indian heroes & great chieftains-第7章

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living　their　natural　happy　life　upon　the　wonderful　wide　prairies　of

the　Dakotas。



It　was　the　way　of　every　Sioux　mother　to　adjust　her　household

effects　on　such　dogs　and　pack　ponies　as　she　could　muster　from　day

to　day；　often　lending　one　or　two　to　accommodate　some　other　woman

whose　horse　or　dog　had　died；　or　perhaps　had　been　among　those

stampeded　and　carried　away　by　a　raiding　band　of　Crow　warriors。　　On

this　particular　occasion；　the　mother　of　our　young　Sioux　brave；

Matohinshda；　or　Bear…Shedding…His…Hair　（Gall's　childhood　name）；

intrusted　her　boy　to　an　old　Eskimo　pack　dog；　experienced　and

reliable；　except　perhaps　when　unduly　excited　or　very　thirsty。



On　the　day　of　removing　camp　the　caravan　made　its　morning　march

up　the　Powder　River。　　Upon　the　wide　table…land　the　women　were

busily　digging　teepsinna　（an　edible　sweetish　root；　much　used　by

them）　as　the　moving　village　slowly　progressed。　　As　usual　at　such

times；　the　trail　was　wide。　　An　old　jack　rabbit　had　waited　too　long

in　hiding。　　Now；　finding　himself　almost　surrounded　by　the　mighty

plains　people；　he　sprang　up　suddenly；　his　feathery　ears

conspicuously　erect；　a　dangerous　challenge　to　the　dogs　and　the

people。



A　whoop　went　up。　　Every　dog　accepted　the　challenge。　　Forgotten

were　the　bundles；　the　kits；　even　the　babies　they　were　drawing　or

carrying。　　The　chase　was　on；　and　the　screams　of　the　women　reechoed

from　the　opposite　cliffs　of　the　Powder；　mingled　with　the　yelps　of

dogs　and　the　neighing　of　horses。　　The　hand　of　every　man　was　against

the　daring　warrior；　the　lone　Jack；　and　the　confusion　was　great。



When　the　fleeing　one　cleared　the　mass　of　his　enemies；　he

emerged　with　a　swiftness　that　commanded　respect　and　gave　promise

of　a　determined　chase。　　Behind　him；　his　pursuers　stretched　out　in

a　thin　line；　first　the　speedy；　unburdened　dogs　and　then　the　travois

dogs　headed　by　the　old　Eskimo　with　his　precious　freight。　　The

youthful　Gall　was　in　a　travois；　a　basket　mounted　on　trailing　poles

and　harnessed　to　the　sides　of　the　animal。



〃Hey！　hey！　they　are　gaining　on　him！〃　a　warrior　shouted。　　At

this　juncture　two　of　the　canines　had　almost　nabbed　their　furry　prey

by　the　back。　　But　he　was　too　cunning　for　them。　　He　dropped

instantly　and　sent　both　dogs　over　his　head；　rolling　and　spinning；

then　made　another　flight　at　right　angles　to　the　first。　　This　gave

the　Eskimo　a　chance　to　cut　the　triangle。　　He　gained　fifty　yards；

but　being　heavily　handicapped；　two　unladen　dogs　passed　him。　　The

same　trick　was　repeated　by　the　Jack；　and　this　time　he　saved　himself

from　instant　death　by　a　double　loop　and　was　now　running　directly

toward　the　crowd；　followed　by　a　dozen　or　more　dogs。　　He　was　losing

speed；　but　likewise　his　pursuers　were　dropping　off　steadily。　　Only

the　sturdy　Eskimo　dog　held　to　his　even　gait；　and　behind　him　in　the

frail　travois　leaned　forward　the　little　Matohinshda；　nude　save　a

breech　clout；　his　left　hand　holding　fast　the　convenient　tail　of　his

dog；　the　right　grasping　firmly　one　of　the　poles　of　the　travois。　

His　black　eyes　were　bulging　almost　out　of　their　sockets；　his　long

hair　flowed　out　behind　like　a　stream　of　dark　water。



The　Jack　now　ran　directly　toward　the　howling　spectators；　but

his　marvelous　speed　and　alertness　were　on　the　wane；　while　on　the

other　hand　his　foremost　pursuer；　who　had　taken　part　in　hundreds　of

similar　events；　had　every　confidence　in　his　own　endurance。　　Each

leap　brought　him　nearer；　fiercer　and　more　determined。　　The　last

effort　of　the　Jack　was　to　lose　himself　in　the　crowd；　like　a　fish　in

muddy　water；　but　the　big　dog　made　the　one　needed　leap　with　unerring

