首页 >出版文学> Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains>第3章
  RAIN-IN-THE-FACE
  ThenotedSiouxwarrior,Rain-in-the-Face,whosenameoncecarriedterrortoeverypartofthefrontier,diedathishomeontheStandingRockreserveinNorthDakotaonSeptember14,1905。AbouttwomonthsbeforehisdeathIwenttoseehimforthelasttime,wherehelayuponthebedofsicknessfromwhichheneverroseagain,anddrewfromhimhislife-history。
  IthadbeenmyexperiencethatyoucannotinduceanIndiantotellastory,orevenhisownname,byaskinghimdirectly。
  "Friend,"Isaid,"evenifamanisonahottrail,hestopsforasmoke!Inthegoodolddays,beforethechargetherewasasmoke。Athome,bythefireside,whentheoldmenwereaskedtotelltheirbravedeeds,againthepipewaspassed。Socome,letussmokenowtothememoryoftheolddays!"
  Hetookofmytobaccoandfilledhislongpipe,andwesmoked。
  ThenItoldanoldmirthfulstorytogethiminthehumorofrelatinghisownhistory。
  Theoldmanlayuponanironbedstead,coveredbyaredblanket,inacornerofthelittlelogcabin。Hewasallalonethatday;onlyanolddoglaysilentandwatchfulathismaster’sfeet。
  Finallyhelookedupandsaidwithapleasantsmile:
  "True,friend;itistheoldcustomtoretraceone’strailbeforeleavingitforever!IknowthatIamatthedoorofthespirithome。
  "IwasbornneartheforksoftheCheyenneRiver,aboutseventyyearsago。Myfatherwasnotachief;mygrandfatherwasnotachief,butagoodhunterandafeast-maker。Onmymother’ssideIhadsomenotedancestors,buttheyleftmenochieftainship。
  Ihadtoworkformyreputation。
  "WhenIwasaboy,Ilovedtofight,"hecontinued。"InallourboyishgamesIhadthenameofbeinghardtohandle,andItookmuchprideinthefact。
  "IwasabouttenyearsoldwhenweencounteredabandofCheyennes。Theywereonfriendlytermswithus,butweboysalwaysindulgedinshamfightsonsuchoccasions,andthistimeI
  gotinanhonestfightwithaCheyenneboyolderthanI。Igotthebestoftheboy,buthehitmehardinthefaceseveraltimes,andmyfacewasallspatteredwithbloodandstreakedwherethepainthadbeenwashedaway。TheSiouxboyswhoopedandyelled:
  "’Hisenemyisdown,andhisfaceisspatteredasifwithrain!Rain-in-the-Face!HisnameshallbeRain-in-the-Face!’
  "Afterwards,whenIwasayoungman,wewentonawarpathagainsttheGrosVentres。Westolesomeoftheirhorses,butwereovertakenandhadtoabandonthehorsesandfightforourlives。
  Ihadwishedmyfacetorepresentthesunwhenpartlycoveredwithdarkness,soIpaintedithalfblack,halfred。Wefoughtalldayintherain,andmyfacewaspartlywashedandstreakedwithredandblack:soagainIwaschristenedRain-in-the-Face。Weconsidereditanhonorablename。
  "Ihadbeenonmanywarpaths,butwasnotespeciallysuccessfuluntilaboutthetimetheSiouxbegantofightwiththewhiteman。OneofthemostdaringattacksthatweevermadewasatFortTotten,NorthDakota,inthesummerof1866。
  "Hohay,theAssiniboinecaptiveofSittingBull,wastheleaderinthisraid。Wapaypay,theFearlessBear,whowasafterwardhangedatYankton,wasthebravestmanamongus。HedaredHohaytomakethecharge。Hohayacceptedthechallenge,andinturndaredtheothertoridewithhimthroughtheagencyandrightunderthewallsofthefort,whichwaswellgarrisonedandstrong。
  "WapaypayandIinthosedayscalledeachother’brother-friend。’Itwasalife-and-deathvow。Whatonedoestheothermustdo;andthatmeantthatImustbeintheforefrontofthecharge,andifheiskilled,ImustfightuntilIdiealso!
  "Ipreparedfordeath。Ipaintedasusuallikeaneclipseofthesun,halfblackandhalfred。"
  Hiseyesgleamedandhisfacelightedupremarkablyashetalked,pushinghisblackhairbackfromhisforeheadwithanervousgesture。
  "Nowthesignalforthechargewasgiven!IstartedevenwithWapaypay,buthishorsewasfasterthanmine,soheleftmealittlebehindaswenearedthefort。Thiswasbadforme,forbythattimethesoldiershadsomewhatrecoveredfromthesurpriseandwereaimingbetter。
  "Theirbigguntalkedveryloud,butmyWapaypaywasleadingon,leaningforwardonhisfleetponylikeaflyingsquirrelonasmoothlog!Heheldhisrawhideshieldontherightside,alittletothefront,andsodidI。Ourwarwhoopwaslikethecoyotessingingintheevening,whentheysmellblood!
  "Thesoldiers’gunstalkedfast,butfewwerehurt。Theirbiggunwaslikeatoothlessolddog,whoonlymakeshimselfhotterthemorenoisehemakes,"heremarkedwithsomehumor。
  "HowmuchharmwedidIdonotknow,butwemadethingslivelyforatime;andthewhitemenactedaspeopledowhenaswarmofangrybeesgetintocamp。Wemadeasuccessfulretreat,butsomeofthereservationIndiansfollowedusyelling,untilHohaytoldthemthathedidnotwishtofightwiththecaptivesofthewhiteman,fortherewouldbenohonorinthat。Therewasbloodrunningdownmyleg,andIfoundthatbothmyhorseandIwereslightlywounded。
  "SometwoyearslaterweattackedafortwestoftheBlackHills[FortPhilKearny,Wyoming]。Itwastherewekilledonehundredsoldiers。"[Themilitaryreportssayeightymen,underthecommandofCaptainFetterman——notoneleftalivetotellthetale!]"NearlyeverybandoftheSiouxnationwasrepresentedinthatfight——RedCloud,SpottedTail,CrazyHorse,SittingBull,BigFoot,andallourgreatchiefswerethere。OfcoursesuchmenasIwerethencomparativelyunknown。However,thereweremanynotedyoungwarriors,amongthemSword,theyoungerYoung-Man-Afraid,AmericanHorse[afterwardchief],CrowKing,andothers。
  "Thiswastheplandecideduponaftermanycouncils。Themainwarpartylayinambush,andafewofthebravestyoungmenwereappointedtoattackthewoodchopperswhowerecuttinglogstocompletethebuildingofthefort。Weweretoldnottokillthesemen,buttochasethemintothefortandretreatslowly,defyingthewhitemen;andifthesoldiersshouldfollow,weweretoleadthemintotheambush。Theytookourbaitexactlyaswehadhoped!
