第 21 节
作者:恐龙王      更新:2021-02-21 14:14      字数:9322
  nor coat; although a piercing wind was blowing from the northwest。                     The
  youthful Two Strike had his favorite bow and his swift pony; which was
  perhaps dearer to him than his closest boy comrade。
  Now the hunters crouched upon their horses' necks like an army in line
  69
  … Page 70…
  INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
  of battle; while behind them waited the boys and old men with pack ponies
  to    carry   the   meat。     〃Hukahey!〃        shouted     the   leader    as  a   warning。
  〃Yekiya wo!〃 (Go) and in an instant all the ponies leaped forward against
  the cutting wind; as if it were the start in a horse race。             Every rider leaned
  forward;   tightly   wrapped   in   his   robe;   watching   the   flying   herd   for   an
  opening   in   the   mass   of   buffalo;   a   chance   to   cut   out   some   of   the   fattest
  cows。     This was the object of the race。
  The   chief   had   a   fair   start;   his   horse   was   well   trained   and   needed   no
  urging nor  guidance。         Without   the slightest pull   on   the lariat he   dashed
  into the   thickest   of the   herd。     The   youth's   pony  had   been   prancing   and
  rearing impatiently; he started a little behind; yet being swift passed many。
  His rider had one clear glimpse of his father ahead of him; then the snow
  arose   in   blinding   clouds   on   the   trail   of   the   bison。 The   whoops   of   the
  hunters; the lowing of the cows; and the menacing glances of the bulls as
  they plunged along; or now and then stood at bay; were enough to unnerve
  a boy less well tried。        He was unable to select his victim。             He had been
  carried   deeply   into   the   midst   of   the   herd   and   found   himself   helpless   to
  make the one sure shot; therefore he held his one arrow in his mouth and
  merely strove to separate them so as to get his chance。
  At    last  the   herd   parted;   and    he  cut   out   two   fat   cows;    and   was
  maneuvering for position when a rider appeared out of the snow cloud on
  their other side。      This aroused him to make haste lest his rival secure both
  cows; he saw his chance; and in a twinkling his arrow sped clear through
  one of the animals so that she fell headlong。
  In this instant he observed that the man who had joined him was his
  own father; who had met with the same difficulties as himself。                    When the
  young man had shot his only arrow; the old chief with a whoop went after
  the cow that was left; but as he gained her broadside; his horse stepped in
  a badger hole and fell; throwing him headlong。                  The maddened buffalo;
  as sometimes happens in such cases; turned upon the pony and gored him
  to death。     His   rider   lay  motionless;  while Two   Strike   rushed   forward   to
  draw     her   attention;    but   she   merely     tossed    her   head    at  him;    while
  persistently   standing   guard   over   the   dead   horse   and   the   all   but   frozen
  Indian。
  70
  … Page 71…
  INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
  Alas for the game of 〃one arrow to kill!〃            The boy must think fast; for
  his   father's   robe   had slipped   off;   and   he   was   playing   dead;   lying   almost
  naked in the bitter air upon the trampled snow。             His bluff would not serve;
  so he flew back to pull out his solitary arrow from the body of the dead
  cow。     Quickly wheeling again; he sent it into her side and she fell。                The
  one   arrow   to   kill   had   become   one   arrow   to   kill   two   buffalo!   At   the
  council lodge that evening Two Strike was the hero。
  The following story is equally characteristic of him; and in explanation
  it should be said that in the good old days among the Sioux; a young man
  is not supposed to associate with girls until he is ready to take a wife。                 It
  was a rule with our young men; especially the honorable and well…born; to
  gain some reputation in the hunt and in war;  the more difficult the feats
  achieved the better;  before even speaking to a young woman。                    Many a
  life   was   risked   in   the   effort   to   establish   a   reputation   along   these   lines。
  Courtship was no secret; but rather a social event; often celebrated by the
  proud parents with feasts and presents to the poor; and this etiquette was
  sometimes felt by a shy or sensitive youth as an insurmountable obstacle
  to the fulfilment of his desires。
  Two Strike was the son and grandson of a chief; but he could not claim
  any credit for the deeds of his forbears。            He had not only to guard their
  good name but achieve one for himself。              This he had set out to do; and he
  did    well。   He    was    now   of   marriageable     age   with   a  war   record;   and
  admitted to the council; yet he did not seem to trouble himself at all about
  a wife。     His was strictly a bachelor career。           Meanwhile; as is apt to   be
  the case; his parents had thought much about a possible daughter…in…law;
  and had even collected ponies; fine robes; and other acceptable goods to
  be   given   away   in   honor   of   the   event;   whenever   it   should   take   place。
  Now and then they would drop a sly hint; but with no perceptible effect。
  They did not and could not know of the inward struggle that racked his
  mind at this period of his life。       The shy and modest young man was dying
  for a wife; yet could not bear even to think of speaking to a young woman!
  The fearless hunter of buffaloes; mountain lions; and grizzlies; the youth
  who had won his eagle feathers in a battle with the Utes; could not bring
  himself to take this tremendous step。
  71
  … Page 72…
  INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
  At last his father appealed to him directly。          〃My son;〃 he declared; 〃it
  is your duty to take unto yourself a wife; in order that the honors won by
  your   ancestors   and   by   yourself   may   be   handed   down   in   the   direct   line。
  There are several eligible young women in our band whose parents have
  intimated a wish to have you for their son…in…law。〃
  Two Strike made no reply; but he was greatly disturbed。                   He had no
  wish to have the old folks select his bride; for if the truth were told; his
  choice   was   already   made。      He   had   simply   lacked   the   courage   to   go   a…
  courting!
  The next morning; after making an unusually careful toilet; he took his
  best horse and rode to a point overlooking the path by which the girls went
  for   water。   Here   the   young   men   were   wont   to   take   their   stand;   and;   if
  fortunate; intercept the girl of their heart for a brief but fateful interview。
  Two Strike had determined to speak straight to the point; and as soon as he
  saw the pretty maid he came forward boldly and placed himself in her way。
  A  long   moment   passed。       She   glanced   up   at   him   shyly   but   not   without
  encouragement。         His teeth fairly chattered with fright; and he could not
  say a word。      She looked again; noted his strange looks; and believed him
  suddenly taken ill。       He appeared to be suffering。          At last he feebly made
  signs for her to go on and leave him alone。            The maiden was sympathetic;
  but as she did not know what else to do she obeyed his request。
  The   poor   youth   was   so   ashamed   of   his   cowardice   that   he   afterward
  admitted his first thought was to take his own life。               He believed he had
  disgraced himself forever in the eyes of the only girl he had ever loved。
  However; he determined to conquer his weakness and win her; which he
  did。    The    story   came    out   many    years   after  and   was    told  with   much
  enjoyment by the old men。
  Two Strike was better known by his own people than by the whites; for
  he was individually a terror in battle rather than a leader。                He achieved
  his honorable name in a skirmish with the Utes in Colorado。                    The Sioux
  regarded   these   people   as   their   bravest   enemies;   and   the   outcome   of   the
  fight was for some time uncertain。            First the Sioux were forced to retreat
  and then their opponents; and at the latter point the horse of a certain Ute
  was shot under him。         A friend came to his rescue and took him up behind
  72
  … Page 73…
  INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
  him。   Our hero overtook them in flight; raised his war club; and knocked
  both men off