old indian days(古印第时期)-第17节
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to replenish their powder…horns。 A few of the younger men were
delighted with the prospect of witnessing an Indian fight。
On swept the armed band； in numbers in… creasing at every village。
It was true that there had been a growing feeling of distrust among the
Indians； because their annuities had been withheld for a long time； and the
money payments had been delayed again and again。 There were many in
great need。 The traders had given them credit to some extent （charging
them four times the value of the article purchased）； and had like… wise
induced Little Crow to sign over to them ninety…eight thousand dollars； the
purchase…price of that part of their reservation lying north of the
Minnesota； and already occupied by the whites。
This act had made the chief very unpop… ular； and he was ready for a
desperate ven… ture to regain his influence。 Certain warriors among the
upper bands of Sioux had even threatened his life； but no one spoke
openly of a break with the whites。
When； therefore； the news came to Little Crow that some roving
hunters of the Rice Creek band had killed in a brawl two families of white
settlers； he saw his opportunity to show once for all to the disaffected that
he had no love for the white man。 Immediately he sprang upon his white
horse； and prepared to make their cause a general one among his people。
Tawasuota had scarcely finished his hasty preparations for war； by
painting his face and seeing to the loading of his gun； when he heard the
voice of Little Crow outside his lodge。
〃You are now my head soldier；〃 said the chief； 〃and this is your first
duty。 Little Six and his band have inaugurated the war against the whites。
They have already wiped out two families； and are now on their way to the
agency。 Let my chief soldier fire the first shot。
〃Those Indians who have cut their hair and donned the white man's
clothing may give the warning； so make haste！ If you fall to…day； there is
no better day on which to die； and the women of our tribe will weep proud
tears for Tawasuota。 I leave it with you to lead my warriors。〃 With
these words the wily chief galloped away to meet the war…party。
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〃Here comes Little Crow； the friend of the white man！〃 exclaimed a
warrior； as he ap… proached。
〃Friends and warriors； you will learn to…day who are the friends of the
white man； and none will dare again to insinuate that I have been against
the interests of my own people；〃 he replied。
After a brief consultation with the chiefs he advised the traders：
〃Do not hesitate to fill the powder…horns of my warriors； they may be
compelled to fight all day。〃
Soon loud yells were heard along the road to the Indian village。
〃Ho； ho！ Tawasuota u ye do！〃 （He is coming； he is coming！〃）
shouted the warriors in chorus。
The famous war…chief dismounted in silence； gun in hand； and walked
directly toward the larger store。
〃Friend；〃 he exclaimed； 〃we may both meet the 'Great Mystery' to…day；
but you must go first。〃
There was a loud report； and the unsuspect… ing white man lay dead。
It was James Lynd； one of the early traders； and a good friend to the
Indians。
No sooner had Tawasuota fired the fatal shot than every other Indian
discharged his piece。 Hither and thither ran the frantic people； seek… ing
safety； but seeking it in vain。 They were wholly unprepared and at the
mercy of the foe。
The friendly Indians； too； were taken entirely by surprise。 They had
often heard wild talk of revolt； but it had never had the indorsement of
intelligent chiefs； or of such a number as to carry any weight to their
minds。 Christian In… dians rushed in every direction to save； if pos… sible；
at least the wives and children of the Gov… ernment employees。
Meanwhile； the new white settlements along the Minnesota River were
utterly unconscious of any danger。 Not a soul dreamed of the terrible
calamity that each pass… ing moment was bringing nearer and nearer。
Tawasuota stepped aside； and took up his pipe。 He seemed almost
oblivious of what he had done。 While the massacre still raged about him
in all its awful cruelty； he sat smoking and trying to think collectedly； but
his mind was confused； and in his secret thoughts he rebelled against Little
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Crow。 It was a cowardly deed that he had been ordered to commit； he
thought； for he had won his reputation solely by brave deeds in battle； and
this was more like murdering one of his own tribesmenthis kill… ing of an
unarmed white man。 Up to this time the killing of a white man was not
counted the deed of a warrior； it was murder。
The lesser braves might now satisfy their spite against the traders to
their hearts' con… tent； but Tawasuota had been upon the best of terms with
all of them。
Suddenly a ringing shout was heard。 The chief soldier looked up； and
beheld a white man； nearly nude； leap from the roof of the larger store and
alight upon the ground hard by him。
He had emptied one barrel of his gun； and； if he chose to do so； could
have killed Myrick then and there； but he made no move； exclaim… ing：
〃Ho； ho！ Nina iyaye！〃 （〃Run； run！〃）
Away sped the white man in the direction of the woods and the river。
〃Ah； he is swift； he will save himself；〃 thought Tawasuota。
All the Indians had now spied the fugitive； they yelled and fired at him
again and again； as if they were shooting at a running deer； but he only ran
faster。 Just as he had reached the very edge of the sheltering timber a
single shot rang out； and he fell headlong。
A loud war…whoop went up； for many be… lieved that this was one of
the men who had stolen their trust funds。
Tawasuota continued to sit and smoke in the shade while the carnage
and plunder that he had set on foot proceeded on all sides of him。
Presently men began to form small parties to cross the river on their
mission of death； but he refused to join any of them。 At last； several of
the older warriors came up to smoke with him。
〃Ho； nephew；〃 said one of them with much gravity； 〃you have
precipitated a dreadful ca… lamity。 This means the loss of our country； the
destruction of our nation。 What were you thinking of？〃
It was the Wahpeton chief who spoke； a blood…relation to Tawasuota。
He did not at once reply； but filled his pipe in silence； and handed it to the
man who thus reproached him。 It was a just rebuke； for he was a brave
man； and he could have refused the request of his chief to open the
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massacre。
At this moment it was announced that a body of white soldiers were on
the march from Fort Ridgeley。 A large body of warriors set out to meet
them。
〃Nephew； you have spilled the first blood of the white man； go； join in
battle with the sol… diers。 They are armed； they can defend them… selves；〃
remarked the old chief； and Tawasuota replied：
〃Uncle； you speak truth； I have committed the act of a coward。 It
was not of my own will I did it； nevertheless； I have raised my weapon；
and I will fight the whites as long as I live。 If I am ever taken； they will
first have to kill me。〃 He arose； took up his gun； and joined the war…
party。
The dreadful day of massacre was almost ended。 The terrified Sioux
women and children had fled up the river before the approaching troops。
Long shafts of light from the setting sun painted every hill； one side red as
with blood； the other dark as the shadow of death。 A cloud of smoke
from burning homes hung over the beautiful river。 Even the permanent
dwellings of the Indians were empty； and all the teepees which had dotted
wit
