 Chapter 21 The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer, and Chief of the Cronation of Indians Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner This is a lever box recording. All lever box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit leverbox.org. While we were indulging in the display of our captured horses while encamped outside the fort, the spotted antelope, one of my relatives, came to me and intimated that I had better visit the fort as they had lost six men by the black feet. He was in morning paint for the victims because the whites were his friends. I dismounted and passed through the encampment on my way to the gate. As usual, I found my father's lodge in which my little wife resided, pitched nearest to the fort, with the other lodges of my various relatives grouped in a row, their contiguity to my parents' lodge being graduated by their propinquity of kin. I found pine leaf seeded by my wife, amusing herself with the black panther, whose civilized patronymic was little Jim, while almost all the other women were dancing. I delayed a moment to inquire why these two women were not dancing with the others. Pine leaf with solemn air, inquivering lip said, your heart is crying and I never dance when your heart cries. Neither do I, said the little woman. This was a greater concession than the heroine had ever made to me before. She had told me that she would marry me, and she had frequently informed my sisters and my little wife of a similar intention. But this promise was always modified with a proviso, a contumaceous if, which could never be avoided. I will marry the medicine calf, she would say, if I marry any man. A great many moons had waxed and wanded since she first spoke of the pine leaves turning yellow, but they had not yet lost their verger, and I had failed to discover a red-handed Indian. In conversation with Mr. Tulik, the Commodon of the fort, I learned that they had been incessantly harassed by the Blackfeet ever since our last visit, who had invested them on all sides, rendering it extremely dangerous for any of the inmates to venture outside the gate. He further informed me that he had had six men massacred and 54 horses stolen. He had sent for me, he said, to come and select a new site where they would be liable to less molestation and be less in fear of their lives. I consulted with our Chiefs and Braves upon the selection of a more secure location for a new fort, and it was unanimously agreed upon that the mouth of the Rosebud, 30 miles lower down the river, offered the best situation, as the country was fair and open all round, and afforded the hostile Indians no good places of concealment. There was also a fine grazing country there and plenty of buffalo so that a village of the Crows could winter under the fort and afford them the protection of their presence. As soon as the Crows had completed their purchases, I started them up the bighorn on their way back with the promise that I would rejoin them in a few days. I then took a boat filled with goods and 20 men and dropped down the river until we came across a beautiful location for the new fort. We then returned and removed the effects of the present fort to the new site and then immediately set about constructing a new post. We measured off 180 yards square, which we enclosed as quickly as possible with hewn timber 18 feet high and a sufficient thickness to resist a rifle ball. All the house is required for the accommodation of the inmates were commodiously constructed inside. Having finished the construction of the fort, I gave full instructions for the management of its affairs and then departed for the village where my presence was required to incite the Indians to devote themselves to trapping and hunting buffalo for which service I was paid by the American Fur Company. As I was about starting, a deputation of 50 asny bone came to the post, leaving a letter from Mr. McKenzie at the lower fort addressed to me requesting me to constrain the asny bone into a treaty of peace with the crows in order that their incessant wars might be brought to a close and the interests of the company less interfered with. Had they arrived earlier while the village was present at the old fort, I would have immediately called a council of the nation and had the business settled. I seriously regretted their inopportune arrival as it not only delayed the conclusion of the proposed peace which was in every way desirable, but it would have saved me a very hazardous and anxious journey with the whole deputation of hostile Indians on our way to the village where I had but one companion as a guarantee for my security. I was aware that the Indians remembered many a horse-borrowing adventure wherein I had taken an active part and I had had too much experience of Indian character not to appreciate to the full the imminent danger I incurred in trusting myself with this band of savages in our intended journey across the wilderness. Mr. Keane, a native of Massachusetts, was my companion on this excursion. We started on foot in company with the party of Asney Bone. Everything went well until our fourth day out. We were traveling leisurely along the Indians in close conversation among themselves of which I understood but little not enough to make out the subject of their consultation though I mistrusted I formed the matter of their discourse. One of the chiefs and his son were a few rods in advance in close conversation. The party at length halted and sat down on the grass to smoke. My companion unsuspicious of evil started on to kill Buffalo while the party rested. The chief and his son who were in advance returned and passed one on each side of me. I instantly heard a gun click which I felt certain was the sound of cocking it. I turned my head and saw the chief's son with his piece leveled ready to shoot. I sprang to my feet and grasped the barrel of his gun just as he discharged it the load passing into the air. I drew my battle axe and raised it to strike the treacherous rascal down but a chief arrested my arm saying as nearly as I could understand him hold don't strike him he is a fool. A general melee then ensued among the party. High words were bandied and there seemed an equal division among them on the propriety of taking my life. By this time I had withdrawn a few yards and stood facing them with my rifle ready cocked. On hearing the report my companion ran back and seeing how matter stood exclaimed there is a fort just ahead let us run and get into it. We can then fight the whole parcel of the treacherous devils. We started for it but the Indians were ahead of us. They arrived there first and took possession of it and again had a long confab while we remained at their mercy outside. The party opposed to killing me appeared greatly to predominate and we were not again molested though neither I nor Mr. Keane slept one moment during the ensuing night. In the morning we started on our way but we kept strict watch on their movements. The following afternoon I discovered two Indians on the hillside and although they were at a great distance I conceived them to be crows. Most likely spies from the village which proved to be the case. No one else had seen them but myself and I imparted my discovery to my friend. I then told the head chief who well understood the crow language that we were near the crow village and that if any of them should visit our camp during the night he must be sure to call me before he suffered any of his people to speak to them or they would be all inevitably massacred. He accordingly issued orders to that purport to all his men and erected his lodge in front of the party so as to be the first inquired of by the crows. I and my partner then lay down and soon were sound asleep. About midnight the chief shook me and informed me the crows were coming. A host of warriors swarmed around our encampment and pointing their guns at the camp said, What people are you? Bud-da up Sauruki. We are sparrow hawks. Go back I replied. I have other people with me who are come to make peace. On hearing my voice which they readily recognized they retired. The next morning we moved on and met the village who were approaching toward us. The asny bones on seeing such a host began to tremble. Our soldiers came driving along. My brave dog soldiers ineffectually striving to keep them back. For as they restrain them in one place they broke through in another until the warriors rode almost upon the toes of their guests. A council was shortly called to listen to the arguments of the envoy extraordinaire from the asny bone nation. Several of the council applied to me for my sentiments on the subject but I deferred it to the collective wisdom of the nation. When I had at first arrived like many another foolish man I mentioned to my wife the narrow escape of my life I had just made and she, like many another foolish woman, unable to contain herself, related the information to pine leaf who was her bosom friend. While the council were busy deliberating and some