第 10 节
作者:恐龙王      更新:2021-02-21 14:13      字数:9322
  the   mother   of   our   young   Sioux   brave;   Matohinshda;   or   Bear…Shedding…
  His…Hair (Gall's childhood name); intrusted her boy to an old Eskimo pack
  dog; experienced and reliable; except perhaps when unduly excited or very
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  thirsty。
  On the day of removing camp the caravan made its morning march up
  the   Powder   River。      Upon   the   wide   table…land   the   women   were   busily
  digging   teepsinna   (an   edible   sweetish   root;   much   used   by   them)   as   the
  moving village slowly progressed。              As usual at such times; the trail was
  wide。     An old jack rabbit had waited too long in hiding。                  Now; finding
  himself   almost   surrounded   by   the   mighty   plains   people;   he   sprang   up
  suddenly; his feathery ears conspicuously erect; a dangerous challenge to
  the dogs and the people。
  A   whoop   went   up。      Every   dog   accepted   the   challenge。        Forgotten
  were the bundles; the kits; even the babies they were drawing or carrying。
  The   chase   was   on;   and   the   screams   of   the   women   reechoed   from   the
  opposite   cliffs   of   the   Powder;   mingled   with   the   yelps   of   dogs   and   the
  neighing      of  horses。    The     hand   of   every   man    was    against   the   daring
  warrior; the lone Jack; and the confusion was great。
  When   the   fleeing   one   cleared   the   mass   of   his   enemies;   he   emerged
  with     a   swiftness    that   commanded         respect    and   gave    promise      of  a
  determined chase。         Behind him; his pursuers stretched out in a thin line;
  first the speedy; unburdened dogs and then the travois dogs headed by the
  old Eskimo with his precious freight。             The youthful Gall was in a travois;
  a   basket   mounted   on      trailing   poles   and   harnessed     to   the   sides   of  the
  animal。
  〃Hey!   hey!   they   are   gaining   on   him!〃   a   warrior   shouted。       At   this
  juncture two of the canines had almost nabbed their furry prey by the back。
  But   he   was   too   cunning   for   them。    He   dropped   instantly   and   sent   both
  dogs over his head; rolling and spinning; then made another flight at right
  angles   to   the   first。  This   gave   the   Eskimo   a   chance   to   cut   the   triangle。
  He gained fifty  yards; but being heavily handicapped; two unladen  dogs
  passed him。        The same trick was repeated by the Jack; and this time he
  saved himself from instant death by a double loop and was now running
  directly toward the crowd; followed by a dozen or more dogs。                        He was
  losing speed; but likewise his pursuers were dropping off steadily。                     Only
  the sturdy Eskimo dog held to his even gait; and behind him in the frail
  travois   leaned   forward   the   little   Matohinshda;  nude   save   a   breech   clout;
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  his left hand holding fast the convenient tail of his dog; the right grasping
  firmly   one   of   the   poles   of   the   travois。 His   black    eyes   were   bulging
  almost out of their sockets; his long hair flowed out behind like a stream
  of dark water。
  The    Jack   now    ran  directly   toward    the   howling    spectators;    but  his
  marvelous speed and alertness were on the wane; while on the other hand
  his   foremost   pursuer;   who   had   taken   part   in   hundreds   of   similar   events;
  had   every   confidence      in  his  own   endurance。       Each    leap   brought    him
  nearer; fiercer and   more determined。           The   last effort of the Jack was to
  lose   himself   in   the   crowd;   like   a   fish   in   muddy   water;   but   the   big   dog
  made the one needed leap with unerring aim and his teeth flashed as he
  caught the rabbit in viselike jaws and held him limp in air; a victor!
  The people rushed up to him as he laid the victim down; and foremost
  among       them     was    the    frantic   mother      of   Matohinshda;        or   Gall。
  〃Michinkshe! michinkshe!〃 (My son! my son!) she screamed as she drew
  near。     The     boy   seemed     to   be   none    the  worse     for  his   experience。
  〃Mother!〃 he cried; 〃my dog is brave: he got the rabbit!〃                   She snatched
  him off the travois; but he struggled out of her arms to look upon his dog
  lovingly and admiringly。          Old men and boys crowded about the hero of
  the    day;   the   dog;   and    the   thoughtful    grandmother       of   Matohinshda
  unharnessed him and poured some water from a parfleche water bag into a
  basin。    〃Here; my grandson; give your friend something to drink。〃
  〃How; hechetu;〃 pronounced an old warrior no longer in active service。
  〃This     may    be  only    an  accident;    an   ordinary    affair;  but   such   things
  sometimes       indicate   a  career。   The     boy   has   had   a  wonderful     ride。   I
  prophesy that he will one day hold the attention of all the people with his
  doings。〃
  This    is  the  first  remembered      story   of  the  famous     chief;  but   other
  boyish exploits foretold the man he was destined to be。                 He fought many
  sham battles; some successful and others not; but he was always a fierce
  fighter and a good loser。
  Once     he   was   engaged      in  a  battle   with   snowballs。      There     were
  probably nearly a hundred boys on each side; and the rule was that every
  fair hit made the receiver officially dead。          He must not participate further;
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  but must remain just where he was struck。
  Gall's   side   was   fast   losing;   and   the   battle   was   growing   hotter   every
  minute when the  youthful warrior   worked toward   an old   water hole  and
  took up his position there。         His side was soon annihilated and there were
  eleven men left to fight him。          He was pressed close in the wash…out; and
  as   he   dodged   under   cover   before   a   volley   of   snowballs;   there   suddenly
  emerged   in   his   stead   a   huge   gray   wolf。    His   opponents   fled   in   every
  direction in superstitious terror; for they thought he had been transformed
  into the   animal。      To   their   astonishment he came   out on the   farther side
  and ran to the line of safety; a winner!
  It happened that the wolf's den had been partly covered with snow so
  that no one had noticed it until the yells of the boys aroused the inmate;
  and he beat a hasty retreat。        The boys always looked upon this incident as
  an omen。
  Gall   had    an  amiable   disposition   but   was   quick      to  resent   insult  or
  injustice。     This   sometimes   involved   him   in   difficulties;   but   he   seldom
  fought without good cause and was popular with his associates。                      One of
  his characteristics was his ability to organize; and this was a large factor in
  his leadership when he became a man。                He was tried in many ways; and
  never was known to hesitate when it was a question of physical courage
  and endurance。        He entered the public service early in life; but not until
  he had proved himself competent and passed all tests。
  When   a   mere   boy;   he   was   once   scouting   for   game   in   midwinter;   far
  from camp; and was overtaken by a three days' blizzard。                    He was forced
  to abandon his horse and lie under the snow for that length of time。                     He
  afterward said   he was not   particularly hungry;   it   was thirst   and stiffness
  from which he suffered most。             One reason the Indian so loved his horse
  or dog was that at such times the animal would stay by him like a brother。
  On   this   occasion   Gall's   pony   was   not   more   than   a   stone's   throw   away
  when the storm subsided and the sun shone。                There was a herd of buffalo
  in plain sight; and the young hunter was not long in procuring a meal。
  This   chief's   contemporaries   still   recall   his   wrestling   match   with   the
  equally  powerful   Cheyenne   boy;   Roman   Nose;   who   afterward   became   a
  chief    well    known      to  American      history。     It   was    a  custom     of   the
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  northwestern       Indians;    when    two    friendly   tribes   camped      together;   to
  establish the physical and athletic supremacy of