indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第2章
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he was so ashamed of himself that he never forgot the incident； although
up to that time he had never mentioned it。 His subsequent career would
indicate that the lesson was well learned。
The future leader was still a very young man when he joined a war
party against the Utes。 Having pushed eagerly forward on the trail； he
found himself far in advance of his companions as night came on； and at
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the same time rain began to fall heavily。 Among the scattered scrub pines；
the lone warrior found a natural cave； and after a hasty examination； he
decided to shelter there for the night。
Scarcely had he rolled himself in his blanket when he heard a slight
rustling at the entrance； as if some creature were preparing to share his
retreat。 It was pitch dark。 He could see nothing； but judged that it must
be either a man or a grizzly。 There was not room to draw a bow。 It
must be between knife and knife； or between knife and claws； he said to
himself。
The intruder made no search but quietly lay down in the opposite
corner of the cave。 Red Cloud remained perfectly still； scarcely
breathing； his hand upon his knife。 Hour after hour he lay broad awake；
while many thoughts passed through his brain。 Suddenly； without
warning； he sneezed； and instantly a strong man sprang to a sitting posture
opposite。 The first gray of morning was creeping into their rocky den；
and behold！ a Ute hunter sat before him。
Desperate as the situation appeared； it was not without a grim humor。
Neither could afford to take his eyes from the other's； the tension was
great； till at last a smile wavered over the expressionless face of the Ute。
Red Cloud answered the smile； and in that instant a treaty of peace was
born between them。
〃Put your knife in its sheath。 I shall do so also； and we will smoke
together；〃 signed Red Cloud。 The other assented gladly； and they ratified
thus the truce which assured to each a safe return to his friends。 Having
finished their smoke； they shook hands and separated。 Neither had given
the other any information。 Red Cloud returned to his party and told his
story； adding that he had divulged nothing and had nothing to report。
Some were inclined to censure him for not fighting； but he was sustained
by a majority of the warriors； who commended his self…restraint。 In a
day or two they discovered the main camp of the enemy and fought a
remarkable battle； in which Red Cloud especially distinguished himself
The Sioux were now entering upon the most stormy period of their
history。 The old things were fast giving place to new。 The young men；
for the first time engaging in serious and destructive warfare with the
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
neighboring tribes； armed with the deadly weapons furnished by the white
man； began to realize that they must soon enter upon a desperate struggle
for their ancestral hunting grounds。 The old men had been innocently
cultivating the friendship of the stranger； saying among themselves；
〃Surely there is land enough for all！〃
Red Cloud was a modest and little known man of about twenty…eight
years； when General Harney called all the western bands of Sioux together
at Fort Laramie； Wyoming； for the purpose of securing an agreement and
right of way through their territory。 The Ogallalas held aloof from this
proposal； but Bear Bull； an Ogallala chief； after having been plied with
whisky； undertook to dictate submission to the rest of the clan。 Enraged
by failure； he fired upon a group of his own tribesmen； and Red Cloud's
father and brother fell dead。 According to Indian custom； it fell to him to
avenge the deed。 Calmly； without uttering a word； he faced old Bear Bull
and his son； who attempted to defend his father； and shot them both。 He
did what he believed to be his duty； and the whole band sustained him。
Indeed； the tragedy gave the young man at once a certain standing； as one
who not only defended his people against enemies from without； but
against injustice and aggression within the tribe。 From this time on he
was a recognized leader。
Man…Afraid…of…His…Horse； then head chief of the Ogallalas； took
council with Red Cloud in all important matters； and the young warrior
rapidly advanced in authority and influence。 In 1854； when he was
barely thirty…five years old； the various bands were again encamped near
Fort Laramie。 A Mormon emigrant train； moving westward； left a
footsore cow behind； and the young men killed her for food。 The next
day； to their astonishment； an officer with thirty men appeared at the
Indian camp and demanded of old Conquering Bear that they be given up。
The chief in vain protested that it was all a mistake and offered to make
reparation。 It would seem that either the officer was under the influence
of liquor； or else had a mind to bully the Indians； for he would accept
neither explanation nor payment； but demanded point…blank that the young
men who had killed the cow be delivered up to summary punishment。
The old chief refused to be intimidated and was shot dead on the spot。
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Not one soldier ever reached the gate of Fort Laramie！ Here Red Cloud
led the young Ogallalas； and so intense was the feeling that they even
killed the half…breed interpreter。
Curiously enough； there was no attempt at retaliation on the part of the
army； and no serious break until 1860； when the Sioux were involved in
troubles with the Cheyennes and Arapahoes。 In 1862； a grave outbreak
was precipitated by the eastern Sioux in Minnesota under Little Crow； in
which the western bands took no part。 Yet this event ushered in a new
period for their race。 The surveyors of the Union Pacific were laying out
the proposed road through the heart of the southern buffalo country； the
rendezvous of Ogallalas； Brules； Arapahoes； Comanches； and Pawnees；
who followed the buffalo as a means of livelihood。 To be sure； most of
these tribes were at war with one another； yet during the summer months
they met often to proclaim a truce and hold joint councils and festivities；
which were now largely turned into discussions of the common enemy。
It became evident； however； that some of the smaller and weaker tribes
were inclined to welcome the new order of things； recognizing that it was
the policy of the government to put an end to tribal warfare。
Red Cloud's position was uncompromisingly against submission。 He
made some noted speeches in this line； one of which was repeated to me
by an old
