Old Indian Days | Page 9

indul- gence in jesting,
perhaps for many moons. The recipient was well known to be a novice
in love, and this token first disclosed the fact that he had at last
succumbed to the allure- ments of woman. When he sang his love-song
he was obliged to name the giver of the token, and many a disappointed
suitor was astonished to hear Taluta's name.
It was a long journey to the Ute country, and when they reached it there
was a stubbornly contested fight. Both sides claimed the vic- tory, and
both lost several men. Here again Antelope was signally favored by the
gods of war. He counted many coups or blows, and exhibited his
bravery again and again in the charges, but he received no wound.
On the return journey Taluta's beautiful face was constantly before him.
He was so impatient to see her that he hurried on in ad- vance of his
party, when they were still several days' travel from the Sioux camp.
"This time I shall join in all the dances and participate in the rejoicings,
for she will surely like to have me do so," he thought to himself. "She
will join also, and I know that none is a better dancer than Taluta!"
In fancy, Antelope was practicing the songs of victory as he rode alone
over the vast wild country.
He had now passed Wild Horse Creek and the Black Hills lay to the
southeast, while the Big Horn range loomed up to the north in gigantic
proportions. He felt himself at home.
"I shall now be a man indeed. I shall have a wife!" he said aloud.
At last he reached the point from which he expected to view the distant
camp. Alas, there was no camp there! Only a solitary teepee gleamed
forth upon the green plain, which was almost surrounded by a quick

turn of the River of Deep Woods. The teepee appeared very white. A
peculiar tingling sensation passed through his frame, and the pony
whinnied often as he was urged forward at a gallop.
When Antelope beheld the solitary teepee he knew instantly what it
was. It was a grave! Sometimes a new white lodge was pitched thus for
the dead, who lay in state within upon a couch of finest skins, and
surrounded by his choicest possessions.
Antelope's excitement increased as he neared the teepee, which was
protected by a barricade of thick brush. It stood alone and silent in the
midst of the deserted camp. He kicked the sides of his tired horse to
make him go faster. At last he jumped from the saddle and ran toward
the door. There he paused for a mo- ment, and at the thought of
desecrating a grave, a cold terror came over him.
"I must see--I must see!" he said aloud, and desperately he broke
through the thorny fence and drew aside the oval swinging door.

II
In the stately white teepee, seen from afar, both grave and monument,
there lay the fair body of Taluta! The bier was undisturbed, and the
maiden looked beautiful as if sleeping, dressed in her robes of
ceremony and surrounded by all her belongings.
Her lover looked upon her still face and cried aloud. "Hey, hey, hey!
Alas! alas! If I had known of this while in the Ute country, you would
not be lonely on the spirit path."
He withdrew, and laid the doorflap rever- ently back in its place. How
long he stood with- out the threshold he could not tell. He stood with
head bowed down upon his breast, tear- less and motionless, utterly
oblivious to every- thing save the bier of his beloved. His charger
grazed about for a long time where he had left him, but at last he
endeavored by a low whinny to attract his master's attention, and
Antelope awoke from his trance of sorrow.

The sun was now hovering over the western ridges. The mourner's
throat was parched, and perspiration rolled down his cheeks, yet he was
conscious of nothing but a strong de- sire to look upon her calm, sweet
face once more.
He kindled a small fire a little way off, and burned some cedar berries
and sweet-smelling grass. Then he fumigated himself thoroughly to
dispel the human atmosphere, so that the spirit might not be offended
by his approach, for he greatly desired to obtain a sign from her spirit.
He had removed his garments and stood up perfectly nude save for the
breech- clout. His long hair was unbraided and hung upon his shoulders,
veiling the upper half of his splendid body. Thus standing, the lover
sang a dirge of his own making. The words were something like this:
Ah, spirit, thy flight is mysterious!
While the clouds are stirred by