indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第12章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
himself and correct false rumors； and on his giving consent； furnished him
with a wagon and escort。 It has been said that he went back under arrest；
but this is untrue。 Indians have boasted that they had a hand in bringing
him in； but their stories are without foundation。 He went of his own
accord； either suspecting no treachery or determined to defy it。
When he reached the military camp； Little Big Man walked arm…in…
arm with him； and his cousin and friend； Touch…the…Cloud； was just in
advance。 After they passed the sentinel； an officer approached them and
walked on his other side。 He was unarmed but for the knife which is
carried for ordinary uses by women as well as men。 Unsuspectingly he
walked toward the guardhouse； when Touch…the…Cloud suddenly turned
back exclaiming： 〃Cousin； they will put you in prison！〃
〃Another white man's trick！ Let me go！ Let me die fighting！〃 cried
46
… Page 47…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
Crazy Horse。 He stopped and tried to free himself and draw his knife；
but both arms were held fast by Little Big Man and the officer。 While he
struggled thus； a soldier thrust him through with his bayonet from behind。
The wound was mortal； and he died in the course of that night； his old
father singing the death song over him and afterward carrying away the
body； which they said must not be further polluted by the touch of a white
man。 They hid it somewhere in the Bad Lands； his resting place to this
day。
Thus died one of the ablest and truest American Indians。 His life was
ideal； his record clean。 He was never involved in any of the numerous
massacres on the trail； but was a leader in practically every open fight。
Such characters as those of Crazy Horse and Chief Joseph are not easily
found among so…called civilized people。 The reputation of great men is
apt to be shadowed by questionable motives and policies； but here are two
pure patriots； as worthy of honor as any who ever breathed God's air in the
wide spaces of a new world。
47
… Page 48…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
SITTING BULL
IT is not easy to characterize Sitting Bull； of all Sioux chiefs most
generally known to the American people。 There are few to whom his
name is not familiar； and still fewer who have learned to connect it with
anything more than the conventional notion of a bloodthirsty savage。
The man was an enigma at best。 He was not impulsive； nor was he
phlegmatic。 He was most serious when he seemed to be jocose。 He
was gifted with the power of sarcasm； and few have used it more artfully
than he。
His father was one of the best…known members of the Unkpapa band
of Sioux。 The manner of this man's death was characteristic。 One day；
when the Unkpapas were attacked by a large war party of Crows； he fell
upon the enemy's war leader with his knife。 In a hand…to…hand combat of
this sort； we count the victor as entitled to a war bonnet of trailing plumes。
It means certain death to one or both。 In this case； both men dealt a
mortal stroke； and Jumping Buffalo； the father of Sitting Bull； fell from his
saddle and died in a few minutes。 The other died later from the effects of
the wound。
Sitting Bull's boyhood must have been a happy one。 It was long after
the day of the dog…travaux； and his father owned many ponies of
variegated colors。 It was said of him in a joking way that his legs were
bowed like the ribs of the ponies that he rode constantly from childhood。
He had also a common nickname that was much to the point。 It was
〃Hunkeshnee〃； which means 〃Slow〃； referring to his inability to run fast；
or more probably to the fact that he seldom appeared on foot。 In their
boyish games he was wont to take the part of the 〃old man〃； but this does
not mean that he was not active and brave。 It is told that after a buffalo
hunt the boys were enjoying a mimic hunt with the calves that had been
left behind。 A large calf turned viciously on Sitting Bull； whose pony
had thrown him； but the alert youth got hold of both ears and struggled
until the calf was pushed back into a buffalo wallow in a sitting posture。
The boys shouted： 〃He has subdued the buffalo calf！ He made it sit
48
… Page 49…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
down！〃 And from this incident was derived his familiar name of Sitting
Bull。
It is a mistake to suppose that Sitting Bull； or any other Indian warrior；
was of a murderous disposition。 It is true that savage warfare had grown
more and more harsh and cruel since the coming of white traders among
them； bringing guns； knives； and whisky。 Yet it was still regarded largely
as a sort of game； undertaken in order to develop the manly qualities of
their youth。 It was the degree of risk which brought honor； rather than
the number slain； and a brave must mourn thirty days； with blackened face
and loosened hair； for the enemy whose life he had taken。 While the
spoils of war were allowed； this did not extend to territorial
aggrandizement； nor was there any wish to overthrow another nation and
enslave its people。 It was a point of honor in the old days to treat a
captive with kindness。 The common impression that the Indian is
naturally cruel and revengeful is entirely opposed to his philosophy and
training。 The revengeful tendency of the Indian was aroused by the white
man。 It is not the natural Indian who is mean and tricky； not Massasoit
but King Philip； not Attackullakulla but Weatherford； not Wabashaw but
Little Crow； not Jumping Buffalo but Sitting Bull！ These men lifted their
hands against the white man； while their fathers held theirs out to him with
gifts。
Remember that there were councils which gave their decisions in
accordance with the highest ideal of human justice before there were any
cities on this continent； before there were bridges to span the Mississippi；
before this network of railroads was dreamed of！ There were primitive
communities upon the very spot where Chicago or New York City now
stands； where men were as children； innocent of all the crimes now
committed there daily and nightly。 True morality is more easily
maintained in connection with the simple life。 You must accept the truth
that you demoralize any race whom you have subjugated。
From this point of view we shall consider Sitting Bull's career。 We
say he is an untutored man： that is true so far as learning of a literary type
is concerned； but he was not an untutored man when you view him from
the standpoint of his nation。 To be sure； he did not learn his lessons from
49
… Page 50…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
books。 This is second…hand information at best。 All that he learned he
verified for himself and put into daily practice。 In personal appearance
he was rather commonplace and made no immediate impression； but as he
talked he seemed to take hold of his hearers more and more。 He was
bull…headed； quick to grasp a situation； and not readily induced to change
his mind。 He was not suspicious until he was forced to be so。 All his
meaner traits were inevitably developed by the events of his later career。
Sitting Bull's history has been written many times by newspaper men
and army officers； but I find no account of him which is entirely correct。
I met him personally in 1884； and since his death I have gone thoroughly
into the details of his life with his relatives and contemporaries。 It has
often been said that he was a physical coward and not a warrior。 Judge of
this for yourselves from the deed which first gave him fame in his own
tribe； when he was about twenty…eight years old。
In an attack upon a band of Crow Indians； one of the enemy took his
stand； after the rest had fled； in a deep ditch from which it seemed
impossible to dislodge him。 The situation had already cost the lives of
several warriors； but they could not let him go to repeat such a boast over
the Sioux！
〃Follow me！〃 said Sitting Bull； and charged。 He raced his horse to
the brim of the ditch and struck at the enemy with his coup…staff； thus
compelling him to expose himself to the fire of the others while shooting
his assailant。 But the Crow merely poked his empty gun into his face and
dodged back under cover。 Then Sitting Bull stopped； he saw that no one
had followed him； and he also perceived that the enemy had no more
ammunition left。 He rode deliberately up to the barrier and threw his
loaded gun over it； then he went back to his party and told them what he
thought of them。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃I have armed him； for I will not see a brave man
killed unarmed。 I will strike him again with my coup…staff to count the
first feather； who will count the second？〃
Again he led the charge； and this time they all followed him。 Sitting
Bull was severely wounded by his own gun in the hands of the enemy；
who was killed by those that came after him。 This is a record that so far
50
… Page 51…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
as I know was never made by any other warrior。
The second incident that made him well known w