explanatory statements had been listened to regarding a matter which I supposed would have afforded no food for discussion the heroine entered the assembly. Warriors, she said, you are assembled here. I believe to deliberate on peace or war with the asny bone. In coming to our village with the medicine calf they attempted to take his life and came very near accomplishing their end. Will you conclude peace with a people who possess such base hearts? I do not believe you will. Such an instantaneous change of continence in an assembly was never before seen. Pine leaf the nation's favorite had spoken and as usual had spoken to the purpose. Though a woman her influence was everywhere strongly felt even in council. She had a gift of speech which the bravest warriors might well envy. She was ever listened to with admiration and in truth though young her judgment on all important matters was generally guided by sound sense. Every eye in the assembly flashed fire at the intelligence of this contemplated treachery and was directed first upon me and then upon the asny bone. I immediately arose and said, warriors, I conducted these people to our village because they said they were anxious to make peace with us. While on the road one young asny bone whom they declared to be a fool attempted to shoot me but the others interfered to prevent him and were sorry for what he had done. This was no deliberate treachery it was the folly of the young man and the party showed their friendly attention by their prompt interference. Do not allow this to make any difficulty in the way of a peace with the asny bone. My obligation to the fur company made it my duty to smooth the matter over for at this moment the slightest whisper from me would have suffice to hack the whole deputation to pieces in a moment. The council held a short consultation together and the first counselor arose and thus addressed himself to the chief of the asny bone. Asny bone, you behold that chief pointing to me. Our women and all our warriors carry him here holding out his left hand and indicating the palm with a finger of his right hand. He is our chief. He is our great chief. He and his brother Longhair who sits by him are the two great chiefs of our nation. It is he who has made us great and powerful. It is he who has rendered us the terror of other nations. It is he who by living with his white friends for many winters and knowing them all has brought us guns and ammunition and taught our young men how to use them. It is he who has built us a fort where we can at all times go and buy everything we require. He loves the white man and has made all the whites to love us. We fight for the whites and kill their enemies because they are the friends of our chief. If you had killed him, our nation would have mourned in blood. Listen asny bone, if you had killed our chief, our whole nation would have made war on you and we would have put out your last fire and have killed the last man of your nation. We would have taken possession of your hunting grounds. Our women would have become warriors against you. We would have hunted you as we hunt the wild beasts. Now go. We will not harm you. Go. We will sleep tonight but we will not make peace until we sleep and our hearts have considered upon it. Come to us again when your hearts are clean. They are foul now and when you come you must have your tongue straight. You are poor. You have no horses. We have plenty and will give you horses. I have done. Go. They made no reply but went straight away out of the lodge. A horse was furnished to each man. Those who were without guns received one and several articles were presented to them by our women. Go. Go. Go was dimmed in the ears from all present and accordingly they went. They proceeded immediately to the trading post where they gave a stirring narrative of what they had seen. They told them they had seen many chiefs but never one approaching to the great crow chief. That all his people loved him. That when he entered the village all the children ran up to him and shook him by the hand and that they had never seen a chief so much respected by his warriors and all his people. They told how when I arrived I was presented with the best war horse they had ever seen. That he had two panther skins on his saddle and a collar about his neck trimmed with bears claws and a bridle surpassing all they had ever heard of. They said that they would all have been killed on their approach to the village as the crows came to the camp during the night but that the great chief only spoke one word and the tribe was stilled and departed in a moment. Not a word did they mention about their attempt on my life. They merely said that the crows would not make peace with them but had wished to treat again with them at some future time. I suspect they must have told marvelous tales when they reached home for we were not troubled with them anymore for a long time. The crows have something of a Gaelic temperament. They must have excitement no matter whence derived although the excitement of war suits them by far the best. They were again clamorous for war. They did not care against whom and I alone must lead them as my presence was a guarantee of success. Many of my friends opposed my going. My father's medicine told him that I should meet with a great disaster. My wife pleaded with me to remain. Even the heroine who never before showed reluctance to engage in war had forebodings of disaster and earnestly entreated me to stay. But I had previously given my word to my warriors and had selected 154 of my best followers to engage in an expedition. I must confess that if I had obeyed my own feelings or rather if I had attended to my own misgivings I should certainly have stayed at home. What motive prompted me to go and what gain could possibly accrue to mixing with savages in their intestine broils with other savages. However we started. Little white bear as brave a warrior as ever drew bowstring was my second in command and pine leaf was one of the number. We started for the Blackfoot territory traveling by way of the fort where we stayed three days. They had already finished their pickets and the work was progressing finally. There were 50 men employed upon it. Mr. Tuluk inquired where I was going. I told him that my warriors wanted employment and to gratify them I was going to the Blackfoot country in quest of scalps or horses. He said, for God's sake do not go Jim. I have a presentiment that a great calamity awaits you that I shall never see you again. For your own safety turn back to the village or rest here. Many of my friends who were working at the fort expressed the same sentiments. All mentioned or foreboding that if I should venture into the Blackfoot country with my little force I should infallibly be cut to pieces. I thought such despondency only natural since they had been so badly harassed with the enemy that their fears magnified the danger. Still it was singular that both civilized and savage should give way to such forebodings. The morning for our departure came. My warriors were impatient to get on. Some had galloped on ahead and were prancing and crevetting awaiting my departure. I prepared my going with a heavy heart which ill fortified me against the representations of my friends. I started. Mr. Tuluk and several of my friends accompanying me a few rods. I bade them goodbye. My friend Tuluk's eyes filled with tears. I was seized with momentary hesitation. What did all this portend? I looked round for my moccasin-bearer. He had gone on. This determined me. I dashed off to my warriors resolved to listen to no such idle fears. There was a young gentleman with me named Hunter a Kentuckian who having a great curiosity to witness an Indian battle insisted on joining in the expedition the first night that we were encamped being influenced by what I had heard all around me and fearing some disaster might happen to him among us. I begged him to go back to the fort and await our return there. He refused to listen to me. We then offered him as many of our best horses as he might wish to select after our return as an inducement for him to be hired to go back but all in vain. I have started with you he said and I will go if I am to lose my life there is no help for it. My warriors did not wish him to go as they feared a white man might bring us bad luck. Some expressed the fear that he might be killed with us and then I should then cry. He was a free trapper in the country and much respected at the fort. We continued our course until we arrived at Little Box Elder Creek. Here our spies discovered a blackfoot village which from a cursory examination we concluded consisted of but few lodges. At midnight we abstracted a large drove of about 700 horses and started directly upon our return. We did not drive so fast as is customary on such occasions for we thought that the few black feet that the village contained could be easily disposed of should they venture to molest us. About 10 the next morning our spies being about 600 yards in advance