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Show 17() . -\ U 'l'OBIOGl~APHY UP brave. You lied; we all know that he is brave; our enemies can testify to it, and you dare not deny it any more. Hereafter, if you wish to show which is the greatest brave, wait until you meet the enemy, then we can decide; but never again attempt to take each other's lives." This interference procured peace. It was-not long, however, before we both had a good opportunity to determine the question of our valor. A small party of thirty warriors was embodied, myself and my antagonist being of the number. After a short march we fell in with a war-party of eighteen Cheyennes, who, notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, accepted battle, well knowing that escape was impossible. I pointed out one of the enemy (who I could see by his dress and the peculiarity of his hair was a chief). '' You see him?" I said. "Well, we can decide which is the best man now. You charge directly against him by my side." This he readily assented to, but still I could detect in his countenance an expression which I deciphered, "I would rather not." I saw the Indian we were about to attack open the pan of his gun,. and give it a slight tap with his hand to render its discharge certain. l-Ie presented his piece, and took the most deliberate aim as we advanced side by side to the attack. The death of one of us seemed inevitable, and I did not like the feeling of suspense. A few spun·in gs of our chargers, and we wer.e upon him. I seized the muzzle of his gun at the very instant that i't exploded, and cut him down with the battle-axe in my right hand. My left cheek :vas filled_ with th~ powder from the discharge, the stains of whiCh remain to this day. My rival did not even strike at the I;ndian I had killed. .. I JAMES P. BECKWOURTH • 177 l-Ie then said to me," You are truly a great warrior and a great brave; I was wrong in saying what I did~ We are now good friends:" Our few enemies were quickly exterminated, the loss on our side being four wounded, including my powderwound. My fame was still farther celebrated, for I hacl ~1 gain struck down the first man, who was a great chief~ and had actually charged up to the muzzle of his gun, what few Indians have the stamina to do. On our return with the spoils of victory we were warmly congratulated by the tribe, and I was still farther ennobled by the additional name ofBull's Robe, conferred on me by my father. It was now the fall of the year. I had been a Crow for many moons. It was time to repair to the tradingpost to obtain what articles we needed. I determined to accompany the party, and at least attend to the sale of my own effects. What peltry I had was worth three thousand dollars in St. Louis, and I was solicitous to obtain something like an equivalent in exchange for it. We proceeded to Fort Clarke, on the Missouri. I waited until the Indians had nearly completed their exchanges, speaking nothing but Crow language, dressed like a Crow, my hair as long as a Crow's, and myself as black as a crow. No one at the post doubted my being a Crow. Toward the conclusion of the business, one of my tribe inquired in his own language for" behas- i-pe-hish-a." The clerk could not understand his want, and there was none of the article in sight for the Indtan to point out. He at length called Kipp to see if he could divine the Indian's meaning. I then said in English," Gentlemen, that Indian wants scarlet cloth." ... H2 .. |