University of California Berkeley 
 
 THE PETER AND ROSELL HARVEY 
 MEMORIAL FUND 
 
L 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' . * * 
 
 

 SB? 
 
 

 
 
N 
 

 \ 
 
\ 
 
 THE QUALLE. p. 200. 
 
FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 AMONG THE 
 
 BLACK-FEET INDIANS 
 
 O R , 
 
 A THRILLING NARRATIVE 
 
 OF THE ADVENTURES, PERILS AND SUFFERING ENDURED 
 BY JOHN DIXON AND HIS COMPANIONS, AMONG 
 THE SAVAGES OF THE NORTIWEST TER 
 RITORY OF NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. 
 
 BY SYLVESTER CRAH3S, Jlh\. 
 
 Fiction's web is woven . will, 
 But " truth is often strajer still.' 
 
 C O L U M BJ S : 
 
 OSGOOD & PEARCE PRINTERS. 
 
 1858 
 

 
 &--'< /^ 
 
 ^ " <*^ 
 
 Entered according tk act of Congress, in the year 1858, 
 BY SYLVESTER CRAKES, JUN., 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of tli District Court of the United States for 
 the Soupern District of Ohio. 
 

 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 JOHN DIXON emigrated to Oregon, from the North of 
 England, in the year 1801. His object, in connection 
 with a number of others, who sailed in the same vessel 
 was to connect himself in the capacity of employee with 
 the " Hudson's Bay Company," engaged in the fur 
 trade. The notes of Mr. Dixon, from which this work 
 is compiled, does not inform us what county in England 
 he hailed from, or the name of the ship in which he 
 sailed. He tells us, however, that on the 6th of July, 
 in the year 1801, they landed at the mouth of the Co 
 lumbia river, in Oregon, and shortly after entered the 
 service of the Fur Company ; in which situation he 
 continued until the 15th of June, 1802, at which time, 
 owing to a misunderstanding between himself and two 
 others, on the one part, and some of the officers of the 
 Company on the other, he and his companions, William 
 Thornton and Jack Moulton, determined to leave the 
 service of the Company and seek their fortunes together, 
 in their own way, in a remote part of the Territory, 
 uncontrolled and undisturbed by the mandates of the 
 Company. 
 
 Preparatory to starting, they had furnished themselves 
 with provisions sufficient for one month, by which time 
 they supposed they would become established in their 
 
iv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 new quarters ; after which, they doubted not, but that 
 by an occasional traffic with the Indians, and the use of 
 their unerring rifles, they would be enabled to furnish 
 themselves with an ample supply of all the food neces 
 sary for the comfort of trappers. And for clothing, 
 they had, as they supposed, sufficient to last them one 
 year ; at the end of which time, (provided they were 
 successful,) they could return to the Company's agency, 
 and procure a fresh supply. 
 
 During the time they were employed by the Company, 
 they had frequently heard old trappers speak of the 
 abundance of fur-bearing animals on the head waters of 
 the Missouri, on the east side of the Rocky Mountains. 
 And having collected all the information which they 
 deemed necessary, in order to reach that region, they 
 set out on their journey ; and passing over many inci 
 dents and difficulties which they encountered and sur 
 mounted in the way, on the 12th of July following 
 they reached what they supposed to be the country for 
 which they started, and with alacrity set about preparing 
 their camp for future use and comfort. 
 
 From this point, the many astonishing and tragical 
 scenes in the life of John Dixon will commence. And 
 after the reader has perused the pages of this work, he 
 may well exclaim, " Yerily, truth is sometimes stranger 
 than fiction!" 
 
 In conclusion of our introductory remarks, we would 
 inform the reader that the facts narrated in this work, 
 are compiled from Mr. Dixon's own notes ; who, after 
 having been five years a captive among the Black-Feet 
 
INTRODUCTION. V 
 
 Indians, made his escape into New Mexico, where he 
 obtained employment in the capacity of shepherd to 
 Castra Urego, a wealthy Spaniard of that country, with 
 the design (as his notes inform us) to raise sufficient 
 funds to return to England, where he intended to pub 
 lish this work. But, unfortunately, he was taken sick 
 and died, before his term of service with Castra Urego 
 expired. And, until recently, it was no tknown, except 
 by his relations and immediate friends, that John Dixon, 
 the English captive among the American Indians, ever 
 lived ; nor would the facts ever have been known, prob 
 ably, but for accident, which brought them to light. . 
 
 During the winter of 1855, Mr. Winter, an American 
 gentleman, was spending some time in Santa Fe, trans 
 acting business for a mercantile house in New Orleans. 
 Upon a certain occasion, he concluded to spend a few 
 days in the country, at the residence of a gentleman with 
 whom he had formed a partial acquaintance during his 
 residence at Santa Fe, and who had cordially invited a 
 visit from him, at his ranch, and the acceptance of his 
 hospitality. 
 
 It was during the visit of Mr. W. at the ranch of 
 Don Zeno, son of Castra Urego, that the notes of Mr. 
 Dixon were first brought to the knowledge of any one 
 who could read and comprehend them. After the death 
 of Mr. D., Castra Urego, although unable to read his 
 (Mr. D.'s) notes, had carefully filed them away, and after 
 the death of his father, Don Zeno preserved them as a 
 curiosity ; and on the occasion of Mr. W. 's visit, the 
 notes of Mr. Dixion were presented, as he supposed, to 
 
yi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 amuse him, when he perused them with much interest. 
 Learning these facts from Mr. W., some two years after, 
 the Editor, on his (Mr.W.'s) subsequent return to New 
 Mexico, deputed him to obtain from Don Zeno the 
 manuscript of Mr. Dixon ; which, after some delay and 
 considerable difficulty, he finally obtained. 
 
 In compiling this work, the Editor has strictly fol 
 lowed the facts in Mr. D.'s notes, elaborating them as 
 little as possible, in order to present them to the public 
 in an intelligible, and, at the same time, interesting form. 
 
 EDITOR. 
 
FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ON the 12th day of July, 1802, after a long, tedious, 
 and, in some respects, dangerous journey, we arrived on 
 the east side of the Rocky Mountains, and immediately 
 set about preparing our camp, in order to devote our 
 attention regularly to the business of trapping. Having 
 reached the point for which we started in safety, our 
 spirits were greatly elated, in view of the success 
 which we doubted not would attend our enterprise. At 
 least, we considered ourselves forever safe from the in 
 sults and oppressions practiced by the officers and place 
 men of the Hudson's Bay Company, upon all those 
 whom they deem under their authority. 
 
 This Company, like the East India Company, has 
 become one of considerable power and pretension ; and 
 from year to year, is extending its influence and strength 
 ening its grasp upon the interests and energies of the 
 vast extent of territory over which it claims to preside. 
 Its rule is despotic, crushing and degrading, not only 
 to the aborigines of the country, but to all those who 
 

 8 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 are in its employ, or under its influences, who are so un 
 fortunate as to be neither office-holders or favorites. 
 
 Having said thus much in digression, we will return 
 to the point from whence we started. After crossing 
 the Rocky Mountains, we made choice of a locality for 
 our encampment, which we thought peculiarly favorable 
 to our purpose. It was near the junction of the Mis 
 souri with one of its tributary rivers, at the foot of a 
 spur of the Rocky Mountains. This locality was not 
 only protected by the mountains, but was surrounded 
 by a beautiful grove of young timber, which gave the 
 place an appearance of extreme loveliness and security. 
 In the immediate vicinity, at the foot of the mountain, 
 gushed up, amid the rocks, a spring of never-failing wa 
 ter, clear as a crystal, cool and refreshing. 
 
 As before narrated, it was on the 12th of July that 
 we reached the place of our encampment, and in three 
 days from the time of our arrival, we had every thing 
 arranged in our camp for security and comfort, as far as 
 our limited means would permit, and immediately set 
 about prospecting for the most advantageous points in 
 our vicinity for the use of our traps, endeavoring, at the 
 same time, to procure something upon which to subsist ; 
 our slender stock of provisions, laid in at the commence 
 ment of our enterprise, being about exhasted. We left 
 our camp early in the morning, and directed our course 
 up the tributary river, paying due regard, as we passed 
 along the stream, to the indications of the proximity of 
 a plentiful supply of such fur-bearing animals as we 
 most desired to take. This part of the business was 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 9 
 
 more particularly intrusted to Jack Moulton, as he was 
 an old trapper, having been in the employ of the Hud 
 son's Bay Company, in that capacity, for ten years. 
 
 Whilst Moulton was engaged as the principal trapper, 
 Thornton and myself were to attend to the hunting ; 
 and whilst he hunted on the right bank of the river, I 
 carefully scoured the left ; but we were neither of us to 
 wander farther from the river than the report of our 
 guns could be heard. In case the report of either rifle 
 was heard, the others were to proceed immediately 
 toward the point from which it came, and render all 
 necessary assistance in taking and securing the game, 
 or in any other exigence. 
 
 We had proceeded in this manner until about 11 
 o'clock, when I heard the report of a rifle, probably a 
 mile distant, in the direct line of the river, as I supposed. 
 I immediately, started for that point, and in a few min 
 utes had the satisfaction of coming up with Jack Moul 
 ton, very composedly sitting astride of a fine fat elk, 
 upon the bank of the river. A short time after, Will 
 Thornton came up, who seemed remarkably well pleased 
 with our acquisition, in the line of good living. 
 
