indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第24章
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it should be said that in the good old days among the Sioux； a young man
is not supposed to associate with girls until he is ready to take a wife。 It
was a rule with our young men； especially the honorable and well…born； to
gain some reputation in the hunt and in war； the more difficult the feats
achieved the better； before even speaking to a young woman。 Many a
life was risked in the effort to establish a reputation along these lines。
Courtship was no secret； but rather a social event； often celebrated by the
proud parents with feasts and presents to the poor； and this etiquette was
sometimes felt by a shy or sensitive youth as an insurmountable obstacle
to the fulfilment of his desires。
Two Strike was the son and grandson of a chief； but he could not claim
any credit for the deeds of his forbears。 He had not only to guard their
good name but achieve one for himself。 This he had set out to do； and he
did well。 He was now of marriageable age with a war record； and
admitted to the council； yet he did not seem to trouble himself at all about
a wife。 His was strictly a bachelor career。 Meanwhile； as is apt to be
the case； his parents had thought much about a possible daughter…in…law；
and had even collected ponies； fine robes； and other acceptable goods to
be given away in honor of the event； whenever it should take place。
Now and then they would drop a sly hint； but with no perceptible effect。
They did not and could not know of the inward struggle that racked his
mind at this period of his life。 The shy and modest young man was dying
for a wife； yet could not bear even to think of speaking to a young woman！
The fearless hunter of buffaloes； mountain lions； and grizzlies； the youth
who had won his eagle feathers in a battle with the Utes； could not bring
himself to take this tremendous step。
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At last his father appealed to him directly。 〃My son；〃 he declared； 〃it
is your duty to take unto yourself a wife； in order that the honors won by
your ancestors and by yourself may be handed down in the direct line。
There are several eligible young women in our band whose parents have
intimated a wish to have you for their son…in…law。〃
Two Strike made no reply； but he was greatly disturbed。 He had no
wish to have the old folks select his bride； for if the truth were told； his
choice was already made。 He had simply lacked the courage to go a…
courting！
The next morning； after making an unusually careful toilet； he took his
best horse and rode to a point overlooking the path by which the girls went
for water。 Here the young men were wont to take their stand； and； if
fortunate； intercept the girl of their heart for a brief but fateful interview。
Two Strike had determined to speak straight to the point； and as soon as he
saw the pretty maid he came forward boldly and placed himself in her way。
A long moment passed。 She glanced up at him shyly but not without
encouragement。 His teeth fairly chattered with fright； and he could not
say a word。 She looked again； noted his strange looks； and believed him
suddenly taken ill。 He appeared to be suffering。 At last he feebly made
signs for her to go on and leave him alone。 The maiden was sympathetic；
but as she did not know what else to do she obeyed his request。
The poor youth was so ashamed of his cowardice that he afterward
admitted his first thought was to take his own life。 He believed he had
disgraced himself forever in the eyes of the only girl he had ever loved。
However； he determined to conquer his weakness and win her； which he
did。 The story came out many years after and was told with much
enjoyment by the old men。
Two Strike was better known by his own people than by the whites； for
he was individually a terror in battle rather than a leader。 He achieved
his honorable name in a skirmish with the Utes in Colorado。 The Sioux
regarded these people as their bravest enemies； and the outcome of the
fight was for some time uncertain。 First the Sioux were forced to retreat
and then their opponents； and at the latter point the horse of a certain Ute
was shot under him。 A friend came to his rescue and took him up behind
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him。 Our hero overtook them in flight； raised his war club； and knocked
both men off with one blow。
He was a very old man when he died； only two or three years ago； on
the Rosebud reservation。
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AMERICAN HORSE
One of the wittiest and shrewdest of the Sioux chiefs was American
Horse； who succeeded to the name and position of an uncle； killed in the
battle of Slim Buttes in 1876。 The younger American Horse was born a
little before the encroachments of the whites upon the Sioux country
became serious and their methods aggressive； and his early manhood
brought him into that most trying and critical period of our history。 He
had been tutored by his uncle； since his own father was killed in battle
while he was still very young。 The American Horse band was closely
attached to a trading post； and its members in consequence were inclined
to be friendly with the whites； a policy closely adhered to by their leader。
When he was born； his old grandfather said： 〃Put him out in the sun！
Let him ask his great…grandfather； the Sun； for the warm blood of a
warrior！〃 And he had warm blood。 He was a genial man； liking
notoriety and excitement。 He always seized an opportunity to leap into
the center of the arena。
In early life he was a clownish sort of boy among the boys an expert
mimic and impersonator。 This talent made him popular and in his way a
leader。 He was a natural actor； and early showed marked ability as a
speaker。
American Horse was about ten years old when he was attacked by
three Crow warriors； while driving a herd of ponies to water。 Here he
displayed native cunning and initiative。 It seemed he had scarcely a
chance to escape； for the enemy was near。 He yelled frantically at the
ponies to start them toward home； while he dropped off into a thicket of
willows and hid there。 A part of the herd was caught in sight of the camp
and there was a counter chase； but the Crows got away with the ponies。
Of course his mother was frantic； believing her boy had been killed or
captured； but after the excitement was over； he appeared in camp unhurt。
When questioned about his escape； he remarked： 〃I knew they would not
take the time to hunt for small game when there was so much bigger close
by。〃
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When he was quite a big boy； he joined in a buffalo hunt； and on the
way back with the rest of the hunt
