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Now and then they would drop a sly hint； but with no perceptible
effect。
They did not and could not know of the inward struggle that
racked his mind at this period of his life。 The shy and modest
young man was dying for a wife； yet could not bear even to think of
speaking to a young woman！ The fearless hunter of buffaloes；
mountain lions； and grizzlies； the youth who had won his eagle
feathers in a battle with the Utes； could not bring himself to take
this tremendous step。
At last his father appealed to him directly。 〃My son；〃 he
declared； 〃it is your duty to take unto yourself a wife； in order
that the honors won by your ancestors and by yourself may be handed
down in the direct line。 There are several eligible young women in
our band whose parents have intimated a wish to have you for their
son…in…law。〃
Two Strike made no reply； but he was greatly disturbed。 He
had no wish to have the old folks select his bride； for if the
truth were told； his choice was already made。 He had simply lacked
the courage to go a…courting！
The next morning； after making an unusually careful toilet； he
took his best horse and rode to a point overlooking the path by
which the girls went for water。 Here the young men were wont to
take their stand； and； if fortunate； intercept the girl of their
heart for a brief but fateful interview。 Two Strike had determined
to speak straight to the point； and as soon as he saw the pretty
maid he came forward boldly and placed himself in her way。 A long
moment passed。 She glanced up at him shyly but not without
encouragement。 His teeth fairly chattered with fright； and he
could not say a word。 She looked again； noted his strange looks；
and believed him suddenly taken ill。 He appeared to be suffering。
At last he feebly made signs for her to go on and leave him alone。
The maiden was sympathetic； but as she did not know what else to do
she obeyed his request。
The poor youth was so ashamed of his cowardice that he
afterward admitted his first thought was to take his own life。 He
believed he had disgraced himself forever in the eyes of the only
girl he had ever loved。 However； he determined to conquer his
weakness and win her； which he did。 The story came out many years
after and was told with much enjoyment by the old men。
Two Strike was better known by his own people than by the
whites； for he was individually a terror in battle rather than a
leader。 He achieved his honorable name in a skirmish with the Utes
in Colorado。 The Sioux regarded these people as their bravest
enemies； and the outcome of the fight was for some time uncertain。
First the Sioux were forced to retreat and then their opponents；
and at the latter point the horse of a certain Ute was shot under
him。 A friend came to his rescue and took him up behind him。 Our
hero overtook them in flight； raised his war club； and knocked both
men off with one blow。
He was a very old man when he died； only two or three years
ago； on the Rosebud reservation。
AMERICAN HORSE
One of the wittiest and shrewdest of the Sioux chiefs was American
Horse； who succeeded to the name and position of an uncle； killed
in the battle of Slim Buttes in 1876。 The younger American Horse
was born a little before the encroachments of the whites upon the
Sioux country became serious and their methods aggressive； and his
early manhood brought him into that most trying and critical period
of our history。 He had been tutored by his uncle； since his own
father was killed in battle while he was still very young。 The
American Horse band was closely attached to a trading post； and its
members in consequence were inclined to be friendly with the
whites； a policy closely adhered to by their leader。
When he was born； his old grandfather said： 〃Put him out in
the sun！ Let him ask his great…grandfather； the Sun； for the warm
blood of a warrior！〃 And he had warm blood。 He was a genial man；
liking notoriety and excitement。 He always seized an opportunity
to leap into the center of the arena。
In early life he was a clownish sort of boy among the boys
an expert mimic and impersonator。 This talent made him popular and
in his way a leader。 He was a natural actor； and early showed
marked ability as a speaker。
American Horse was about ten years old when he was attacked by
three Crow warriors； while driving a herd of ponies to water。 Here
he displayed native cunning and initiative。 It seemed he had
scarcely a chance to escape； for the enemy was near。 He yelled
frantically at the ponies to start them toward home； while he
dropped off into a thicket of willows and hid there。 A part of the
herd was caught in sight of the camp and there was a counter chase；
but the Crows got away with the ponies。 Of course his mother was
frantic； believing her boy had been killed or captured； but after
the excitement was over； he appeared in camp unhurt。 When
questioned about his escape； he remarked： 〃I knew they would not
take the time to hunt for small game when there was so much bigger
close by。〃
When he was quite a big boy； he joined in a buffalo hunt； and
on the way back with the rest of the hunters his mule became
unmanageable。 American Horse had insisted on riding him in
addition to a heavy load of meat and skins； and the animal
evidently resented this； for he suddenly began to run and kick；
scattering fresh meat along the road； to the merriment of the
crowd。 But the boy turned actor； and made it appear that it was at
his wish the mule had given this diverting performance。 He clung
to the back of his plunging and braying mount like a circus rider；
singing a Brave Heart song； and finally brought up amid the
laughter and cheers of his companions。 Far from admitting defeat；
he boasted of his horsemanship and declared that his 〃brother〃 the
donkey would put any enemy to flight； and that they should be
called upon to lead a charge。
It was several years later that he went to sleep early one
night and slept soundly； having been scouting for two nights
previous。 It happened that there was a raid by the Crows； and when
he awoke in the midst of the yelling and confusion； he sprang up
and attempted to join in the fighting。 Everybody knew his voice in
all the din； so when he fired his gun and announced a coup； as was
the custom； others rushed to the spot； to find that he had shot a
hobbled pony belonging to their own camp。 The laugh was on him；
and he never recovered from his chagrin at this mistake。 In fact；
although he was undoubtedly fearless and tried hard to distinguish
himself in warfare； he did not succeed。
It is told of him that he once went with a war party of young
men to the Wind River country against the Shoshones。 At last they
discovered a large camp； but there were only a dozen or so of the
Sioux； therefore they hid themselves and watched for their
opportunity to attack an isolated party of hunters。 While waiting
thus； they ran short of food。 One day a small party of Shoshones
was seen near at hand； and in the midst of the excitement and
preparations for the attack； young American Horse caught sight of
a fat black…tail deer close by。 Unable to resist the temptation；
he pulled an arrow from his quiver and sent it through the deer's
heart； then with several of his half…starved companions sprang upon
the yet quivering body of the animal to cut out the liver； which
was sometimes eaten raw。 One of the men was knocked down； it is
said； by the last kick of the dying buck； but having swallowed a
few mouthfuls the warriors rushed upon and routed their enemies。
It is still told of American Horse how he killed game and feasted
between the ambush and the attack。
At another time he was drying his sacred war bonnet and other
gear over a small fire。 These articles were held in great
veneration by the Indians and handled accordingly。 Suddenly the
fire blazed up； and our hero so far forgot himself as to begin
energetically beating out the flames with the war bonnet； breaking
off one of the sacred buffalo horns in the act。 One could almost
fill a book with his mishaps and exploits。 I will give one of them
in his own words as well as I can remember them。
〃We were as promising a party of young warriors as our tribe
ever sent against any of its ancestral enemies。 It was midsummer；
and after going two days' journey from home we began to send two
scouts ahead daily while the main body kept a half day behind。 The
scouts set out every evening and traveled all night。 One night the
great war pipe was held out to me and to Young…Man…Afraid…of…
His…Horses。 At daybreak； having met no one； we hid our horses and
climbed to the top of the nearest butte to take an observation。 It
was a very hot day。 We lay flat on our blankets； facing the west
where the cliff fell off in a sheer descent； and with ou