g ADVENTURES OF DR. ALLEN. 



their bodies and increased their thirst. But these trifles 

 disturbed not the tranquility of their feelings. They did 

 not for a moment lose sight of the scalps and plunder that 

 were sure to be their reward when all was over. So on 

 they went, passing over the natural obstructions of the 

 region with unabated courage, until they came. within sight 

 of the Crow encampment. 



It would be difficult for one who has never experienced 

 the fears engendered by the dangers of war, to imagine the 

 consternation which seized the Crows when they saw their 

 home hills, which encircled the place of their birth, covered 

 with their most deadly foes. The sun, just sinking out of 

 sight, made the prospect more dark, the scenes more wild 

 and fearful. The impatient warhorses, decked with feath- 

 ers, played well their part. The tramping of their hoofs 

 as they beat the earth and the grass into fine dust, fell like 

 a knell upon the ears of the Crows, who were unprepared 

 for battle. They realized that they were outnumbered, 

 twelve to one ; their squaws,, papooses, and, dearest of all, 

 their ponies, were threatened with speedy destruction. Rot- 

 ten Belly, mounted upon his horse, his war bonnet fully 

 six feet in length, braided full of eagle feathers floating 

 through the air, came riding forth, commanding his war- 

 riors to strip and mount their horses with all possible speed 

 for the conflict that must soon ensue. 



No sooner had the Crows filed out in order than the 

 Sioux made a desperate charge. The thunder of horses' 

 feet and the wild yells and circling columns produced an 

 effect both weird and awful. The Crows were speedily 

 overpowered and forced back into a mountain gorge, and 

 Rotten Belly, realizing that unless something were done at 

 once, his tribe would soon be massacred, resolved to resort 

 to stratagem. He ordered his braves to follow him, and 



