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Show 244 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF but I am going out to my warriors, and then to storm the fort." . I ran back with the same success that I had entered it, brandishing my dripping lance, and ordered a charge, which was obeyed as soon as give~ .. In ~ve minutes there was not a Black Foot left Within ahve. They made scarcely any defense, so sudden and overwhelming was the shock. We had one warrior killed by the first discharge of the enemy, and six wounded. We then returned home, and, notwithstanding our slain warrior, we celebrated a dance, and devoted the next day to mourning our loss. In robing his remains for the spirit land, we dressed him in the most costly manner, using trinkets, seam-embroidered cloth, and the most costly articles, to show the inhabitants of the spirit land that he was a great brave, and much respected on earth. Over all was wrapped the best of scarlet blankets, and his arms were enfolded therein. Oh shroud him in his hunting-shirt, And lay him in the glen, Away, away from jealous foes, Away from sight of men- With bow and painted arrow, That never failed its aim, When by his fleet and favorite steed The bounding bison came. Go, kill the warrior's favorite horse, His crouching, lonely hound; To shield so brave a warrior In the happy hunting-ground. While the villagers were crying and putting on a coat of mourning-paint for the departed warrior, I was busied in my domestic affairs. I sent my sister to madam with a large quantity of service-berries, which had been JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 245 finely dried the preceding summer, together with some sweet potatoes, telling her to request madam to send me her extra moccasins, in order to lash them together with my own on my pack-dog, and to appoint a place to meet me that evening. My sister was astonished, and said, "Is it possible that you intend to take Bachua- hish-a (Red Cherry)· with you? Why, we shall all become poor! We shall not have a horse to rid~ ! But I don't care; she is a pretty woman, and will make a good robe-dresser." . , Away she hied, and soon returned With my lady s moccasins. Ah, ah ! thought I, I am all r.ight now ! I expected that the course of true love would not run very smooth with me in the end, but would, on the contrary, carry me over breakers which would most probably break my neck; but I fortifie~ myse~; with the old adage, "Faint heart never won fair lady, and I determined to hazard all consequences. The appointed time had arrived, and, on going to the place of assignation, I found my la~~ true to her word-in fact, she was there first. We JOined the party, thirty-four in number, and traveled all night i~ the. direction of the Black Foot country. On the Sixth day, at nightfall, we arrived at the Mussel Shell River, a little below the mouth of the Judith, and in sight of a village of the enemy. I looked out a good place for a reserve camp, and then, selecting eighteen of the most expert horse-thieves, we started for the village. We succeeded in capturing one hundred and seventeen horses without being discovered, and arrived safe with them at the camp. We all started immediately back for the village. The warriors took but two horses each, giving the rest to me and my new wife. Meanwhile, Big Rain made discovery of the loss of ( |
