THE WARRIOR. 261 



THE WARKIOR. 



Behold him now a warrior ! 



And here let us stop a moment to take an inventory 

 of his peculiarities and capabilities. 



He is enduring, self-reliant, patient, and cunning 

 a magnificent rider, a fair shot with bow, pistol, or rifle, 

 and a thorough plainsman. 



His eye is prompt in detecting either the slightest 

 mark on the ground, or object at the farthest verge of 

 the horizon. A lazy loafer about his camp one day, he 

 is a swooping demon the next an abject beggar, or 

 daring thief, as circumstances warrant. Lying is to him 

 one of the fine arts, and his tongue is active to ' con- 

 ceal his thoughts.' 



Licentious without generosity, treacherous in all his 

 acts and dealings, most cold-blooded, and full of inven- 

 tion in the refinements of his cruelty, he is a most dan- 

 gerous and terrible animal, and would be tenfold more 

 so did he possess courage, as the white man under- 

 stands the term. Bravery he undoubtedly possesses. He 

 makes rattling da,shes, in which whoops, and yells, and 

 shaking of buffalo robes are expected to do almost 

 as much as his shots (and woe betide the unfortunate 

 enemy who trusts his safety to flight). He springs 

 to his arms from soundest sleep at the first symptom 

 of alarm, and is ready to fight or fly, as may seem best 

 to him. He fights to the death when cornered ; but 

 it is as the wolf fights, who neither gives nor expects 

 mercy. 



His fighting is either the excitement of the charge 

 or the desperation of despair ; and, giving him every credit 

 for physical prowess and personal bravery, there is yet 

 in every Indian a total lack of that courage which prompts 

 men to fight from a sense of duty. 



His charge is magnificent when sure that his numbers, 



