old indian days(古印第时期)-第20章
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them。
〃Nephew； you have spilled the first blood of the white man； go； join in
battle with the sol… diers。 They are armed； they can defend them… selves；〃
remarked the old chief； and Tawasuota replied：
〃Uncle； you speak truth； I have committed the act of a coward。 It
was not of my own will I did it； nevertheless； I have raised my weapon；
and I will fight the whites as long as I live。 If I am ever taken； they will
first have to kill me。〃 He arose； took up his gun； and joined the war…
party。
The dreadful day of massacre was almost ended。 The terrified Sioux
women and children had fled up the river before the approaching troops。
Long shafts of light from the setting sun painted every hill； one side red as
with blood； the other dark as the shadow of death。 A cloud of smoke
from burning homes hung over the beautiful river。 Even the permanent
dwellings of the Indians were empty； and all the teepees which had dotted
with their white cones the west bank of the Minnesota had dis… appeared。
Here and there were small groups of warriors returning from their bloody
work； and among them was Tawasuota。
He looked long at the spot where his home had stood； but it was gone；
and with it his family。 Ah； the beautiful country of his an… cestors！ he
must depart from it forever； for he knew now that the white man would
occupy that land。 Sadly he sang the spirit…song； and made his appeal to
the 〃Great Mystery；〃 ex… cusing himself by the plea that what he had done
had been in the path of duty。 There was no glory in it for him； he could
wear no eagle feather； nor could he ever recount the deed。 It was
dreadful to himthe thought that he had fired upon an unarmed and
helpless man。
The chief soldier followed the broad trail of the fleeing host； and after
some hours he came upon a camp。 There were no war…songs nor dances
there； as was their wont after a bat… tle； but a strange stillness reigned。
Even the dogs scarcely barked at his approach； every… thing seemed
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conscious of the awful carnage of the day。
He stopped at a tent and inquired after his beautiful wife and two little
sons； whom he had already trained to uphold their father's repu… tation； but
was directed to his mother's teepee。
〃Ah； my son； my son； what have you done？〃 cried his old mother
when she saw him。 〃Come in； come in； let us eat together once more ；
for I have a foreboding that it is for the last time。 Alas； what have you
done？〃
Tawasuota silently entered the tent of his widowed mother； and his
three sisters gave him the place of honor。
〃Mother； it is not right to blame our brother；〃 said the eldest。 〃He
was the chief's head soldier； and if he had disobeyed his orders； he would
have been called a coward。 That he could not bear。〃
Food was handed him； and he swallowed a few mouthfuls； and gave
back the dish。
〃You have not yet told me where she is； and the children；〃 he said with
a deep sigh。
〃My son； my son； I have not； because it will give you pain。 I wanted
you to eat first！ She has been taken away by her own mother to Fari…
bault； among the white people。 I could not persuade them to wait until
you came。 Her peo… ple are lovers of the whites。 They have even
accepted their religion；〃 grieved the good old mother。
Tawasuota's head dropped upon his chest； and he sat silent for a long
time。 The mother and three sisters were also silent； for they knew how
heavy his grief must be。 At last he spoke。
〃Mother； I am too proud to desert the tribe now and join my wife
among the white people。 My brother…in…law may lie in my behalf； and
say that my hands are not stained with blood； but the spirits of those who
died to…day would rebuke me； and the rebuke would be just。 No； I must
fight the whites until I die； and neither have I fought without cause； but I
must see my sons once more before I go。〃
When Tawasuota left his mother's teepee he walked fast across the
circle toward the coun… cil lodge to see Little Crow。 He drew his blanket
closely about him； with his gun under… neath。 The keen eye of the wily
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chief detected the severe expression upon the face of his guest； and he
hastened to speak first。
〃There are times in the life of every great man when he must face
hardship and put self aside for the good of his people。 You have done
well to…day！〃
〃I care little for myself；〃 replied Tawasu… ota； 〃but my heart is heavy
to…night。 My wife and two boys have been taken away among the whites
by my mother…in…law。 I fear for their safety； when it is known what we
have done。〃
〃Ugh； that old woman is too hasty in ac… cepting the ways of the
stranger people！〃 ex… claimed the chief。
〃I am now on my way to see them；〃 declared Tawasuota。
〃Ugh； ugh； I shall need you to…morrow！ My plan is to attack the
soldiers at Fort Ridge… ley with a strong force。 There are not many。
Then we shall attack New Ulm and other towns。 We will drive them all
back into Saint Paul and Fort Snelling。〃 Little Crow spoke with energy。
〃You must stay；〃 he added； 〃and lead the attack either at the fort or at
New Ulm。〃
For some minutes the chief soldier sat in silence。
At last he said simply； 〃I will do it。〃
On the following day the attack was made； but it was unsuccessful。
The whole State was now alarmed； and all the frontier settlers left alive
had flocked to the larger and more pro… tected towns。 It had also
developed during the day that there was a large party of Sioux who were
ready to surrender； thereby showing that they had not been party to the
massacre nor in… dorsed the hasty action of the tribe。
At evening Tawasuota saw that there would be a long war with the
whites； and that the In… dians must remove their families out of danger。
The feeling against all Indians was great。 Night had brought him no
relief of mind； but it promised to shield him in a hazardous under… taking。
He consulted no one； but set out for the distant village of Faribault。
He kept to the flats back of the Minnesota； away from the well…
traveled roads； and moved on at a good gait； for he realized that he had to
cover a hundred miles in as few hours as possible。 Every day that passed
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would make it more difficult for him to rejoin his family。
Although he kept as far as he could from the settlements； he would
come now and then upon a solitary frame house； razed to the ground by
the war…parties of the day before。 The mem… bers of the ill…fated family
were to be seen
