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第18章

indian heroes & great chieftains-第18章

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found me I would have died with one or two of them; and they knew

it!  In a few days I departed with several others; and we rejoined

the hostile camp on the Powder River and made some trouble for the

men who were building the great iron track north of us 'Northern

Pacific'。



〃In the spring the hostile Sioux got together again upon the

Tongue River。  It was one of the greatest camps of the Sioux that

I ever saw。  There were some Northern Cheyennes with us; under Two

Moon; and a few Santee Sioux; renegades from Canada; under

Inkpaduta; who had killed white people in Iowa long before。  We had

decided to fight the white soldiers until no warrior should be

left。〃



At this point Rain…in…the…Face took up his tobacco pouch and

began again to fill his pipe。



〃Of course the younger warriors were delighted with the

prospect of a great fight!  Our scouts had discovered piles of oats

for horses and other supplies near the Missouri River。  They had

been brought by the white man's fire…boats。  Presently they

reported a great army about a day's travel to the south; with

Shoshone and Crow scouts。



〃There was excitement among the people; and a great council

was held。  Many spoke。  I was asked the condition of those Indians

who had gone upon the reservation; and I told them truly that they

were nothing more than prisoners。  It was decided to go out and

meet Three Stars 'General Crook' at a safe distance from our camp。



〃We met him on the Little Rosebud。  I believe that if we had

waited and allowed him to make the attack; he would have fared no

better than Custer。  He was too strongly fortified where he was;

and I think; too; that he was saved partly by his Indian allies;

for the scouts discovered us first and fought us first; thus giving

him time to make his preparations。  I think he was more wise than

brave!  After we had left that neighborhood he might have pushed on

and connected with the Long…Haired Chief。  That would have saved

Custer and perhaps won the day。



〃When we crossed from Tongue River to the Little Big Horn; on

account of the scarcity of game; we did not anticipate any more

trouble。  Our runners had discovered that Crook had retraced his

trail to Goose Creek; and we did not suppose that the white men

would care to follow us farther into the rough country。



〃Suddenly the Long…Haired Chief appeared with his men!  It was

a surprise。〃



〃What part of the camp were you in when the soldiers attacked

the lower end?〃 I asked。



〃I had been invited to a feast at one of the young men's

lodges 'a sort of club'。  There was a certain warrior who was

making preparations to go against the Crows; and I had decided to

go also;〃 he said。



〃While I was eating my meat we heard the war cry!  We all

rushed out; and saw a warrior riding at top speed from the lower

camp; giving the warning as he came。  Then we heard the reports of

the soldiers' guns; which sounded differently from the guns fired

by our people in battle。



〃I ran to my teepee and seized my gun; a bow; and a quiver

full of arrows。  I already had my stone war club; for you know we

usually carry those by way of ornament。  Just as I was about to set

out to meet Reno; a body of soldiers appeared nearly opposite us;

at the edge of a long line of cliffs across the river。



〃All of us who were mounted and ready immediately started down

the stream toward the ford。  There were Ogallalas; Minneconjous;

Cheyennes; and some Unkpapas; and those around me seemed to be

nearly all very young men。



〃'Behold; there is among us a young woman!' I shouted。  'Let

no young man hide behind her garment!'  I knew that would make

those young men brave。



〃The woman was Tashenamani; or Moving Robe; whose brother had

just been killed in the fight with Three Stars。  Holding her

brother's war staff over her head; and leaning forward upon her

charger; she looked as pretty as a bird。  Always when there is a

woman in the charge; it causes the warriors to vie with one another

in displaying their valor;〃 he added。



〃The foremost warriors had almost surrounded the white men;

and more were continually crossing the stream。  The soldiers had

dismounted; and were firing into the camp from the top of the

cliff。〃



〃My friend; was Sitting Bull in this fight?〃 I inquired。



〃I did not see him there; but I learned afterward that he was

among those who met Reno; and that was three or four of the white

man's miles from Custer's position。  Later he joined the attack

upon Custer; but was not among the foremost。



〃When the troops were surrounded on two sides; with the river

on the third; the order came to charge!  There were many very young

men; some of whom had only a war staff or a stone war club in hand;

who plunged into the column; knocking the men over and stampeding

their horses。



〃The soldiers had mounted and started back; but when the onset

came they dismounted again and separated into several divisions;

facing different ways。  They fired as fast as they could load their

guns; while we used chiefly arrows and war clubs。  There seemed to

be two distinct movements among the Indians。  One body moved

continually in a circle; while the other rode directly into and

through the troops。



〃Presently some of the soldiers remounted and fled along the

ridge toward Reno's position; but they were followed by our

warriors; like hundreds of blackbirds after a hawk。  A larger body

remained together at the upper end of a little ravine; and fought

bravely until they were cut to pieces。  I had always thought that

white men were cowards; but I had a great respect for them after

this day。



〃It is generally said that a young man with nothing but a war

staff in his hand broke through the column and knocked down the

leader very early in the fight。  We supposed him to be the leader;

because he stood up in full view; swinging his big knife 'sword'

over his head; and talking loud。  Some one unknown afterwards shot

the chief; and he was probably killed also; for if not; he would

have told of the deed; and called others to witness it。  So it is

that no one knows who killed the Long…Haired Chief 'General

Custer'。



〃After the first rush was over; coups were counted as usual on

the bodies of the slain。  You know four coups 'or blows' can be

counted on the body of an enemy; and whoever counts the first one

'touches it for the first time' is entitled to the 'first feather。'



〃There was an Indian here called Appearing Elk; who died a

short time ago。  He was slightly wounded in the charge。  He had

some of the weapons of the Long…Haired Chief; and the Indians used

to say jokingly after we came upon the reservation that Appearing

Elk must have killed the Chief; because he had his sword!  However;

the scramble for plunder did not begin until all were dead。  I do

not think he killed Custer; and if he had; the time to claim the

honor was immediately after the fight。



〃Many lies have been told of me。  Some say that I killed the

Chief; and others that I cut out the heart of his brother 'Tom

Custer'; because he had caused me to be imprisoned。  Why; in that

fight the excitement was so great that we scarcely recognized our

nearest friends!  Everything was done like lightning。  After the

battle we young men were chasing horses all over the prairie; while

the old men and women plundered the bodies; and if any mutilating

was done; it was by the old men。



〃I have lived peaceably ever since we came upon the

reservation。  No one can say that Rain…in…the…Face has broken the

rules of the Great Father。  I fought for my people and my country。 

When we were conquered I remained silent; as a warrior should。 

Rain…in…the…Face was killed when he put down his weapons before the

Great Father。  His spirit was gone then; only his poor body lived

on; but now it is almost ready to lie down for the last time。  Ho;

hechetu!  'It is well。'〃


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