第 7 节
作者:闲来一看      更新:2024-01-16 22:40      字数:9322
  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
  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 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 1819。  For having espoused the cause of the
  Americans; he was ill…treated by the British officers and free
  traders; who for a long time controlled the northwest; even after
  peace had been effected between the two nations。  At one time he
  was confined in a fort called McKay; where now stands the town of
  Prairie du Chien; Wisconsin。  He had just returned from St。 Louis;
  and was suspected of exciting his people to rebel against British
  subjects。  His life was even threatened; but to this Tamahay merely
  replied that he was ready to die。  A few months later; this fort
  was restored to the United States; and upon leaving it the British
  set the buildings on fire; though the United States flag floated
  above them。  Some Indians who were present shouted to Tamahay;
  〃Your friends'; the Americans'; fort is on fire!〃  He responded
  with a war whoop; rushed into the blazing fort; and brought out the
  flag。  For this brave act he was rewarded with a present of a flag
  and medal。  He was never tired of displaying this medal and his
  recommendation papers; and even preserved to the end of his life an
  old colonial stovepipe hat; which he wore upon state occasions。
  The Sioux long referred to the president of the United States
  as 〃Tamahay's father。〃
  The following story is told of him in his later days。  He
  attempted one day to cross the first bridge over the Mississippi
  River; but was not recognized by the sentinel; who would not allow
  him to pass until he paid the toll。  Tamahay; who was a privileged
  character; explained as best he could; with gestures and broken
  English; that he was always permitted to pass free; but as the
  sentinel still refused; and even threatened him with his bayonet;
  the old Indian silently seized the musket; threw it down into the
  waters of the Mississippi and went home。  Later in the day a
  company of soldiers appeared in the Indian village; and escorted
  our hero to a sort of court…martial at the fort。  When he was
  questioned by the Colonel; he simply replied: 〃If you were
  threatened by any one with a weapon; you would; in self…defense;
  either disable the man or get rid of the weapon。  I did the latter;
  thinking that you would need the man more than the gun。〃
  Finally the officer said to them; 〃I see you are both partly
  wrong。  Some one must be responsible for the loss of the gun;
  therefore; you two will wrestle; and the man who is downed must
  dive for the weapon to the bottom of the river。〃
  Scarcely was this speech ended when Tamahay was upon the
  soldier; who was surprised both by the order and by the unexpected
  readiness of the wily old Indian; so that he was not prepared; and
  the Sioux had the vantage hold。  In a moment the bluecoat was down;
  amid shouts and peals of laughter from his comrades。  Having thrown
  his man; the other turned and went home without a word。
  Sad to say; he acquired a great appetite for 〃minne…wakan〃; or
  〃mysterious water〃; as the Sioux call it; which proved a source of
  trouble to him in his old age。  It is told of him that he was
  treated one winter's day to a drink of whisky in a trader's store。
  He afterwards went home; but even the severe blizzard which soon
  arose did not prevent him from returning in the night to the
  friendly trader。  He awoke that worthy from sleep about twelve
  o'clock by singing his death dirge upon the roof of the log cabin。
  In another moment he had jumped down the mud chimney; and into the
  blazing embers of a fire。  The trader had to pour out to him some
  whisky in a tin pail; after which he begged the old man to 〃be good
  and go home。〃  On the eve of the so…called 〃Minnesota Massacre〃 by
  the Sioux in 1862; Tamahay; although he was then very old and had
  almost lost the use of his remaining eye; made a famous speech at
  the meeting of the conspirators。  These are some of his words; as
  reported to me by persons who were present。
  〃What!  What! is this Lit