Rocky Mountains . 305 



The Serpent's Head, a distinguished Oto warrior, as- 

 sembled a war party of thirty men, and moved against the 

 Konzas. Within a few miles of their village, at a narrow de- 

 file on Blue-earth creek, he placed his party in ambush, and 

 with two or three selected men, he advanced to within a 

 hundred yards of the village. At the dawn of day a Konza, 

 having occasion to walk a short distance, was attacked by 

 the Serpent's Head singly, who buried his tomahawk in his 

 head, and took off his scalp, within view of many of the vil- 

 lagers. These seized their weapons, and immediately pur- 

 sued the fugitives, until they reached the pass, where, falling 

 into the ambuscade prepared for their reception, they lost 

 seven of their number, and were obliged to retreat precipi- 

 tately, to seek the protection of the main body of their war- 

 riors, who, they supposed, were now in pursuit, and at no 

 great distance in the rear. 



The Otoes, after striking and scalping the slain, proceeded 

 on their way home, at a very moderate pace, not caring to 

 elude the powerful force, which they well knew must be 

 hard by. The Konza warriors, dashing on at full speed, at 

 length discovered the retreating band, moving at their lei- 

 sure over a prairie, and immediately attacked them. The 

 Otoes withstood the shock of the overwhelming force for 

 some time, until, losing a number of their party, they were 

 under the necessity of seeking safety in flight. 



An Oto hunting party, consisting of five lodges, was en- 

 camped in the vicinity of the Konza hunting grounds ; two 

 or three of their number, who were at a distance from their 

 companions, encountered a young Konza warrior, who de- 

 liberately approached them, and when sufficiently near, dis- 

 charged his gun at them, but was immediately shot down. 



The Otoes suspecting, from some appearances, the prox- 

 imity of a large body of the enemy, precipitately returned 

 to their party, and hastened to place themselves in an atti- 

 tude of defence. They availed themselves of three large logs, 



vol. l. 39 



