indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第32章
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and according to the custom then in vogue the pair disappeared。 When
they returned to the camp as man and wife； behold！ there was great
excitement over the affair。 It seemed that a certain chief had given many
presents and paid unmistakable court to the maid with the intention of
marrying her； and her parents had accepted the presents； which meant
consent so far as they were concerned。 But the girl herself had not given
consent。
The resentment of the disappointed suitor was great。 It was reported
in the village that he had openly declared that the young man who defied
and insulted him must expect to be punished。 As soon as Little Wolf
heard of the threats； he told his father and friends that he had done only
what it is every man's privilege to do。
〃Tell the chief；〃 said he； 〃to come out with any weapon he pleases； and
I will meet him within the circle of lodges。 He shall either do this or eat
his words。 The woman is not his。 Her people accepted his gifts against
her wishes。 Her heart is mine。〃
The chief apologized； and thus avoided the inevitable duel； which
would have been a fight to the death。
The early life of Little Wolf offered many examples of the dashing
bravery characteristic of the Cheyennes； and inspired the younger men to
win laurels for themselves。 He was still a young man； perhaps thirty…five；
when the most trying crisis in the history of his people came upon them。
As I know and as Doctor Grinnell's book amply corroborates； he was the
general who largely guided and defended them in that tragic flight from
the Indian Territory to their northern home。 I will not discuss the justice
of their cause： I prefer to quote Doctor Grinnell； lest it appear that I am in
any way exaggerating the facts。
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〃They had come；〃 he writes； 〃from the high； dry country of Montana
and North Dakota to the hot and humid Indian Territory。 They had come
from a country where buffalo and other game were still plentiful to a land
where the game had been exterminated。 Immediately on their arrival
they were attacked by fever and ague； a disease wholly new to them。
Food was scanty； and they began to starve。 The agent testified before a
committee of the Senate that he never received supplies to subsist the
Indians for more than nine months in each year。 These people were
meat…eaters； but the beef furnished them by the government inspectors was
no more than skin and bone。 The agent in describing their sufferings said：
'They have lived and that is about all。'
〃The Indians endured this for about a year； and then their patience
gave out。 They left the agency to which they had been sent and started
north。 Though troops were camped close to them； they attempted no
concealment of their purpose。 Instead； they openly announced that they
intended to return to their own country。
We have heard much in past years of the march of the Nez Perces
under Chief Joseph； but little is remembered of the Dull Knife outbreak
and the march to the north led by Little Wolf。 The story of the journey
has not been told； but in the traditions of the old army this campaign was
notable； and old men who were stationed on the plains forty years ago are
apt to tell you； if you ask them； that there never was such another journey
since the Greeks marched to the sea。 。 。 。
〃The fugitives pressed constantly northward undaunted； while orders
were flying over the wires； and special trains were carrying men and
horses to cut them off at all probable points on the different railway lines
they must cross。 Of the three hundred Indians； sixty or seventy were
fighting men the rest old men； women； and children。 An army officer
once told me that thirteen thousand troops were hurrying over the country
to capture or kill these few poor people who had left the fever…stricken
South； and in the face of every obstacle were steadily marching northward。
〃The War Department set all its resources in operation against them；
yet they kept on。 If troops attacked them； they stopped and fought until
they had driven off the soldiers； and then started north again。 Sometimes
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they did not even stop； but marched along； fighting as they marched。 For
the most part they tried and with success to avoid conflicts； and had
but four real hard fights； in which they lost half a dozen men killed and
about as many wounded。〃
It must not be overlooked that the appeal to justice had first been tried
before taking this desperate step。 Little Wolf had gone to the agent about
the middle of the summer and said to him： 〃This is not a good country for
us； and we wish to return to our home in the mountains where we were
always well。 If you have not the power to give permission； let some of
us go to Washington and tell them there how it is； or do you write to
Washington and get permission for us to go back。〃
〃Stay one more year；〃 replied the agent； 〃and then we will see what we
can do for you。 〃No；〃 said Little Wolf。 〃Before another year there will
be none left to travel north。 We must go now。〃
Soon after this it was found that three of the Indians had disappeared
and the chief was ordered to surrender ten men as hostages for their return。
He refused。 〃Three men；〃 said he； 〃who are traveling over wild country
can hide so that they cannot be found。 You would never get back these
three； and you would keep my men prisoners always。〃
The agent then threatened if the ten men were not given up to withhold
their rations and starve the entire tribe into submission。 He forgot that he
was addressing a Cheyenne。 These people had not understood that they
were prisoners when they agreed to friendly relations with the government
and came upon the reservation。 Little Wolf stood up and shook hands
with all present before making his final deliberate address。
〃Listen； my friends； I am a friend of the white people and have been so
for a long time。 I do not want to see blood spilt about this agency。 I am
going north to my own country。 If you are going to send your soldiers
after me； I wish you would let us get a little distance away。 Then if you
want to fight； I will fight you； and we can make the ground bloody at that
place。〃
The Cheyenne was not bluffing。 He said just what he meant； and I
presume the agent took the hint； for although the military were there they
did not undertake to prevent the Indians' departure。 Next morning the
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teepees were pulled down early and quickly。 Toward evening of the
second day； the scouts signaled the approach of troops。 Little Wolf called
his men together and advised them under no circumstances to fire
