Through the cheerless, awful moons of snows and frosts the plague had raged in the village of the Mohawks. Many days and nights had the death-song been chanted for men, and women, and children. ? 90 ? Few were untouched by the terrible sickness, and the medicine men of the tribe had long since seen the last of hoarded12 stores of herbs which they used to put to flight the bad spirits. The strong and brave Nekumonta and the light of his wigwam, Shanewis, had watched the fires of life go out many times. They knew that the Happy Hunting-Grounds rang with the shouts and laughter of their brothers and sisters; they sent them messages by the echoing spirits and told them to watch for their coming; but they were saddened because their brothers and sisters had gone on the long journey. The home of the Mohawks was full of pleasure when the hunters and the women, the young men, the maidens13 and the children worked together in the fields of growing corn, or gathered at night around the lodge14-fire and listened to the legends told by the aged11.
At last the soft winds came, and their mellow15 songs drove the cold and darkness from the valley. With their first notes came hope—hope that when the awful winter had gone to his home in the north the plague would also take its flight from the village.
Then Nekumonta's heart died, for Shanewis, the light of his wigwam, was stricken, and from her ? 91 ? couch of furs smiled sadly as she whispered: "Shanewis must fight with the bad spirits. She would not leave Nekumonta, the strong and brave one of the Mohawks, but her brothers and sisters call to her from their long home."
For a moment Nekumonta stood erect16, while upon his face came the shadows of despair. As the weary hunter loses control of his canoe and sees below him the rapids that in terrible fury play with their victim ere they hurl17 it over the precipice18 of death; or, as the warrior19 who with rising hopes has long withstood his foes20, would see their reinforcements come when his arm has lost its power, so upon Nekumonta came the realization21 of the struggle yet to come. But his brave heart failed not, and bending over the shivering form of his loved Shanewis, he said:
"Shanewis shall live. Let her fight the bad spirits, and tell her brothers and sisters who call to her that she cannot go to her long home for many moons. Nekumonta has said it. He will find the healing vines of the Great Spirit, and Shanewis shall live."
The robe that covered the entrance of the lodge was pushed aside, and the chief of the Mohawks hurried away into the forest.
In many places the snows were not melted. The roots were locked in their beds by the frost, and the medicine herbs had not yet awakened22 from their sleep. Running through the open fields, looking anxiously among the rocks, crawling under the fallen trees, hurrying with despair over the barren hills, swimming the swollen23 streams and rivers, darting24 along the shores of the half-frozen lakes, penetrating25 the gloom of the forbidding forests, stopping neither for rest nor for food, Nekumonta searched, repeating again and again, until the woods and fields were burdened with the words: "Shanewis shall live! Nekumonta will find the healing vines of the Great Spirit, and Shanewis shall live!"
Three suns had passed since he left his lodge, and still his weary quest was in vain. Wherever he looked only dead leaves and withered26 vines were to be found. When darkness came and he could no longer see, the anxious searcher had, on his hands and knees, crept onward27 all the night, hoping that his keen scent28 would discover what his sight had failed to disclose during the day. At the decline of the third sun, stumbling forward in the gathering darkness, Nekumonta fell exhausted29 to the earth and the Great Spirit touched his eyes with sleep.
Then the dream-god came and Nekumonta saw Shanewis lying sleepless30 on her couch of furs and heard her calling his name gently and with tenderness. He saw that the plague ran through her veins31 like the fires that swept the forest when the rustling32 leaves lay thick upon the ground. Then he saw her creep to the door of the lodge and push aside the robe that shut out the cold winds. Long and earnestly she looked into the darkness, calling him to hasten to her side. He reached forward to clasp her in his arms, and the vision faded. Now he was in his canoe, which the taunting33 spirits of the plague were pushing down the river, and they laughed and shouted in derision as he tried to catch the medicine plants that grew in great abundance along the shores. Again, he was with his loved Shanewis in the cornfields, filling the great baskets with roasting ears to be taken to the fires where danced and sang the red men in honor of the ripening35 harvest. Then the voices of the singers changed into low and murmuring sounds, which finally grew more distinct until Nekumonta heard the words:
"Strong and brave chief of the Mohawks, we are the healing waters of the Great Spirit. Take us from our prison and thy loved Shanewis shall live."
Starting from his slumbers36 like an arrow from the bow, Nekumonta cast off the dream-god and stood in the first light of the smiling face of the Great Spirit as he came from his wigwam to open the new day. Swiftly his glance darted37 from side to side, searching in vain every tree and bush, every rock and stone for evidence of the presence of some one who could have uttered the words that had come so distinctly that they must be more than the echo of a dream. The practiced eye and ear of the hunter could discover nothing unusual in the forest, though every faculty38 was awake, every nerve strung to its greatest tension. With sadness and loss of hope his attitude relaxed, and with heavy footsteps he turned toward the hills.
And yet he could not go away. Something sent him back to the little opening in the forest, and when he reached the spot where he had fallen in the darkness the night before he bent39 suddenly and placed his ear to the ground.
