old indian days(古印第时期)-第16章
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！
〃It is Zuyamani's story of his great ride that we should now hear！ It was
not far from this place； upon the Missouri River； and within the
recollection of many of us that this occurred。 Ye young men must hear！〃
〃Ho； ho！〃 was the ready response of all pres… ent； and the drum was
struck once according to custom。 The pipe was filled and handed to Zuy…
amani； who gravely smoked for a few moments in silence。 Then he
related his contribution to the unwritten history of our frontier in these
words：
〃It was during the winter following that sum… mer in which General
Sibley pursued many of our people across the Muddy River （1863）； that
we Hunkpatees； friendly Sioux； were camping at a place called 'Hunt…the…
Deer；' about two miles from Fort Rice； Dakota Territory。
〃The Chief Soldier of the garrison called one day upon the leading
chiefs of our band。 To each one he said： 'Lend me your bravest war…
rior！' Each chief called his principal warriors together and laid the matter
before them。
〃'The Chief Soldier at this place；' they ex… plained； 'wants to send a
message to Fort Ber… thold； where the Rees and Mandans live； to an… other
Chief Soldier there。 The soldiers of the Great Father do not know the
way； neither could any of them get through the lines。 He asks for a brave
man to carry his message。'
〃The Mandans and the Rees were our hered… itary enemies； but this
was not the principal rea… son for our hesitation。 We had declared alle…
giance to the Great Father at Washington； we had taken our stand against
the fighting men of our own nation； and the hostile Sioux were worse than
enemies to us at this time！
〃Each chief had only called on his leading warriors； and each in turn
reported his failure to secure a volunteer。
〃Then the Chief Soldier sent again and said： 'Is there not a young man
among you who dares to face death？ If he reaches the fort with my
message； he will need to be quick…witted as well as brave； and the Great
64
… Page 65…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
Father will not forget him！'
〃Now all the chiefs together called all the young men in a great council；
and submitted to them the demand of the Great Father's servant。 We
knew well that the country between us and Fort Berthold； about one
hundred and fifty miles distant； was alive with hostile Sioux； and that if
any of us should be caught and recognized by them； he would surely be
put to death。 It would not be easy to deceive them by professing hostil…
ity to the Government； for the record of each individual Indian is well
known。 The warriors were still unwilling to go； for they argued thus：
'This is a white man's errand； and will not be recorded as a brave deed
upon the honor roll of our people。' I think many would have vol… unteered
but for that belief。 At that time we had not a high opinion of the white
man。
〃Since all the rest were silent； it came into my mind to offer my
services。 The warriors looked at me in astonishment； for I was a very
young man and had no experience。
〃Our chief； Two Bears； who was my own uncle； finally presented my
name to the command… ing officer。 He praised my courage and begged
me to be vigilant。 The interpreter told him that I had never been upon the
war…path and would be knocked over like a rabbit； but as no one else
would go； he was obliged to accept me as his messenger。 He gave me a
fine horse and saddle； also a rifle and soldier's uniform。 I would not take
the gun nor wear the blue coat。 I accepted only a revolver； and I took my
bow and quiver full of arrows； and wore my usual dress。 I hid the letter
in my moccasin。
〃I set out before daybreak the next morning。 The snow was deep。 I
rode up the river； on the west bank； keeping a very close watch all the way；
but seeing nothing。 I had been provided with a pair of field glasses； and I
surveyed the country on all sides from the top of every hill。 Having
traveled all day and part of the night； I rested my horse and I took a little
sleep。
〃After eating a small quantity of pemmican； I made a very early start
in the morning。 It was scarcely light when I headed for a near…by ridge
from which to survey the country beyond。 Just as I ascended the rise I
65
… Page 66…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
found myself almost sur… rounded by loose ponies； evidently belonging to
a winter camp of the hostile Sioux。
〃I readjusted my saddle； tightened the girths； and prepared to ride
swiftly around the camp。 I saw some men already out after ponies。 No
