 Chapter 15. The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth, Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer. And Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians. Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. In connection with my Indian experience, I conceive it to be my duty to devote a few lines to one of the bravest women that ever lived. Namely, pine leaf. In Indian, bar chi ampe. For an Indian, she possessed great intellectual powers. She was endowed with extraordinary muscular strength, with the activity of the cat and the speed of the antelope. Her features were pleasing and her form symmetrical. She had lost the brother in the attack on our village before mentioned. A great brave and her twin brother. He was a fine specimen of the race of red men and bade fair to rise to distinction. But he was struck down in his strength and pine leaf was left to avenge his death. She was at that time 12 years of age and she solemnly vowed that she would never marry until she had killed a hundred of the enemy with her own hand. Whenever a war party started, pine leaf was the first to volunteer to accompany them. Her presence among them caused much amusement to the old veterans. But if she lacked physical strength, she always rode the fleetest horses and none of the warriors could outstrip her. All admired her for her ambition and as she advanced in years many of the braves grew anxious for the speedy accomplishment of her vow. She had chosen my party to serve in and when I engaged in the fiercest struggles no one was more promptly at my side than the young heroine. She seemed incapable of fear and when she arrived at womanhood could fire a gun without flinching and use the Indian weapons with as great dexterity as the most accomplished warrior. I began to feel more than a common attachment toward her. Her intelligence charmed me and her modest and becoming demeanor singled her out from her sex. One day while routing leisurely along I asked her to marry me provided we both returned safe. She flashed her dark eye upon mine. You have too many already she said. Do you suppose I would break my vow to the great spirit? He sees and knows all things. He would be angry with me and would not suffer me to live to avenge my brother's death. I told her that my medicine said that I must marry her and then I could never be vanquished or killed in battle. She laughed and said well I will marry you when we return. No, but when the pine leaves turn yellow. I reflected that it would soon be autumn and regarded her promise as valid. A few days afterward it occurred to my mind that pine leaves do not turn yellow and I saw I had been practiced upon. When I again spoke to her on the subject I said pine leaf you promise to marry me when the pine leaves should turn yellow. It has occurred to me that they never grow yellow. I returned no answer except a hearty laugh. Am I to understand that you never intend to marry me? I inquired. Yes I will marry you she said with a coquettish smile. But when? When you shall find a red-headed Indian. I saw I advanced nothing by importuning her and I let the matter rest. However to help her on with her vow. I never killed an Indian if she was by to perform it for me. Thinking that when her number were emulated there might be better chance of pressing my suit. We frequently shifted our camping groan in order to keep up with the buffalo and furnish our horses with sufficient grass. For we had such an immense number that the prairie around our lodges in a few days had the appearance of a closely mown meadow. Finally we removed to the western side of the mountain again and encamped on Little Horn River one of the sources of the Yellowstone. Shortly after our encampment we found there was a village of Cheyennes about 12 miles distant and an incessant warfare was maintained between the two villages for 20 days. Sometimes they would take three or four crow scouts. In return our party would retaliate by taking as many of theirs. Thus they went on with varying fortune during the whole 20 days. I had never been engaged in these skirmishes but one evening I with three others among whom was Yellowbelly resolved to go on an adventure. Accordingly we started for the Cheyennes arriving there the next morning and unhesitatingly entered their village while the inmates were quietly reposing. After passing through one quarter of their village we saw an Indian approaching who on perceiving us wheeled his horse to escape. I shot an arrow into his back but before he fell I rode up cut him down with my battle axe and rode on. One of our party not wishing to lose his scalp dismounted to take it. In doing so he lost his horse which followed us leaving his rider on foot close to the enemy's village once the aroused warriors were issuing like hornets. Perceiving his danger I rode back and took him up behind me. We had to run for it but we made good our escape driving home before a seven horses captured from the enemy. This was considered a great achievement by our crow brethren and they again washed their faces. The enemy now charged on our village killing six crows among whom was a brother-a-law of mine. His relatives appealed to me to avenge them. Supposing that the enemy would renew the attack the next day I selected 130 warriors all well mounted to way lay them. We posted ourselves midway between the belligerent villages but the Cheyennes had passed within a few hundred yards before we were in ambush. Being there the idea occurred to me to await their return. On their repulse from the village we would spring up and cut off their retreat and I made no doubt succeed in killing a great number of their warriors. It fell out as I had expected. The crows drove them back with a loss to the enemy of four and when they neared us their horses were badly jaded and our friends hotly in pursuit. We sprung up cutting off their retreat and they sorely pressed in their rear seeing our party in front cutting down right and left became panic struck and fled in all directions. We took 16 scouts with the horses and equipments of the fallen warriors and returned home in triumph. This made 20 scouts taken in one day which was considered by the crows a glorious victory and the scout dance was performed with unusual vivacity. In this battle the heroine was by my side and fought with her accustomed audacity. I counted five coups and she three for three enemies killed with her lance. The Cheyennes, disconcerted with their misadventure, moved their village away from the crow territory. We also took up our line of march and moved on to Clark's Fork, a branch of the Yellowstone where we found abundance of buffalo and good grass. While encamped here I received a letter from Mr. McKenzie written at Fort Union at the mouth of the Yellowstone where he desired me to see him. It was delivered to me by Mr. Winters who, in company with one man, had found his way unharmed. McKenzie wished me to see him immediately on business of importance as he wished through my influence to establish a trade with the crows. On communicating my intention of performing the journey all expostulated at my going. I gave them my positive word that I would return in eighteen sons if not killed on the way. It was a long and hazardous journey to undertake, having to traverse a distance of seven hundred and sixty miles exposed to numerous bands of hostile Indians. I succeeded in reaching the Fort in safety where I found McKenzie with a great stock of miscellaneous goods. I arrived late in the afternoon, dispatched my business with him hastily and started on my return in the morning. I took ten pack horses laid in with goods to trade with the Indians in addition to which several boats were freighted and sent to me up the Yellowstone. Two men accompanied me to the crow country. We had no trouble on our way until we arrived within a few miles of our village as I supposed it. When, as we were marching on, I remarked something unfamiliar in the appearance of the place. I ordered the two men to turn their animals up a little valley close by while I took a nearer look at the village. A closer inspection confirmed my mistake. I saw the lodges were painted a different color from our own. I followed the pack horses and found a trail which led to the crow village and concealed from the observation of the village we had approached. Soon after entering the trail I discovered the fresh tracks of five Indians going the direction that we were. I halted the pack horses and rode on to get a sight of them. At a short distance I perceived the five men and unobserved by them I rode on and entered a low place until I approached within a few rods of them. I took a short survey of them and concluded that they must be enemies belonging to the village we had just left. They were on foot and I conceived myself a match for the whole five. I leveled my rifle and was taking aim when my horse moved his head and disconcerted my sight. I tried again with precisely the same result. I then dismounted and advanced two or three steps near my object. As I was about to fire having the rain on my arm the horse made another motion thus spoiling my aim for the third time. At that moment one of them made a yawning expression in the crow language and I was so terrified at his narrow escape that the rifle dropped from my hand. I called to them telling them the danger they had escaped. Why? said they. You would not have attacked five of us. Yes I said and would have killed every one of you had you been enemies. They then informed me that they had lost two men that day near the village of the Blackfeet who are now beyond doubt dancing over their scalps. I did not wait to hear more but directed them to return my horses and assist the men in getting on to the crow village as soon as possible. I rode forward to make my arrival known. My return was welcomed with the liveliest demonstrations of joy by the whole tribe. But I delayed no time in ceremonial. I called a council forthwith and informed them that the Blackfeet were in camp ten miles distant. That two of our warriors had that day fallen by their hands and that we must go and avenge their death. The chief assented but as a preliminary directed me and another to count their lodges that night. I undertook the dangerous task although extremely fatigued with my long journey. We succeeded in the object of our expedition and found their lodges outnumbered ours by one. There are is a general thing from four to six warriors to a lodge. The Blackfoot village comprised 233 lodges. Hence we could form a pretty accurate estimate of the number of warriors we had to contend with. Their village was closely watched by our spies. Every