376 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bill, ei 



"By our enemies." I iisked, "What will you do with these bodies?" The men 

 replied, "We will wrap them up and take them home with as."' Then I exclaimed, 

 "^Vhen I grow up I will have my revenge, and I will slay the Indians who killed my 

 people." So I became a warrior. 



Our expedition was absent from the village 20 days. My mother did not say a word 

 when I came back. She did not reprove me nor tell me how anxious she had been. 

 AVTiile the men were away on the warpath the women made moccasins. While I was 

 gone my mother went on making moccasins. \\Tien I returned she gave me the 

 moccasins, and I wore them, but I could scarcely move, I was so closely watched. 

 For a long time, whenever 1 left the lodge she asked me where I was going. 



Continuing his narrative, Red Fox said: 



I went on 45 war parties. I even followed the west branch of the Missouri River 

 to the place where the snow never melts on the mountains. I will tell you of the war 

 party on which 1 first killed an enemy. On this expedition I rode a beautiful white 

 horse ^\'ith brown ears. Just before we started there was a Sun dance in the village, 

 and the leaders said, "If anyone wants to be successful in war lot him come and join 

 the Sun dance." There were a hundred men standing abreast in the circle. We were 

 asked "\Miat offer will you make to the great sun shining over your head? Will you 

 give him tobacco? Will you give him your flesh and blood?" When the Intercessor 

 came to me and asked these questions, I said in reply, "I will give my flesh and 

 blood that I may conquer my enemies." I fulfilled this vow at a Sun dance when 

 I returned victorious from war. My arms were cut 7 times below the elbow and 2 

 times above the elbow, making IS wounds in all. [Compare description on p. 91.] 



After making my Sun-dance vow, I started on the warpath. We had traveled five 

 days and had reached the end of the Missouri River, when the scouts said, "The Crow 

 Indians are having a great buffalo hunt." We went where they directed and saw 

 three Crows: one had a gun, one had a bow and arrows, and the third had a revolver. 

 The first two pointed their weapons at us, and the third flourished his revolver, but 

 we were able to go up fo them and strike each of them with a coup stick while they 

 were alive. We killed those three and also two more. Then we went farther and saw 

 another Crow party, but they did not see us. They went into the timber, made a 

 fire, and cooked some meat. After a time one of them came out and pointed his gun all 

 around. I rode up and hit him with a club. My Sun-dance vow made me fearless. 

 This was the fourth coup I counted on that expedition. We watched for the man and 

 afterward killed him. From there we went on until we came to a village of the Black- 

 feet. The l)orders of the river were heavily timbered, and the Blackfeet were camped 

 there. This was beyond the country of the Crows. ^\Tien in sight of the Blackfoot 

 village I put on my war bonnet, mounted my white horse, and ran toward the village. 

 I charged them and got about 50 horses from the center of their herd. They shot and 

 shot at me, but did not hit me. 



On the second night of our homeward journey we camped at a place called Bear 

 Butte. ['] Some of our horses were tired out and when the rest of the war party went 

 on their way, I stayed l)ehind, having two young men with me. We traveled more 

 slowly than the rest, and as we were going along the side of a foothill. I saw fovir Crow 

 warriors coming toward us. I said to the young men: "Come near and stand by me. 

 Four warriors are coming." The young men said, "Let us run and hide." I said: 

 " Wakar)^tai]ka hiis but one path. No matter how or where you die you must go by 

 that path. Let us stand together and fight." 



(' There were said to be two or more places called Bear Butte. One of tlie.se, situated in Montana, and 

 probably referred to in this song, was said to be higher than the one in South Dakota, probably referred 

 to in song No. 82, p. 256.) 