one appeared to have seen me as yet； but I felt that as soon as it became
lighter they could not help observing me。 I turned to make the circuit of
the camp； which was a very large one； and as soon as I reached the
timbered bottom lands I began to congratulate myself that I had not been
seen。
〃As I entered the woods at the crossing of a dry creek； I noticed that
my horse was nervous。 I knew that horses are quick to discover animals
or men by scent； and I became nervous； too。
〃The animal put his four feet together and almost slid down the steep
bank。 As he came out on the opposite side he swerved suddenly and
started to run。 Then I saw a man watching me from behind a tree。
Fortunately for me； he carried no weapon。 He was out after ponies； and
had only a lariat wound upon one shoulder。
〃He beckoned and made signs for me to stop； but I spurred my horse
and took flight at once。 I could hear him yelling far behind me； no doubt
to arouse the camp and set them on my trail。
〃As I fled westward； I came upon another man； mounted； and driving
his ponies before him。 He yelled and hooted in vain； then turned and
rode after me。 Two others had started in pur… suit； but my horse was a
good one； and I easily outdistanced them at the start。
〃After I had fairly circled the camp； I turned again toward the river；
hoping to regain the bot… tom lands。 The traveling was bad。 Sometimes
we came to deep gulches filled with snow； where my horse would sink in
up to his body and seem unable to move。 When I jumped off his back
and struck him once or twice； he would make several desperate leaps and
recover his footing。 My pursuers were equally hindered； but by this time
the pursuit was general； and in order to terrify me they yelled continually
and fired their guns into the air。 Now and then I came to a gulch which I
had to follow up in search of a place to cross； and at such times they
gained on me。 I began to despair； for I knew that the white man's horses
66
… Page 67…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
have not the endurance of our Indian ponies； and I expected to be chased
most of the day。
〃Finally I came to a ravine that seemed im… possible to cross。 As I
followed it up； it became evident that some of them had known of this trap；
and had cut in ahead of me。 I felt that I must soon abandon my horse and
slide down the steep sides of the gulch to save myself。
〃However； I made one last effort to pass my enemies。 They came
within gunshot and several fired at me； although all our horses were going
at full speed。 They missed me； and being at last clear of them； I came to
a place where I could cross； and the pursuit stopped。〃
When Zuyamani reached this point in his recital； the great drum was
struck several times； and all the men cheered him。
〃The days are short in winter；〃 he went on after a short pause； 〃and just
now the sun sank behind the hills。 I did not linger。 I continued my
journey by night； and reached Fort Berthold before midnight。 I had been
so thoroughly frightened and was so much exhausted that I did not want to
talk； and as soon as I had de… livered my letters to the post commander； I
went to the interpreter's quarters to sleep。
〃The interpreter； however； announced my arrival； and that same night
many Ree； Gros Ventre； and Mandan warriors came to call upon me。
Among them was a great chief of the Rees； called Poor Dog。
〃'You must be；' said he to me； 'either a very young man； or a fool！
You have not told us about your close escape； but a runner came in at dusk
and told us of the pursuit。 He reported that you had been killed by the
hostiles； for he heard many guns fired about the middle of the afternoon。
These white men will never give you any credit for your wonderful ride；
nor will they compensate you for the risks you have taken in their service。
They will not give you so much as one eagle feather for what you have
done！'
〃The next day I was sent for to go to head… quarters； and there I related
my all…day pursuit by the hostile Sioux。 The commanding officer
advised me to remain at the fort fifteen days before making the return trip；
thinking that by that time my enemies might cease to look for me。
〃At the end of the fortnight he wrote his letters； and I told him that I
67
… Page 68…
OLD INDIAN DAYS
was ready to start。 'I will give you；' he said； 'twenty Rees and Gros
Ventres to escort you past the hostile camp。' We set out very early and
rode all day； so that night overtook us just before we reached the camp。
〃At nightfall we sent two scouts ahead； but before they left us they
took the oath of the pipe in token of their loyalty。 You all kno
