However, this was not the main excitement at Fort Lincoln. When December was drawing to a close orders were suddenly issued for Captain Yates to take three officers and one hundred men, and proceed[250] out upon a scout5. Lieutenant6 Tom Custer was one of the officers; and as trumpeter of Lieutenant Tom’s troop Ned was detailed7 for the march.
This seemed pretty tough, at holiday time; for the weather was piercing cold, with a keen wind blowing. But it was a change, anyway, from the rather dull garrison8 routine.
Nobody in the ranks seemed to know where the column were going, or why they were going. Charley Reynolds was guide.
Southward led the route, down along the Missouri, with the officers and troopers muffled9 to their noses in warmest clothing, regulation or not. Fort Rice, twenty miles, was passed; and twenty more miles lay behind ere, at a brief halt, the officers appeared to be consulting some orders that Captain Yates had opened. He and Lieutenant Tom and the other two officers murmured and nodded. At “For’rd—march!” the column of fours moved on.
Ahead, thirty miles, or seventy miles below Fort Abraham Lincoln, was the Standing10 Rock Agency for the Unkpapa and Yanktonais Sioux. On the third day of the march the agency buildings rose in sight. Just outside the agency grounds the column made temporary camp, to spend the night.
There were many Sioux about, for it was ration11 time, and from their village ten miles down-river they were gathering12 to get their beef and other supplies.
Now was it reported through the camp that the[251] expedition had been made for the purpose of capturing some Sioux who had killed a white man on the Red River of the North, the summer before. That would seem correct; for after breakfast forty of the troopers were led off, south, to the village, where, rumor13 said, the murderers might be. This appeared rather a foolish piece of work by Captain Yates and Lieutenant Tom. Of course the other Sioux would see the soldiers arrive and would warn the murderers to hide.
However, “Boots and Saddles” was it, for all the camp. After the detachment had trotted14 away, Captain Yates took the remainder of the company to the agency. They were halted a short distance from the post store.
It was full of Indians, trading. In and out they stalked, wrapped all in buffalo robes or Government blankets of red, blue and gray. Scarcely a face was to be seen. Lieutenant Tom dismounted, and beckoning15 to five of his soldiers leisurely16 entered. He stayed inside, as if chatting with the trader.
“At ease,” ordered Captain Yates, to the sergeant17 of the troop outside. So the remainder of the column might dismount, and stretch legs, and swing arms, and watch curiously18 the many shrouded19 Indians. Even this was poky work. Yet something was in the air. Evidently Captain Yates and Lieutenant Tom had a scheme up their sleeves.
Three hours passed—and now on a sudden arose a great commotion20. From the store issued quick scuffle[252] of feet, and sharp commands. High swelled21 angry voices, in guttural Sioux; Indians outside began to run.
“Comp’ny—’ten’shun! Mount!” shouted Captain Yates. “Right into line—march! For’r’d—march! Trot—march! Comp’ny—halt!”
In line they had drawn22 up before the agency door. An Indian within was loudly speaking, as if calling to arms. At least five hundred Indians came running, with their rifles; and out through the doorway23 was being hustled24 between two of the soldiers another Indian, arms bound behind him, blanket fallen from his proud, handsome, stolid25 face. Only his eyes flashed defiance. Two soldiers opened the way; Lieutenant Tom and the fifth soldier followed.
“Rain-in-the-Face!” aside said somebody, in the ranks; and the name traveled right and left. That was Rain-in-the-Face, a prominent Unkpapa warrior26, who had been arrested by Lieutenant Tom.
“Advance—carbines!” shouted Captain Yates, above the tumult27; and butts28 of carbines were promptly29 placed upon thigh30, muzzles31 up. This was a “ready,” for quick action.
The Indian orator32 was still shrieking33 and urging; the other Indians were jostling and clamoring, and from all directions the crowd was being increased. It looked bad for the little company of cavalry34.
