indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第29节
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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 until
fired upon。 An Arapahoe scout was sent to them with a message。 〃If
you surrender now； you will get your rations and be well treated。〃 After
what they had endured； it was impossible not to hear such a promise with
contempt。 Said Little Wolf： 〃We are going back to our own country。
We do not want to fight。〃 He was riding still nearer when the soldiers
fired； and at a signal the Cheyennes made a charge。 They succeeded in
holding off the troops for two days； with only five men wounded and none
killed； and when the military retreated the Indians continued northward
carrying their wounded。
This sort of thing was repeated again and again。 Meanwhile Little
Wolf held his men under perfect control。 There were practically no
depredations。 They secured some boxes of ammunition left behind by
retreating troops； and at one point the young men were eager to follow and
destroy an entire command who were apparently at their mercy； but their
leader withheld them。 They had now reached the buffalo country； and he
always kept his main object in sight。 He was extraordinarily calm。
Doctor Grinnell was told by one of his men years afterward： 〃Little Wolf
did not seem like a human being。 He seemed like a bear。〃 It is true that
a man of his type in a crisis becomes spiritually transformed and moves as
one in a dream。
At the Running Water the band divided； Dull Knife going toward Red
Cloud agency。 He was near Fort Robinson when he surrendered and met
his sad fate。 Little Wolf remained all winter in the Sand Hills； where
there was plenty of game and no white men。 Later he went to Montana
and then to Pine Ridge； where he and his people remained in peace until
they were removed to Lame Deer； Montana； and there he spent the
remainder of his days。 There is a clear sky beyond the clouds of racial
prejudice； and in that final Court of Honor a noble soul like that of Little
Wolf has a place。
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HOLE…IN…THE…DAY
＇I wish to thank Reverend C。 H。 Beaulieu of Le Soeur； Minnesota； for
much of the material used in this chapter。＇
In the beginning of the nineteenth century； the Indian nations of the
Northwest first experienced the pressure of civilization。 At this period
there were among them some brilliant leaders unknown to history； for the
curious reason that they cordially received and welcomed the newcomers
rather than opposed them。 The only difficulties were those arising
among the European nations themselves； and often involving the native
tribes。 Thus new environments brought new motives； and our
temptations were increased manyfold with the new weapons； new goods；
and above all the subtly destructive 〃spirit water。〃
Gradually it became known that the new race had a definite purpose；
and that purpose was to chart and possess the whole country； regardless of
the rights of its earlier inhabitants。 Still the old chiefs cautioned their
people to be patient； for； said they； the land is vast； both races can live on it；
each in their own way。 Let us therefore befriend them and trust to their
friendship。 While they reasoned thus； the temptations of graft and self…
aggrandizement overtook some of the leaders。
Hole…in…the…Day （or Bug…o…nay…ki…shig） was born in the opening days
of this era。 The word 〃ki…shig〃 means either 〃day〃 or 〃sky〃； and the
name is perhaps more correctly translated Hole…in…the…Sky。 This gifted
man inherited his name and much of his ability from his father； who was a
war chief among the Ojibways； a Napoleon of the common people； and
who carried on a relentless warfare against the Sioux。 And yet； as was
our custom at the time； peaceful meetings were held every summer； at
which representatives of the two tribes would recount to one another all
the events that had come to pass during the preceding year。
Hole…in…the…Day the younger was a handsome man； tall and
symmetrically formed； with much grace of manner and natural refinement。
He was an astute student of diplomacy。 The Ojibways allowed polygamy；
and whether or not he approved the principle； he made political use of it
