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Show 166 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF their number was reduced by that fatal Indian scourge to little better than one half. None of their 1nedicine would arrest its course. After our last-mentioned victory, the Crows met with numerous reverses, which were attended with severe loss of life. In their small war-parties going out on marauding expeditions I had never much confidence, although, individually, they were good warriors; therefore I never took part with them until six or eight of their parties would come back severely handled, and many of their braves slain. Thus their reverses accumulated until the whole village was one scene of mourning, numbers of them being self-mangled in the most shocking manner, and the blood trickling from their heads down to the ground. Some had lost a father, some a brother, some a sweetheart ; in short, their appearance was too fearful to look upon, and their cries were too painful to hear. When the last party came in, defeated with serious loss, I had ~ust returned with a party from the pursuit of horse-thieves. We had brought ·in four scalps, and were performing the scalp-dance in honor of the event. On hearing the disastrous news of the return of the defeated party, we arrested the dance, and I retired into my lodge. Soon, however, a crowd of women came and li~ted it directly from over me, leaving me in the open au. They- then threw before me immense quantities of all kinds of goods, leggins, moccasins,· and other things, until I was nearly covered with their miscellaneous offerings. I called out, ''Enough! I am aroused. I will go w~th y~~r warriors and revenge the death of your fnends. They were all satisfied, and stood still. The news then circulated through the village that the JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 167 Antelope was aroused, and himself going against the Cheyennes to revenge the death of their braves. I had as yet met with no reverses since my translation. My 'lnedicine had always been good and true. I had never come home without scalps or spoils, and they began to associate my name with victory. The next day five hundred warriors rallied round me, among whom were some who had suffered recent defeat, and their minds were burning for revenge. I sent forward fifty spies, and moved cautiously on with the main body. My reputation was committed to my present success, and I took more than ordinary pains to vindicate the cause they had intrusted to my care. Every man was well armed and mounted, and I had full confidence ·in our ability to give a good account of double our number. · J\'I y command were very curious to learn my tactics. On one occasion, when they were completely harassing me with endless inquiries respecting my plan of attack, I told them, if they would bring me a silver-gray fox, unhurt, my medicine would be complete, and that we were sure of a great victory. In a moment they left me, and shortly returned with a live fox, which they had caught in a surround. I ordered them to choke it to death, and then flay it: it was done, and the , beautiful skin was handed to me. I wrapped it round my medicine bow, and 1nade a brief speech, informing them that the cunning of the fox had descended upon my head, and that my wiles would infallibly circumvent the enemy. Like another Alexander, I thus inspired confidence in -the breasts of my soldiers, and the spirit I was infusing in others partly communicated itself to my own breast. Some of the spies now 1·eturned and informed me • |
