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第27章

indian heroes & great chieftains-第27章

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success  to avoid conflicts; and had but four real hard fights;

in which they lost half a dozen men killed and about as many

wounded。〃



It must not be overlooked that the appeal to justice had first

been tried before taking this desperate step。  Little Wolf had gone

to the agent about the middle of the summer and said to him: 〃This

is not a good country for us; and we wish to return to our home in

the mountains where we were always well。  If you have not the power

to give permission; let some of us go to Washington and tell them

there how it is; or do you write to Washington and get permission

for us to go back。〃



〃Stay one more year;〃 replied the agent; 〃and then we will see

what we can do for you。  〃No;〃 said Little Wolf。  〃Before another

year there will be none left to travel north。  We must go now。〃



Soon after this it was found that three of the Indians had

disappeared and the chief was ordered to surrender ten men as

hostages for their return。  He refused。  〃Three men;〃 said he; 〃who

are traveling over wild country can hide so that they cannot be

found。  You would never get back these three; and you would keep my

men prisoners always。〃



The agent then threatened if the ten men were not given up to

withhold their rations and starve the entire tribe into submission。 

He forgot that he was addressing a Cheyenne。  These people had not

understood that they were prisoners when they agreed to friendly

relations with the government and came upon the reservation。 

Little Wolf stood up and shook hands with all present before making

his final deliberate address。



〃Listen; my friends; I am a friend of the white people and

have been so for a long time。  I do not want to see blood spilt

about this agency。  I am going north to my own country。  If you are

going to send your soldiers after me; I wish you would let us get

a little distance away。  Then if you want to fight; I will fight

you; and we can make the ground bloody at that place。〃



The Cheyenne was not bluffing。  He said just what he meant;

and I presume the agent took the hint; for although the military

were there they did not undertake to prevent the Indians'

departure。  Next morning the teepees were pulled down early and

quickly。  Toward evening of the second day; the scouts signaled the

approach of troops。  Little Wolf called his men together and

advised them under no circumstances to fire until fired upon。  An

Arapahoe scout was sent to them with a message。  〃If you surrender

now; you will get your rations and be well treated。〃  After what

they had endured; it was impossible not to hear such a promise with

contempt。  Said Little Wolf: 〃We are going back to our own country。 

We do not want to fight。〃  He was riding still nearer when the

soldiers fired; and at a signal the Cheyennes made a charge。  They

succeeded in holding off the troops for two days; with only five

men wounded and none killed; and when the military retreated the

Indians continued northward carrying their wounded。



This sort of thing was repeated again and again。  Meanwhile

Little Wolf held his men under perfect control。  There were

practically no depredations。  They secured some boxes of ammunition

left behind by retreating troops; and at one point the young men

were eager to follow and destroy an entire command who were

apparently at their mercy; but their leader withheld them。  They

had now reached the buffalo country; and he always kept his main

object in sight。  He was extraordinarily calm。  Doctor Grinnell was

told by one of his men years afterward: 〃Little Wolf did not seem

like a human being。  He seemed like a bear。〃  It is true that a man

of his type in a crisis becomes spiritually transformed and moves

as one in a dream。



At the Running Water the band divided; Dull Knife going toward

Red Cloud agency。  He was near Fort Robinson when he surrendered

and met his sad fate。  Little Wolf remained all winter in the Sand

Hills; where there was plenty of game and no white men。  Later he

went to Montana and then to Pine Ridge; where he and his people

remained in peace until they were removed to Lame Deer; Montana;

and there he spent the remainder of his days。  There is a clear sky

beyond the clouds of racial prejudice; and in that final Court of

Honor a noble soul like that of Little Wolf has a place。







HOLE…IN…THE…DAY



'I wish to thank Reverend C。 H。 Beaulieu of Le Soeur;

Minnesota; for much of the material used in this chapter。'



In the beginning of the nineteenth century; the Indian nations of

the Northwest first experienced the pressure of civilization。  At

this period there were among them some brilliant leaders unknown to

history; for the curious reason that they cordially received and

welcomed the newcomers rather than opposed them。  The only

difficulties were those arising among the European nations

themselves; and often involving the native tribes。  Thus new

environments brought new motives; and our temptations were

increased manyfold with the new weapons; new goods; and above all

the subtly destructive 〃spirit water。〃



Gradually it became known that the new race had a definite

purpose; and that purpose was to chart and possess the whole

country; regardless of the rights of its earlier inhabitants。 Still

the old chiefs cautioned their people to be patient; for; said

they; the land is vast; both races can live on it; each in their

own way。  Let us therefore befriend them and trust to their

friendship。  While they reasoned thus; the temptations of graft and

self…aggrandizement overtook some of the leaders。



Hole…in…the…Day (or Bug…o…nay…ki…shig) was born in the opening

days of this era。  The word 〃ki…shig〃 means either 〃day〃 or 〃sky〃;

and the name is perhaps more correctly translated Hole…in…the…Sky。 

This gifted man inherited his name and much of his ability from his

father; who was a war chief among the Ojibways; a Napoleon of the

common people; and who carried on a relentless warfare against the

Sioux。  And yet; as was our custom at the time; peaceful meetings

were held every summer; at which representatives of the two tribes

would recount to one another all the events that had come to pass

during the preceding year。



Hole…in…the…Day the younger was a handsome man; tall and

symmetrically formed; with much grace of manner and natural

refinement。  He was an astute student of diplomacy。  The Ojibways

allowed polygamy; and whether or not he approved the principle; he

made political use of it by marrying the daughter of a chief in

nearly every band。  Through these alliances he held a controlling

influence over the whole Ojibway nation。  Reverend Claude H。

Beaulieu says of him:



〃Hole…in…the…Day was a man of distinguished appearance and

native courtliness of manner。  His voice was musical and magnetic;

and with these qualities he had a subtle brain; a logical mind; and

quite a remarkable gift of oratory。  In speech he was not

impassioned; but clear and convincing; and held fast the attention

of his hearers。〃



It is of interest to note that his everyday name among his

tribesmen was 〃The Boy。〃  What a boy he must have been!  I wonder

if the name had the same significance as with the Sioux; who

applied it to any man who performs a difficult duty with alertness;

dash; and natural courage。  〃The Man〃 applies to one who adds to

these qualities wisdom and maturity of judgment。



The Sioux tell many stories of both the elder and the younger

Hole…in…the…Day。  Once when The Boy was still under ten years of

age; he was fishing on Gull Lake in a leaky birch…bark canoe。 

Presently there came such a burst of frantic warwhoops that his

father was startled。  He could not think of anything but an attack

by the dreaded Sioux。  Seizing his weapons; he ran to the rescue of

his son; only to find that the little fellow had caught a fish so

large that it was pulling his canoe all over the lake。  〃Ugh;

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