第 28 节
作者:恐龙王      更新:2021-02-21 14:14      字数:9322
  Missouri   River;   where   the   sanitary   conditions   made   havoc   with   them。
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  Those who did not die were then taken to the Indian Territory; where the
  health   situation   was   even   worse。     Joseph   appealed      to  the   government
  again and again; and at last by the help of Bishops Whipple and Hare he
  was moved to the Colville reservation in Washington。                 Here the land was
  very poor; unlike their own fertile valley。          General Miles said to the chief
  that he had recommended and urged that their agreement be kept; but the
  politicians   and   the   people   who   occupied   the   Indians'   land   declared   they
  were afraid if he returned he would break out again and murder innocent
  white settlers!     What irony!
  The great Chief Joseph died broken…spirited and broken…hearted。                   He
  did not hate the whites; for there was nothing small about him; and when
  he laid down his weapons he would not fight on with his mind。                      But he
  was profoundly disappointed in the claims of a Christian civilization。                    I
  call him great because he was simple and honest。                 Without education or
  special   training   he   demonstrated   his   ability   to   lead   and   to   fight   when
  justice    demanded。       He    outgeneraled      the  best   and   most    experienced
  commanders in the army of the United States; although their troops were
  well    provisioned;     well  armed;    and   above    all  unencumbered。       He    was
  great   finally;   because    he   never   boasted   of   his  remarkable   feat。    I  am
  proud of him; because he was a true American。
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  LITTLE WOLF
  If any people ever fought for liberty and justice; it was the Cheyennes。
  If any ever demonstrated their physical and moral courage beyond cavil; it
  was this race of purely American heroes; among whom Little Wolf was a
  leader。
  I knew the chief personally very well。           As a young doctor; I was sent
  to the Pine Ridge agency in 1890; as government physician to the Sioux
  and   the   Northern   Cheyennes。       While   I   heard   from   his   own   lips   of   that
  gallant dash of his people from their southern exile to their northern home;
  I prefer that Americans should read of it in Doctor George Bird Grinnell's
  book; 〃The Fighting Cheyennes。〃            No account could be clearer or simpler;
  and then too; the author cannot be charged with a bias in favor of his own
  race。
  At the time that I knew him; Little Wolf was a handsome man; with the
  native   dignity  and   gentleness;   musical   voice;   and   pleasant   address   of   so
  many brave leaders of his people。            One day when he was dining with us
  at our home on the reservation; I asked him; as I had a habit of doing; for
  some reminiscences   of his   early  life。       He   was   rather   reluctant   to   speak;
  but a friend who was present contributed the following:
  〃Perhaps I can tell you why it is that he has been a lucky man all his
  life。   When quite a small boy; the tribe was one winter in want of food;
  and his good mother had saved a small piece of buffalo meat; which she
  solemnly brought forth and placed before him with the remark: 'My son
  must   be   patient;   for   when   he   grows   up   he   will   know   even   harder   times
  than this。'
  〃He   had   eaten   nothing   all   day   and   was   pretty  hungry;   but   before   he
  could lay hands on the meat a starving dog snatched it and bolted from the
  teepee。     The     mother     ran  after   the  dog    and   brought     him   back    for
  punishment。       She tied him to a post and was about to whip him when the
  boy   interfered。    'Don't   hurt   him;   mother!'   he   cried;   'he   took   the   meat
  because he was hungrier than I am!'〃
  I  was   told   of  another   kind   act  of  his  under    trying   circumstances。
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  While still a youth; he was caught out with a party of buffalo hunters in a
  blinding blizzard。       They were compelled to lie down side by side in the
  snowdrifts; and it was a day and a night before they could get out。                   The
  weather turned very cold; and when the men arose they were in danger of
  freezing。     Little Wolf pressed his fine buffalo robe upon an old man who
  was shaking with a chill and himself took the other's thin blanket。
  As a full…grown young man; he was attracted by a maiden of his tribe;
  and according to the custom then in vogue the pair disappeared。                     When
  they   returned    to  the   camp    as  man   and   wife;   behold!    there  was    great
  excitement over the affair。        It seemed that a certain chief had given many
  presents   and   paid   unmistakable   court   to   the   maid   with   the   intention   of
  marrying   her;   and   her   parents   had   accepted   the   presents;   which   meant
  consent so far as they were concerned。            But the girl herself had not given
  consent。
  The resentment of the disappointed suitor was great。               It was reported
  in the village that he had openly declared that the young man who defied
  and   insulted   him   must   expect   to   be   punished。    As   soon   as   Little   Wolf
  heard of the threats; he told his father and friends that he had done only
  what it is every man's privilege to do。
  〃Tell the chief;〃 said he; 〃to come out with any weapon he pleases; and
  I will meet him within the circle of lodges。            He shall either do this or eat
  his words。      The woman is not his。         Her people accepted his gifts against
  her wishes。      Her heart is mine。〃
  The   chief   apologized;   and   thus   avoided   the   inevitable   duel;   which
  would have been a fight to the death。
  The   early   life   of   Little   Wolf   offered   many   examples   of   the   dashing
  bravery characteristic of the Cheyennes; and inspired the younger men to
  win laurels for themselves。         He was still a young man; perhaps thirty…five;
  when the most trying crisis in the history of his people came upon them。
  As I know and as Doctor Grinnell's book amply corroborates; he was the
  general who largely guided and defended   them in that tragic flight   from
  the Indian Territory to their northern home。            I will not discuss the justice
  of their cause: I prefer to quote Doctor Grinnell; lest it appear that I am in
  any way exaggerating the facts。
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  〃They had come;〃 he writes; 〃from the high; dry country of Montana
  and North Dakota to the hot and humid Indian Territory。                   They had come
  from a country where buffalo and other game were still plentiful to a land
  where   the   game   had   been   exterminated。         Immediately   on   their   arrival
  they   were   attacked   by   fever   and   ague;   a   disease   wholly   new   to   them。
  Food was scanty; and they began to starve。                The agent testified before a
  committee   of   the   Senate   that   he   never   received   supplies   to   subsist   the
  Indians   for   more   than   nine   months   in   each   year。      These   people   were
  meat…eaters; but the beef furnished them by the government inspectors was
  no more than skin and bone。           The agent in describing their sufferings said:
  'They have lived and that is about all。'
  〃The   Indians   endured   this   for   about   a   year;   and   then   their   patience
  gave out。      They left the agency to which they had been sent and started
  north。     Though   troops   were   camped   close   to   them;   they   attempted   no
  concealment of their purpose。            Instead; they openly announced that they
  intended to return to their own country。
  We   have   heard   much   in   past   years   of   the   march   of   the   Nez   Perces
  under Chief   Joseph; but little   is   remembered   of the   Dull   Knife outbreak
  and the march to the north led by Little Wolf。                The story of the journey
  has not been told; but in the traditions of the old army this campaign was
  notable; and old men who were stationed on the plains forty years ago are
  apt to tell you; if you ask them; that there never was such another journey
  since the Greeks marched to the sea。 。 。 。
  〃The   fugitives   pressed   constantly