OLD INDIAN DAYS(古印第时期)

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OLD INDIAN DAYS

BY CHARLES A. EASTMAN (Ohiyesa)

OLD INDIAN DAYS

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

OLD INDIAN DAYS

PART ONE THE WARRIOR

I. THE LOVE OF ANTELOPE

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

OLD INDIAN DAYS

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

OLD INDIAN DAYS

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.

OLD INDIAN DAYS

"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

OLD INDIAN DAYS

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.

OLD INDIAN DAYS

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

OLD INDIAN DAYS

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

OLD INDIAN DAYS

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

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OLDINDIANDAYS1OLDINDIANDAYSBYCHARLESA.EASTMAN(Ohiyesa)OLDINDIANDAYS2ToMyDaughtersDORA,IRENE,VIRGINIA,ELEANOR,ANDFLORENCEIDedicatetheseStoriesoftheOldIndianLife,andespeciallyoftheCourageousandWomanlyIndianWomanOLDINDIANDAYS3PARTONETHEWARRIORI.THELOVEOFANTELOPEUponahangingprecipiceatopoftheEagleScoutB...

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