 Jack informed us that he discovered this beautiful 
 animal making for the water, about seventy-five yards 
 in advance of him. and that he stood still until the elk 
 proceeded to the water and commenced drinking, when, 
 without moving a step from where he stood, he fired 
 and after making two or three bounds to the rear, the 
 elk dropped dead upon the bank. Jack certainly made 
 a very fortunate and deadly shot, the ball passing through 
 
10 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 the body and penetrating the heart of the animal. 
 Having removed the viscera from the elk, we swung him 
 to a bush, sufficiently high to secure the venison from 
 the wolves, and continued our march up the river, in the 
 order mentioned. 
 
 About three o'clock, p. M., in crossing a small stream 
 connecting with the river upon the banks of which we 
 had been hunting, I discovered an otter, perched upon 
 a log over the stream, and shot it. This piece of luck 
 I regarded as quite an acquisition, and felt proud of my 
 day's work. 
 
 The fur of this animal is regarded as valuable, and 
 we were well pleased to find it an inhabitant of our new 
 hunting-ground Soon after I discharged my rifle, in 
 shooting the otter, I heard the report of another, in the 
 direction of the river, and it being about the time we 
 had agreed to meet, in order to return to camp, I im 
 mediately started in that direction, and had no difficulty 
 in finding Jack, for I heard him whistling before I got 
 within one hundred ' yards of him. He had killed 
 nothing since the elk, but discharged his gun to bring 
 Thornton and myself to him, that we might return to 
 camp. Thornton made his appearance soon after my 
 arrival, and reported having seen nothing during the 
 day worth a load of ammunition. We, however, con 
 soled him with the hope that his fortunate star would 
 yet loom above the horizon, and perhaps eclipse ours. 
 Will laughed merrily at his ill luck, and said it was well 
 for such hunters as he was that our stock in trade be 
 longed to tenants in common, and there were only three 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 11 
 
 of us. Moulton told us that he had discovered abun 
 dant signs of otter, beaver, raccoon, mink, and several 
 other species of furred animals ; and last, though not 
 least, that he was sure there were plenty of bears in 
 this region. This news was, of course, to us, highly 
 gratifying, as hunting and trapping were the great ob 
 jects of our penetrating these vast regions, far from 
 civilized life. 
 
 In fine spirits we retraced our steps to camp, taking 
 with us, of course, the carcass of the elk which Moulton 
 had killed in the morning, and which we found secure 
 from molestation. In order to get him to camp, we pro 
 cured a pole, about ten feet long, and having lashed the 
 elk across the middle of it, Moulton and myself took 
 the opposite ends, each upon one shoulder, and Thorn 
 ton occasionally relieved us. In this way we carried 
 him to the camp, a distance of some five miles. 
 
 Having secured our venison, we broiled a portion of 
 it, and made an excellent supper. We found it tender, 
 and of a fine, rich flavor, and we all enjoyed it exceed 
 ingly. The day had been very warm, and we were all 
 tired; and after our evening's repast, we were soon hap 
 py in the embrace of Morpheus. About midnight, we 
 were awakened by the howling of wolves seemingly 
 from almost every point of the compass. Although this 
 outcry was to us nothing unusual or strange in itself, yet 
 in point of proximity and volume we had heard nothing 
 of the kind equal to it. From the doleful noise pro 
 duced by the various sounds, of chords and discords, 
 one unacquainted with this music of the forest would 
 
12 FIVE YEABS A CAPTIVE 
 
 have supposed that the mountains and valleys were alive 
 with these depredators upon the rights of the more 
 harmless sojourners of this country. Our sleep, how 
 ever, was too refresshing to be long broken by these 
 stragglers of the night. Knowing that our lodge was 
 strong enough to resist the attacks of any animal that 
 we had reason to suppose inhabited these mountains, a 
 feeling of conscious security guarded our rest. Our 
 lodge was built of solid logs, twelve by fourteen feet in 
 extent, and ten feet high. The opening was sufficiently 
 capacious to admit one man at a time, and the door was 
 a stout oak puncheon, four inches in thickness, swung 
 upon wooden hinges, and fastened on the inside by 
 means of a wooden bolt. The roof was also composed 
 of puncheons, sufficiently strong to resist rain and snow, 
 or the efforts of any animal less powerful than the ele 
 phant or mastadon. 
 
 Although this mechanical appearance of our dwelling 
 might not have inspired the imagination of a noble of 
 London or Paris, yet with us it was the very beau 
 ideal of neatness, elegance, and propriety; especially 
 so, when we take into consideration the fact that the 
 only tools we had to work with, in the erection of this 
 sumptuous building, were two axes, an auger, and our 
 jack-knives, which we had brought with us from the 
 station at Yancouver. 
 
 Our sleep during the night had been refreshing; and 
 we awoke about the time the sun was making his ap 
 pearance in the eastern horizon. The sky was clear, 
 the air balmy, and all nature, as far as the eye could 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 13 
 
 reach, seemed rejoicing in its wild and gorgeous beauty. 
 The mountains, the hillocks, and the vales seemed 
 lavish of their smiles, decked as they were in the beau 
 tiful robes with which the God of Nature had clad 
 them thousands of years ago. And the birds, those 
 sweet choristers, whose dulcet notes were keyed by the 
 fingers of the Almighty, how delightful, how ravishing 
 their songs ! 
 
 We found a rare species of bird as an inhabitant of 
 these mountain fastnesses, which I wish to describe more 
 particularly. To me its manners and appearance were 
 quite novel, and I am satisfied that in Europe there are 
 none like it. I am not an ornithologist, and can not 
 describe the bird technically; but in size it was about 
 equal to the robin, with alternate black and yellow 
 spots covering the body, excepting the wings, which are 
 a beautiful bright crimson. It is a delightful singer, 
 with notes clear, shrill and melodious, which are only 
 heard early in the morning and during the summer 
 months. The Indians, I learned subsequently, at 
 tach a degree of sacredness to this bird, and will, 
 under no circumstances, permit it to be killed or in 
 any way molested, believing they are messengers to 
 them, indicative of good fortune, peace and plenty. 
 These birds are not numerous, and it is only occa 
 sionally that the adventurer among these mountains gets 
 sight of one. They are exceedingly shy and timid, and 
 on the first alarm disappear. 
 
 The natives of these regions call this bird Kiwah, 
 which signifies, in the Black-Feet language, "sacred." 
 
14 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Having disposed of our breakfast at an early hour, 
 we started, with our traps and rifles, up the tributary 
 river, in order to try our luck trapping. 
 
 Jack Moulton disposed of the traps along the river, 
 as, according to his judgment, seemed most judicious, 
 and at such intervals as his experience approved. 
 
 The traps having been thus arraged, we concluded to 
 spend the remainder of the day hunting; and, after 
 taking our lunch, we separated, agreeing to meet about 
 three o'clock, at a certain point on the river, in order to 
 return to camp. 
 
 We determined, to-day, to strike out some distance 
 from the river, every man to pursue his own course 
 and make the best of his time. After having gone 
 about three miles back from the river, I perceived five 
 spotted antelopes. With a great deal of caution, I 
 succeeded in getting within shooting distance of them, 
 and, selecting one of the finest, I fired, and had the sat 
 isfaction to see him drop to the ground. All the others 
 darted away, as if Old Nick were after them, and were 
 soon out of my sight. After loading my rifle, I went to 
 the spot where I had seen my game drop, but to my 
 astonishment it was not there. I found blood in any 
 quantity, but where the antelope was, was more than I 
 could tell. After searching for some time, I finally 
 came upon its bloody trail, and pursuing it about a mile, 
 came up with the expiring animal, just in time to be in 
 at the death. The antelope had sought the shelter of a 
 thicket of young timber on the side of the mountain, as 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 15 
 
 a proper place to yield up the ghost. I was not long 
 in removing the entrails, and securely elevating it to the 
 top of a bush. These antelopes, of which there are 
 several kinds in this country, are a species of deer, and 
 are a most graceful animal. They are extremely active, 
 and their motion is majestic and lofty. 
 
 Having made this disposition of my game, I returned 
 to the point on the river designated, to meet Thornton 
 and Moulton, for our return to the camp. After wait 
 ing half an hour, I had the satisfaction of seeing them 
 coming together. 
 
 Thornton, in the course of his hunt, had the fortune, 
 or rather misfortune, to fall in with a brown bear, and 
 having discharged his rifle and wounded it, like a true 
 soldier, (as these bears uniformly are,) it struck a 
 straight line for Thornton's headquarters. Thornton no 
 sooner discovered this mano3uvre on the part of the bear, 
 than, deeming discretion the better policy, he hastily beat 
 a retreat, whilst the bear, with commendable zeal, was 
 bringing up the rear. What the result would have 
 been, had not Thornton, in his retreat, accidentally have 
 crossed the path of Moulton, is somewhat doubtful. 
 Moulton thought the chances in favor of the bear, for, 
 although Will seemed to be making his fifteen knots an 
 hour, yet the bear seemed good for twenty. 
 