of us signaled to us to hasten as they had discovered some men. We accelerated our speed thinking there might be a chance of adding a few scouts to our present booty. Having advanced a few hundred yards we discovered more black feet than we had bargained for and I became aware that a terrible battle must ensue. The whole scene appeared alive with them outnumbering us ten to one. There was not a moment to lose. I directed all the boys to drive on the horses with the utmost speed possible and to await us two days at the fort. If we should not arrive during that time to go home and report to the village that we were all slain. I also requested Mr. Hunter to select the best horse in the herd and go with the boys. But he refused saying if there was any fighting in the wind he wanted to have his hand in it. I then endeavored to persuade the heroine to go but was answered with an emphatic no. The boys started with the horses but only succeeded in reaching the fort with about 200. We had a very poor chance for defending ourselves against such an overwhelming force as was then before us in an open field fight. There was no fort nor breastwork nor rocks nor bushes to protect us but we were exposed to the storm of bullets and arrows that they poured upon us without ceasing. At last we discovered a large hole in front of a hill and we all leapt into it for shelter. The enemy confident of an easy victory displayed great bravery for Blackfeet. They charged up to the very brink of our entrenchment discharging their volleys at us in lines which considering the advantage of their position produced comparatively little effect. One of my warriors repeatedly ran out of the entrenchment alone and drove all before him. Exasperated at my cursed misadventure and absolutely sickening at the scene of mourning we should occasion at the village, I grew desperate and lost all consideration of safety. I sprang from the gully and rushed singly among a crowd of besiegers. Wherever I advanced the enemy drew back. It was truly astonishing to see three or four hundred recede and many of them fairly run as often as two or three of us showed ourselves at the top of the bank when they might have burned us to death with the powder from the muzzles of their guns. They seemed to be panic struck or bewildered. The warrior who had charged so often among them had his thigh broken. He then sat down and tantalized them. He told them who he was how many of their warrior scouts he had taken and at what times how many of their squaws and horses he had captured and then desired them to come and finish him and take his scalp for it had long been forfeit to them. He reminded me of the words of the poet which I had read when at home. Remember the wood where in ambush we lay and the scalps which we bore from your nation away. Remember the arrows I shot from my bow and remember your chiefs by my hatchet laid low. He was soon killed being pierced with numerous arrows and bullets. An old brave in the pit exclaimed let us not stay in this hole to be shot like dogs. Let us go out and break through the ranks of the black feet. They cannot kill us all. Some will get away. I will go foremost. I can break through their ranks alone. Some hundreds of the enemy had climbed the hill as they could not half of them get to the side of the pit and thence they showered volleys of stones upon us which annoyed us more than their bullets. At length little white bear desired the old brave to lead and we would follow and break through their line. I requested hunter to keep as near the front as possible when we made the charge as he would incur less danger of being cut down. He took his place accordingly. Out we rushed from the pit the old warrior leading the way and hewing down right and left until the enemy finally opened their column and suffered us to pass through. We left 24 of our party behind either killed in the pit or cut down enforcing their column. I was near the rear and after passing a short distance from their line I came upon poor hunter who had his back broken by a ball and was in a dying condition. I asked him if he was badly hurt. He answered, Yes, I am dying. Go on and save yourself. You can do me no good. When the little bear came up to him he sat down by his side and refused to leave him. He said, I will die with my white friend and go with him to the spirit land. I looked and saw him fall over upon the body of poor hunter. He was also killed. Pine leaf had cut her way through in advance of me and was dodging first one way and then the other as she awaited for me to cut up. Why do you wait to be killed? She inquired. If you wish to die let us return together. I will die with you. We continued our retreat for a few miles but the enemy no longer molested us. He had not followed us more than 200 yards. We had left all our robes behind us in the pit that we might not be burned with them in our charge. The weather was extremely cold and we halted to build a large fire which we rested by all night warming one side at a time. The old brave who led the assault lost the sun in the strife. He continued to sing all the way until he became horse and he could sing no more. He prayed to the great spirit to give him an opportunity to avenge his loss which prayer was accorded several times over during the ensuing winter. The heroine lost one joint off the little finger of her right hand amputated with a bullet. The little finger of her other hand she had caught off at the death of her twin brother. Fortunately I had saved my capote and I gave it to her to wear as she was suffering severely with the cold. We also killed several buffaloes on our way to the fort and made wrappers of the raw hides for many of the men. Still a number were badly frozen in their bodies and limbs. This was my Russian campaign. I lost more men and suffered more from the cold on this expedition than in any other in which I had command either before or since. The boys reached the fort with the horses before we did. They had more than enough to mount us all on our way home. There was great joy at the fort at our return in such numbers as they had supposed it impossible for one of us to escape. When I left the lamented hunter upon the field he said, Jim, when you pass this way I ask you to take my bones to the fort and have them buried right home to my friends and inform them of my fate. Goodbye. Now go and save yourself. It shall be done, I said, and the following spring it was done as I had promised. We rested at the fort four or five days to recruit ourselves. While staying there a party of 30 warriors from Long Hares Village came to see how they were progressing with the fort. They were some in my party who belonged to that village and they returned with them. They also informed us where our village was as it had been removed during our absence. Having provided ourselves with robes in the place of those we had left behind we started onward with dejected feelings and in deep mourning. On our arrival we found the village likewise in mourning. They had lost four warriors by the Blackfeet while resisting an attempt to steal our horses. When informed of our disaster there was a general renewal of their lamentations. More fingers were lopped and heads again scarified. The medicine calf had been defeated and for some hidden cause the Great Spirit was again wroth with the crows. End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 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 lever box recording. All lever box recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit leverbox.org. In case any capsious elders of the congregation had been inclined to throw the blame of my recent disaster upon my shoulders, I was provided with a sufficient portent to screen me from consequences. After quitting the fort on our way to Little Box Elder as before related and while exhausting all my powers of persuasion to induce Mr. Hunter to return, we observed a remarkable meteoric shower which filled us all, more particularly my followers, with wonder and admiration. This was at our first encampment after leaving the fort in the latter end of October 1832. Although my warriors were ready to face death in any form, this singular phenomenon appalled them. It was the wrath of the Great Spirit showered visibly upon them and they looked to me in quality of medicine chief to interpret the wonder. I was as much struck with the prodigious occurrence and was equally at a loss with my untutored followers to account for the spectacle. Evidently I must augur some result therefrom and my dejected spirits did not prompt me to deduce a very encouraging one. I thought of all the imposters that are practiced upon the credulous and my imagination suggested some brilliant figures to my mind. I thought of declaring to them that the Great Spirit was pleased with our expedition and was lighting us on our way with spirit lamps or that these meteors were the spirits of our departed braves coming to assist us in our forthcoming fight, but I was not sanguine enough to indulge