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Show 110 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF and my companion were unarmed; and I, ~ot ki~owin g how many blows were to follow, deemed discretiOn on this particular occasion the better_part of valor~ Sub!et made a strong demonstration against my assailant With his fists, at the same time calling me back and cursing me for running. I returned, ·and, together, we dragged the Indian to one of our men, also wounded, for him to dispatch. But the poor fellow had not strength sufficient to perforate the Indian's skin with his knife, and we were obliged to perform the job ourselves. After six hours' fighting, during which time a number of the enemy were slain, we began to want nourishment. Sublet requested our allies "to rub out" all their foes while we went and procured refreshment; but on our leaving, they followed us, and we all arrived in camp together. On our return to the field of battle we found the Black Feet were gone, having departed precipitately, as they had left a number of their dead, a thing unusual with the Indians. The fruits of our victory were one hundred and seventy-three scalps, with numerous quivers of arrows, war-clubs, battle-axes, and lances. We also killed a number of their horses, which doubtless was the reason of their leaving so many of their dead on the field of battle. The trappers had seven or eight men wounded, but none killed. Our allies lost eleven k~lled in battle, besides the five slain before; but none of those killed in battle were scalped. Had this battle been fought in the open plain, but few of our foes could have escaped; and even as it was, had we continued to fight, not a dozen could have got away. But, considering that we were fighting for our allies, we did not exert ourselves. As usual on all such occasions, our victory was eel- JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 111 ebrated in camp, and the exercises lasted several days, conformably to Indian custom. General Ashley, having disposed of all his goods and completed his final arrangements, departed for St.Louis, taking with him nearly two hundred packs of beaver. Previous to his departure, he summoned all the men into his presence, and addressed them, as nearly as I can recollect, in the following words : " Mountaineers and friends ! When I first came to the mountains, I came a poor man. You, by your indefatigable exertions, toils, and priv~tions, ?ave procured me an independent fortune. With ord1nary prudence in the management of what I have accumulated, I shall never want for any thing. For this, my friends, I feel myself under great obligations to you. Many of you have served with me personally, and ~ shall _always be proud to testify to the fidelity With whiCh you have stood by me through all danger, and the friendly and brotherly feeling which you have _ever, one and all, evinced toward me. For these faithful and devoted services I wish you to accept my thanks; the gratitude that I express to you springs from_ my heart, and will ever retain a lively hold on my feehngs. "My friends! I am now about to leave you, to take up my abode in St. Louis. Whenever any of you return thither, your first duty must be to call at my house, to talk over the scenes of peril we have encountered, and partake_ of the best cheer my table can afford you. ''I now wash my hands of the toils of the _Rocky Mountains. Farewell, mountaineers and friends! May God bless you all ! " We were all sorry to part with the general. He was a ~an of untiring energy and perseverance, cheer- |
