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him。 Our hero overtook them in flight； raised his war club； and knocked
both men off with one blow。
He was a very old man when he died； only two or three years ago； on
the Rosebud reservation。
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
AMERICAN HORSE
One of the wittiest and shrewdest of the Sioux chiefs was American
Horse； who succeeded to the name and position of an uncle； killed in the
battle of Slim Buttes in 1876。 The younger American Horse was born a
little before the encroachments of the whites upon the Sioux country
became serious and their methods aggressive； and his early manhood
brought him into that most trying and critical period of our history。 He
had been tutored by his uncle； since his own father was killed in battle
while he was still very young。 The American Horse band was closely
attached to a trading post； and its members in consequence were inclined
to be friendly with the whites； a policy closely adhered to by their leader。
When he was born； his old grandfather said： 〃Put him out in the sun！
Let him ask his great…grandfather； the Sun； for the warm blood of a
warrior！〃 And he had warm blood。 He was a genial man； liking
notoriety and excitement。 He always seized an opportunity to leap into
the center of the arena。
In early life he was a clownish sort of boy among the boys an expert
mimic and impersonator。 This talent made him popular and in his way a
leader。 He was a natural actor； and early showed marked ability as a
speaker。
American Horse was about ten years old when he was attacked by
three Crow warriors； while driving a herd of ponies to water。 Here he
displayed native cunning and initiative。 It seemed he had scarcely a
chance to escape； for the enemy was near。 He yelled frantically at the
ponies to start them toward home； while he dropped off into a thicket of
willows and hid there。 A part of the herd was caught in sight of the camp
and there was a counter chase； but the Crows got away with the ponies。
Of course his mother was frantic； believing her boy had been killed or
captured； but after the excitement was over； he appeared in camp unhurt。
When questioned about his escape； he remarked： 〃I knew they would not
take the time to hunt for small game when there was so much bigger close
by。〃
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When he was quite a big boy； he joined in a buffalo hunt； and on the
way back with the rest of the hunters his mule became unmanageable。
American Horse had insisted on riding him in addition to a heavy load of
meat and skins； and the animal evidently resented this； for he suddenly
began to run and kick； scattering fresh meat along the road； to the
merriment of the crowd。 But the boy turned actor； and made it appear
that it was at his wish the mule had given this diverting performance。 He
clung to the back of his plunging and braying mount like a circus rider；
singing a Brave Heart song； and finally brought up amid the laughter and
cheers of his companions。 Far from admitting defeat； he boasted of his
horsemanship and declared that his 〃brother〃 the donkey would put any
enemy to flight； and that they should be called upon to lead a charge。
It was several years later that he went to sleep early one night and slept
soundly； having been scouting for two nights previous。 It happened that
there was a raid by the Crows； and when he awoke in the midst of the
yelling and confusion； he sprang up and attempted to join in the fighting。
Everybody knew his voice in all the din； so when he fired his gun and
announced a coup； as was the custom； others rushed to the spot； to find
that he had shot a hobbled pony belonging to their own camp。 The laugh
was on him； and he never recovered from his chagrin at this mistake。 In
fact； although he was undoubtedly fearless and tried hard to distinguish
himself in warfare； he did not succeed。
It is told of him that he once went with a war party of young men to
the Wind River country against the Shoshones。 At last they discovered a
large camp； but there were only a dozen or so of the Sioux； therefore they
hid themselves and watched for their opportunity to attack an isolated
party of hunters。 While waiting thus； they ran short of food。 One day a
small party of Shoshones was seen near at hand； and in the midst of the
excitement and preparations for the attack； young American Horse caught
sight of a fat black…tail deer close by。 Unable to resist the temptation； he
pulled an arrow from his quiver and sent it through the deer's heart； then
with several of his half…starved companions sprang upon the yet quivering
body of the animal to cut out the liver； which was sometimes eaten raw。
One of the men was knocked down； it is said； by the last kick of the dying
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buck； but having swallowed a few mouthfuls the warriors rushed upon and
routed their enemies。 It is still told of American Horse how he killed
game and feasted between the ambush and the attack。
At another time he was drying his sacred war bonnet and other gear
over a small fire。 These articles were held in great veneration by the
Indians and handled accordingly。 Suddenly the fire blazed up； and our
hero so far forgot himself as to begin energetically beating out the flames
with the war bonnet； breaking off one of the sacred buffalo horns in the act。
One could almost fill a book with his mishaps and exploits。 I will give
one of them in his own words as well as I can remember them。
〃We were as promising a party of young warriors as our tribe ever sent
against any of its ancestral enemies。 It was midsummer； and after going
two days' journey from home we began to send two scouts ahead daily
while the main body kept a half day behind。 The scouts set out every
evening and traveled all night。 One night the great war pipe was held out
to me and to Young…Man…Afraid…of… His…Horses。 At daybreak； having
met no one； we hid our horses and climbed to the top of the nearest butte
to take an observation。 It was a very hot day。 We lay flat on our
blankets； facing the west where the cliff fell off in a sheer descent； and
with our backs toward the more gradual slope dotted with scrub pines and
cedars。 We stuck some tall grass on our heads and proceeded to study the
landscape spread before us for any sign of man。
〃The sweeping valleys were dotted with herds； both large and small； of
buffalo and elk； and now and then we caught a glimpse of a coyote
slinking into the gulches； returning from night hunting to sleep。 While
intently watching some moving body at a distance； we could not yet tell
whether of men or animals； I heard a faint noise behind me and slowly
turned my head。 Behold！ a grizzly bear sneaking up on all fours and
almost ready to spring！
〃'Run！' I yelled into the ear of my companion； and we both leaped to
our feet in a second。 'Separate！ separate！' he shouted； and as we did so；
the bear chose me for his meat。 I ran downhill as fast as I could； but he
was gaining。 'Dodge around a tree！' screamed Young…Man…Afraid。 I
took a deep breath and made a last spurt； desperately circling the first tree
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I came to。 As the ground was steep just there； I turned a somersault one
way and the bear the other。 I picked myself up in time to climb the tree；
and was fairly out of reach when he gathered h