Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Chapter eleven of Indian child Life.This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox
recordings are in the public domain.For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot orger. Indian childLife by Charles Eastman, Chapter eleven,
The Faithfulness of Long Ears Away beyondthe thin hills, above the Big Loan
(00:21):
Tree, upon the Powder River,ing Papa Sioux had celebrated their sun dance
some forty years ago. It wasmidsummer, and the Red folk were happy.
They lacked for nothing. The yellowishgreen flat on either side of the
Powder was studded with wild flowers,and the cotton moore trees were in full
leaf. One large circle of buffaloskin teepees formed the movable village. The
(00:45):
tribal rites had all been observed,and the usual summer festivities enjoyed to the
full. The camp, as itbroke up, divided itself in three parts,
each of which had determined to seeka favorite hunting ground. One band
journeyed west toward the Tongue River.One followed a tributary of the Powder to
the south. The third merely changedcamp on account of the grazing for ponies
(01:07):
and for four days remained near theold place. The party that went west
did not fail to realize the perilousnature of their wanderings, for they were
trespassing upon the country of the warlikecrows. On the third day, at
sunrise, the Sioux crier's voice soundedin the valley of the Powder, announcing
that the lodges must be raised andthe villagers must take up their march.
(01:29):
Breakfast of jerk buffalo meat had beenserved, and the women were adjusting their
packs, not without much clatter andapparent confusion. Weko, beautiful woman,
the young wife of the war chiefShunkasa, had made many presents at the
dances in honor of her twin boys, now gave one of her remaining ponies
to a poor old woman whose onlybeast of burden, a large dog,
(01:52):
had died during the night. Thismade it necessary to shift the packs of
the others. Nakpach or long Ears, her kitten like gray mule, which
had heretofore been honored with the preciousburden of the twin babies, was to
be given a heavier and more cumbersomeload. Weko's two year old spotted pony
was selected to carry the babies.Accordingly, the two children, in their
(02:15):
gorgeously beaded buckskin hoods, were suspendedupon either side of the pony's saddle.
As Weko's first born, they werebeautifully dressed. Even the saddle and bridle
were daintily worked by her own hands. Caravan was now in motion, and
Weko started all her ponies after theleader while she adjusted the mule's clumsy burden
(02:35):
of kettles and other household gear.In a moment, go on, let
us see how you move with yournew load. Go on, she exclaimed
again, with a light blow ofthe horsehair lariat. As the animal stood
perfectly still, Nakpa simply gave anangry side glance at her load and shifted
her position once or twice. Thenshe threw herself headlong into the air and
(02:58):
landed stiff legged, ring at thesame time her unearthly protest. First,
she dove straight through the crowd,then proceeded in a circle, her heels
describing wonderful curves and sweeps in theair. Her pack, too, began
to come to pieces and to takeforced flights from her undignified body and heels.
(03:19):
In the mists of the screams ofwomen and children, the barking of
dogs, and the war whoops ofthe amused young braves. The cowskin tent
became detached from her saddle, anda moment later knock posted free. Her
sides worked like a bellow's as shestood there meekly indignant, apparently considering herself
to be the victim of an uncalledfor misunderstanding. I should put an arrow
(03:42):
through her at once, Only sheis not worth a good arrow, said
Chunkasa, her white dog, thehusband of Wiko. At his wife's answer,
he opened his eyes in surprised displeasure. No, she shall have her
own pack again. She wants hertwins never to have taken them from her.
Wiko approached Nakpa as she stood aloneand unfriended in the face of her
(04:05):
little world, all of whom consideredthat she had committed the unpardonable sin.
As for her, she evidently feltthat her misfortunes had not been of her
own making. She gave a hesitatinglysidelong look at her, mistress, Nakpa.
You should not have acted so.I knew you were stronger than the
others. Therefore I gave you thatload, said Wiko. In a conciliatory
(04:29):
tone and patted her on the nose. Come now, you shall have your
own pet pack, and she ledher back to where the young pony stood
silently with the babies. Nakpa threwback her ears and cast savage looks at
him, while Shunkasa, with nosmall annoyance, gathered together as much as
he could of their scattered household effects. The sleeping brown skin babies and their
(04:51):
chrysalis like hoods were gently lowered fromthe pony's back and attached securely to Nakpa's
padded wooden saddle. The family potsand kettles were divided among the pack ponies.
Order was restored, and the villageonce more in motion. Come now,
Knockpa, you have your wish.You must take good care of my
(05:12):
babies. Be good because I havetrusted you, murmured the young mother in
her softest tones. Really we goyou have some common ground with Knakpa or
you both always want to have yourown way and stick to it too.