 In this state of the case, all the resources of Moulton, 
 acquired during ten years' experience in a trapper's life, 
 were brought into immediate requisition. He threw 
 himself in advance of Thornton, and told him, as he 
 valued his life, to stop ; which Thornton, although badly 
 

 
 16 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 frightened, did. Moulton then drew his knife, and or 
 dered Thornton to do the same. The bear, seeing there 
 was to be a fight, checked his motion, and advanced with 
 caution and precision. Moulton told Thornton to stand 
 firmly to his post, and in case he failed to bring the bear 
 down with his rifle, to be ready with his knife for this, 
 with them, would be the last resort in a desperate case. 
 Moulton reserved his fire until the bear was within ten 
 or twelve feet of them, when he drew up, and aiming the 
 ball for its forehead, fired. The bear dropped in its 
 tracks, and, although exceedingly tenacious of life, unless 
 shot in a vital part, immediately expired. He measured 
 in length nine feet, and would probably have weighed a 
 thousand pounds. Thornton and Moulton brought in 
 the skin to camp, which was sufficiently large to make 
 an excellent bed-cover. 
 
 There are three species of bears which inhabit this 
 country, namely : the black, the brown, and the grizzly 
 bear. The grizzly bear is the most formidable com 
 petitor, in animal similitude, with which the hunter has 
 to contend ; and the brown bear, in this respect, is not 
 much his inferior. The black bear is much smaller and 
 more harmless. We now returned to camp, and having 
 disposed of our frugal meal, and spent an hour in re 
 counting the adventures of the day and making various 
 conjectures as to our success in our trapping enterprise, 
 retired to rest. 
 
 The wolves, although somewhat annoying, were not 
 so vociferous last night. At an early hour this morning 
 we were astir, in high hopes of realizing with our traps 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. It 
 
 the great desire of our hearts abundance .of fur. 
 Having partaken of our morning meal, we took our 
 rifles and started for the traps, and were not a little 
 gratified to find, on our arrival, that we had secured 
 three beavers and two otters. Every trap contained a 
 prize except one, and it had been sprung, but from some 
 cause (although the bait was gone) it had failed to 
 secure its game. Having re-set our traps, we started 
 in pursuit of the antelope that I had killed yesterday, 
 and finding it secure from harm, took it and our fur, and 
 returned to camp gratified with our day's work. 
 
 The great problem with us was now fully established, 
 that we were in the midst of fur ; and the probability 
 was, that it existed in large quantities, and had never 
 yet been disturbed by the Hudson's Bay or any other 
 Company. We felt greatly the need of more traps 
 having but six, which we had brought from Vancouver. 
 This difficulty, however, was soon remedied. Thornton 
 being something of a mechanic, in the course of a few 
 days he constructed, of wood, ten more which, although 
 not as good as metal, answered a very good purpose in 
 the taking of some animals. We had now sixteen traps, 
 six of which were metal, and ten of wood ; and as our 
 necessities might require, we could increase them to any 
 number desired. 
 
 1* 
 
18 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THERE is, perhaps, no legitimate pursuit that is fol 
 lowed by man, that is more trying upon the constitution 
 than that of trapping. The trapper's life, besides being 
 one of immense toil, is also one of continual exposure. 
 It matters not what may be the state of the weather 
 whether wet or dry, hot or cold ; if he is faithful to his 
 duties, he must meet it, without discrimination, or re 
 gard for his own comfort or ease. In our case, the 
 labor was increased, from the fact that, aside from our 
 regular business of hunting and trapping, we had also, 
 at the same time, to provide our own means of subsist 
 ence, which of itself adds no small item to the daily 
 task in the life of a back-woodsman. Although we 
 generally found little difficulty in supplying ourselves 
 with plenty of game, yet it required no little wear of the 
 physical powers to keep up our daily supply. 
 
 For some time after we had established ourselves in 
 our present quarters, our supplies, of whatever kind, 
 had to be carried to camp upon our own shoulders, 
 having neither horse, ox, jack, or mule, to relieve us in 
 this arduous labor. And, notwithstanding the immense 
 amount of toil to which we were subjected, we got along 
 
AMONG THE BLACK- FEET INDIANS. 19 
 
 pleasantly, and enjoyed this state of wild freedom and 
 adventure. No disposition was manifested on the part 
 of any of us to shrink from duty ; but each proceeded 
 with alacrity and cheerfulness in the discharge of what 
 ever seemed necessary to be done. And, indeed, not 
 withstanding all the toil and privations incident to a 
 trapper's life, there is a certain kind of excitement and 
 enchantment about it, which is not only pleasing, but 
 actually captivating. And hence we generally find that 
 those persons who have spent any considerable portion 
 of their lives in this pursuit, with reluctance relinquish 
 it, if they ever do ; and their minds often recur, with an 
 almost longing desire, to return to it again. 
 
 In the wild roaming of the hunter, amid the freedom 
 of the forest, mountains, hills, and valleys, there is a 
 species of ennobling adventure and enlarged liberty, 
 that is calculated to fill the soul with admiration for the 
 vast and grand in nature where the looming of the 
 hoary mountain, the roaring of the river, the whisper 
 ing of the forest, and the murmuring of the gentle 
 rivulet, speak, in accents bold and grand, the praises of 
 that God who cammanded, and they stood fast. Cut 
 off from all the conventionalities of civilized life, the 
 trapper feels somewhat like Robinson Crusoe, on the 
 island of Juan Fernandez, 
 
 " I am monarch of all I survey, 
 My right there is none to dispute." 
 
 Yet, as far as our rights were concerned, the reader will 
 
 find, before he gets through, this quotation does not apply. 
 
 Our success in trapping, thus far, had been fully equal 
 
20 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 to our anticipations. Our traps seldom failed, once in 
 twenty-four hours, to furnish us with an ample supply 
 of fur ; and our prospect was excellent (provided we 
 met with no reverses) for becoming independent, as far 
 as this world was concerned, in at most two years the 
 time we had determined upon, in our own mind, as the 
 period of our sojourn in the country. Many an evening, 
 after our day's work was done, have we talked over our 
 prospects, and suggested to each other plans for the in 
 vestment of our wealth, after our return to England. 
 But, although in this we exhibited unmistakable signs 
 of vanity, yet permit me to say, that in it, there was at 
 least one redeeming quality. We were all the sons of 
 poor parents. An old mother and a maiden sister were 
 all the family ties that Jack Moulton left in England. 
 Will Thornton left a father, mother, and two sisters ; 
 and the survivors of my family were a father, brother, 
 and a sister the two latter being younger than myself. 
 In our suggestions with regard to the employment of 
 our wealth, there seemed to be a desire, on the part of 
 each of us, to appropriate it, whether little or much, to 
 the advantage of our respective families. At times, we 
 gave ourselves some uneasiness as to how we should 
 convey our fur and peltries to the coast of the Pacific, 
 in order for shipping to London, at the expiration of 
 our term of trapping ; but, as we intended to return to 
 the station at Yancouver in the course of a year, for 
 such supplies as we might need, we concluded at that 
 time to procure a number of horses, with which to pack 
 all our treasures to the point desired. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 21 
 
 As before stated, for our subsistence, we had now to 
 depend altogether upon the chase. But fortunately for 
 us, this country abounds in almost every variety of game, 
 and its rivers in excellent fish. Deer, antelope, elk, 
 mountain sheep, buffalo, and a great variety of smaller 
 animals and fowls, were abundant ; and, with ordinary 
 industry and economy, we were in no danger of perish 
 ing for want of food. The fish of this country were the 
 best I ever ate, and existed in such quantities that in a 
 few hours we could take enough with our spears to last 
 us several days. Of the various species of fish found 
 in these rivers, the salmon was most numerous, and, in 
 point of excellence, is unsurpassed. Fishing afforded 
 not only amusement, but abundant exercise, when not 
 otherwise engaged. Our habit was to visit our traps as 
 early in the day as possible ; re-set and bait them, 
 make a proper disposition of our furs, and then employ 
 our extra time in hunting, fishing, and securing our 
 peltries. In this way, during the three months of our 
 operations, we killed a great many deer, elk, antelopes, 
 and a great number of bears, and several buffaloes, be 
 sides an almost innumerable number of smaller animals. 
 
 For some time after we had established ourselves in 
 our new quarters, we were deprived of the use of salt, 
 and were compelled to eat our meat without the savor of 
 this luxury. But from this inconvenience we were provi 
 dentially relieved, for during one of our hunting excur 
 sions in the mountains, Jack Moulton discovered a spring 
 of unusually strong salt water. This spring occupied 
 the centre of a basin several acres in extent, and boiled 
 
22 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 up in a perpendicular jet of water as large as a man's 
 thigh, and ordinarily rose to the hight of five feet above 
 the surface of the earth ; and occasionally a jet would 
 rise to the hight of ten feet, and then subside to its Teg 
 ular motion. What was most remarkable about this 
 spring was, that all the ejected water returned through 
 the orifice from which it was expelled, between its reg 
 ular jets. In fact, it seemed to be a kind of natural 
 process of inhalation and respiration. First would be 
 the jet, propelled by some subterranean force, and then 
 a kind of suction, that carried back all the water, which 
 in a few moments more was again ejected. 
 
 Many an hour have I spent watching this wonderful 
 curiosity with astonishment. The water, although al 
 most as cold as ice, was strongly impregnated with salt, 
 and by means of tough wooden buckets, constructed by 
 Thornton, we carried it a distance of four miles, to our 
 camp, and used it in the seasoning and preservation of 
 our meats. The mode of procuring this water was by 
 placing our buckets near the orifice of the spring, so as 
 to get a portion of each returning jet, and in a very few 
 minutes our vessels would be filled. Our meat was 
 cut in slices and deposited in layers, in a large trough, 
 made for that purpose, upon which we poured an ade 
 quate supply of this brine, which was sufficiently strong 
 to preserve it from taint in the warmest weather. By 
 exposing a small quantity of this water to the action of 
 the sun for a few days, in consequence of evaporation, 
 crystalization would take place. 
 