movement made by the enemy was properly reported to our chief. During the night they appeared to sleep soundly probably fatigued with a late dance. But in the morning they were a stir of the times and having packed up started forward in our direction. Apparently unaware of our presence. On they came men women and children utterly unconscious of the terrible shock that awaited them. Our warriors were never better prepared for a conflict and never more certain a victory. We were drawn up on a high table prairie. Our whole force concealed from view at no greater distance than half pistol shot. Their chief led the van and with him were several young squaws who were laughing and dancing around him. Evidently to his great amusement. They were near enough to launch the thunders of war upon them and our chief gave orders to charge. The order was instantly carried into effect. The chief who a moment before was so joyous surrounded by his tawny young squaws was the first to fall beneath my battle axe. And his attendants scattered like chaff before the wind. We were upon the warriors so unexpectedly that they had hardly time to draw their weapons before they were overthrown and put to flight. They were encumbered with women, children and baggage. Our attention was directed solely to the men. The women were unharmed except those who were overturned by our horses. During the engagement a powerful black foot aimed to blow at me with his battle axe which pine leaf deprived of its effect by piercing his body through with her lance. In a few moments the fighting was over and after pursuing the flying enemy through the timber we returned to collect the spoils of victory. We took 170 scalps over 150 women and children besides abundance of weapons, baggage and horses. The crows had 29 wounded. This was a severe blow to the black feet. Such a slaughter is of rare occurrence in Indian warfare. Notwithstanding this sad defeat they rallied their broken band and attacked us again in the afternoon. But it amounted to nothing and they fled in gloomy confusion beyond their crow territory. Pine leaf never signalized herself more than on this occasion. She counted six coups having killed four of the enemy with her own hand. She had but few superiors in wielding the battle axe. My horse was killed by the blow which was aimed at my head by the Indian whom the heroine killed. I wore a superb headdress ornamented with eagle's feathers and weasel's tails. The labor of many days. Early in the action three of these tails were severed by a bullet which grazed my head. These black feet shoot close said the heroine as she saw the ornaments fall. But never fear the great spirit will not let them harm us. I took a very pretty young woman prisoner but was obliged to give her up to one of the braves who had my promise before the battle that if I took one I would give her to him. And if he took one he should give her to me. When a warrior of the Crow Tribe takes a woman prisoner she is considered his sister and he can never marry her. If she marries her husband is brother law to her captor. Our prisoners soon forgot their captivity. They even seem pleased with the change for they join with great alacrity in our scalp dance over the scalps of their own people. All Indian women are considered by the stronger sex as menials. They are thoroughly reconciled to their degradation and the superiority of their lords and masters is their chiefest subject of boast. They are patient, plotting and unambitious although there are instances in savage life of a woman manifesting superior talent and making her influence felt upon the community. During my visit at Fort Union I engaged to build a fort for Mackenzie to store his goods and safety at the mouth of the Big Horn River, one of the branches of the Yellowstone. Accordingly I repaired to the place to select a good site and commence operations. On arriving at the spot I found the boats close by but as there was no secure quay at the junction of the streams I selected a site about a mile below. There were 50 men who had arrived with the boats hired to assist me in erecting the fort. The stipulated dimensions were 120 yards for each front, the building to be a solid square with a blockhouse at opposite corners. The fort was erected of hewn logs planted perpendicularly in the ground. The walls were 18 feet high. As soon as the pickets were up we built our houses inside in order to be prepared for the approach of winter. When I had been engaged about six weeks upon its construction, 400 lodges of crows moved into our immediate vicinity thus affording us plenty of company and a sufficient force to protect us against the attacks of hostile tribes. When we had completed our building we unloaded the boats and commenced trading with the Indians. During the first year the company was very unsuccessful, sinking over $17,000 in the undertaking. This however was principally attributable to the outlay upon the fort. The wages of the 50 men engaged in constructing it ran for 12 months. And to the number of presents which it is customary on such occasions to distribute among the Indians. After the crows had removed to the fort they were repeatedly annoyed with attacks from different hostile tribes. I was engaged in two small encounters during the winter in both of which we were completely victorious. The crows were fully occupied in protecting their own horses or levying contributions upon their neighbors. During the winter we accumulated a large amount of peltry which in the spring I sent down to Fort Union in five Mackinaw boats built by ourselves for the purpose. I sent a sufficient number of men to take good care of the boats and to return upstream with a fresh supply of goods. I then left the fort in charge of winters leaving him 30 men for our guard. I also had provided an ample stock of dried meat so that they might avoid the risk of hunting for provisions. Early in May we commenced our march in search of summer quarters. We traveled by easy stages and on a circuitous route so that when we finally arrived at Rosebud Creek, a branch of the Yellowstone, we found ourselves but 20 miles distant from the fort. After we had remained about a week at our encampment our village was infested by a large war party of black feet. It happened very fortunately we were building a medicine lodge at the time and our whole force was at home which circumstance most probably preserved us from a disastrous defeat. Our enemies numbered about 4,000 warriors to oppose whom we had 2,800 practiced warriors besides the old men who always acted as village guards. At Daybreak the enemy advanced upon our village with great impetuosity. Our war horses being tied to our lodge doors the first alarm found our defenders ready mounted to meet the assailants. We did not allow them to enter the village but advanced on to the plain to meet them. The contest was severe for several minutes and the clash of battle-axes and the fierce yells of the opposing forces made the whole prairie tremble. The two parties charged alternately according to the Indian mode of warfare but the crows gained ground at every attack for they fought with everything at stake. The fight lasted for several hours. Early in the action we discovered a maneuver of the enemy which would probably have resulted seriously for us had we not perceived it in time. About half their force was detached to attack us in the rear and take possession of the village. I formed from 15 to 1800 warriors into a body and rode down to meet their detachment as it wound around the foot of a small hill. They were in quick march to gain their position and approached in seeming security. My warriors being formed upon the brow of the hill under which the enemy was passing. I gave the order for a rush down the hill upon them. The attack was made with such irresistible force that everything in our way was overthrown and warriors and horses were knocked into promiscuous piles. We happened to burst upon their center thus severing them in two and the confusion they became involved in was so irreminable that their only hope was to get back to their main body with as little delay as possible. In the attack a lance thrown by a black foot perforated my legging just grazing the calf of my leg and entered the body of my horse killing him on the spot. My ever present friend Pineleaf instantly withdrew it releasing me from a very precarious situation as I was pinned close to the horse and his dying struggles rendered such proximity extremely unsafe. I sprang upon the horse of a young warrior who was wounded and called to some of our women to convey the wounded man to a place of safety. The heroine then joined me and we dashed into the conflict. Her horse was immediately after killed and I discovered her in a hand-to-hand encounter with a dismounted black foot. Her lance in one hand and her battleaxe in the other. Three or four springs of my steed brought me upon her antagonist and striking him with the breast of my horse when at full speed I knocked him to the earth senseless. And before he could recover she pinned him to the ground with her lance and scalped him. When I had overturned the warrior Pineleaf called to me, Right on! I have him safe now! I rode on accordingly but she was soon mounted again and at my side. The surviving black feet speedily dispersed and they all retreated together leaving the crows master of the field. They left behind ninety-one killed besides carrying off many dead with their wounded. We lost thirty-one killed and a large number wounded. I had five horses killed under me but received no wound. Our enemies in their retreat drove off sixteen hundred horses among which were eighty of my own but we had plenty left and we considered these only lent to them. We had no dance and the relatives of the slain went through their usual morning. A few days after this battle a messenger arrived from the fort with a request for me to return as quickly as possible. As the black feet were continually harassing the men and they were in fear of a general attack. Accordingly I returned in the latter part of June and found affairs in a very serious condition. The Indians had grown very bold and it was hazardous to venture outside the fort. One morning seven men were sent about one mile away to cut house logs. It being supposed there were no Indians in the vicinity. Sometime in the four noon I heard the report of a rifle close to our gate. I ran out and just caught sight of the retreating Indians as they entered the bushes. They had shot and scalped one of our men as he was chopping only a few paces from the gate. The danger that the other men might be placed in then occurred to me and