, mita shunka, eat this; for you must +be hungry!" So saying, the scout laid before +his canine friend the last piece of his dried buf- +falo meat. It was the sweetest meal ever eaten +by a dog, judging by his long smacking of his +lips after he had swallowed it! + +The hunting party was soon lost in heavy +slumber. Not a sound could be heard save the +gnawing of the ponies upon the cottonwood +bark, which was provided for them instead of +hay in the winter time. + +All about Shell Lake the bison were gathered +in great herds. The unmistakable signs of the +sky had warned them of approaching bad +weather. The moon's robe was girdled with the +rainbow wampum of heaven. The very music +of the snow under their feet had given them +warning. On the north side of Shell Lake there +were several deep gulches, which were the homes +of every wanderer of the plains at such a time +at this. When there was a change toward severe +weather, all the four-footed people headed for +this lake. Here was a heavy growth of reeds, +rushes, and coarse grass, making good shelters, +and also springs, which afforded water after the +lake was frozen solid. Hence great numbers of +the bison had gathered here. + +When Wapashaw, the game scout, had rolled +himself in his warm buffalo robe and was sound +asleep, his faithful companion hunter, the great +Esquimaux wolf dog, silently rose and again +stretched himself, then stood quiet for a moment +as if meditating. It was clear that he knew well +what he had planned to do, but was considering +how he should do it without arousing any sus- +picion of his movements. This is a dog's art, +and the night tricks and marauding must always +be the joy and secret of his life! + +Softly he emerged from the lodge and gave +a sweeping glance around to assure him that +there were none to spy upon him. Suspiciously +he sniffed the air, as if to ascertain whether +there could be any danger to his sleeping master +while he should be away. + +His purpose was still a secret. It may be that +it was not entirely a selfish one, or merely the +satisfying of his inherited traits. Having fully +convinced himself of the safety of the unguarded +camp, he went forth into the biting cold. The +moon was now well up on the prairies of the sky. +There were no cloud hills in the blue field above +to conceal her from view. Her brilliant light +set on fire every snow gem upon the plains and +hillsides about the hunters' camp. + +Up the long ascent he trotted in a northerly +direction, yet not following his master's trail. +He was large and formidable in strength, com- +bining the features of his wild brothers of the +plains with those of the dogs who keep company +with the red men. His jet-black hair and sharp +ears and nose appeared to immense advantage +against the spotless and jeweled snow, until pres- +ently his own warm breath had coated him with +heavy frost. + +After a time Shunka struck into his master's +trail and followed it all the way, only taking a +short cut here and there when by dog instinct +he knew that a man must go around such a point +to get to his destination. He met 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. + +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. + +"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. + +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 hunt--to 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 +and experienced man. He will find a safe rest- +ing-place, and join us when the wind ceases to +rage." So they all wrapped themselves in their +robes and lay down to sleep. + +All that night and the following day it was +impossible to give succor, and the hunters felt +much concern for the absent. Late in the second +night the great storm subsided. + +"Ho, ho! Iyotanka! Rise up!" So the +first hunter to awaken aroused all the others. + +As after every other storm, it was wonderfully +still; so still that one could hear distinctly the +pounding feet of the jack-rabbits coming down +over the slopes to the willows for food. All dry +vegetation was buried beneath the deep snow, +and everywhere they saw this white-robed crea- +ture of the prairie coming down to the woods. + +Now the air was full of the wolf and coyote +game call, and they were seen in great numbers +upon the ice. + +"See, see! the hungry wolves are dragging +the carcasses away! Harken to the war cries of +the scout's Shunka! Hurry, hurry!" they urged +one another in chorus. + +Away they ran and out upon the lake; now +upon the wind-swept ice, now upon the crusted +snow; running when they could, sliding when +they must. There was certainly a great concourse +of the wolves, whirling in frantic circles, but con- +tinually moving toward the farther end of the +lake. They could hear distinctly the hoarse bark +of the scout's Shunka, and occasionally the muf- +fled war-whoop of a man, as if it came from +under the ice! + +As they approached nearer the scene they +could hear more distinctly the voice of their +friend, but still as it were from underground. +When they reached the spot to which the wolves +had dragged two of the carcasses of the buffalo, +Shunka was seen to stand by one of them, but +at that moment he staggered and fell. The hunt- +ers took out their knives and ripped up the +frozen hide covering the abdominal cavity. It +revealed a warm nest of hay and buffalo hair +in which the scout lay, wrapped in his own +robe! + +He had placed his dog in one of the carcasses +and himself in another for protection from the +storm; but the dog was wiser than the man, for +he kept his entrance open. The man lapped the +hide over and it froze solidly, shutting him se- +curely in. When the hungry wolves came +Shunka promptly extricated himself and held +them off as long as he could; meanwhile, sliding +and pulling, the wolves continued to drag over +the slippery ice the body of the buffalo in which +his master had taken refuge. The poor, faithful +dog, with no care for his own safety, stood by +his imprisoned master until the hunters came up. +But it was too late, for he had received more +than one mortal wound. + +As soon as the scout got out, with a face more +anxious for another than for himself, he ex- +claimed: + +"Where is Shunka, the bravest of his tribe?" + +"Ho, kola, it is so, indeed; and here he lies," +replied one sadly. + +His master knelt by his side, gently stroking +the face of the dog. + +"Ah, my friend; you go where all spirits live! +The Great Mystery has a home for every living +creature. May he permit our meeting there!" + +At daybreak the scout carried him up to one +of the pretty round hills overlooking the lake, +and built up around him walls of loose stone. +Red paints were scattered over the snow, in ac- +cordance with Indian custom, and the farewell +song was sung. + +Since that day the place has been known to +the Sioux as Shunkahanakapi--the Grave of the +Dog. + +PART TWO + +THE WOMAN + + I + + + WINONA, THE WOMAN-CHILD + + + Hush, hushaby, little woman! + Be brave and weep not! + The spirits sleep not; + 'Tis they who ordain + To woman, pain. + + Hush, hushaby, little woman! + Now, all things bearing, + A new gift sharing + From those above-- + + To woman, love. + --Sioux Lullaby. + + +"Chinto, weyanna! Yes, indeed; she +is a real little woman," declares the old +grandmother, as she receives and crit- +ically examines the tiny bit of humanity. + +There is no remark as to the color of its hair +or eyes, both so black as almost to be blue, but +the old woman scans sharply the delicate pro- +file of the baby face. + +"Ah, she has the nose of her ancestors! Lips +thin as a leaf, and eyes bright as stars in mid- +winter!" she exclaims, as she passes on the furry +bundle to the other grandmother for her inspec- +tion. + +"Tokee! she is pretty enough to win a twinkle +rom the evening star," remarks that smiling +personage. + +"And what shall her name be? + +"Winona, the First-born, of course. That +is hers by right of birth." + +"Still, it may not fit her. One must prove +herself worthy in order to retain that honorable +name." + +"Ugh," retorts the first grandmother, "she +can at least bear it on probation!" + +"Tosh, tosh," the other assents. + +Thus the unconscious little Winona has +passed the first stage of the Indian's christen- +ing. + +Presently she is folded into a soft white doe- +skin, well lined with the loose down of cattails, +and snugly laced into an upright oaken cradle, +the front of which is a richly embroidered buck- +skin bag, with porcupine quills and deers' hoofs +suspended from its profuse fringes. This gay +cradle is strapped upon the second grand- +mother's back, and that dignitary walks off with +the newcomer. + +"You must come with me," she says. "We +shall go among the father and mother trees, and +hear them speak with their thousand tongues, +that you may know their language forever. I +will hang the cradle of the woman-child upon +Utuhu, the oak; and she shall hear the love-sighs +of the pine maiden!" + +In this fashion Winona is introduced to nature +and becomes at once "nature-born," in accord +with the beliefs and practices of the wild red +man. + +"Here she is! Take her," says the old +woman on her return from the woods. She pre- +sents the child to its mother, who is sitting in +the shade of an elm-tree as quietly as if she had +not just passed through woman's severest or- +deal in giving a daughter to the brave Cheton- +ska! + +"She has a winsome face, as meek and in- +nocent as the face of an ermine," graciously adds +the grandmother. + +The mother does not speak. Silently and al- +most reverently she takes her new and first-born +daughter into her arms. She gazes into its vel- +vety little face of a dusky red tint, and uncon- +sciously presses the closely swaddled form to her +breast. She feels the mother-instinct seize upon +her strongly for the first time. Here is a new +life, a new hope, a possible link between herself +and a new race! + +Ah, a smile plays upon her lips, as she realizes +that she has kissed her child! In its eyes and +mouth she discerns clearly the features she has +loved in the strong countenance of another, +though in the little woman's face they are soft- +ened and retouched by the hand of the "Great +Mystery." + +The baby girl is called Winona for some +months, when the medicine-man is summoned +and requested to name publicly the first-born +daughter of Chetonska, the White Hawk; but +not until he has received a present of a good +pony with a finely painted buffalo-robe. It is +usual to confer another name besides that of +the "First-born," which may be resumed later +if the maiden proves worthy. The name Wi- +nona implies much of honor. It means char- +itable, kind, helpful; all that an eldest sister +should be! + +The herald goes around the ring of lodges +announcing in singsong fashion the christening, +and inviting everybody to a feast in honor of +the event. A real American christening is al- +ways a gala occasion, when much savage wealth +is distributed among the poor and old people. +Winona has only just walked, and this fact is +also announced with additional gifts. A well- +born child is ever before the tribal eye and in the +tribal ear, as every little step in its progress +toward manhood or womanhood--the first time +of walking or swimming, first shot with bow and +arrow (if a boy), first pair of moccasins made +(if a girl)--is announced publicly with feasting +and the giving of presents. + +So Winona receives her individual name of +Tatiyopa, or Her Door. It is symbolic, like +most Indian names, and implies that the door +of the bearer is hospitable and her home attrac- +tive. + +The two grandmothers, who have carried the +little maiden upon their backs, now tell and sing +to her by turns all the legends of their most noted +female ancestors, from the twin sisters of the +old story, the maidens who married among the +star people of the sky, down to their own +mothers. All her lullabies are feminine, and +designed to impress upon her tender mind the +life and duties of her sex. + +As soon as she is old enough to play with +dolls she plays mother in all seriousness and +gravity. She is dressed like a miniature woman +(and her dolls are clad likewise), in garments +of doeskin to her ankles, adorned with long +fringes, embroidered with porcupine quills, and +dyed with root dyes in various colors. Her lit- +tle blanket or robe, with which she shyly drapes +or screens her head and shoulders, is the skin +of a buffalo calf or a deer, soft, white, embroi- +dered on the smooth side, and often with the +head and hoofs left on. + +"You must never forget, my little daughter, +that you are a woman like myself. Do always +those things that you see me do," her mother +often admonishes her. + +Even the language of the Sioux has its fem- +inine dialect, and the tiny girl would be greatly +abashed were it ever needful to correct her for +using a masculine termination. + +This mother makes for her little daughter a +miniature copy of every rude tool that she uses +in her taily tasks. There is a little scraper of +elk-horn to scrape rawhides preparatory to tan- +ning them, another scraper of a different shape +for tanning, bone knives, and stone mallets for +pounding choke-cherries and jerked meat. + +While her mother is bending over a large +buffalo-hide stretched and pinned upon the +ground, standing upon it and scraping off the +fleshy portion as nimbly as a carpenter shaves +a board with his plane, Winona, at five years of +age, stands upon a corner of the great hide and +industriously scrapes away with her tiny instru- +ment! When the mother stops to sharpen her +tool, the little woman always sharpens hers also. +Perhaps there is water to be fetched in bags +made from the dried pericardium of an animal; +the girl brings some in a smaller water-bag. +When her mother goes for wood she carries one +or two sticks on her back. She pitches her play +teepee to form an exact copy of her mother's. +Her little belongings are nearly all practical, +and her very play is real! + +Thus, before she is ten years old, Winona be- +gins to see life honestly and in earnest; to con- +sider herself a factor in the life of her people--a +link in the genealogy of her race. Yet her effort +is not forced, her work not done from necessity; +it is normal and a development of the play-in- +stinct of the young creature. This sort of train- +ing leads very early to a genuine desire to serve +and to do for others. The little Winona loves +to give and to please; to be generous and gra- +cious. There