第 29 节
作者:恐龙王      更新:2021-02-21 14:14      字数:9298
  since the Greeks marched to the sea。 。 。 。
  〃The   fugitives   pressed   constantly  northward  undaunted;  while orders
  were   flying   over   the   wires;   and   special   trains   were   carrying   men   and
  horses to cut them off at all probable points on the different railway lines
  they   must   cross。    Of   the   three   hundred   Indians;   sixty   or   seventy   were
  fighting men  the rest old men; women; and children。                   An army officer
  once told me that thirteen thousand troops were hurrying over the country
  to   capture   or   kill   these   few   poor   people   who   had   left   the   fever…stricken
  South; and in the face of every obstacle were steadily marching northward。
  〃The War Department set all   its resources in operation against   them;
  yet they kept on。        If troops attacked them; they stopped and fought until
  they had driven off the soldiers; and then started north again。                 Sometimes
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  they did not even stop; but marched along; fighting as they marched。                  For
  the most part they tried  and with success  to avoid conflicts; and had
  but four real hard fights; in which they lost half a dozen men killed and
  about as many wounded。〃
  It must not be overlooked that the appeal to justice had first been tried
  before taking this desperate step。         Little Wolf had gone to the agent about
  the middle of the summer and said to him: 〃This is not a good country for
  us; and we wish to return to our home in the mountains where we were
  always well。      If you have not the power to give permission; let some of
  us   go   to   Washington   and   tell   them   there   how   it   is;   or   do   you   write   to
  Washington and get permission for us to go back。〃
  〃Stay one more year;〃 replied the agent; 〃and then we will see what we
  can do for you。       〃No;〃 said Little Wolf。       〃Before another year there will
  be none left to travel north。       We must go now。〃
  Soon after this it was found that three of the Indians had disappeared
  and the chief was ordered to surrender ten men as hostages for their return。
  He refused。      〃Three men;〃 said he; 〃who are traveling over wild country
  can hide so that they cannot be found。            You would never get back these
  three; and you would keep my men prisoners always。〃
  The agent then threatened if the ten men were not given up to withhold
  their rations and starve the entire tribe into submission。           He forgot that he
  was addressing a Cheyenne。            These people had not understood that they
  were prisoners when they agreed to friendly relations with the government
  and   came   upon   the   reservation。    Little   Wolf   stood   up   and   shook   hands
  with all present before making his final deliberate address。
  〃Listen; my friends; I am a friend of the white people and have been so
  for a long time。      I do not want to see blood spilt about this agency。           I am
  going north to my own country。             If you are going to send your soldiers
  after me; I wish you would let us get a little distance away。               Then if you
  want to fight; I will fight you; and we can make the ground bloody at that
  place。〃
  The Cheyenne was not bluffing。            He said just what he meant; and I
  presume the agent took the hint; for although the military were there they
  did   not   undertake   to   prevent   the   Indians'   departure。  Next   morning   the
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  teepees   were   pulled   down   early   and   quickly。       Toward   evening   of   the
  second day; the scouts signaled the approach of troops。               Little Wolf called
  his   men   together   and   advised   them   under   no   circumstances   to   fire   until
  fired upon。      An Arapahoe scout   was sent   to them  with a  message。                〃If
  you surrender now; you will get your rations and be well treated。〃                   After
  what they had endured; it was impossible not to hear such a promise with
  contempt。      Said   Little   Wolf:   〃We   are   going   back   to   our   own   country。
  We do   not   want to   fight。〃     He  was riding   still   nearer  when the soldiers
  fired; and at a signal the Cheyennes made a charge。                  They succeeded in
  holding off the troops for two days; with only five men wounded and none
  killed;   and   when   the   military   retreated   the   Indians   continued   northward
  carrying their wounded。
  This   sort   of   thing   was   repeated   again   and   again。 Meanwhile   Little
  Wolf     held   his  men    under   perfect   control。    There     were   practically    no
  depredations。       They   secured   some   boxes   of   ammunition   left   behind   by
  retreating troops; and at one point the young men were eager to follow and
  destroy an entire command who were apparently at their mercy; but their
  leader withheld them。         They had now reached the buffalo country; and he
  always     kept   his   main   object   in   sight。   He    was   extraordinarily     calm。
  Doctor Grinnell was told by one of his men years afterward: 〃Little Wolf
  did not seem like a human being。            He seemed like a bear。〃         It is true that
  a man of his type in a crisis becomes spiritually transformed and moves as
  one in a dream。
  At the Running Water the band divided; Dull Knife going toward Red
  Cloud agency。        He was near Fort Robinson when he surrendered and met
  his   sad   fate。  Little   Wolf   remained   all   winter   in   the   Sand   Hills;   where
  there was plenty of game and no white men。                 Later he went to Montana
  and then to Pine Ridge; where he and his people remained in peace until
  they    were    removed     to  Lame     Deer;   Montana;     and    there  he   spent   the
  remainder of his days。         There is a clear sky beyond the clouds of racial
  prejudice; and in that final Court of Honor a noble soul like that of Little
  Wolf has a place。
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  HOLE…IN…THE…DAY
  'I wish to thank Reverend C。 H。 Beaulieu of Le Soeur; Minnesota; for
  much of the material used in this chapter。'
  In   the  beginning   of   the  nineteenth   century;   the   Indian   nations   of   the
  Northwest   first   experienced   the   pressure   of   civilization。     At   this   period
  there were among them some brilliant leaders unknown to history; for the
  curious reason that they cordially received and welcomed the newcomers
  rather    than   opposed     them。    The     only   difficulties   were    those   arising
  among   the   European   nations   themselves;   and   often   involving   the   native
  tribes。      Thus     new     environments       brought     new    motives;     and    our
  temptations were increased manyfold with the new weapons; new goods;
  and above all the subtly destructive 〃spirit water。〃
  Gradually it became known that the new race had a definite purpose;
  and that purpose was to chart and possess the whole country; regardless of
  the   rights   of   its   earlier   inhabitants。   Still   the   old   chiefs   cautioned   their
  people to be patient; for; said they; the land is vast; both races can live on it;
  each in their own way。          Let us therefore befriend them and trust to their
  friendship。      While they reasoned thus; the temptations of graft and self…
  aggrandizement overtook some of the leaders。
  Hole…in…the…Day (or Bug…o…nay…ki…shig) was born in the opening days
  of   this   era。  The   word   〃ki…shig〃   means   either   〃day〃   or   〃sky〃;   and   the
  name   is   perhaps   more   correctly  translated   Hole…in…the…Sky。         This   gifted
  man inherited his name and much of his ability from his father; who was a
  war   chief   among   the   Ojibways;  a   Napoleon of   the   common   people;   and
  who carried on a relentless warfare against the Sioux。                 And yet; as was
  our   custom   at   the   time;   peaceful   meetings   were   held   every   summer;   at
  which representatives of the two tribes would recount to one another all
  the events that had come to pass during the preceding year。
  Hole…in…the…Day        the    younger     was    a   handsome       man;    tall   and
  symmetrically formed; with much grace of manner and natural refinement。
  He was an astute student of diplomacy。             The Ojibways allowed polygamy;
  and whether or not he approved the principle; he made political use of it