in any attractive oratory. I merely informed them I had not time to consult my medicine but that on our return to the village I would interpret the miracle to them in full. On our arrival I found the people's minds still agitated with the prodigy. All were speaking of it in wonder and amazement and my opinion was demanded respecting the consequences it portended. Admonished by my defeat I had no trouble in reading the stars. I informed them that our people had evidently offended the Great Spirit, that it was because of his wrath I had suffered defeat in my excursion and returned with the loss of 23 warriors. I thence inferred that a sacrifice must be made to appease the wrath of the Great Spirit and recommended that a solemn assembly be convened and a national oblation offered up. I was fully confident that by thus continencing such pagan superstitions I was doing very wrong. But like many a more prominent statesman in civilized governments I had found that I must go with the current and I recommended a measure not because it was of a nature to benefit the country but simply because it was popular with the mass. The camp in which we then were was a morning camp in which medicine would have no effect. Therefore we moved to Sulphur River ten miles distant in order to offer up our sacrifice. All the leading men and braves assembled and I was consulted as to the kind of offering proper to make for the purpose of averting the wrath that was consuming us. I ordered them to bring the Great Medicine Kettle which was of brass and capable of holding ten gallons and was purchased at a cost of twenty fine robes and to polish it as bright as the sun's face. This done I ordered them to throw in all their most costly and most highly prized trinkets and whatsoever they cherished the most dearly. It was soon filled with their choices treasures. Keepsakes, fancy work on which months of incessant and patient toil had been expended. Trinkets, jewels, rings so highly prized by them that the costliest gems of emperors seemed poor by their side. All these were thrown into the kettle along with a bountiful contribution of fingers until it would hold no more. I then had weights attached to it and had it carried to an airhole in the ice where the river was very deep and there it was sunk with becoming ceremony. Three young maidens, habited like May queens, carried the burden. This great sacrifice completed. The minds of the people were relieved and the result of the next war party was anxiously looked forward to to see if our oblation was accepted. Their crying however continued unabated. So much to the derangement of my nervous system that I was famed to retire from the village and seek some less dollarous companionship. My bosom friend and myself therefore started off unnoticed and traveled on without stopping until we came to a hill some seven or eight miles distant. He was preeminently a great brave, at all times self-possessed and unobtrusive. I always considered him as endowed with the most solid sense and possessing the clearest views of any Indian in the nation. His spirits were generally somewhat dejected, but that I attributed to the loss of all his relatives. When I wished to enjoy a little converse or sober meditation, he always was my chosen companion and there were qualities in his character which interested me and assimilated with my own. He never craved popularity, never envied the elevation of others, but seemed rather to rejoice at another person's success. He would listen to me for an entire day when I spoke of my residence with the whites and told of their great battles where thousands were slain on both sides. When I described their ships carrying immense guns capable of sweeping hundreds of men away at a discharge and when I depicted to him their forts to which our forts for size or strength were but as anthills. I then would tell him of the great Atlantic Ocean and the millions of white men living beyond it, of countries where there was no summer and others where there was no winter and a thousand other marvels, of which I never spoke to other warriors as their minds were too limited to comprehend me. After listening to me with the deepest attention until I would grow tired of talking, he would seem to be perfectly amazed and would be lost in a deep reverie for some time as though endeavoring to raise his ideas to a level with the vast matters he had been listening to. Occasionally he would tell me of the traditions handed down from generation to generation in the Indian race in which he was elegantly learned. He told me of the mighty tribes of men who had once inhabited this vast continent but were now exterminated by internecine wars, that their fathers had told them of a great flood which had covered all the land except the highest peaks of the mountains where some of the inhabitants and the buffaloes resorted and saved themselves from destruction. We were on a hill as before mentioned some seven or eight miles from the village engaged in one of these long cosmographical discussions when my companion, chancing to turn his head, described some object at a great distance, pointing it out to me with his finger. There is a people he exclaimed. I looked in the direction indicated and saw a small party of black feet approaching. Sit still said I and let us see where they encamp. We will have every one of them tonight. We watched them until they halted at a couple of small Indian forts with which the country abounds and we saw they were soon joined by four or five others who came from another direction and who were evidently scouts. From the direction which they came I saw they had not discovered our village. Now, said I, let us return. We will have that party. We will collect a few trusty warriors and not mention our discovery to a living soul not even telling our warriors the errand we are upon until we get within sight of the campfires of the enemy. Then we will return with their scouts and put an end to this howling that deafens my ears. We started on our way to the village. I desired him to select from his friends and I would assemble my own. No, said he. My friends are fools. I don't want them, but you collect your warriors and I will be one of them. Accordingly I went to my father and desired him to send for about 75 of my brothers and relatives and tell them the medicine calf wished to see them. But I charged him not to tell them they were going away from the village. As they mustered one at a time I acquainted them that I wanted them to leave the village singly and with the utmost secrecy to meet me with their guns and battle axes at a certain hour and in such a place and in the meantime to answer no word to whatever question might be asked them at the appointed hour I repaired to the post and found them all in readiness. I then marched them to the place of attack. When we arrived within sight of our foes we found them all very merry. They were singing the wolf song or song of the spies. They having no suspicion that they were so near to the crow village. We went cautiously up to the forts which were but a few yards apart and while they were yet singing we pointed our guns and at a signal given by me all fired. The whole party were slain. Their notes were cut short in death. Taking their scalps, 19 in number and guns we reached our village by daylight and entered it singing dancing and shouting. The village was aroused and men women and children came running from all directions to learn the cause of the disturbance. We displayed our 19 scalps and I took to myself full credit for the force of my medicine in defining where to find the foe and cognizance was taken of the fact in the medicine lodge. We had five days dancing to do full justice to this brilliant achievement and I had become so tired of their continual mourning that their savage gels of delight seemed quite a luxury. One night a party of black feet came to borrow some of our horses and happened to be caught in the fact. The alarm was given the marauders fired upon and one of them had his leg broken by a ball. He was found the next morning unable to get away but he sat up and defended himself until he had shot his last arrow. He was then brought into the village and it was decided to burn him. A large fire was built which was surrounded by hundreds and when the fire was well burned up the poor fellow was thrown in. This was the first act of the kind I had ever known the crows to commit but there was no preventing it. It is an appalling sight to behold a human being or even an inferior animal perish in the flames. I trust my eyes may never witness such another scene. To see the writhing agony of the suffering wretch when cast into the darting flames and hear his piercing shrieks as the blaze gradually envelops his whole body until the life is scorched out of the victim and he falls prostrate among the logs soon to become a charred mass of cinders undistinguishable from the element that consumed it. It is indeed a sight only fit for savages to look at. I learned this one truth