Life on the Mississippi - Mark Twain [199]
thunder, slowly filling all the sky; and then they heard him speak and say, “Who can it be that has dared to steal my wampum? Earth is not so large but that I can find them”; and he descended from the hill in pursuit. As if convulsed, the earth shook with every jump he made. Very soon he approached the party. They, however, kept the belt, exchanging it from one to another, and encouraging each other; but he gained on them fast. “Brothers,” said the leader, “has never any one of you, when fasting, dreamed of some friendly spirit who would aid you as a guardian?” A dead silence followed. “Well,” said he, “fasting I dreamed of being in danger of instant death, when I saw a small lodge, with smoke curling from its top. An old man lived in it, and I dreamed he helped me; and may it be verified soon,” he said, running forward and giving the peculiar yell, and a howl as if the sounds came from the depths of his stomach, and what is called checaudum. Getting upon a piece of rising ground, behold!—a lodge, with smoke curling from its top, appeared. This gave them all new strength, and they ran forward and entered it. The leader spoke to the old man who sat in the lodge, saying, “Nemesho, help us; we claim your protection, for the great bear will kill us.” “Sit down and eat, my grandchildren,” said the old man. “Who is a great manito?” said he. “There is none but me; but let me look,” and he opened the door of the lodge, when, lo!—at a little distance he saw the enraged animal coming on, with slow but powerful leaps. He closed the door. “Yes,” said he, “he is indeed a great manito: my grandchildren, you will be the cause of my losing my life; you asked my protection, and I granted it; so now, come what may, I will protect you. When the bear arrives at the door, you must run out of the other door of the lodge.” Then putting his hand to the side of the lodge where he sat, he brought out a bag which he opened. Taking out two small black dogs, he placed them before him. “These are the ones I use when I fight,” said he; and he commenced patting with both hands the sides of one of them, and he began to swell out, so that he soon filled the lodge by his bulk; and he had great strong teeth. When he attained his full size he growled, and from that moment, as from instinct, he jumped out at the door and met the bear, who in another leap would have reached the lodge. A terrible combat ensued. The skies rang with the howls of the fierce monsters. The remaining dog soon took the field. The brothers, at the onset, took the advice of the old man, and escaped through the opposite side of the lodge. They had not proceeded far before they heard the dying cry of one of the dogs, and soon after of the other. “Well,” said the leader, “the old man will share their fate: so run; he will soon be after us.” They started with fresh vigor, for they had received food from the old man: but very soon the bear came in sight, and again was fast gaining upon them. Again the leader asked the brothers if they could do nothing for their safety. All were silent. The leader, running forward, did as before. “I dreamed,” he cried, “that, being in great trouble, an old man helped me who was a manito; we shall soon see his lodge.” Taking courage, they still went on. After going a short distance they saw the lodge of the old manito. They entered immediately and claimed his protection, telling him a manito was after them. The old man, setting meat before them, said: “Eat. Who is a manito? There is no manito but me; there is none whom I fear”; and the earth trembled as the monster advanced. The old man opened the door and saw him coming. He shut it slowly, and said: “Yes, my grandchildren, you have brought trouble upon me.” Procuring his medicine sack, he took out his small war clubs of black stone, and told the young men to run through the other side of the lodge. As he handled the clubs, they became very large, and the old man stepped out just as the bear reached the door. Then striking him with one of the clubs, it broke in pieces; the bear stumbled. Renewing the attempt