is no thought of trafficking or +economizing in labor and in love. + +"Mother, I want to be like the beavers, the +ants, and the spiders, because my grandmother +says those are the people most worthy of imita- +tion for their industry. She also tells me that +I should watch the bee, the one that has so many +daughters, and allows no young men to come +around her daughters while they are at work +making sweets," exclaims the little maiden. + +"Truly their industry helps us much, for we +often take from their hoard," remarks the +mother. + +"That is not right, is it mother, if they do +not wish to share with us?" asks Winona. +"But I think the bee is stingy if she has so much +and will not share with any one else! When I +grow up, I shall help the poor! I shall have a +big teepee and invite old people often, for when +people get old they seem to be always hungry, +and I think we ought to feed them." + +"My little daughter will please me and her +father if she proves to be industrious and skillful +with her needle and in all woman's work. Then +she can have a fine teepee and make it all cheer- +ful within. The indolent woman has a small +teepee, and it is very smoky. All her children +will have sore eyes, and her husband will soon +become ill-tempered," declares the mother, in all +seriousness. + +"And, daughter, there is something more +than this needed to make a cheerful home. +You must have a good heart, be patient, and +speak but little. Every creature that talks too +much is sure to make trouble," she concludes, +wisely. + +One day this careful mother has completed a +beautiful little teepee of the skin of a buffalo +calf, worked with red porcupine quills in a row +of rings just below the smoke-flaps and on each +side of the front opening. In the center of each +ring is a tassel of red and white horse-hair. The +tip of each smoke-flap is decorated with the same +material, and the doorflap also. + +Within there are neatly arranged raw-hide +boxes for housekeeping, and square bags of soft +buckskin adorned with blue and white beads. +On either side of the fireplace are spread the +tanned skins of a buffalo calf and a deer; but +there is no bear, wolf, or wildcat skin, for on +these the foot of a woman must never tread! +They are for men, and symbolical of manly vir- +tues. There are dolls of all sizes, and a play +travois leans against the white wall of the minia- +ture lodge. Even the pet pup is called in to +complete the fanciful home of the little woman. + +"Now, my daughter," says the mother, "you +must keep your lodge in order!" + +Here the little woman is allowed to invite +other little women, her playmates. This is +where the grandmothers hold sway, chaperoning +their young charges, who must never be long out +of their sight. The little visitors bring their +work-bags of various skins, artistically made and +trimmed. These contain moccasins and other +garments for their dolls, on which they love to +occupy themselves. + +The brightly-painted rawhide boxes are re- +served for food, and in these the girls bring va- +rious prepared meats and other delicacies. This +is perhaps the most agreeable part of the play +to the chaperon, who is treated as an honored +guest at the feast! + +Winona seldom plays with boys, even her own +brothers and cousins, and after she reaches +twelve or fourteen years of age she scarcely +speaks to them. Modesty is a virtue which is +deeply impressed upon her from early childhood, +and the bashfully drooping head, the averted +look, the voice low and seldom heard, these are +graces much esteemed in a maiden. + +She is taught to pay great attention to the +care of her long, glossy locks, combing, plaiting, +and perfuming them with sweet-scented leaves +steeped in oil. Her personal appearance is well +understood to be a matter of real moment, and +rich dress and ornaments are highly prized. +Fortunately they never go out of fashion, and +once owned are permanent possessions, unless +parted with as ceremonial gifts on some great +occasion of mourning or festivity. + +When she reaches a marriageable age her +father allows her to give a feast to all the other +girls of her immediate clan, and this "Feast of +Virgins" may only be attended by those of spot- +less reputation. To have given or attended a +number of them is regarded as a choice honor. + +Tatiyopa, by the time she is fifteen, has al- +ready a name for skill in needlework, and gen- +erosity in distributing the articles of her own +making. She is now generally called Winona-- +the charitable and kind! She believes that it +is woman's work to make and keep a home that +will be worthy of the bravest, and hospitable to +all, and in this simple faith she enters upon the +realities of her womanhood. + + + + +II + + + WINONA, THE CHILD-WOMAN + + Braver than the bravest, + You sought honors at death's door; + Could you not remember + One who weeps at home-- + Could you not remember me? + + Braver than the bravest, + You sought honors more than love; + Dear, I weep, yet I am not a coward; + My heart weeps for thee-- + My heart weeps when I remember thee! + --Sioux Love Song. + + +The sky is blue overhead, peeping +through window-like openings in a +roof of green leaves. Right between +a great pine and a birch tree their soft doeskin +shawls are spread, and there sit two Sioux maid- +ens amid their fineries--variously colored por- +cupine quills for embroidery laid upon sheets +of thin birch-bark, and moccasin tops worked +in colors like autumn leaves. It is Winona and +her friend Miniyata. + +They have arrived at the period during which +the young girl is carefully secluded from her +brothers and cousins and future lovers, and re- +tires, as it were, into the nunnery of the woods, +behind a veil of thick foliage. Thus she is +expected to develop fully her womanly qualities. +In meditation and solitude, entirely alone or +with a chosen companion of her own sex and +age, she gains a secret strength, as she studies +the art of womanhood from nature herself. + +Winona has the robust beauty of the wild +lily of the prairie, pure and strong in her deep +colors of yellow and scarlet against the savage +plain and horizon, basking in the open sun like +a child, yet soft and woman-like, with droop- +ing head when observed. Both girls are beau- +tifully robed in loose gowns of soft doeskin, +girded about the waist with the usual very wide +leather belt. + +"Come, let us practice our sacred dance," +says one to the other. Each crowns her glossy +head with a wreath of wild flowers, and they +dance with slow steps around the white birch, +singing meanwhile the sacred songs. + +Now upon the lake that stretches blue to the +eastward there appears a distant canoe, a mere +speck, no bigger than a bird far off against the +shining sky. + +"See the lifting of the paddles!" exclaims +Winona. + +" Like the leaping of a trout upon the +water!" suggests Miniyata. + +"I hope they will not discover us, yet I would +like to know who they are," remarks the other, +innocently. + +The birch canoe approaches swiftly, with two +young men plying the light cedar paddles. + +The girls now settle down to their needle- +work, quite as if they had never laughed or +danced or woven garlands, bending over their +embroidery in perfect silence. Surely they would +not wish to attract attention, for the two sturdy +young warriors have already landed. + +They pick up the canoe and lay it well up on +the bank, out of sight. Then one procures a +strong pole. They lift a buck deer from the +canoe--not a mark upon it, save for the bullet +wound; the deer looks as if it were sleeping! +They tie the hind legs together and the fore +legs also and carry it between them on the pole. + +Quickly and cleverly they do all this; and +now they start forward and come unexpectedly +upon the maidens' retreat! They pause for an +instant in mute apology, but the girls smile their +forgiveness, and the youths hurry on toward the +village. + +Winona has now attended her first maidens' +feast and is considered eligible to marriage. She +may receive young men, but not in public or in +a social way, for such was not the custom of the +Sioux. When he speaks, she need not answer +him unless she chooses. + +The Indian woman in her quiet way preserves +the dignity of the home. From our standpoint +the white man is a law-breaker! The "Great +Mystery," we say, does not adorn the woman +above the man. His law is spreading horns, +or flowing mane, or gorgeous plumage for the +male; the female he made plain, but comely, +modest and gentle. She is the foundation of +man's dignity and honor. Upon her rests the +life of the home and of the family. I have +often thought that there is much in this philos- +ophy of an untutored people. Had her husband +remained long enough in one place, the Indian +woman, I believe, would have developed no +mean civilization and culture of her own. + +It was no disgrace to the chief's daughter in +the old days to work with her hands. Indeed, +their standard of worth was the willingness to +work, but not for the sake of accumulation, only +in order to give. Winona has learned to pre- +pare skins, to remove the hair and tan the skin +of a deer so that it may be made into moccasins +within three days. She has a bone tool for each +stage of the conversion of the stiff raw-hide into +velvety leather. She has been taught the art +of painting tents and raw-hide cases, and the +manufacture of garments of all kinds. + +Generosity is a trait that is highly developed +in the Sioux woman. She makes many mocca- +sins and other articles of clothing for her male +relatives, or for any who are not well provided. +She loves to see her brother the best dressed +among the young men, and the moccasins espe- +cially of a young brave are the pride of his +woman-kind. + +Her own person is neatly attired, but ordi- +narily with great simplicity. Her doeskin gown +has wide, flowing sleeves; the neck is low, +but not so low as is the evening dress of so- +ciety. + +Her moccasins are plain; her leggins close- +fitting and not as high as her brother's. She +parts her smooth, jet-black hair in the middle +and plaits it in two. In the old days she used +to do it in one plait wound around with wam- +pum. Her ornaments, sparingly worn, are +beads, elks' teeth, and a touch of red paint. No +feathers are worn by the woman, unless in a +sacred dance. + +She is supposed to be always occupied with +some feminine pursuit or engaged in some social +affair, which also is strictly feminine as a rule. +Even her language is peculiar to her sex, some +words being used by women only, while others +have a feminine termination. + +There is an etiquette of sitting and standing, +which is strictly observed. The woman must +never raise her knees or cross her feet when +seated. She seats herself on the ground side- +wise, with both feet under her. + +Notwithstanding her modesty and undemon- +strative ways, there is no lack of mirth and +relaxation for Winona among her girl compan- +ions. + +In summer, swimming and playing in the +water is a favorite amusement. She even imi- +tates with the soles of her feet the peculiar, +resonant sound that the beaver makes with her +large, flat tail upon the surface of the water. +She is a graceful swimmer, keeping the feet +together and waving them backward and for- +ward like the tail of a fish. + +Nearly all her games are different from those +of the men. She has a sport of wand-throwing +which develops fine muscles of the shoulder and +back. The wands are about eight feet long, +and taper gradually from an inch and a half to +half an inch in diameter. Some of them are +artistically made, with heads of bone and horn, +so that it is remarkable to what a distance they +may be made to slide over the ground. In the +feminine game of ball, which is something like +"shinny," the ball is driven with curved sticks +between two goals. It is played with from two +or three to a hundred on a side, and a game be- +tween two bands or villages is a picturesque +event. + +A common indoor diversion is the "deer's +foot" game, played with six deer hoofs on a +string, ending in a bone or steel awl. The ob- +ject is to throw it in such a way as to catch one +or more hoofs on the point of the awl, a feat +which requires no little dexterity. Another is +played with marked plum-stones in a bowl, +which are thrown like dice and count according +to the side that is turned uppermost. + +Winona's wooing is a typical one. As with +any other people, love-making is more or less +in vogue at all times of the year, but more espe- +cially at midsummer, during the characteristic +reunions and festivities of that season. The +young men go about usually in pairs, and the +maidens do likewise. They may meet by chance +at any time of day, in the woods or at the +spring, but oftenest seek to do so after dark, +just outside the teepee. The girl has her com- +panion, and he has his, for the sake of propriety +or protection. The conversation is carried on +in a whisper, so that even these chaperons do +not hear. + +At the sound of the drum on summer even- +ings, dances are begun within the circular rows +of teepees, but without the circle the young men +promenade in pairs. Each provides himself +with the plaintive flute and plays the simple +cadences of his people, while his person is com- +pletely covered with his fine robe, so that he +cannot be recognized by the passerby. At +every pause in the melody he gives his yodel-like +love-call, to which the girls respond with their +musical, sing-song laughter. + +Matosapa has loved Winona since the time +he saw her at the lakeside in her parlor among +the pines. But he has not had much opportu- +nity to speak until on such a night, after the +dances are over. There is no outside fire; but +a dim light from within the skin teepees sheds +a mellow glow over the camp, mingling with +the light of a young moon. Thus these lovers +go about like ghosts. Matosapa has already +circled the teepees with his inseparable brother- +friend, Brave Elk. + +"Friend, do me an honor to-night!" he ex- +claims, at last. "Open this first door for me, +since this will be the first time I shall speak to a +woman!" + +"Ah," suggests Brave Elk, "I hope you have +selected a girl whose grandmother has no cross +dogs!" + +"The prize that is won at great risk is usually +valued most," replies Matosapa. + +"Ho, kola! I shall touch the door-flap as +softly as the swallow alights upon her nest. But +I warn you, do not let your heart beat too loudly, +for the old woman's