Rain-in-the-Face made no resistance. He was hoisted35 upon a horse, and ringed by a guard of soldiers,[253] who gave not an inch before the scowls36 and threats around-about.
Gradually, as through the post interpreter Captain Yates now talked to the Indians, the tumult died. They knew that in a stand-up fight on the spot many of them would be killed; and they knew that Rain-in-the-Face had been arrested for good cause. So presently away they began to rush, to their village, to pow-wow and maybe get reinforcements.
“Fours right—march! Column right—march!” ordered Captain Yates; and with Rain-in-the-Face in the middle, out from the agency moved the compact cavalry column.
When halt was made at the temporary camp just outside, speedily was it known to all why Rain-in-the-Face had been arrested. A couple of weeks before, the Sioux gathered at the agency had a great dance, during which the warriors37 had recited their biggest deeds. They spoke38 in Sioux, but Charley Reynolds the scout was sitting near, watching. He understood Sioux. When Rain-in-the-Face had entered the circle, and boasted of his career, suddenly Charley pricked39 his ears, but gave no sign that he heard; for Rain-in-the-Face was vaunting how, a year and a half before, he had killed two white men.
One was a fat man with no hair; him he had shot from his horse and had finished with the war-club. The other was a younger man, the fat man’s companion,[254] who had taken refuge in a clump40 of trees. He had signed for peace, and had offered his hat; but he also had been shot, with bullet and arrow. No scalps were taken, because the fat man had been bald and the other man had very short hair.
Then Charley Reynolds knew that he had found one of the murderers of Veterinary Surgeon Honzinger and Sutler Baliran, killed when inoffensive and unarmed, on the Yellowstone expedition of the summer of 1873. Out slipped Charley, as soon as he could, and hastened with the news to General Custer at Fort Lincoln.
General Custer had kept the news quiet, lest the Sioux should be alarmed and send word to Rain-in-the-Face. He was accounted a mighty41 warrior, for he had made a record by hanging four hours, in a Sun Dance ceremony, by ropes fastened to splints thrust through his chest and back. He had five well-known brothers—Bear’s Face, Red Thunder, Iron Horn, Little Bear, and Shave Head: warriors all. So whatever was to be done must be done cunningly. And so it had been done.
Waiting there in the agency store, until the Indians should give glimpses of their features, when Rain-in-the-Face finally had dropped his blanket a little Lieutenant Tom, with a leap from behind, had clasped him about both arms.
At Fort Lincoln Rain-in-the-Face confessed to the murders. He evidently expected to be hanged at once,[255] for he dressed himself in black. His brother Iron Horn, and other leading Sioux, tried to comfort him, and in council with the general they pleaded for him. But all actions and talk were conducted in a solemn dignified42 manner, as befitting the great Sioux nation.
While the general waited specific orders from the War Department, Rain-in-the-Face must be confined in the guard-house. Here he stayed for almost four months. He remained ever calm, ever proud, looking at nobody when he was permitted to walk back and forth43, chained to another prisoner, for exercise.
Early in the morning of April spread an alarm, from sentry44 to officers. Through a hole made in the wooden wall by white prisoners Rain-in-the-Face had stolen away. He did not appear at the agency. He was not found in the nearby camps. However, soon, by mouth to mouth, Sioux to Sioux, from Sitting Bull’s band of hostiles far up the Yellowstone River in Montana he sent word. Charley Reynolds himself was authority.
“Rain-in-the-Face says,” reported Charley, “to tell the Long Hair and the Long Hair’s brother that he will cut their hearts out because they put a great warrior in prison.”
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1
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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2
mittens
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| 不分指手套 | |
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prospecting
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| n.探矿 | |
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4
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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6
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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7
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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8
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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9
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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10
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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11
ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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12
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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13
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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14
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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15
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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27
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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28
butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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31
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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32
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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33
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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34
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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35
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
scowls
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| 不悦之色，怒容( scowl的名词复数 ) | |
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37
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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38
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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39
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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40
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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41
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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42
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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43
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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44
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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