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reported to me by persons who were present。
〃What！ What！ is this Little Crow？ Is that Little Six？ You；
too； White Dog； are you here？ I cannot see well now； but I can see
with my mind's eye the stream of blood you are about to pour upon
the bosom of this mother of ours〃 （meaning the earth）。 〃I stand
before you on three legs； but the third leg has brought me wisdom〃
＇referring to the staff with which he sup… ported himself＇。 〃I
have traveled much； I have visited among the people whom you think
to defy。 This means the total surrender of our beautiful land； the
land of a thousand lakes and streams。 Methinks you are about to
commit an act like that of the porcupine； who climbs a tree；
balances himself upon a springy bough； and then gnaws off the very
bough upon which he is sitting； hence； when it gives way； he falls
upon the sharp rocks below。 Behold the great Pontiac； whose grave
I saw near St。 Louis； he was murdered while an exile from his
country！ Think of the brave Black Hawk！ Methinks his spirit is
still wailing through Wisconsin and Illinois for his lost people！
I do not say you have no cause to complain； but to resist is
self…destruction。 I am done。〃
It is supposed that this speech was his last； and it was made；
though vainly； in defense of the Americans whom he had loved。 He
died at Fort Pierre； South Dakota； in 1864。 His people say that he
died a natural death； of old age。 And yet his exploits are not
forgotten。 Thus lived and departed a most active and fearless
Sioux； Tamahay； who desired to die young！
GALL
Chief Gall was one of the most aggressive leaders of the Sioux
nation in their last stand for freedom。
The westward pressure of civilization during the past three
centuries has been tremendous。 When our hemisphere was
〃discovered〃； it had been inhabited by the natives for untold ages；
but it was held undiscovered because the original owners did not
chart or advertise it。 Yet some of them at least had developed
ideals of life which included real liberty and equality to all men；
and they did not recognize individual ownership in land or other
property beyond actual necessity。 It was a soul development
leading to essential manhood。 Under this system they brought forth
some striking characters。
Gall was considered by both Indians and whites to be a most
impressive type of physical manhood。 From his picture you can
judge of this for yourself。
Let us follow his trail。 He was no tenderfoot。 He never
asked a soft place for himself。 He always played the game
according to the rules and to a finish。 To be sure； like every
other man； he made some mistakes； but he was an Indian and never
acted the coward。
The earliest stories told of his life and doings indicate the
spirit of the man in that of the boy。
When he was only about three years old； the Blackfoot band of
Sioux were on their usual roving hunt； following the buffalo while
living their natural happy life upon the wonderful wide prairies of
the Dakotas。
It was the way of every Sioux mother to adjust her household
effects on such dogs and pack ponies as she could muster from day
to day； often lending one or two to accommodate some other woman
whose horse or dog had died； or perhaps had been among those
stampeded and carried away by a raiding band of Crow warriors。 On
this particular occasion； the mother of our young Sioux brave；
Matohinshda； or Bear…Shedding…His…Hair （Gall's childhood name）；
intrusted her boy to an old Eskimo pack dog； experienced and
reliable； except perhaps when unduly excited or very thirsty。
On the day of removing camp the caravan made its morning march
up the Powder River。 Upon the wide table…land the women were
busily digging teepsinna （an edible sweetish root； much used by
them） as the moving village slowly progressed。 As usual at such
times； the trail was wide。 An old jack rabbit had waited too long
in hiding。 Now； finding himself almost surrounded by the mighty
plains people； he sprang up suddenly； his feathery ears
conspicuously erect； a dangerous challenge to the dogs and the
people。
A whoop went up。 Every dog accepted the challenge。 Forgotten
were the bundles； the kits； even the babies they were drawing or
carrying。 The chase was on； and the screams of the women reechoed
from the opposite cliffs of the Powder； mingled with the yelps of
dogs and the neighing of horses。 The hand of every man was against
the daring warrior； the lone Jack； and the confusion was great。
When the fleeing one cleared the mass of his enemies； he
emerged with a swiftness that commanded respect and gave promise
of a determined chase。 Behind him； his pursuers stretched out in
a thin line； first the speedy； unburdened dogs and then the travois
dogs headed by the old Eskimo with his precious freight。 The
youthful Gall was in a travois； a basket mounted on trailing poles
and harnessed to the sides of the animal。
〃Hey！ hey！ they are gaining on him！〃 a warrior shouted。 At
this juncture two of the canines had almost nabbed their furry prey
by the back。 But he was too cunning for them。 He dropped
instantly and sent both dogs over his head； rolling and spinning；
then made another flight at right angles to the first。 This gave
the Eskimo a chance to cut the triangle。 He gained fifty yards；
but being heavily handicapped； two unladen dogs passed him。 The
same trick was repeated by the Jack； and this time he saved himself
from instant death by a double loop and was now running directly
toward the crowd； followed by a dozen or more dogs。 He was losing
speed； but likewise his pursuers were dropping off steadily。 Only
the sturdy Eskimo dog held to his even gait； and behind him in the
frail travois leaned forward the little Matohinshda； nude save a
breech clout； his left hand holding fast the convenient tail of his
dog； the right grasping firmly one of the poles of the travois。
His black eyes were bulging almost out of their sockets； his long
hair flowed out behind like a stream of dark water。
The Jack now ran directly toward the howling spectators； but
his marvelous speed and alertness were on the wane； while on the
other hand his foremost pursuer； who had taken part in hundreds of
similar events； had every confidence in his own endurance。 Each
leap brought him nearer； fiercer and more determined。 The last
effort of the Jack was to lose himself in the crowd； like a fish in
muddy water； but the big dog made the one needed leap with unerring
aim and his teeth flashed as he caught the rabbit in viselike jaws
and held him limp in air； a victor！
The people rushed up to him as he laid the victim down； and
foremost among them was the frantic mother of Matohinshda； or Gall。
〃Michinkshe！ michinkshe！〃 （My son！ my son！） she screamed as she
drew near。 The boy seemed to be none the worse for his experience。
〃Mother！〃 he cried； 〃my dog is brave： he got the rabbit！〃 She
snatched him off the travois； but he struggled out of her arms to
look upon his dog lovingly and admiringly。 Old men and boys
crowded about the hero of the day； the dog； and the thoughtful
grandmother of Matohinshda unharnessed him and poured some water
from a parfleche water bag into a basin。 〃Here； my grandson； give
your friend something to drink。〃
〃How； hechetu；〃 pronounced an old warrior no longer in active
service。 〃This may be only an accident； an ordinary affair； but
such things sometimes indicate a career。 The boy has had a
wonderful ride。 I prophesy that he will one day hold the attention
of all the people with his doings。〃
This is the first remembered story of the famous chief； but
other boyish exploits foretold the man he was destined to be。 He
fought many sham battles； some successful and others not； but he
was always a fierce fighter and a good loser。
Once he was engaged in a battle with snowballs。 There were
probably nearly a hundred boys on each side； and the rule was that
every fair hit made the receiver officially dead。 He must not
participate further； but must remain just where he was struck。
Gall's side was fast losing； and the battle was growing hotter
every minute when the youthful warrior worked toward an old water
hole and took up his position there。 His side was soon annihilated
and there were eleven men left to fight him。 He was pressed close
in the wash…out； and as he dodged under cover before a volley of
snowballs； there suddenly emerged in his stead a huge gray wolf。
His opponents fled in every direction in superstitious terror； for
they thought he had been transformed into the animal。 To their
astonishment he came out on the farther side and ran to the line of
safety； a winner！
It happened that the wolf's den had been partly covered with
snow so that no one had noticed it until the yells of the boys
aroused the inmate； and he beat a h