ears are still good!" + +So, joking and laughing, they proceed toward +a large buffalo tent with a horse's tail suspended +from the highest pole to indicate the rank of +the owner. They have ceased to blow the flute +some paces back, and walk noiselessly as a pan- +ther in quest of a doe. + +Brave Elk opens the door. Matosapa enters +the tent. As was the wont of the Sioux, the +well-born maid has a little teepee within a tee- +pee--a private apartment of her own. He +passes the sleeping family to this inner shrine. +There he gently wakens Winona with proper +apologies. This is not unusual or strange to +her innocence, for it was the custom of the peo- +ple. He sits at the door, while his friend waits +outside, and tells his love in a whisper. To this +she does not reply at once; even if she loves +him, it is proper that she should be silent. The +lover does not know whether he is favorably +received or not, upon this his first visit. He +must now seek her outside upon every favorable +occasion. No gifts are offered at this stage +of the affair; the trafficking in ponies and "buy- +ing" a wife is entirely a modern custom. + +Matosapa has improved every opportunity, +until Winona has at last shyly admitted her will- +ingness to listen. For a whole year he has +been compelled at intervals to repeat the story +of his love. Through the autumn hunting of the +buffalo and the long, cold winter he often pre- +sents her kinsfolk with his game. + +At the next midsummer the parents on both +sides are made acquainted with the betrothal, +and they at once begin preparations for the com- +ing wedding. Provisions and delicacies of all +kinds are laid aside for a feast. Matosapa's +sisters and his girl cousins are told of the ap- +proaching event, and they too prepare for it, +since it is their duty to dress or adorn the bride +with garments made by their own hands. + +With the Sioux of the old days, the great +natural crises of human life, marriage and birth, +were considered sacred and hedged about with +great privacy. Therefore the union is publicly +celebrated after and not before its consum- +mation. Suddenly the young couple disappear. +They go out into the wilderness together, and +spend some days or weeks away from the camp. +This is their honeymoon, away from all curious +or prying eyes. In due time they quietly return, +he to his home and she to hers, and now at last +the marriage is announced and invitations are +given to the feast. + +The bride is ceremoniously delivered to her +husband's people, together with presents of rich +clothing collected from all her clan, which she +afterward distributes among her new relations. +Winona is carried in a travois handsomely dec- +orated, and is received with equal ceremony. +For several days following she is dressed and +painted by the female relatives of the groom, +each in her turn, while in both clans the wedding +feast is celebrated. + +To illustrate womanly nobility of nature, let +me tell the story of Dowanhotaninwin, Her- +Singing-Heard. The maiden was deprived of +both father and mother when scarcely ten years +old, by an attack of the Sacs and Foxes while +they were on a hunting expedition. Left alone +with her grandmother, she was carefully reared +and trained by this sage of the wild life. + +Nature had given her more than her share +of attractiveness, and she was womanly and win- +ning as she was handsome. Yet she remained +unmarried for nearly thirty years--a most un- +usual thing among us; and although she had +worthy suitors in every branch of the Sioux na- +tion, she quietly refused every offer. + +Certain warriors who had distinguished them- +selves against the particular tribe who had made +her an orphan, persistently sought her hand in +marriage, but failed utterly. + +One summer the Sioux and the Sacs and +Foxes were brought together under a flag of +truce by the Commissioners of the Great White +Father, for the purpose of making a treaty with +them. During the short period of friendly in- +tercourse and social dance and feast, a noble +warrior of the enemy's tribe courted Dowan- +hotaninwin. + +Several of her old lovers were vying with +one another to win her at the same time, that she +might have inter-tribal celebration of her wed- +ding. + +Behold! the maiden accepted the foe of her +childhood--one of those who had cruelly de- +prived her of her parents! + +By night she fled to the Sac and Fox camp +with her lover. It seemed at first an insult to +the Sioux, and there was almost an outbreak +among the young men of the tribe, who were +barely restrained by their respect for the Com- +missioners of the Great Father. + +But her aged grandfather explained the mat- +ter publicly in this fashion: + +"Young men, hear ye! Your hearts are +strong; let them not be troubled by the act of +a young woman of your tribe! This has been +her secret wish since she became a woman. She +deprecates all tribal warfare. Her young heart +never forgot its early sorrow; yet she has never +blamed the Sacs and Foxes or held them re- +sponsible for the deed. She blames rather the +customs of war among us. She believes in the +formation of a blood brotherhood strong enough +to prevent all this cruel and useless enmity. This +was her high purpose, and to this end she re- +served her hand. Forgive her, forgive her, I +pray!" + +In the morning there was a great commotion. +The herald of the Sacs and Foxes entered the +Sioux camp, attired in ceremonial garb and +bearing in one hand an American flag and in the +other a peace-pipe. He made the rounds singing +a peace song, and delivering to all an invitation +to attend the wedding feast of Dowanhotaninwin +and their chief's son. Thus all was well. The +simplicity, high purpose, and bravery of the girl +won the hearts of the two tribes, and as long +as she lived she was able to keep the peace be- +tween them. + + + + +III + + +SNANA'S FAWN + +The Little Missouri was in her spring +fullness, and the hills among which +she found her way to the Great Muddy +were profusely adorned with colors, much like +those worn by the wild red man upon a holiday! +Looking toward the sunrise, one saw mysteri- +ous, deep shadows and bright prominences, +while on the opposite side there was really an +extravagant array of variegated hues. Between +the gorgeous buttes and rainbow-tinted ridges +there were narrow plains, broken here and there +by dry creeks or gulches, and these again were +clothed scantily with poplars and sad-colored +bull-berry bushes, while the bare spots were pur- +ple with the wild Dakota crocuses. + +Upon the lowest of a series of natural ter- +races there stood on this May morning a young +Sioux girl, whose graceful movements were not +unlike those of a doe which chanced to be lurk- +ing in a neighboring gulch. On the upper plains, +not far away, were her young companions, all +busily employed with the wewoptay, as it was +called--the sharp-pointed stick with which the +Sioux women dig wild turnips. They were +gayly gossiping together, or each humming a +love-song as she worked, only Snana stood some- +what apart from the rest; in fact, concealed +by the crest of the ridge. + +She had paused in her digging and stood fac- +ing the sun-kissed buttes. Above them in the +clear blue sky the father sun was traveling up- +ward as in haste, while to her receptive spirit +there appealed an awful, unknown force, the +silent speech of the Great Mystery, to which it +seemed to her the whole world must be listen- +ing! + +"O Great Mystery! the father of earthly +things is coming to quicken us into life. Have +pity on me, I pray thee! May I some day be- +come the mother of a great and brave race of +warriors!" So the maiden prayed silently. + +It was now full-born day. The sun shone +hot upon the bare ground, and the drops stood +upon Snana's forehead as she plied her long +pole. There was a cool spring in the dry creek +bed near by, well hidden by a clump of choke- +cherry bushes, and she turned thither to cool +her thirsty throat. In the depths of the ravine +her eye caught a familiar footprint--the track +of a doe with the young fawn beside it. The +hunting instinct arose within. + +"It will be a great feat if I can find and take +from her the babe. The little tawny skin shall +be beautifully dressed by my mother. The legs +and the nose shall be embossed with porcupine +quills. It will be my work-bag," she said to +herself. + +As she stole forward on the fresh trail she +scanned every nook, every clump of bushes. +There was a sudden rustle from within a grove +of wild plum trees, thickly festooned with grape +and clematis, and the doe mother bounded away +as carelessly as if she were never to return. + +Ah, a mother's ruse! Snana entered the +thorny enclosure, which was almost a rude tee- +pee, and, tucked away in the furthermost corner, +lay something with a trout-like, speckled, tawny +coat. She bent over it. The fawn was appar- +ently sleeping. Presently its eyes moved a bit, +and a shiver passed through its subtle body. + +"Thou shalt not die; thy skin shall not be- +come my work-bag!" unconsciously the maiden +spoke. The mother sympathy had taken hold +on her mind. She picked the fawn up tenderly, +bound its legs, and put it on her back to carry +like an Indian babe in the folds of her robe. + +"I cannot leave you alone, Tachinchala. +Your mother is not here. Our hunters will soon +return by this road, and your mother has left +behind her two plain tracks leading to this +thicket," she murmured. + +The wild creature struggled vigorously for +a minute, and then became quiet. Its graceful +head protruded from the elkskin robe just over +Snana's shoulder. She was slowly climbing the +slope with her burden, when suddenly like an +apparition the doe-mother stood before her. +The fawn called loudly when it was first seized, +and the mother was not too far away to hear. +Now she called frantically for her child, at the +same time stamping with her delicate fore-feet. + +"Yes, sister, you are right; she is yours; but +you cannot save her to-day! The hunters will +soon be here. Let me keep her for you; I will +return her to you safely. And hear me, O sis- +ter of the woods, that some day I may become +the mother of a noble race of warriors and of +fine women, as handsome as you are!" + +At this moment the quick eyes of the Indian +girl detected something strange in the doe's +actions. She glanced in every direction and be- +hold! a grizzly bear was cautiously approach- +ing the group from a considerable distance. + +"Run, run, sister! I shall save your child if +I can," she cried, and flew for the nearest scrub +oak on the edge of the bank. Up the tree she +scrambled, with the fawn still securely bound to +her back. The grizzly came on with teeth ex- +posed, and the doe-mother in her flight came +between him and the tree, giving a series of +indignant snorts as she ran, and so distracted +Mato from his object of attack; but only for a +few seconds--then on he came! + +"Desist, O brave Mato! It does not become +a great medicine-man to attack a helpless woman +with a burden upon her back!" + +Snana spoke as if the huge brute could un- +derstand her, and indeed the Indians hold that +wild animals understand intuitively when ap- +pealed to by human beings in distress. Yet he +replied only with a hoarse growl, as rising upon +his hind legs he shook the little tree vigorously. + +"Ye, ye, heyupi ye!" Snana called loudly +to her companion turnip-diggers. Her cry soon +brought all the women into sight upon a near-by +ridge, and they immediately gave a general +alarm. Mato saw them, but appeared not at +all concerned and was still intent upon dislodg- +ing the girl, who clung frantically to her +perch. + +Presently there appeared upon the little knoll +several warriors, mounted and uttering the usual +war-whoop, as if they were about to swoop down +upon a human enemy. This touched the dignity +of Mato, and he immediately prepared to accept +the challenge. Every Indian was alive to the +possibilities of the occasion, for it is well known +that Mato, or grizzly bear, alone among animals +is given the rank of a warrior, so that whoever +conquers him may wear an eagle feather. + +"Woo! woo!" the warriors shouted, as +they maneuvered to draw him into the open +plain. + +He answered with hoarse growls, threatening +a rider who had ventured too near. But arrows +were many and well-aimed, and in a few minutes +the great and warlike Mato lay dead at the foot +of the tree. + +The men ran forward and counted their coups +on him, just as when an enemy is fallen. Then +they looked at one another and placed their +hands over their mouths as the young girl de- +scended the tree with a fawn bound upon her +back. + +"So that was the bait!" they cried. "And +will you not make a feast with that fawn for +us who came to your rescue? " + +"The fawn is young and tender, and we have +not eaten meat for two days. It will be a gen- +erous thing to do," added her father, who was +among them. + +"Ye-e-e!" she cried out in distress. "Do +not ask it! I have seen this fawn's mother. I +have promised to keep her child safe. See! +I have saved its life, even when my own was in +danger." + +"Ho, ho, wakan ye lo! (Yes, yes, 'tis holy +or mysterious)," they exclaimed approvingly. + +It was no small trouble for Snana to keep her +trust. As may well be supposed, all the dogs +of the teepee village must be watched and kept +at a distance. Neither was it easy to feed the +little captive; but in gaining its confidence the +girl was an adept. The fawn soon followed her +everywhere, and called to her when hungry +exactly as she had called to her own mother. + +After several days, when her fright at the +encounter with the bear had somewhat worn off, +Snana took her pet into the woods and back to +the very spot in which she had found it. In +the furthest corner of the wild plum grove she +laid it down, gently stroked its soft forehead, +and smoothed the leaflike ears. The little +thing closed its eyes. Once more the Sioux +girl bent over and laid her cheek against the +fawn's head; then reluctantly she moved away, +hoping and yet dreading that the mother would +return. She crouched under a clump of bushes +near by, and gave the doe call. It was a reckless +thing for her to do, for such a call might bring +upon her a mountain lion or ever-watchful silver- +tip; but Snana did not think of that. + +In a few minutes she heard the light patter +of hoofs, and caught a glimpse of a doe running +straight toward the fawn's hiding-place. When +she stole