ordering the men to follow me I mounted my horse and hastened to their rescue. I was followed by about one half the men, the remainder preferring the protection of the wooden walls. I soon discovered our men. They were surrounded by forty Indians, the chief of whom appeared to be addressing the sun and was just tiskulating with his battle-axe. On his raising his arm I sent a ball through his body and then shouted to the men to run to me. They started but one of them was shot down before they reached me. The survivors were so terrified that they did not dare to stop when they reached me but continued their course unslacking until they gained the fort. My followers seeing their alarm became fugitives in turn and I was left alone within gunshot of the remaining thirty-nine Indians. Uttering deafening yells they made a rush for me. My horse became frightened and I could scarcely mount him. However by running by his side a few paces I managed to leap on his back and retreated at full speed while their bullets and arrows flew around me like hail. When I approached the fort a voice near me cried, Oh Jim don't leave me here to be killed. I wheeled round and with my double barreled gun in my hand made a charge toward the whole approaching party who seeing my resolute bearing turned and scampered off. I rode up to the person who had called me and found him an old man who was unable to run and had been abandoned by his valorous companions to the mercy of the savages. I assisted him onto my horse and was about to spring on behind him when the horse sprang forward leaving the old man's gun behind and carried him safely to the fort. By this time the Indians had returned upon me. I ran wherever a shelter offered itself and when closely pressed would face round and menace them with my guns. Within a few hundred yards of the fort I came to a small covering which had been used as a shelter by the horse guards and I sprang into it with the Indians at my heels. After expending the contents of my guns I plied them with arrows to their hearts content until they gave up the fray and retired. This took place in fair view of the fort when not one of its dowdy inmates dare come to my assistance and who even refused to resign their firearms to the women who were anxious to come to my rescue. When at length I succeeded in reaching the fort I favored the men with my unreserved opinion of them. I had been the means of saving their lives even after the chief of the savages had returned thanks to the sun for their scalps which he had already deemed secure. I really believe that with pine leaf and three other squaws I could have stormed and taken the fort from their possession. These men were not mountaineers. They were nearly all Canadians and had been hired in the east. They were unused to savage warfare and only two of them had seen in Indian battle. If they had come out like men we might have killed one half the Indians and I should have been spared a great deal of hard feeling. They acknowledged however that I had flawed the Indians alone and that six of them were indebted to me for their lives. In July after the arrival of the boats the crows again returned to the fort. They came to make purchases with what small means they possessed as they had disposed of all their peltry on their previous visit. They however brought in a great quantity of roots, cherries, berries, etc. which they traded for articles of necessity. They also sold 60 horses which we sent to Mackenzie at the lower fort, Clark. It greatly charms the Indians to see new goods. When they have the means to buy there is no end to their purchases. When the lances, battle-axes and guns are spread before their eyes glittering with their burnished steel, notwithstanding they may have a dozen serviceable weapons at home, they must infallibly purchase a new one. If one purchases all must follow. Hence there is no limit to their demand but the very important one imposed by the extent of their exchangeable commodities. The newly arrived boats were manned with Canadians, all strangers in the country, nearly all having been imported for boating, as they were willing to submit to the hardships of such a life for a smaller remuneration than men hired in the States. On their arrival their brethren related a thousand tales about the Indians and what feats I had performed against them single-handed. They listened to the marvelous tales and gazed at me in wondering admiration. When Canadians are fairly broken in and have become familiar with Indian character, they make the best of Indian fighters, especially when put to it in defense of their own lives. They become superior trappers too, being constituted like their native ponies with the capacity to endure the extremist hardships and privations and to endure starvation for an incredibly long period. End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org After having arranged everything in the fort, which I have forgotten to mention we named after Mr. Cass, and given all needful instructions to Winters who was in charge, I again left. My intention was to induce the Crows to devote their undivided attention to trapping, not alone for their own benefit, but for the interest of the company in whose service I was engaged. I well knew that if I was with them, they would capture five beavers to one if left to themselves. I had obtained great influence in the medicine lodge and could often exert it to prevent a war party from making a useless excursion against their enemies. I would tell them, in their counsel, that my medicine told me not to go to war, that it was in their interest to employ their warriors in trapping all the beavers possible, so that they might have the means of purchasing ammunition and weapons for themselves, as well as beads, scarlet cloth, and blankets for the women. That, by and by, we should be attacked by the enemy and be unprovided with the means of defense. That they would then kill all our warriors and make captives of our women and children, as the Cheyennes had captured my mother when I was an infant, many Winters gone. That they should save all their warriors against the time of need and only engage in war when the safety of their village was at stake. These representations would frequently dissuade them from their belligerent purpose, and beaverskins would be brought into the village by the pack. But they would soon tire of their pacific occupation, and their enemy's horses would offer them temptations which they could not resist. Nearly all the crows having left the fort before I did, only a few warriors remained to bear me company. I engaged to meet them at the mouth of the little horn within a given number of nights, and I knew I should be expected. We arrived in safety at the place appointed, and within the time I had specified. Soon after our arrival, it was proposed to send out a war party, not so much to fight as to reconnoitre. To see where horses could, with least difficulty, be procured, and gain a general intelligence of how matters stood. We set out, and had traveled slowly along for nearly two weeks when our scouts returned to surprise us that there was a large crowd of women approaching toward us. We were then in a forest of plum trees, bearing large red plums, which were fully ripe and were very delicious. Feeling satisfied that the women were coming to gather fruit, we secreted ourselves, intending at a given signal to surround them while they were busily employed. Accordingly, we waited until they all set themselves about their task. They, keeping up an incessant jabber among themselves, like so many blackbirds, are bobble-links, and having no suspicion that the crows would so soon come in for their share. At a sound from the whistle, they were entirely surrounded, and their merry chatter was hushed in an instant. We marched them to an open piece of ground, made them form a line, and proceeded to make a selection. The aged, the ill-favored, and the matrons we withdrew from the body, telling them to return to the village, and depart without clamor. They went away in sullenness, with their eyes flashing fire. The remainder, to the number of fifty-nine, very attractive-looking young women, we carried along with us, and as we were but three miles distant from their village, and could plainly see the smoke of their lodges, we deemed it prudent to lose no time in making our way home. There were three warriors in the company of the women when first described, but they were not enclosed in our surround, and we could find no traces of them in any direction. On our return toward home, the captives were, as usual, gloomy for an hour or two. But they very quickly brightened, and amused us with their smiles in conversation during the whole of the journey. In four days we reached the village, and were received with thunders of applause. Four of the prisoners were adjudged my prizes, who, according to Indian customs, became my sisters. For my services in this expedition, I was honored with the name of Boa Hisha, Redfish. Our prisoners were kindly received, and treated with becoming attention. I carried my four sisters to my lodge, and distributed them among my relatives. They were all married to Crow Braves, and added materially to the strength of my band of relatives. For it is esteemed a great honor to marry the sister of a great brave, which appellation I had long borne. Finally it captured two prisoners, and offered me one of them to wife. I answered, You once told me I had already wives enough. I will not add to their number until I marry the heroine of the Crow Nation. Ah, you have found the red-headed Indian then, she said, laughing mockingly. She always received my advances with this unsatisfactory nonchalance. That it was with some unpleasantness a feeling I approached the subject. But the more I saw of her lofty bearing, and witnessed the heroic deeds that she performed, the more ardent became my attachment to her. When she was by my side in battle, it seemed as if I had increased strength and courage. When she was away, which happened rarely, I felt a vacancy which no other warrior could supply. There was none bolder than herself, and she knew it. There were others of greater strength, but her deficiency in muscular power was more than indemnified by her cat-like agility, and she would kill her man while others were preparing to attack. There was one thing that irritated the noble girl's curiosity, and that was the Warpath Secret. Having killed many in battle, having followed where any dared to lead. Why am I debarred from that important communication, she would ask? Why am I sent off with the women and children when that secret is told to the warriors of but one