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Show 246 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF his wife, and was greatly disturbed in mind. My father, knowing the aggressor, commenced giving away to his near relatives all his choicest stock and other valuable property, until the storm should blow over. When we rode in, the people came out to meet us, rejoicing at our success. Big Rain was out likewise; he took no part in the rejoicing, however, but ordered his wife and me to be surrounded. I was seized by Big Rain, together with half a dozen of his sisters, all armed with scourges, and they administered a most unmerciful whipping. I lay down to it, and received it with true Indian fortitude, though I certainly did think they would beat me to death. If I had resisted, they would have been justified in killing me ; also, if they had drawn one drop of blood from m.e, I should have been justified in taking their lives. They laid it on so unmercifully, that I became angry, and hoped they would draw blood. After the flagellation was performed, the next penalty was, to strip my father and .myself of all our horses and other effects (our war-Implements excepted). My father was stripped of five hundred horses. I lost about eighty. " Pretty dear for a very pretty woman," thought I. fiowever, I soon had my horses made up to me by presents from my friends. We pe~formed the horse-dance that night, though I danced Without owning one. During the amusement I conveyed word to the wife of Big Rain that I should go out again the next night, and should expect her company, appointing her to meet me at the same place a~ before. She returned a favorable answer. My little Wife hauled me over the coals for stealing a 'lnarried woman, when there were enough maidens in the village that I could select. I told her that I wished to JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 247 have the handsomest woman in the village for my lodge. The appointed hour arrived, and Big Rain's wife was faithful to her promise. We started off with only seventeen warriors. We were gone four days, and returned with three scalps. We met a war-party of nine warriors, six of whom outstripped us and escaped. On my return I was again seized, and received another such a flogging as the first, laid on with equal good-will. After my dressing, I retired to my lodge, when a woman approached me bearing some burden in her arms. She addressed me : " Here is something will gladden your heart; he will make as great a brave as his father : his name is Black Panther. Here, look at your child." · Sure enough, my little wife had presented me with a son, who is at this present time (1855) first counselor of the Crow nation. Two nights afterward, I started on a third expedition with a party of sixty-three warriors, my new wife accompanying me for the third time. We took a southerly course toward the country of the Black Feet, and captured near two hundred head of horses, with which we returned home by way of the fort. On arriving at the fort, I found that my services were required, and that they were about to dispatch a courier after. me on business of great importance. I told the commander that I must go home with my party, but that I would return to the fort with the least possible delay. Accordingly we started on. On the road we fell in with a small party of trappers, who were under the conduct of an old schoolmate of mine, David Adams. They seemed greatly dejected, and I inquired |