indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第7章
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traditions of our race。〃 With this speech Tamahay began his career。
He now sought glory and defied danger with even more than the
ordinary Indian recklessness。 He accepted a personal friend； which was a
custom among the Sioux； where each man chose a companion for life and
death。 The tie was stronger than one of blood relationship； a friendship
sealed by solemn vow and covenant。 Tamahay's intimate was fortunately
almost his equal in physical powers； and the pair became the terror of
neighboring tribes； with whom the Dakotas were continually at war。
They made frequent raids upon their enemies and were usually successful；
although not without thrilling experiences and almost miraculous escapes。
Upon one of these occasions the two friends went north into the
country of the Ojibways。 After many days' journey； they discovered a
small village of the foe。 The wicked Tamahay proposed to his associate
that they should arrange their toilets after the fashion of the Ojibways； and
go among them； 〃and perhaps；〃 he added； 〃we will indulge in a little
flirtation with their pretty maids； and when we have had enough of the fun
we can take the scalp of a brave or two and retreat！〃 His friend construed
his daring proposition to be a test of courage； which it would not become
him； as a brave； to decline； therefore he assented with a show of
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cheerfulness。
The handsome strangers were well received by the Ojibway girls； but
their perilous amusement was brought to an untimely close。 A young
maiden prematurely discovered their true characters； and her cry of alarm
brought instantly to her side a jealous youth； who had been watching them
from his place of concealment。 With him Tamahay had a single…handed
contest； and before a general alarm was given he had dispatched the foe
and fled with his scalp。
The unfortunate brave had been a favorite and a leader among the tribe；
therefore the maddened Ojibways were soon in hot pursuit。 The Sioux
braves were fine runners； yet they were finally driven out upon the
peninsula of a lake。 As they became separated in their retreat； Tamahay
shouted； 〃I'll meet you at the mouth of the St。 Croix River； or in the spirit
land！〃 Both managed to swim the lake； and so made good their escape。
The exploits of this man were not all of a warlike nature。 He was a
great traveler and an expert scout； and he had some wonderful experiences
with wild animals。 He was once sent； with his intimate friend； on a scout
for game。 They were on ponies。
They located a herd of buffaloes； and on their return to the camp
espied a lonely buffalo。 Tamahay suggested that they should chase it in
order to take some fresh meat； as the law of the tribe allowed in the case of
a single animal。 His pony stumbled and threw him； after they had
wounded the bison； and the latter attacked the dismounted man viciously。
But he； as usual； was on the alert。 He 〃took the bull by the horns〃； as the
saying is； and cleverly straddled him on the neck。 The buffalo had no
means of harming his enemy； but pawed the earth and struggled until his
strength was exhausted； when the Indian used his knife on the animal's
throat。 On account of this feat he received the name 〃Held…the…Bull…by…
the…Horns。〃
The origin of his name 〃Tamahay〃 is related as follows。 When he
was a young man he accompanied the chief Wabashaw to Mackinaw；
Michigan； together with some other warriors。 He was out with his friend
one day； viewing the wonderful sights in the 〃white man's country〃； when
they came upon a sow with her numerous pink little progeny。 He was
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greatly amused and picked up one of the young pigs； but as soon as it
squealed the mother ran furiously after them。 He kept the pig and fled
with it； still laughing； but his friend was soon compelled to run up the
conveniently inclined trunk of a fallen tree； while our hero reached the
shore of a lake near by； and plunged into the water。 He swam and dived
as long as he could； but the beast continued to threaten him with her sharp
teeth； till； almost exhausted； he swam again to shore； where his friend
came up and dispatched the vicious animal with a club。 On account of
this watery adventure he was at once called Tamahay； meaning Pike。 He
earned many other names； but preferred this one； because it was the name
borne by a great friend of his； Lieutenant Pike； the first officer of the
United States Army who came to Minnesota for the purpose of exploring
