172 BAGGING A CHIEF’S HEAD. 
termined at any risk to have the skull.* Ex- 
treme caution was needed, or a like fate would 
probably be mine; a white chief’s hairless head 
might possibly adorn the same pole as that of 
the painted savage. I made several attempts, 
but each time signally failed to accomplish my 
purpose. 
The night preceding our departure, all hopes 
of obtaining the coveted head were nearly aban- 
doned. Fortune at last smiled upon me; unob- 
served, I upset the pole, and bagged the head; 
and pushing it into my game-bag, got safely into 
the fort. Still in terror of being seen, I hid it in 
the bastion, and eventually headed it into a pork 
barrel, with stones and sand; then had it rolled 
boldly out, and put on board the steamer. 
On our departure the following morning, I 
was rejoiced to find the head had not been 
missed, but somewhat frightened, on learning 
I was to be paddled to the steamer, in the 
state-canoe of the chief to whom the trophy 
belonged. In grand procession, we marched 
from the fort to the canoe, marshalled by 
the dingy dignitary, who, in happy ignorance 
of the wrong I had done him, was all smiles 
and grins; the final hand-shaking being accom- 
* Vide Dlustration. 