while I was with the Indians namely that a white man can easily become an Indian but that an Indian could never become a white man. Some of the very worst savages I ever saw in the Rocky Mountains were white men and I could mention their names and expose some of their deeds but they have most probably gone to their final account before this. Our village now moved on toward the fort to purchase our spring supplies. Both villages could only raise 40 packs of beaver and 1,900 packs of robes but for their continual wars they could as easily have had 10 packs for one but it is impossible to confine an Indian to a steady pursuit not even fighting after a while he will even tire of that. It is impossible to control his wayward impulses application to profitable industry is foreign to his nature. He is a vagrant and he must wander. He has no associations to attach him to one spot. He has no engendered habits of thrift or productiveness to give him a constant aim or concentration of purpose. Both villages at length assembled at the new fort and our spring trading was briskly entered into. We rested for over a week and I then proposed moving as the time was approaching for our building a new medicine lodge. The night proceeding our proposed departure thieves were discovered among our horses. The alarm was given and a party went in pursuit. They returned with six sues scalps and two of our own men wounded. The remainder of the rascal succeeded in getting away with 16 of our animals we not considering them worth following after. We then postponed our departure four days and devoted ourselves to noise and festivity. The welkin rung with our shouts and the fort shook with the thunder of our earthquake step. End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 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. We left the fort and proceeded toward our tobacco ground. We planted the seed and spent a short time in festivity. It was deemed inexpedient to build a medicine lodge this season as all the business could be transacted in a temporary one. Our stock of horses being greatly diminished we deemed this a fitting time to try and replenish it and various small parties sallied out for that purpose. I left with only 17 warriors for the country of the Arapahos situated on the headwaters of the Arkansas. On arriving at their village we found a great number of horses upon which we made a descent but we were discovered before we could lay our hands on any and had to scatter in all directions in an effort to escape. One of our party had his leg broken with a rifle ball but he did not fall into the enemy's hands as he crawled away and secreted himself. Two months subsequently he found his way home with his leg nearly healed. He stated that after receiving his wound he plunged into the river which flowed close by and swam to an island there concealing himself in a thick brush. The enemy moved away the next day and he swam back to their camping ground where he found an abundance of meat which he carried over to his quarters. Upon this he fared sumptuously until he was strong enough to walk then he made his way home. I saw the village move the next morning and gathering four of my scattered companions I followed the enemy at a respectable distance until they encamped for the next night. We then made another descent upon their fold and succeeded in obtaining each man a horse. We saw no more of the remains of our party until we returned to our village upward of a year subsequently. We came to the resolution to quit the Arapahos and pay the snakes a visit. On reaching them we found horses in abundance and could have levied upon them for any number. But being at peace with the tribe we contended ourselves with exchanging our jaded and foot sore animals for five fresh ones from their drove. Here we dropped an arrow and they recognized it for a crow arrow readily. We also put on new moccasins and left our old ones behind us. When the snakes fell in with the crows some time after they charged them with stealing their horses which charged the crows strenuously denied. The snakes persisted and to confirm their accusation produced the arrow and the abandoned moccasins. This satisfied the crows that it must be some of the Arapaho expedition and hopes of our safety were revived. From the snakes we passed on to the Flathead territory where we found thousands of horses but felt ourselves under the same moral restrictions as with the snakes. Accordingly we merely exchanged again and again left five pairs of moccasins. Subsequently they made the same charge against the crows and accused them of infringing the treaty. The crows again pleaded innocence and again the moccasins convicted them of their guilt. They however resorted to diplomatic finesse and an appeal to arms was averted. Again their hopes were rekindled of seeing us once more. We then took a notion to pay the Kootenays a flying visit where we made another exchange. We could have taken all the horses we wanted but to get home with them we must have taken a wide circuit or have passed through the territory of two hostile nations. We next moved to the Aznebone River which empties into Hudson's Bay. Here we borrowed 150 head of fine horses from the Blood Indians and started on our way home. We arrived without accident at the Muscle Shell River within one day's ride of our own people where we encamped intending to reach home the next day. But that night the crows swept away every horse we had not even leaving us one for our own use. We must have slept very soundly during the night. Indeed we were all greatly fatigued for we did not hear a single movement. In getting our horses they glorified themselves over having made a glorious haul from the Blackfeet. Not liking to be foiled in our resolution to return home with a respectable accompaniment of horses. We retraced our steps to the Aznebone River intending to start another drove. On our return we found our friends had left and had crossed to the other side of the mountain. We followed on but delayed so long on the western slope that the heavy snowstorms now falling cut off all possibility of returning home before spring. Therefore we built a comfortable lodge in what was called Sweet Mountain in a cannon where we could kill a buffalo every day the skins of which covered entirely over our lodge made a very agreeable abode for the winter. We also killed silver large wolves and dressed their skins in the nicest manner. We likewise took three blackfoot scalps. The Indians whose horses we had been in pursuit of after having roamed about considerably had gone into winter quarters only 12 or 15 miles distant. Their smoke was visible from our lodge. On the return of spring we visited our neighbor's camp and selected 120 head of such horses as we thought would stay on the journey. We then returned over the mountain and reached as far as the Judith in safety which was within three days ride of the village. We were greatly fatigued and halted to encamp for the night and rest our jaded horses. Again the crow stripped us of every horse leaving us on foot once more. Resolved not to be beat. We determined to try our luck a third time before we returned to our village. I told my four companions that my medicine promised me success and that when we did eventually get home we should be able to see what amount of affection was felt toward us by our people by ascertaining how much crying had been done for us. I had no doubt we had been mourned as dead for we had been absent above a year. During this time we subsequently learned there had been great mourning for us and many had cut off their hair. My father however still persisted that I was alive and would some day return and he would allow none of his family to cut off their fingers for me. At the time the flatheads went in with their complaint. They were about to elect another chief to fill my place but when they saw the five pairs of moccasins produced they knew they must have had crow wares and their hopes were revived of again seeing us and the election ceremony was postponed. My father would have no steps taken toward filling my vacant place before the erection of the next medicine lodge. He said he did not know where his calf had rambled and it was his firm belief that in the course of time he would ramble home again. When we reached the Asney Bone for the third time we found that our friends who had accommodated us with the two previous droves of horses had gone over the mountain and passed down that river to Fort Roe one of the Hudson's Bay trading posts. By the appearance of their trail we judged that they had been joined by other villages probably from the Kootenays and Pagons all on their way to the trading post for the purchase of their spring supply of goods. We followed their trail for several days which grew fresher and fresher until one afternoon we came suddenly upon a horse. We were at that time in thick timber with a dense growth of underbrush and thousands of wild pea vines about. On seeing the horse we halted