Old Indian Days

A. Eastman Charles

Description

Charles Eastman, whose Sioux name was Ohiyesa (pronounced Oh hee' yay suh), was a Native American author, doctor and reformer who also helped to establish the Boy Scouts of America. Old Indian Days is a collection of traditional stories from Eastman's Native American heritage.

Sujets

• Short story

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 avril 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775414704
• Langue: English

Extrait

OLD INDIAN DAYS
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CHARLES A. EASTMAN
 
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Old Indian Days From a 1907 edition.
ISBN 978-1-775414-70-4
© 2009 THE FLOATING PRESS.
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.
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Contents
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PART ONE — 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 TWO — 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
 
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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
PART ONE — THE WARRIOR
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I - The Love of Antelope
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I
Upon a hanging precipice atop of theEagle Scout Butte there appeared amotionless and solitary figure—almosteagle-like he perched! The people in the campbelow saw him, but none looked at him long.They turned their heads quickly away with anervous tingling, for the height above the plainswas great. Almost spirit-like among the upperclouds the young warrior sat immovable.
It was Antelope. He was fasting and seeking a sign from the "Great Mystery," for suchwas the first step of the young and ambitiousSioux (who wished to be a noted warrior amonghis people.
He is a princely youth, among the wildSioux, 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 fieldof battle. Such was Antelope's reputation.The more he sought the "Great Mystery" insolitude, the more gentle and retiring he became, and in the same proportion his courageand manliness grew. None could say that hewas not a kind son and a good hunter, for hehad already passed the "two-arrow-to-kill,"his buffalo examination.
On a hot midsummer morning a few weekslater, while most of the inmates of the teepeeswere breakfasting in the open air, the powerfulvoice of the herald resounded among the pineclad heights and green valleys.
"Hear ye, hear ye, warriors!" he chantedloudly. "The council has decreed that fourbrave young men must scout the country tothe sunsetward of the camp, for the peace andprotection of our people!"
All listened eagerly for the names of thechosen warriors, and in another moment therecame the sonorous call: "Antelope, Antelope! the council has selected you!"
The camp was large—fully four hundredpaces across; but in that country, in the clearmorning air, such an announcement can beheard 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 appearedbefore the council fire. The oath of the pipewas administered, and each took a few whiffsas reverently as a Churchman would partakeof the sacrament. The chief of the council,who was old and of a striking appearance, gavethe charge and command to the youthfulbraves.
There was a score or more of warriors readymounted to escort them beyond the precinctsof the camp, and the "fearless heart" songwas sung according to the custom, as the fourran lightly from the door of the council teepeeand disappeared in the woods.
It was a peculiarly trying and hazardousmoment in which to perform the duties of ascout. The Sioux were encroaching upon theterritory of hostile tribes, here in the foot-hillsof the Big Horn Mountains, and now and thenone of their hunters was cut off by the enemy.If continual vigilance could not save them, itmight soon become necessary to retreat to theirown hunting-grounds.
It was a savage fetish that a warrior mustbe proof against the alluring ways of prettymaidens; that he must place his honor farabove the temptations of self-indulgence andindolence. Cold, hunger, and personal hardship did not count with Antelope when therewas required of him any special exertion forthe common good. It was cause to him ofsecret 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 hoursat a good, even gait, and had crossed morethan one of the smaller creeks, yet many deepgulches and bad lands lay between him and thefurthest peak that melted into the blue domeabove.
"I shall stand upon the Bear's Heart," hesaid to himself. "If I can do that, and stillreport before the others, I shall do well!"His keen eyes were constantly sweeping thecountry in his front, and suddenly he pausedand shrank back motionless in a crouching attitude, still steadily keeping an eye upon amoving object. It was soon evident that someone was stealthily eying him from behindcover, and he was outwitted by the enemy!Still stooping, he glided down a little ravine,and as he reached the bed of the creek thereemerged from it a large gray wolf.
This was very opportune for Antelope. Hegave the gray wolf's danger-call with all hismight; waited an instant and gave it a second time; then he turned and ran fleetly downthe stream. At the same moment the wolf appeared upon the top of the bank, in full viewof the enemy.
"Here he comes!" they whispered, and hadtheir arrows on the string as the wolf trottedleisurely along, exposing only his head, for thiswas 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 lookedat each other in much chagrin.
"Surely he was a man, and coming directlyinto our trap! We sang and prayed to thegods of war when our war chief sent us aheadto scout the Sioux people, to find their camp.This is a mystery, a magic! Either heis a Sioux in disguise, or we don't know theirtricks!" exclaimed the leader.
Now they gave the war-whoop, and theirarrows flew through the air. The wolf gavea yelp of distress, staggered and fell dead. Instantly they ran to examine the body, and foundit 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 caughtsight of Antelope, who had followed the bedof the creek as far as it lay in his directionand then came out of it at full speed. It wouldbe safer for him to remain in concealmentuntil dark; but in the meantime the Ute warriors would reach the camp, and his peoplewere unprepared! It was necessary to exposehimself to the enemy. He knew that it wouldbe chiefly a contest of speed and he had an excellent start; but on the other hand, the Utesdoubtless had their horses.
"The Sioux who played this trick on us mustdie to-day!" exclaimed their leader. "Come,friends, we cannot afford to let him tell thisjoke on us at the camp-fires of his people!"
Antelope was headed directly for EagleScout Butte, for the camp was in plain viewfrom the top of this hill. He had run prettymuch all day, but then, that was nothing!
"I shall reach the summit first, unless theUte horses have wings!" he said to himself.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw five horsemen approaching, so he examined his bow andarrows as he ran.
"All is well," he muttered. "One of theirspirits at the least must guide mine to the spiritland!" where, it was believed by them, therewas 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 adeer the Sioux leaped from rock to rock, andalmost within arrow-shot came his pursuers,wildly whooping and yelling.
When he had achieved the summit, he tookhis stand between two great rocks, and flashedhis tiny looking-glass for a distress signal intothe distant camp of his people.
For a long time no reply came, and manyarrows flew over his head, as the Utes approached gradually from rock to rock. He,too, sent down a swift arrow now and then, toshow them that he was no child or woman infight, but brave as a bear when it is brought tobay.
"Ho, ho!" he shouted to the enemy, intoken of a brave man's welcome to danger anddeath.
They replied with yells of triumph, as theypressed more and more closely upon him. Oneof their number had been dispatched to notifythe main war-party when they first saw Antelope, but he did not know this, and his couragewas 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 warriordiscovered a large body of horsemen approaching from the northwest. It was the Ute warparty! He looked earnestly once moretoward the Sioux camp, shading his eyes withhis right palm. There, too, were many movingspecks upon the plain, drawing toward the footof the hill!
At the middle of the afternoon they hadcaught his distress signal, and the entire campwas thrown into confusion, for but few of themen had returned from the daily hunt. Asfast as they came in, the warriors hurried awayupon their best horses, singing and yelling.When they reached the well-known butte, towering abruptly in the midst of the plain, theycould distinguish their enemies massed behindthe hanging rocks and scattered cedar-trees,crawling up closer and closer, for the large warparty reached the hill just as the scouts whoheld Antelope at bay discovered the approachof his kinsmen.
Antelope had long since exhausted his quiverof arrows and was gathering up many ofthose that fell about him to send them