按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
In the good old days； before the charge there was a smoke。 At home； by
the fireside； when the old men were asked to tell their brave deeds； again
the pipe was passed。 So come； let us smoke now to the memory of the
old days！〃
He took of my tobacco and filled his long pipe； and we smoked。
Then I told an old mirthful story to get him in the humor of relating his
own history。
The old man lay upon an iron bedstead； covered by a red blanket； in a
corner of the little log cabin。 He was all alone that day； only an old dog
lay silent and watchful at his master's feet。
Finally he looked up and said with a pleasant smile：
〃True； friend； it is the old custom to retrace one's trail before leaving it
forever！ I know that I am at the door of the spirit home。
〃I was born near the forks of the Cheyenne River； about seventy years
ago。 My father was not a chief； my grandfather was not a chief； but a
good hunter and a feast…maker。 On my mother's side I had some noted
ancestors； but they left me no chieftainship。 I had to work for my
reputation。
〃When I was a boy； I loved to fight；〃 he continued。 〃In all our boyish
games I had the name of being hard to handle； and I took much pride in
the fact。
〃I was about ten years old when we encountered a band of Cheyennes。
59
… Page 60…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
They were on friendly terms with us； but we boys always indulged in
sham fights on such occasions； and this time I got in an honest fight with a
Cheyenne boy older than I。 I got the best of the boy； but he hit me hard in
the face several times； and my face was all spattered with blood and
streaked where the paint had been washed away。 The Sioux boys
whooped and yelled：
〃'His enemy is down； and his face is spattered as if with rain！ Rain…
in…the…Face！ His name shall be Rain…in…the…Face！'
〃Afterwards； when I was a young man； we went on a warpath against
the Gros Ventres。 We stole some of their horses； but were overtaken and
had to abandon the horses and fight for our lives。 I had wished my face
to represent the sun when partly covered with darkness； so I painted it half
black； half red。 We fought all day in the rain； and my face was partly
washed and streaked with red and black： so again I was christened Rain…
in…the…Face。 We considered it an honorable name。
〃I had been on many warpaths； but was not especially successful until
about the time the Sioux began to fight with the white man。 One of the
most daring attacks that we ever made was at Fort Totten； North Dakota；
in the summer of 1866。
〃Hohay； the Assiniboine captive of Sitting Bull； was the leader in this
raid。 Wapaypay； the Fearless Bear； who was afterward hanged at
Yankton； was the bravest man among us。 He dared Hohay to make the
charge。 Hohay accepted the challenge； and in turn dared the other to ride
with him through the agency and right under the walls of the fort； which
was well garrisoned and strong。
〃Wapaypay and I in those days called each other 'brother…friend。' It
was a life…and…death vow。 What one does the other must do； and that
meant that I must be in the forefront of the charge； and if he is killed； I
must fight until I die also！
〃I prepared for death。 I painted as usual like an eclipse of the sun；
half black and half red。〃
His eyes gleamed and his face lighted up remarkably as he talked；
pushing his black hair back from his forehead with a nervous gesture。
〃Now the signal for the charge was given！ I started even with
60
… Page 61…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
Wapaypay； but his horse was faster than mine； so he left me a little behind
as we neared the fort。 This was bad for me； for by that time the soldiers
had somewhat recovered from the surprise and were aiming better。
〃Their big gun talked very loud； but my Wapaypay was leading on；
leaning forward on his fleet pony like a flying squirrel on a smooth log！
He held his rawhide shield on the right side； a little to the front； and so did
I。 Our warwhoop was like the coyotes singing in the evening； when they
smell blood！
〃The soldiers' guns talked fast； but few were hurt。 Their big gun was
like a toothless old dog； who only makes himself hotter the more noise he
makes；〃 he remarked with some humor。
〃How much harm we did I do not know； but we made things lively for
a time； and the white men acted as people do when a swarm of angry bees
get into camp。 We made a successful retreat； but some of the reservation
Indians followed us yelling； until Hohay told them that he did not wish to
fight with the captives of the white man； for there would be no honor in
that。 There was blood running down my leg； and I found that both my
horse and I were slightly wounded。
〃Some two years later we attacked a fort west of the Black Hills ＇Fort
Phil Kearny； Wyoming＇。 It was there we killed one hundred soldiers。〃
＇The military reports say eighty men； under the command of Captain
Fetterman not one left alive to tell the tale！＇ 〃Nearly every band of the
Sioux nation was represented in that fight Red Cloud； Spotted Tail；
Crazy Horse； Sitting Bull； Big Foot； and all our great chiefs were there。
Of course such men as I were then comparatively unknown。 However；
there were many noted young warriors； among them Sword； the younger
Young…Man…Afraid； American Horse ＇afterward chief＇； Crow King； and
others。
〃This was the plan decided upon after many councils。 The main war
party lay in ambush； and a few of the bravest young men were appointed
to attack the woodchoppers who were cutting logs to complete the
building of the fort。 We were told not to kill these men； but to chase
them into the fort and retreat slowly； defying the white men； and if the
soldiers should follow； we were to lead them into the ambush。 They took
61
… Page 62…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
our bait exactly as we had hoped！ It was a matter of a very few minutes；
for every soldier lay dead in a shorter time than it takes to annihilate a
small herd of buffalo。
〃This attack was hastened because most of the Sioux on the Missouri
River and eastward had begun to talk of suing for peace。 But even this
did not stop the peace movement。 The very next year a treaty was signed
at Fort Rice； Dakota Territory； by nearly all the Sioux chiefs； in which it
was agreed on the part of the Great Father in Washington that all the
country north of the Republican River in Nebraska； including the Black
Hills and the Big Horn Mountains； was to be always Sioux country； and no
white man should intrude upon it without our permission。 Even with this
agreement Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were not satisfied； and they would
not sign。
〃Up to this time I had fought in some important battles； but had
achieved no great deed。 I was ambitious to make a name for myself。 I
joined war parties against the Crows； Mandans； Gros Ventres； and
Pawnees； and gained some little distinction。
〃It was when the white men found the yellow metal in our country； and
came in great numbers； driving away our game； that we took up arms
against them for the last time。 I must say here that the chiefs who were
loudest for war were among the first to submit and accept reservation life。
Spotted Tail was a great warrior； yet he was one of the first to yield；
because he was promised by the Chief Soldiers that they would make him
chief of all the Sioux。 Ugh！ he would have stayed with Sitting Bull to the
last had it not been for his ambition。
〃About this time we young warriors began to watch the trails of the
white men into the B