  Itwasamatterofaveryfewminutes,foreverysoldierlaydeadinashortertimethanittakestoannihilateasmallherdofbuffalo。
  "ThisattackwashastenedbecausemostoftheSiouxontheMissouriRiverandeastwardhadbeguntotalkofsuingforpeace。
  Buteventhisdidnotstopthepeacemovement。TheverynextyearatreatywassignedatFortRice,DakotaTerritory,bynearlyalltheSiouxchiefs,inwhichitwasagreedonthepartoftheGreatFatherinWashingtonthatallthecountrynorthoftheRepublicanRiverinNebraska,includingtheBlackHillsandtheBigHornMountains,wastobealwaysSiouxcountry,andnowhitemanshouldintrudeuponitwithoutourpermission。EvenwiththisagreementSittingBullandCrazyHorsewerenotsatisfied,andtheywouldnotsign。
  "UptothistimeIhadfoughtinsomeimportantbattles,buthadachievednogreatdeed。Iwasambitioustomakeanameformyself。IjoinedwarpartiesagainsttheCrows,Mandans,GrosVentres,andPawnees,andgainedsomelittledistinction。
  "Itwaswhenthewhitemenfoundtheyellowmetalinourcountry,andcameingreatnumbers,drivingawayourgame,thatwetookuparmsagainstthemforthelasttime。Imustsayherethatthechiefswhowereloudestforwarwereamongthefirsttosubmitandacceptreservationlife。SpottedTailwasagreatwarrior,yethewasoneofthefirsttoyield,becausehewaspromisedbytheChiefSoldiersthattheywouldmakehimchiefofalltheSioux。Ugh!hewouldhavestayedwithSittingBulltothelasthaditnotbeenforhisambition。
  "AboutthistimeweyoungwarriorsbegantowatchthetrailsofthewhitemenintotheBlackHills,andwhenwesawawagoncomingwewouldhideatthecrossingandkillthemallwithoutmuchtrouble。Wedidthistodiscouragethewhitesfromcomingintoourcountrywithoutourpermission。ItwasthedutyofourGreatFatheratWashington,bytheagreementof1868,tokeephiswhitechildrenaway。
  "Duringthetroublesometimeafterthistreaty,whichnooneseemedtorespect,eitherwhiteorIndian[butthewhitesbrokeitfirst],Iwaslikemanyotheryoungmen——muchonthewarpath,butwithlittlehonor。Ihadnotyetbecomenotedforanygreatdeed。
  Finally,WapaypayandIwaylaidandkilledawhitesoldieronhiswayfromtheforttohishomeintheeast。
  "TherewereafewIndianswhowereliars,andneveronthewarpath,playing’goodIndian’withtheIndianagentsandthewarchiefsattheforts。Someofthisfaithlesssetbetrayedme,andtoldmorethanIeverdid。IwasseizedandtakentothefortnearBismarck,NorthDakota[FortAbrahamLincoln],byabrother[TomCuster]oftheLong-HairedWarChief,andimprisonedthere。ThesesamelyingIndians,whoweresellingtheirservicesasscoutstothewhiteman,toldmethatIwastobeshottodeath,orelsehangeduponatree。IansweredthatIwasnotafraidtodie。
  "However,therewasanoldsoldierwhousedtobringmyfoodandstandguardoverme——hewasawhiteman,itistrue,buthehadanIndianheart!Hecametomeonedayandunfastenedtheironchainandballwithwhichtheyhadlockedmyleg,sayingbysignsandwhatlittleSiouxhecouldmuster:
  "’Go,friend!takethechainandballwithyou。Ishallshoot,butthevoiceofthegunwilllie。’
  "Whenhehadmademeunderstand,youmayguessthatIranmybest!Iwasalmostoverthebankwhenhefiredhispieceatmeseveraltimes,butIhadalreadygainedcoverandwassafe。Ihavenevertoldthisbefore,andwouldnot,lestitshoulddohimaninjury,buthewasanoldmanthen,andIamsurehemustbedeadlongsince。Thatoldsoldiertaughtmethatsomeofthewhitepeoplehavehearts,"headded,quiteseriously。
  "IwentbacktoStandingRockinthenight,andIhadtohideforseveraldaysinthewoods,wherefoodwasbroughttomebymyrelatives。TheIndianpolicewereorderedtoretakeme,andtheypretendedtohuntforme,butreallytheydidnot,foriftheyhadfoundmeIwouldhavediedwithoneortwoofthem,andtheyknewit!InafewdaysIdepartedwithseveralothers,andwerejoinedthehostilecamponthePowderRiverandmadesometroubleforthemenwhowerebuildingthegreatirontracknorthofus[NorthernPacific]。
  "InthespringthehostileSiouxgottogetheragainupontheTongueRiver。ItwasoneofthegreatestcampsoftheSiouxthatIeversaw。ThereweresomeNorthernCheyenneswithus,underTwoMoon,andafewSanteeSioux,renegadesfromCanada,underInkpaduta,whohadkilledwhitepeopleinIowalongbefore。Wehaddecidedtofightthewhitesoldiersuntilnowarriorshouldbeleft。"
  AtthispointRain-in-the-Facetookuphistobaccopouchandbeganagaintofillhispipe。
  "Ofcoursetheyoungerwarriorsweredelightedwiththeprospectofagreatfight!OurscoutshaddiscoveredpilesofoatsforhorsesandothersuppliesneartheMissouriRiver。Theyhadbeenbroughtbythewhiteman’sfire-boats。Presentlytheyreportedagreatarmyaboutaday’straveltothesouth,withShoshoneandCrowscouts。
  "Therewasexcitementamongthepeople,andagreatcouncilwasheld。Manyspoke。IwasaskedtheconditionofthoseIndianswhohadgoneuponthereservation,andItoldthemtrulythattheywerenothingmorethanprisoners。ItwasdecidedtogooutandmeetThreeStars[GeneralCrook]atasafedistancefromourcamp。
  "WemethimontheLittleRosebud。Ibelievethatifwehadwaitedandallowedhimtomaketheattack,hewouldhavefarednobetterthanCuster。Hewastoostronglyfortifiedwherehewas,andIthink,too,thathewassavedpartlybyhisIndianallies,forthescoutsdiscoveredusfirstandfoughtusfirst,thusgivinghimtimetomakehispreparations。Ithinkhewasmorewisethanbrave!AfterwehadleftthatneighborhoodhemighthavepushedonandconnectedwiththeLong-HairedChief。ThatwouldhavesavedCusterandperhapswontheday。
  "WhenwecrossedfromTongueRivertotheLittleBigHorn,onaccountofthescarcityofgame,wedidnotanticipateanymoretrouble。OurrunnershaddiscoveredthatCrookhadretracedhistrailtoGooseCreek,andwedidnotsupposethatthewhitemenwouldcaretofollowusfartherintotheroughcountry。
  "SuddenlytheLong-HairedChiefappearedwithhismen!Itwasasurprise。"
  "Whatpartofthecampwereyouinwhenthesoldiersattackedthelowerend?"Iasked。
  "Ihadbeeninvitedtoafeastatoneoftheyoungmen’slodges[asortofclub]。TherewasacertainwarriorwhowasmakingpreparationstogoagainsttheCrows,andIhaddecidedtogoalso,"hesaid。
  "WhileIwaseatingmymeatweheardthewarcry!Weallrushedout,andsawawarriorridingattopspeedfromthelowercamp,givingthewarningashecame。Thenweheardthereportsofthesoldiers’guns,whichsoundeddifferentlyfromthegunsfiredbyourpeopleinbattle。
  "Irantomyteepeeandseizedmygun,abow,andaquiverfullofarrows。Ialreadyhadmystonewarclub,foryouknowweusuallycarrythosebywayofornament。JustasIwasabouttosetouttomeetReno,abodyofsoldiersappearednearlyoppositeus,attheedgeofalonglineofcliffsacrosstheriver。
