The dust of his forefathers5 has mingled6 with the hills, and time has obliterated7 nearly every material trace of him, except those among the imperishable stones. The débris of the little quarries8 is still visible on small promontories9, and in the depressions along the ridges10, where the pines have held the soil against the action of the wind and rain. Here we find innumerable chips and fragments of broken stones, left by the workers, who fashioned the implements11 of war and peace on these sequestered12 spots.{280}
Occasionally an imperfect or unfinished arrow or spear-head appears among the refuse, which the patient artificer discarded. Many perfect specimens13 are found, but these are seldom discovered near the sites of the rude workshops. They are uncovered by the shifting sands in the “blow outs,” where the winds eddy14 on the sides of hills that may have held their secrets for centuries, and turned up out of the fertile soil in the back country, by the plowshares of a race that carried the bitter cup of affliction to the aborigine.
The little flakes15 of flint may be scattered16 over a space forty or fifty feet across, and many thousands of perfect points may have gone forth17 from it, as messages of death to the hearts of enemies, or to pierce the quivering flesh of the innocent.
The refined ingenuity18 of man has ever been applied19 to things that kill. The art of annihilation has attracted some of the dominant20 intellects of mankind, and the extinction21 of life has been the industry of millions since human history began.
The feathered shaft22 of the savage23, and the steel{281} shell of the white man, go upon the same errand, and they both leave the same dark stain upon the green earth. The children of men, in all ages, have been taught that war is the only path to glory.
Under His quiet skies the living things must die, because they live. The Great Riddle24 awaits solution beyond the confines of our philosophy, and in the midst of our speculative25 wanderings, we become dust. Theology is as helpless before a burial mound26 in the wilderness27, as beside the gilded28 tomb of a prince of the church.
The spiritual needs of the primitive29 savage were administered by his tribal30 gods, and the spirits of his mythology. In his child-like faith he believed the favor of a Great Spirit to be in the sunshine, and that omnipotent31 wrath32 was thundered in the storms. His good manitous presided over his fortunes in life, and gently led him into fabled33 hunting grounds beyond the grave.
He was a fatalist, and not being civilized34, his theology was imperfect.
Civilization approached him with a Bible in one hand and a bottle in the other, and the decay of his race began. The finger of fate had touched{282} him, and the last heart-broken remnants of once happy and powerful tribes were tied and led away by benign35 and Christian36 soldiers. They carried crushed spirits and shattered lives to an alien soil, which an all-wise conqueror37 had selected for them, leaving their burned homes, and the bones of those they loved, in the land of their birth.
The moralist finds abundant food for reflection in the sufferings of the weak, at the hands of the strong, and the triumph of might over helplessness, but the Indian interfered38 with enlightened selfishness and he perished.
The record of the expatriation and the practical extinction of the Pottawatomies, who lived in this region, is written upon dark pages of our history, but perhaps they had no rights as living creatures that an enlightened government was bound to respect.
When the fog rolls in from the distant waters, and steals through the pines, wraith-like forms of a forgotten race seem to haunt the scenes of by-gone years. We may imagine the march of phantom39 throngs40 through the trees, to meet silent battalions41 beyond the hills. The sands seem to{283} yield to the folds of a gray mantle42 that is laid upon them, and retreat into obscurity.
When the night shadows come into the dune country, the spell of mystery and poetry comes with them. The sorcery of the dark places leads us into a land of dreams and unreality.
Out on the tremulous surface of the lake, we may fancy the lifting of silvery paddles in the path of the moon’s reflections, and the furtive43 movement across the bar of light, of mystic shapes in phantom canoes.
Mingled with the lispings of the little waves, we may hear ghostly prows44 touch the sand, and see spectral45 figures file into the hills. The faint echoes of strokes upon flint come out of the shadows.
The spirits of an ancient race have gone to their quarries, for arrowheads and spears, for the unseen battles with evil gods.
Voices in the night wind recall them, and they go out into the purple mists, that come upon the face of the waters before the dawn.