battle? I would tell her that the misfortune of her sex rendered it impossible that she could ever have the secret unveiled to her. That, should she break her trust, she would surely pay the forfeit with her life. She would become angry at such representations, and her black eyes would glow like fire. After this capture, a band of black feet made reprisals by breaking our enclosure and taking seven hundred horses. I immediately collected a small party and went in pursuit. We speedily overtook them and recovered all the horses except sixty, bearing the enemy, who precipitantly fled, leaving two of their party dead. On our return, we were received with the usual demonstrations of joy, and the horse dance was performed by the village together with a scout dance which lasted nearly all night. About this time, my allied friend raised a war party and went in quest of the enemy, the heroine, ever active and prepared accompanying him. I stayed behind. They returned in a few days bringing eight scouts of the Kootenies, one of the bands of the black feet. They had lost two of their warriors, much to the annoyance of the heroine, as she was prevented from dancing, although she had counted two coups. She then declared that she would go to war no more except in my company, but she had to break her word and the next time she engaged in fight, she received a severe wound. She wished me to raise a force immediately and go and kill an enemy so that she could wash her face. I declined, however, on the ground that I was soon to go to the fort and that I would engage in no hostile encounters until my return. When a war party loses one of its members, the survivors are compelled to wear their morning paint until that same party, or an individual member of it, has wiped out the blood by killing one of the enemy without incurring loss of life. Thus, it not unfrequently happens when no opportunity of avenging a loss occurs that the mourners wear paint for months, regularly renewing it as it wears off. Small parties were continually going out and returning with varying success. The grand total of horses stolen by the crows from all other tribes during that year amounted to near six thousand head. During the same period, however, they lost a great number stolen from them. I visited the fort again in October with 300 lodges of the Indians, the remainder following us in a few days. A great number of the Indians had been busy with their traps for about two months and we took into the fort a great quantity of peltry, which procured for the Indians everything they needed besides finery for the women. When I arrived, I was informed that the headhunter of the fort had been killed during my absence. Now, said Pineleaf, you will go to war for one of your people and I will go with you so that I can wash my face. The fort had been subject to alarms during the whole time of my absence, but had only lost the man here referred to. As soon as the Indians had finished their trading, I directed them to move to the Yellowstone as far up as Pompeii's tower, telling them that I would join them in four nights. Then, as soon as I could get ready, I loaded 12 packhorses with goods for retail and, taking two Canadians with me, I went on and joined the village at the appointed place. This much performed, I then attended to the frequent solicitations of the heroine by leading a party and going in pursuit of the blackfeet to chastise them as I told the crows for killing the white hunter. We were absent eleven days and returned with only four scouts and seventy-four horses. I received an arrow in my head and there were three other warriors wounded, but none killed. The heroine then washed her face of the morning paint, which she had been grieving about so long. At this time I was third counselor of the nation, having been fifth and fourth previously. In the Crow Nation there are six counselors and by them the nation is ruled. There are also two head chiefs who sit with the council whenever it is in session. The office of the first counselor is the highest in the nation, next to the head chiefs, whose authority is equal. If, in any of these divisions, when a matter is brought to the vote, the suffrages are equal. One of the old pipe men is summoned before the council and the subject under discussion is stated to him, with the substance of the arguments advanced on both sides. After hearing this he gives his casting vote and the question is finally settled. When more is declared on any tribe it is done by the council. If any party goes out without the authority of the council they are all severely whipped and their whipping is no light matter as I can personally testify. It makes no difference how high the offender ranks or how great his popularity with the nation. There is no favor shown. The man who disobeys orders is bound to be lashed and if he resists or resents the punishment he suffers death. We raise the war party of 300 men to act against the Cheyennes having one of the head chiefs as leader. We moved on foot toward their country which was about 250 miles from our village. In this expedition I acted in the capacity of head spy and was of necessity continually in advance of the main party. Being near the enemy according to our calculations I was some distance ahead with four other spies when we discovered five of the Cheyennes warriors in the act of dressing a buffalo which they had just killed. We crept slyly up within gunshot of them and each singled out his man and fired. Four fell at the discharge the other mounted his horse and fled. I mounted one of the other horses and pursued him within sight of his village when I wheeled and returned to the camp well knowing that we should be pursued immediately after the fugitive communicated his news. I found the camp readily and acquainted the chief with what had happened although it is against orders for spies to commence any attack. I told him that we were compelled to fight them to save our own lives as the enemy had discovered us. That is all right he said but they will be soon after us and we must retreat as fast as we can. We returned on our steps without losing a moment and traveled all night. It was very cold with considerable snow on the ground. In the morning we built a fire and as soon as we had warmed ourselves we moved on. One man who was lame lingered by the fire after we had left and he rejoined us in great alarm telling us that the Cheyennes were on our trail in great force and were but a short distance behind us. We then put our boys and horses into a deep gully close by and also stepped in ourselves as soon as we had discharged one volley at our pursuers who were then within short gunshot distance. They numbered from 1,500 to 2,000 warriors all mounted while we were but a very few warriors and had not more than a dozen horses in all. We were in a strong position however one which they dared not to storm even with their whole force. Frequently a few more daring cavaliers would advance to the edge of the bank and hurl their lances into our midst but they rarely escaped our bullets. We had killed and wounded a great number in this manner which taught our foe to be more cautious in his approaches. When our chief losing heart declared there was no hope for us and that we infallibly should be all rubbed out. He addressed his son, a lad about 16 years of age, in the following strain. My son, we shall be all killed here. The Cheyennes are very brave and they have a cloud of warriors before us. It must never be said that my son was killed by them. Therefore I must kill you myself before I die. Die my son, first! In an instant his son was a corpse, prostrate at the feet of his savage father. This, thought I, is the first time I ever saw a person killed to save his life. The actions of the old chief were wild throughout the whole proceeding. After killing his son he rushed upon the top of the bank and addressed himself to the enemy and exposed Mark to their arrows as follows. Ho Cheyennes! Here I am. Come and kill me. I am the great chief of the Crows. Come and kill me first and then you can easily kill my warriors. Many of your braves have fallen by my hand. Their scalps darken my lodge. Come! Come and kill me! I was astonished at such rashness and still more astonished at the enemy who, on seeing him, a fair mark for their bullets, even withdrew to a greater distance and appeared to be perfectly paralyzed. After a while our head chief descended and took a long smoke at his pipe. The enemy retired without troubling us farther. In the night we decamped and made all possible haste to our village where we arrived in safety without any molestation from the enemy. The chief attributed our escape to the interposition of the great spirit whom the sacrifice of his son had propitiated in our behalf. We killed fourteen of the enemy while in our entrenchment making eighteen and wounded a great number. We had eight killed including the chief son and ten or eleven slightly wounded. When we arrived at home there was great mourning and we all assumed paint on our faces as usual. But we wore it only a short time before we took ample revenge. Pine Leaf did not accompany us on this expedition. End of Chapter 16, Chapter 17 The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Four days after our return our chief, still smarting at the sacrifice he had made for the salvation of his people, burned for revenge. He selected a body of over two hundred warriors and started forthwith in search of the enemy. The night following his departure I also raised two hundred men and started in a contrary direction. We proceeded on until we came to Laramie Forks where Fort Laramie has since been built and were in sight of a Cheyenne village. While we were surveying the village eleven of their men laden with meat came up and encamped within a few hundred yards of where we were. We immediately threw ourselves flat upon the ground, resolved to wait until the coming of night in order to make secure work of our attack on them and prevent any of their number escaping to alarm the village. At a late hour we silently approached their camp when they were all sound asleep. A dozen guns were discharged at them in a moment and we rushed in with our battle axes to complete the work. We took their scalps and were soon on the retreat bearing away all the meat we needed besides nineteen horses and the slain warriors equipments. We returned to the village and washed off the morning paint making the whole village ring with our dancing and rejoicing. The additional name of Ara Edish, the bloody arm was conferred upon me. The old chief came in three days subsequently bringing fourteen scalps and equipments without having