 Fortune also smiled upon us in another respect. We 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 23 
 
 had by this time become very tired of the severe drudgery 
 incident to our packing, but, as a remedy for this, we 
 knew of no present alternative. But, to our very great 
 surprise, upon our return to camp one evening, weary 
 with our labor, we discovered, grazing upon a little 
 knoll, within forty rods of our cabin, a horse. Upon 
 making this discovery we were not a little surprised, 
 not simply because we had seen an animal of this kind, 
 (for, in parts of this country, like the buffalo, the horse 
 may be seen in vast herds, as wild as deer,) but because 
 this animal seemed perfectly gentle, and made not the 
 least effort to avoid us. He seemed well stricken in 
 years, and exhibited unmistakable signs of rather rough 
 usage, at the hand of some person who was evidently no 
 connoisseur in the treatment of this species of animal. 
 His back was sore, one eye had been knocked out, and 
 he was exceedingly low in flesh. Divers were our con 
 jectures as to where he came from and who had been his 
 master. Moulton finally gave, as his opinion, that this 
 animal belonged to some roving tribe of Indians who 
 might inhabit this counrry, and that he had somehow 
 made his escape, or, in consequence of his reduced con 
 dition, had been turned out to die. This being the most 
 reasonable hypothesis, we all received it as being correct. 
 This suggestion, however, was not the most agreeable to 
 our feelings. For although we were all somewhat ac 
 quainted with Indian manners and disposition, yet we 
 regarded our force as rather slender to strike their minds 
 with much terror in case of an unexpected adventure with 
 them. Besides, we were entirely unacquainted with the 
 
24 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 character of the aboriginal tribes of this section of 
 country, if any it had, and therefore we felt no disposi 
 tion unnecessarily to put ourselves to any trouble, either 
 to hunt them up or scrape an acquaintance with them. 
 We were far too good soldiers, however, to be fright 
 ened at the mere appearance of possible contingencies, 
 and our prospects were too flattering to permit any 
 thing to discourage us short of impossibilities. We 
 therefore gave no encouragement to surmises of this 
 kind, and drove them from us as a species of weakness 
 unworthy of men in our position. Besides, should 
 worse come to worst, we had confidence in the superior 
 resources which we supposed we could bring to bear 
 upon the savages and in our favor. But the reader will 
 see, from the sequel of this work, how futile were all 
 our hopes and calculations. The old horse, (which we 
 subsequently named Killdeer,) we concluded to keep, as 
 a prize of rare value to us. Accordingly, we took 
 charge of him, and supplied all of his wants with the 
 best of attention. We soon found him a very import 
 ant member of our family, and beloved and respected by 
 all. He proved of very great service to us, in bearing 
 heavy burdens, which, so far as we could understand, 
 was cheerfully performed. 
 
 About this time, on visiting our traps, one of them 
 was missing. The stake to which it had been attached, 
 by means of a chain, had been drawn from the ground. 
 On making farther examination, we discovered the 
 tracks of a huge bear, and at once the mystery of the 
 missing trap was solved. The bear had inadvertently 
 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 25 
 
 placed his foot in the trap, which he presently discov 
 ered become a fixture thereto, and, by way of gratifying 
 his sullen revenge, he concluded to take it with him, as 
 an object of serious contemplation in his place of re 
 tirement. We at once concluded that whatever the 
 bear might think of the adventure, we could by no 
 means spare the trap, and having discovered his trail, 
 we set out in pursuit of him ; and, owing to the marks 
 left upon the ground by the trap, we had but little dif 
 ficulty in following him. We examined our rifles, to see 
 they were in good order, and at the same time so ad 
 justed our knives that we could grasp them at once in 
 case of necessity. We placed Killdeer in charge of 
 Will Thornton, with the request that he should bring 
 up the rear. In this order, we continued the pursuit 
 over hills, valleys, and mountains, for about five miles, 
 when we came upon a cluster of thick undergrowth of 
 small shrubs and vines, into which the trail seemed to 
 lead. We stationed Thornton and Killdeer on the out 
 side, whilst Moulton and myself determined to pene 
 trate the thicket, being satisfied that the object of our 
 pursuit would be found there, reposing himself as 
 comfortably as possible for one in his particular situa 
 tion. We determined to keep near together, so that in 
 case of danger to either, assistance could be had from 
 the other. With great caution we entered the thicket, 
 prepared for any emergency that might be presented. 
 Having penetrated to perhaps the distance of thirty 
 yards, we heard a hoarse, suppressed growl, at some 
 distance on our left. Moving a few paces in that di- 
 2 
 
26 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 rection, we were enabled to see our enemy. He was a 
 grizzly, of formidable size, and most terrific appearance, 
 and to persons unaccustomed with adventures of this 
 kind, he would have been an object too formidable for 
 attack. But with us the prize was too great to think 
 of a retreat, when so much depended upon the issue. 
 He was sitting upon his haunches, about thirty steps 
 from us, holding up the foot to which the trap was at 
 tached the very picture of distress, rendered terrible 
 by anger. At intervals he would dash the trap upon 
 the ground with great force, and then, as though the pain 
 was too great for endurance, he would again hold it up, 
 as if he were reflecting what to do next. Every time 
 he struck the trap upon the ground he growled most 
 hideously. We watched his movements for some fifteen 
 minutes, when we concluded it was time to bring mat 
 ters to a crisis. The bear was as yet in total ignorance 
 of our presence, being so entirely absorbed with his 
 own troubles, that he paid little heed to aught that oc 
 curred around him. We both fired at once, Moulton 
 aiming for his head, and I for the region of the heart. 
 Upon the report of our rifles, he made a tremendous 
 lunge forward, at the same time emitting a most start 
 ling snort, and made directly for the point where we 
 were standing. It was now painfully evident that our 
 balls had not proved fatal ; and, as the contest now 
 stood, we concluded to beat a retreat, and accordingly 
 made our way out of the thicket in double quick time, 
 reaching the open space only a few rods in advance of 
 the enraged beast. Our intention was, on gaining the 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 2f 
 
 open ground, in case the bear continued the pursuit, to 
 give him a most cordial reception at the point of our 
 knives. But fate had decreed otherwise ; for, just at 
 the time, and at the point where we emerged from the 
 thicket, we met Thornton, astride of Killdeer; having 
 heard the report of our rifles, he was anxious to know 
 the result of the contest, and was in the act of making 
 a kind of circuitous reconnoissance. His curiosity, 
 however, was more than gratified by the result. "Upon 
 discovering Thornton in his critical position, Moulton 
 directed him to hand him his rifle, and then to make the 
 best time possible in order to make his escape ; which 
 injunction he immediately obeyed, and, putting Killdeer 
 to his utmost speed, (which at best was not great,) 
 struck off at a right angle across the plain. It so hap 
 pened that the bear emerged from the thicket imme 
 diately opposite the point that was occupied by Thorn 
 ton, and, without turning to the right or left, continued 
 the pursuit in the wake of Killdeer and of his rider, 
 leaving Moulton and myself a few paces to the left. 
 Thornton, on looking back and seeing the danger to 
 which he was exposed, spared no effort to keep Kill- 
 deer up to the top of his speed; not only the whip, but 
 his heels were most vigorously applied, in order to con 
 vince the poor brute that time was precious and the 
 danger imminent. But Killdeer (like some of Adam's 
 posterity) had lived long enough to know that the 
 world was not to be taken by storm, and consequently 
 refused to exert himself to any remarkable extent. 
 The scene was exceedingly ludicrous ! Some forty 
 
28 FIVE YEAES A CAPTIVE 
 
 yards in advance was Thornton and Killdeer, the for 
 mer having lost his hat in his desire to escape from the 
 enemy, and using extraordinary efforts to urge the latter 
 forward, whilst the horse seemed in no way disposed to 
 exert himself beyond a certain point habitual with him, 
 and the bear, incommoded as he was by the trap, and 
 evidently seriously injured by the two shots he had re 
 ceived in the thicket, continuing the pursuit, at a pace 
 by no means rapid ! Both Moulton and myself laughed 
 heartily at the picture, in spite of the seriousness of its 
 real character. Deeming it prudent, however, to form 
 a third party in the drama, we set off at a rapid rate in 
 the wake of the bear, determined, whatever the result 
 might be, to participate in its parts. It soon became 
 evident, however, that neither Thornton nor Killdeer 
 was in immediate danger, for the bear's speed was evi 
 dently declining, and before he had gone three hundred 
 yards he gave up the chase altogether, and sought the 
 shelter of a shady copse. When we came up with him, 
 he showed but little inclination to renew the contest, and 
 it was evident that, in consequence of the profuse loss of 
 blood, his life was fast passing away. And in the next 
 hour he expired, without any additional effort on our 
 part. Moulton's ball had penetrated his head a little 
 below the ear, and my own had grazed his heart. And 
 yet, such is the tenacity of life in this animal, that, al 
 though either of these shots would have proved fatal to 
 almost any other animal, with him for a time they only 
 served to kindle his terrible wrath. Thornton having 
 discovered, finally, that he was in no great danger, and 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 29 
 
 that the bear had given up the chase entirely, reined up 
 his courser, and, ultimately, ventured back and joined 
 us around the fallen foe. Jack and I passed a great 
 many jests at Will's expense when he came up, and 
 represented to him the novelty of the picture that he 
 and Killdeer made in escaping from the bear. Will 
 took our jests in good part, and said that he saw two 
 other persons, in coming from the thicket, who formed 
 quite as ridiculous a group as he and Killdeer did, he 
 had no doubt. This bear, as he lay upon the ground 
 before us, was a sight that would have attracted atten 
 tion any where. He measured, in length, nine feet and 
 eight inches ; and his foreleg, at the wrist, measured in 
 circumference thirteen inches. He was the very picture 
 of great vitality and strength, and, we all supposed, if 
 put upon the scales, would weigh at least one thousand 
 pounds. We soon stripped from the carcass its hide, 
 and, having lashed it upon the back of Killdeer, set off 
 for camp. 
 