suddenly. On looking farther around we discovered horses of all colors and stripes ring streaked and speckled. Shortly the sound of voices reached our ears. In an instant we stooped down and crept under the almost impenetrable vines nor did we venture to move from our hiding place until night. We could distinctly hear the chatter of men women and children around us and some of the squaws came most dangerously near when gathering firewood for their campfires. We could occasionally peep out and we saw in those glimpses that they had beautiful horses and besides that they were in good traveling condition. We then felt no doubt that the Kootenays were in company since they always prided themselves in spotted horses as Jacob of Old took pride in spotted cattle. In that encampment it is so little entered into their heads to anticipate molestation that they had placed no horse guards to keep watch. The noise of the horses and tearing through the pea vines assisted us materially in our nocturnal enterprise. We selected 280 of their largest, strongest and handsomest cattle with which we lost no time in making direct for Crowland nor did we venture to give rest of their hooves until a journey. Continued through three days and nights placed what we considered a safe distance between us. We then ventured to encamp for the night to afford to the poor, tired out animals an opportunity to rest for a while but starting off at early dawn to preclude all possibility of recapture. On the fifth day we discovered in Indian a short distance from our trail who was coming in an oblique direction toward us. He stopped on the hillside at some little distance off and motioned for us to approach him. Supposing him to be a crow I desired my companions to drive on while I went to see what he wanted. When I had approached within a few yards of him he put on an air of surprise and placed his hand to a shoulder with the intention of drawing his bow. I sprang upon him instantly and cut him down and to spoil him of his scalp and quiver. When about to leave to overtake my companions I perceived the distant smoke of a blackfoot village situated immediately in the direction that we were journeying and it was beyond doubt that the Indian I had just killed was a spy belonging to that village. He must have mistaken us for some of his own tribe and only discovered his mistake when I approached near enough for him to distinguish my features. My companions returning to me we altered our course and passed over a mountain covered with deep snow. So hard however that we passed it without losing a horse. This was one of the spurs of the Rocky Mountains and covered with perpetual snows. After sixteen days of almost incessant travel day and night we came in sight of our village just as the sun was sinking behind the distant mountains. We approached within a mile of the village and encamped under a small hill as yet unperceived by our people for the hill in the shelter of which we lay was between ourselves and the village. It was now the latter end of June I think in the year 1834. After resting a while I thought to get some tobacco to indulge in a smoke before making our grand entree. At the same time requesting my companions to keep a sharp lookout and see that the crows did not steal our horses again. Finally three of us entered in cog and smoked with several of the old men not one of whom recognized us or once thought of us. We passed all through the village looking leisurely about us. The streets were full of people yet not one bestowed a thought on us. When it became somewhat late and the inhabitants had principally retired I dismissed my two companions to the camp telling them I would get some tobacco and rejoin them in a short time. I then entered the lodge of one of my wives who was asleep in bed. I shook her by the arm and aroused her. Waking she inquired, who is this in the lodge? I answered, it is your husband. I never had but one husband she replied and he is dead. No, said I. I am he. You are not dead then as we have believed? No, I said. I have been wandering a long while and have only just returned. We all mourned you, she continued. Many moons ago and we all mourn you now every day. We believed that the enemy had killed you. No, I said. I escaped. I have now brought home a large drove of beautiful spotted horses and if you will do as I wish you you shall have your choice of the whole drove and you will become a medicine woman also. I will do what you wish me, she replied. Well I want you when you get up in the morning to request the village to refrain from crying for one son. Tell them that you dreamed that I came home riding a large and spotted horse having the other four men with me that we had nearly three hundred of the most beautiful horses you ever saw and that we rode with large wolfskin spread on our horse's backs mind being as white as the drifted snow. She agreed to do all as I had been her. I then left her lodge but before quitting the village I called in at my father's lodge. All was still around and entering on a tiptoe I reached down the medicine shield which no one but his wife or eldest son is privileged to handle and opening it I took out all his medicine tobacco carrying it back to the camp with me and then replaced the shield upon its peg. I then returned to our camp and enjoyed a good smoke with my companions. Our spirits waxing elate at the surprise we had in store. Early the next morning the woman, true to her word, narrated her dream to the astonished inhabitants with whatever additions her own fancy suggested. My father and mother listened attentively to her revelation and before she had got through with her narrative she had quite a numerous auditory. We were watching the occurrence from the brow of the hill and knowing she would have to rehearse her vision several times before it was generally known throughout the village we did not hurry to show ourselves. My father and mother having heard her through turned and entered their lodge. Suddenly the medicine shield caught my mother's eye. It had evidently been moved. My father took it down and opened it. The tobacco was gone. This opened the old gentleman's eyes. It is well he said. My son lives and he believed the substance of the dream as fervently as the prophetess who uttered it. The bystanders seeing his medicine so strong and he beginning to sing and dance they all joined in until the noise of their revelry reached us on our distant eminence. Now was our time. We mounted our comparison steeds and forming ourselves in procession. We commenced our grand entree singing and shouting at the top of our voices. Our tones are heard and the villagers gaze around in surprise. Hark! they exclaimed. Look yonder! There are five men mounted on large spotted steeds. Who are they? All was hushed as the grave in the village each striving to catch the sound of our distant strains. The five horsemen disappeared as if by magic and reappeared driving a large drove of horses before them of all colors. The horsemen again pause on the summit. Hark! listen! they sing again! who can they be? Not a soul yet stirred from the village. We drove our horses down toward them and left them there while we took a circuit around displaying our scalps but still keeping over gunshot distance. The old men came out to us carrying drums. Each of us took one and then we bounded away to the rear of our horses. We raised a well-known song and all listened to the tones of the returning medicine calf. At length our wives and relatives broke away from the throng and darted over the plain to meet us. They fairly flew over the intervening space to welcome us in their arms. A tall sister of mine outstripped the rest and arrived first and immediately after my little wife was also by my side. After a warm greeting exchanged with ease the warriors came up and saluted us with a shout that would have aroused Napoleon's old guard from their graves. We were lifted from our horses and almost denuded of our clothing and carried by the impetuous throng into the village. My father had painted his face into an exact resemblance of Satan in token of his joy at my happy return. I was kissed and caressed by my mother, sisters and wives until I fairly gasped for breath. Any person who has ever beheld a real downright rejoicing among savages can form but a faint conception of their unrestrained manifestations. Words can convey no adequate idea of it. Being untutored and natural and not restricted by any considerations of grace or propriety, they abandoned themselves to their emotions and no gesture is too exaggerated, no demonstration too violent for them to resort to. My friend with many others had given me up for dead and had adopted another in my place so that there were now three of us who all knew one another's secrets. Pine leaf was overjoyed at my return. She had become confident of my death and was only waiting to ascertain the nation that had killed me in order to revenge my loss or be sacrificed to my madness. Couriers were immediately dispatched to the