aim　and　his　teeth　flashed　as　he　caught　the　rabbit　in　viselike　jaws

and　held　him　limp　in　air；　a　victor！



The　people　rushed　up　to　him　as　he　laid　the　victim　down；　and

foremost　among　them　was　the　frantic　mother　of　Matohinshda；　or　Gall。　

〃Michinkshe！　michinkshe！〃　（My　son！　my　son！）　she　screamed　as　she

drew　near。　　The　boy　seemed　to　be　none　the　worse　for　his　experience。　

〃Mother！〃　he　cried；　〃my　dog　is　brave：　he　got　the　rabbit！〃　　She

snatched　him　off　the　travois；　but　he　struggled　out　of　her　arms　to

look　upon　his　dog　lovingly　and　admiringly。　　Old　men　and　boys

crowded　about　the　hero　of　the　day；　the　dog；　and　the　thoughtful

grandmother　of　Matohinshda　unharnessed　him　and　poured　some　water

from　a　parfleche　water　bag　into　a　basin。　　〃Here；　my　grandson；　give

your　friend　something　to　drink。〃



〃How；　hechetu；〃　pronounced　an　old　warrior　no　longer　in　active

service。　　〃This　may　be　only　an　accident；　an　ordinary　affair；　but

such　things　sometimes　indicate　a　career。　　The　boy　has　had　a

wonderful　ride。　　I　prophesy　that　he　will　one　day　hold　the　attention

of　all　the　people　with　his　doings。〃



This　is　the　first　remembered　story　of　the　famous　chief；　but

other　boyish　exploits　foretold　the　man　he　was　destined　to　be。　　He

fought　many　sham　battles；　some　successful　and　others　not；　but　he

was　always　a　fierce　fighter　and　a　good　loser。



Once　he　was　engaged　in　a　battle　with　snowballs。　　There　were

probably　nearly　a　hundred　boys　on　each　side；　and　the　rule　was　that

every　fair　hit　made　the　receiver　officially　dead。　　He　must　not

participate　further；　but　must　remain　just　where　he　was　struck。



Gall's　side　was　fast　losing；　and　the　battle　was　growing　hotter

every　minute　when　the　youthful　warrior　worked　toward　an　old　water

hole　and　took　up　his　position　there。　　His　side　was　soon　annihilated

and　there　were　eleven　men　left　to　fight　him。　　He　was　pressed　close

in　the　wash…out；　and　as　he　dodged　under　cover　before　a　volley　of

snowballs；　there　suddenly　emerged　in　his　stead　a　huge　gray　wolf。　

His　opponents　fled　in　every　direction　in　superstitious　terror；　for

they　thought　he　had　been　transformed　into　the　animal。　　To　their

astonishment　he　came　out　on　the　farther　side　and　ran　to　the　line　of

safety；　a　winner！



It　happened　that　the　wolf's　den　had　been　partly　covered　with

snow　so　that　no　one　had　noticed　it　until　the　yells　of　the　boys

aroused　the　inmate；　and　he　beat　a　hasty　retreat。　　The　boys　always

looked　upon　this　incident　as　an　omen。



Gall　had　an　amiable　disposition　but　was　quick　to　resent　insult

or　injustice。　　This　sometimes　involved　him　in　difficulties；　but　he

seldom　fought　without　good　cause　and　was　popular　with　his

associates。　　One　of　his　characteristics　was　his　ability　to

organize；　and　this　was　a　large　factor　in　his　leadership　when　he

became　a　man。　　He　was　tried　in　many　ways；　and　never　was　known　to

hesitate　when　it　was　a　question　of　physical　courage　and　endurance。　

He　entered　the　public　service　early　in　life；　but　not　until　he　had

proved　himself　competent　and　passed　all　tests。



When　a　mere　boy；　he　was　once　scouting　for　game　in　midwinter；

far　from　camp；　and　was　overtaken　by　a　three　days'　blizzard。　　He　was

forced　to　abandon　his　horse　and　lie　under　the　snow　for　that　length

of　time。　　He　afterward　said　he　was　not　particularly　hungry；　it　was

thirst　and　stiffness　from　which　he　suffered　most。　　One　reason　the

Indian　so　loved　his　horse　or　dog　was　that　at　such　times　the　animal

would　stay　by　him　like　a　brother。　　On　this　occasion　Gall's　pony　was

not　more　than　a　stone's　throw　away　when　the　storm　subsided　and　the

sun　shone。　　There　was　a　herd　of　buffalo　in　plain　sight；　and　the

young　hunter　was　not　long　in　procuring　a　meal。