 We had now occupied our -new quarters for nearly 
 three months, and had met with no obstacle in the least 
 calculated to discourage us. Upon the contrary, for 
 tune seemed to smile upon us in a remarkable manner, 
 our success in hunting and trapping had been prosper 
 ous beyond our most sanguine anticipations, and, had 
 no untoward events occurred, we were certainly in a 
 fair way to become, in a comparatively brief period, 
 pecuniarily independent. 
 
 But, alas ! for the bright hopes of mortality ! All 
 our sanguine anticipations were on the eve of being for- 
 
30 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 ever blasted; and we ourselves were soon to fall a 
 prey to savage brutality ! 
 
 We had already secured fur and peltries sufficient to 
 realize in the London market several thousand dollars, 
 and instead of any diminution in our success, the re 
 verse was the fact. We had, within the last few days, 
 moved a part of our traps from the tributary to the 
 Missouri river, and the change had thus far been 
 crowned with unprecedented success. Our hopes were 
 high and our spirits buoyant. Up to this time, since 
 our arrival in this country, our health had been perfect, 
 none of us having been sick an hour. 
 
 The country we regarded as exceedingly healthy, and 
 found it, as far as our observation went, exceedingly 
 pleasant. Diversified with hills, mountains and valleys, 
 at once bold, romantic and beautiful, causing the heart 
 to swell almost instinctively with thoughts of adoration 
 toward that Being who thus spreads before the beholder 
 scenes that, in their wild and primitive grandeur, so 
 far surpass the magnificence of kings, and all the pro 
 gress of civilization. 
 
 The rivers and the lesser streams of water are clear, 
 and run off with a rapid current ; thus effectually drain 
 ing the country. The valleys are rich, and appear ex 
 tremely productive. The sides of the mountains, as a 
 general feature, are* thickly studded with large and 
 vigorous timber. 
 
 On the afternoon of the third day of October, whilst 
 engaged in a hunting excursion on one of the small 
 branches of the Missouri, we recognized in the sand the 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 31 
 
 tracks of several human feet, of apparently recent date. 
 The tracks were those of full-grown men of large size, 
 bare-footed, and appeared to be going in the direction 
 of our camp. 
 
 It was now evident that there were other inhabitants 
 (or, at least, sojourners,) in this country, besides our 
 selves ; and it required no great stretch of the imagi 
 nation to arrive at the conclusion that they were Indians, 
 and perhaps of a very hostile character. 
 
 Our equanimity was somewhat disturbed in conse 
 quence of this discovery, and we thought it at least 
 prudent to keep an eye open for this new species of 
 game, which we now thought it possible we might, ere 
 long, have to contend with. 
 
 After our day's work was completed, we returned to 
 camp, as usual, and found every thing in its proper 
 place, and apparently secure. 
 
 At our usual time we retired to rest, and were soon 
 asleep. Our sleep was sound and undisturbed until 
 about the time day began to dawn, at which time our 
 ears were saluted by a perfect din of hooting, howling, 
 and shouting, resembling, more than any thing else, the 
 imaginative discords of the infernal regions. 
 
 We had no difficulty at all in understanding correctly 
 the true nature of the case. We were evidently sur 
 rounded by a band of savages, and, from present ap 
 pearances, the chances were against us. I peeped 
 through a crack and took a hasty survey of our visitors, 
 whose appearance to me was horrid in the extreme. 
 They were nearly naked, and painted in the most fan- 
 
32 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 tastic style dancing, yelling, and throwing their bodies 
 in all kinds of contortions. I withdrew from the sight, 
 sick at heart. 
 
 But something must be done; for it was evident, 
 from their manner and the display of their weapons, 
 that they were bent on mischief, and the probability was 
 that they would be satisfied with nothing short of our 
 lives. Will Thornton and myself were in favor of using 
 our rifles for their benefit, which we could have done 
 with fatal effect through some of the crevices of our 
 lodge. But Moulton would not consent to it, as he 
 thought it would only have the effect to enrage the 
 savages, and thereby increase our peril. For, although 
 we might dispose of /a few in this way, it was not possi 
 ble that, by the use of three rifles, we could resist the 
 vengeance of at least fifty enraged savages. 
 
 Moulton's plan was to give them a friendly reception, 
 make them some presents, and show no signs of fear 
 whatever. Although I doubted the success of this 
 plan upon the savages with whom we had to deal, yet, 
 as Moulton was older and had more experience in In 
 dian intercourse than either Thornton or myself, we 
 yielded the point ; which yielding I have regretted, 
 times without number, since. 
 
 We accordinly threw open our door, and, with some 
 venison and trinkets in our hands, boldly advanced to 
 ward them in the attitude of friendship. As soon as 
 these demonstrations were made on our part, a profound 
 silence ensued amongst the dusky barbarians of the 
 forest. They crowded around us, but not a word was 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 33 
 
 uttered by one of them. They regarded us with ap 
 parent amazement for about ten minutes, when a dark 
 figure, of gigantic size, with bow and arrow in hand, 
 approached us in front and accepted our trinkets. 
 After thoroughly examining them, he made such a dis 
 tribution of them as seemed satisfactory to himself and 
 them ; after which ' he distributed the venison in the 
 same way, which soon disappeared with something like 
 the relish one would expect to find among cannibals, 
 whose appetites had been on parole for a month. 
 
 We made use of every device in our power to convince 
 them that we were disposed to friendship ; but they 
 seemed either not to understand us or not to heed us ; 
 and although they as yet showed no disposition to mal 
 treat us, yet there was an ominous scowl upon their 
 features, which made my blood curdle back upon my 
 heart. 
 
 In this way they loitered about our camp until about 
 one o'clock, when the same powerful savage who had 
 accepted our presents deliberately advanced to the 
 entrance of our lodge, and was in the act of entering, 
 when Moulton motioned him to desist. Without a 
 word, or dissatisfied gesture, on his part, he returned to 
 the spot where the others were sitting; and, after a 
 few moments' silence, every Indian sprang to his* feet, 
 making the solitude ring with their hideous yells. 
 
 Now commenced a scene beyond my powers of de 
 scription. They simultaneously made a rush for the 
 door of our lodge, and in their haste to enter pulled the 
 door from its hinges, and having gained admittance, they 
 
34 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 seized Moulton, Thornton, and myself, and dragged us 
 from the lodge; and placing us under the guard of ten 
 other savages, again returned to the cabin, preceded by 
 the large Indian who had first made the attempt to 
 enter. (This Indian I subsequently learned was the 
 chief of the tribe.) 
 
 They then sacked and appropriated to their own use 
 not only the furs and peltries, but every thing else they 
 could lay their hands upon. Our stock of meat, axes, 
 and rifles all shared the same fate. 
 
 Having thus completed this part of the business, they 
 returned to the place where we were held as prisoners ; 
 and here the chief distributed the booty, retaining for 
 his own use that which he considered most valuable. 
 
 We had hoped, after thus plundering us, the savages 
 would at least leave us to enjoy all the comfort to be 
 found in our destitution. But in this we were doomed 
 to sad disappointment ; for no sooner had the distri 
 bution been completed, than, in obedience to what we 
 supposed to be a command from the chief, four Indians 
 set about stripping the clothes off of us. To this in 
 dignity we made some resistance which, however, did 
 but little good, for we were dashed upon the ground, 
 and our clothes literally torn from us, and appropriated 
 to the use of the chief. 
 
 In this condition, entirely naked, without even shoes 
 or hats, the party set off in a southerly direction, two 
 Indians guarding each one of us, and at times making 
 use of harsh means to urge us along. 
 
 I must not forget to mention that Killdeer was no ex- 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 35 
 
 ception to the general devastation that took place at our 
 camp. One of the savages, with the utmost coolness 
 and nonchalance, loosed him from his fastening, and 
 mounting upon his back, accompanied us. 
 
 Our three rifles and our hunting-knives were entrusted 
 by the chief to the care of an Indian, who appeared 
 about sixty years old, and from the manner in which he 
 handled the guns, we readily concluded that he was ig 
 norant of the purpose for which they were used. Nei 
 ther Moulton's or Thornton's were loaded, however, as 
 they had cleaned them on the previous evening, and 
 carelessly neglected to charge them. 
 
 Where we were going, or what would be the result of 
 this disastrous incident in our history, of course we 
 could only conjecture. But that this adventure would 
 be one of peace and pleasure, we had not the most re 
 mote idea. As matters now stood, we supposed, if we 
 were not devoured by the musquitoes, the probability 
 was that we should perish with cold and exposure. 
 But as there seemed to be no present help for our un 
 fortunate condition, we concluded to make the best of 
 it, and bear it with becoming fortitude. 
 
36 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 C HAPTER III. 
 