other village to acquaint them with our return and to invite them to participate in the celebrations of the event. Long hair returned for answer. Tell my brother I will fly to see him. They lost six warriors on their way to our village, though carelessly straggling in detached parties. Consequently they came to us in mourning for their loss. The two droves of horses which the crows have released us of were all religiously returned. Those that the captors had given away were properly delivered up so that we were now in possession of a very numerous drove. I distributed my share among my relatives, friends, wives and wives relatives until I had only just enough for my own use. I gave my father an elegant steed, the largest in the whole drove. To the heroine I gave a spotted four-year-old a perfect beauty, one that I had intended for her as we were driving them home. He proved to be a superior war horse and there were but few among the thousands that we possessed that could distance him with her upon his back. She was very proud of him and would suffer no one but herself to ride him. It took me a long time to rehearse all our adventures while away. I was required to do it very minutely and circumstantially even to describe all our camping grounds and relate every minute occurrence that transpired during our long pilgrimage. We had certainly incurred exceeding risk in the route we had traveled and recurring to it I marveled at our escape. Any five men might start upon such an adventure and not one party in ten would ever return. I reflected, however, that I was a little more sagacious than the Indians and that I had my physical faculties as well developed as theirs. I could see fully as quick as they could and ride as fast if they undertook to chase me in the mountains. I now found that I had thousands of friends whether attracted by my fancy horses or not and that I was the idol of my proud parents. The mother of Black Panther always lived with my father and if both survive I presume she does to this day. I gave him the child when it was quite young to adopt as his son in obedience to his reiterated solicitations. End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 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 TD Bonner. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. When the rejoicings were over a council was called to deliberate on the future operations of the nation wherein the resolution was taken to keep united until Lee Fall. About the latter end of August I started for the fort taking with me 350 warriors with as many women and children among whom was my little wife. While on our way tither we encamped one night on Fallen Creek and lost upward of 50 horses stolen by the Cheyennes. We pursued them with our whole force and soon overtaking them a fight ensued between numbers about equal. I had charged in advance of the line and as I was always dressed in full costume when on these excursions I offered an excellent mark to anyone skilled in shooting. I was proceeding in an easy canter when my horse was shot through the head the ball entering near the ear and he fell his last spring hurling me head foremost against a huge rock which I struck with such force that I saw another dense meteoric shower and the blood gushed for my mouth, nose and ears. When I recovered my senses I found both parties over me each struggling to obtain me. The crows prevailed eventually and my scalp was saved. My warriors were fully convinced of my death as I lay so long motionless but they were determined to preserve my scalp. The enemy seeing our women and children approach mistook them for a reinforcement of crow warriors and they gave up the contest and fled precipitately leaving us masters of the field with all the horses they had just stolen from us besides a great number of their own which they had not time to drive off. We only obtained three scalps from the enemy losing none ourselves though we had several warriors wounded we then resumed our journey to the fort reaching there without further trouble when we arrived with insight and hearing we as usual struck up a song. All the women from the fort ran out exclaiming here comes a war party of the crows they are singing look at their scalps they come from the country of the Cheyennes they have conquered our enemies see they are all painted I had long been supposed dead at the fort it was conjectured that Big Bull my father had the conduct of the party and there was no inquiry made for me we entered amid a thousand hadia dues and my wife and little Jim were comfortably provided with the best quarters in the fort I was standing among the busy throng who had already fallen to admire the new goods still feeling the effects of my severe shake when I saw one of the female inmates I mean very inquiringly she inquired of my wife who that Indian was she answered he is my husband what are you married again the woman exclaimed in astonishment no not again she replied in her very modest manner did you not know that the medicine calf was alive and had returned then that surely is the medicine calf the woman exclaimed now standing in the fort and ran to mr tulik to equate him of the news where is he where is the medicine calf mr tulik called aloud and looking among the throng without perceiving me I addressed him in English calling him by name I thought at first that he would fall to the ground it was some seconds before he could speak his astonishment was so overwhelming at last he found tongue and broke out in all kinds of expressions of joy and welcome the men too attached to the fort on hearing of my arrival came running in with their utmost speed to welcome one whom they had all long since opposed dead so heart felt a welcome I could not have expected little jim had been taken from his mother's hand before it was known that I was present he was a general pet at the fort and it usually took one good horse to carry all the presents bestowed upon mother and child he was then near three years old running everywhere and was already looked upon by the crows as their future chief we tarried at the fort a few days engaged in hunting buffalo for its men and our own family our consumption was several carcasses a day during my long absence the crows had neglected their traps and they had not dressed more than half the usual number of robes which caused a sensible falling off in the trade of the fort and diminished very materially the profits derived by the company from Fort Cass no reduction however was made in my salary on account of my absence which I considered very liberal conduct on the part of the company my warriors becoming uneasy at their inactive life desired to be led against the black feet to gratify them I selected 106 warriors and sent the others back to the village with the women and children except my wife whom I requested to stay at the fort to await my return we marched into the enemy's country and in the daytime came suddenly upon one of their villages there were lodges enough to contain 300 warriors but they were probably gone upon an expedition for there were but few present to receive us we unhesitatingly assaulted it although we had but little fighting to do we took upward of 20 scouts and 18 women and children prisoners we captured 260 horses besides weapons clothing and other spoils here I succeeded in having a good joke at the heroine's expense with which I plagued her for a long time she was swifter on foot than any warrior and we were on foot during this excursion on seeing us advance a young indian about 16 took to his heels running like a deer the heroine made after him with her antelope speed certain to catch him the indian did his best frequently turning his head like a negro with an alligator at his heels seeing that his pursuer must overtake him and not relishing the idea of having her lance transfix his body for she was preparing to hurl it he suddenly stopped and faced about at the same time throwing his bow down and holding up both hands to beg for his life she did what no other warrior in our party would have done her woman's heart took pity on the poor fellow's pitable condition she spared his life and marched him back captive he being her prisoner no one had authority over his life but herself he was a fine-looking young man but when he was brought among the crow warriors he trembled in every joint expecting nothing less than to be killed I thought this too good an opportunity for a joke not to make use of it I see said I addressing myself to pine leaf you have refused all our braves that you might win a husband from the enemy all the warriors shouted at the sally but the poor girl was sorely perplexed and knew not what to do or say we rallied her so much on her conquest that she finally became quite spunky and I did not know whether she would run her prize through with her lance or not one day I told her I had talked with her prisoner about his capture her well said she and what has he to say about it why I answered he says he could have killed you as well as not but