indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第11章
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place for himself。 He always played the game according to the rules and
to a finish。 To be sure； like every other man； he made some mistakes； but
he was an Indian and never acted the coward。
The earliest stories told of his life and doings indicate the spirit of the
man in that of the boy。
When he was only about three years old； the Blackfoot band of Sioux
were on their usual roving hunt； following the buffalo while living their
natural happy life upon the wonderful wide prairies of the Dakotas。
It was the way of every Sioux mother to adjust her household effects
on such dogs and pack ponies as she could muster from day to day； often
lending one or two to accommodate some other woman whose horse or
dog had died； or perhaps had been among those stampeded and carried
away by a raiding band of Crow warriors。 On this particular occasion；
the mother of our young Sioux brave； Matohinshda； or Bear…Shedding…
His…Hair （Gall's childhood name）； intrusted her boy to an old Eskimo pack
dog； experienced and reliable； except perhaps when unduly excited or very
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thirsty。
On the day of removing camp the caravan made its morning march up
the Powder River。 Upon the wide table…land the women were busily
digging teepsinna （an edible sweetish root； much used by them） as the
moving village slowly progressed。 As usual at such times； the trail was
wide。 An old jack rabbit had waited too long in hiding。 Now； finding
himself almost surrounded by the mighty plains people； he sprang up
suddenly； his feathery ears conspicuously erect； a dangerous challenge to
the dogs and the people。
A whoop went up。 Every dog accepted the challenge。 Forgotten
were the bundles； the kits； even the babies they were drawing or carrying。
The chase was on； and the screams of the women reechoed from the
opposite cliffs of the Powder； mingled with the yelps of dogs and the
neighing of horses。 The hand of every man was against the daring
warrior； the lone Jack； and the confusion was great。
When the fleeing one cleared the mass of his enemies； he emerged
with a swiftness that commanded respect and gave promise of a
determined chase。 Behind him； his pursuers stretched out in a thin line；
first the speedy； unburdened dogs and then the travois dogs headed by the
old Eskimo with his precious freight。 The youthful Gall was in a travois；
a basket mounted on trailing poles and harnessed to the sides of the
animal。
〃Hey！ hey！ they are gaining on him！〃 a warrior shouted。 At this
juncture two of the canines had almost nabbed their furry prey by the back。
But he was too cunning for them。 He dropped instantly and sent both
dogs over his head； rolling and spinning； then made another flight at right
angles to the first。 This gave the Eskimo a chance to cut the triangle。
He gained fifty yards； but being heavily handicapped； two unladen dogs
passed him。 The same trick was repeated by the Jack； and this time he
saved himself from instant death by a double loop and was now running
directly toward the crowd； followed by a dozen or more dogs。 He was
losing speed； but likewise his pursuers were dropping off steadily。 Only
the sturdy Eskimo dog held to his even gait； and behind him in the frail
travois leaned forward the little Matohinshda； nude save a breech clout；
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his left hand holding fast the convenient tail of his dog； the right grasping
firmly one of the poles of the travois。 His black eyes were bulging
almost out of their sockets； his long hair flowed out behind like a stream
of dark water。
The Jack now ran directly toward the howling spectators； but his
marvelous speed and alertness were on the wane； while on the other hand
his foremost pursuer； who had taken part in hundreds of similar events；
had every confidence in his own endurance。 Each leap brought him
nearer； fiercer and more determined。 The last effort of the Jack was to
lose himself in the crowd； like a fish in muddy water； but the big dog
made the one needed leap with unerring aim and his teeth flashed as he
caught the rabbit in viselike jaws and held him limp in air； a victor！
The people rushed up to him as he laid the victim down； and foremost
among them was the frantic mother of Matohinshda； or Gall。
〃Michinkshe！ michinkshe！〃 （My son！ my son！） she screamed as she drew
near。 The boy seemed to be none the worse for his experience。
〃Mother！〃 he cried； 〃my dog is brave： he got the rabbit！〃 She snatched
him off the travois； but he struggled out of her arms to look upon his dog
lovingly and admiringly。 Old men and boys crowded about the hero of
the day； the dog； and the thoughtful grandmother of Matohinshda
unharnessed him and poured some water from a parfleche water bag into a
basin。 〃Here； my grandson； give your friend something to drink。〃
〃How； hechetu；〃 pronounced an old warrior no longer in active service。
〃This may be only an accident； an ordinary affair； but such things
sometimes indicate a career。 The boy has had a wonderful ride。 I
prophesy that he will one day hold the attention of all the people with his
doings。〃
This is the first remembered story of the famous chief； but other
boyish exploits foretold the man he was destined to be。 He fought many
sham battles； some successful and others not； but he was always a fierce
fighter and a good loser。
Once he was engaged in a battle with snowballs。 There were
probably nearly a hundred boys on each side； and the rule was that every
fair hit made the receiver officially dead。 He must not participate further；
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but must remain just where he was struck。
Gall's side was fast losing； and the battle was growing hotter every
minute when the youthful warrior worked toward an old water hole and
took up his position there。 His side was soon annihilated and there were
eleven men left to fight him。 He was pressed close in the wash…out； and
as he dodged under cover before a volley of snowballs； there suddenly
emerged in his stead a huge gray wolf。 His opponents fled in every
direction in superstitious terror； for they thought he had been transformed
into the animal。 To their astonishment he came out on the farther side
and ran to the line of safety； a winner！
It happened that the wolf's den had been partly covered with snow so
that no one had noticed it until the yells of the boys aroused the inmate；
and he beat a hasty retreat。 The boys always looked upon this incident as
an omen。
Gall had an amiable dispo