 MAN is, in a great degree, a creature of circumstances. 
 And perhaps it is well that he is so, for otherwise, in 
 many instances, life would be almost unendurable. The 
 true philosophy of human life upon this subject is, to 
 graduate our feelings and desires as entirely as possible 
 to the actual condition of surrounding circumstances, 
 (always keeping on the side of virtue, truth, and duty,) 
 and the greater the facility with which this is accom 
 plished, the happier we are likely to become. For it is 
 wicked folly in man to contend against the dealings of 
 Providence, or complain at the ways of the great All- 
 Father, because we cannot understand them. In our 
 present unenviable condition, we felt resigned to bear 
 every indignity that our captors thought proper to heap 
 upon us, with Christian fortitude ; yet intending to avail 
 ourselves of such means of escape (as we hoped) Prov 
 idence might place within our power. As yet, we were 
 entirely ignorant of the peculiar characteristics of the 
 savages into whose hands we had fallen ; but that they 
 were barbarians, and of a vicious character, we had 
 much evidence, sufficient at least to believe. 
 
 It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, when we 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 3t 
 
 left our camp with our Indian captors ; and having 
 traveled, as we supposed, about fifteen miles, we called a 
 halt, and camped for the night. The order of the march 
 was as follows : My companions and I were placed in 
 front, each of us guarded on either side by an Indian, 
 and the rear was then brought up by the remainder of 
 the savages. During the march there was but little 
 said, but we were urged forward at a greater speed than 
 had been habitual with us, and we suffered no small 
 amount of pain, from the tenderness of our feet, in 
 passing over stones, brush, and almost everything else. 
 And, as the nights were now getting quite cold, we 
 shivered for the want of clothing. Having struck a fire 
 by means of flints, my two companions and myself were 
 securely bound to stakes, by means of willow cords, 
 about ten feet from the fire. Our positions, as regarded 
 each other, were about five feet apart ; our arms were 
 bound together around the wrists, behind our backs ; 
 and then a strong cord was passed around our legs and 
 the post, and firmly fastened, so that it was difficult 
 for us to occupy any other position than that of stand 
 ing, or squatting down upon our haunches. The cords, 
 made of willow shoots, platted together, were hard and 
 unyielding, and were so tightly drawn around our arms 
 and legs, as to give us indescribable pain ; which, added 
 to our suffering from the coldness of the night, rendered 
 our condition truly pitiable. The Indians sat by the 
 fire, by turns, and guarded us all night, with the closest 
 vigilance, for, on the least noise made by one of us in 
 changing our position, their attention would be im 
 mediately directed to us. 
 
38 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Our singular condition, and the misery we were en 
 during, was sufficient to drive all thoughts of sleep from 
 us. The only consolation that we had left us was, that 
 we could talk to each other without being understood 
 by our captors. This they permitted without any ap 
 parent suspicion, although our language seemed to strike 
 their ears as something very ludicrous, as they would 
 talk, gesticulate, and sometimes laugh outright, upon 
 hearing our conversation. Finding there was no means 
 of escape on the present occasion, owing to the vigilance 
 of our guard, various plans were suggested for future 
 attempts, none of which, however, were carried out by 
 us. Prior to securing us to our stakes for the night, 
 the Indians offered us some uncooked flesh to eat, but 
 our appetites were not yet sufficiently sharp to adopt 
 this mode of satisfying hunger. Our captors, however, 
 with the zest of hungry bears, devoured it in this raw 
 state, without a particle of salt, or anything else, to 
 modify its freshness. 
 
 Such was the pain we suffered and the misery we en 
 dured, that we eagerly longed for the appearance of day 
 light again, that our sufferings might be mitigated, if 
 but for an hour. Indeed, this night seemed almost a 
 life-time to us. At length, daylight began to appear 
 in the east, and the sleeping savages were aroused by 
 their nodding companions, who were still trying to keep 
 guard. For some time after they were awakened, the 
 Indians loitered listlessly about the camp. About sun 
 rise, the chief, accompanied by four others, approached 
 us and loosed us from the stakes ; at the same time re- 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 39 
 
 moving the cords from our arms. Our limbs were very 
 much swollen and inflamed where the cords had bound 
 them, and for a time we thought we could not walk at 
 all ; but by a little exercise we felt better, although very 
 much crippled. 
 
 We were again placed under charge of the same six 
 Indians who had conducted us from the first ; and after 
 again offering us an uncooked breakfast, which was not 
 only offensive to our sight, but was equally disgusting 
 to our olfactory organs, they proceeded to satisfy their 
 own appetites, by eagerly devouring the filthy mass like 
 starving wolves, and then set about preparing for their 
 march. During this interval, we seated ourselves upon 
 a log, glad to enjoy a moment of rest, as we had ob 
 tained neither rest or sleep during the past night. We 
 were very weak, also, from exhaustion consequent on a 
 want of food, but saw no help for the many ills with 
 which we were surrounded. We had but-little time, how 
 ever, to give to gloomy forebodings on our helpless con 
 dition, for soon the word was given, and we were marched 
 off in the same order followed on the first day. We 
 found it exceedingly difficult to move with sufficient 
 speed to satisfy the humor of our captors ; and in 
 order to urge us forward at a more rapid rate, we were 
 from time to time pricked in the back with a kind of 
 spear, pointed with bone, and tapering to a point. By 
 means of these instruments of torture, in the hands of 
 the fiends who drove us, before night the blood was 
 trickling from our backs to our heels. And what ren 
 dered our condition still worse, they made no halt at 
 
40 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 noon, but urged us forward without a moment of rest 
 from the time of starting in the morning until the even 
 ing twilight. 
 
 From this statement of facts, the reader may have 
 some faint idea of the suffering we had thus far endured. 
 But it is beyond the range of possibility to realize 
 (without some similar experience) any thing like an 
 adequate idea of our misery during this and the follow 
 ing day. Our feet were raw and bleeding our backs 
 were literally perforated by the point of the spears, so 
 that they were covered with blood ; thus forming a com 
 plete point of attraction for the musquitoes, (which still 
 hovered around us during the warm part of the day.) 
 We had eaten nothing for thirty-six hours, nor had our 
 inhuman captors, during our march, permitted us to 
 slake our thirst at the running brook, as we passed along. 
 Our camp was formed, on this occasion, near a stream 
 that empties into the Missouri, amidst what would (un 
 der other circumstances) have seemed a beautiful grove 
 of timber. 
 
 After halting for the night, we were permitted, in 
 company with our guard, to go to the stream and drink, 
 and, as we were almost perishing with thirst, the reader 
 may judge with what eagerness we plunged in and 
 quenched this almost intolerable craving, regardless of 
 consequences. A fire was kindled by the savages,. and 
 we were again offered meat, not only raw, but otherwise 
 offensive, and to our appetites, forbidding. By signs, 
 we asked permission to broil it over the fire ; but to 
 this reasonable request they signified their dissent. We 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS, 41 
 
 then requested them to broil it for us, but this they also 
 refused to do. Seeing starvation staring us in the face 
 unless we ate something, I took a piece, and begged 
 Jack and Will to sup with me ; but, on putting it to 
 our mouths, our stomachs rebelled, and refused to receive 
 the unsavory morsel. Starvation, although a horrid 
 death, was preferable (in our opinion) to such a mode 
 of existence. Indeed, such was our miserable situation, 
 that we were in no condition to eat food, even of a 
 much more tempting kind. * We were exhausted to the 
 last degree ; and unless a kind Providence, by some ex 
 traordinary means, interfered in our behalf, we saw no 
 thing before us but death, in its most repulsive form. 
 For, leaving violence at the hands of the Indians out of 
 the question, we had no idea that our constitutions would 
 bear up under the fatigues of another such day and 
 night as we had just passed. Stakes were driven into 
 the ground, and we were attached to them in the same 
 manner that we were on the night previous. We im 
 plored them, as best we could, by signs, not to bind us 
 so tightly as they had done ; but this only excited their 
 brutal mirth, and they drew the cords quite as tightly 
 as before. 
 
 I shall not attempt to describe the agonizing pain we 
 endured during the long hours of this night. Suffice it 
 to say, that we bore all of which human nature is capa 
 ble, but actual death ; and, much as this is dreaded in 
 the general way, to us it would have been a relief. For 
 some time before the dawn of day, Moulton and I had 
 serious misgivings as to whether Thornton could live to 
 2* 
 
42 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 see the light of another day. His constitution had never 
 been rugged ; he was of a spare, light frame, incapable 
 of great physical endurance consequently, his suffer 
 ing was indescribable. At times he would weep like a 
 child, and again, at other times, he would be frantic and 
 rave like a maniac. Moulton and myself, in the midst 
 of our own calamities, endeavored to encourage him, 
 but to no purpose his reason had staggered under his 
 hard fate, and we feared much it would never be re 
 instated. About an hour before daylight, he sunk away 
 in a swoon, and pitched forward on his face and knees, 
 in which condition he remained entirely unconscious, 
 until he was released in the morning. 
 
