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Show 452 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP · the only one I ever had with any of the ttibe. I was eating dinner one day, when a great brave came in and demanded whisky. I repaired 'to the store with him to supply his want, when I found he had no robe to pay for it, and was, besides, intoxicated. I refused to give him the whi~ky, telling him he must first go and bring a robe. This probably aggravated him, and he made a sudden cut at me with his sword, which I very fortunately dodged, and before he could raise his weapon again I had him between my feet on the ground. I had left my battle-axe on my seat at the table, and I called out for some one to bring it to me, but no one came with it. I at length released him, and he went hooping away, to obtain his gun to shoot the Crow. I seized_ my own, and waited for him at the door, while all the Inmates of the fort begged of me not to shoot him. After some little delay, he appeared, gun in h~nd; but three Cheyenne waniors interfered to stop him, and he returned into his lodge. The d~y fol~owin_g he sent for Sublet and myself to go and dine With him, and we went accordingly. Sublet was appreh_ensive of mischief from my visit, and endeavored to dissuade me from going; but I foresaw no danger, and knew, farther, that it would be a cause of offense to the Indian to neglect his invitation. When we entered his lodge he was glad to see us, and bade rr:e 'be seated on a pile of robes. I sat down as deSired, and our host, after holding a short conversation with Sublet, turned to me and spoke as follows: · "O·tun-nee" (Crow), "I was a fool yesterday. You spared my life. I do not want you to be angry with me, because I am not angry with you. I was drunk ; I had drunk too much of your whisky, and it made my heart black. I did not know what I was doing." JAMES P. BECKWOURTH. 453 '' Very well," said I ; '' I am not angry with you. When you attempted to kill me I was angry, and if my battle-axe had been in my hand, I should have killed you. You are alive, and I am glad of it." "Take those robes," he rejoined, "and hereafter you shall be my brother, and I will be your brother. Those robes will make your heart right, and we will quarrel no more." I took the robes with me, ten in number, and found my heart perfectly mollified. Messrs. Sublet and Vasques, having realized immense profits during their three years of partnership, disposed of all their interest and effects in the Rocky Mountain fur business, and returned to St. Louis. This threw me entirely out of business, when Messrs. Bent and Saverine wished to engage me in their employ. After some little negotiation with them, I concluded a bargain, and entered into their service in the latter part of the summer of 1840. We immediately proceeded to establish sub-posts in various directions, and I repaired to Laramie Fork. As soon as it was known among the Indians that the Crow was trading at Bent's post, they came flocking in with their robes. Old Smoke, the head chief of another band of Outlaws, known as Smoke's Band, but claimed by no particular nation or tribe, visited me, with his village, and commenced a great spree. I gave them a grand entertainment, which seemed to tickle their tastes highly. They kept up their carousal until they had parted with two thousand robes, and had no more remaining. They then demanded whisky, and I refused it. " No trust," the motto we see inscribed on every low drinking-saloon in St. Louis, is equally our system in dealing with the Indians. |
