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round； as the Sioux made them； but two or three skins long。 In these
boats they brought quantities of dried beans and other vegetables to trade
with us for jerked buffalo meat。
〃It was a great gathering and a time of gen… eral festivity and
hospitality。 The Sioux young men were courting the Ree girls； and the
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
Ree braves were courting our girls； while the old people bartered their
produce。 All day the river was alive with canoes and its banks rang with
the laughter of the youths and maidens。
〃My father's younger brother； whose name was Big Whip； had a close
friend； a young man who ever after the event of which I am about to tell
you was known as Bald Eagle。 They were both daring young men and
very ambitious for distinction。 They had been following the Ree girls to
their canoes as they returned to their homes in the evening。
〃Big Whip and his friend stood upon the river bank at sunset； one with
a quiver full of arrows upon his back while the other carried a gun under
his blanket。 Nearly all the peo… ple of the other village had crossed the
river； and the chief of the Rees； whose name was Bald Eagle； went home
with his wife last of all。 It was about dusk as they entered their bullhide
boat； and the two Sioux stood there looking at them。
〃Suddenly Big Whip exclaimed： 'Friend； let us kill the chief。 I dare
you to kill and scalp him！' His friend replied：
〃'It shall be as you say。 I will stand by you in all things。 I am
willing to die with you。'
〃Accordingly Bald Eagle pulled out his gun and shot the Ree dead。
From that day he took his name。 The old man fell backward into his boat；
and the old woman screamed and wept as she rowed him across the river。
The other young man shot an arrow or two at the wife； but she continued
to row until she reached the other bank。
〃There was great excitement on both sides of the river as soon as the
people saw what had happened。 There were two camps of Sioux； the
Blackfoot Sioux and the Yanktonnais； or our people。 Of course the
Mandans and Rees greatly outnumbered us； their camp must have
numbered two or three thousand； which was more than we had in our
combined camps。
〃There was a Sioux whose name was Black Shield； who had
intermarried among the Rees。 He came down to the opposite bank of the
Mis… souri and shouted to us：
〃'Of which one of your bands is the man who killed Bald Eagle？'
〃One of the Blackfoot Sioux replied：
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
〃'It is a man of the Yanktonnais Sioux who killed Bald Eagle。'
〃Then he said： 'The Rees wish to do battle with them； you had better
withdraw from their camp。'
〃Accordingly the Blackfeet retired about a mile from us upon the
bluffs and pitched their tents； while the Yanktonnais remained on the flats。
The two bands had been great rivals in courage and the art of war； so we
did not ask for help from our kinsfolk； but during the night we dug
trenches about the camp； the inner one for the women and children； and
the outer one for the men to stay in and do battle。
〃The next morning at daybreak the enemy landed and approached our
camp in great num… bers。 Some of their women and old men came also；
and sat upon the bluffs to watch the fight and to carry off their dead and
wounded。 The Blackfeet likewise were watching the battle from the
bluffs； and just before the fight began one Blackfoot came in with his wife
and joined us。 His name was Red Dog's Track； but from that day he was
called He…Came…Back。 His wife was a Yanktonnais； and he had said to
her： 'If I don't join your tribe to…day； my brothers…in…law will call me a
coward。'
〃The Sioux were well entrenched and well armed with guns and
arrows； and their aim was deadly； so that the Rees crawled up gradu… ally
and took every opportunity to pick off any Sioux who ventured to show
his head above the trenches。 In like manner every Ree who ex… posed
himself was sure to die。
〃Up to this time no one had seen the two men who made all the trouble。
There was a natural hollow in the bank； concealed by buffalo berry bushes；
very near where they stood when Bald Eagle shot the Ree。
〃'Friend；' said Big Whip； 'it is likely that our own people will punish us
for this deed。 They will pursue and kill us wherever they find us。 They
have the right to do this。 The best thing is to drop into this washout and
remain there until they cease to look for us。'
〃They did so； and remained hidden during the night。 But； after the
fight began； Big Whip said again： 'Friend； we are the cause of the deaths
of many brave men this day。 We com… mitted the act to show our bravery。
We dared each other to do it。 It will now become us as warriors to join
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
our band。'
〃They both stripped； and taking their weap… ons in hand； ran toward
the camp。 They had to pass directly through the enemy's lines； but they
were not recognized till they had fairly passed them。 Then they were
between two fires。 When they had almost reached the en… trenchment
they faced about and fired at the Rees； jumping about incessantly to avoid
being hit； as is the Indian fashion。 Bullets and ar… rows were flying all
about them like hail； but at last they dropped back unhurt into the Sioux
trenches。 Thus the two men saved their repu… tation for bravery； and their
people never openly reproached them for the events of that day。 Young
men are often rash； but it is not well to reprove one for a brave deed lest he
become a coward。
〃Many were killed； but more of the Rees than of our band。 About the
middle of the afternoon there came a cold rain。 It was in the fall of the
year。 The bow…strings were wet； and the guns were only flint…locks。
You know when the flint becomes wet it is useless； and it looked as if the
fight must be with knives。
〃But the Rees were much disheartened。 They had lost many。 The
women wer