240 THE FUR TRADE OF AMERICA 



walls seemed to slope down to shore. Two or three strokes sent 

 the canoe round an elbow of rock into the narrow course of a creek. 

 Instantly out sprang five or six hundred Blackfeet warriors with 

 weapons levelled, guarding both sides of the stream. 



An Indian scout had discovered the trail of the white men and 

 sent the whole band scouring ahead to intercept them at this narrow 

 pass. The chief stepped forward, and with signals that were a 

 command beckoned the hunters ashore. 



As is nearly always the case, the rash man was the one to lose 

 his head, the cautious man the one to keep his presence of mind. 

 Potts was for an attempt at flight, when every bow on both sides 

 of the river would have let fly a shot. Colter was for accepting 

 the situation, trusting to his own wit for subsequent escape. 



Colter, who was acting as steersman, sent the canoe ashore. 

 Bottom had not grated before a savage snatched Potts's rifle from 

 his hands. Springing ashore, Colter forcibly wrested the weapon 

 back and coolly handed it to Potts. 



But Potts had lost all the rash courage of a moment before, 

 and with one push sent the canoe into midstream. Colter shouted 

 at him to come back — come back ! Indians have more effective 

 arguments. A bow-string twanged, and Potts screamed out, 

 "Colter, I am wounded !" 



Again Colter urged him to land. The wound turned Potts's 

 momentary fright to a paroxysm of rage. Aiming his rifle, he 

 shot his Indian assailant dead. If it was torture that he feared, 

 that act assured him at least a quick death ; for, in Colter's language, 

 man and boat were instantaneously "made a riddle of." 



No man admires courage more than the Indian ; and the Black- 

 feet recognized in their captive one who had been ready to defend 

 his comrade against them all, and who had led the Crows to victory 

 against their own band. 



The prisoner surrendered his weapons. He was stripped naked, 

 but showed neither sign of fear nor made a move to escape. Evi- 

 dently the Blackfeet could have rare sport with this game white 