near enough to see, the doe and the +fawn were examining one another carefully, as +if fearing some treachery. At last both were +apparently satisfied. The doe caressed her nat- +ural child, and the little one accepted the milk +she offered. + +In the Sioux maiden's mind there was tur- +moil. A close attachment to the little wild +creature had already taken root there, contend- +ing with the sense of justice that was strong +within her. Now womanly sympathy for the +mother was in control, and now a desire to +possess and protect her helpless pet. + +"I can take care of her against all hunters, +both animal and human. They are ever ready +to seize the helpless fawn for food. Her life +will be often exposed. You cannot save her +from disaster. O, Takcha, my sister, let me +still keep her for you!" she finally appealed to +the poor doe, who was nervously watching the +intruder, and apparently thinking how she might +best escape with the fawn. + +Just at this moment there came a low call +from the wood. It was a doe call; but the +wild mother and her new friend both knew that +it was not the call of a real doe. + +"It is a Sioux hunter!" whispered the girl. +"You must go, my sister! Be off; I will take +your child to safety!" + +While she was yet speaking, the doe seemed +to realize the danger. She stopped only an +instant to lick fondly the tawny coat of the +little one, who had just finished her dinner; +then she bounded away. + +As Snana emerged from the bushes with her +charge, a young hunter met her face to face, +and stared at her curiously. He was not of her +father's camp, but a stranger. + +"Ugh, you have my game." + +"Tosh!" she replied coquettishly. + +It was so often said among the Indians that +the doe was wont to put on human form to mis- +lead the hunter, that it looked strange to see +a woman with a fawn, and the young man could +not forbear to gaze upon Snana. + +"You are not the real mother in maiden's +guise? Tell me truly if you are of human +blood," he demanded rudely. + +"I am a Sioux maiden! Do you not know +my father?" she replied. + +"Ah, but who is your father? What is his +name?" he insisted, nervously fingering his +arrows. + +"Do not be a coward! Surely you should +know a maid of your own race," she replied re- +proachfully. + +"Ah, you know the tricks of the doe! What +is thy name?" + +"Hast thou forgotten the etiquette of thy +people, and wouldst compel me to pronounce +my own name? I refuse; thou art jesting!" +she retorted with a smile. + +"Thou dost give the tricky answers of a doe. +I cannot wait; I must act before I lose my nat- +ural mind. But already I am yours. Whatever +purpose you may have in thus charming a poor +hunter, be merciful," and, throwing aside his +quiver, he sat down. + +The maiden stole a glance at his face, and +then another. He was handsome. Softly she +reentered the thicket and laid down the little +fawn. + +"Promise me never to hunt here again!" +she said earnestly, as she came forth without +her pretty burden, and he exacted another prom- +ise in return. Thus Snana lost her fawn, and +found a lover. + + + + +IV + + +SHE-WHO-HAS-A-SOUL + +It was a long time ago, nearly two hundred +years ago, that some of our people were +living upon the shores of the Great Lake, +Lake Superior. The chief of this band was +called Tatankaota, Many Buffaloes. + +One day the young son of Tatankaota led a +war-party against the Ojibways, who occupied +the country east of us, toward the rising sun. + +When they had gone a day's journey in the +direction of Sault Ste. Marie, in our language +Skesketatanka, the warriors took up their posi- +tion on the lake shore, at a point which the +Ojibways were accustomed to pass in their +canoes. + +Long they gazed, and scanned the surface of +the water, watching for the coming of the foe. +The sun had risen above the dark pines, over +the great ridge of woodland across the bay. It +was the awakening of all living things. The +birds were singing, and shining fishes leaped +out of the water as if at play. At last, far off, +there came the warning cry of the loon to stir +their expectant ears. + +"Warriors, look close to the horizon! This +brother of ours does not lie. The enemy +comes!" exclaimed their leader. + +Presently upon the sparkling face of the water +there appeared a moving canoe. There was but +one, and it was coming directly toward them. + +"Hahatonwan! Hahatonwan! (The Ojib- +ways! the Ojibways!)" they exclaimed with one +voice, and, grasping their weapons, they hastily +concealed themselves in the bushes. + +"Spare none--take no captives!" ordered +the chief's son. + +Nearer and nearer approached the strange +canoe. The glistening blades of its paddles +flashed as it were the signal of good news, or +a welcome challenge. All impatiently waited +until it should come within arrow-shot. + +"Surely it is an Ojibway canoe," one mur- +mured. "Yet look! the stroke is ungainly!" +Now, among all the tribes only the Ojibway's +art is perfect in paddling a birch canoe. This +was a powerful stroke, but harsh and un- +steady. + +"See! there are no feathers on this man's +head!" exclaimed the son of the chief. "Hold, +warriors, he wears a woman's dress, and I see +no weapon. No courage is needed to take his life, +therefore let it be spared! I command that +only coups (or blows) be counted on him, and +he shall tell us whence he comes, and on what +errand." + +The signal was given; the warriors sprang +to their feet, and like wolves they sped from +the forest, out upon the white, sandy beach +and straight into the sparkling waters of the +lake, giving the shrill war-cry, the warning of +death! + +The solitary oarsman made no outcry--he +offered no defense! Kneeling calmly in the +prow of the little vessel, he merely ceased pad- +dling and seemed to await with patience the +deadly blow of the tomahawk. + +The son of Tatankaota was foremost in the +charge, but suddenly an impulse seized him to +stop his warriors, lest one in the heat of excite- +ment should do a mischief to the stranger. The +canoe with its occupant was now very near, and +it could be seen that the expression of his face +was very gentle and even benignant. None +could doubt his utter harmlessness; and the +chief's son afterward declared that at this mo- +ment he felt a premonition of some event, but +whether good or evil he could not tell. + +No blows were struck--no coups counted. +The young man bade his warriors take up the +canoe and carry it to the shore; and although +they murmured somewhat among themselves, +they did as he commanded them. They seized +the light bark and bore it dripping to a hill +covered with tall pines, and overlooking the +waters of the Great Lake. + +Then the warriors lifted their war-clubs over +their heads and sang, standing around the canoe +in which the black-robed stranger was still +kneeling. Looking at him closely, they per- +ceived that he was of a peculiar complexion, +pale and inclined to red. He wore a necklace +of beads, from which hung a cross bearing the +form of a man. His garments were strange, +and most like the robes of woman. All of these +things perplexed them greatly. + +Presently the Black Robe told them by signs, +in response to their inquiries, that he came from +the rising sun, even beyond the Great Salt Water, +and he seemed to say that he formerly came +from the sky. Upon this the warriors believed +that he must be a prophet or mysterious man. + +Their leader directed them to take up again the +canoe with the man in it, and appointed the +warriors to carry it by turns until they should +reach his father's village. This was done ac- +cording to the ancient custom, as a mark of re- +spect and honor. They took it up forthwith, +and traveled with all convenient speed along the +lake shore, through forests and across streams +to a place called the Maiden's Retreat, a short +distance from the village. + +Thence the chief's son sent a messenger to +announce to his father that he was bringing +home a stranger, and to ask whether or not he +should be allowed to enter the village. "His +appearance," declared the scout, "is unlike that +of any man we have ever seen, and his ways +are mysterious!" + +When the chief heard these words, he imme- +diately called his council-men together to decide +what was to be done, for he feared by admitting +the mysterious stranger to bring some disaster +upon his people. Finally he went out with his +wisest men to meet his son's war-party. They +looked with astonishment upon the Black Robe. + +"Dispatch him! Dispatch him! Show him +no mercy!" cried some of the council-men. + +"Let him go on his way unharmed. Trouble +him not," advised others. + +"It is well known that the evil spirits some- +times take the form of a man or animal. From +his strange appearance I judge this to be such +a one. He should be put to death, lest some +harm befall our people," an old man urged. + +By this time several of the women of the +village had reached the spot. Among them was +She-who-has-a-Soul, the chief's youngest daugh- +ter, who tradition says was a maiden of much +beauty, and of a generous heart. The stranger +was evidently footsore from much travel and + +weakened by fasting. When she saw that the +poor man clasped his hands and looked skyward +as he uttered words in an unknown tongue, she +pleaded with her father that a stranger who has +entered their midst unchallenged may claim the +hospitality of the people, according to the an- +cient custom. + +"Father, he is weary and in want of food. +Hold him no longer! Delay your council until +he is refreshed!" These were the words of +She-who-has-a-Soul, and her father could not +refuse her prayer. The Black Robe was re- +leased, and the Sioux maiden led him to her +father's teepee. + +Now the warriors had been surprised and in- +deed displeased to find him dressed after the +fashion of a woman, and they looked upon him +with suspicion. But from the moment that she +first beheld him, the heart of the maiden had +turned toward this strange and seemingly un- +fortunate man. It appeared to her that great +reverence and meekness were in his face, and +with it all she was struck by his utter fearless- +ness, his apparent unconsciousness of danger. + +The chief's daughter, having gained her +father's permission, invited the Black Robe to +his great buffalo-skin tent, and spreading a fine +robe, she gently asked him to be seated. With +the aid of her mother, she prepared wild rice +sweetened with maple sugar and some broiled +venison for his repast. The youthful warriors +were astonished to observe these attentions, but +the maiden heeded them not. She anointed the +blistered feet of the holy man with perfumed +otter oil, and put upon him a pair of moccasins +beautifully worked by her own hands. + +It was only an act of charity on her part, but +the young men were displeased, and again urged +that the stranger should at once be turned away. +Some even suggested harsher measures; but +they were overruled by the chief, softened by +the persuasions of a well-beloved daughter. + +During the few days that the Black Robe +remained in the Sioux village he preached ear- +nestly to the maiden, for she had been permitted +to converse with him by signs, that she might +try to ascertain what manner of man he was. +He told her of the coming of a "Great +Prophet" from the sky, and of his words that +he had left with the people. The cross with +the figure of a man he explained as his totem +which he had told them to carry. He also said +that those who love him are commanded to go +among strange peoples to tell the news, and that +all who believe must be marked with holy water +and accept the totem. + +He asked by signs if She-who-has-a-Soul be- +lieved the story. To this she replied: + +"It is a sweet story--a likely legend! I do +believe!" + +Then the good father took out a small cross, +and having pressed it to his heart and crossed +his forehead and breast, he gave it to her. +Finally he dipped his finger in water and touched +the forehead of the maiden, repeating mean- +while some words in an unknown tongue. + +The mother was troubled, for she feared that +the stranger was trying to bewitch her daugh- +ter, but the chief decided thus: + +"This is a praying-man, and he is not of +our people; his customs are different, but they +are not evil. Warriors, take him back to the +spot where you saw him first! It is my desire, +and the good custom of our tribe requires that +you free him without injury!" + +Accordingly they formed a large party, and +carried the Black Robe in his canoe back to +the shore of the Great Lake, to the place where +they had met him, and he was allowed to depart +thence whithersoever he would. He took his +leave with signs of gratitude for their hospi- +tality, and especially for the kindness of the +beautiful Sioux maiden. She seemed to have +understood his mission better than any one else, +and as long as she lived she kept his queer +trinket--as it seemed to the others--and per- +formed the strange acts that he had taught her. + +Furthermore, it was through the pleadings +of She-who-has-a-Soul that the chief Tatankaota +advised his people in after days to befriend the +white strangers, and though many of the other +chiefs opposed him in this, his counsels pre- +vailed. Hence it was that both the French and +English received much kindness from our peo- +ple, mainly through the influence of this one +woman! + +Such was the first coming of the white man +among us, as it is told in our traditions. Other +praying-men came later, and many of the Sioux +allowed themselves to be baptized. True, there +have been Indian wars, but not without reason; +and it is pleasant to remember that the Sioux +were hospitable to the first white "praying- +man," and that it was a tender-hearted maiden +of my people who first took in her hands the +cross of the new religion. + + + + +V + + +THE PEACE-MAKER + +One of the most remarkable women of +her day and nation was Eyatonkawee, +She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar. It is +matter of history among the Wakpaykootay +band of Sioux, the Dwellers among the Leaves, +that when Eyatonkawee was a very young +woman she was once victorious in a hand-to- +hand combat with the enemy in the woods of +Minnesota, where her people were hunting the +deer. At such times they often met with stray +parties of Sacs and Foxes from the prairies of +Iowa and Illinois. + +Now, the custom was among our people that +the doer of a notable warlike deed was held in +highest honor, and these