72 IN THE OLD WEST 



ried a pole on which dangled thirteen scalps, the 

 trophies of the expedition. As he lifted these on 

 high they were saluted with deafening whoops, 

 and cries of exultation and savage joy. In this 

 manner they entered the village, almost before 

 the friends of those fallen in the fight had ascer- 

 tained their losses. Then the shouts of delight 

 were converted into yells of grief ; the mothers and 

 wives of those braves who had been killed (and 

 seven had " gone under ") presently returned with 

 their faces, necks, and hands blackened, and 

 danced and howled round the scalp-pole, which 

 had been deposited in the center of the village, in 

 front of the lodge of the great chief. 



Killbuck now learned that a scout having 

 brought intelligence that the two band's of Rapa- 

 hos were hastening to form a junction, as soon as 

 they learned that their approach was discovered, 

 the Yutas had successfully prevented it; and at- 

 tacking one party, had entirely defeated it, kill- 

 ing thirteen of the Rapaho braves. The other 

 party had fled on seeing the issue of the fight, and 

 a few of the Yuta warriors were now pursuing 

 them. 



To celebrate so signal a victory, great prepara- 

 tions sounded their notes through the village. 

 Paints vermilion and ochres, red and yellow 

 were in great request; whilst the scrapings of 

 charred wood, mixed with gunpowder, were used 

 as substitute for black, the medicine color. 