lost a single man. Many of my readers will doubtless wonder how a man who had been reared in civilized life could ever participate in such scenes of carnage and repine. I have already related that I was brought up where similar outrages were committed upon the defenseless inhabitants of the new settlements. Impressed with the recollection of these early scenes, I hardly ever struck down in Indian but my mind reverted to the mangled bodies of my childish playfellows which I discovered on my way to the mill barbarously murdered by the savages. In after years I have experienced the natural ferocity of the savage who thirsts for the blood of the white man for no other purpose than to gratify the vindictive spirit that animates him. I have seen the paths of the trappers died with their blood drawn from their hearts by the ambushed savage who never knew mercy but remorsely butchered all who came in his way. Such is Indian nature when I fought with the Crow Nation I fought in their behalf against the most relentless enemies of the white man. If I chose to become an Indian while living among them it concerned no person but myself and by doing so I saved more life and property for the white man than a whole regiment of United States regulars could have done in the same time. Before I close this narrative I shall take the liberty to express my opinions and afford those having control of the War Department some counsel about the cheapest, most expeditious and most certain method of quelling their Indian troubles on which the newspapers are harping so much. I know that with 500 men of my selection I could exterminate any Indian tribe in North America in a very few months. But so long as our government continues to enlist the off-scouring of European cities into our army and entrust the command to inexperienced officers fresh from West Point just so long will they afford food for the Indians in and about the Rocky Mountains. When combered as our army is with baggage wagons and artillery an Indian chief can move his whole community farther in one day than our soldiers can follow them in three. When our Victoria celebration was over I started on a small trading expedition to the Snake Indians. I had received an invitation from their chief to trade among them and I selected eight warriors to accompany me. On arriving at their village I found that the Utah's had joined them and a great number of them were thronging the village. Knowing that the Utah's and Crow's were deadly enemies I sedulously watched their movements and very speedily felt distrust for the safety of myself and party as the whole camp savored strongly of treachery. I mustered my little party around me and found them without guns. On inquiring the cause they informed me they had traded them away for horses. I suppose my looks expressed my disapprobation. Mistaking me they said there was yet one fine horse left which I could have at the price of my gun. I had finished my traffic and had disposed of everything except my gun when the snakes came to me and offered to trade for that. I said no I never sell my gun except when at home and among my own people. The snakes then told us to go that things were bad in their camp. We sprang upon our horses and struck out at full speed but we soon discovered a large party of Indians were in close pursuit. We then found they had not sold us their fastest horses as they gained on some of my party and shot and scout them without our ability to defend them. I succeeded in reaching the mountain with two of my men having lost six noble young warriors in my flight. I knew there would be terrible mourning and loss of fingers until I could teach the snakes a lesson which would serve them to remember for a long time. After devoting a short space to bewailing my misfortune I requested a council to be called and never did I enlarge with such wrathful vehemence as I then fulminated against the snakes. Holding them up to the abhorrence of the fathers for their treachery and decoring our unsuspecting warriors into their camp and then letting loose a pack of murderous savages at our heels. After we had, through their complicity, parted with our only means of defense. I demanded 500 warriors to go and wipe out the stain and inflict summary chastisement on the village for their duplicity. My argument was listened to with the profoundest attention and all I proposed was readily acceded to. Let the red arm have all that he asks was the unanimous voice of the assembly. My warriors rallied around me almost at a moment's notice and we mounted our horses and sped in the direction of the snake country on Green River. On the eighth day our scouts came in and reported that they had found a large number of the snakes scattered in small parties who were engaged in killing buffalo. We held on until we came inside of them. I distributed my warriors as the occasion suggested, ordering them to attack the various small camps while I, with my party, should attack their main body. They were overthrown and dispersed by my brave warriors with severe loss. We took over 100 scouts and a great quantity of guns and other war-like implements. We had 16 men wounded, including myself. I received two slight wounds from arrows, but none of them dangerously. This blow brought the snakes to their senses and they immediately sent a deputation to our village to sue for peace. A circumstance happened on the evening preceding our attack which caused me the deepest regret. While the spies were reek and ordering, they perceived two Indians, as they supposed, leave the enemy's camp and proceed down the cannon. This circumstance they reported to me. I ordered them to return and kill them if they could find them. They went in pursuit of the two stragglers and when they came inside of them they had their robes over their heads and were kneeling down over a fire. They fired and one of the two fell mortally wounded. The other sprang out of his robe when, to their surprise, they saw he was a white man. They however took him prisoner and brought him to my camp. I was absent at their return, but on the following morning I remarked a very dejected look on their continences and I asked them what was the matter. We have done very bad, said one. We have reddened our hands with the blood of the white man. Well, how did it occur I inquired? Ask that white man and he will tell you all. I walked up to the unhappy prisoner whose looks betrayed the keenest anguish and addressed him in English. How are you my friend? He started as if electrified and looked me closely in the face. What brought you here? I continued. I was brought here by these Indians who killed my companion while we were building a fire to warm ourselves. I suppose I am brought here to be killed also. No, my friend, I said. You are safe. The crows never kill white men. Are these crows? Yes. Well, well, then you must be Mr. Beckworth. Yes, that is my name. And now, without the least fear of danger, relate the occurrence fairly. If my warriors have killed a white man intentionally, they shall be punished. He then related how he and his companion went into the cannon and how they made a fire to render themselves comfortable away from the Indian camp. How that their robes were over their heads entirely concealing their faces from view. And that he felt fully confident that my warriors and firing upon them had mistaken them for Indians. Well, I said, since the mistake is so apparent, you will greatly serve me to make the same statement to your companions when you return to your camp. For the crows are entirely innocent of any design to shed the blood of the white man. And it would be deplorable for any misunderstanding to arise in consequence of this lamentable occurrence. I shall make a fair statement of the fact, he said, and should be very sorry to be the means of any trouble. He then informed me that he and his late companion were trappers, that his party were in winter quarters and encamped with the main body of the snakes, and that they had come out with this party after meat. I then gave him my reasons for attacking the snakes and begged him to commend me to all the old mountaineers. There is not a day pass, as he said, but someone mentioned you to wonder where you are and what you are now doing. I can tell them all that I have seen you and conversed with you. I then told him he was at liberty to go at any time, that he could take all the horses belonging to him and all else that he needed. We assisted him with the body of his unhappy friend upon the back of a horse, and bidding me adieu, he departed. The snakes dispatched a deputation of forty warriors and a medicine chief to the crows to negotiate peace. They attached all the blame of the late rupture to the Utah's, whom they said they could not control, and that the death of our six young warriors was entirely against their wish. This we knew was false, for there were ten snakes to one Utah in the camp at the time of the outrage. They also pleaded that they had tried for a long time to induce the Utah's to return home, knowing that they were enemies to the crows. We at length adjusted the conditions of peace, smoked the Calumet and, after an exchange of presence, they returned to their home. About this time a brave named Big Rain was elected chief of the village for the term of six moons. His duties were to superintend all the village removals, to select sites for camps, order surrounds. In short, he was a kind of mayor and a lone subject to the head chief. Big Rain possessed the most beautiful squaw in the whole village. She was the admiration of every young brave, and all were plotting, myself among the rest, to win her away from her proud lord. I had spoken to her on several occasions and, whenever opportunity offered, would tender her my most ceremonious obedience, but she never favored me with any return. Not only was she beautiful, but she was very intelligent and as proud as Lucifer, and the gorgeous dives of the peacock were not more variegated or more showy than her attire. Since the elevation of her husband, I fancied that she assumed rather haughtier heirs, and I determined to steal her from her lord, be the consequences what they might. I went one evening to her brother's lodge, and acquainted him that there was a woman in our village that I loved, and that I must have her at all hazards. Well, warrior, said he, if it is any of my relatives, I will assist you all in my power. You are a great brave and have gained many victories for us, and it is but right that your desires should be gratified. Thank you, said I, but I will try alone first, and if I do not succeed, then I shall be very glad of your assistance. As an acknowledgement