I tell you I fear this longears. She is not to be trusted
with babies, remarked Shunkasa with agood deal of severity, But his wife
(05:34):
made no reply. For she wellknew that though he might criticize, he
would not actually interfere with her domesticarrangements. He now started ahead to join
the men in the advance of theslow moving procession, thus leaving her in
undivided charge of her household. Oneor two of the pack ponies were not
well trained and required all her attention. Nakpa had been a faithful servant until
(05:59):
her escapade of the morning, andshe was now obviously satisfied with her mistress's
arrangements. She walked alongside, withher lariat dragging and perfectly free to do
as she pleased. Some hours later, the party ascended a slope from the
river bottom to cross over the dividewhich lay between the Powder River and a
tributary stream. The ford was deep, with a swift current. Here and
(06:23):
there a bald butte stood out infull relief against the brilliant blue sky.
Woo Ooo came the blood curdling signalof danger from the front. It was
no unfamiliar sound. The rovers knewit only too well. It meant sudden
death, or at best, acruel struggle and a frantic flight. Terrified
(06:43):
yet self possessed, the women turnedto fly while yet there was time.
Instantly, the mother looked to Knock, who carried on either side of the
saddle her precious boys. She hurriedlyexamined the fastenings to see that all was
secure, and then caught her swiftestpony. For like all Indian women,
she knew just what was happening,and that while her husband was engaged in
(07:04):
front with the enemy, she mustseek safety with her babies. Hardly was
she in the saddle when a heartrending war whoop sounded on their flank,
and she knew that they were surrounded. Instinctively, she reached for her husband's
second quiver of arrows, which wascarried by one of the pack ponies,
alas the crow warriors were already uponthem. The ponies became unmanageable, and
(07:30):
the wild screams of women and childrenpierced the awful confusion. Quick as a
flash, Wiko turned again to herbabies, but Nakpa had already disappeared.
When the crows made their flank charge, Nakpa apparently appreciated the situation. To
save herself and the babies, shetook a desperate chance. She fled straight
through the attacking force. When thewarriors came howling upon her in great numbers,
(07:55):
she at once started back the wayshe had come to the camp left
behind. They had traveled nearly threedays. To be sure, they did
not travel more than fifteen miles aday, but it was full forty miles
to cover before dark. Look,look, exclaimed a warrior. Two babies
hung from the saddle of a mule. No one heeded this man's call,
(08:16):
and his arrow did not touch Nakpaor either of the boys, but it
struck the thick part of the saddleover the mule's back. Ooo Ooo,
yelled another crow to his comrades.The Sioux have dispatched a runner to get
reinforcements. There he goes down onthe flat. Now he has almost reached
the river bottom. It was onlyNakpa. She laid back her ears and
(08:39):
stretched out more and more to gainthe river, for she realized that when
she had crossed the ford, thecrows would not pursue her further. Now
she had reached the bank. Withthe intense heat from her exertions, she
was extremely nervous, and she imagineda warrior behind every bush. Yet she
had enough sense left to realize thatshe you must not satisfy her thirst.
(09:01):
She tried the bottom with her forefoot, then waded carefully into the deep
stream. She kept her big earswell to the front as she swam to
catch the slightest sound. As shestepped on the opposite shore, she shook
herself and the boys vigorously, thenpulled a few mouthfuls of grass and started
on. Soon, one of thebabies began to cry, and the other
(09:22):
was not long in joining him.Nakpa did not know what to do.
She gave a gentle whinny, andboth babies apparently stopped to listen. Then
she took up an easy gait,as if to put them to sleep.
These tactics answered only for a time. As she fairly flew over the lowlands,
the baby's hunger increased, and theyscreamed so loud that a passing coyote
(09:43):
had to sit upon his haunches andwonder what in the world the fleeing long
eared horse was carrying on his saddle. Even magpies and crows flew near,
as if to ascertain the meaning ofthis curious sound. Nakpa now came to
the Little Trail Creek, a tributaryof the powder far from the old camp.
There she swerved aside so suddenly asalmost to jerk her babies out of
(10:05):
their cradles. Two gray wolves,one on each side, approached her,
growling low, their white teeth showing. Never in her humble life had Knockpop
been in more desperate straits. Thelarger of the wolves came fiercely forward to
engage her attention, while his matewas to attack her behind and cut her
hamstrings. But for once the pairhad made a miscalculation. The mule used
(10:31):
her front hoofs vigorously on the foremostwolf, while her hind ones were doing
even more effective work. The largerwolf soon went limping away with a broken
hip, and the one in therear received a deep cut on the jaw,
which proved an effectual discouragement. Alittle further on, an Indian hunter
drew near on horseback, but Knockpadid not pause or slacken her pace.