This　chief's　contemporaries　still　recall　his　wrestling　match

with　the　equally　powerful　Cheyenne　boy；　Roman　Nose；　who　afterward

became　a　chief　well　known　to　American　history。　　It　was　a　custom　of

the　northwestern　Indians；　when　two　friendly　tribes　camped　together；

to　establish　the　physical　and　athletic　supremacy　of　the　youth　of

the　respective　camps。



The　〃Che…hoo…hoo〃　is　a　wrestling　game　in　which　there　may　be

any　number　on　a　side；　but　the　numbers　are　equal。　　All　the　boys　of

each　camp　are　called　together　by　a　leader　chosen　for　the　purpose

and　draw　themselves　up　in　line　of　battle；　then　each　at　a　given

signal　attacks　his　opponent。



In　this　memorable　contest；　Matohinshda；　or　Gall；　was　placed

opposite　Roman　Nose。　　The　whole　people　turned　out　as　spectators　of


the　struggle；　and　the　battlefield　was　a　plateau　between　the　two

camps；　in　the　midst　of　picturesque　Bad　Lands。　　There　were　many

athletic　youths　present；　but　these　two　were　really　the　Apollos　of

the　two　tribes。



In　this　kind　of　sport　it　is　not　allowed　to　strike　with　the

hand；　nor　catch　around　the　neck；　nor　kick；　nor　pull　by　the　hair。　　

One　may　break　away　and　run　a　few　yards　to　get　a　fresh　start；　or

clinch；　or　catch　as　catch　can。　　When　a　boy　is　thrown　and　held　to

the　ground；　he　is　counted　out。　　If　a　boy　has　met　his　superior；　he

may　drop　to　the　ground　to　escape　rough　handling；　but　it　is　very

seldom　one　gives　up　without　a　full　trial　of　strength。



It　seemed　almost　like　a　real　battle；　so　great　was　the

enthusiasm；　as　the　shouts　of　sympathizers　on　both　sides　went　up　in

a　mighty　chorus。　　At　last　all　were　either　conquerors　or　subdued

except　Gall　and　Roman　Nose。　　The　pair　seemed　equally　matched。　　Both

were　stripped　to　the　breech　clout；　now　tugging　like　two　young

buffalo　or　elk　in　mating　time；　again　writhing　and　twisting　like

serpents。　　At　times　they　fought　like　two　wild　stallions；　straining

every　muscle　of　arms；　legs；　and　back　in　the　struggle。　　Every　now

and　then　one　was　lifted　off　his　feet　for　a　moment；　but　came　down

planted　like　a　tree；　and　after　swaying　to　and　fro　soon　became　rigid

again。



All　eyes　were　upon　the　champions。　　Finally；　either　by　trick　or

main　force；　Gall　laid　the　other　sprawling　upon　the　ground　and　held

him　fast　for　a　minute；　then　released　him　and　stood　erect；　panting；

a　master　youth。　　Shout　after　shout　went　up　on　the　Sioux　side　of　the

camp。　　The　mother　of　Roman　Nose　came　forward　and　threw　a　superbly

worked　buffalo　robe　over　Gall；　whose　mother　returned　the　compliment

by　covering　the　young　Cheyenne　with　a　handsome　blanket。



Undoubtedly　these　early　contests　had　their　influence　upon　our

hero's　career。　　It　was　his　habit　to　appear　most　opportunely　in　a

crisis；　and　in　a　striking　and　dramatic　manner　to　take　command　of

the　situation。　　The　best　known　example　of　this　is　his　entrance　on

the　scene　of　confusion　when　Reno　surprised　the　Sioux　on　the　Little

Big　Horn。　　Many　of　the　excitable　youths；　almost　unarmed；　rushed

madly　and　blindly　to　meet　the　intruder；　and　the　scene　might　have

unnerved　even　an　experienced　warrior。　　It　was　Gall；　with　not　a

garment　upon　his　superb　body；　who　on　his　black　charger　dashed　ahead

of　the　boys　and　faced　them。　　He　stopped　them　on　the　dry　creek；

while　the　bullets　of　Reno's　men　whistled　about　their　ears。



〃Hold　hard；　men！　　Steady；　we　are　not　ready　yet！　　Wait　for　more

guns；　more　horses；　and　the　day　is　yours！〃



They　obeyed；　and　in　a　few　minutes　the　signal　to　charge　was

given；　and　Reno　retreated　pell　mell　before　the　onset　of　the　Sioux。



Sitting　Bull　had　confidence　in　his　men　so　long　as　Gall　planned

and　directed　the　attack；　whether　against　United　States　soldiers　or

the　warriors　o