for the prompt tender of his services, I presented him with a quantity of tobacco. Now, added I, I want you to call in all your neighbors tonight and let them smoke as long as they please. After they are assembled, bar the door of your lodge and amuse them as long as you can with the rehearsal of your adventures. In the meantime, I will be engaged. I then went to my bosom friend and brother, and made part to him of what I had in hand, which revelation greatly amused him. I requested him to act a century over the lodge where they were all smoking. Big Rain, with the rest, for I had seen him enter and remained there until he was satisfied, they had filled their pipes for the last time, and then to call out to me, but to mislead them in the place where he was addressing me. This he promised to perform, and we both started on our errands. I went to Big Rain's lodge, dressed and painted in the extreme of the fashion, and saw the lady reclining, half asleep, upon her couch, and several of her female relatives asleep about the room. Nothing daunted, I strode to the couch of Mrs. Big Rain and laid my hand gently upon her brow. She started up, saying, Who is here? Hush, I replied. It is I. What do you want here? I have come to see you, because I love you. Don't you know that I am the chief's wife? Yes, I know it, but he does not love you as I do. He never goes to war, but stays idly in the village. I am a great brave and always go to war. I can paint your face and bring you fine horses, but so long as you are the wife of Big Rain, he will never paint your face with new coos. My husband will kill you. Well, then the crows will talk of you for many winters, and say that the great brave, the bloody arm, died for a pretty woman. Your father, she said, will lose all his horses and all his other property and will become poor in his old age. I respect your father and all your relatives and my heart would cry to see them poor. If my father loses his horses, I can steal more from our enemies. He would be proud to lose his horses if his son could get a wife as handsome as you are. You can go to war with me and carry my shield. With you by my side, I could kill a great many enemies and bring home many scalps. Then we could often dance and our hearts would be made merry and glad. Go now, she pleaded, for if my husband should return and find you here, he would be very angry and I fear he would kill you. Go, go, for your own sake and for mine and for the love you have for the crows, go. No, said I, I will not go until you give me a pledge that you will be mine when an opportunity offers for me to take you away. She hesitated for a moment and then slipped a ring off her finger and placed it on mine. All I now had to do was to watch for a favorable chance to take her away with me on some of my excursions. Just as I was about to leave, my friend called me as though I had been three miles away. I went out and joined him. What luck, inquired he. Good, said I. Prove it to me, I will believe, said my friend. I held up my finger to him, displaying the ring. Enough, said he, but I could not otherwise have believed it. The following day, with six warriors in full costume, I visited Big Rain at his lodge. Ah, said he. You are going on a war excursion, my friend. No, I answered. We came to see which way you were going to move, how many days you will travel, and how far each day, so that we may find good places to encamp and know where to find the village in case we should encounter the enemy. You are very kind, said he. Then you intend to be my spy. I have many brothers and other relatives among the Braves. But not one has ever made me that offer. No, thought I. They don't care as much about your wife as I do. Go, said he, and the Great Spirit will protect you. I then left, accompanied by my six warriors. The second day out in the afternoon, as we were traveling slowly along, I discovered at about a mile distance a party of 27 Blackfoot warriors just emerging from the bad pass. We immediately retraced our steps toward home and traveled all night until we arrived within three miles of the village. When within sight, we telegraphed with the aid of a small looking glass, which the crow's scouts usually carry and every motion of which is understood in the village. I made a signal that I had discovered the enemy and a second that they were approaching. In a moment I could discover a great stir in the village. When we arrived, I reported to his honor, Big Rain, how many we had seen, what tribe they were, where they had passed the previous night, and where they could then be found. The chief then ordered his madam to bring us some water and order she complied with, smiling coquettishly at me the while. I then retired to my lodge to change my dress, as portions of it were stained with our travel through the mountains. While I was in my lodge, madam came over with a splendid war horse which her husband had sent me, on which to return and fight the Blackfeet I had just discovered. She said, my husband has sent this war horse to the bloody arm and request him to lead the crows to the enemy. I was soon on the road with enough mounted warriors to eat the whole party of the enemy, for they were only a short distance from our village and, desirous of excitement, everyone wished to go. Judging where the enemy would encamp that night, we traveled on until we arrived near the anticipated encampment. Previous to starting, my little wife, who, by being the wife of a great brave, was as good as any woman, wished to bear me company and carry my shield. But I refused her, alleging that the danger was too great and promising to paint her face when I returned. One of my sisters then volunteered, and I accepted her offer, taking her with me to carry my shield and lead my war horse. As soon as it was light enough in the morning, I sent out small parties in all directions to look for their trail, that we might track them to their den. In ten or fifteen minutes after the parties left, we heard the report of a gun and the war hoop raised. The crows assembled in the direction of the report, all drawing toward a center. When I arrived, I saw that the Blackfeet had chosen a strong position and that we had another fort to storm. It was built partly by nature, but human industry had improved the stronghold. It was low water, and there was a pile of drift on a naked sandbar, and trees had been felled from the bank upon the drift pile, forming quite a shelter. Over this position the enemy was placed, protected with a breastwork formed of timber taken from the drift. When I reached the ground, I saw two of our reckless braves talking carelessly under the enemy in this enclosed space, as if they had been in a secure lodge. I regarded them for a moment, and, thinking to display as much bravery as they had, I dismounted and ran to the place, although several shots were fired at me from the fort, none of which took effect. What are you here for? inquired one of them of me. In the first place I said, tell me what you are here for. Why, we are old warriors, and you are not. If I am not an old warrior, I answered, I will be one. I then regarded the rough flooring overhead, which separated us from our foes, and perceived an aperture hardly large enough to admit my fist. I stood under at a moment, and as the warriors were moving about, one of them stepped over the aperture and remained there. I thrust my lance up with my whole force, and drew it back, reeking with blood. There old warriors said I to my two companions, who has drawn the first blood now? Who struck them first? Old warriors or a young brave? How do you like the look of my lance? Do you see it? Yes, yes, we see it. You have done well, young brave. Well said I, you can stay here out of danger, but I am going out to my warriors and then to storm the fort. I ran back with the same success that I had entered it, brandishing my dripping lance and ordered a charge, which was obeyed as soon as given. In five minutes there was not a black foot left within alive. They made scarcely any defense, so sudden and overwhelming was the shock. We had one warrior killed by the first discharge of the enemy, and six wounded. We then returned home and, notwithstanding our slain warrior, we celebrated a dance and devoted the next day to mourning our loss. Enrobing his remains for the spirit land, we dressed him in the most costly manner, using trinkets, seam embroidered cloth, and the most costly articles to show the inhabitants of the spirit land that he was a great brave and much respected on earth. Overall was wrapped the best of scarlet blankets, and his arms were unfolded therein. Oh, shroud him in his hunting shirt and lay him in the glen, away, away from jealous foes, away from sight of men. With bow and painted arrow that never failed its aim, when by his fleet in favored steed the bounding bison came. Go kill the warrior's favorite horse, his crouching lonely hound, to shield so brave a warrior in the happy hunting ground. While the villagers were crying and putting on a coat of mourning paint for the departed warrior, I was busied in my domestic affairs. I sent my sister to madam with a large quantity of service berries, which had been finely dried the preceding summer, together with some sweet potatoes, telling her to request madam to send me her extra moccasins in order to lash them together with my own on my pack dog, and to appoint a place to meet me that evening. My sister was astonished and said, is it possible that you intend to take bachu-ish ah, red cherry, with you? Why, we shall all become poor. We shall not have a horse to ride. But I don't care, she is a pretty woman and will make a good robe dresser. Away she hide, and soon return with my ladies moccasins. Ha ha, thought I, I am all right now. I expected that the chorus of true love would not run very smooth with me in the end, but would, on the contrary, carry me over breakers which would most probably break my neck. But I fortified myself with the old adage. Faint heart never won fair lady, and I determined to hazard all consequences. The appointed time had arrived, and, on going to the place of Assygnation, I found my lady true to her word. In fact, she was there first. We joined the party, thirty-four a number, and traveled all night in the direction of the Blackfoot country. On the sixth day, at nightfall, we arrived at the Musselshell River, a little below the mouth of the Judith, and in sight of a village of the enemy. I looked out a good place for a reserve camp, and then, selecting eighteen of the most expert horse thieves, we started for the village. We succeeded in capturing one hundred and seventeen horses without being