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ask them； that there never was such another journey 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 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 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。
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 by marrying the daughter of a chief in
nearly every band。 Through these alliances he held a controlling
influence over the whole Ojibway nation。 Reverend Claude H。
Beaulieu says of him：
〃Hole…in…the…Day was a man of distinguished appearance and
native courtliness of manner。 His voice was musical and magnetic；
and with these qualities he had a subtle brain； a logical mind； and
quite a remarkable gift of oratory。 In speech he was not
impassioned； but clear and convincing； and held fast the attention
of his hearers。〃
It is of interest to note that his everyday name among his
tribesmen was 〃The Boy。〃 What a boy he must have been！ I wonder
if the name had the same significance as with the Sioux； who
applied it to any man who performs a difficult duty with alertness；
dash； and natural courage。 〃The Man〃 applies to one who adds to
these qualities wisdom and maturity of judgment。
The Sioux tell many stories of both the elder and the younger
Hole…in…the…Day。 Once when The Boy was still under ten years of
age； he was fishing on Gull Lake in a leaky birch…bark canoe。
Presently there came such a burst of frantic warwhoops that his
father was startled。 He could not think of anything but an attack
by the dreaded Sioux。 Seizing his weapons； he ran to the rescue of
his son； only to find that the little fellow had caught a fish so
large that it was pulling his c