88 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 



loved rather to speak with his bow and his lance than 

 with the weapon of a squaw. He had said it : the 

 Long-knives had horses with them and mules ; and 

 these were for him, he knew, and for his ' braves.' Let 

 the White-face go back to his people and return with 

 the animals, or he, the ' Brave Bear,' would have to 

 come and take them ; and his young men would get 

 mad and would feel blood in their eyes ; and then he 

 would have no power over them ; and the whites would 

 have to 'go under.'" 



The trapper answered shortly. " The Long-knives," 

 he said, " had brought the horses for themselves their 

 hearts were big, but not towards the Yanka-taus ; and 

 if they had to give up their animals, it would be to 

 men and not squaws. They were not ' wah-keitcha,'* 

 (French engages), but Long-knives ; and, however short 

 were the tongues of the Yanka-taus, theirs were still 

 shorter, and their rifles longer. The Yanka-taus were 

 dogs and squaws, and the Long-knives spat upon them." 



Saying this, the trapper turned his back and rejoined 

 his companions ; whilst the Indian slowly proceeded 

 to his people, who, on learning the contemptuous way 

 in which their threats had been treated, testified their 

 anger with loud yells ; and, seeking whatever cover 

 was afforded, commenced a scattering volley upon the 

 camp of the mountaineers. The latter reserved their 



* The French Canadians are called wak-keitcha " bad medi- 

 cine" by the Indians, who account them treacherous and vin- 

 dictive, and at the same time less daring than the American 

 hunters. 



