第 1 节
作者:
闲来一看 更新:2024-01-16 22:40 字数:9322
Indian Heroes and Great Chieftains
by Charles A。 Eastman
CONTENTS
1。 RED CLOUD
2。 SPOTTED TAIL
3。 LITTLE CROW
4。 TAMAHAY
5。 GALL
6。 CRAZY HORSE
7。 SITTING BULL
8。 RAIN…IN…THE…FACE
9。 TWO STRIKE
10。 AMERICAN HORSE
11。 DULL KNIFE
12。 ROMAN NOSE
13。 CHIEF JOSEPH
14。 LITTLE WOLF
15。 HOLE…IN…THE…DAY
RED CLOUD
EVERY age; every race; has its leaders and heroes。 There were over
sixty distinct tribes of Indians on this continent; each of which
boasted its notable men。 The names and deeds of some of these men
will live in American history; yet in the true sense they are
unknown; because misunderstood。 I should like to present some of
the greatest chiefs of modern times in the light of the native
character and ideals; believing that the American people will
gladly do them tardy justice。
It is matter of history that the Sioux nation; to which I
belong; was originally friendly to the Caucasian peoples which it
met in succession…first; to the south the Spaniards; then the
French; on the Mississippi River and along the Great Lakes; later
the English; and finally the Americans。 This powerful tribe then
roamed over the whole extent of the Mississippi valley; between
that river and the Rockies。 Their usages and government united the
various bands more closely than was the case with many of the
neighboring tribes。
During the early part of the nineteenth century; chiefs such
as Wabashaw; Redwing; and Little Six among the eastern Sioux;
Conquering Bear; Man…Afraid…of…His…Horse; and Hump of the western
bands; were the last of the old type。 After these; we have a
coterie of new leaders; products of the new conditions brought
about by close contact with the conquering race。
This distinction must be borne in mind that while the early
chiefs were spokesmen and leaders in the simplest sense; possessing
no real authority; those who headed their tribes during the
transition period were more or less rulers and more or less
politicians。 It is a singular fact that many of the 〃chiefs〃; well
known as such to the American public; were not chiefs at all
according to the accepted usages of their tribesmen。 Their
prominence was simply the result of an abnormal situation; in which
representatives of the United States Government made use of them
for a definite purpose。 In a few cases; where a chief met with a
violent death; some ambitious man has taken advantage of the
confusion to thrust himself upon the tribe and; perhaps with
outside help; has succeeded in usurping the leadership。
Red Cloud was born about 1820 near the forks of the Platte
River。 He was one of a family of nine children whose father; an
able and respected warrior; reared his son under the old Spartan
regime。 The young Red Cloud is said to have been a fine horseman;
able to swim across the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers; of high
bearing and unquestionable courage; yet invariably gentle and
courteous in everyday life。 This last trait; together with a
singularly musical and agreeable voice; has always been
characteristic of the man。
When he was about six years old; his father gave him a
spirited colt; and said to him:
〃My son; when you are able to sit quietly upon the back of
this colt without saddle or bridle; I shall be glad; for the boy
who can win a wild creature and learn to use it will as a man be
able to win and rule men。〃
The little fellow; instead of going for advice and help to his
grandfather; as most Indian boys would have done; began quietly to
practice throwing the lariat。 In a little while he was able to
lasso the colt。 He was dragged off his feet at once; but hung on;
and finally managed to picket him near the teepee。 When the big
boys drove the herd of ponies to water; he drove his colt with the
rest。 Presently the pony became used to him and allowed himself to
be handled。 The boy began to ride him bareback; he was thrown many
times; but persisted until he could ride without even a lariat;
sitting with arms folded and guiding the animal by the movements of
his body。 From that time on he told me that he broke all his own
ponies; and before long his father's as well。
The old men; his contemporaries; have often related to me how
Red Cloud was always successful in the hunt because his horses were
so well broken。 At the age of nine; he began to ride his father's
pack pony upon the buffalo hunt。 He was twelve years old; he told
me; when he was first permitted to take part in the chase; and
found to his great mortification that none of his arrows penetrated
more than a few inches。 Excited to recklessness; he whipped his
horse nearer the fleeing buffalo; and before his father knew what
he was about; he had seized one of the protruding arrows and tried
to push it deeper。 The furious animal tossed his massive head
sidewise; and boy and horse were whirled into the air。
Fortunately; the boy was thrown on the farther side of his pony;
which received the full force of the second attack。 The thundering
hoofs of the stampeded herd soon passed them by; but the wounded
and maddened buffalo refused to move; and some critical moments
passed before Red Cloud's father succeeded in attracting its
attention so that the boy might spring to his feet and run for his
life。
I once asked Red Cloud if he could recall having ever been
afraid; and in reply he told me this story。 He was about sixteen
years old and had already been once or twice upon the warpath; when
one fall his people were hunting in the Big Horn country; where
they might expect trouble at any moment with the hostile Crows or
Shoshones。 Red Cloud had followed a single buffalo bull into the
Bad Lands and was out of sight and hearing of his companions。 When
he had brought down his game; he noted carefully every feature of
his surroundings so that he might at once detect anything unusual;
and tied his horse with a long lariat to the horn of the dead
bison; while skinning and cutting up the meat so as to pack it to
camp。 Every few minutes he paused in his work to scrutinize the
landscape; for he had a feeling that danger was not far off。
Suddenly; almost over his head; as it seemed; he heard a
tremendous war whoop; and glancing sidewise; thought he beheld
the charge of an overwhelming number of warriors。 He tried
desperately to give the usual undaunted war whoop in reply; but
instead a yell of terror burst from his lips; his legs gave way
under him; and he fell in a heap。 When he realized; the next
instant; that the war whoop was merely the sudden loud whinnying of
his own horse; and the charging army a band of fleeing elk; he was
so ashamed of himself that he never forgot the incident; although
up to that time he had never mentioned it。 His subsequent career
would indicate that the lesson was well learned。
The future leader was still a very young man when he joined a
war party against the Utes。 Having pushed eagerly forward on the
trail; he found himself far in advance of his companions as night
came on; and at the same time rain began to fall heavily。 Among
the scattered scrub pines; the lone warrior found a natural cave;
and after a hasty examination; he decided to shelter there for the
night。
Scarcely had he rolled himself in his blanket when he heard a
slight rustling at the entrance; as if some creature were preparing
to share his retreat。 It was pitch dark。 He could see nothing; but
judged that it must be either a man or a grizzly。 There was not
room to draw a bow。 It must be between knife and knife; or between
knife and claws; he said to himself。
The intruder made no search but quietly lay down in the
opposite corner of the cave。 Red Cloud remained perfectly still;
scarcely breathing; his hand upon his knife。 Hour after hour he
lay broad awake; while many thoughts passed through his brain。
Suddenly; without warning; he sneezed; and instantly a strong man
sprang to a sitting posture opposite。 The first gray of morning
was creeping into their rocky den; and behold! a Ute hunter sat
before him。
Desperate as the situation appeared; it was not without a grim
humor。 Neither could afford to take his eyes from the other's; the
tension was great; till at last a smile wavered over the
expressionless face of the Ute。 Red Cloud answered the smile; and
in that instant a treaty of peace was born between them。
〃Put your knife in its sheath。 I shall do so also; and we
will smoke together;〃 signed Red Cloud。 The other assented gladly;
and they ratified thus the truce which assured to each a safe
return to his friends。 Having finished their smoke; they shook
hands and separated。 Neither had given the other any information。
Red Cloud returned to his party and told his story; adding that he
had divu