indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第8节
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
friends； who he hoped would protect him in return for past favors。 It is
true that he had helped them to secure perhaps the finest country held by
any Indian nation for a mere song。
He left Canada with a few trusted friends； including his youngest and
favorite son。 When within two or three days' journey of St。 Paul； he told
the others to return； keeping with him only his son； Wowinape； who was
but fifteen years of age。 He meant to steal into the city by night and go
straight to Governor Ramsey； who was his personal friend。 He was very
hungry and was obliged to keep to the shelter of the deep woods。 The
next morning； as he was picking and eating wild raspberries； he was seen
by a wood…chopper named Lamson。 The man did not know who he was。
He only knew that he was an Indian； and that was enough for him； so he
lifted his rifle to his shoulder and fired； then ran at his best pace。 The
brilliant but misguided chief； who had made that part of the country unsafe
for any white man to live in； sank to the ground and died without a
struggle。 The boy took his father's gun and made some effort to find the
assassin； but as he did not even know in which direction to look for him；
he soon gave up the attempt and went back to his friends。
Meanwhile Lamson reached home breathless and made his report。
The body of the chief was found and identified； in part by the twice
broken arm； and this arm and his scalp may be seen to…day in the
collection of the Minnesota Historical Society。
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TAMAHAY
There was once a Sioux brave who declared that he would die young；
yet not by his own hand。 Tamahay was of heroic proportions； herculean
in strength； a superb runner； in fact； he had all the physical qualities of an
athlete or a typical Indian。 In his scanty dress； he was beautiful as an
antique statue in living bronze。 When a mere youth； seventeen years of
age； he met with an accident which determined his career。 It was the loss
of an eye； a fatal injury to the sensitive and high…spirited Indian。 He
announced his purpose in these words： 〃The 'Great Mystery' has decreed
that I must be disgraced。 There will be no pleasure for me now； and I
shall be ridiculed even by my enemies。 It will be well for me to enter
soon into Paradise； for I shall be happy in spending my youth there。 But
I will sell my life dearly。 Hereafter my name shall be spoken in the
traditions of our race。〃 With this speech Tamahay began his career。
He now sought glory and defied danger with even more than the
ordinary Indian recklessness。 He accepted a personal friend； which was a
custom among the Sioux； where each man chose a companion for life and
death。 The tie was stronger than one of blood relationship； a friendship
sealed by solemn vow and covenant。 Tamahay's intimate was fortunately
almost his equal in physical powers； and the pair became the terror of
neighboring tribes； with whom the Dakotas were continually at war。
They made frequent raids upon their enemies and were usually successful；
although not without thrilling experiences and almost miraculous escapes。
Upon one of these occasions the two friends went north into the
country of the Ojibways。 After many days' journey； they discovered a
small village of the foe。 The wicked Tamahay proposed to his associate
that they should arrange their toilets after the fashion of the Ojibways； and
go among them； 〃and perhaps；〃 he added； 〃we will indulge in a little
flirtation with their pretty maids； and when we have had enough of the fun
we can take the scalp of a brave or two and retreat！〃 His friend construed
his daring proposition to be a test of courage； which it would not become
him； as a brave； to decline； therefore he assented with a show of
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cheerfulness。
The handsome strangers were well received by the Ojibway girls； but
their perilous amusement was brought to an untimely close。 A young
maiden prematurely discovered their true characters； and her cry of alarm
brought instantly to her side a jealous youth； who had been watching them
from his place of concealment。 With him Tamahay had a single…handed
contest； and before a general alarm was given he had dispatched the foe
and fled with his scalp。
The unfortunate brave had been a favorite and a leader among the tribe；
therefore the maddened Ojibways were soon in hot pursuit。 The Sioux
braves were fine runners； yet they were finally driven out upon the
peninsula of a lake。 As they became separated in their retreat； Tamahay
shouted； 〃I'll meet you at the mouth of the St。 Croix River； or in the spirit
land！〃 Both managed to swim the lake； and so made good their escape。
The exploits of this man were not all of a warlike nature。 He was a
great traveler and an expert scout； and he had some wonderful experiences
with wild animals。 He was once sent； with his intimate friend； on a scout
for game。 They were on ponies。
They located a herd of buffaloes； and on their return to the camp
espied a lonely buffalo。 Tamahay suggested that they should chase it in
order to take some fresh meat； as the law of the tribe allowed in the case of
a single animal。 His pony stumbled and threw him； after they had
wounded the bison； and the latter attacked the dismounted man viciously。
But he； as usual； was on the alert。 He 〃took the bull by the horns〃； as the
saying is； and cleverly straddled him on the neck。 The buffalo had no
means of harming his enemy； but pawed the earth and struggled until his
strength was exhausted； when the Indian used his knife on the animal's
throat。 On account of this feat he received the name 〃Held…the…Bull…by…
the…Horns。〃
The origin of his name 〃Tamahay〃 is related as follows。 When he
was a young man he accompanied the chief Wabashaw to Mackinaw；
Michigan； together with some other warriors。 He was out with his friend
one day； viewing the wonderful sights in the 〃white man's country〃； when
they came upon a sow with her numerous pink little progeny。 He was
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greatly amused and picked up one of the young pigs； but as soon as it
squealed the mother ran furiously after them。 He kept the pig and fled
with it； still laughing； but his friend was soon compelled to run up the
conveniently inclined trunk of a fallen tree； while our hero reached the
shore of a lake near by； and plunged into the water。 He swam and dived
as long as he could； but the beast continued to threaten him with her sharp
teeth； till； almost exhausted； he swam again to shore； where his friend
came up and dispatched the vicious animal with a club。 On account of
this watery adventure he was at once called Tamahay； meaning Pike。 He
earned many other names； but preferred this one； because it was the name
borne by a great friend of his； Lieutenant Pike； the first officer of the
United States Army who came to Minnesota for the purpose of exploring
the sources of the Mississippi River and of making peace with the natives。
Tamahay assisted this officer in obtaining land from the Sioux upon which
to build Fort Snelling。 He appears in history under the name of
〃Tahamie〃 or the 〃One…Eyed Sioux。〃
Always ready to brave danger and unpopularity； Tamahay was the only
Sioux who sided with the United States in her struggle with Great Britain
in
