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 exultatio-n 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. 



