登陆注册
19490100000043

第43章 THE PEACE-MAKER(2)

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 inconfusion, 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 comeyelling 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!"

同类推荐
  • The Letters of Mark Twain Vol.1

    The Letters of Mark Twain Vol.1

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 月波洞中记

    月波洞中记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 广百论释论

    广百论释论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 路岐重赋

    路岐重赋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 波罗提木叉僧祇戒本

    波罗提木叉僧祇戒本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 邪魅王爷的追妻之路

    邪魅王爷的追妻之路

    她的人生格言;人不犯我,我不犯人。人若犯我,斩草除根。爹不疼,娘不在。庶女庶母联手陷害。没关系,有相公在。
  • 呆萌特工小医妃

    呆萌特工小医妃

    她,当今世上S级的特工杀手,却因一场莫名车祸而穿越。他,异世南宫大人,冷酷腹黑,邪魅霸道,却因一次邂逅让二人相遇。南宫泽烨:“娘子,来,给为夫一个爱的抱抱。”北辰梦兮:“死开啊,谁是你的娘子,我告诉你,在乱叫的话信不信我踹你。”南宫泽烨:“不嘛不嘛,抱一个啦。”北辰梦兮:“滚。”且看当一个伴猪吃虎的腹黑男主遇上一个天然小白的女主会迸溅出怎么的火花吧
  • 女神总裁看上我

    女神总裁看上我

    超级兵王回归都市,成为一名小小保安,因表现出色,被聘为贴身保镖。从此以后,火辣总裁,冰冷警花,还是动人校花,无一不为他倾心。
  • 做一个会说话会交际会理财的聪明女人(大全集)

    做一个会说话会交际会理财的聪明女人(大全集)

    懂得通过保险来保护自己的未来、保护自己的生命、保护自己的家人;在有保障的生活状态下,你可以邀上三五好友,尽情交谈、四处旅游,享受生命原汁原味的快乐与美好!懂得理财的女人,将金钱、亲情、友情、爱情,全都牢牢握在手中,享受最完整、最美丽的生命状态,做一个最好命的女人!这样的女人,就是未来的你,就是学习了理财之后的你!
  • 重生之人生转折

    重生之人生转折

    一个同样悲惨的前生,一个同样有着重生的经历...........一场车祸,顾生寒重生回到过去,在偶然的机会里,获得通灵的能力,仿佛是命运驱使般在一次学校郊游途中遇见山中怪人,怪人给了他一本无名小册和一本道术,然后告知他,他原本是国民时期一名大财主,也是个十恶不赦的恶人,由于作孽太多,父母妻女都离奇的死去,原本想一死了之,被经过的老道所救。然后点化,跟随老道修道。在老道临终前,给了他一本无名小册,没告诉他这本小册到底有何用途.........新开的书友QQ群121843765加些志同道合的朋友聊聊
  • 错过了十世

    错过了十世

    错过了,还能在一起吗,纠缠了十世,等了十世
  • HI,不贱不散

    HI,不贱不散

    有时候我们总当爱情太随意,说的太随意,无论说爱还是离去,恍若玩笑一场,痛了谁的心,上了谁的情,只有爱的人才懂。
  • 大魔导师

    大魔导师

    你是谁不重要,重要的是你想成为谁。与其仰望别人的高度,不如自己加倍努力爬到别人仰望的高度。你若盛开,蝴蝶自来。你若精彩,掌声自拍。
  • 文坛巨星身世之谜

    文坛巨星身世之谜

    我的笔名有两个,第一个是文坛巨星,第二个是人间卧底。所以,我也是文坛巨星,我也是人间卧底。本书介绍王中先生,也就是我的身世之谜!!!谢谢!!!
  • TFBOYS紫陌凝尘

    TFBOYS紫陌凝尘

    无论发生了什么你身边都会有一个默默陪着你的人,他只是为了等着你来实现你曾对他许下的诺言……你是我最想留住的幸运(如有雷同,纯属巧合)