 We were guarded by the same number of Indians 
 that we were on the previous nights, who kept a vigilant 
 eye upon us the whole of this. This watching, however, 
 was entirely gratuitous, as we could not have made our 
 escape, had every obstacle been removed. At length, 
 the sun shed his rays athwart the eastern horizon, and if 
 we hailed with gratitude the dawn of yesterday, be as 
 sured, dear reader, our humble thankfulness was not 
 diminished this morning. But again these thoughts 
 were speedily dissipated by those of a more gloomy 
 character. We had every reason to expect that an 
 other day's journey lay before us, similar to the one we 
 had just passed, and perhaps several of them, (if .na 
 ture bore the load,) for as to the question of wnen or 
 where we were to stop, we were in total ignorance ; as 
 well as to what disposition the savages intended ulti 
 mately to make of us. Of one thing, however, we felt 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 43 
 
 certain, that if our poor friend was not already dead, he 
 would not be able to follow us in which event, we had 
 a tolerably definite idea of his fate ; and we felt that 
 we could almost pray that he might not again revive to 
 consciousness. 
 
 After the savages had all aroused themselves, several 
 of them approached and released us from our places of 
 torment. Moulton and I found it exceedingly difficult 
 to move one foot after the other. Our legs and wrists 
 were much worse swollen than ever before. Besides, 
 the soreness caused by the exposure of our feet, and the 
 pricking of our backs, was excessive. When the cords 
 were removed from Thornton, he made no effort to get 
 up, but continued in the same position that he had oc 
 cupied for the last hour. We supposed that he was 
 dead, but upon closer examination, we found that he 
 breathed. Moulton then lifted him as tenderly as pos 
 sible, and laid him on his back. In some fifteen or 
 twenty minutes, he slowly revived, and sat up ; but his 
 nervous system seemed entirely paralyzed, and the light 
 of reason extinguished. He gazed around him in a 
 wild and excited manner, and when we endeavored to 
 talk to him, we could get no reply from him. Moulton 
 .and I took him by the arms and endeavoured to lift him 
 to his feet, but he seemed to have lost the use of his 
 limbs. Whilst these efforts were being made on our 
 part, in a vain attempt to relieve poor Will, the Indians 
 had collected together, and kept up a constant jabber, 
 with a fiendish laugh occasionally ringing out, as if our 
 
 perplexity, and Thornton's sufferings, afforded them 
 great amusement. 
 
44 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 We were again supplied with meat, and by doing 
 violence to nature, forced upon our stomachs a small 
 quantity of the loathsome aliment. When Thornton 
 was offered his portion, he paid no attention to it, and 
 the Indian dropped it upon the ground before him, and 
 then walked away. The savages having disposed of 
 their breakfast, began to collect their effects together, 
 preparatory to the commencement of the day's journey. 
 
 Matters now approached a crisis, as far as Thornton 
 was concerned ; for we knew he could not follow us, and 
 we very naturally supposed that he would be either mur 
 dered, or left behind us to perish alone in the forest. In 
 our anxiety for Thornton's fate, we partially forgot our 
 own misfortunes. We again endeavored to talk with him, 
 but with no better success than before. He would gaze 
 at us in the most pitiable manner, but would not utter 
 a word. Our guard now approached and informed us 
 that they were ready to set off. We tried to convince 
 them by signs that Will was sick and unable to travel, 
 and that a day's rest was necessary to restore him to 
 health. But they treated our suggestions with con 
 temptuous jeers and savage grimaces. Although our own 
 condition was pitiable, yet our indignation was aroused 
 almost beyond control at the fate of our unfortunate 
 friend, and could we have had our guns, we would at 
 least have had the satisfaction of laying a couple of the 
 savages dead at our feet, and perhaps ending at once 
 the whole scene. 
 
 The same guard who had conducted him heretofore, 
 violently seized him by the arms and jerked him to his 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 45 
 
 feet, and then relinquishing their hold, let him drop to 
 the ground. This inhuman act they repeated three or 
 four times, greatly to their amusement. During this 
 time the Indians had all collected to see and enjoy what 
 they seemed to regard as rare amusement. After a few 
 moments, the chief and all the other savages, except 
 those who were guarding us, retired a short distance 
 from us, and held a council ; and in the course of some 
 twenty minutes, returned. The chief gave an order to 
 the two men who had Thornton in charge, which was 
 no sooner uttered than they seized him by the feet, and 
 running at the top of their speed, dragged him upon 
 his back to the distance of thirty yards ; and then, 
 wheeling short upon their path, returned in the same way. 
 
 Whilst these inhuman events were in progress, the 
 other savages set up a most deafening howl, dancing and 
 throwing their bodies into almost every conceivable 
 attitude. When they returned with him, he scarcely 
 showed any signs of life. By this barbarous treatment, 
 . the skin was entirely torn from his back, and the blood 
 was oozing freely. His flesh was quivering upon his 
 Climbs, which was the only evidence he gave of con 
 sciousness to external events. He seemed to be en 
 during the last agonies of mortality. We could render 
 him no aid, although our sympathies were intensely 
 aroused in his behalf. We felt greatly relieved by the 
 reflection, that the very intensity of his suffering was 
 shortening its duration, and were thankfu], that he was 
 so near the end. 
 
 Upon looking up, we noticed several Indians collect- 
 
46 FIVE YEAES A CAPTIVE 
 
 ing wood and piling it upon the fire, which they con 
 tinued until they had heaped together quite a pile. We 
 at once suspected the object of this strange proceeding. 
 After this was accomplished, the same two Indians who 
 had hitherto attended him dragged him to the pile of 
 wood, (which was now beginning to burn furiously,) and 
 one of them taking him by the arms, and the other by 
 the legs, after having first scalped him, threw him upon 
 the pile, as though he were some wild animal. In the 
 interval, the chief inquired of us for his arms or imple 
 ments of war. We pointed him to his gun, hunting- 
 knife, shot-bag, &c. These the chief took and threw 
 upon the pile by his side ; after which, the savages, with 
 their bows and arrows in their hands, and all their im 
 plements of war attached to their persons, commenced 
 a regular stampede dance around the funeral pile of 
 poor Thornton. During this ceremony, they would 
 dance, leap, hoot, sing, and contort their bodies into 
 every possible attitude. The head of the chief during 
 the same time was decked with a profusion of feathers, 
 and upon his feet he wore a singularly wrought pair of 
 moccasins. This barbarous ceremony was continued 
 until the fire ignited the powder contained in Will's 
 flask, (which the chief had placed, with his other muni 
 tions of war, upon the pile to be consumed with him,) 
 and exploding, made a considerable report, looming 
 up in a column of fire more than ten feet above the pile. 
 When the explosion occurred, every Indian dropped in 
 stantly upon the ground, as though they had been shot ; 
 and after remaining in that position for a few moments, 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 41 
 
 they noiselessly raised to their feet, and, going about five 
 rods from the fire, seated themselves upon the ground 
 without uttering a word. They were evidently per 
 plexed in their efforts to comprehend this phenomena ; 
 and like all other savages, being very superstitious, their 
 fears were evidently wrought upon. The odor of the 
 burnt powder seemed to add to their consternation. 
 They sneezed and coughed in the most violent manner, 
 and sometimes would seize their noses between their 
 fingers, as though they would drive the intruder from 
 their lungs by physical force. Their whole appearance 
 and deportment, to persons differently situated, would 
 have been in the last degree ludicrous. 
 
 In the midst of all this, we watched the progress of 
 the fire with a great deal of interest, to see if Thornton 
 would exhibit any signs of life when the flames reached 
 him. In a few moments they were lapping up around 
 him, and the only indications of life we could perceive 
 was a few shrugs of the shoulders, and then all seemed 
 over with him. His spirit had taken its flight to that 
 " bourne whence no traveler returns." 
 
 Here we hope the reader will pardon a digression, 
 and indulge us in a few brief remarks, as a tribute of 
 remembrance to a lost friend. 
 
 William Thornton was only twenty-five years of age, 
 of small stature, and, physically, rather weak and deli 
 cate. His mind was quick and penetrating ; and a 
 more noble, generous heart was never found in the breast 
 of an Englishman. He was habitually kind and agree 
 able always cheerful and light spirited doing with 
 
48 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 alacrity, and willingly, every thing in his power that 
 seemed necessary to be done, to advance the happiness 
 or comfort of friends or neighbors. Moulton and I had 
 become very much attached to him, and his horrid suf 
 ferings and death were a source of infinite pain and 
 sorrow to us. In his affliction, we could render him no 
 assistance, and he was not even conscious of our sym 
 pathy. We consoled ourselves, however, with the idea 
 that his troubles were at an end, and that he was forever 
 free from the barbarities of these savages. 
 
 After the explosion of the powder-flask, the Indians 
 seemed anxious to leave this mysterious place as soon 
 as possible, as they probably supposed that so strange 
 an occurrence boded no good. Our guard signified to 
 us that they were ready to start, and before the mortal 
 remains of poor Thornton were half consumed, we set 
 off on our march. It was now about ten o'clock in the 
 forenoon, and we were urged along at a more rapid pace 
 than we had been on either of the previous days ; the 
 spears were again freely used upon our backs and 
 shoulders, with the like eifect. Our feet were so sore 
 and tender, that every step we took gave us great pain ; 
 and yet we were compelled to keep up with the savages, 
 who seemed to slip . over logs, rocks, and brush, with 
 the facility of deer. Another plague we were tormented 
 by, was the musquitoes. They followed us in swarms, 
 and attacked us in the most relentless manner possible. 
 Why it was that all their spite was vented on us, is more 
 than I can say for they appeared to give the savages 
 no inconvenience whatever. The blood that we lost on 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 49 
 
 this day, by the spears, musquitoes' bills and our feet, 
 must have been considerable. 
 