discovered, and arrived safe with them at the camp. We all started immediately back for the village. The warriors took but two horses each, giving the rest to me, and my new wife. Meanwhile, Big Rain made discovery of the loss of his wife, and was greatly disturbed in mind. My father, knowing the aggressor, commenced giving away to his near relatives all his choice of stock and other valuable property until the storm should blow over. When we rode in, the people came out to meet us, rejoicing at our success. Big Rain was out likewise. He took no part in the rejoicing, however, but ordered his wife and me to be surrounded. I was seized by Big Rain together with half a dozen of his sisters, all armed with scourges, and they administered a most unmerciful whipping. I laid down to it, and received it with true Indian fortitude, though I certainly did think they would beat me to death. If I had resisted, they would have been justified in killing me. Also, if they had drawn one drop of blood from me, I should have been justified in taking their lives. They laid it on so unmercifully that I became angry and hoped they would draw blood. After the flagellation was performed, the next penalty was to strip my father and myself of all our horses and other effects, our war implements accepted. My father was stripped of five hundred horses. I had lost about eighty. Pretty dear for a very pretty woman, thought I. However, I soon had my horses made up to me by presence from my friends. We performed the horse dance that night, though I danced without owning one. During the amusement I conveyed word to the wife of Big Rain that I should go out again the next night and should expect her company, appointing her to meet me at the same place as before. She returned a favorable answer. My little wife hauled me over the coals for stealing a married woman, when there were enough maidens in the village that I could select. I told her that I wished to have the handsomest woman in the village for my lodge. The appointed hour arrived and Big Rain's wife was faithful to her promise. We started off with only seventeen warriors. We were gone four days and returned with three scouts. We met a war party of nine warriors, six of whom outstripped us and escaped. On my return I was again seized and received another such a flogging as the first, laid on with equal goodwill. After my dressing I retired to my lodge when a woman approached me bearing some burden in her arms. She addressed me, here is something will gladden your heart. He will make as great a brave as his father. His name is Black Panther. Here, look at your child. Sure enough, my little wife had presented me with a son who was at this present time, 1855, first counselor of the Crow Nation. Two nights afterward I started on a third expedition with a party of sixty-three warriors, my new wife accompanying me for the third time. We took a southerly course toward the country of the Blackfeet and captured near two hundred head of horses, with which we returned home by way of the fort. On arriving at the fort I found that my services were required and that they were about to dispatch a courier after me on business of great importance. I told the commander that I must go home with my party, but that I would return to the fort with the least possible delay. Accordingly we started on. On the road we fell in with a small party of trappers who were under the conduct of an old schoolmate of mine, David Adams. They seemed greatly dejected and I inquired of them the cause. Adams then related that he had been robbed of everything he possessed by some of his men confederated with a number of my Indians and that they had sent him off in the forlorn condition in which I now saw him. I asked him to describe the appearance of the Indians who took part in robbing him. One of the party said he was not an Indian but a mulatto. There was no mulatto when I left I answered and you must be mistaken. No he replied I am not. You will find him there on your return. Well said I. Get up and return to the village with me. I will sift this matter to the bottom. He declined to accompany me. They told me if I return he urged that they would kill us all and I dare not go back. Come with me I said if there is any killing to be done I will have a hand in it. He at length consented to return with me. On gaining the village I rode up to my father's lodge and said how is this? You allow white men to be robbed in the village directly under your eyes. Do you wish to call down the vengeance of the great white chief upon the crows? Do you wish them to be made poor and miserable like the other tribes? Have I not often told you of the immense number of white warriors that they were like the sand of the prairie as the leaves of the forest? Hold my son. I had nothing to do in the matter. My heart was sorrowful when I heard of the crime. It was Highlands who committed it. Then I will go and kill him or be killed myself, said I, and away I sped to the lodge of Highlands. Go with him! Go with him! exclaimed my father to all my brothers and relatives around. He is mad! Go and protect him! I advanced to Highlands who was standing at his lodge who, on seeing me approach, stepped in and shut his door. I dismounted and tore his door down in an instant and demanded of him what he had been doing. I remarked that his lodge was extremely well supplied with goods. Highlands, said I, in an authoritative tone, restored to these men their horses without one moment's delay. I have taken no horses, said he sullenly. Send for them in an instant, said I. By this time my dog soldiers, the bravest men in the nation were surrounding me. What does our chief want? demanded they. I told them that I wanted all the goods taken out of the lodge of Highlands for then he had assisted to steal them from a white man who was my friend. Instantly the lodge was hoisted and torn into a thousand pieces and Highlands, the mulatto and eleven white men were exposed to plain view. I then accosted the mulatto. What are you doing here, you black velvet headed scoundrel? You come here in my absence to put the devil into the heads of the Indians. Who are bad enough already? I will have your scalp torn off, you consummate villain. The poor fellow was frightened almost to death and trembled in every joint. He replied, the crows gave me liberty to stay here and trap in their country and, not another word interrupted I, though I will hang you at any rate. Then, turning to the eleven renegade white men, I said, I give you just five minutes to leave the village. If you are longer in going, I will order my warriors to scalp every one of you. You assume to be white men and yet think no more of yourselves than to enter an Indian village and set such an example to the savages. Whereas, if they were to treat you in such a manner, you would think death too light a punishment. You rob your own race and forbid their return to the village under pain of death, allying yourselves with the worst Indian in the tribe. After stripping your victim, you forcibly deprive him of his few trusty followers and bid him go through these trackless wilds filled with murderous savages. Who, had they come across him, would have murdered him before he reached the fort? I raided them thus soundly, but not one offered to lift his hand. The stolen horses were very quickly forthcoming and the perloined property was readily produced. I restored it to my friend before them. Now, I said, addressing the gang, you can return to the fort with Mr. Adams, but if I hear that you offer to molest him in any way, your scalps shall pay for it. Then, turning to the mulatto, I said, you have instigated all this mischief and I should only be doing my duty to put my threat into execution and hang you as I promised. However, you can go to the fort with these men. I shall be there about as soon as you will and I will attend to your case then. I'll see if I can not teach you better than to come among the crows again. Mr. Adams belonged to Captain Bonneville's company and was leader of a party of about twenty men. He had come into the crow country for the purpose of trading and trapping. The mulatto had arrived previously and had brought a Canadian with him. The mulatto could speak the crow language tolerably well. He had become acquainted with Highlands, who was a bad Indian, and had relations as bad as himself. And through this click he had obtained permission to stay and trap in the country. On the arrival of Mr. Adams, the mulatto made himself very familiar with his men, representing to them that they were fools to travel for hire when they could stay among the crows with him and do so much better. By these arguments he induced eleven of Mr. Adams' party to desert him when, with the participation of Highlands and other bad Indians, they stripped him of all his goods. Mr. Adams expressed his warmest thanks to me for my interference. I told him I had only done my duty, as I always had done in like cases, and should continue to do as long as I remained with the crows. This business settled, I received a third sound thrashing from my new wife's husband and relatives for again making free with his wife. After the lapse of three days I left for the fort, again taking my friend's lady. Her husband, finding that I was incorrigible, grew furious, and declared he only wished to have me in his power once more. My dog soldier said to him, you have whipped him three times, and you shall whip him no more. Neither shall you do him any farther harm. Red Cherry loves him, and she does not love you. She will always go with him. You might as well try to turn Big Horn back to its mountain sources as to attempt to separate them, unless you kill them. You would not be so cowardly as to spill the blood of the pretty Red Cherry, because she loves our chief. If you should fight him, he will kill you, and if you should assassinate him, we would avenge his death. No, no, Big Rain must not hurt our chief. But we will buy your claim to the Red Cherry, and give her to Red Arm for his own. You, a great chief, should despise to want a woman who loves another warrior better than you. Big Rain drooped his head on finding the dog soldiers were against him, and gave way to deep reverie. He loved the Red Cherry as children love the delicious fruit bearing the same name. After weighing the matter well, he reluctantly acceded to the offer, and consented to resign all interest and title in Mrs. Big Rain for the consideration of one warhorse, ten guns, ten chief's coats, scarlet cloth, ten pairs of new leggings, and the same number of moccasins. The stipulation was forthwith produced by my faithful dog soldiers, and I had the exclusive