按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Stone Boy departed。 As he journeyed through the forest he spoke to
every animal he met； asking for news of his lost uncles。 Sometimes he
called to them at the top of his voice。 Once he thought he heard an
answer； so he walked in the direction of the sound。 But it was only a
great grizzly bear who had wantonly mimicked the boy's call。 Then
Stone Boy was greatly provoked。
〃'Was it you who answered my call； you long… face？' he exclaimed。
〃Upon this the latter growled and said：
〃'You had better be careful how you address me； or you may be sorry
for what you say！'
〃'Who cares for you； you red…eyes； you ugly thing！' the boy replied；
whereupon the grizzly immediately set upon him。
〃But the boy's flesh became as hard as stone； and the bear's great teeth
and claws made no im… pression upon it。 Then he was so dreadfully
heavy； and he kept laughing all the time as if he were being tickled； which
greatly aggravated the bear。 Finally Stone Boy pushed him aside and
sent an arrow to his heart。
〃He walked on for some distance until he came to a huge fallen pine
tree； which had evi… dently been killed by lightning。 The ground near by
bore marks of a struggle； and Stone Boy picked up several arrows exactly
like those of his uncles； which he himself carried。
〃While he was examining these things； he heard a sound like that of a
whirlwind； far up in the heavens。 He looked up and saw a black speck
which grew rapidly larger until it became a dense cloud。 Out of it came a
flash and then a thunderbolt。 The boy was obliged to wink； and when he
opened his eyes； behold！ a stately man stood before him and challenged
him to single combat。
〃Stone Boy accepted the challenge and they grappled with one another。
The man from the clouds was gigantic in stature and very powerful。 But
Stone Boy was both strong and unnaturally heavy and hard to hold。 The
great warrior from the sky sweated from his exertions； and there came a
67
… Page 68…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
heavy shower。 Again and again the lightnings flashed about them as the
two strug… gled there。 At last Stone Boy threw his oppo… nent； who lay
motionless。 There was a murmur… ing sound throughout the heavens and
the clouds rolled swiftly away。
〃'Now；' thought the hero； 'this man must have slain all my uncles。 I
shall go to his home and find out what has become of them。' With this he
un… fastened from the dead man's scalp…lock a beauti… ful bit of scarlet
down。 He breathed gently upon it； and as it floated upward he followed
into the blue heavens。
〃Away went Stone Boy to the country of the Thunder Birds。 It was a
beautiful land； with lakes； rivers； plains and mountains。 The young
adventurer found himself looking down from the top of a high mountain；
and the country appeared to be very populous； for he saw lodges all about
him as far as the eye could reach。 He particu… larly noticed a majestic
tree which towered above all the others； and in its bushy top bore an enor…
mous nest。 Stone Boy descended from the moun… tain and soon arrived
at the foot of the tree； but there were no limbs except those at the top and
it was so tall that he did not attempt to climb it。 He simply took out his
bit of down； breathed upon it and floated gently upward。
〃When he was able to look into the nest he saw there innumerable
eggs of various sizes； and all of a remarkable red color。 He was nothing
but a boy after all； and had all a boy's curiosity and reck… lessness。 As he
was handling the eggs carelessly； his notice was attracted to a sudden
confusion in the little village below。 All of the people seemed to be
running toward the tree。 He mischievously threw an egg at them； and in
the instant that it broke he saw one of the men drop dead。 Then all began
to cry out pitifully； 'Give me my heart！'
〃'Ah；' exclaimed Stone Boy； exulting；' so these are the hearts of the
people who destroyed my uncles！ I shall break them all！'
〃And he really did break all of the eggs but four small ones which he
took in his hand。 Then he descended the tree； and wandered among the
silent and deserted lodges in search of some trace of his lost uncles。 He
found four little boys； the sole survivors of their race； and these he com…
manded to tell him where their bones were laid。
68
… Page 69…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
〃They showed him the spot where a heap of bones was bleaching on
the ground。 Then he bade one of the boys bring wood； a second water； a
third stones； and the fourth he sent to cut willow wands for the sweat
lodge。 They obeyed； and Stone Boy built the lodge； made a fire； heated
the stones and collected within the lodge all the bones of his ten uncles。
〃As he poured the water upon the hot stones faint sounds could be
heard from within the magic bath。 These changed to the murmuring of
voices； and finally to the singing of medicine songs。 Stone Boy opened
the door and his ten uncles came forth in the flesh； thanking him and
blessing him for restoring them to life。 Only the little finger of the
youngest uncle was missing。 Stone Boy now heartlessly broke the four
remaining eggs； and took the little finger of the largest boy to supply the
missing bone。
〃They all returned to earth again and Stone Boy conducted his uncles
to his mother's lodge。 She had never slept during his entire absence； but
watched incessantly the pillow upon which her boy was wont to rest his
head； and by which she was to know of his safety。 Going a little in
advance of the others； he suddenly rushed forward into her teepee；
exclaiming： 'Mother； your ten brothers are comingprepare a feast！'
〃For some time after this they all lived happily together。 Stone Boy
occupied himself with soli… tary hunting。 He was particularly fond of
hunt… ing the fiercer wild animals。 He killed them wan… tonly and
brought home only the ears； teeth and claws as his spoil； and with these he
played as he laughingly recounted his exploits。 His mother and uncles
protested； and begged him at least to spare the lives of those animals held
sacred by the Da… kotas； but Stone Boy relied upon his supernatural
powers to protect him from harm。
〃One evening； however； he was noticeably silent and upon being
pressed to give the reason； replied as follows：
〃'For some days past I have heard the animals talking of a conspiracy
against us。 I was going west the other morning when I heard a crier an…
nouncing a general war upon Stone Boy and his people。 The crier was a
Buffalo； going at full speed from west to east。 Again； I heard the Beaver
conversing with the Musk…rat； and both said that their services were
69
… Page 70…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
already promised to overflow the lakes and rivers and cause a destructive
flood。 I heard； also； the little Swallow holding a secret council with all
the birds of the air。 He said that he had been appointed a messenger to
the Thunder Birds； and that at a certain signal the doors of the sky would
be opened and rains descend to drown Stone Boy。 Old Badger and the
Grizzly Bear are appointed to burrow underneath our fortifica… tions。
〃'However； I am not at all afraid for myself； but I am anxious for you；
Mother； and for my uncles。'
〃'Ugh！' grunted all the uncles； 'we told you that you would get into
trouble by killing so many of our sacred animals for your own amuse…
ment。
〃'But；' continued Stone Boy； 'I shall make a good resistance； and I
expect you all to help me。'
〃Accordingly they all worked und