indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第4节
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shrewd enough to read coming events in their true light。 It is said of
Spotted Tail that he was rather a slow…moving boy； preferring in their
various games and mimic battles to play the role of councilor； to plan and
assign to the others their parts in the fray。 This he did so cleverly that he
soon became a leader among his youthful contemporaries； and withal he
was apt at mimicry and impersonation； so that the other boys were
accustomed to say of him； 〃He has his grandfather's wit and the wisdom of
his grandmother！〃
Spotted Tail was an orphan； reared by his grandparents； and at an early
age compelled to shift for himself。 Thus he was somewhat at a
disadvantage among the other boys； yet even this fact may have helped to
develop in him courage and ingenuity。 One little incident of his boy life；
occurring at about his tenth year； is characteristic of the man。 In the
midst of a game； two boys became involved in a dispute which promised
to be a serious one； as both drew knives。 The young Spotted Tail
instantly began to cry； 〃The Shoshones are upon us！ To arms！ to arms！〃
and the other boys joined in the war whoop。 This distracted the attention
of the combatants and ended the affair。
Upon the whole； his boyhood is not so well remembered as is that of
most of his leading contemporaries； probably because he had no parents to
bring him frequently before the people； as was the custom with the
wellborn； whose every step in their progress toward manhood was
publicly announced at a feast given in their honor。 It is known； however；
that he began at an early age to carve out a position for himself。 It is
personal qualities alone that tell among our people； and the youthful
Spotted Tail gained at every turn。 At the age of seventeen； he had
become a sure shot and a clever hunter； but； above all； he had already
shown that he possessed a superior mind。 He had come into contact with
white people at the various trading posts； and according to his own story
had made a careful study of the white man's habits and modes of thought；
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especially of his peculiar trait of economy and intense desire to
accumulate property。 He was accustomed to watch closely and listen
attentively whenever any of this strange race had dealings with his people。
When a council was held； and the other young men stood at a distance
with their robes over their faces so as to avoid recognition； Spotted Tail
always put himself in a position to hear all that was said on either side； and
weighed all the arguments in his mind。
When he first went upon the warpath； it appears that he was； if
anything； overzealous to establish himself in the eye of his people； and as
a matter of fact； it was especially hard for him to gain an assured position
among the Brules； with whom he lived； both because he was an orphan；
and because his father had been of another band。 Yet it was not long
before he had achieved his ambition； though in doing so he received
several ugly wounds。 It was in a battle with the Utes that he first notably
served his people and their cause。
The Utes were the attacking party and far outnumbered the Sioux on
this occasion。 Many of their bravest young men had fallen； and the
Brules were face to face with utter annihilation； when Spotted Tail； with a
handful of daring horsemen； dodged around the enemy's flank and fell
upon them from the rear with so much spirit that they supposed that strong
reinforcements had arrived； and retreated in confusion。 The Sioux
pursued on horseback； and it was in this pursuit that the noted chief Two
Strike gained his historical name。 But the chief honors of the fight
belonged to Spotted Tail。 The old chiefs； Conquering Bear and the rest；
thanked him and at once made him a war chief。
It had been the firm belief of Spotted Tail that it was unwise to allow
the white man so much freedom in our country； long before the older
chiefs saw any harm in it。 After the opening of the Oregon Trail he；
above all the others； was watchful of the conduct of the Americans as they
journeyed toward the setting sun； and more than once he remarked in
council that these white men were not like the French and the Spanish；
with whom our old chiefs had been used to deal。 He was not fully
satisfied with the agreement with General Harney； but as a young warrior
who had only just gained his position in the council； he could not force his
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views upon the older men。
No sooner had the Oregon Trail been secured from the Sioux than Fort
Laramie and other frontier posts were strengthened； and the soldiers
became more insolent and overbearing than ever。 It was soon discovered
that the whites were prepared to violate most of the articles of their treaty
as the Indians understood it。 At this time； the presence of many Mormon
emigrants on their way to the settlements in Utah and Wyoming added to
the perils of the situation； as they constantly maneuvered for purposes of
their own to bring about a clash between the soldiers and the Indians。
Every summer there were storm…clouds blowing between these two
clouds usually taking their rise in some affair of the travelers along the
trail。
In 1854 an event occurred which has already been described and
which snapped the last link of friendship between the races。
By this time Spotted Tail had proved his courage both abroad and at
home。 He had fought a duel with one of the lesser chiefs； by whom he
was attacked。 He killed his opponent with an arrow； but himself received
upon his head a blow from a battle…axe which brought him senseless to the
ground。 He was left for dead； but fortunately revived just as the men
were preparing his body for burial。
The Brules sustained him in this quarrel； as he had acted in self…
defense； and for a few years he led them in bloody raids against the whites
along the historic trail。 He ambushed many stagecoaches and emigrant
trains； and was responsible for waylaying the Kincaid coach with twenty
thousand dollars。 This relentless harrying of travelers soon brought
General Harney to the Brule Sioux to demand explanations and reparation。
The old chiefs of the Brules now appealed to Spotted Tail and his
young warriors not to bring any general calamity upon the tribe。 To the
surprise of all； Spotted Tail declared that he would give himself up。 He
said that he had defended the rights of his people to the best of his ability；
that he had avenged the blood of their chief； Conquering Bear； and that he
was not afraid to accept the consequences。 He therefore voluntarily
surrendered to General Harney； and two of his lieutenants； Red Leaf and
Old Woman； followed his example。
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Thus Spotted Tail played an important part at the very outset of those
events which were soon to overthrow the free life of his people。 I do not
know how far he foresaw what was to follow； but whether so conceived or
not； his surrender was a master stroke； winning for him not only the
admiration of his own people but the confidence and respect of the
military。
Thus suddenly he found himself in prison； a hostage for the good
behavior of his followers。 There were many rumors as to the punishment
reserved for him； but luckily for Spotted Tail； the promises of General
Harney to
