第 23 节
作者:恐龙王      更新:2021-02-21 14:14      字数:9320
  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 himself together and came at
  me     more    furiously    than   ever;   holding    in   one   paw    the   shreds   of   my
  breechcloth; for in the fall he had just scratched my back and cut my belt
  in two; and carried off my only garment for a trophy!
  〃My   friend     was   well    up   another    tree   and  laughing   heartily   at    my
  predicament; and when the bear saw that he could not get at either of us he
  reluctantly  departed;   after   I   had   politely   addressed   him   and   promised   to
  make an offering to his spirit on my safe return。               I don't think I ever had a
  narrower escape;〃 he concluded。
  During      the  troublous     times    from    1865    to  1877;    American      Horse
  advocated       yielding    to   the   government       at  any    cost;  being     no   doubt
  convinced   of   the   uselessness   of   resistance。        He   was   not   a   recognized
  leader until 1876; when he took the name and place of his uncle。                        Up to
  this   time   he   bore   the   nickname   of   Manishnee   (Can   not   walk;   or   Played
  out。)
  When   the   greater   part   of   the   Ogallalas;   to   which   band   he   belonged;
  came into the reservation; he at once allied himself with the peace element
  at the Red Cloud agency; near Fort Robinson; Nebraska; and took no small
  part in keeping the young braves quiet。              Since the older and better…known
  chiefs; with the exception of Spotted Tail; were believed to be hostile at
  heart;   the   military   made     much   use   of   him。    Many   of   his   young   men
  enlisted as scouts by his advice; and even he himself entered the service。
  In the early part of the year 1876; there was a rumor that certain bands
  were   in   danger   of   breaking   away。      Their   leader   was   one   Sioux   Jim;   so
  nicknamed by the soldiers。           American Horse went to him as peacemaker;
  but   was   told   he   was   a   woman   and   no   brave。    He   returned   to   his   own
  camp   and   told   his   men   that   Sioux   Jim   meant   mischief;   and   in   order   to
  prevent   another   calamity   to   the   tribe;   he   must   be   chastised。     He   again
  approached        the  warlike    Jim    with   several    warriors    at  his   back。    The
  recalcitrant came   out;   gun in   hand;   but the   wily  chief was   too   quick   for
  him。     He shot and wounded the rebel; whereupon one of his men came
  forward and killed him。
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  This   quelled   the   people   for   the   time   being   and   up   to   the   killing   of
  Crazy   Horse。      In   the   crisis   precipitated   by   this   event;   American   Horse
  was again influential and energetic in the cause of the government。                    From
  this   time   on   he   became   an   active   participant   in   the   affairs   of   the   Teton
  Sioux。      He     was   noted    for   his  eloquence;     which     was    nearly   always
  conciliatory;   yet   he   could   say   very   sharp   things   of   the   duplicity   of   the
  whites。     He had much ease of manner and was a master of repartee。                         I
  recall his saying that if you have got to wear golden slippers to enter the
  white man's heaven no Indian will ever get there; as the whites have got
  the Black Hills and with them all the gold。
  It was during the last struggle of his people; at the time of the Messiah
  craze in 1890…1891 that he demonstrated as never before the real greatness
  of   the   man。    While   many  of   his   friends   were   carried   away   by  the   new
  thought;   he   held   aloof   from   it   and   cautioned   his   band   to   do   the   same。
  When it developed into an extensive upheaval among the nations he took
  his positive stand against it。
  Presently all Indians who did not dance the Ghost Dance were ordered
  to come into camp at Pine Ridge agency。                 American Horse was the first
  to bring in his people。        I was there at the time and talked with him daily。
  When   Little   was   arrested;   it   had   been   agreed   among   the   disaffected   to
  have   him   resist;   which   meant   that   he   would   be   roughly   handled。      This
  was to be their excuse to attack the Indian police; which would probably
  lead to a general massacre or outbreak。              I know that this desperate move
  was opposed from the beginning by American Horse; and it was believed
  that his life was threatened。
  On    the   day   of   the  〃Big    Issue〃;   when    thousands      of  Indians    were
  gathered at the   agency; this   man Little; who had been in hiding;  walked
  boldly among them。           Of course the police would arrest him at sight; and
  he   was   led   toward   the   guardhouse。       He   struggled   with   them;   but   was
  overpowered。         A crowd of warriors rushed to his rescue; and there   was
  confusion and a general shout of 〃Hurry up with them!                      Kill them all!〃
  I saw American Horse walk out of the agent's office and calmly face the
  excited mob。
  〃What   are   you   going   to do?〃   he   asked。     〃Stop;  men;  stop   and   think
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  before     you    act!   Will     you    murder     your    children;    your    women;      yes;
  destroy your nation to…day?〃             He stood before them like a statue and the
  men who held the two policemen helpless paused for an instant。                        He went
  on:   〃You     are   brave   to…day   because   you   outnumber   the   white   men;   but
  what   will   you   do   to…morrow?         There   are   railroads   on   all   sides   of   you。
  The soldiers will pour in from every direction by thousands and surround
  you。     You   have   little   food   or   ammunition。       It   will   be   the   end   of   your
  people。      Stop; I say; stop now!〃
  Jack   Red   Cloud;   son   of   the   old   chief   rushed   up   to   him   and   thrust   a
  revolver   almost   in   his   face。    〃It   is   you   and   men   like   you;〃   he   shouted;
  〃who have reduced our race to slavery and starvation!〃                      American Horse
  did not flinch but deliberately reentered the office; followed by Jack still
  flourishing      the   pistol。   But    his   timely    appearance      and   eloquence      had
  saved the day。        Others of the police force had time to reach the spot; and
  with a large crowd of friendly Indians had taken command of the situation。
  When   I   went   into   the   office   I   found   him   alone   but   apparently   quite
  calm。     〃Where are the agent and the clerks?〃 I asked。                  〃They fled by the
  back door;〃   he   replied;  smiling。        〃I   think they  are  in   the  cellar。     These
  fools outside had almost caught us asleep; but I think it is over now。〃
  American Horse was one of the earliest advocates of education for the
  Indian;   and   his   son   Samuel   and   nephew   Robert   were   among   the   first
  students      at  Carlisle。    I   think    one   or   two   of   his  daughters      were    the
  handsomest   Indian   girls   of   full   blood   that   I   ever   saw。    His   record   as   a
  councilor of his people and his policy in the new situation that confronted
  them was manly and consistent。
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  DULL KNIFE
  The   life   of   Dull   Knife;   the   Cheyenne;   is   a   true   hero   tale。 Simple;
  child…like yet manful; and devoid of selfish aims; or love of gain; he is a
  pattern for heroes of any race。
  Dull Knife was a chief of the old school。               Among all the Indians of
  the    plains;   nothing    counts    save    proven    worth。     A    man's    caliber    is
  measured   by   his   courage;   unselfishness   and   intelligence。        Many   writers
  confuse   history   with   fiction;   but   in   Indian   history   their   women   and   old
  men and even children witness the main events; and not being absorbed in
  daily papers and magazines; these events are rehearsed over and over with
  few   variations。     Though       orally   preserved;    their  accounts    are   therefore
  accurate。     But they have seldom been willing to give reliable information
  to strangers; especially when asked and paid for。
  Racial   prejudice   naturally   enters   into   the