indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第16章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
appearance on horseback； shouting and singing； and in the words of
Captain Lea himself and the missionary； the Reverend Mr。 Cleveland； the
situation was extremely critical。 Indeed； the scouts who had followed
Crazy Horse from Red Cloud agency were advised not to show themselves；
as some of the warriors had urged that they be taken out and horsewhipped
publicly。
Under these circumstances Crazy Horse again showed his masterful
spirit by holding these young men in check。 He said to them in his quiet
way： 〃It is well to be brave in the field of battle； it is cowardly to display
bravery against one's own tribesmen。 These scouts have been compelled
to do what they did； they are no better than servants of the white officers。
I came here on a peaceful errand。〃
The captain urged him to report at army headquarters to explain
himself and correct false rumors； and on his giving consent； furnished him
with a wagon and escort。 It has been said that he went back under arrest；
but this is untrue。 Indians have boasted that they had a hand in bringing
him in； but their stories are without foundation。 He went of his own
accord； either suspecting no treachery or determined to defy it。
When he reached the military camp； Little Big Man walked arm…in…
arm with him； and his cousin and friend； Touch…the…Cloud； was just in
advance。 After they passed the sentinel； an officer approached them and
walked on his other side。 He was unarmed but for the knife which is
carried for ordinary uses by women as well as men。 Unsuspectingly he
walked toward the guardhouse； when Touch…the…Cloud suddenly turned
back exclaiming： 〃Cousin； they will put you in prison！〃
〃Another white man's trick！ Let me go！ Let me die fighting！〃 cried
46
… Page 47…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
Crazy Horse。 He stopped and tried to free himself and draw his knife；
but both arms were held fast by Little Big Man and the officer。 While he
struggled thus； a soldier thrust him through with his bayonet from behind。
The wound was mortal； and he died in the course of that night； his old
father singing the death song over him and afterward carrying away the
body； which they said must not be further polluted by the touch of a white
man。 They hid it somewhere in the Bad Lands； his resting place to this
day。
Thus died one of the ablest and truest American Indians。 His life was
ideal； his record clean。 He was never involved in any of the numerous
massacres on the trail； but was a leader in practically every open fight。
Such characters as those of Crazy Horse and Chief Joseph are not easily
found among so…called civilized people。 The reputation of great men is
apt to be shadowed by questionable motives and policies； but here are two
pure patriots； as worthy of honor as any who ever breathed God's air in the
wide spaces of a new world。
47
… Page 48…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
SITTING BULL
IT is not easy to characterize Sitting Bull； of all Sioux chiefs most
generally known to the American people。 There are few to whom his
name is not familiar； and still fewer who have learned to connect it with
anything more than the conventional notion of a bloodthirsty savage。
The man was an enigma at best。 He was not impulsive； nor was he
phlegmatic。 He was most serious when he seemed to be jocose。 He
was gifted with the power of sarcasm； and few have used it more artfully
than he。
His father was one of the best…known members of the Unkpapa band
of Sioux。 The manner of this man's death was characteristic。 One day；
when the Unkpapas were attacked by a large war party of Crows； he fell
upon the enemy's war leader with his knife。 In a hand…to…hand combat of
this sort； we count the victor as entitled to a war bonnet of trailing plumes。
It means certain death to one or both。 In this case； both men dealt a
mortal stroke； and Jumping Buffalo； the father of Sitting Bull； fell from his
saddle and died in a few minutes。 The other died later from the effects of
the wound。
Sitting Bull's boyhood must have been a happy one。 It was long after
the day of the dog…travaux； and his father owned many ponies of
variegated colors。 It was said of him in a joking way that his legs were
bowed like the ribs of the ponies that he rode constantly from childhood。
He had also a common nickname that was much to the point。 It was
〃Hunkeshnee〃； which means 〃Slow〃； referring to his inability to run fast；
or more probably to the fact that he seldom appeared on foot。 In their
boyish games he was wont to take the part of the 〃old man〃； but this does
not mean that he was not active and brave。 It is told that after a buffalo
hunt the boys were enjoying a mimic hunt with the calves that had been
left behind。 A large calf turned viciously on Sitting Bull； whose pony
had thrown him； but the alert youth got hold of both ears and struggled
until the calf was pushed back into a buffalo wallow in a sitting posture。
The boys shouted： 〃He has subdued the buffalo calf！ He made it sit
48
… Page 49…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
down！〃 And from this incident was derived his familiar name of Sitting
Bull。
It is a mistake to suppose that Sitting Bull； or any other Indian warrior；
was of a murderous disposition。 It is true that savage warfare had grown
more and more harsh and cruel since the coming of white traders among
them； bringing guns； knives； and whisky。 Yet it was still regarded largely
as a sort of game； undertaken in order to develop the manly qualities of
their youth。 It was the degree of risk which brought honor； rather than
the number slain； and a brave must mourn thirty days； with blackened face
and loosened hair； for the enemy whose life he had taken。 While the
spoils of war were allowed； this did not extend to territorial
aggrandizement； nor was there any wish to overthrow another nation and
enslave its people。 It was a point of honor in the old days to treat a
captive with kindness。 The common impression that the Indian is
naturally cruel and revengeful is entirely opposed to his philosophy and
training。 The revengeful tendency of the Indian was aroused by the white
man。 It is not the natural Indian who is mean and tricky； not Massasoit
but King Philip； not Attackullakulla but Weatherford； not Wabashaw but
Little Crow； not Jumping Buffalo but Sitting Bull！ These men lifted their
hands against the white man； while their fathers held theirs out to him with
gifts。
Remember that there were councils which gave their decisions in
accordance with the highest ideal of human justice before there were any
cities on this continent； be