What caused Nekumonta to leap to his feet with a cry of triumph that rang over the hills like the shout of many warriors40? What changed in an instant the hopeless, dejected being who bent to the earth, to a creature alert, with his hardened sinews standing41 out upon his body in eagerness to expend42 ? 95 ? its stifled43 strength? Faintly, yet distinctly, he had again heard the murmuring voices:
"Strong and brave chief of the Mohawks, here are the healing waters of the Great Spirit. Take us from our prison and thy loved Shanewis shall live."
With a bound like that of the panther Nekumonta sprang to the hillside, and from the trunk of a hardy44 ash that had been felled by the lightning's bolt he tore the toughened branches, bearing them in triumph to the valley. Back he ran like the wind and from the yielding soil dug armfuls of sharp-edged stones, which he bore with hurrying steps to the place where a promise had been opened to him greater than the one of the Happy Hunting-Grounds. Not a moment did he pause, but the cry of "Shanewis! Shanewis! Shanewis!" was almost constantly on his lips.
The smiling face of the Great Spirit rose higher in the path it followed for the day, and looked down over the hill tops at the toiling45 Nekumonta. Forcing the toughened limbs of the ash tree deep into the ground he wrested46 from their beds the huge bowlders that impeded47 his progress and formed the prison of the healing waters. With the sharp-edged stones he cut the hard earth, and with torn and bleeding hands he hurled48 the rough soil ? 96 ? from the excavation49. Like a very god incarnate50 the dauntless spirit toiled—never resting, never tiring, never stopping except at long intervals51, when he bent his ear to the earth. Each time he heard the voices, swelling52 louder and louder, and repeating over and over again the promise that lent him an energy that could have torn the earth asunder53 had it refused to yield its life-giving treasure for the light of his wigwam.
When the smiling face of the Great Spirit had reached the middle of its trail and turned once more to the door of his great lodge, the tireless Nekumonta leaped to the edge of the excavation with renewed shouts of joy and triumph, and the woods resounded54 with the laughter and songs proclaiming that the imprisoning55 barrier had been broken open. The sparkling, healing waters heard the welcome voices in the woods, and rising from their dark prison filled all the place the toiler56 had torn open in the earth, and then ran merrily down the valley in the sunlight.
Nekumonta bathed his bruised57 hands and burning face in the grateful waters and then hurried away in the forest. On and on he ran, with a step so light that the dead leaves scarcely felt its touch, and with a strength that laughed the wind to scorn. ? 97 ? His path was straight through the forest to the clay banks where his people came in the moon of the falling leaves and made the vessels58 in which they cooked their corn and venison. Here his energy was born anew, and with a skill that was marvelous in its dexterity60 he fashioned a jar to contain the healing waters. From its hiding place he brought the fire stone, and the store of branches collected by the old men and children at the last moon of falling leaves furnished him a supply of fuel. When the smiling face of the Great Spirit entered the door of his wigwam in the west Nekumonta took from the dying embers the perfected result of his handiwork.
The warm winds, laden61 with hope and comfort, stole gently through the forest and sang with gladness of the death of winter. Life came once more to the swaying branches of the trees, and the first notes of the robins62 and blue birds thrilled the listening air with a sweetness for which it had long hungered. The second day of spring had dawned on the home of the Mohawks the village where the gaunt figure of the awful plague had reveled in a dance of death throughout the weary moons of winter.
Suddenly a triumphant63 shout filled the air. The hearts of weary watchers stood still with suspense64, fearing that the evil witches had once more returned to taunt34 them of their helplessness. The plague-stricken woke from their fitful sleep and called piteously to the Manito. Once more the shout arose—louder, clearer, more triumphant—a pealing65 cry of victory from the strong and brave Nekumonta.
Bearing aloft in his arms the vessel59 containing the healing waters, Nekumonta burst from the deeper gray of the forest like a flood of sunshine and ran with steps as light as the warm winds themselves to the darkened lodge of his loved Shanewis. With the soft mosses66 he had caught from the banks of the streams he soothed67 her fevered form, and with draughts68 of the grateful healing waters she was lured69 to returning health.
Thus the loved Shanewis came back from the very borderland of the Happy Hunting-Grounds to her home with the Mohawks.
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1
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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2
sodden
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| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
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maples
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| 槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木 | |
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beeches
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| n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 )；山毛榉木材 | |
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5
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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7
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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8
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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9
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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10
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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12
hoarded
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| v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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14
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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15
mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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16
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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17
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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18
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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20
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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21
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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22
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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23
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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24
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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25
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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26
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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27
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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28
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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29
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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30
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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31
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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32
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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33
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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34
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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35
ripening
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的现在分词 )；熟化；熟成 | |
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36
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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37
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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38
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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39
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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40
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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41
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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42
expend
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| vt.花费，消费，消耗 | |
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43
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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44
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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45
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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46
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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47
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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49
excavation
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| n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地 | |
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50
incarnate
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| adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的 | |
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51
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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52
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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53
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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54
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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55
imprisoning
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| v.下狱，监禁( imprison的现在分词 ) | |
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56
toiler
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| 辛劳者，勤劳者 | |
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57
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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58
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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59
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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60
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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61
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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62
robins
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| n.知更鸟，鸫( robin的名词复数 )；（签名者不分先后，以避免受责的）圆形签名抗议书（或请愿书） | |
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63
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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64
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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65
pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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66
mosses
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| n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式 | |
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67
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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68
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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69
lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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