the sources of the Mississippi River and of making peace with the natives。
Tamahay assisted this officer in obtaining land from the Sioux upon which
to build Fort Snelling。 He appears in history under the name of
〃Tahamie〃 or the 〃One…Eyed Sioux。〃
Always ready to brave danger and unpopularity； Tamahay was the only
Sioux who sided with the United States in her struggle with Great Britain
in 1819。 For having espoused the cause of the Americans； he was ill…
treated by the British officers and free traders； who for a long time
controlled the northwest； even after peace had been effected between the
two nations。 At one time he was confined in a fort called McKay； where
now stands the town of Prairie du Chien； Wisconsin。 He had just
returned from St。 Louis； and was suspected of exciting his people to rebel
against British subjects。 His life was even threatened； but to this
Tamahay merely replied that he was ready to die。 A few months later；
this fort was restored to the United States； and upon leaving it the British
set the buildings on fire； though the United States flag floated above them。
Some Indians who were present shouted to Tamahay； 〃Your friends'； the
Americans'； fort is on fire！〃 He responded with a war whoop； rushed into
the blazing fort； and brought out the flag。 For this brave act he was
rewarded with a present of a flag and medal。 He was never tired of
displaying this medal and his recommendation papers； and even preserved
to the end of his life an old colonial stovepipe hat； which he wore upon
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state occasions。
The Sioux long referred to the president of the United States as
〃Tamahay's father。〃
The following story is told of him in his later days。 He attempted one
day to cross the first bridge over the Mississippi River； but was not
recognized by the sentinel； who would not allow him to pass until he paid
the toll。 Tamahay； who was a privileged character； explained as best he
could； with gestures and broken English； that he was always permitted to
pass free； but as the sentinel still refused； and even threatened him with his
bayonet； the old Indian silently seized the musket； threw it down into the
waters of the Mississippi and went home。 Later in the day a company of
soldiers appeared in the Indian village； and escorted our hero to a sort of
court…martial at the fort。 When he was questioned by the Colonel； he
simply replied： 〃If you were threatened by any one with a weapon； you
would； in self…defense； either disable the man or get rid of the weapon。 I
did the latter； thinking that you would need the man more than the gun。〃
Finally the officer said to them； 〃I see you are both partly wrong。
Some one must be responsible for the loss of the gun； therefore； you two
will wrestle； and the man who is downed must dive for the weapon to the
bottom of the river。〃
Scarcely was this speech ended when Tamahay was upon the soldier；
who was surprised both by the order and by the unexpected readiness of
the wily old Indian； so that he was not prepared； and the Sioux had the
vantage hold。 In a moment the bluecoat was down； amid shouts and
peals of laughter from his comrades。 Having thrown his man； the other
turned and went home without a word。
Sad to say； he acquired a great appetite for 〃minne…wakan〃； or
〃mysterious water〃； as the Sioux call it； which proved a source of trouble
to him in his old age。 It is told of him that he was treated one winter's
day to a drink of whisky in a trader's store。 He afterwards went home；
but even the severe blizzard which soon arose did not prevent him from
returning in the night to the friendly trader。 He awoke that worthy from
sleep about twelve o'clock by singing his death dirge upon the roof of the
log cabin。 In another moment he had jumped down the mud chimney；
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and into the blazing embers of a fire。 The trader had to pour out to him
some whisky in a tin pail； after which he begged the old man to 〃be good
and go home。〃 On the eve of the so…called 〃Minnesota Massacre〃 by the
Sioux in 1862； Tamahay； although he was then very old and had almost
lost the use of his remaining eye； made a famous speech at the meeting of
the conspirators。 These are some of his words； as reported to me by
persons who were present。
〃What！ What！ is this Little Crow？ Is that Little Six？ You； too；
White Dog； are you here？ I cannot see well now； but I can see with my
mind's eye the stream of blood you are about to pour upon the bosom of
this mother of ours〃 （meaning the