(10:54):
On she fled through the long drygrass of the river bottoms, while her
baby slept again from sheer exhaust.Towards sunset, she entered the Sioux Camp
amid great excitement, for someone hadspied her afar off and the boys and
the dogs announced her coming. Woohoo, Weka has come back with the twins.
Woohoo, exclaimed the man Toki Tokicried. The woman zizi Win,
(11:18):
a sister to Weiko, who wasin the village, came forward and released
the children as Nakpa gave a lowwhinnie and stopped sing a brave heart song
for the long eared one. Shehas escaped alone with her charge. She
is entitled to wear an eagle's feather. Look at the arrow in her saddle
and more. She has a knifewound in her jaw and an arrow cut
(11:39):
on her hind leg. No,these are the marks of a wolf's teeth.
She has passed through many dangers andsaved two chiefs, sons who will
someday make the crows sorry for thisday's work. Speaker was an old man
who thus addressed the fast gathering throng. Zizi Win now came forward again with
an eagle feather and some white paintin her hands. The young men rub
(12:03):
knocked pot down, and the feather, marked with red to indicate her wounds,
was fastened to her. Mane shouldersand hips were touched with red paint
to show her endurance and running.Then the crier, praising her brave deed
in heroic verse, led her aroundthe camp inside of the circle of teepees.
All of the people stood outside theirlodges and listened respectfully, for the
(12:26):
Dakota loves well to honor the faithfuland the brave. During the next day,
riders came in from the ill fatedparty, bringing the sad news of
the fight and heavy loss. Latein the afternoon came Weeko, her face
swollen with crying, her beautiful haircut short and mourning, her garments torn
and covered with dust and blood,her husband had fallen in the fight,
(12:48):
and her twin boys she supposed tohave been taken captive by the crows,
singing in a hoarse voice the praisesof her departed warrior, she entered the
camp. As she approached her sister'ssteepee, there stood Nakpa, still wearing
her honorable decorations. At the samemoment, Zizi Wynn came out to meet
her with both babies in her arms. Mkinschi mc kinchi, My sons,
(13:11):
my sons, was all that thepoor mother could say as she all but
fell from the saddle to the ground, the despised long Ears had not betrayed
her trust. And of chapter eleven, the faithfulness of long Ears
Chapter eleven of Indian child Life.This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox
recordings are in the public domain.For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot orger. Indian childLife by Charles Eastman, Chapter eleven,
The Faithfulness of Long Ears Away beyondthe thin hills, above the Big Loan
(00:21):
Tree, upon the Powder River,ing Papa Sioux had celebrated their sun dance
some forty years ago. It wasmidsummer, and the Red folk were happy.
They lacked for nothing. The yellowishgreen flat on either side of the
Powder was studded with wild flowers,and the cotton moore trees were in full
leaf. One large circle of buffaloskin teepees formed the movable village. The
(00:45):
tribal rites had all been observed,and the usual summer festivities enjoyed to the
full. The camp, as itbroke up, divided itself in three parts,
each of which had determined to seeka favorite hunting ground. One band
journeyed west toward the Tongue River.One followed a tributary of the Powder to
the south. The third merely changedcamp on account of the grazing for ponies
(01:07):
and for four days remained near theold place. The party that went west
did not fail to realize the perilousnature of their wanderings, for they were
trespassing upon the country of the warlikecrows. On the third day, at
sunrise, the Sioux crier's voice soundedin the valley of the Powder, announcing
that the lodges must be raised andthe villagers must take up their march.
(01:29):
Breakfast of jerk buffalo meat had beenserved, and the women were adjusting their
packs, not without much clatter andapparent confusion. Weko, beautiful woman,
the young wife of the war chiefShunkasa, had made many presents at the
dances in honor of her twin boys, now gave one of her remaining ponies
to a poor old woman whose onlybeast of burden, a large dog,
(01:52):
had died during the night. Thismade it necessary to shift the packs of
the others. Nakpach or long Ears, her kitten like gray mule, which
had heretofore been honored with the preciousburden of the twin babies, was to
be given a heavier and more cumbersomeload. Weko's two year old spotted pony
was selected to carry the babies.Accordingly, the two children, in their
(02:15):
gorgeously beaded buckskin hoods, were suspendedupon either side of the pony's saddle.
