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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
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
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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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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
TWO STRIKE
It is a pity that so many interesting names of well…known Indians
have been mistranslated； so that their meaning becomes very vague if it is
not wholly lost。 In some cases an opposite meaning is conveyed。 For
instance there is the name； 〃Young…Man…Afraid…of… His…Horses。〃 It does
not mean that the owner of the name is afraid of his own horse far from
it！ Tashunkekokipapi signifies 〃The young men ＇of the enemy＇ fear his
horses。〃 Whenever that man attacks； the enemy knows there will be a
determined charge。
The name Tashunkewitko； or Crazy Horse； is a poetic simile。 This
leader was likened to an untrained or untouched horse； wild； ignorant of
domestic uses； splendid in action； and unconscious of danger。
The name of Two Strike is a deed name。 In a battle with the Utes this
man knocked two enemies from the back of a war horse。 The true
rendering of the name Nomkahpa would be； 〃He knocked off two。〃
I was well acquainted with Two Strike and spent many pleasant hours
with him； both at Washington； D。 C。； and in his home on the Rosebud
reservation。 What I have written is not all taken from his own mouth；
because he was modest in talking about himself； but I had him vouch for
the truth of the stories。 He said that he was born near the Republican
River about 1832。 His earliest recollection was of an attack by the
Shoshones upon their camp on the Little Piney。 The first white men he
ever met were traders who visited his people when he was very young。
The incident was still vividly with him； because； he said； 〃They made my
father crazy；〃 ＇drunk＇。 This made a deep impression upon him； he told
me； so that from that day he was always afraid of the white man's
〃mysterious water。〃
Two Strike was not a large man； but he was very supple and alert in
motion； as agile as an antelope。 His face was mobile and intelligent。
Although he had the usual somber visage of an Indian； his expression
brightened up wonderfully when he talked。 In some ways wily and
shrewd in intellect； he was not deceitful nor mean。 He had a high sense
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of duty and honor。 Patriotism was his ideal and goal of life。
As a young man he was modest and even shy； although both his father
and grandfather were well…known chiefs。 I could find few noteworthy
incidents in his early life； save that he was an expert rider of wild horses。
At one time I was pressing him to give me some interesting incident of his
boyhood。 He replied to the effect that there was plenty of excitement but
〃not much in it。〃 There was a delegation of Sioux chiefs visiting
Washington； and we were spending an evening together in their hotel。
Hollow Horn Bear spoke up and said：
〃Why don't you tell him how you and a buffalo cow together held your
poor father up and froze him almost to death？〃
Everybody laughed； and another man remarked： 〃I think he had better
tell the medicine man （meaning myself） how he lost the power of speech
when he first tried to court a girl。〃 Two Strike； although he was then
close to eighty years of age； was visibly embarrassed by their chaff。
〃Anyway； I stuck to the trail。 I kept on till I got what I wanted；〃 he
muttered。 And then came the story。
The old chief； his father； was very fond of the buffalo hunt； and being
accomplished in horsemanship and a fine shot； although not very
powerfully built； young Two Strike was already following hard in his
footsteps。 Like every proud father； his was giving him every incentive to
perfect his skill； and one day challenged his sixteen…year…old son to the
feat of 〃one arrow to kill〃 at the very next chase。
It was midwinter。 A large herd of buffalo was reported by the game
scout。 The hunters gathered at daybreak prepared for the charge。 The
old chief had his tried charger equipped with a soft； pillow…like Indian
saddle and a lariat。 His old sinew…backed hickory bow was examined
and strung； and a fine straight arrow with a steel head carefully selected
for the test。 He adjusted a keen butcher knife over his leather belt； which
held a warm buffalo robe securely about his body。 He wore neither shirt
nor coat； although a piercing wind was blowing from the northwest。