SO LIFE IN THE FAK WEST 



more than one, as he did so, making the gyratory 

 motion of the right hand and arm, which the Indians 

 use in describing that they have gained an advantage 

 by skill or cunning. Then pointing westward, the 

 speaker would thrust out his arm, extending his fingers 

 at the same time, and closing and reopening them 

 repeatedly meaning, that although four scalps already 

 ornamented the " medicine " pole, they were as nothing 

 compared to the numerous trophies they would bring 

 from the Salt Valley, where they expected to find their 

 hereditary enemies the Yutas. " That now was not the 

 time to count their coups," (for at this moment one of 

 the warriors rose from his seat, and, swelling with pride, 

 advanced towards the spear, pointing to one of the 

 scalps, and then striking his open hand on his naked 

 breast, jumped into the air, as if about to go through 

 the ceremony.) " That before many suns all their 

 spears together would not hold the scalps they had 

 taken, and that they would return to their village, and 

 spend a moon relating their achievements and counting 

 coups." 



All this Killbuck learned : thanks to his knowledge of 

 the language of signs a master of which, if even he have 

 no ears or tongue, never fails to understand, and be under- 

 stood by, any of the hundred tribes whose languages are 

 perfectly distinct and different. He learned, moreover, 

 that at sundown the greater part of the band would 

 resume the trail, in order to reach the Bayou by the 

 earliest dawn ; and also, that no more than four or five 

 of the younger warriors would remain with the captured 