As Weko's first born, they werebeautifully dressed. Even the saddle and bridle
were daintily worked by her own hands. Caravan was now in motion, and
Weko started all her ponies after theleader while she adjusted the mule's clumsy burden
(02:35):
of kettles and other household gear.In a moment, go on, let
us see how you move with yournew load. Go on, she exclaimed
again, with a light blow ofthe horsehair lariat. As the animal stood
perfectly still, Nakpa simply gave anangry side glance at her load and shifted
her position once or twice. Thenshe threw herself headlong into the air and
(02:58):
landed stiff legged, ring at thesame time her unearthly protest. First,
she dove straight through the crowd,then proceeded in a circle, her heels
describing wonderful curves and sweeps in theair. Her pack, too, began
to come to pieces and to takeforced flights from her undignified body and heels.
(03:19):
In the mists of the screams ofwomen and children, the barking of
dogs, and the war whoops ofthe amused young braves. The cowskin tent
became detached from her saddle, anda moment later knock posted free. Her
sides worked like a bellow's as shestood there meekly indignant, apparently considering herself
to be the victim of an uncalledfor misunderstanding. I should put an arrow
(03:42):
through her at once, Only sheis not worth a good arrow, said
Chunkasa, her white dog, thehusband of Wiko. At his wife's answer,
he opened his eyes in surprised displeasure. No, she shall have her
own pack again. She wants hertwins never to have taken them from her.
Wiko approached Nakpa as she stood aloneand unfriended in the face of her
(04:05):
little world, all of whom consideredthat she had committed the unpardonable sin.
As for her, she evidently feltthat her misfortunes had not been of her
own making. She gave a hesitatinglysidelong look at her, mistress, Nakpa.
You should not have acted so.I knew you were stronger than the
others. Therefore I gave you thatload, said Wiko. In a conciliatory
(04:29):
tone and patted her on the nose. Come now, you shall have your
own pet pack, and she ledher back to where the young pony stood
silently with the babies. Nakpa threwback her ears and cast savage looks at
him, while Shunkasa, with nosmall annoyance, gathered together as much as
he could of their scattered household effects. The sleeping brown skin babies and their
(04:51):
chrysalis like hoods were gently lowered fromthe pony's back and attached securely to Nakpa's
padded wooden saddle. The family potsand kettles were divided among the pack ponies.
Order was restored, and the villageonce more in motion. Come now,
Knockpa, you have your wish.You must take good care of my
(05:12):
babies. Be good because I havetrusted you, murmured the young mother in
her softest tones. Really we goyou have some common ground with Knakpa or
you both always want to have yourown way and stick to it too.
I tell you I fear this longears. She is not to be trusted
with babies, remarked Shunkasa with agood deal of severity, But his wife
(05:34):
made no reply. For she wellknew that though he might criticize, he
would not actually interfere with her domesticarrangements. He now started ahead to join
the men in the advance of theslow moving procession, thus leaving her in
undivided charge of her household. Oneor two of the pack ponies were not
well trained and required all her attention. Nakpa had been a faithful servant until
(05:59):
her escapade of the morning, andshe was now obviously satisfied with her mistress's
arrangements. She walked alongside, withher lariat dragging and perfectly free to do
as she pleased. Some hours later, the party ascended a slope from the
river bottom to cross over the dividewhich lay between the Powder River and a
tributary stream. The ford was deep, with a swift current. Here and
(06:23):
there a bald butte stood out infull relief against the brilliant blue sky.
Woo Ooo came the blood curdling signalof danger from the front. It was
no unfamiliar sound. The rovers knewit only too well. It meant sudden
death, or at best, acruel struggle and a frantic flight. Terrified
(06:43):
yet self possessed, the women turnedto fly while yet there was time.
Instantly, the mother looked to Knock, who carried on either side of the
saddle her precious boys. She hurriedlyexamined the fastenings to see that all was
secure, and then caught her swiftestpony. For like all Indian women,
she knew just what was happening,and that while her husband was engaged in
(07:04):
front with the enemy, she mustseek safety with her babies. Hardly was
she in the saddle when a heartrending war whoop sounded on their flank,
and she knew that they were surrounded. Instinctively, she reached for her husband's
second quiver of arrows, which wascarried by one of the pack ponies,
alas the crow warriors were already uponthem. The ponies became unmanageable, and
(07:30):
the wild screams of women and childrenpierced the awful confusion. Quick as a
flash, Wiko turned again to herbabies, but Nakpa had already disappeared.