right to the Red Cherry, without the fear of a drubbing every time I returned. Such acts are as common among the Rocky Mountain tribes, as they have been among the whites in California since the discovery of gold there. Though in the latter place, the penalty is frequently more severe than among the wild tribes of the mountains and prairies. My new wife was the perfection of symmetry. Few of the Caucasian race could boast of handsomer features, and nothing but the rich olive color of this skin betrayed her Indian origin. Big Rain always regarded me with an evil eye after the transaction, and several times attempted to induce the lady to return to him. Many warriors, whose wives had played truant, had cut off their noses to deprive them of their attractions. I told Red Cherry that if ever she should return to Big Rain, he would surely serve her so. She never manifested any disposition to leave me, and my engagement to the American fur company enabled me to dress my wives better than any other woman in the whole nation. It was now early spring, and I started for the fort. Before I left, I told the Crows what time I wished them to follow me with their peltry. On my arrival, I was informed that a Mr. Johnson Gardner had bought quite a large lot of goods, which he had taken to his camp 18 miles down the river. The morning after my arrival, three men were dispatched from the fort to acquaint him that I had come. I had 200 warriors with me, and on the night of our arrival, we formed a camp and turned out the horses, not apprehending any danger. Early in the morning, one of my followers went out to fetch up the horses, when he found them all missing, and the trail visible on which they had been taken away. The alarm was instantly given, and I ran to the top of the hill to take a general survey. I saw two objects on the ice, which appeared to me to be men, and this excited my apprehensions that they were two of the men dispatched from the fort as they lay in the direction which they had taken. I collected my warriors instantly for the pursuit, lacing all our women and children in the fort. I ordered some of the white men down on the ice to bring in the supposed bodies. Alas, my suspicions proved too true. All three men had been butchered, and when we rode up their bodies were scarcely cold. The eyes of the warriors flashed fire, and without delaying a moment on we swept in pursuit of revenge. We traveled about thirty miles, each man leading his war horse, and our saddle horses were beginning to tire, and we saw nothing of the enemy. Darkness would close over us, we feared, before we could overtake them. We then mounted our war horses, which were as swift as the wind, and leaving the saddle horses behind, on we went faster than ever. Darkness was already upon us, when we came in sight of a large fire in the distance. Now boys, we have them, cried I. We rode on until we neared the camp of the enemy, as we supposed, and then I examined their position previous to the onset. Just as I was about to give the order to charge, I heard a voice from the camp saying, Throw them in! Damn them! Throw them in! I then saluted the camp, shouting at the top of my voice, Hello the camp! Don't shoot boys, we are crows! I am Jim Beckworth! I then rode up with my whole party, and found that they had taken two prisoners from the very party we were in pursuit of, and under the following circumstances. The pursued party rode up to the camp, and several of them dismounted, among whom was Anton Garo, a Canadian half-breed, well-known in St. Louis. Garo could speak tolerably good English. He accosted Garner with, How do you do? You have got a good fire. Who are you, inquired gardener, that you speak English? My name is Garo. What Indians are those with you? Oh, they are good Indians. They will not hurt you. Garner discovered that too many were dismounting and crowding round his camp, and he perceived that many of them rode in the direction of his horses, and he became alarmed, as he well might be at his situation. Garo, said he again, tell me, what Indians are these? They are re-carrés, said he. They have borrowed your horses, but they will bring them back again. He said this as he saw Gardner look in the direction of his horses. Re-carrés, repeated Gardner, to your gunsmen, seize them! Old Garo stepped away with an accelerated pace, and two only of the Indians were arrested. Garo stood off at a safe distance, and demanded the two Indians. You cannot have them until you bring me my horses, said Gardner. Then we will have the tops of your heads, threatened the old rascal. Yes, you would have the tops of our heads, but come and take them, if you can. They rode off, taking every horse that Gardner possessed, and if he had not been on the alert, they would have taken a few scalps as well. These were the two prisoners that were in question when we rode up. They had bound them with trap chains, and were in the act of throwing them into a tremendous log fire that was burning in the camp. They opened the logs on the top of the fire, and swinging the two victims into the flames, rolled back the burning logs. There was a terrible struggle for a moment. Then all was still. A blue flame towered high above the pile, and quickly subsided. My Indians begged the privilege of scalping them before they were burned, but Gardner told them he wished to burn them up clean. You are going after their companions, he said, and you can get plenty more scalps. Yes, they replied, we will get plenty, and bring your horses back besides. I really felt proud of my warriors in seeing them animated with so true a spirit. We breathed our horses for a few minutes, for they were in a perfect foam, and then started after them again in hot pursuit. By next morning we came within two gunshot distance of the enemy without being perceived, as a roll in the prairie hit us from their view. We rested for a few moments to refresh our horses and prepare them for the charge. We heard a continual firing, as if kept up by the enemy, and then a terrific explosion, which made the earth tremble. Yells of the savages succeeded to this, and I then learned that there had been a battle between the Indians and traders, and that the whole stock of the trader's powder had exploded. Now, thought I, is the time to charge, and I gave the word to my impatient warriors. We were among them like a thunderbolt, even before they had time to mount their horses, for they had not yet recovered from the fright of the explosion. We cut down 172 of them before they had time to fire 20 shots. The whole force of the enemy amounted to 400 men, and those who remained unhurt, scattered in all directions. We did not pursue them as our horses were so badly jaded. Pineleaf, who charged gallantly by my side, was wounded with a bullet, which broke her left arm just below the elbow. Placing her wounded arm in her bosom, she grew more desperate than ever, and three of the enemy met their death from the point of her lance after she received her wound. Becoming faint from loss of blood, she was constrained to retire. We had 12 others wounded. We recovered all our own horses, and recaptured those belonging to Gardner, besides a great number in the possession of the enemy. For spoils, we gathered near 200 scouts in a vast amount of firearms and other equipments. After this signal victory, we returned to Gardner's camp, reaching there the same evening. Before leaving, however, we took three blackened and disfigured bodies. The remains of the trappers, who had so heroically defended themselves, and who, to all appearance, had blown themselves up, rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. This supposition was warranted by the appearance of the ground. Evidently, the savages had set fire to the grass all around, thinking to burn them out, but it had not reached them. I surmised that the Indians had charged on them in a body, and, when near to the trappers, had been scattered with the ignition of three kegs of powder in the possession of the trappers. For some of the carcasses of the Indians were badly scorched. Our reception at the camp of Gardner was enthusiastic. Beckworth and his brave warriors forever, rent the air in acclamations. The heroine's arm was set in good style by Dr. Walton at Gardner's camp, and in a few weeks it was sound again. The Indians have no bones setters. When their bones get broken, they tie them up as well as possible, and trust in provenance for the result. They joined us, and went on to the fort with us. When we came inside of the place, we formed all in line, and displayed our scalps on the ends of sticks, and discharged our guns, and sung at the top of our voices. This brought every person out of the fort to look at us. We then opened our column, and I requested Gardner to drive all the horses with full speed to the fort. Just before he reached there, we spurred our horses on to the front, and encircled the fort several times, still displaying our scalps, and singing the scalp dance, burden, louder and louder, while all the occupants of the post joined in. There were hilarious times round the fort that night. We had sent word to the village to summon the crows to the trading post, to help us mourn for the three white men who had recently been killed on the ice, and who were yet unburied. I omitted to mention in proper place that Glass's body was found near the fort, probably on his retreat after he had discovered the Indians. The whole village accordingly started to join us, while I and my party went out to meet them and acquaint them with our success. In consideration of my distinguished services, I was elevated to second counselor of the nation. We met them about a day's ride from the fort, and had a great celebration over the communication of our victory. We returned together and buried the three men amid the most terrible scenes that I had ever witnessed. The crying was truly appalling. The three men were well known and highly esteemed by the crows. When their bodies were lowered to their last resting place, numberless fingers were voluntarily chopped off and thrown into the graves. Hair and trinkets of every description were also contributed, and the graves were finally filled up. I then set the men to work in building boats to carry our peltry down to Fort Union at the mouth of the Yellowstone, wither I intended going as soon as the river was free from ice. When completed, I put on board seven hundred packs of buffalo robes, ten robes in each pack, and forty-five packs of beaver. I forwarded orders for such goods as were wanted, and also word for another clerk in the place of poor Rose, who had lost his life in the service of the company. End of Chapter 17