Some Indian Ways 



461 



rows of medals on an old soldier's breast, they are the record 

 of wonderful past achievements, that every one of them was 

 won perhaps at the risk of his life. What wonder is it that 

 travelers on the plains to-day tell us that the Indian values 

 his headdress above all things else. He would usually pre- 

 fer to part with his ponies and his teepee before he will give 

 up that array of eagle plumes, the only tangible record that 

 he has of whatever was heroic in his past. 



PLENTY-COUPS 



I remember vividly a scene I once witnessed years ago in 

 the West when my attention was strongly directed to the 

 significance of the warbonnet. I was living among a cer- 

 tain tribe of Indians and one day they were subjected to a 

 petty indignity by a well-meaning, ill-advised missionary. 

 Two regiments of United States Cavalry were camped near, 

 and so, being within the letter of the law, he also had power 

 to enforce it. But this occurrence was the last of a long 

 series of foolish small attacks 

 on their harmless customs, 

 and it roused the Indians, es- 

 pecially the younger ones, to 

 the point of rebellion. 



A Grand Council was called. 

 A warrior got up and made a 

 strong, logical appeal to their 

 manhood — a tremendously stir- 

 ring speech. He worked them 

 all up and they were ready to /^ 

 go on the warpath, with him to 

 lead them. I felt that my scalp 

 was in serious danger, for an S^ 

 outburst seemed at hand. 