When the crows made their flank charge, Nakpa apparently appreciated the situation. To
save herself and the babies, shetook a desperate chance. She fled straight
through the attacking force. When thewarriors came howling upon her in great numbers,
(07:55):
she at once started back the wayshe had come to the camp left
behind. They had traveled nearly threedays. To be sure, they did
not travel more than fifteen miles aday, but it was full forty miles
to cover before dark. Look,look, exclaimed a warrior. Two babies
hung from the saddle of a mule. No one heeded this man's call,
(08:16):
and his arrow did not touch Nakpaor either of the boys, but it
struck the thick part of the saddleover the mule's back. Ooo Ooo,
yelled another crow to his comrades.The Sioux have dispatched a runner to get
reinforcements. There he goes down onthe flat. Now he has almost reached
the river bottom. It was onlyNakpa. She laid back her ears and
(08:39):
stretched out more and more to gainthe river, for she realized that when
she had crossed the ford, thecrows would not pursue her further. Now
she had reached the bank. Withthe intense heat from her exertions, she
was extremely nervous, and she imagineda warrior behind every bush. Yet she
had enough sense left to realize thatshe you must not satisfy her thirst.
(09:01):
She tried the bottom with her forefoot, then waded carefully into the deep
stream. She kept her big earswell to the front as she swam to
catch the slightest sound. As shestepped on the opposite shore, she shook
herself and the boys vigorously, thenpulled a few mouthfuls of grass and started
on. Soon, one of thebabies began to cry, and the other
(09:22):
was not long in joining him.Nakpa did not know what to do.
She gave a gentle whinny, andboth babies apparently stopped to listen. Then
she took up an easy gait,as if to put them to sleep.
These tactics answered only for a time. As she fairly flew over the lowlands,
the baby's hunger increased, and theyscreamed so loud that a passing coyote
(09:43):
had to sit upon his haunches andwonder what in the world the fleeing long
eared horse was carrying on his saddle. Even magpies and crows flew near,
as if to ascertain the meaning ofthis curious sound. Nakpa now came to
the Little Trail Creek, a tributaryof the powder far from the old camp.
There she swerved aside so suddenly asalmost to jerk her babies out of
(10:05):
their cradles. Two gray wolves,one on each side, approached her,
growling low, their white teeth showing. Never in her humble life had Knockpop
been in more desperate straits. Thelarger of the wolves came fiercely forward to
engage her attention, while his matewas to attack her behind and cut her
hamstrings. But for once the pairhad made a miscalculation. The mule used
(10:31):
her front hoofs vigorously on the foremostwolf, while her hind ones were doing
even more effective work. The largerwolf soon went limping away with a broken
hip, and the one in therear received a deep cut on the jaw,
which proved an effectual discouragement. Alittle further on, an Indian hunter
drew near on horseback, but Knockpadid not pause or slacken her pace.
(10:54):
On she fled through the long drygrass of the river bottoms, while her
baby slept again from sheer exhaust.Towards sunset, she entered the Sioux Camp
amid great excitement, for someone hadspied her afar off and the boys and
the dogs announced her coming. Woohoo, Weka has come back with the twins.
Woohoo, exclaimed the man Toki Tokicried. The woman zizi Win,
(11:18):
a sister to Weiko, who wasin the village, came forward and released
the children as Nakpa gave a lowwhinnie and stopped sing a brave heart song
for the long eared one. Shehas escaped alone with her charge. She
is entitled to wear an eagle's feather. Look at the arrow in her saddle
and more. She has a knifewound in her jaw and an arrow cut
(11:39):
on her hind leg. No,these are the marks of a wolf's teeth.
She has passed through many dangers andsaved two chiefs, sons who will
someday make the crows sorry for thisday's work. Speaker was an old man
who thus addressed the fast gathering throng. Zizi Win now came forward again with
an eagle feather and some white paintin her hands. The young men rub
(12:03):
knocked pot down, and the feather, marked with red to indicate her wounds,
was fastened to her. Mane shouldersand hips were touched with red paint
to show her endurance and running.Then the crier, praising her brave deed
in heroic verse, led her aroundthe camp inside of the circle of teepees.
All of the people stood outside theirlodges and listened respectfully, for the
(12:26):
Dakota loves well to honor the faithfuland the brave. During the next day,
riders came in from the ill fatedparty, bringing the sad news of
the fight and heavy loss. Latein the afternoon came Weeko, her face
swollen with crying, her beautiful haircut short and mourning, her garments torn
and covered with dust and blood,her husband had fallen in the fight,
(12:48):
and her twin boys she supposed tohave been taken captive by the crows,
singing in a hoarse voice the praisesof her departed warrior, she entered the
camp. As she approached her sister'ssteepee, there stood Nakpa, still wearing
her honorable decorations. At the samemoment, Zizi Wynn came out to meet
her with both babies in her arms. Mkinschi mc kinchi, My sons,
(13:11):
my sons, was all that thepoor mother could say as she all but
fell from the saddle to the ground, the despised long Ears had not betrayed
her trust. And of chapter eleven, the faithfulness of long Ears
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.