  "Allofuswhoweremountedandreadyimmediatelystarteddownthestreamtowardtheford。TherewereOgallalas,Minneconjous,Cheyennes,andsomeUnkpapas,andthosearoundmeseemedtobenearlyallveryyoungmen。
  "’Behold,thereisamongusayoungwoman!’Ishouted。’Letnoyoungmanhidebehindhergarment!’Iknewthatwouldmakethoseyoungmenbrave。
  "ThewomanwasTashenamani,orMovingRobe,whosebrotherhadjustbeenkilledinthefightwithThreeStars。Holdingherbrother’swarstaffoverherhead,andleaningforwarduponhercharger,shelookedasprettyasabird。Alwayswhenthereisawomaninthecharge,itcausesthewarriorstoviewithoneanotherindisplayingtheirvalor,"headded。
  "Theforemostwarriorshadalmostsurroundedthewhitemen,andmorewerecontinuallycrossingthestream。Thesoldiershaddismounted,andwerefiringintothecampfromthetopofthecliff。"
  "Myfriend,wasSittingBullinthisfight?"Iinquired。
  "Ididnotseehimthere,butIlearnedafterwardthathewasamongthosewhometReno,andthatwasthreeorfourofthewhiteman’smilesfromCuster’sposition。LaterhejoinedtheattackuponCuster,butwasnotamongtheforemost。
  "Whenthetroopsweresurroundedontwosides,withtheriveronthethird,theordercametocharge!Thereweremanyveryyoungmen,someofwhomhadonlyawarstafforastonewarclubinhand,whoplungedintothecolumn,knockingthemenoverandstampedingtheirhorses。
  "Thesoldiershadmountedandstartedback,butwhentheonsetcametheydismountedagainandseparatedintoseveraldivisions,facingdifferentways。Theyfiredasfastastheycouldloadtheirguns,whileweusedchieflyarrowsandwarclubs。ThereseemedtobetwodistinctmovementsamongtheIndians。Onebodymovedcontinuallyinacircle,whiletheotherrodedirectlyintoandthroughthetroops。
  "PresentlysomeofthesoldiersremountedandfledalongtheridgetowardReno’sposition;buttheywerefollowedbyourwarriors,likehundredsofblackbirdsafterahawk。Alargerbodyremainedtogetherattheupperendofalittleravine,andfoughtbravelyuntiltheywerecuttopieces。Ihadalwaysthoughtthatwhitemenwerecowards,butIhadagreatrespectforthemafterthisday。
  "Itisgenerallysaidthatayoungmanwithnothingbutawarstaffinhishandbrokethroughthecolumnandknockeddowntheleaderveryearlyinthefight。Wesupposedhimtobetheleader,becausehestoodupinfullview,swinginghisbigknife[sword]
  overhishead,andtalkingloud。Someoneunknownafterwardsshotthechief,andhewasprobablykilledalso;forifnot,hewouldhavetoldofthedeed,andcalledotherstowitnessit。SoitisthatnooneknowswhokilledtheLong-HairedChief[GeneralCuster]。
  "Afterthefirstrushwasover,coupswerecountedasusualonthebodiesoftheslain。Youknowfourcoups[orblows]canbecountedonthebodyofanenemy,andwhoevercountsthefirstone[touchesitforthefirsttime]isentitledtothe’firstfeather。’
  "TherewasanIndianherecalledAppearingElk,whodiedashorttimeago。Hewasslightlywoundedinthecharge。HehadsomeoftheweaponsoftheLong-HairedChief,andtheIndiansusedtosayjokinglyafterwecameuponthereservationthatAppearingElkmusthavekilledtheChief,becausehehadhissword!However,thescrambleforplunderdidnotbeginuntilallweredead。IdonotthinkhekilledCuster,andifhehad,thetimetoclaimthehonorwasimmediatelyafterthefight。
  "Manylieshavebeentoldofme。SomesaythatIkilledtheChief,andothersthatIcutouttheheartofhisbrother[TomCuster],becausehehadcausedmetobeimprisoned。Why,inthatfighttheexcitementwassogreatthatwescarcelyrecognizedournearestfriends!Everythingwasdonelikelightning。Afterthebattleweyoungmenwerechasinghorsesallovertheprairie,whiletheoldmenandwomenplunderedthebodies;andifanymutilatingwasdone,itwasbytheoldmen。
  "Ihavelivedpeaceablyeversincewecameuponthereservation。NoonecansaythatRain-in-the-FacehasbrokentherulesoftheGreatFather。Ifoughtformypeopleandmycountry。
  WhenwewereconqueredIremainedsilent,asawarriorshould。
  Rain-in-the-FacewaskilledwhenheputdownhisweaponsbeforetheGreatFather。Hisspiritwasgonethen;onlyhispoorbodylivedon,butnowitisalmostreadytoliedownforthelasttime。Ho,hechetu![Itiswell。]"
  TWOSTRIKE
  Itisapitythatsomanyinterestingnamesofwell-knownIndianshavebeenmistranslated,sothattheirmeaningbecomesveryvagueifitisnotwhollylost。Insomecasesanoppositemeaningisconveyed。Forinstancethereisthename,"Young-Man-Afraid-of-
  His-Horses。"Itdoesnotmeanthattheownerofthenameisafraidofhisownhorse——farfromit!Tashunkekokipapisignifies"Theyoungmen[oftheenemy]fearhishorses。"Wheneverthatmanattacks,theenemyknowstherewillbeadeterminedcharge。
  ThenameTashunkewitko,orCrazyHorse,isapoeticsimile。
  Thisleaderwaslikenedtoanuntrainedoruntouchedhorse,wild,ignorantofdomesticuses,splendidinaction,andunconsciousofdanger。
  ThenameofTwoStrikeisadeedname。InabattlewiththeUtesthismanknockedtwoenemiesfromthebackofawarhorse。
  ThetruerenderingofthenameNomkahpawouldbe,"Heknockedofftwo。"
  IwaswellacquaintedwithTwoStrikeandspentmanypleasanthourswithhim,bothatWashington,D。C。,andinhishomeontheRosebudreservation。WhatIhavewrittenisnotalltakenfromhisownmouth,becausehewasmodestintalkingabouthimself,butI
  hadhimvouchforthetruthofthestories。HesaidthathewasbornneartheRepublicanRiverabout1832。HisearliestrecollectionwasofanattackbytheShoshonesupontheircampontheLittlePiney。Thefirstwhitemenheevermetweretraderswhovisitedhispeoplewhenhewasveryyoung。Theincidentwasstillvividlywithhim,because,hesaid,"Theymademyfathercrazy,"
  [drunk]。Thismadeadeepimpressionuponhim,hetoldme,sothatfromthatdayhewasalwaysafraidofthewhiteman’s"mysteriouswater。"
  TwoStrikewasnotalargeman,buthewasverysuppleandalertinmotion,asagileasanantelope。Hisfacewasmobileandintelligent。AlthoughhehadtheusualsombervisageofanIndian,hisexpressionbrightenedupwonderfullywhenhetalked。Insomewayswilyandshrewdinintellect,hewasnotdeceitfulnormean。
  Hehadahighsenseofdutyandhonor。Patriotismwashisidealandgoaloflife。
  Asayoungmanhewasmodestandevenshy,althoughbothhisfatherandgrandfatherwerewell-knownchiefs。Icouldfindfewnoteworthyincidentsinhisearlylife,savethathewasanexpertriderofwildhorses。AtonetimeIwaspressinghimtogivemesomeinterestingincidentofhisboyhood。Herepliedtotheeffectthattherewasplentyofexcitementbut"notmuchinit。"TherewasadelegationofSiouxchiefsvisitingWashington,andwewerespendinganeveningtogetherintheirhotel。HollowHornBearspokeupandsaid:
  "Whydon’tyoutellhimhowyouandabuffalocowtogetherheldyourpoorfatherupandfrozehimalmosttodeath?"