deeds were kept con- +stantly in memory by being recited in public, +before many witnesses. The greatest exploit +was that one involving most personal courage +and physical address, and he whose record was +adjudged best might claim certain privileges, +not the least of which was the right to interfere +in any quarrel and separate the combatants. +The peace-maker might resort to force, if need +be, and no one dared to utter a protest who +could not say that he had himself achieved an +equal fame. + +There was a man called Tamahay, known to +Minnesota history as the "One-eyed Sioux," +who was a notable character on the frontier in +the early part of the nineteenth century. He +was very reckless, and could boast of many a +perilous adventure. He was the only Sioux who, +in the War of 1812, fought for the Americans, +while all the rest of his people sided with the +British, mainly through the influence of the Eng- +lish traders among them at that time. This +same "One-eyed Sioux" became a warm friend +of Lieutenant Pike, who discovered the sources +of the Mississippi, and for whom Pike's Peak +is named. Some say that the Indian took his +friend's name, for Tamahay in English means +Pike or Pickerel. + +Unfortunately, in later life this brave man +became a drunkard, and after the Americans +took possession of his country almost any one +of them would supply him with liquor in recog- +nition of his notable services as a scout and +soldier. Thus he was at times no less dangerous +in camp than in battle. + +Now, Eyatonkawee, being a young widow, +had married the son of a lesser chief in Tama- +hay's band, and was living among strangers. +Moreover, she was yet young and modest. + +One day this bashful matron heard loud war- +whoops and the screams of women. Looking +forth, she saw the people fleeing hither and +thither, while Tamahay, half intoxicated, rushed +from his teepee painted for war, armed with +tomahawk and scalping-knife, and approached +another warrior as if to slay him. At this sight +her heart became strong, and she quickly sprang +between them with her woman's knife in her +hand. + +"It was a Sac warrior of like proportions +and bravery with your own, who, having slain +several of the Sioux, thus approached me with +uplifted tomahawk!" she exclaimed in a clear +voice, and went on to recite her victory on that +famous day so that the terrified people paused +to hear. + +Tamahay was greatly astonished, but he was +not too drunk to realize that he must give way +at once, or be subject to the humiliation of a +blow from the woman-warrior who challenged +him thus. The whole camp was listening; and +being unable, in spite of his giant frame and +well-known record, to cite a greater deed than +hers, he retreated with as good a grace as pos- +sible. Thus Eyatonkawee recounted her brave +deed for the first time, in order to save a man's +life. From that day her name was great as a +peace-maker--greater even than when she had +first defended so gallantly her babe and home! + +Many years afterward, when she had at- +tained middle age, this woman averted a serious +danger from her people. + +Chief Little Crow the elder was dead, and as +he had two wives of two different bands, the +succession was disputed among the half-brothers +and their adherents. Finally the two sons of +the wife belonging to the Wabashaw band +plotted against the son of the woman of the +Kaposia band, His-Red-Nation by name, after- +ward called Little Crow--the man who led the +Minnesota massacre. + +They obtained a quantity of whisky and made +a great feast to which many were invited, in- +tending when all were more or less intoxicated +to precipitate a fight in which he should be +killed. It would be easy afterward to excuse +themselves by saying that it was an accident. + +Mendota, near what is now the thriving city +of Saint Paul, then a queen of trading-posts +in the Northwest, was the rendezvous of the +Sioux. The event brought many together, for +all warriors of note were bidden from far and +near, and even the great traders of the day +were present, for the succession to the chieftain- +ship was one which vitally affected their inter- +ests. During the early part of the day all +went well, with speeches and eulogies of the +dead chief, flowing and eloquent, such as only +a native orator can utter. Presently two goodly +kegs of whisky were rolled into the council +teepee. + +Eyatonkawee was among the women, and +heard their expressions of anxiety as the voices +of the men rose louder and more threatening. +Some carried their children away into the woods +for safety, while others sought speech with their +husbands outside the council lodge and besought +them to come away in time. But more than +this was needed to cope with the emergency. +Suddenly a familiar form appeared in the door +of the council lodge. + +"Is it becoming in a warrior to spill the blood +of his tribesmen? Are there no longer any +Ojibways?" + +It was the voice of Eyatonkawee, that strong- +hearted woman! Advancing at the critical mo- +ment to the middle of the ring of warriors, she +once more recited her "brave deed" with all +the accompaniment of action and gesture, and +to such effect that the disorderly feast broke +up in confusion, and there was peace between +the rival bands of Sioux. + +There was seldom a dangerous quarrel among +the Indians in those days that was not precipi- +tated by the use of strong liquor, and this sim- +ple Indian woman, whose good judgment was +equal to her courage, fully recognized this fact. +All her life, and especially after her favorite +brother had been killed in a drunken brawl in +the early days of the American Fur Company, +she was a determined enemy to strong drink, +and it is said did more to prevent its use among +her immediate band than any other person. Be- +ing a woman, her sole means of recognition was +the "brave deed" which she so wonderfully +described and enacted before the people. + +During the lifetime of She-whose-Voice-is- +heard-afar--and she died only a few years ago +--it behooved the Sioux men, if they drank at +all, to drink secretly and in moderation. There +are many who remember her brave entrance +upon the scene of carousal, and her dramatic +recital of the immortal deed of her youth. + +"Hanta! hanta wo! (Out of the way!)" +exclaim the dismayed warriors, scrambling in +every direction to avoid the upraised arm of +the terrible old woman, who bursts suddenly +upon them with disheveled hair, her gown torn +and streaked here and there with what looks +like fresh blood, her leather leggins loose and +ungartered, as if newly come from the famous +struggle. One of the men has a keg of whisky +for which he has given a pony, and the others +have been invited in for a night of pleasure. +But scarcely has the first round been drunk to +the toast of "great deeds," when Eyatonkawee +is upon them, her great knife held high in her +wrinkled left hand, her tomahawk in the right. +Her black eyes gleam as she declaims in a voice +strong, unterrified: + +"Look! look! brothers and husbands--the Sacs and Foxes are upon us! +Behold, our braves are surprised--they are unprepared! +Hear the mothers, the wives and the children screaming in affright! + +"Your brave sister, Eyatonkawee, she, the newly made mother, +is serving the smoking venison to her husband, + +just returned from the chase! +Ah, he plunges into the thickest of the enemy! +He falls, he falls, in full view of his young wife! + +"She desperately presses her babe to her breast, +while on they come yelling and triumphant! +The foremost of them all enters her white buffalo-skin teepee: +Tossing her babe at the warrior's feet, she stands before him, defiant; +But he straightway levels his spear at her bosom. +Quickly she springs aside, and as quickly deals a deadly blow with her ax: +Falls at her feet the mighty warrior! + +"Closely following on comes another, +unknowing what fate has met his fellow! +He too enters her teepee, and upon his feather-decked head her ax falls-- +Only his death-groan replies! + +"Another of heroic size and great prowess, +as witnessed by his war-bonnet of eagle-feathers, +Rushes on, yelling and whooping--for they believe that victory is with them! +The third great warrior who has dared to enter Eyatonkawee's teepee uninvited, +he has already dispatched her husband! +He it is whose terrible war-cry has scattered her sisters +among the trees of the forest! + +"On he comes with confidence and a brave heart, +seeking one more bloody deed-- +One more feather to win for his head! +Behold, he lifts above her woman's head his battle-ax! +No hope, no chance for her life! . . . +Ah! he strikes beyond her--only the handle of the ax falls +heavily upon her tired shoulder! +Her ready knife finds his wicked heart,-- +Down he falls at her feet! + +"Now the din of war grows fainter and further. +The Sioux recover heart, and drive the enemy headlong from their lodges: +Your sister stands victorious over three! +"She takes her baby boy, and makes him count with his tiny +hands the first 'coup' on each dead hero; +Hence he wears the 'first feathers' while yet in his oaken cradle. + +"The bravest of the whole Sioux nation have given the war-whoop +in your sister's honor, and have said: +'Tis Eyatonkawee who is not satisfied with downing +the mighty oaks with her ax-- +She took the mighty Sacs and Foxes for trees, +and she felled them with a will!'" + + +In such fashion the old woman was wont to +chant her story, and not a warrior there could +tell one to surpass it! The custom was strong, +and there was not one to prevent her when she +struck open with a single blow of her ax the keg +of whisky, and the precious liquor trickled upon +the ground. + +"So trickles under the ax of Eyatonkawee the +blood of an enemy to the Sioux!" + + + + +VI + + +BLUE SKY + +Many years ago a large body of the +Sioux were encamped at midsummer +in the valley of the Cheyenne. It +was customary at that period for the Indians +to tie up their ponies over night within the +circle of the teepees, whenever they were in +disputed territory, for they considered it no +wrong to steal the horses of the enemy. Hence +this long procession of young men and maidens, +returning at sunset to the camp with great bun- +dles of green grass hanging gracefully from their +saddles! + +The "green grass parade" became a regular +custom, and in fact a full-dress affair, since it +was found to afford unusual opportunities for +courtship. + +Blue Sky, the pretty daughter of the Sioux +chief, put on her best doeskin gown trimmed +with elks' teeth, and investing her favorite +spotted pony with his beaded saddle-blanket, +she went forth in company with one of her +maiden friends. Soon two young warriors over- +took the pair; and as they approached they +covered their heads with their robes, exposing +only the upper part of the face disguised with +paint and the single eagle feather standing +upright. One carried a bow and quiver full of +arrows; the other, a war-club suspended from +his right arm. + +"Ah, hay, hun, hay!" saluted one of them; +but the modest maidens said never a word! It +was not their way to speak; only the gay calico +ponies pranced about and sportively threw back +their ears to snap at the horses of the two young +men. + +"'Tis a brave welcome your horses are giving +us!" he continued, while the two girls merely +looked at one another with perfect understand- +ing. + +Presently Matoska urged his pony close to +the Blue Sky's side. + +"It may be that I am overbold," he mur- +mured in her ear, "to repeat so soon my tale +of love! I know well that I risk a reprimand, +if not in words, then by a look or action!" + +He paused to note the effect of his speech; +but alas! it is the hard rule of savage courtship +that the maiden may with propriety and dignity +keep silence as long as she wishes, and it is often +exasperatingly long. + +"I have spoken to no maiden," he resumed, +because I wished to win the war-bonnet before +doing so. But to you I was forced to yield!" +Again he paused, as if fearing to appear unduly +hasty; but deliberate as were speech and man- +ner, his eyes betrayed him. They were full of +intense eagerness mingled with anxiety. + +"Sometimes I have imagined that I am in the +world with you alone, traveling over the prairie +of life, or sitting in our lonely white teepee, +as the oriole sits with his mate before their +swaying home. Yet I seemed to be never lonely, +because you were there!" He finished his plea, +and with outward calmness awaited her reply. + +The maiden had not lost a word, but she was +still thinking. She thought that a man is much +like the wind of the north, only pleasant and +comfortable in midsummer! She feared that +she might some time have to furnish all the fuel +for their love's fires; therefore she held her +peace. Matoska waited for several minutes and +then silently withdrew, bearing his disappoint- +ment with dignity. + +Meanwhile the camp was astir with the re- +turning youths and maidens, their horses' sides +fringed with the long meadow grass, singing +plaintive serenades around the circular rows of +teepees before they broke up for the night. + +It was a clear and quiet night; the evening +fires were kindled and every teepee transformed +into an immense Chinese lantern. There was +a glowing ring two miles in circumference, with +the wooded river bottom on one side and the +vast prairie on the other. The Black Hills +loomed up in the distance, and the rapids of the +wild Cheyenne sent forth a varying peal of +music on the wind. The people enjoyed their +evening meal, and in the pauses of their talk +and laughter the ponies could be heard munch- +ing at the bundles of green grass just outside +the teepees. + +Suddenly a chorus of yells broke cruelly the +peace of the camp, followed by the dashing +charge of the Crow Indian horsemen! It was +met as bravely and quickly by the Sioux; and +in the clear, pale moonlight the dusky warriors +fought, with the occasional flash of a firearm, +while silent weapons flew thick in the air like +dragon-flies at sunset. + +The brave mothers, wives, and sisters gave +their shrill war-cry to inspire their men, and +show the enemy that even the Sioux women can- +not be daunted by such a fearful surprise! + +When the morning sun sent its golden shafts +among the teepees, they saw it through glisten- +ing tears--happy tears, they said, because the +brave dead had met their end in gallant fight +--the very end they craved! And among those +who fell that night was