22 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



Towards the grim trophies on the spear, the warriors, 

 who in turn addressed the council, frequently pointed 

 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 " medi- 

 cine " 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 animals. Still 

 the hunter remained in his position until the sun had 

 disappeared behind the ridge ; when, taking up their arms, 

 and throwing their buffalo-robes on their shoulders, the 

 war-party of Rapahos, one behind the other, with noiseless 

 step and silent as the dumb, moved away from the camp. 

 When the last dusky form had disappeared behind a point 

 of rocks whicli shut in the northern end of the little 

 valley or ravine, Killbuck withdrew his head from its 

 screen, crawled backwards on his stomach from the edge of 