  Everybodylaughed,andanothermanremarked:"Ithinkhehadbettertellthemedicineman(meaningmyself)howhelostthepowerofspeechwhenhefirsttriedtocourtagirl。"TwoStrike,althoughhewasthenclosetoeightyyearsofage,wasvisiblyembarrassedbytheirchaff。
  "Anyway,Istucktothetrail。IkeptontillIgotwhatI
  wanted,"hemuttered。Andthencamethestory。
  Theoldchief,hisfather,wasveryfondofthebuffalohunt;
  andbeingaccomplishedinhorsemanshipandafineshot,althoughnotverypowerfullybuilt,youngTwoStrikewasalreadyfollowinghardinhisfootsteps。Likeeveryproudfather,hiswasgivinghimeveryincentivetoperfecthisskill,andonedaychallengedhissixteen-year-oldsontothefeatof"onearrowtokill"attheverynextchase。
  Itwasmidwinter。Alargeherdofbuffalowasreportedbythegamescout。Thehuntersgatheredatdaybreakpreparedforthecharge。Theoldchiefhadhistriedchargerequippedwithasoft,pillow-likeIndiansaddleandalariat。Hisoldsinew-backedhickorybowwasexaminedandstrung,andafinestraightarrowwithasteelheadcarefullyselectedforthetest。Headjustedakeenbutcherknifeoverhisleatherbelt,whichheldawarmbuffalorobesecurelyabouthisbody。Heworeneithershirtnorcoat,althoughapiercingwindwasblowingfromthenorthwest。TheyouthfulTwoStrikehadhisfavoritebowandhisswiftpony,whichwasperhapsdearertohimthanhisclosestboycomrade。
  Nowthehunterscrouchedupontheirhorses’neckslikeanarmyinlineofbattle,whilebehindthemwaitedtheboysandoldmenwithpackponiestocarrythemeat。"Hukahey!"shoutedtheleaderasawarning。"Yekiyawo!"(Go)andinaninstantalltheponiesleapedforwardagainstthecuttingwind,asifitwerethestartinahorserace。Everyriderleanedforward,tightlywrappedinhisrobe,watchingtheflyingherdforanopeninginthemassofbuffalo,achancetocutoutsomeofthefattestcows。Thiswastheobjectoftherace。
  Thechiefhadafairstart;hishorsewaswelltrainedandneedednourgingnorguidance。Withouttheslightestpullonthelariathedashedintothethickestoftheherd。Theyouth’sponyhadbeenprancingandrearingimpatiently;hestartedalittlebehind,yetbeingswiftpassedmany。Hisriderhadoneclearglimpseofhisfatheraheadofhim,thenthesnowaroseinblindingcloudsonthetrailofthebison。Thewhoopsofthehunters,thelowingofthecows,andthemenacingglancesofthebullsastheyplungedalong,ornowandthenstoodatbay,wereenoughtounnerveaboylesswelltried。Hewasunabletoselecthisvictim。Hehadbeencarrieddeeplyintothemidstoftheherdandfoundhimselfhelplesstomaketheonesureshot,thereforeheheldhisonearrowinhismouthandmerelystrovetoseparatethemsoastogethischance。
  Atlasttheherdparted,andhecutouttwofatcows,andwasmaneuveringforpositionwhenariderappearedoutofthesnowcloudontheirotherside。Thisarousedhimtomakehastelesthisrivalsecurebothcows;hesawhischance,andinatwinklinghisarrowspedclearthroughoneoftheanimalssothatshefellheadlong。
  Inthisinstantheobservedthatthemanwhohadjoinedhimwashisownfather,whohadmetwiththesamedifficultiesashimself。Whentheyoungmanhadshothisonlyarrow,theoldchiefwithawhoopwentafterthecowthatwasleft,butashegainedherbroadside,hishorsesteppedinabadgerholeandfell,throwinghimheadlong。Themaddenedbuffalo,assometimeshappensinsuchcases,turnedupontheponyandgoredhimtodeath。Hisriderlaymotionless,whileTwoStrikerushedforwardtodrawherattention,butshemerelytossedherheadathim,whilepersistentlystandingguardoverthedeadhorseandtheallbutfrozenIndian。
  Alasforthegameof"onearrowtokill!"Theboymustthinkfast,forhisfather’srobehadslippedoff,andhewasplayingdead,lyingalmostnakedinthebitterairuponthetrampledsnow。
  Hisbluffwouldnotserve,soheflewbacktopullouthissolitaryarrowfromthebodyofthedeadcow。Quicklywheelingagain,hesentitintohersideandshefell。Theonearrowtokillhadbecomeonearrowtokilltwobuffalo!AtthecouncillodgethateveningTwoStrikewasthehero。
  Thefollowingstoryisequallycharacteristicofhim,andinexplanationitshouldbesaidthatinthegoodolddaysamongtheSioux,ayoungmanisnotsupposedtoassociatewithgirlsuntilheisreadytotakeawife。Itwasarulewithouryoungmen,especiallythehonorableandwell-born,togainsomereputationinthehuntandinwar,——themoredifficultthefeatsachievedthebetter,——beforeevenspeakingtoayoungwoman。Manyalifewasriskedintheefforttoestablishareputationalongtheselines。
  Courtshipwasnosecret,butratherasocialevent,oftencelebratedbytheproudparentswithfeastsandpresentstothepoor,andthisetiquettewassometimesfeltbyashyorsensitiveyouthasaninsurmountableobstacletothefulfilmentofhisdesires。
  TwoStrikewasthesonandgrandsonofachief,buthecouldnotclaimanycreditforthedeedsofhisforbears。Hehadnotonlytoguardtheirgoodnamebutachieveoneforhimself。Thishehadsetouttodo,andhedidwell。Hewasnowofmarriageableagewithawarrecord,andadmittedtothecouncil,yethedidnotseemtotroublehimselfatallaboutawife。Hiswasstrictlyabachelorcareer。Meanwhile,asisapttobethecase,hisparentshadthoughtmuchaboutapossibledaughter-in-law,andhadevencollectedponies,finerobes,andotheracceptablegoodstobegivenawayinhonoroftheevent,wheneveritshouldtakeplace。
  Nowandthentheywoulddropaslyhint,butwithnoperceptibleeffect。
  Theydidnotandcouldnotknowoftheinwardstrugglethatrackedhismindatthisperiodofhislife。Theshyandmodestyoungmanwasdyingforawife,yetcouldnotbeareventothinkofspeakingtoayoungwoman!Thefearlesshunterofbuffaloes,mountainlions,andgrizzlies,theyouthwhohadwonhiseaglefeathersinabattlewiththeUtes,couldnotbringhimselftotakethistremendousstep。
  Atlasthisfatherappealedtohimdirectly。"Myson,"hedeclared,"itisyourdutytotakeuntoyourselfawife,inorderthatthehonorswonbyyourancestorsandbyyourselfmaybehandeddowninthedirectline。Thereareseveraleligibleyoungwomeninourbandwhoseparentshaveintimatedawishtohaveyoufortheirson-in-law。"
  TwoStrikemadenoreply,buthewasgreatlydisturbed。Hehadnowishtohavetheoldfolksselecthisbride,forifthetruthweretold,hischoicewasalreadymade。Hehadsimplylackedthecouragetogoa-courting!
