There was once a Sioux brave who declared that he would die young,yet not by his own hand.Tamahay was of heroic proportions,herculean in strength,a superb runner;in fact,he had all the physical qualities of an athlete or a typical Indian.In his scanty dress,he was beautiful as an antique statue in living bronze.When a mere youth,seventeen years of age,he met with an accident which determined his career.It was the loss of an eye,a fatal injury to the sensitive and high-spirited Indian.He announced his purpose in these words:
"The 'Great Mystery'has decreed that I must be disgraced.
There will be no pleasure for me now,and I shall be ridiculed even by my enemies.It will be well for me to enter soon into Paradise,for I shall be happy in spending my youth there.But I will sell my life dearly.Hereafter my name shall be spoken in the traditions of our race."With this speech Tamahay began his career.
He now sought glory and defied danger with even more than the ordinary Indian recklessness.He accepted a personal friend,which was a custom among the Sioux,where each man chose a companion for life and death.The tie was stronger than one of blood relationship,a friendship sealed by solemn vow and covenant.
Tamahay's intimate was fortunately almost his equal in physical powers,and the pair became the terror of neighboring tribes,with whom the Dakotas were continually at war.They made frequent raids upon their enemies and were usually successful,although not without thrilling experiences and almost miraculous escapes.
Upon one of these occasions the two friends went north into the country of the Ojibways.After many days'journey,they discovered a small village of the foe.The wicked Tamahay proposed to his associate that they should arrange their toilets after the fashion of the Ojibways,and go among them;"and perhaps,"he added,"we will indulge in a little flirtation with their pretty maids,and when we have had enough of the fun we can take the scalp of a brave or two and retreat!"His friend construed his daring proposition to be a test of courage,which it would not become him,as a brave,to decline;therefore he assented with a show of cheerfulness.
The handsome strangers were well received by the Ojibway girls,but their perilous amusement was brought to an untimely close.A young maiden prematurely discovered their true characters,and her cry of alarm brought instantly to her side a jealous youth,who had been watching them from his place of concealment.With him Tamahay had a single-handed contest,and before a general alarm was given he had dispatched the foe and fled with his scalp.
The unfortunate brave had been a favorite and a leader among the tribe;therefore the maddened Ojibways were soon in hot pursuit.The Sioux braves were fine runners,yet they were finally driven out upon the peninsula of a lake.As they became separated in their retreat,Tamahay shouted,"I'll meet you at the mouth of the St.Croix River,or in the spirit land!"Both managed to swim the lake,and so made good their escape.
The exploits of this man were not all of a warlike nature.He was a great traveler and an expert scout,and he had some wonderful experiences with wild animals.He was once sent,with his intimate friend,on a scout for game.They were on ponies.