Sometimes among the silences, comes the beautiful dream form of Naeta, the Spirit of the Dunes,{284} who was once an Indian maiden46 with laughing eyes and raven47 hair. It was she who lured48 the soul of Taqua, a mighty49 warrior50, who first saw her in the silver moonlight among the pines, in a far-off time, before the first legends of the people were told.
Love stole into their lives and brought with him a train of sorrows, which, one by one, were laid upon aching hearts, until the burden became too heavy to bear. A dark shadow fell upon the little wigwam, and the world-old story of shattered faith, that sent two souls adrift, was told by the two trails that led from the ashes before the door.
The heart of Taqua became black, and for many days and nights he sped over sandy hills, and along rocky shores, with the deadly gleam of revenge in his eyes, and the bitterness of hate in his breast.
Once he sat brooding by the shore of the great lake, and saw a fragment of red flint, which the numberless waves had worn into the rude resemblance of an arrow-head. He picked it out of the wet sand, and with patient skill, he fashioned it to a cutting point. He fastened it into{285} a shaft of ironwood, which he feathered with the pinions51 of a hawk52.
He then climbed to the top of a high promontory53, and waited until he saw his star come over the horizon, in the path of the young moon. It was at this time that he could talk to Manabush, the hero god, who was the intermediary between the Indian and his manitous.
When he was certain of the presence of Manabush, he held his red arrow before him—told the story of his wrongs—and consecrated54 the arrow to the heart of his enemy. When the dawn came, and Manabush was gone, he placed the arrow in his quiver, and began his march upon the path of vengeance55.
Through weary years he followed it, finding upon it many cross trails, and the footprints of those who had gone before, upon the same errand. The path led him into strange places, and through numberless dark defiles56, into which the sunlight never came.
It led him through lonesome loveless years, that marked his brow with wrinkled hate, and hardened the lines that are only curved by smiles.{286}
Time finally bent57 the sinewy58 form, the springing strides became shorter, and their vigor59 became less. The frosts and sorrows of many winters had turned the dark locks white, when, at the end of one summer—just as the first leaves began to fall—he once more journeyed to the high rock to invoke60 the aid and counsel of the hero god.
His dimmed eyes once more sought the star, and when he saw its light, he told Manabush the story of his fruitless quest. His tired limbs could no longer keep the trail, and his weary arms could no longer bend the bow to the arrow’s length.
Long he talked and meditated61, and a voice seemed to come out of the darkness. It was a voice of sweetness and mercy—a voice of love and forgiveness—that told of the futility62 of hatred63 and revenge, which would be lost in the gloom of the Great Beyond, when the earth should know him no more.
A new light burst upon him. He became glorified64 with a new thought. He resolved that he would no longer carry the red arrow in his quiver. He would abandon the black and sinister65 trail which he had hoped to redden with the blood of{287} his enemy, and part with this evil thing that had mastered him.
When the morning sun came over the hills, and bathed them in the radiance of a new day, he straightened his bent figure, and resolutely66 placed the red arrow in the bow. With a new strength, he drew the shaft to its full length, and, with a loud twang, the red arrow sang in the morning air.
His poor old eyes could follow it only a little way, but he saw it strike the shining bark of a little tree. With a sad smile—the first of many years—he saw the leaves of the little tree turn red.
He looked for the arrow in vain. It had gone on through the forest, and at night he found that it had struck many trees, for their leaves were also red. The next day he traveled on, and the scarlet67 leaves were ever before his eyes.
At last, tired and footsore, he laid down and slept. There came to him in his dreams the beautiful Naeta. She told him of a long journey through the years; how she had wearily sought him, how she had patiently followed the tangled68 threads of fate, hoping to find the end, where the sun might{288} shine, without bitterness, without hatred—with love and repentance69 in her heart.
Her feet had faltered70 on her weary way, and many times she had grasped the little trees to keep from falling.
He awoke and looked again into the forest. He saw that these little trees were touched with gold.
