304 Expedition to the 



back, and rode furiously about whilst they fired into the 

 Konza lodges. The principal chief of the nation, Burning- 

 heart, ran through his village, calling out to his warriors to 

 remain quietly in their houses, for the present, and not show 

 themselves to the enemy, or return their fire, in order to 

 give them time to tire out their horses, by continued action. 

 After a while a few shots were returned, to prevent the 

 Pawnees from rushing into the town itself, and when the 

 horses appeared to be sufficiently fatigued, Burning-heart 

 despatched two strong parties from the opposite end of the 

 village from that upon which the attack was made, one of 

 which, moving rapidly upon their hands and knees, gained a 

 ravine, along which they ran until they gained the enemy's 

 rear ; they were here joined by the other party, which had 

 gained the same situation by means of a lower prairie, along 

 the bank of which they passed unperceived. Finding them- 

 selves thus out-generalled, the Pawnees were under the ne- 

 cessity of charging through the enemy, and flying with jaded 

 horses before them. So rapid was the pursuit, that the Paw- 

 nees were obliged to precipitate themselves into the ravines, 

 over which they must pass, to the destruction of many of 

 their horses. Finally they made their escape, with the loss 

 of eighty men, and the greater part of their horses. 



When a hunting party is suddenly attacked by an enemy, 

 the squaws, whilst their husbands are engaged in opposing 

 the enemy, sedulously occupy themselves in digging basin- 

 shaped pits with their hoes, for their personal security, and 

 stooping down in them, escape the missiles of the contending 

 parties ; their husbands, if too hard pressed, also retreat to 

 these cavities, from which they can continue the action, with 

 very little exposure of their own persons, whilst the enemy 

 possesses no shelter. 



Besides the national battles, in which great waste of life 

 occurs, small war parties, or such as have been already de- 

 scribed, are almost constantly in motion, and are also de- 

 structive. 



