第30章 AMERICAN HORSE(2)

"The sweeping valleys were dotted with herds,both large and small,of buffalo and elk,and now and then we caught a glimpse of a coyote slinking into the gulches,returning from night hunting to sleep.While intently watching some moving body at a distance,we could not yet tell whether of men or animals,I heard a faint noise behind me and slowly turned my head.Behold!a grizzly bear sneaking up on all fours and almost ready to spring!

"'Run!'I yelled into the ear of my companion,and we both leaped to our feet in a second.'Separate!separate!'he shouted,and as we did so,the bear chose me for his meat.I ran downhill as fast as I could,but he was gaining.'Dodge around a tree!'

Screamed Young-Man-Afraid.I took a deep breath and made a last spurt,desperately circling the first tree I came to.As the ground was steep just there,I turned a somersault one 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 1865to 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.