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Show 384 AUTOBIOG.RAPHY OF tion in the matter, but I had never paid much attention to them. Friends had cautioned me that there were large sums of Inoney offered for my life, and that several men had even undertaken to earn the rewards. I could not credit such friendly intimations; still I thought, on the principle that there is never smoke b~ut there is nre, that it would be as well to keep myselt a little on my guard. I had recovered from my sickness, and I spent much of my time about town. My friends repeatedly inquired of me if I had seen Fitzpatrick. Wondering how so much interest could attach to my Ineeting with that man, I asked one day what reason there was for making the inquiry. My friend answered, "I don't wish you to adduce me as authority ; but there are strong threats of taking your life for an alleged robbery of Fitzpatrick by the Crow nation, in which you were deeply concerned." I saw now what to prepare for, although I still inclined to doubt that any man, possessed of ordinary perceptions, could charge me with an offense of which I was so manifestly innocent. True, I had met Fitzpatrick several times, and, instead of his former cordial salutation, it was with difficulty he addressed a civil word to me. Shortly after this conversation with my friend I went to the St. Louis Theatre. Between the pieces I had stepped to the saloon to obtv.in some refreshments, and I saw Fitzpatrick enter, with four other not very respectable citizens. They advanced directly toward me. Fitzpatrick then pointed me out to them, saying, "There's the Crow." " Then," said the others, " we are Black Feet, and let us have his scalp." , JAMES P. BECKWOUH'rH. 385 They immediately drew their knives and rushed on me. . I then thought of my friend's salutary counsel to be on my guard, but I had no weapon about me. With the agility of a cat I sprung over the counter, and commenced passing tum biers faster than they had been in the habit of receiving them. I had felled one or two of my assailants, and I saw I was in for a serious disturbance. A .friend (~nd he is still living in St. Louis, wealthy and Influential) stepp~d behind the bar, and, slapping m~ on the shoulder, said, " Look out, Beckwourth, you Will hurt some of your friends." I replied that my friends did not appear to be very numerous just then. . " You have friends present," he added ; and, passIng .an enormous bowie-knife into my hand, stepped out again. Now I was all right, and felt myself a match for the five ruffians. My practice with the battle-axe, in a case where the quickness of thought required a conesponding rapidi:y of action, then came into play. I made a sortie from ·my position on to the open floor, and challenged the five bullies to come on ; at the same time (which, in my excited state, was natural enough) calling them by the hardest names. My mind was fully made up to kill them if they had o~ly come at me ; my arm was nervous ; and my fnends, who knew me at that time, can tell whether I was quick-motioned or not. I had been in situations whe:e. I had to ply my battle-axe with rapidity and precision to redeem my own skull. I was still in full possession of my belligerent powers, and I had the feeling of justice to sustain me. R |
