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charger； she looked as pretty as a bird。 Always when there is a
woman in the charge； it causes the warriors to vie with one another
in displaying their valor；〃 he added。
〃The foremost warriors had almost surrounded the white men；
and more were continually crossing the stream。 The soldiers had
dismounted； and were firing into the camp from the top of the
cliff。〃
〃My friend； was Sitting Bull in this fight？〃 I inquired。
〃I did not see him there； but I learned afterward that he was
among those who met Reno； and that was three or four of the white
man's miles from Custer's position。 Later he joined the attack
upon Custer； but was not among the foremost。
〃When the troops were surrounded on two sides； with the river
on the third； the order came to charge！ There were many very young
men； some of whom had only a war staff or a stone war club in hand；
who plunged into the column； knocking the men over and stampeding
their horses。
〃The soldiers had mounted and started back； but when the onset
came they dismounted again and separated into several divisions；
facing different ways。 They fired as fast as they could load their
guns； while we used chiefly arrows and war clubs。 There seemed to
be two distinct movements among the Indians。 One body moved
continually in a circle； while the other rode directly into and
through the troops。
〃Presently some of the soldiers remounted and fled along the
ridge toward Reno's position； but they were followed by our
warriors； like hundreds of blackbirds after a hawk。 A larger body
remained together at the upper end of a little ravine； and fought
bravely until they were cut to pieces。 I had always thought that
white men were cowards； but I had a great respect for them after
this day。
〃It is generally said that a young man with nothing but a war
staff in his hand broke through the column and knocked down the
leader very early in the fight。 We supposed him to be the leader；
because he stood up in full view； swinging his big knife ＇sword＇
over his head； and talking loud。 Some one unknown afterwards shot
the chief； and he was probably killed also； for if not； he would
have told of the deed； and called others to witness it。 So it is
that no one knows who killed the Long…Haired Chief ＇General
Custer＇。
〃After the first rush was over； coups were counted as usual on
the bodies of the slain。 You know four coups ＇or blows＇ can be
counted on the body of an enemy； and whoever counts the first one
＇touches it for the first time＇ is entitled to the 'first feather。'
〃There was an Indian here called Appearing Elk； who died a
short time ago。 He was slightly wounded in the charge。 He had
some of the weapons of the Long…Haired Chief； and the Indians used
to say jokingly after we came upon the reservation that Appearing
Elk must have killed the Chief； because he had his sword！ However；
the scramble for plunder did not begin until all were dead。 I do
not think he killed Custer； and if he had； the time to claim the
honor was immediately after the fight。
〃Many lies have been told of me。 Some say that I killed the
Chief； and others that I cut out the heart of his brother ＇Tom
Custer＇； because he had caused me to be imprisoned。 Why； in that
fight the excitement was so great that we scarcely recognized our
nearest friends！ Everything was done like lightning。 After the
battle we young men were chasing horses all over the prairie； while
the old men and women plundered the bodies； and if any mutilating
was done； it was by the old men。
〃I have lived peaceably ever since we came upon the
reservation。 No one can say that Rain…in…the…Face has broken the
rules of the Great Father。 I fought for my people and my country。
When we were conquered I remained silent； as a warrior should。
Rain…in…the…Face was killed when he put down his weapons before the
Great Father。 His spirit was gone then； only his poor body lived
on； but now it is almost ready to lie down for the last time。 Ho；
hechetu！ ＇It is well。＇〃
TWO STRIKE
It is a pity that so many interesting names of well…known Indians
have been mistranslated； so that their meaning becomes very vague
if it is not wholly lost。 In some cases an opposite meaning is
conveyed。 For instance there is the name； 〃Young…Man…Afraid…of…
His…Horses。〃 It does not mean that the owner of the name is afraid
of his own horse far from it！ Tashunkekokipapi signifies 〃The
young men ＇of the enemy＇ fear his horses。〃 Whenever that man
attacks； the enemy knows there will be a determined charge。
The name Tashunkewitko； or Crazy Horse； is a poetic simile。
This leader was likened to an untrained or untouched horse； wild；
ignorant of domestic uses； splendid in action； and unconscious of
danger。
The name of Two Strike is a deed name。 In a battle with the
Utes this man knocked two enemies from the back of a war horse。
The true rendering of the name Nomkahpa would be； 〃He knocked off
two。〃
I was well acquainted with Two Strike and spent many pleasant
hours with him； both at Washington； D。 C。； and in his home on the
Rosebud reservation。 What I have written is not all taken from his
own mouth； because he was modest in talking about himself； but I
had him vouch for the truth of the stories。 He said that he was
born near the Republican River about 1832。 His earliest
recollection was of an attack by the Shoshones upon their camp on
the Little Piney。 The first white men he ever met were traders who
visited his people when he was very young。 The incident was still
vividly with him； because； he said； 〃They made my father crazy；〃
＇drunk＇。 This made a deep impression upon him； he told me； so that
from that day he was always afraid of the white man's 〃mysterious
water。〃
Two Strike was not a large man； but he was very supple and
alert in motion； as agile as an antelope。 His face was mobile and
intelligent。 Although he had the usual somber visage of an Indian；
his expression brightened up wonderfully when he talked。 In some
ways wily and shrewd in intellect； he was not deceitful nor mean。
He had a high sense of duty and honor。 Patriotism was his ideal
and goal of life。
As a young man he was modest and even shy； although both his
father and grandfather were well…known chiefs。 I could find few
noteworthy incidents in his early life； save that he was an expert
rider of wild horses。 At one time I was pressing him to give me
some interesting incident of his boyhood。 He replied to the effect
that there was plenty of excitement but 〃not much in it。〃 There
was a delegation of Sioux chiefs visiting Washington； and we were
spending an evening together in their hotel。 Hollow Horn Bear
spoke up and said：
〃Why don't you tell him how you and a buffalo cow together
held your poor father up and froze him almost to death？〃
Everybody laughed； and another man remarked： 〃I think h