A BOXING-MATCH. 13 



a splendidly-made Indian, standing over six feet in his mocca- 

 sins, with a really fine face almost lived in the fort. He was 

 one day in Alexander's room, when the latter took up some 

 boxing-gloves and put them on, telling " White Cloud " 

 that these were the things with which the white man learned 

 to fight, asking the chief if he would like to put them on. 

 " White Cloud " of course had no idea of what would happen ; 

 for Indians never hit with the hands, and to hit one of them is 

 to insult him most grossly. " White Cloud " said he should 

 like to try them ; so Alexander first took away his knife and 

 pistol and locked them up ; then putting him in the middle of 

 the room and telling him to stand on his guard, he knocked 

 him to the other end of it, and on his rising and rushing at 

 Alexander, he was again sent to the same place. His rage, 

 I was told, more resembled madness, and, tearing off the 

 gloves, he tried to get his knife from the drawer ; but finding 

 it locked, he suddenly calmed down, or seemed to do so, and 

 demanded to be let out. Alexander asked him what he would 

 do when outside, when " White Cloud " told him that he 

 and his men would instantly attack the fort and kill everyone 

 in it. 



Seeing that only desperate measures would have a chance of 

 succeeding here, Alexander took a revolver from a drawer, and 

 told the chief that unless he promised, within five minutes, to 

 give up his intention and make friends, he would shoot him and 

 chance what came of it. For some minutes " White Cloud " 

 was obstinate, and then seeing that Alexander meant what he 

 said, and being somewhat tempted by some presents which were 

 promised him, he shook hands and, receiving his pistol and 

 knife, left the room, carrying with him two bottles of whiskey, 