He then closed his eyes in eternal sleep, and the Indian Summer had come upon the land.
The red arrow and the repentant71 hand had transfigured the hills, and the glory of the Divine was upon them.
THE END
点击收听单词发音
1 dune | |
n.(由风吹积而成的)沙丘 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 mythology | |
n.神话,神话学,神话集 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 envelops | |
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 fable | |
n.寓言;童话;神话 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 forefathers | |
n.祖先,先人;祖先,祖宗( forefather的名词复数 );列祖列宗;前人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 obliterated | |
v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 );涂去;擦掉;彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 quarries | |
n.(采)石场( quarry的名词复数 );猎物(指鸟,兽等);方形石;(格窗等的)方形玻璃v.从采石场采得( quarry的第三人称单数 );从(书本等中)努力发掘(资料等);在采石场采石 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 promontories | |
n.岬,隆起,海角( promontory的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 ridges | |
n.脊( ridge的名词复数 );山脊;脊状突起;大气层的)高压脊 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 implements | |
n.工具( implement的名词复数 );家具;手段;[法律]履行(契约等)v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 );执行;贯彻;使生效 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 sequestered | |
adj.扣押的;隐退的;幽静的;偏僻的v.使隔绝,使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 );扣押 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 specimens | |
n.样品( specimen的名词复数 );范例;(化验的)抽样;某种类型的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 eddy | |
n.漩涡,涡流 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 flakes | |
小薄片( flake的名词复数 ); (尤指)碎片; 雪花; 古怪的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 ingenuity | |
n.别出心裁;善于发明创造 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 dominant | |
adj.支配的,统治的;占优势的;显性的;n.主因,要素,主要的人(或物);显性基因 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 extinction | |
n.熄灭,消亡,消灭,灭绝,绝种 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 shaft | |
n.(工具的)柄,杆状物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 riddle | |
n.谜,谜语,粗筛;vt.解谜,给…出谜,筛,检查,鉴定,非难,充满于;vi.出谜 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 speculative | |
adj.思索性的,暝想性的,推理的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 mound | |
n.土墩,堤,小山;v.筑堤,用土堆防卫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 primitive | |
adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 tribal | |
adj.部族的,种族的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 omnipotent | |
adj.全能的,万能的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 fabled | |
adj.寓言中的,虚构的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 civilized | |
a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 benign | |
adj.善良的,慈祥的;良性的,无危险的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 conqueror | |
n.征服者,胜利者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 interfered | |
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 phantom | |
n.幻影,虚位,幽灵;adj.错觉的,幻影的,幽灵的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 throngs | |
n.人群( throng的名词复数 )v.成群,挤满( throng的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 battalions | |
n.(陆军的)一营(大约有一千兵士)( battalion的名词复数 );协同作战的部队;军队;(组织在一起工作的)队伍 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 furtive | |
adj.鬼鬼崇崇的,偷偷摸摸的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 prows | |
n.船首( prow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 spectral | |
adj.幽灵的,鬼魂的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 raven | |
n.渡鸟,乌鸦;adj.乌亮的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 lured | |
吸引,引诱(lure的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 pinions | |
v.抓住[捆住](双臂)( pinion的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 hawk | |
n.鹰,骗子;鹰派成员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 promontory | |
n.海角;岬 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 consecrated | |
adj.神圣的,被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣,给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 );奉献 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 defiles | |
v.玷污( defile的第三人称单数 );污染;弄脏;纵列行进 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 sinewy | |
adj.多腱的,强壮有力的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 vigor | |
n.活力,精力,元气 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 invoke | |
v.求助于(神、法律);恳求,乞求 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 meditated | |
深思,沉思,冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 ); 内心策划,考虑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 futility | |
n.无用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 hatred | |
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 glorified | |
美其名的,变荣耀的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 sinister | |
adj.不吉利的,凶恶的,左边的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 resolutely | |
adj.坚决地,果断地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 tangled | |
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 repentance | |
n.懊悔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 faltered | |
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 repentant | |
adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |