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Show JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 225 "Ah, you have found the red-handed Indian, then," she said, laughing mockingly. She always received my advances with this unsatisfactory nonchalance, that it was with some unpleasantness of 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 w~re others of greater strength, but her deficiency in muscular power was more than indemnified by her cat-like agi.l..i ty, and she would kill her man while others where preparing to attack. There was one thing that irritated the noble girl's curiosity, and that was the war-path secret. Having killed many in battle, having followed where any dared to lead, "Why am I debarred from that important communication ?" she would ask. "vVhy am I sent off with the women and children, when that secret is told 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. Soon after this capture~ a band of Black Feet made reprisals by breaking our inclosure 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, bear. T( 2 • |
