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第14章

indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第14章


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he spent much time in prayer and solitude。                  Just what happened in these 

days of his fasting in the wilderness and upon the crown of bald buttes; no 

one  will   ever   know;   for   these   things   may   only  be   known   when   one  has 

lived   through   the   battles   of   life   to   an   honored   old   age。  He   was   much 

sought   after   by  his   youthful   associates;  but   was   noticeably  reserved   and 

modest; yet in the moment of danger he at once rose above them all  a 

natural   leader!      Crazy   Horse   was   a   typical   Sioux   brave;   and   from   the 

point of view of our race an ideal hero; living at the height of the epical 



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progress of the American Indian and maintaining in his own character all 

that was most subtle and ennobling of their spiritual life; and that has since 

been lost in the contact with a material civilization。 

     He    loved    Hump;     that   peerless    warrior;    and   the  two    became     close 

friends;   in   spite of   the difference in   age。      Men   called   them  〃the   grizzly 

and his cub。〃        Again and again the pair saved the day for the Sioux in a 

skirmish   with   some   neighboring   tribe。          But   one   day   they   undertook   a 

losing battle against the Snakes。            The Sioux were in full retreat and were 

fast being overwhelmed by superior numbers。                     The old warrior fell in a 

last   desperate   charge;   but   Crazy   Horse   and   his   younger   brother;   though 

dismounted; killed two of the enemy and thus made good their retreat。 

     It   was   observed   of   him   that   when   he   pursued   the   enemy   into   their 

stronghold;   as   he   was   wont   to   do;   he   often   refrained   from   killing;   and 

simply   struck      them   with   a   switch;   showing   that   he   did   not   fear   their 

weapons nor care to waste his upon them。                 In attempting this very feat; he 

lost this only brother of his; who emulated him closely。                  A party of young 

warriors; led by Crazy Horse; had dashed upon a frontier post; killed one 

of the sentinels; stampeded the horses; and pursued the herder to the very 

gate of the stockade; thus drawing upon themselves the fire of the garrison。 

The leader escaped without a scratch; but his young brother was brought 

down from his horse and killed。 

     While he was still under twenty; there was a great winter buffalo hunt; 

and he came back with ten buffaloes' tongues which he sent to the council 

lodge   for    the   councilors'   feast。    He   had     in  one   winter    day   killed   ten 

buffalo   cows   with   his   bow   and   arrows;   and   the   unsuccessful   hunters   or 

those     who    had   no   swift   ponies    were    made     happy    by   his   generosity。 

When   the   hunters   returned;   these   came   chanting   songs   of   thanks。           He 

knew that his father was an expert hunter and had a good horse; so he took 

no meat home; putting in practice the spirit of his early teaching。 

     He   attained   his   majority   at   the   crisis   of   the   difficulties   between   the 

United   States   and   the   Sioux。      Even   before   that   time;   Crazy   Horse   had 

already proved his worth to his people in Indian warfare。                     He had risked 

his life again and again; and in some instances it was considered almost a 

miracle that he had saved others as well as himself。                 He was no orator nor 



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was he the son of a chief。         His success and influence was purely a matter 

of   personality。     He    had   never   fought   the   whites   up   to   this  time;  and 

indeed no 〃coup〃 was counted for killing or scalping a white man。 

     Young   Crazy   Horse   was   twenty…one   years   old   when   all   the   Teton 

Sioux chiefs (the western or plains dwellers) met in council to determine 

upon   their   future   policy   toward   the   invader。     Their   former   agreements 

had been by individual bands; each for itself; and every one was friendly。 

They reasoned that the country was wide; and that the white traders should 

be   made   welcome。        Up   to   this   time   they   had   anticipated   no  conflict。 

They had permitted the Oregon Trail; but now to their astonishment forts 

were built and garrisoned in their territory。 

     Most of the chiefs advocated a strong resistance。                There were a few 

influential men who desired still to live in peace; and who were willing to 

make   another   treaty。     Among   these   were   White   Bull;  Two   Kettle;   Four 

Bears; and Swift Bear。         Even Spotted Tail; afterward the great peace chief; 

was at this time with the majority; who decided in the year 1866 to defend 

their   rights   and   territory   by   force。 Attacks   were   to   be   made   upon   the 

forts within their country and on every trespasser on the same。 

     Crazy Horse took no part in the discussion; but he and all the young 

warriors   were   in   accord   with   the   decision   of   the   council。  Although   so 

young;   he   was   already   a   leader   among   them。      Other   prominent   young 

braves were Sword (brother of the man of that name who was long captain 

of police at Pine Ridge); the younger Hump; Charging Bear; Spotted Elk; 

Crow King; No Water; Big Road; He Dog; the nephew of Red Cloud; and 

Touch…the…Cloud; intimate friend of Crazy Horse。 

     The attack on Fort Phil Kearny was the first fruits of the new policy; 

and here Crazy Horse was chosen to lead the attack on the woodchoppers; 

designed to draw the soldiers out of the fort; while an army of six hundred 

lay in wait for them。        The success of this stratagem was further enhanced 

by his masterful handling of his men。              From this time on a general war 

was inaugurated; Sitting Bull looked to him as a principal war leader; and 

even   the   Cheyenne   chiefs;   allies   of   the   Sioux;   practically   acknowledged 

his   leadership。     Yet   during   the   following   ten   years   of   defensive   war   he 

was never known to make a speech; though his teepee was the rendezvous 



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of   the   young    men。     He    was    depended     upon    to  put   into  action   the 

decisions of the council; and was frequently consulted by the older chiefs。 

     Like    Osceola;     he   rose   suddenly;    like   Tecumseh      he   was    always 

impatient for battle; like Pontiac; he fought on while his allies were suing 

for peace; and like Grant; the silent soldier; he was a man of deeds and not 

of   words。    He   won   from   Custer   and   Fetterman   and   Crook。         He   won 

every battle that he undertook; with the exception of one or two occasions 

when he was surprised in the midst of his women and children; and even 

then he managed to extricate himself in safety from a difficult position。 

     Early in the year 1876; his runners brought word from Sitting Bull that 

all   the   roving   bands   would   converge   upon   the   upper   Tongue   River   in 

Montana for summer feasts and conferences。               There was conflicting news 

from the reservation。       It was rumored that the army would fight the Sioux 

to a finish; again; it was said that another commission would be sent out to 

treat with them。 

     The    Indians    came    together   early   in  June;   and   formed    a  series  of 

encampments stretching out from three to four miles; each band keeping 

separate camp。       On June 17; s

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