  Thenextmorning,aftermakinganunusuallycarefultoilet,hetookhisbesthorseandrodetoapointoverlookingthepathbywhichthegirlswentforwater。Heretheyoungmenwerewonttotaketheirstand,and,iffortunate,interceptthegirloftheirheartforabriefbutfatefulinterview。TwoStrikehaddeterminedtospeakstraighttothepoint,andassoonashesawtheprettymaidhecameforwardboldlyandplacedhimselfinherway。Alongmomentpassed。Sheglancedupathimshylybutnotwithoutencouragement。Histeethfairlychatteredwithfright,andhecouldnotsayaword。Shelookedagain,notedhisstrangelooks,andbelievedhimsuddenlytakenill。Heappearedtobesuffering。
  Atlasthefeeblymadesignsforhertogoonandleavehimalone。
  Themaidenwassympathetic,butasshedidnotknowwhatelsetodosheobeyedhisrequest。
  Thepooryouthwassoashamedofhiscowardicethatheafterwardadmittedhisfirstthoughtwastotakehisownlife。Hebelievedhehaddisgracedhimselfforeverintheeyesoftheonlygirlhehadeverloved。However,hedeterminedtoconquerhisweaknessandwinher,whichhedid。Thestorycameoutmanyyearsafterandwastoldwithmuchenjoymentbytheoldmen。
  TwoStrikewasbetterknownbyhisownpeoplethanbythewhites,forhewasindividuallyaterrorinbattleratherthanaleader。HeachievedhishonorablenameinaskirmishwiththeUtesinColorado。TheSiouxregardedthesepeopleastheirbravestenemies,andtheoutcomeofthefightwasforsometimeuncertain。
  FirsttheSiouxwereforcedtoretreatandthentheiropponents,andatthelatterpointthehorseofacertainUtewasshotunderhim。Afriendcametohisrescueandtookhimupbehindhim。Ourheroovertooktheminflight,raisedhiswarclub,andknockedbothmenoffwithoneblow。
  Hewasaveryoldmanwhenhedied,onlytwoorthreeyearsago,ontheRosebudreservation。
  AMERICANHORSE
  OneofthewittiestandshrewdestoftheSiouxchiefswasAmericanHorse,whosucceededtothenameandpositionofanuncle,killedinthebattleofSlimButtesin1876。TheyoungerAmericanHorsewasbornalittlebeforetheencroachmentsofthewhitesupontheSiouxcountrybecameseriousandtheirmethodsaggressive,andhisearlymanhoodbroughthimintothatmosttryingandcriticalperiodofourhistory。Hehadbeentutoredbyhisuncle,sincehisownfatherwaskilledinbattlewhilehewasstillveryyoung。TheAmericanHorsebandwascloselyattachedtoatradingpost,anditsmembersinconsequencewereinclinedtobefriendlywiththewhites,apolicycloselyadheredtobytheirleader。
  Whenhewasborn,hisoldgrandfathersaid:"Puthimoutinthesun!Lethimaskhisgreat-grandfather,theSun,forthewarmbloodofawarrior!"Andhehadwarmblood。Hewasagenialman,likingnotorietyandexcitement。Healwaysseizedanopportunitytoleapintothecenterofthearena。
  Inearlylifehewasaclownishsortofboyamongtheboys——
  anexpertmimicandimpersonator。Thistalentmadehimpopularandinhiswayaleader。Hewasanaturalactor,andearlyshowedmarkedabilityasaspeaker。
  AmericanHorsewasabouttenyearsoldwhenhewasattackedbythreeCrowwarriors,whiledrivingaherdofponiestowater。Herehedisplayednativecunningandinitiative。Itseemedhehadscarcelyachancetoescape,fortheenemywasnear。Heyelledfranticallyattheponiestostartthemtowardhome,whilehedroppedoffintoathicketofwillowsandhidthere。Apartoftheherdwascaughtinsightofthecampandtherewasacounterchase,buttheCrowsgotawaywiththeponies。Ofcoursehismotherwasfrantic,believingherboyhadbeenkilledorcaptured;butaftertheexcitementwasover,heappearedincampunhurt。Whenquestionedabouthisescape,heremarked:"Iknewtheywouldnottakethetimetohuntforsmallgamewhentherewassomuchbiggercloseby。"
  Whenhewasquiteabigboy,hejoinedinabuffalohunt,andonthewaybackwiththerestofthehuntershismulebecameunmanageable。AmericanHorsehadinsistedonridinghiminadditiontoaheavyloadofmeatandskins,andtheanimalevidentlyresentedthis,forhesuddenlybegantorunandkick,scatteringfreshmeatalongtheroad,tothemerrimentofthecrowd。Buttheboyturnedactor,andmadeitappearthatitwasathiswishthemulehadgiventhisdivertingperformance。Heclungtothebackofhisplungingandbrayingmountlikeacircusrider,singingaBraveHeartsong,andfinallybroughtupamidthelaughterandcheersofhiscompanions。Farfromadmittingdefeat,heboastedofhishorsemanshipanddeclaredthathis"brother"thedonkeywouldputanyenemytoflight,andthattheyshouldbecalledupontoleadacharge。
  Itwasseveralyearslaterthathewenttosleepearlyonenightandsleptsoundly,havingbeenscoutingfortwonightsprevious。IthappenedthattherewasaraidbytheCrows,andwhenheawokeinthemidstoftheyellingandconfusion,hesprangupandattemptedtojoininthefighting。Everybodyknewhisvoiceinallthedin,sowhenhefiredhisgunandannouncedacoup,aswasthecustom,othersrushedtothespot,tofindthathehadshotahobbledponybelongingtotheirowncamp。Thelaughwasonhim,andheneverrecoveredfromhischagrinatthismistake。Infact,althoughhewasundoubtedlyfearlessandtriedhardtodistinguishhimselfinwarfare,hedidnotsucceed。
  ItistoldofhimthatheoncewentwithawarpartyofyoungmentotheWindRivercountryagainsttheShoshones。Atlasttheydiscoveredalargecamp,buttherewereonlyadozenorsooftheSioux,thereforetheyhidthemselvesandwatchedfortheiropportunitytoattackanisolatedpartyofhunters。Whilewaitingthus,theyranshortoffood。OnedayasmallpartyofShoshoneswasseennearathand,andinthemidstoftheexcitementandpreparationsfortheattack,youngAmericanHorsecaughtsightofafatblack-taildeercloseby。Unabletoresistthetemptation,hepulledanarrowfromhisquiverandsentitthroughthedeer’sheart,thenwithseveralofhishalf-starvedcompanionssprangupontheyetquiveringbodyoftheanimaltocutouttheliver,whichwassometimeseatenraw。Oneofthemenwasknockeddown,itissaid,bythelastkickofthedyingbuck,buthavingswallowedafewmouthfulsthewarriorsrusheduponandroutedtheirenemies。
  ItisstilltoldofAmericanHorsehowhekilledgameandfeastedbetweentheambushandtheattack。
  Atanothertimehewasdryinghissacredwarbonnetandothergearoverasmallfire。ThesearticleswereheldingreatvenerationbytheIndiansandhandledaccordingly。Suddenlythefireblazedup,andourherosofarforgothimselfastobeginenergeticallybeatingouttheflameswiththewarbonnet,breakingoffoneofthesacredbuffalohornsintheact。Onecouldalmostfillabookwithhismishapsandexploits。IwillgiveoneoftheminhisownwordsaswellasIcanrememberthem。
