388 INDIANS. 



rifle in hand, stretched at a run towards the spring 

 waggon. I pointed them out to the Indian, and told him 

 to go. He needed no second bidding, but rushed back 

 to his party, which was in the greatest turmoil and con- 

 fusion. I went back to the waggons, hitched up and 

 started, the Indians holding a consultation. 



As I regained the road, the chief came to me with 

 the flannel shirt flag. He was very much grieved. ' I 

 had deceived them. They could have killed us and 

 taken everything we had before the troops came up. 

 They did not kill us, because I promised to give them 

 what they wanted ; therefore I must give them all I 

 promised. He wanted to go with his young men and 

 sleep in my camp that night, that I might give them 

 plenty to eat, and powder, lead, and other things I 

 promised.' I told him that he and his party were robbers 

 and murderers ; that he must go away ; and that if he 

 or any of them came near my march or my camp I 

 would kill them. He left me and rode slowly back to his 

 men, the most disgusted looking Indian I ever saw. We 

 went our way, leaving the band sitting in a circle on the 

 ground, evidently discussing in no amiable frame of 

 mind the outrage that had been perpetrated on them. 



A very common mistake, and one especially easy to 

 fall into when armed with a modern improved breech- 

 loading rifle, is in firing too soon. In the 'good old 

 times ' of muzzle-loading, the man who fired a shot 

 without sure death to his enemy was very likely to * go 

 under ' himself. The Indian has great respect for a 

 loaded, but none for an empty, rifle. He knows the value 

 of nerve, and fully appreciates the dangerous character 

 of the man who can refrain from firing until he has a 

 sure shot. He is particularly susceptible to what is called 

 ' moral effect.' Shots whistling harmlessly by his ears 

 tend to encourage him, while the fall of a single man or 

 horse will sometimes send a very determined band to the 

 right-about. 



