TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 163 



swimming down the steam. The water at this point was 

 about three feet deep but, as the animal went down the 

 stream the water became shallow. When the otter got into 

 water about twelve inches deep I shot at and wounded him 

 slightly, which soon brought him to the surface and I 

 finished the job. 



Little Horn plunged in, brought out the otter, and, 

 holding the little fellow high over his head, went through 

 all the dances with which he was acquainted, saying: 

 "Heap good medicine ; Sioux no kill me now." I learned 

 that he considered the otter the very best medicine known. 

 The skins are worn on the Indians' hair, wound round their 

 arms, fastened to their blankets, tied on their guns or saddles 

 and on their ponies' tails. The chief was greatly delighted 

 with the prize, which I had no desire to share with him. 



The hour being late we camped under a large cotton- 

 wood, and our ponies enjoyed the rich grass which com- 

 pletely covered the ground. While getting supper I saw a 

 fawn come out of some willows, about one hundred yards 

 below us. I caught up my rifle and was raising it into posi- 

 tion when a large buck came out, then came a doe followed 

 by another fawn. They were all sleek and in good order, 

 and were examining our camp. The Indian was under the 

 cottonwood, too busy with his otter to notice what was 

 going on. We had not killed much game, as we were pre- 

 pared to carry very little, but I felt I should like a piece of 

 the fawn, so I aimed at its shoulders and fired. The other 

 deer jumped and so did the Indian, but the fawn wilted from 

 the effects of cold lead, for the bullet broke both shoulders, 

 and we soon had its liver broiling over the coals, and found 

 the meat very palatable. 



Supper over, I helped to skin the otter, and found it the 

 toughest job I had ever undertaken,, as every atom of the 