that you promised to marry him if he would spare your life she was fully practiced upon and she flushed with anger he lies she exclaimed you know I cannot speak to these black feet or I would make him tell a different tale I have often told you as well as other warriors that I do not wish to marry my tongue was straight when I said so I have told you often and I have told your sisters and your wives that if ever I did marry I would have you and none other so why do you trifle with my feelings what she said was a genuine emulation of feeling for although an Indian girl her heart was as proud as sensitive and as delicate as ever beat in the breast of a civilized woman to soothe her ruffled temper I told her I wouldn't trust a secret to her I had undertaken my prolonged journey when all supposed me dead and she along with the rest solely to search through the Rocky Mountains for a red headed Indian I had been unsuccessful in my search and had returned with spotted horses she laughed and moderately at my invention we now return to the fort with our trophies where we had a joyous time my warriors gave a horse to each man at the fort about 50 a number and every woman staying there also received one I selected the best one I had and made little Jim president to mr. Tulick with which delicate attention he was greatly delighted my boy could now speak quite plain the men at the fort had taught him to swear quite fluently both in French and English much more to their satisfaction than to mine but I trusted he would soon forget his schoolings as the crows never drink whiskey nor use profane language we left the fort and reached our village without accident on our arrival we found the people in mourning for the loss of two warriors killed in the village by an attack of the Cheyans and notwithstanding my recent success we had to take part in the crying in obedience to their forms the Cheyans in their late attack used very good general ship but the result was not so good as their design would seem to promise they started with a force of three thousand warriors and defining their army five hundred marched directly over the Tongue River mountain where they were safe from molestation while their main body passed round in another direction placing themselves in ambush in a place agreed upon so as to fall upon the crows should they pursue their flying division but the crows were too wary for them and their bright design failed the division of five hundred made a descent upon the horses killing the two crows that were among them and unable to escape in time it was an open day and our stock was so immense that they actually did succeed in driving off about 1200 of which our family owned about 80 many of our choice mayors with their fowls and a great number of our war horses seemed to have intelligence of the business in hand and ran with full speed to the village where the enemy did not care to follow them hundreds of our warriors were ready for the conflict and were impatiently awaiting the order to attack but their chiefs strictly forbade their advance and even charged my faithful dog soldiers with the duty of enforcing their orders there were in the village over four thousand warriors a force sufficient to repel any attack but the old heads seemed to suspect something at the bottom of their foes audacity and thus escape the trap that was prepared for them the horses we cared but little about as it was easy to replace them at any time without risking the lives of so many brave warriors on my return all this was related to me by the council they inquired my opinion of the policy they had acted upon and I assented to the wisdom of all they had done I further recommended that no war party should leave the village for at least two weeks but that all should devote themselves to trapping beaver as a means better calculated to please the great spirit and after that it was likely he would reward our excursions with more constant success my advice was approved of and my medicine was pronounced powerful every trap in the village was accordingly brought to light and a general preparation made for an active season of trapping peltry parties scattered for every stream containing beaver my old friend and myself with each a wife composed one party we took 12 traps and in 10 days collected 55 beaver skins all who went out had excellent success as the streams had been but little disturbed for several months our two weeks combined industry produced quite a number of packs it was now about the first of October I had promised after our two weeks trapping to lead a party in a foray upon the Cheyennes I selected over 400 warriors and started in pursuit of something whether horses or scouts was a matter of indifference after an easy travel of 20 days our spies keeping a vigilant lookout on the way a large village was reported some few miles in advance knowing whom we had to deal with I used my utmost caution for we were beyond the reach of reinforcements if I should fall into any difficulties we ascended a hill which overlooked their village we saw their cheerful looking fires and would have liked to warm ourselves by similar ones but although firewood was abundant it seemed barely advisable to indulge in such a luxury by the size of the village it was evident we had a powerful enemy before us and that he was brave we had learned by previous experience after surveying it as well as we could by the gleam of the stars I determined to go down into their village and obtained a closer observation I took three braves with me and turning our robes the hair side out we descended the hill and entered the village we found they had recently built a new medicine lodge and the national council was in session that night we walked up to the lodge where there were a number of shayans smoking and conversing but we could not understand a word they said I passed my hand inside to reach for a pipe one was handed to me and after all four of us had taken a few whiffs I handed it back to my accommodating lender we then strode leisurely through their town and returned to our own camp somewhat late in the evening about midnight we visited their herd and started out quite a large drove which we found a daylight consisted of 800 head with these we moved with all possible speed toward home taking the directest route possible we drove at full speed were ever practicable until the next day at noon we then turned short round the point of a mountain and awaited the arrival of our pursuers our animals were well rested when the enemy came up and we had just transferred ourselves to the backs of some that we had borrowed from them as soon as they had rounded the point about 250 a number we issued out to attack them and although they were somewhat surprised to behold so large a force they quickly formed and awaited the onset we were soon upon them killing several and having a few of our own wounded we withdrew to form another charge but before we were ready to fall on them again they divided their line and one half made a daring attempt to surround our horses but we defeated their aim they then retreated toward their village they finding it necessary to reinforce their numbers before they could either recover their animals or fight our party with any show of success I afterward learned when a trader in the Cheyenne nation for sublet that their main body consisting of 2,000 warriors had started with them but turned back when within four miles of our temporary resting place the smaller division traveled back as fast as possible in the endeavor to reach them and bring them back to the attack after proceeding two or three hours in their trail they suddenly came in sight of them as they were resting to dress some buffalo by means of couriers and signals they soon had the whole army on the march again but by this time we were over the hills and far away having resumed our retreat immediately our pursuers left us those who were driving horses in a chase such as this have a great advantage over their pursuers since the pursuer must necessarily ride one horse all the time but those that are driving can change as often as they please taking a fresh horse every half hour even if occasion requires in case there is great urgency with a drove a number of warriors are sent in advance to lead them while others are whooping and yelling behind under this pressure the animals generally get over the ground at a pretty good rate on our arrival at home with 13 scouts over 800 horses and none of our party killed it may be judged that we made such noise and shouting the trip we had just accomplished was a severe one especially for the wounded and none but Indians could have lived through such torment but they all finally recovered they begged to be left upon the road urging that they must inevitably die and it was a folly to impede our flight and jeopardize our lives but I was determined if possible to get them in alive for I had lost but one the village would again have gone into mourning and that I was desirous to avoid end of chapter 24