  "Wewereaspromisingapartyofyoungwarriorsasourtribeeversentagainstanyofitsancestralenemies。Itwasmidsummer,andaftergoingtwodays’journeyfromhomewebegantosendtwoscoutsaheaddailywhilethemainbodykeptahalfdaybehind。Thescoutssetouteveryeveningandtraveledallnight。OnenightthegreatwarpipewasheldouttomeandtoYoung-Man-Afraid-of-
  His-Horses。Atdaybreak,havingmetnoone,wehidourhorsesandclimbedtothetopofthenearestbuttetotakeanobservation。Itwasaveryhotday。Welayflatonourblankets,facingthewestwheretheclifffelloffinasheerdescent,andwithourbackstowardthemoregradualslopedottedwithscrubpinesandcedars。
  Westucksometallgrassonourheadsandproceededtostudythelandscapespreadbeforeusforanysignofman。
  "Thesweepingvalleysweredottedwithherds,bothlargeandsmall,ofbuffaloandelk,andnowandthenwecaughtaglimpseofacoyoteslinkingintothegulches,returningfromnighthuntingtosleep。Whileintentlywatchingsomemovingbodyatadistance,wecouldnotyettellwhetherofmenoranimals,Iheardafaintnoisebehindmeandslowlyturnedmyhead。Behold!agrizzlybearsneakinguponallfoursandalmostreadytospring!
  "’Run!’Iyelledintotheearofmycompanion,andwebothleapedtoourfeetinasecond。’Separate!separate!’heshouted,andaswedidso,thebearchosemeforhismeat。IrandownhillasfastasIcould,buthewasgaining。’Dodgearoundatree!’
  screamedYoung-Man-Afraid。Itookadeepbreathandmadealastspurt,desperatelycirclingthefirsttreeIcameto。Asthegroundwassteepjustthere,Iturnedasomersaultonewayandthebeartheother。Ipickedmyselfupintimetoclimbthetree,andwasfairlyoutofreachwhenhegatheredhimselftogetherandcameatmemorefuriouslythanever,holdinginonepawtheshredsofmybreechcloth,forinthefallhehadjustscratchedmybackandcutmybeltintwo,andcarriedoffmyonlygarmentforatrophy!
  "Myfriendwaswellupanothertreeandlaughingheartilyatmypredicament,andwhenthebearsawthathecouldnotgetateitherofushereluctantlydeparted,afterIhadpolitelyaddressedhimandpromisedtomakeanofferingtohisspiritonmysafereturn。Idon’tthinkIeverhadanarrowerescape,"heconcluded。
  Duringthetroubloustimesfrom1865to1877,AmericanHorseadvocatedyieldingtothegovernmentatanycost,beingnodoubtconvincedoftheuselessnessofresistance。Hewasnotarecognizedleaderuntil1876,whenhetookthenameandplaceofhisuncle。UptothistimeheborethenicknameofManishnee(Cannotwalk,orPlayedout。)
  WhenthegreaterpartoftheOgallalas,towhichbandhebelonged,cameintothereservation,heatoncealliedhimselfwiththepeaceelementattheRedCloudagency,nearFortRobinson,Nebraska,andtooknosmallpartinkeepingtheyoungbravesquiet。
  Sincetheolderandbetter-knownchiefs,withtheexceptionofSpottedTail,werebelievedtobehostileatheart,themilitarymademuchuseofhim。Manyofhisyoungmenenlistedasscoutsbyhisadvice,andevenhehimselfenteredtheservice。
  Intheearlypartoftheyear1876,therewasarumorthatcertainbandswereindangerofbreakingaway。TheirleaderwasoneSiouxJim,sonicknamedbythesoldiers。AmericanHorsewenttohimaspeacemaker,butwastoldhewasawomanandnobrave。HereturnedtohisowncampandtoldhismenthatSiouxJimmeantmischief,andinordertopreventanothercalamitytothetribe,hemustbechastised。HeagainapproachedthewarlikeJimwithseveralwarriorsathisback。Therecalcitrantcameout,guninhand,butthewilychiefwastooquickforhim。Heshotandwoundedtherebel,whereupononeofhismencameforwardandkilledhim。
  ThisquelledthepeopleforthetimebeinganduptothekillingofCrazyHorse。Inthecrisisprecipitatedbythisevent,AmericanHorsewasagaininfluentialandenergeticinthecauseofthegovernment。FromthistimeonhebecameanactiveparticipantintheaffairsoftheTetonSioux。Hewasnotedforhiseloquence,whichwasnearlyalwaysconciliatory,yethecouldsayverysharpthingsoftheduplicityofthewhites。Hehadmucheaseofmannerandwasamasterofrepartee。Irecallhissayingthatifyouhavegottoweargoldenslipperstoenterthewhiteman’sheavennoIndianwillevergetthere,asthewhiteshavegottheBlackHillsandwiththemallthegold。
  Itwasduringthelaststruggleofhispeople,atthetimeoftheMessiahcrazein1890-1891thathedemonstratedasneverbeforetherealgreatnessoftheman。Whilemanyofhisfriendswerecarriedawaybythenewthought,heheldalooffromitandcautionedhisbandtodothesame。Whenitdevelopedintoanextensiveupheavalamongthenationshetookhispositivestandagainstit。
  PresentlyallIndianswhodidnotdancetheGhostDancewereorderedtocomeintocampatPineRidgeagency。AmericanHorsewasthefirsttobringinhispeople。Iwasthereatthetimeandtalkedwithhimdaily。WhenLittlewasarrested,ithadbeenagreedamongthedisaffectedtohavehimresist,whichmeantthathewouldberoughlyhandled。ThiswastobetheirexcusetoattacktheIndianpolice,whichwouldprobablyleadtoageneralmassacreoroutbreak。IknowthatthisdesperatemovewasopposedfromthebeginningbyAmericanHorse,anditwasbelievedthathislifewasthreatened。
  Onthedayofthe"BigIssue",whenthousandsofIndiansweregatheredattheagency,thismanLittle,whohadbeeninhiding,walkedboldlyamongthem。Ofcoursethepolicewouldarresthimatsight,andhewasledtowardtheguardhouse。Hestruggledwiththem,butwasoverpowered。Acrowdofwarriorsrushedtohisrescue,andtherewasconfusionandageneralshoutof"Hurryupwiththem!Killthemall!"IsawAmericanHorsewalkoutoftheagent’sofficeandcalmlyfacetheexcitedmob。
  "Whatareyougoingtodo?"heasked。"Stop,men,stopandthinkbeforeyouact!Willyoumurderyourchildren,yourwomen,yes,destroyyournationto-day?"Hestoodbeforethemlikeastatueandthemenwhoheldthetwopolicemenhelplesspausedforaninstant。Hewenton:"Youarebraveto-daybecauseyououtnumberthewhitemen,butwhatwillyoudoto-morrow?Therearerailroadsonallsidesofyou。Thesoldierswillpourinfromeverydirectionbythousandsandsurroundyou。Youhavelittlefoodorammunition。Itwillbetheendofyourpeople。Stop,I
  say,stopnow!"
