286 INDIANS. 



showing any generosity to, or favourable appreciation of 

 the gallantry of, a foe. 



Major Elliott, with some sixteen men, got separated 

 during the battle from the main body of troops. They 

 were surrounded, and all perished, gallantly fighting to the 

 last. Some time after a party was sent out to discover 

 and bury the remains. All were found where they died, 

 the soldiers scalped and terribly mutilated ; Major Elliott 

 unscalped, but with his right hand and foot cut off. 

 Months after, when the war had ceased, a chief who was 

 known to have been in the fight was asked how it hap- 

 pened that Major Elliott was not scalped. His reply was, 

 that he and the other Indians were so impressed with 

 admiration at the gallant conduct and unyielding courage 

 of Major Elliott that they did not wish to prevent his 

 getting to the Happy Hunting Grounds, but that in order 

 to deprive him of the power of injuring them there they 

 had cut off his hand and foot. 



Another well-known superstition of the plains Indians 

 is, that a man killed in the dark will dwell in darkness 

 throughout eternity. This, for the white man, is a most 

 fortunate belief, and materially lessens the dangers and 

 labours of the troops. With their stealth, craft, patience, 

 and knowledge of country, the Indians would, be truly 

 terrible in night attacks. As it is, such an attack is very 

 rare, and, when decided upon, is invariably made by moon- 

 light. They will crawl into a camp and steal horses, and 

 may sometimes fire a few shots into it from a distance. 

 But on a dark night there is little danger to be appre- 

 hended, even though surrounded by the most hostile 

 Indians. 



In common with the ancients of history, the Indians 

 believe that the manes or shades of the departed slain in 

 battle require to be appeased by the death of the slayer, 

 if possible; or, failing his, by that of some one of the 

 slayer's nation or tribe. 



In the spring of 1873 a band of Cheyennes on a 



