第25章

"The Sacs and Foxes were very daring and confident upon this occasion.They proposed to the Sioux that they should engage alone with the enemy at first,and let us see how their braves can fight!To this our people assented,and they as-sembled upon the hills to watch the struggle be-tween their allies and the Ojibways.It seemed to be an equal fight,and for a time no one could tell how the contest would end.Young Jingling Thunder was an impatient spectator,and it was The Milky Way--believed by the Dakotas to be the road travelled by the spirits of departed braves.

hard to keep him from rushing forward to meet his foes.

"At last a great shout went up,and the Sacs and Foxes were seen to be retreating with heavy loss.Then the Sioux took the field,and were fast winning the day,when fresh reinforcements came from the north for the Ojibways.Up to this time Jingling Thunder had been among the foremost in the battle,and had engaged in several close en-counters.But this fresh attack of the Ojibways was unexpected,and the Sioux were somewhat tired.Besides,they had told the Sacs and Foxes to sit upon the hills and rest their weary limbs and take lessons from their friends the Sioux;therefore no aid was looked for from any quarter.

"A great Ojibway chief made a fierce onslaught on the Dakotas.This man Jingling Thunder now rushed forward to meet.The Ojibway boastfully shouted to his warriors that he had met a tender fawn and would reserve to himself the honor of destroying it.Jingling Thunder,on his side,exclaimed that he had met the aged bear of whom he had heard so much,but that he would need no assistance to overcome him.

"The powerful man flashed his tomahawk in the air over the youthful warrior's head,but the brave sprang aside as quick as lightning,and in the same instant speared his enemy to the heart.As the Ojibway chief gave a gasping yell and fell in death,his people lost courage;while the success of the brave Jingling Thunder strengthened the hearts of the Sioux,for they im-mediately followed up their advantage and drove the enemy out of their territory.

"This was the beginning of Jingling Thunder's career as a warrior.He afterwards performed even greater acts of valor.He became the ancestor of a famous band of the Sioux,of whom your own father,Ohiyesa,was a member.You have doubt-less heard his name in connection with many great events.Yet he was a patient man,and was never known to quarrel with one of his own nation."That night I lay awake a long time commit-ting to memory the tradition I had heard,and the next day I boasted to my playmate,Little Rain-bow,about my first lesson from the old story-teller.To this he replied:

"I would rather have Weyuhah for my teacher.

I think he remembers more than any of the others.

When Weyuhah tells about a battle you can see it yourself;you can even hear the war-whoop,"he went on with much enthusiasm.

"That is what his friends say of him;but those who are not his friends say that he brings many warriors into the battle who were not there,"I an-swered indignantly,for I could not admit that old Smoky Day could have a rival.

Before I went to him again Uncheedah had thoughtfully prepared a nice venison roast for the teacher,and I was proud to take him some-thing good to eat before beginning his story.

"How,"was his greeting,"so you have begun already,Ohiyesa?Your family were ever feast-makers as well as warriors."

Having done justice to the tender meat,he wiped his knife by sticking it into the ground several times,and put it away in its sheath,after which he cheerfully recommenced:

"It came to pass not many winters ago that Wakinyan-tonka,the great medicine man,had a vision;whereupon a war-party set out for the Ojibway country.There were three brothers of your family among them,all of whom were noted for valor and the chase.

"Seven battles were fought in succession before they turned to come back.They had secured a number of the enemy's birch canoes,and the whole party came floating down the Mississippi,joyous and happy because of their success.

"But one night the war-chief announced that there was misfortune at hand.The next day no one was willing to lead the fleet.The youngest of the three brothers finally declared that he did not fear death,for it comes when least expected and he volunteered to take the lead.

"It happened that this young man had left a pretty maiden behind him,whose choice needle-work adorned his quiver.He was very hand-some as well as brave.

"At daybreak the canoes were again launched upon the bosom of the great river.All was quiet --a few birds beginning to sing.Just as the sun peeped through the eastern tree-tops a great war-cry came forth from the near shores,and there was a rain of arrows.The birchen canoes were pierced,and in the excitement many were cap-sized.

"The Sioux were at a disadvantage.There was no shelter.Their bow-strings and the feathers on their arrows were wet.The bold Ojibways saw their advantage and pressed closer and closer;but our men fought desperately,half in and half out of the water,until the enemy was forced at last to retreat.Nevertheless that was a sad day for the Wahpeton Sioux;but saddest of all was Winona's fate!

"Morning Star,her lover,who led the canoe fleet that morning,was among the slain.For two days the Sioux braves searched in the water for their dead,but his body was not recovered.

"At home,meanwhile,the people had been alarmed by ill omens.Winona,eldest daughter of the great chief,one day entered her birch canoe alone and paddled up the Mississippi,gazing now into the,water around her,now into the blue sky above.She thought she heard some young men giving courtship calls in the distance,just as they do at night when approaching the teepee of the beloved;and she knew the voice of Morning Star well!Surely she could distinguish his call among the others!Therefore she listened yet more intently,and looked skyward as her light canoe glided gently up stream.