Brave Hawk, the hand- +some brother of the Blue Sky. + +In a few days the camp was moved to a point +further up the Cheyenne and deeper into the +bosom of the hills, leaving behind the deco- +rated grave lodges belonging to the honored +dead. A great council teepee was pitched, and +here the people met to credit those who had +earned them with the honors of the fight, that +they might thereafter wear the eagle feathers +which they had won. + +"The first honor," declared the master of +ceremonies, "belongs to Brave Hawk, who fell +in the battle! He it was who compelled the +Crows to retreat, when he bravely charged upon +them and knocked from his horse the Crow +chief, their war leader." + +"Ho, it is true!" exclaimed the warriors in +chorus. + +"The second honor," he resumed, "belongs +to Matoska, the White Bear!" + +"Hun, hun, hay!" interposed another, "it +is I, Red Owl, who touched the body of the +Crow chief second to Brave Hawk!" + +It was a definite challenge. + +"The warriors who witnessed the act give +the coup to Matoska, friend!" persisted the +spokesman. + +Red Owl was a brave youth and a close rival +of Matoska, both for war honors and for the +hand of the prettiest maiden in the tribe. He +had hoped to be recognized as one who fought +in defense of their homes by the side of Brave +Hawk; that would please the Blue Sky, he +thought; but the honor was conferred upon his +rival! + +There was a cloud of suppressed irritation on +his dusky face as he sullenly departed to his +own tent--an action which displeased the coun- +cil-men. Matoska had not spoken, and this +caused him to appear to the better advantage. +The worst of it was that Blue Sky herself had +entered the ring with the "orphan steed," as +it was called--the war-horse of her dead +brother, and had therefore seen and heard every- +thing! Tanagila, or Hummingbird, the beau- +tiful charger, decorated according to custom +with the honors won by his master, was led away +by the girl amidst resounding war-whoops. + +Unable to remain quiet, Red Owl went out +into the hills to fast and pray. It was sunset of +the next day when he again approached the +village, and behind a little ridge came suddenly +upon Matoska and the girl standing together. +It was the first time that they had met since +the "green grass parade," and now only by ac- +cident, as the sister of Brave Hawk was in deep +mourning. However, the lover had embraced +his opportunity, and the maiden had said that +she was willing to think of the matter. No +more words were spoken. + +That very night the council drum was struck +three times, followed by the warriors' cheer. +Everybody knew what that meant. It was an +invitation to the young men to go upon the +war-path against the Crows! + +Blue Sky was unconsciously startled by this +sudden announcement. For the first time in her +life she felt a fear that she could not explain. +The truth was that she loved, and was not yet +fully aware of it. In spite of her fresh grief, +she had been inexplicably happy since her last +meeting with Matoska, for she had seen in him +that which is so beautiful, so compelling in man +to the eyes of the woman who loves. He, too, +now cherished a real hope, and felt as if he +could rush into the thickest of the battle to +avenge the brother of his beloved! + +In a few days the war-party had reached the +Big Horn and sent out advance scouts, who re- +ported a large Crow encampment. Their hun- +dreds of horses covered the flats like a great +herd of buffalo, they said. It was immediately +decided to attack at daybreak, and on a given +signal they dashed impetuously upon the for- +midable camp. Some stampeded and drove +off a number of horses, while the main body +plunged into the midst of the Crows. + +But the enemy were not easily surprised. +They knew well the Sioux tactics, and there was +a desperate struggle for supremacy. War-club +was raised against war-club, and the death-song +of the arrow filled the air! Presently the Sioux +were forced to retreat, with the Crows in hot +pursuit, like wolves after their prey. + +Red Owl and Matoska had been among the +foremost in the charge, and now they acted as +a rear-guard, bravely defending the retreat of +their little army, to the admiration of the enemy. +At last a Crow raised his spear against Matoska, +who in a flash dismounted him with a stroke of +his oaken bow; but alas! the blow snapped +the bow-string and left him defenseless. At the +same instant his horse uttered a scream and fell, +throwing its rider headlong! + +There was no one near except Red Owl, who +clapped his heels to his pony and joined in the +retreat, leaving Matoska behind. He arose, +threw down his quiver, and advanced alone to +meet the oncoming rush of the Crows! + +The Sioux had seen him fall. In a few mo- +ments he was surrounded by the enemy, and +they saw him no more. + +The pursuit was stopped, and they paused +upon a hilltop to collect the remnant of their +force. Red Owl was the last to come up, and +it was observed that he did not look like himself. + +"Tell us, what were Matoska's last words?" +they asked him. + +But he silently dismounted and sent an arrow +through his faithful steed, to the astonishment +of the warriors. Immediately afterward he +took out his knife and stabbed himself to the +heart. + +"Ah!" they exclaimed, "he could not live +to share our humiliation!" + +The war-party returned defeated and cast +down by this unexpected ending to their adven- +ture, having lost some of their bravest and best +men. The camp was instantly thrown into +mourning. Many were in heavy grief, but none +was more deeply stricken than the maiden called +the Blue Sky, the daughter of their chief. + +She remained within her teepee and wept in +secret, for none knew that she had the right to +mourn. Yet she believed that her lover had +met with misfortune, but not death. Although +his name was announced among those warriors +who fell in the field, her own heart assured her +that it was not so. "I must go to him," she +said to herself. "I must know certainly whether +he is still among the living!" + +The next evening, while the village was yet +in the confusion of great trouble and sorrow, +Blue Sky rode out upon her favorite pony as +if to take him to water as usual, but none saw +her return! She hastened to the spot where +she had concealed two sacks of provisions and +her extra moccasins and materials for sewing. +She had no weapon, save her knife and a small +hatchet. She knew the country between the +Black Hills and the Big Horn, and knew that +it was full of perils for man and much more for +woman. Yet by traveling only at night and +concealing herself in the daytime she hoped to +avoid these dangers, and she rode bravely forth +on the trail of the returning warriors. + +Her dog, Wapayna, had followed the maiden, +and she was not sorry to have so faithful a +companion. She cautioned him not to bark at +or attack strange animals unless they attacked +first, and he seemed to understand the propriety +of remaining on guard whenever his mistress +was asleep. + +She reached the Powder River country in +safety, and here she had more than once to +pick her way among the buffaloes. These wily +animals seemed to realize that she was only a +woman and unarmed, so that they scarcely kept +out of her path. She also crossed the trails of +riders, some of them quite fresh, but was fortu- +nate enough not to meet any of them. + +At last the maiden attained the divide be- +tween the Tongue and the Big Horn rivers. +Her heart beat fast, and the sudden sense of her +strange mission almost overwhelmed her. She +remembered the only time in her life that the +Sioux were upon that river, and so had that bit +of friendly welcome from the valley--a recol- +lection of childhood! + +It was near morning; the moon had set and +for a short time darkness prevailed, but the +girl's eyes had by this time become accustomed +to the dark. She knew the day was at hand, +and with its first beams she was safely tucked +into one of those round turns left by the river +long ago in changing its bed, now become a +little grassy hollow sheltered by steep banks, +and hidden by a fringe of trees. Here she +picketed her pony, and took her own rest. Not +until the afternoon shadows were long did she +awake and go forth with determination to seek +for the battlefield and for the Crow encamp- +ment. + +It was not long before she came upon the +bodies of fallen horses and men. There was +Matoska's white charger, with a Sioux arrow in +his side, and she divined the treachery of Red +Owl! But he was dead, and his death had +atoned for the crime. The body of her lover +was nowhere to be found; yet how should they +have taken the bravest of the Sioux a cap- +tive? + +"If he had but one arrow left, he would stand +and fight! If his bow-string were broken, he +would still welcome death with a strong heart," +she thought. + +The evening was approaching and the Crow +village in plain sight. Blue Sky arranged her +hair and dress as well as she could like that of +a Crow woman, and with an extra robe she +made for herself a bundle that looked as if it +held a baby in its many wrappings. The com- +munity was still celebrating its recent victory +over the Sioux, and the camp was alive with +songs and dances. In the darkness she ap- +proached unnoticed, and singing in an under- +tone a Crow lullaby, walked back and forth +among the lodges, watching eagerly for any +signs of him she sought. + +At last she came near to the council lodge. +There she beheld his face like an apparition +through the dusk and the fire-light! He was +sitting within, dressed in the gala costume of a +Crow. + +"O, he is living! he is living!" thought the +brave maiden. "O, what shall I do?" Un- +consciously she crept nearer and nearer, until +the sharp eyes of an Indian detected the slight +difference in her manner and dress, and he at +once gave the alarm. + +"Wah, wah! Epsaraka! Epsaraka! A +Sioux! A Sioux!" + +In an instant the whole camp had surrounded +the girl, who stood in their midst a prisoner, +yet undaunted, for she had seen her lover, and +the spirit of her ancestors rose within her. + +An interpreter was brought, a man who was +half Crow and half Sioux. + +"Young and pretty daughter of the Sioux!" +exclaimed the chief, "tell us how you came here +in our midst undetected, and why!" + +"Because," replied the Blue Sky, "your +brave warriors have slain my only brother, and +captured my lover, whom you now hold a pris- +oner. It is for his sake that I have thus risked +my life and honor!" + +"Ho, ho! You are the bravest woman I +have ever seen. Your lover wag betrayed into +our hands by the treachery of one of his own +tribe, who shot his horse from behind. He +faced us without fear, but it was not his courage +that saved his life. He resembles my own son, +who lately fell in battle, and according to the +custom I have adopted him as my son!" + +Thus the brave maiden captured the heart +of the wily Crow, and was finally allowed to +return home with her lover, bearing many and +rich presents. Her name is remembered among +the two tribes, for this act of hers resulted in a +treaty of peace between them which was kept +for a generation. + + + + +VII + + +THE FAITHFULNESS OF LONG EARS + +Away beyond the Thin Hills, above the +Big Lone Tree upon the Powder River, +the Uncpapa Sioux had celebrated their +Sun Dance, some forty years ago. It was mid- +summer and the red folk were happy. They +lacked for nothing. The yellowish green flat +on either side of the Powder was studded with +wild flowers, and the cottonwood trees were in +full leaf. One large circle of buffalo skin tee- +pees formed the movable village. The Big +Horn Mountains loomed up against the deep +blue sky to the westward, and the Black Hills +appeared in the far southeast. + +The tribal rites had all been observed, and +the usual summer festivities enjoyed to the full. +The camp as it broke up divided itself in three +parts, each of which had determined to seek a +favorite hunting-ground. + +One band journeyed west, toward the Tongue +River. One followed a tributary of the Pow- +der to the south. The third merely changed +camp, on account of the grazing for ponies, +and for four days remained near the old +place. + +The party that went west did not fail to real- +ize the perilous nature of their wanderings, for +they were trespassing upon the country of the +warlike Crows. + +On the third day at sunrise, the Sioux crier's +voice resounded in the valley of the Powder, +announcing that the lodges must be razed and +the villagers must take up their march. + +Breakfast of jerked buffalo meat had been +served and the women were adjusting their +packs, not without much chatter and apparent +confusion. Weeko (Beautiful Woman), the +young wife of the war-chief Shunkaska, who +had made many presents at the dances in honor +of her twin boys, now gave one of her remain- +ing ponies to a poor old woman whose only +beast of burden, a large dog, had died during +the night. + +This made it necessary to shift the packs of +the others. Nakpa, or Long Ears, her kitten- +like gray mule, which had heretofore been hon- +ored with the precious burden of the twin babies, +was to be given a heavier and more cumbersome +load. Weeko's two-year-old spotted pony was +selected to carry the babies. + +Accordingly, the two children, in their gor- +geously beaded buckskin hoods, were sus- +pended upon either side of the pony's saddle. +As Weeko's first-born, they were beautifully +dressed; even the saddle and bridle were dain- +tily worked by her own hands. + +The caravan was now in motion, and Weeko +started all her ponies after the leader, while +she adjusted the mule's clumsy burden of ket- +tles and other household gear. In a mo- +ment: + +"Go on, let us see how you move with your +new load! Go on!" she exclaimed again, with +a light blow of the horse-hair lariat, as the an- +imal stood perfectly still. + +Nakpa simply gave an angry side glance at +her load and shifted her position once or twice. +Then she threw herself headlong into the air +and landed stiff-legged, uttering at the same time +her unearthly protest. First she dove straight +through the crowd, then proceeded in a circle, +her heels describing wonderful curves and +sweeps in the air. Her pack, too, began to +come to pieces and to take forced flights from +her undignified body and heels, in the midst of +the screams of women and children, the barking +of dogs, and the war-whoops of the amused +young braves. + +The