indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第19节
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last had it not been for his ambition。
〃About this time we young warriors began to watch the trails of the
white men into the Black Hills； and when we saw a wagon coming we
would hide at the crossing and kill them all without much trouble。 We
did this to discourage the whites from coming into our country without our
permission。 It was the duty of our Great Father at Washington； by the
agreement of 1868； to keep his white children away。
〃During the troublesome time after this treaty； which no one seemed to
respect； either white or Indian ＇but the whites broke it first＇； I was like
many other young men much on the warpath； but with little honor。 I
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had not yet become noted for any great deed。 Finally； Wapaypay and I
waylaid and killed a white soldier on his way from the fort to his home in
the east。
〃There were a few Indians who were liars； and never on the warpath；
playing 'good Indian' with the Indian agents and the war chiefs at the forts。
Some of this faithless set betrayed me； and told more than I ever did。 I
was seized and taken to the fort near Bismarck； North Dakota ＇Fort
Abraham Lincoln＇； by a brother ＇Tom Custer＇ of the Long…Haired War
Chief； and imprisoned there。 These same lying Indians； who were selling
their services as scouts to the white man； told me that I was to be shot to
death； or else hanged upon a tree。 I answered that I was not afraid to die。
〃However； there was an old soldier who used to bring my food and
stand guard over me he was a white man； it is true； but he had an Indian
heart！ He came to me one day and unfastened the iron chain and ball
with which they had locked my leg； saying by signs and what little Sioux
he could muster：
〃'Go； friend！ take the chain and ball with you。 I shall shoot； but the
voice of the gun will lie。'
〃When he had made me understand； you may guess that I ran my best！
I was almost over the bank when he fired his piece at me several times； but
I had already gained cover and was safe。 I have never told this before；
and would not； lest it should do him an injury； but he was an old man then；
and I am sure he must be dead long since。 That old soldier taught me
that some of the white people have hearts；〃 he added； quite seriously。
〃I went back to Standing Rock in the night； and I had to hide for
several days in the woods； where food was brought to me by my relatives。
The Indian police were ordered to retake me； and they pretended to hunt
for me； but really they did not； for if they had found me I would have died
with one or two of them； and they knew it！ In a few days I departed with
several others； and we rejoined the hostile camp on the Powder River and
made some trouble for the men who were building the great iron track
north of us ＇Northern Pacific＇。
〃In the spring the hostile Sioux got together again upon the Tongue
River。 It was one of the greatest camps of the Sioux that I ever saw。
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There were some Northern Cheyennes with us； under Two Moon； and a
few Santee Sioux； renegades from Canada； under Inkpaduta； who had
killed white people in Iowa long before。 We had decided to fight the
white soldiers until no warrior should be left。〃
At this point Rain…in…the…Face took up his tobacco pouch and began
again to fill his pipe。
〃Of course the younger warriors were delighted with the prospect of a
great fight！ Our scouts had discovered piles of oats for horses and other
supplies near the Missouri River。 They had been brought by the white
man's fire…boats。 Presently they reported a great army about a day's
travel to the south； with Shoshone and Crow scouts。
〃There was excitement among the people； and a great council was held。
Many spoke。 I was asked the condition of those Indians who had gone
upon the reservation； and I told them truly that they were nothing more
than prisoners。 It was decided to go out and meet Three Stars ＇General
Crook＇ at a safe distance from our camp。
〃We met him on the Little Rosebud。 I believe that if we had waited
and allowed him to make the attack； he would have fared no better than
Custer。 He was too strongly fortified where he was； and I think； too； that
he was saved partly by his Indian allies； for the scouts discovered us first
and fought us first； thus giving him time to make his preparations。 I
think he was more wise than brave！ After we had left that neighborhood
he might have pushed on and connected with the Long…Haired Chief。
That would have saved Custer and perhaps won the day。
〃When we crossed from Tongue River to the Little Big Horn； on
account of the scarcity of game； we did not anticipate any more trouble。
Our runners had discovered that Crook had retraced his trail to Goose
Creek； and we did not suppose that the white men would care to follow us
farther into the rough country。
〃Suddenly the Long…Haired Chief appeared with his men！ It was a
surprise。〃
〃What part of the camp were you in when the soldiers attacked the
lower end？〃 I asked。
〃I had been invited to a feast at one of the young men's lodges ＇a sort
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of club＇。 There was a certain warrior who was making preparations to go
against the Crows； and I had decided to go also；〃 he said。
〃While I was eating my meat we heard the war cry！ We all rushed
out； and saw a warrior riding at top speed from the lower camp； giving the
warning as he came。 Then we heard the reports of the soldiers' guns；
which sounded differently from the guns fired by our people in battle。
〃I ran to my teepee and seized my gun； a bow； and a quiver full of
arrows。 I already had my stone war club； for you know we usually carry
those by way of ornament。 Just as I was about to set out to meet Reno； a
body of soldiers appeared nearly opposite us； at the edge of a long line of
cliffs across the river。
〃All of us who were mounted and ready immediately started down the
stream toward the ford。 There were Ogallalas； Minneconjous； Cheyennes；
and some Unkpapas； and those around me seemed to be nearly all very
young men。
〃'Behold； there is among us a young woman！' I shouted。 'Let no
young man hide behind her garment！' I knew that would make those
young men brave。
〃The woman was Tashenamani； or Moving Robe； whose brother had
just been killed in the fight with Three Stars。 Holding her brother's war
staff over her head； and leaning forward upon her charger； she looked as
pretty as a bird。 Always when there is a woman in the charge； it causes
the warriors to vie with one another in displaying their valor；〃 he added。
〃The foremost warriors had almost surrounded the white men； and
more were continually crossing the stream。 The soldiers had dismounted；
and were firing into the camp from the top of the cliff。〃
〃My friend； was Sitting Bull in this fight？〃 I inquired。
〃I did not see him there； but I learned afterward that he was among
those who met Reno； and that was three or four of the white man's miles
from Custer's position。 Later he joined the attack upon Custer； but was
not among the foremost。
〃When the troops were surrounded on two sides； with the river on the
third； the order came to charge！ There were many very young men； some
of whom had only a war staff or a stone war club in hand； who plunged
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into the column； knocking