  JackRedCloud,sonoftheoldchiefrusheduptohimandthrustarevolveralmostinhisface。"Itisyouandmenlikeyou,"heshouted,"whohavereducedourracetoslaveryandstarvation!"AmericanHorsedidnotflinchbutdeliberatelyreenteredtheoffice,followedbyJackstillflourishingthepistol。Buthistimelyappearanceandeloquencehadsavedtheday。
  Othersofthepoliceforcehadtimetoreachthespot,andwithalargecrowdoffriendlyIndianshadtakencommandofthesituation。
  WhenIwentintotheofficeIfoundhimalonebutapparentlyquitecalm。"Wherearetheagentandtheclerks?"Iasked。"Theyfledbythebackdoor,"hereplied,smiling。"Ithinktheyareinthecellar。Thesefoolsoutsidehadalmostcaughtusasleep,butIthinkitisovernow。"
  AmericanHorsewasoneoftheearliestadvocatesofeducationfortheIndian,andhissonSamuelandnephewRobertwereamongthefirststudentsatCarlisle。IthinkoneortwoofhisdaughterswerethehandsomestIndiangirlsoffullbloodthatIeversaw。
  Hisrecordasacouncilorofhispeopleandhispolicyinthenewsituationthatconfrontedthemwasmanlyandconsistent。
  DULLKNIFE
  ThelifeofDullKnife,theCheyenne,isatrueherotale。Simple,child-likeyetmanful,anddevoidofselfishaims,orloveofgain,heisapatternforheroesofanyrace。
  DullKnifewasachiefoftheoldschool。AmongalltheIndiansoftheplains,nothingcountssaveprovenworth。Aman’scaliberismeasuredbyhiscourage,unselfishnessandintelligence。
  Manywritersconfusehistorywithfiction,butinIndianhistorytheirwomenandoldmenandevenchildrenwitnessthemainevents,andnotbeingabsorbedindailypapersandmagazines,theseeventsarerehearsedoverandoverwithfewvariations。Thoughorallypreserved,theiraccountsarethereforeaccurate。Buttheyhaveseldombeenwillingtogivereliableinformationtostrangers,especiallywhenaskedandpaidfor。
  Racialprejudicenaturallyentersintotheaccountofaman’slifebyenemywriters,whileoneislikelytofavorhisownrace。
  IamconsciousthatmanyreadersmaythinkthatIhaveidealizedtheIndian。ThereforeIwillconfessnowthatwehavetoomanyweakandunprincipledmenamongus。WhenIspeakoftheIndianhero,Idonotforgetthemongrelinspirit,falsetotheidealsofhispeople。Ourtrustfulnesshasbeenourweakness,andwhenthevicesofcivilizationwereaddedtoourown,wefellheavily。
  ItissaidthatDullKnifeasaboywasresourcefulandself-reliant。Hewasonlynineyearsoldwhenhisfamilywasseparatedfromtherestofthetribewhileonabuffalohunt。Hisfatherwasawayandhismotherbusy,andhewasplayingwithhislittlesisteronthebanksofastream,whenalargeherdofbuffalosweptdownuponthemonastampedeforwater。Hismotherclimbedatree,butthelittleboyledhissisterintoanoldbeaverhousewhoseentrancewasabovewater,andheretheyremainedinshelteruntilthebuffalopassedandtheywerefoundbytheirdistractedparents。
  DullKnifewasquiteayouthwhenhistribewascaughtonewinterinaregiondevoidofgame,andthreatenedwithstarvation。
  Thesituationwasmadeworsebyheavystorms,buthesecuredhelpandledareliefpartyahundredandfiftymiles,carryingbalesofdriedbuffalomeatonpackhorses。
  Anotherexploitthatmadehimdeartohispeopleoccurredinbattle,whenhisbrother-in-lawwasseverelywoundedandleftlyingwherenooneoneithersidedaredtoapproachhim。AssoonasDullKnifeheardofithegotonafreshhorse,andmadesodaringachargethatothersjoinedhim;thusundercoveroftheirfireherescuedhisbrother-in-law,andinsodoingwaswoundedtwice。
  TheSiouxknewhimasamanofhightype,perhapsnotsobrilliantasRomanNoseandTwoMoon,butsurpassingbothinhonestyandsimplicity,aswellasinhiswarrecord。(TwoMoon,infact,wasneveraleaderofhispeople,andbecamedistinguishedonlyinwarswiththewhitesduringtheperiodofrevolt。)Astoryistoldofanancestorofthesamenamethatillustrateswellthespiritoftheage。
  Itwasthecustominthosedaysfortheoldermentowalkaheadofthemovingcaravananddecideuponallhaltsandcampingplaces。Onedaythecouncilorscametoagroveofwildcherriescoveredwithripefruit,andtheystoppedatonce。Suddenlyagrizzlychargedfromthethicket。Themenyelpedandhooted,butthebearwasnottobebluffed。Heknockeddownthefirstwarriorwhodaredtofacehimanddraggedhisvictimintothebushes。
  Thewholecaravanwasinthewildestexcitement。Severaloftheswiftest-footedwarriorschargedthebear,tobringhimoutintotheopen,whilethewomenanddogsmadeallthenoisetheycould。Thebearacceptedthechallenge,andashedidso,themanwhomtheyhadsupposeddeadcamerunningfromtheoppositeendofthethicket。TheIndiansweredelighted,andespeciallysowheninthemidstoftheircheers,themanstoppedrunningforhislifeandbegantosingaBraveHeartsongasheapproachedthegrovewithhisbutcherknifeinhishand。Hewoulddarehisenemyagain!