cowskin tent became detached from her +saddle, and a moment later Nakpa stood free. +Her sides worked like a bellows as she stood +there meekly indignant, apparently considering +herself to be the victim of an uncalled-for mis- +understanding. + +"I should put an arrow through her at once, +only she is not worth a good arrow," said +Shunkaska, or White Dog, the husband of +Weeko. At his wife's answer, he opened his +eyes in surprised displeasure. + +"No, she shall have her own pack again. +She wants her twins. I ought never to have +taken them from her!" + +Weeko approached Nakpa as she stood alone +and unfriended in the face of her little world, +all of whom considered that she had committed +the unpardonable sin. As for her, she evidently +felt that her misfortunes had not been of her +own making. She gave a hesitating, sidelong +look at her mistress. + +"Nakpa, you should not have acted so. I +knew you were stronger than the others, there- +fore I gave you that load," said Weeko in a +conciliatory tone, and patted her on the nose. +"Come, now, you shall have your own pet +pack," and she led her back to where the young +pony stood silently with the babies. + +Nakpa threw back her ears and cast savage +looks at him, while Shunkaska, with no small +annoyance, gathered together as much as he +could of their scattered household effects. The +sleeping brown-skinned babies in their chrysalis- +like hoods were gently lowered from the pony's +back and attached securely to Nakpa's padded +wooden saddle. The family pots and kettles +were divided among the pack ponies. Order +was restored and the village once more in mo- +tion. + +"Come now, Nakpa; you have your wish. +You must take good care of my babies. Be +good, because I have trusted you," murmured +the young mother in her softest tones. + +"Really, Weeko, you have some common +ground with Nakpa, for you both always want +to have your own way, and stick to it, too! I +tell you, I fear this Long Ears. She is not to +be trusted with babies," remarked Shunkaska, +with a good deal of severity. + But his wife made no reply, for she well +knew that though he might criticise, he would +not actually interfere with her domestic ar- +rangements. + +He now started ahead to join the men in ad- +vance of the slow-moving procession, thus leav- +ing her in undivided charge of her household. +One or two of the pack ponies were not well- +trained and required all her attention. Nakpa +had been a faithful servant until her escapade +of the morning, and she was now obviously sat- +isfied with her mistress' arrangements. She +walked alongside with her lariat dragging, and +perfectly free to do as she pleased. + +Some hours later, the party ascended a slope +from the river bottom to cross over the divide +which lay between the Powder River and a trib- +utary stream. They had hitherto followed that +river in a westerly direction, but here it took +its course southward, winding in a blue streak +until lost to view among the foot-hills of the +Big Horn Mountains. The ford was deep, with +a swift current. Here and there a bald butte +stood out in full relief against the brilliant blue +sky. The Sioux followed a deep ravine until +they came almost up to the second row of +terraces. + +"Whoo! whoo!" came the blood-curdling +signal of danger from the front. It was no un- +familiar sound--the rovers knew it only too +well. It meant sudden death--or at best a cruel +struggle and frantic flight. + +Terrified, yet self-possessed, the women +turned to fly while yet there was time. Instantly +the mother looked to Nakpa, who carried on +either side of the saddle her precious boys. She +hurriedly examined the fastenings to see that +all was secure, and then caught her swiftest +pony, for, like all Indian women, she knew just +what was happening, and that while her hus- +band was engaged in front with the enemy, she +must seek safety with her babies. + +Hardly was she in the saddle when a heart- +rending war-whoop sounded on their flank, and +she knew that they were surrounded! Instinct- +ively she reached for her husband's second +quiver of arrows, which was carried by one of +the pack ponies. Alas! the Crow warriors were +already upon them! The ponies became un- +manageable, and the wild screams of women +and children pierced the awful confusion. + +Quick as a flash, Weeko turned again to her +babies, but Nakpa had already disappeared! + +Then, maddened by fright and the loss of her +children, Weeko became forgetful of her sex +and tenderness, for she sternly grasped her hus- +band's bow in her left hand to do battle. + +That charge of the Crows was a disastrous +one, but the Sioux were equally brave and des- +perate. Charges and counter-charges were +made, and the slain were many on both sides. +The fight lasted until darkness came. Then +the Crows departed and the Sioux buried their +dead. + +When the Crows made their flank charge, +Nakpa apparently appreciated the situation. To +save herself and the babies, she took a desperate +chance. She fled straight through the attack- +ing force. + +When the warriors came howling upon +her in great numbers, she at once started +back the way she had come, to the camp left +behind. They had traveled nearly three days. +To be sure, they did not travel more than fifteen +miles a day, but it was full forty miles to cover +before dark. + +"Look! look!" exclaimed a warrior, "two +babies hung from the saddle of a mule!" + +No one heeded this man's call, and his arrow +did not touch Nakpa or either of the boys, but +it struck the thick part of the saddle over the +mule's back. + +"Lasso her! lasso her!" he yelled once +more; but Nakpa was too cunning for them. +She dodged in and out with active heels, and +they could not afford to waste many arrows on +a mule at that stage of the fight. Down the +ravine, then over the expanse of prairie dotted +with gray-green sage-brush, she sped with her +unconscious burden. + +"Whoo! whoo!" yelled another Crow to +his comrades, "the Sioux have dispatched a +runner to get reinforcements! There he goes, +down on the flat! Now he has almost reached +the river bottom!" + +It was only Nakpa. She laid back her cars +and stretched out more and more to gain the +river, for she realized that when she had crossed +the ford the Crows would not pursue her far- +ther. + +Now she had reached the bank. With the +intense heat from her exertions, she was ex- +tremely nervous, and she imagined a warrior +beind every bush. Yet she had enough sense +left to realize that she must not satisfy her +thirst. She tried the bottom with her fore-foot, +then waded carefully into the deep stream. + +She kept her big ears well to the front as +she swam to catch the slightest sound. As she +stepped on the opposite shore, she shook herself +and the boys vigorously, then pulled a few +mouthfuls of grass and started on. + +Soon one of the babies began to cry, and the +other was not long in joining him. Nakpa did +not know what to do. She gave a gentle whinny +and both babies apparently stopped to listen; +then she took up an easy gait as if to put them +to sleep. + +These tactics answered only for a time. As +she fairly flew over the lowlands, the babies' +hunger increased and they screamed so loud that +a passing coyote had to sit upon his haunches +and wonder what in the world the fleeing long- +eared horse was carrying on his saddle. Even +magpies and crows flew near as if to ascertain +the meaning of this curious sound. + +Nakpa now came to the Little Trail Creek, +a tributary of the Powder, not far from the old +camp. No need of wasting any time here, she +thought. Then she swerved aside so suddenly +as almost to jerk her babies out of their cradles. +Two gray wolves, one on each side, approached +her, growling low--their white teeth show- +ing. + +Never in her humble life had Nakpa been +in more desperate straits. The larger of the +wolves came fiercely forward to engage her +attention, while his mate was to attack her be- +hind and cut her hamstrings. But for once the +pair had made a miscalculation. The mule used +her front hoofs vigorously on the foremost wolf, +while her hind ones were doing even more +effective work. The larger wolf soon went +limping away with a broken hip, and the one +in the rear received a deep cut on the jaw which +proved an effectual discouragement. + +A little further on, an Indian hunter drew +near on horseback, but Nakpa did not pause or +slacken her pace. On she fled through the long +dry grass of the river bottoms, while her babies +slept again from sheer exhaustion. Toward +sunset, she entered the Sioux camp amid great +excitement, for some one had spied her afar +off, and the boys and the dogs announced her +coming. + +"Whoo, whoo! Weeko's Nakpa has come +back with the twins! Whoo, whoo!" exclaimed +the men. "Tokee! tokee!" cried the women. + +A sister to Weeko who was in the village +came forward and released the children, as +Nakpa gave a low whinny and stopped. Ten- +derly Zeezeewin nursed them at her own moth- +erly bosom, assisted by another young mother +of the band. + +"Ugh, there is a Crow arrow sticking in the +saddle! A fight! a fight!" exclaimed the war- +riors. + +"Sing a Brave-Heart song for the Long-Eared +one! She has escaped alone with her charge. +She is entitled to wear an eagle's feather! Look +at the arrow in her saddle! and more, she has +a knife wound in her jaw and an arrow cut +on her hind leg.--No, those are the marks of +a wolf's teeth! She has passed through many +dangers and saved two chief's sons, who will +some day make the Crows sorry for this day's +work!" + +The speaker was an old man who thus ad- +dressed the fast gathering throng. + +Zeezeewin now came forward again with an +eagle feather and some white paint in her hands. +The young men rubbed Nakpa down, and the +feather, marked with red to indicate her wounds, +was fastened to her mane. Shoulders and hips +were touched with red paint to show her en- +durance in running. Then the crier, praising +her brave deed in heroic verse, led her around +the camp, inside of the circle of teepees. All +the people stood outside their lodges and lis- +tened respectfully, for the Dakota loves well to +honor the faithful and the brave. + +During the next day, riders came in from the +ill-fated party, bringing the sad news of the +fight and heavy loss. Late in the afternoon +came Weeko, her face swollen with crying, her +beautiful hair cut short in mourning, her gar- +ments torn and covered with dust and blood. +Her husband had fallen in the fight, and her +twin boys she supposed to have been taken cap- +tive by the Crows. Singing in a hoarse voice +the praises of her departed warrior, she entered +the camp. As she approached her sister's tee- +pee, there stood Nakpa, still wearing her hon- +orable decorations. At the same moment, +Zeezeewin came out to meet her with both +babies in her arms. + +"Mechinkshee! meechinkshee! (my sons, +my sons!)" was all that the poor mother could +say, as she all but fell from her saddle to the +ground. The despised Long Ears had not be- +trayed her trust. + + + + +VIII + + +THE WAR MAIDEN + +The old man, Smoky Day, was for +many years the best-known story-teller +and historian of his tribe. He it was +who told me the story of the War Maiden. +In the old days it was unusual but not unheard +of for a woman to go upon the war-path--per- +haps a young girl, the last of her line, or a +widow whose well-loved husband had fallen on +the field--and there could be no greater incen- +tive to feats of desperate daring on the part of +the warriors. +"A long time ago," said old Smoky Day, +"the Unkpapa and the Cut-Head bands of +Sioux united their camps upon a vast prairie +east of the Minne Wakan (now called Devil's +Lake). It was midsummer, and the people +shared in the happiness of every living thing. +We had food in abundance, for bison in count- +less numbers overspread the plain. + +"The teepee village was laid out in two great +rings, and all was in readiness for the midsum- +mer entertainments. There were ball games, +feasts and dances every day, and late into the +night. You have heard of the festivities of +those days; there are none like them now," said +the old man, and he sighed heavily as he laid +down the red pipe which was to be passed from +hand to hand during the recital. + +"The head chief of the Unkpapas then was +Tamakoche (His Country). He was in his +time a notable warrior, a hunter and a feast- +maker, much beloved by his people. He was +the father of three sons, but he was so anxious +to make them warriors of great reputation that +they had all, despising danger, been killed in +battle. + +"The chief had also a very pretty daughter, +whose name was Makatah. Since all his sons +were slain he had placed his affections solely +upon the girl, and she grew up listening to the +praises of the brave deeds of her brothers, which +her father never tired of chanting when they +were together in the lodge. At times Makatah +was called upon to dance to the 'Strong-Heart' +songs. Thus even as a child she loved the +thought of war, although she was the prettiest +and most modest maiden in the two tribes. As +she grew into womanhood she became the belle +of her father's village, and her beauty and spirit +were talked of even among the neighboring +bands of Sioux. But it appeared that Makatah +did not care to marry. She had only two am- +bitions. One was to prove to her father that, +though only a maid, she had the heart of a war- +rior. The other was to visit the graves of her +brothers--that is, the country of the enemy. + +"At this pleasant reunion of two kindred peo- +ples one of the principal events was the Feast +of Virgins, given by Makatah. All young +maidens of virtue and good repute were invited +to be present; but woe to her who should dare +to pollute the sacred feast! If her right to be +there were challenged by any it meant a public +disgrace. The two arrows and the red stone +upon which the virgins took their oath of chas- +tity were especially prepared for the occasion. +Every girl was beautifully dressed, for at that +time the white doeskin gowns, with a profusion +of fringes and colored embroidery, were the +gala attire of the Sioux maidens. Red paint was +added, and ornaments of furs and wampum. +Many youths eagerly surveyed the maiden gath- +ering, at which the daughter of Tamakoche out- +shone all the rest. + +"Several eligible warriors now pressed their +suits at the chieftain's lodge, and among them +were one or two whom he would have gladly +called