indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第16章
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for me； but really they did not； for if they had found me I would have died
with one or two of them； and they knew it！ In a few days I departed with
several others； and we rejoined the hostile camp on the Powder River and
made some trouble for the men who were building the great iron track
north of us ＇Northern Pacific＇。
〃In the spring the hostile Sioux got together again upon the Tongue
River。 It was one of the greatest camps of the Sioux that I ever saw。
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There were some Northern Cheyennes with us； under Two Moon； and a
few Santee Sioux； renegades from Canada； under Inkpaduta； who had
killed white people in Iowa long before。 We had decided to fight the
white soldiers until no warrior should be left。〃
At this point Rain…in…the…Face took up his tobacco pouch and began
again to fill his pipe。
〃Of course the younger warriors were delighted with the prospect of a
great fight！ Our scouts had discovered piles of oats for horses and other
supplies near the Missouri River。 They had been brought by the white
man's fire…boats。 Presently they reported a great army about a day's
travel to the south； with Shoshone and Crow scouts。
〃There was excitement among the people； and a great council was held。
Many spoke。 I was asked the condition of those Indians who had gone
upon the reservation； and I told them truly that they were nothing more
than prisoners。 It was decided to go out and meet Three Stars ＇General
Crook＇ at a safe distance from our camp。
〃We met him on the Little Rosebud。 I believe that if we had waited
and allowed him to make the attack； he would have fared no better than
Custer。 He was too strongly fortified where he was； and I think； too； that
he was saved partly by his Indian allies； for the scouts discovered us first
and fought us first； thus giving him time to make his preparations。 I
think he was more wise than brave！ After we had left that neighborhood
he might have pushed on and connected with the Long…Haired Chief。
That would have saved Custer and perhaps won the day。
〃When we crossed from Tongue River to the Little Big Horn； on
account of the scarcity of game； we did not anticipate any more trouble。
Our runners had discovered that Crook had retraced his trail to Goose
Creek； and we did not suppose that the white men would care to follow us
farther into the rough country。
〃Suddenly the Long…Haired Chief appeared with his men！ It was a
surprise。〃
〃What part of the camp were you in when the soldiers attacked the
lower end？〃 I asked。
〃I had been invited to a feast at one of the young men's lodges ＇a sort
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of club＇。 There was a certain warrior who was making preparations to go
against the Crows； and I had decided to go also；〃 he said。
〃While I was eating my meat we heard the war cry！ We all rushed
out； and saw a warrior riding at top speed from the lower camp； giving the
warning as he came。 Then we heard the reports of the soldiers' guns；
which sounded differently from the guns fired by our people in battle。
〃I ran to my teepee and seized my gun； a bow； and a quiver full of
arrows。 I already had my stone war club； for you know we usually carry
those by way of ornament。 Just as I was about to set out to meet Reno； a
body of soldiers appeared nearly opposite us； at the edge of a long line of
cliffs across the river。
〃All of us who were mounted and ready immediately started down the
stream toward the ford。 There were Ogallalas； Minneconjous； Cheyennes；
and some Unkpapas； and those around me seemed to be nearly all very
young men。
〃'Behold； there is among us a young woman！' I shouted。 'Let no
young man hide behind her garment！' I knew that would make those
young men brave。
〃The woman was Tashenamani； or Moving Robe； whose brother had
just been killed in the fight with Three Stars。 Holding her brother's war
staff over her head； and leaning forward upon her charger； she looked as
pretty as a bird。 Always when there is a woman in the charge； it causes
the warriors to vie with one another in displaying their valor；〃 he added。
〃The foremost warriors had almost surrounded the white men； and
more were continually crossing the stream。 The soldiers had dismounted；
and were firing into the camp from the top of the cliff。〃
〃My friend； was Sitting Bull in this fight？〃 I inquired。
〃I did not see him there； but I learned afterward that he was among
those who met Reno； and that was three or four of the white man's miles
from Custer's position。 Later he joined the attack upon Custer； but was
not among the foremost。
〃When the troops were surrounded on two sides； with the river on the
third； the order came to charge！ There were many very young men； some
of whom had only a war staff or a stone war club in hand； who plunged
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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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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 an