  Thegrizzlymethimwithatremendousrush,andtheywentdowntogether。Instantlythebearbegantouttercriesofdistress,andatthesametimetheknifeflashed,andherolledoverdead。Thewarriorwastooquickfortheanimal;hefirstbithissensitivenosetodistracthisattention,andthenusedtheknifetostabhimtotheheart。Hefoughtmanybattleswithknivesthereafterandclaimedthatthespiritofthebeargavehimsuccess。Ononeoccasion,however,theenemyhadastrongbuffalo-hideshieldwhichtheCheyennebearfightercouldnotpiercethrough,andhewaswounded;neverthelesshemanagedtodispatchhisfoe。ItwasfromthisincidentthathereceivedthenameofDullKnife,whichwashandeddowntohisdescendant。
  Asiswellknown,theNorthernCheyennesuncompromisinglysupportedtheSiouxintheirdesperatedefenseoftheBlackHillsandBigHorncountry。Whynot?Itwastheirlastbuffaloregion——theirsubsistence。Itwaswhatourwheatfieldsaretoacivilizednation。
  Abouttheyear1875,apropagandawasstartedforconfiningalltheIndiansuponreservations,wheretheywouldbepracticallyinternedorimprisoned,regardlessoftheirpossessionsandrights。
  ThemenwhowerethestrongestadvocatesoftheschemegenerallywantedtheIndians’property——theonemaincausebackofallIndianwars。FromthewarlikeApachestothepeacefulNezPerces,allthetribesoftheplainswerehuntedfromplacetoplace;thenthegovernmentresortedtopeacenegotiations,butalwayswithanarmyathandtocoerce。Oncedisarmedandhelpless,theyweretobetakenundermilitaryguardtotheIndianTerritory。
  Afewresisted,anddeclaredtheywouldfighttothedeathratherthango。AmongtheseweretheSioux,butnearlyallthesmallertribesweredeportedagainsttheirwishes。OfcoursethoseIndianswhocamefromamountainousandcoldcountrysufferedseverely。Themoistheatandmalariadecimatedtheexiles。ChiefJosephoftheNezPercesandChiefStandingBearofthePoncasappealedtothepeopleoftheUnitedStates,andfinallysucceededinhavingtheirbandsortheremnantofthemreturnedtotheirownpartofthecountry。DullKnifewasnotsuccessfulinhisplea,andthestoryofhisflightisoneofpoignantinterest。
  Hewasregardedbytheauthoritiesasadangerousman,andwithhisdepletedbandwastakentotheIndianTerritorywithouthisconsentin1876。Whenherealizedthathispeopleweredyinglikesheep,hewasdeeplymoved。Hecalledthemtogether。Everymanandwomandeclaredthattheywouldratherdieintheirowncountrythanstaytherelonger,andtheyresolvedtofleetotheirnorthernhomes。
  Hereagainwasdisplayedthegeniusofthesepeople。FromtheIndianTerritorytoDakotaisnoshortdashforfreedom。Theyknewwhattheywerefacing。Theirlineofflightlaythroughasettledcountryandtheywouldbecloselypursuedbythearmy。Nosoonerhadtheystartedthanthetelegraphwiressangonesong:"ThepantheroftheCheyennesisatlarge。NotachildorawomaninKansasorNebraskaissafe。"Yettheyevadedallthepursuingandinterceptingtroopsandreachedtheirnativesoil。Thestrainwasterrible,thehardshipgreat,andDullKnife,likeJoseph,wasremarkableforhisself-restraintinsparingthosewhocamewithinhispowerontheway。
  Butfatewasagainsthim,fortherewerethoselookingforbloodmoneywhobetrayedhimwhenhethoughthewasamongfriends。
  HispeopleweretiredoutandfamishedwhentheyweresurroundedandtakentoFortRobinson。Therethemenwereputinprison,andtheirwivesguardedincamp。Theywereallowedtovisittheirmenoncertaindays。Manyofthemhadlosteverything;therewerebutafewwhohadevenonechildleft。Theywereheartbroken。
  Thesedespairingwomenappealedtotheirhusbandstodiefighting:theirlibertywasgone,theirhomesbrokenup,andonlyslaveryandgradualextinctioninsight。AtlastDullKnifelistened。Hesaid:"Ihavelivedmylife。Iamready。"Theothersagreed。"Ifourwomenarewillingtodiewithus,whoistheretosayno?Ifwearetodothedeedsofmen,itrestswithyouwomentobringusourweapons。
  Astheyhadbeenallowedtocarrymoccasinsandotherthingstothemen,sotheycontrivedtotakeinsomegunsandknivesunderthisdisguise。Theplanwastokillthesentinelsandruntothenearestnaturaltrench,theretomaketheirlaststand。Thewomenandchildrenweretojointhem。Thisarrangementwascarriedout。
  Noteverybravehadagun,butallhadagreedtodietogether。
  Theyfoughttilltheirsmallstoreofammunitionwasexhausted,thenexposedtheirbroadchestsforatarget,andthemothersevenhelduptheirlittleonestobeshot。ThusdiedthefightingCheyennesandtheirdauntlessleader。
  ROMANNOSE
  ThisCheyennewarchiefwasacontemporaryofDullKnife。Hewasnotsostrongacharacterastheother,andwasinclinedtobepompousandboastful;butwithallthishewasatruetypeofnativeAmericaninspiritandbravery。
  WhileDullKnifewasnotedinwarfareamongIndians,RomanNosemadehisrecordagainstthewhites,indefenseofterritoryembracingtheRepublicanandArickareerivers。Hewaskilledonthelatterriverin1868,inthecelebratedbattlewithGeneralForsythe。
  SaveChiefGallandWashakieintheprimeoftheirmanhood,thischiefhadnopeerinbodilyperfectionandmasterfulpersonality。NoGreekorRomangymnastwaseverafinermodelofphysicalbeautyandpower。Hethrilledhismentofrenziedactionwhenhecameuponthefield。Itwassaidofhimthathesacrificedmoreyouthsbyhispersonalinfluenceinbattlethananyotherleader,beingveryrecklesshimselfingrand-standcharges。Hewaskilledneedlesslyinthismanner。
  RomanNosealwaysrodeanuncommonlyfine,spiritedhorse,andwithhiswarbonnetandotherparaphernaliagaveawonderfulexhibition。TheIndiansusedtosaythatthesoldiersmustgazeathimratherthanaimathim,astheysoseldomhithimevenwhenrunningthegantletbeforeafiringline。
  Hedidaremarkablethingoncewhenonaone-arrow-to-killbuffalohuntwithhisbrother-in-law。Hiscompanionhadselectedhisanimalanddrewsopowerfullyonhissinewbowstringthatitbroke。RomanNosehadkilledhisowncowandwaswhippingupclosetotheotherwhenthemisfortuneoccurred。Bothhorsesweregoingatfullspeedandthearrowjerkedupintheair。RomanNosecaughtitandshotthecowforhim。
  AnothercuriousstorytoldofhimistotheeffectthathehadanintimateSiouxfriendwhowascourtingaCheyennegirl,butwithoutsuccess。AsthewooingofbothSiouxandCheyenneswasprettymuchalleffectedinthenighttime,RomanNosetoldhisfriendtolethimdothecourtingforhim。HearrangedwiththeyoungwomantoelopethenextnightandtospendthehoneymoonamonghisSiouxfriends。Hethentoldhisfriendwhattodo。TheSiouxfollowedinstructionsandcarriedofftheCheyennemaid,andnotuntilmorningdidshediscoverhermistake。Itissaidsheneveradmittedit,andthatthetwolivedhappilytogethertoagoodoldage,soperhapstherewasnomistakeafterall。