Chapter 49 - Page 2

the best mounted among them rode apart from the rest. One of

their number then advanced alone, with that martial air and

equestrian grace for which the tribe is noted. When within an

arrow's flight of the thicket, he loosened his rein, urged his

horse to full speed, threw his body on the opposite side, so as

to hang by one leg, and present no mark to the foe; in this way

he swept along in front of the thicket, launching his arrows from

under the neck of his steed. Then regaining his seat in the

saddle, he wheeled round and returned whooping and scoffing to

his companions, who received him with yells of applause.

Another and another horseman repeated this exploit; but the

Blackfeet were not to be taunted out of their safe shelter. The

victors feared to drive desperate men to extremities, so they

forbore to attempt the thicket. Toward night they gave over the

attack, and returned all-glorious with the scalps of the slain.

Then came on the usual feasts and triumphs, the scalp-dance of

warriors round the ghastly trophies, and all the other fierce

revelry of barbarous warfare. When the braves had finished with

the scalps, they were, as usual, given up to the women and

children, and made the objects of new parades and dances. They

were then treasured up as invaluable trophies and decorations by

the braves who had won them.

It is worthy of note, that the scalp of a white man, either

through policy or fear, is treated with more charity than that of

an Indian. The warrior who won it is entitled to his triumph if

he demands it. In such case, the war party alone dance round the

scalp. It is then taken down, and the shagged frontlet of a

buffalo substituted in its place, and abandoned to the triumph

and insults of the million.

To avoid being involved in these guerillas, as well as to escape

from the extremely social intercourse of the Crows, which began

to be oppressive, Montero moved to the distance of several miles

from their camps, and there formed a winter cantonment of huts.

He now maintained a vigilant watch at night. Their horses, which

were turned loose to graze during the day, under heedful eyes,

were brought in at night, and shut up in strong pens, built of

large logs of cotton-wood. The snows, during a portion of the

winter, were so deep that the poor animals could find but little

sustenance. Here and there a tuft of grass would peer above the

snow; but they were in general driven to browse the twigs and

tender branches of the trees. When they were turned out in the

morning, the first moments of freedom