382 INDIANS. 



not running. These tactics are always adopted by the old 

 trappers and hunters of the plains, and by all plainsmen, 

 old or new, who know Indians ; and so well have the 

 Indians come to understand it, that when they see two or 

 three men take such a position, dismount, tie the legs of 

 their horses, and sit down on the ground rifle in hand, 

 they turn away and leave that party alone as c bad medi- 

 cine.' Of course there are exceptions, when the Indians 

 are very hostile, or the small party owns exceptionally 

 many or good horses ; but these are only exceptions, and 

 rare exceptions. The Indian does not want to be killed or 

 wounded any more than a white man, and he thoroughly 

 counts the cost of all risks. He knows how he himself 

 fights when cornered ; and his experience teaches him that 

 the white will fight just as desperately and even more 

 dangerously, and that an attack on a party so situated will 

 probably cost more lives than the scalps and horses of 

 the party are worth. Besides, as I have elsewhere said, 

 he lacks discipline and the courage that comes of disci- 

 pline. He argues like a militiaman in presence of the 

 enemy, who, being in line with a thousand other men, sees 

 a hostile line a thousand strong advancing to the attack. 

 ' Heavens,' thinks he, ' what can I do against such a force ? ' 

 and, totally forgetting the thousand men in line with him, 

 he incontinently takes to his heels, not from lack of 

 courage but of discipline. The white soldier going into 

 battle knows that many will be killed and wounded, but 

 always expects that he himself will be lucky and escape 

 unhit. The disposition of the Indian is just the reverse ; 

 each thinks he is the one going to be hit, and every man of 

 thirty or forty charging Indians will throw himself on the 

 side of his horse on the presentation of a single rifle. 



To the white defender such position is admirable, not 

 only in affording no cover to the attack, but in bracing 

 and steadying his own nerves. There is no chance of his 

 stampeding himself; and a man is never so cool, nor 

 fights so desperately, as when he has made up his mind to 



