兒童英語讀物《神奇樹屋》第十八冊 Buffalo Before Breakfast 03 Black Hawk
Jack stared at a circle of tepees ahead. Busy people inbuckskins moved about the circle. Horses and ponies grazednearby.
Jack took out their research book and found a picture of thetepees.
He read:
In the early 1800s, many different Native American tribeslived on the Great Plains. The Lakota were the largest tribe.
They lived mostly in the areas we now call North Dakota, SouthDakota, and Minnesota.
Jack pulled out his notebook and wrote:
Early 1800s- Lakota were largest tribe of Great PlainsBehind Jack and Annie, a horse neighed.
They turned. A horse and rider were heading toward thetepee camp.
The sun was very bright behind the rider. Jack could only seethe outline of a body with a bow and a quiver of arrows on hisback.
Jack quickly flipped through the book. He found a picture of aman on horseback carrying a bow and arrows. Below the pictureit said LAKOTA WARRIOR.
Jack read:
Everything changed for the Native Americans of the GreatPlains after white settlers arrived in the mid-1800s. Fightingbroke out between Lakota warriors and white soldiers. By theend of the 1800s, the Lakota were defeated. They lost both theirland and their old way of life.
Jack looked back at the rider. The warrior was coming closer.
"Get down," he whispered.
"Why?" said Annie.
"This might be a time when the Indians are fighting with thesettlers," said Jack.
The grass rustled as the warrior passed by them. His horseneighed again.
Arf! Arf!
"Shh!" whispered Jack.
But it was too late. The warrior had heard Teddy's barking.
He galloped toward them, grabbing his bow.
"Wait!" shouted Jack. He jumped up from the grass. "We comein peace!"The rider halted.
Now Jack saw that he was only a boy on a pony. He couldn'thave been more than ten or eleven.
"Hey, you're just a kid," Annie said, smiling.
The boy didn't smile back. But he did lower his bow while hestared at Annie.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Black Hawk," he said.
"Cool name," said Annie. 'We're Jack and Annie. We're justvisiting. We live in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania"Black Hawk nodded. Then he turned his pony around andstarted toward the Lakota camp.
"Hey, can we come with you?" called Annie.
Black Hawk looked back.
"Yes," he said. "Meet my people.""You mean your parents?" asked Annie.
"No, they died long ago," said Black Hawk. "I live with mygrandmother.""Oh, I'd like to meet your grandmother," said Annie. "I'mgoing to see my grandmother today, too."Black Hawk nudged his pony forward again. Annie followedwith Teddy.
Jack didn't move.
What if the Lakota are at war with the white settlers? heworried. What if they think we 're enemies?
"Annie!" Jack called softly. "We don't know if it's safe or not!"But Annie just waved for him to come on.
Jack sighed. He opened the research book and quickly flippedthrough the pages. He wanted information about how to actwith the Lakota.
On one page, he read:
Good manners to the Lakota mean speaking as few words aspossible and sharing gifts when visiting.
On another page, he read:
The Lakota admire those who do not show fear.
Jack's favorite piece of information was:
Holding up two fingers means "friend."Jack put the book away. He ran to catch up with Annie.
Annie was telling Black Hawk all about their grandmother.
The boy listened silently.
"Annie," Jack whispered. "I just read that it's good manners tobe quiet. And we should give gifts and not show fear. Also,holding up two fingers means 'friend."'
Annie nodded.
"Got that?" said Jack.
"Sure," she said. "No talking, no fear, no problem."Jack looked up. He caught his breath.
Ahead of them, the people at the campsite had stopped whatthey were doing. All eyes were turned to Jack and Annie.
Jack quickly held up two fingers. Annie did the same.