son-in-law; but no! Makatah would not +listen to words of courtship. She had vowed, +she said, to the spirits of her three brothers-- +each of whom fell in the country of the Crows +--that she would see that country before she +became a wife. + +"Red Horn, who was something of a leader +among the young men, was a persistent and de- +termined suitor. He had urged every influential +friend of his and hers to persuade her to listen +to him. His presents were more valuable than +those of any one else. He even made use of +his father's position as a leading chief of the +Cut-Head band to force a decision in his favor; +and while the maiden remained indifferent her +father seemed inclined to countenance this +young man's pretensions. + +"She had many other lovers, as I have said," +the old man added, "and among them was one +Little Eagle, an orphan and a poor young man, +unknown and unproved as a warrior. He was so +insignificant that nobody thought much about +him, and if Makatah regarded him with any +favor the matter was her secret, for it is certain +that she did not openly encourage him. + +"One day it was reported in the village that +their neighbors, the Cut-Head Sioux, would or- +ganize a great attack upon the Crows at the +mouth of the Redwater, a tributary of the Mis- +souri. Makatah immediately inquired of her +male cousins whether any of them expected to +join the war-party. + +"'Three of us will go,' they replied. + +"'Then,' said the girl, 'I beg that you will +allow me to go with you! I have a good horse, +and I shall not handicap you in battle. I only +ask your protection in camp as your kinswoman +and a maid of the war-party.' + +"'If our uncle Tamakoche sanctions your +going,' they replied, 'we shall be proud to have +our cousin with us, to inspire us to brave +deeds!' + +"The maiden now sought her father and +asked his permission to accompany the war- +party. + +"'I wish,' said she, 'to visit the graves of my +brothers! I shall carry with me their war-bon- +nets and their weapons, to give to certain young +men on the eve of battle, according to the an- +cient custom. Long ago I resolved to do this, +and the time is now come.' + +"The chief was at this time well advanced +in years, and had been sitting quite alone in his +lodge, thinking upon the days of his youth, when +he was noted for daring and success in battle. +In silence he listened as he filled his pipe, and +seemed to meditate while he smoked the fra- +grant tobacco. At last he spoke with tears in +his eyes. + +"'Daughter, I am an old man! My heart +beats in my throat, and my old eyes cannot keep +back the tears. My three sons, on whom I had +placed all my hopes, are gone to a far country! +You are the only child left to my old age, and +you, too, are brave--as brave as any of your +brothers. If you go I fear that you may not +return to me; yet I cannot refuse you my per- +mission!" + +"The old man began to chant a war-song, +and some of his people, hearing him, came in to +learn what was in his mind. He told them all, +and immediately many young men volunteered +for the war-party, in order to have the honor +of going with the daughter of their chief. + +"Several of Makatah's suitors were among +them, and each watched eagerly for an oppor- +tunity to ride at her side. At night she pitched +her little teepee within the circle of her cousins' +campfires, and there she slept without fear. +Courteous youths brought to her every morning +and evening fresh venison for her repast. Yet +there was no courting, for all attentions paid to +a maiden when on the war-path must be those +of a brother to a sister, and all must be equally +received by her. + +"Two days later, when the two parties of +Sioux met on the plains, the maiden's presence +was heralded throughout the camp, as an in- +spiration to the young and untried warriors of +both bands to distinguish themselves in the field. +It is true that some of the older men considered +it unwise to allow Makatah to accompany the +war-party. + +"'The girl,' said they to one another, 'is +very ambitious as well as brave. She will surely +risk her own life in battle, which will make the +young men desperate, and we shall lose many +of them!' + +"Nevertheless they loved her and her father; +therefore they did not protest openly. + +"On the third day the Sioux scouts returned +with the word that the Crows were camping, +as had been supposed, at the confluence of the +Redwater and the Missouri Rivers. It was a +great camp. All the Crow tribe were there, +they said, with their thousands of fine horses. + +"There was excitement in the Sioux camp, +and all of the head men immediately met in +council. It was determined to make the attack +early on the following morning, just as the sun +came over the hills. The councilors agreed that +in honor of the great chief, her father, as well +as in recognition of her own courage, Makatah +should be permitted to lead the charge at the +outset, but that she must drop behind as they +neared the enemy. The maiden, who had one +of the fleetest ponies in that part of the country, +had no intention of falling back, but she did +not tell any one what was in her mind. + +"That evening every warrior sang his war- +song, and announced the particular war-charm +or 'medicine' of his clan, according to the cus- +tom. The youths were vying with one another +in brave tales of what they would do on the +morrow. The voice of Red Horn was loud +among the boasters, for he was known to be a +vain youth, although truly not without reputa- +tion. Little Eagle, who was also of the com- +pany, remained modestly silent, as indeed be- +came one without experience in the field. In +the midst of the clamor there fell a silence. + +"'Hush! hush!' they whispered. 'Look, +look! The War Maiden comes!' + +"All eyes were turned upon Makatah, who +rode her fine buckskin steed with a single lariat. +He held his head proudly, and his saddle was +heavy with fringes and gay with colored em- +broidery. The maiden was attired in her best +and wore her own father's war-bonnet, while +she carried in her hands two which had be- +longed to two of her dead brothers. Singing +in a clear voice the songs of her clan, she com- +pleted the circle, according to custom, before +she singled out one of the young braves for spe- +cial honor by giving him the bonnet which she +held in her right hand. She then crossed over +to the Cut-Heads, and presented the other bon- +net to one of their young men. She was very +handsome; even the old men's blood was stirred +by her brave appearance! + +"At daybreak the two war-parties of the +Sioux, mounted on their best horses, stood side +by side, ready for the word to charge. All of +the warriors were painted for the battle--pre- +pared for death--their nearly nude bodies deco- +rated with their individual war-totems. Their +well-filled quivers were fastened to their sides, +and each tightly grasped his oaken bow. + +"The young man with the finest voice had +been chosen to give the signal--a single high- +pitched yell. This was an imitation of the one +long howl of the gray wolf before he makes +the attack. It was an ancient custom of our +people. + +"'Woo-o-o-o!'--at last it came! As the +sound ceased a shrill war-whoop from five hun- +dred throats burst forth in chorus, and at the +same instant Makatah, upon her splendid buck- +skin pony, shot far out upon the plain, like an +arrow as it leaves the bow. It was a glorious +sight! No man has ever looked upon the like +again!" + +The eyes of the old man sparkled as he spoke, +and his bent shoulders straightened. + +"The white doeskin gown of the War +Maiden," he continued, "was trimmed with +elk's teeth and tails of ermine. Her long black +hair hung loose, bound only with a strip of +otter-skin, and with her eagle-feather war-bonnet +floated far behind. In her hand she held a long +coup-staff decorated with eagle-feathers. Thus +she went forth in advance of them all! + +"War cries of men and screams of terrified +women and children were borne upon the clear +morning air as our warriors neared the Crow +camp. The charge was made over a wide plain, +and the Crows came yelling from their lodges, +fully armed, to meet the attacking party. In +spite of the surprise they easily held their own, +and even began to press us hard, as their num- +ber was much greater than that of the Sioux. + +"The fight was a long and hard one. +Toward the end of the day the enemy made a +counter-charge. By that time many of our po- +nies had fallen or were exhausted. The Sioux +retreated, and the slaughter was great. The +Cut-Heads fled womanlike; but the people +of Tamakoche fought gallantly to the very +last. + +"Makatah remained with her father's peo- +ple. Many cried out to her, 'Go back! Go +back!' but she paid no attention. She carried +no weapon throughout the day--nothing but +her coup-staff--but by her presence and her cries +of encouragement or praise she urged on the +men to deeds of desperate valor. + +"Finally, however, the Sioux braves were +hotly pursued and the retreat became general. +Now at last Makatah tried to follow; but +her pony was tired, and the maiden fell farther +and farther behind. Many of her lovers passed +her silently, intent upon saving their own lives. +Only a few still remained behind, fighting des- +perately to cover the retreat, when Red Horn +came up with the girl. His pony was still fresh. +He might have put her up behind him and car- +ried her to safety, but he did not even look at +her as he galloped by. + +"Makatah did not call out, but she could not +help looking after him. He had declared his +love for her more loudly than any of the others, +and she now gave herself up to die. + +"Presently another overtook the maiden. It +was Little Eagle, unhurt and smiling. + +"'Take my horse!' he said to her. 'I shall +remain here and fight!' + +"The maiden looked at him and shook her +head, but he sprang off and lifted her upon his +horse. He struck him a smart blow upon the +flank that sent him at full speed in the direction +of the Sioux encampment. Then he seized the +exhausted buckskin by the lariat, and turned +back to join the rear-guard. + +"That little group still withstood in some +fashion the all but irresistible onset of the +Crows. When their comrade came back to +them, leading the War Maiden's pony, they +were inspired to fresh endeavor, and though +few in number they made a counter-charge with +such fury that the Crows in their turn were +forced to retreat! + +"The Sioux got fresh mounts and returned +to the field, and by sunset the day was won! +Little Eagle was among the first who rode +straight through the Crow camp, causing terror +and consternation. It was afterward remem- +bered that he looked unlike his former self and +was scarcely recognized by the warriors for the +modest youth they had so little regarded. + +"It was this famous battle which drove that +warlike nation, the Crows, to go away from the +Missouri and to make their home up the Yel- +lowstone River and in the Bighorn country. +But many of our men fell, and among them the +brave Little Eagle! + +"The sun was almost over the hills when the +Sioux gathered about their campfires, recounting +the honors won in battle, and naming the brave +dead. Then came the singing of dirges and +weeping for the slain! The sadness of loss was +mingled with exultation. + +"Hush! listen! the singing and wailing have +ceased suddenly at both camps. There is one +voice coming around the circle of campfires. It +is the voice of a woman! Stripped of all her +ornaments, her dress shorn of its fringes, her +ankles bare, her hair cropped close to her neck, +leading a pony with mane and tail cut short, she +is mourning as widows mourn. It is Makatah! + +"Publicly, with many tears, she declared her- +self the widow of the brave Little Eagle, +although she had never been his wife! He it +was, she said with truth, who had saved her peo- +ple's honor and her life at the cost of his own. +He was a true man! + +"'Ho, ho!' was the response from many of the older warriors; +but the young men, the lovers of Makatah, were surprised +and sat in silence. + +"The War Maiden lived to be a very old woman, +but she remained true to her vow. She never +accepted a husband; and all her lifetime +she was known as the widow of the brave Little Eagle." + + + +THE END + + + + +GLOSSARY + +A-no-ka-san, white on both sides (Bald Eagle). +A-tay, father. +Cha-ton'-ska, White Hawk. +Chin-o-te-dah, Lives-in-the-Wood. +Chin-to, yes, indeed. +E-na-ka-nee, hurry. +E-ya-tonk-a-wee, She-whose-Voice-is-heard-afar. +E-yo-tank-a, rise up, or sit down. +Ha-ha-ton-wan, Ojibway. +Ha-na-ka-pe, a grave. +Han-ta-wo, Out of the way! +He-che-tu, it is well. +He-yu-pe-ya, come here! +Hi! an exclamation of thanks. +Hunk-pa-tees, a band of Sioux. +Ka-po-sia, Light Lodges, a band of Sioux. +Ke-chu-wa, darling. +Ko-da, friend. +Ma-ga-ska-wee, Swan Maiden. +Ma-ka-tah, Earth Woman. +Ma-to, bear. +Ma-to-ska, White Bear. +Ma-to-sa-pa, Black Bear. +Me-chink-she, my son or sons. +Me-ta, my. +Min-ne-wa-kan, Sacred Water (Devil's Lake.) +Min-ne-ya-ta, By-the-Water. +Nak-pa, Ears or Long Ears. +Ne-na e-ya-ya! run fast! +O-glu-ge-chan-a, Mysterious Wood-Dweller. +Psay, snow-shoes. +Shunk-a, dog. +Shunk-a-ska, White Dog. +Shunk-ik-chek-a, domestic dog. +Ske-ske-ta-tonk-a, Sault Sainte Marie. +Sna-na, Rattle. +Sta-su, Shield (Arickaree). +Ta-ake-che-ta, his soldier. +Ta-chin-cha-la, fawn. +Tak-cha, doe. +Ta-lu-ta, Scarlet. +Ta-ma-hay, Pike. +Ta-ma-ko-che, His Country. +Ta-na-ge-la, Humming-Bird. +Ta-tank-a-o-ta, Many Buffaloes. +Ta-te-yo-pa, Her Door. +Ta-to-ka, Antelope. +Ta-wa-su-o-ta, Many Hailstones. +Tee-pee, tent. +Te-yo-tee-pee, Council lodge. +To-ke-ya nun-ka hu-wo? where are you? +Tunk-a-she-dah, grandfather. +Un-chee-dah, grandmother. +Unk-pa-pa, a band of Sioux. +U-ya-yo! come here! +Wa-ba-shaw, Red Hat (name of a Sioux chief). +Wa-ha-dah, Buyer of Furs. +Wah-pay-ton, a band of Sioux. +Wa-ho, Howler. +Wa-kan, sacred, mysterious. +Wak-pay-ku-tay, a band of Sioux. +Wa-pay-na, Little Barker. +Wee-ko, Beautiful Woman. +We-no-na, Firstborn Daughter. +We-sha-wee, Red Girl. +We-wop-tay, a sharpened pole. +We-yan-na, little woman. +We-zee, Smoky Lodge. +Yank-ton-nais, a band of Sioux. +Zee-zee-win, Yellow Woman. +Zu-ya-ma-ni, Walks-to-War. + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Old Indian Days + + diff --git a/old/inday10.zip b/old/inday10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..731a457 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/inday10.zip |