 About two o'clock the Indians halted for about half 
 an hour, on the bank of a small stream, where stood 
 perhaps half a dozen old huts, far advanced in a state 
 of decay. 
 
 While stopping here, two of the Indians left in ad 
 vance of us. Of their purpose we were then ignorant, 
 but which will appear in the sequel. 
 
 After the savages had passed around, peeping into 
 the huts, as if in search of some one, they again set off. 
 This respite, although short, was a great relief to 
 Moulton and myself, for our prostration was extreme, 
 and far beyond my powers of description. We con 
 tinued at about the same speed as before, but not with 
 out receiving frequent probes from the spears of our 
 guard. 
 
 About four o'clock, we reached another small stream 
 of water, and having descended it for perhaps a mile, 
 we saw approaching us an incongruous mass of savages, 
 fearful to contemplate. There were men, women and 
 children ; some on horseback, and some on foot ; some 
 of them were entirely naked, and some of them having 
 around their middle simply a piece of the hide of some 
 animal filthy in the extreme. They approached us in 
 all kinds of order and disorder, and made the woods re 
 sound with their screeches and screams. Had all the 
 wild beasts of the forest been thrown together pell mell 
 in a heap, the sound and confusion could not have been 
 more discordant and frightful, than was that which now 
 3 
 
50 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 greeted us. They crowded around us, on every side, 
 as if they meant instantly to devour us. Our guard 
 halted and gave them time to gratify their curiosity. 
 They came up and felt, pinched, and kicked us in the 
 most wanton and brutal manner. In this sport the 
 women showed no more delicacy than the men. 
 
 After the savage troop had to some considerable ex 
 tent gratified their inquisitive dispositions, our guard 
 ordered them back, and we were marched on, as before. 
 We were greatly annoyed, however, by these wild and 
 ferocious beings, until we reached the village, about 
 sunset. 
 
 We now understood the object of the two men who 
 left us a few miles back. In compliance with a custom of 
 these wild people, when they have taken captives, they 
 had gone before as runners, to apprise the savage vil 
 lagers of our approach, and accordingly they had all 
 come out to meet us. 
 
 We soon approached the village, which, to us, was 
 fantastic in the extreme. For, although Moulton and 
 I both had seen Indian villages before, yet this differed 
 from any that we had seen heretofore. Mud, grass, 
 and branches of trees, entered largely into its composi 
 tion. Some of the huts were conical, with an aperture 
 in the centre for the egress of the smoke, whilst others 
 .were oblong, without any roof; others, again, were 
 square, and covered with the branches of trees all 
 were small, gloomy, excessively filthy, and without 
 floors. 
 
 These hovels numbered, as I subsequently learned, 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 51 
 
 about fifty, and were the very pictures of poverty and 
 wretchedness. We were conducted to a tent which oc 
 cupied about a central position in the village, which was 
 used as a council-house and prison, and was now un 
 occupied. Here we were placed, and closely guarded 
 day and night. Whilst occupying this place of con 
 finement, our legs were closely bound together with 
 cords, to prevent the possibility of escape. Our food 
 consisted of the same filthy meat as before, of which 
 we must eat or starve. We managed to force a little 
 of it on our stomachs daily, and by degrees it became 
 less offensive to us. 
 
 Such had been our exposure and brutal treatment, 
 since we had fallen into the hands of the savages, that 
 life itself had become a burden ; and but for that ray 
 of hope which follows man in the darkest hour of his 
 affliction, and bids him look for better things, we should 
 have welcomed Death as a messenger of peace ! 
 
 For more than a week after our arrival in this place, 
 we were scarcely able to move, in consequence of the 
 mutilation of our backs, legs and feet, which were ren 
 dered still more tormenting by our exceedingly uncom 
 fortable lodgings the bare ground being our only 
 couch, and, although the nights were chilly, we had 
 nothing, not even the skin of a beast, to cover our 
 naked bodies. 
 
52 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 CHAPTER IY. 
 
 As YET we had received no intimation from our cap 
 tors, as to what disposition they designed to make of 
 us, although we had frequently endeavored to elicit 
 something from them on this subject. From their more 
 than barbarous conduct, not only toward ourselves thus 
 far, but in the outrageous murder of our companion, we 
 could gather but faint hope of any thing but cruelty, 
 and probably ultimate death, at their hands. Unless 
 we could by some means make good our escape, (and 
 from the vigilance with which they guarded us, there 
 seemed slight prospect of success in that direction,) 
 there seemed to be no remedy for us. We tried to re 
 sign our future, whatever it might be, into the hands of 
 Providence, believing that if it was in accordance with 
 his will that we should elude the vigilance of these 
 savages, the way of escape would be made plain, and 
 we should be prospered therein. But, upon the contrary, 
 if it was his will that, like our noble companion, we 
 should fall a prey to savage vengeance, far away from 
 home and friends, in the wilderness, where even a hint 
 from the dim record of our fate would be forever lost to 
 our friends, we endeavored to be content. Yet to say 
 that we were at ease, with all the strivings for resigna 
 tion, or the philosophizings that we could master, would 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 53 
 
 be a misnomer; for in fact, both physically and mentally, 
 we were most wretched. A dread of worse calamities 
 than those through which we had passed constantly 
 tormented us, and disturbed our rest, day and night I 
 The apparent calm which we were now enjoying seemed 
 ominous, and our minds recurred, in anticipation, to a 
 speedy realization of some great calamity. 
 
 During our confinement in the village, our fears had 
 been excited and our minds daily harrassed, by the col 
 lection about our hut of large bodies of savages, of 
 both sexes and every age and condition. Their naked 
 and brutal appearance was loathsome and repulsive, 
 from which we turned with almost involuntary shud 
 dering. 
 
 The mass of these people, in a moral point of view, 
 seemed but little elevated above the brute creation, and 
 their knowledge rather instinct than reason. And, to 
 persons unacquainted with humanity in this degraded 
 form, the exceeding depravity of these people would 
 seem almost to startle credulity itself; although I 
 subsequently found there were exceptions to this rule, 
 and believe some of them susceptible of improvement. 
 
 We had been confined in this place for ten days ; 
 and although far from being restored to our wonted 
 vigor, yet our condition was much improved from that 
 which it had been on our arrival. The contusions on 
 our backs and limbs were partially healed, and our 
 strength considerably improved, since we were placed 
 in the hut ; the cords with which our legs were bound 
 together, had not been so tightly drawn, and conse- 
 
54 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 quently the pain we experienced from this cause was 
 considerably ameliorated. 
 
 We still loathed the kind and quality of the food 
 with which we were supplied ; but, making a virtue of 
 necessity, we tried to satisfy the cravings of appetite 
 with it as best we could. 
 
 As yet, we had found no opportunity for escape. 
 Had the constant vigilance of our guard been relaxed 
 but for a brief period, we might have managed to have 
 eluded them, for we could have removed the cords from 
 our limbs without much effort, and we would have had 
 little difficulty in kicking a hole through the side of the 
 hovel large enough for our escape. But this joint es 
 cape was never to be accomplished. On the morning 
 of the fifteenth day of our captivity, the whole village 
 collected together, in the vicinity of our place of im 
 prisonment, and rent the air with their hideous noise 
 and uproar. They all old and young, male and fe 
 male seemed exceedingly jubilant from some cause. 
 In the midst of this, the chief made his appearance at 
 this council-hall and prison, and having addressed him 
 self to our guard, they immediately removed the cords 
 from our limbs, and conducted us outside of the hut. 
 At this the whole concourse of savages renewed their 
 shrieks, yells, and gyrations 
 
 Our guard immediately started with us, in a westerly 
 direction ; and the whole company followed. Some 
 were on horseback, but far the largest number were on 
 foot, and the march commenced amid the howling and 
 barking of any number of cadaverous-looking dogs. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 55 
 
 Had all the fiends in Pandemonium been driven together 
 by some tremendous convulsion of the infernal regions, 
 we thought the noise and confusion could not have been 
 more terrific or revolting to civilized feelings. 
 
 We pursued our course at a rapid pace, over hills and 
 valleys, for, as we supposed, about ten miles, when we 
 were again met by hundreds of savages, in the same 
 promiscuous manner as on our first arrival among them. 
 Here we were again stopped as before, and submitted 
 to the same indignities by this new recruit of savages. 
 After sating their curiosity, and exhausting their in 
 genuity, we were moved forward again amid their hoot 
 ing, jeers, and grimaces. Having gone a mile, perhaps, 
 farther, and ascended to a beautiful grove of timber* 
 upon a slight elevation, we came in view of what seemed 
 a temporary Indian encampment. There were but few 
 tents ; and they appeared to be of recent construction, 
 and of very fragile nature, being composed entirely of 
 the boughs of trees. 
 
 Into one of these tents we were conducted and bound 
 as before, having also the same guard to watch over us. 
 We felt that our present condition was certainly an im 
 provement on what it had been at the village, in one 
 particular at least every thing was fresh and clean. 
 
 The afternoon was now pretty well advanced, and the 
 grove appeared alive with the forms of dusky savages. 
 Dancing and whooping seemed their favorite amuse 
 ment on this occasion. Fresh troops of savages were 
 almost constantly arriving during the afternoon and 
 night ; and we were annoyed and vexed at the frequency 
 
56 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 with which we were taken out and exhibited (as though 
 we were some strange species of animal) to these new 
 comers. At an early hour in the evening, numerous 
 camp-fires were blazing; and uproar and confusion 
 seemed to be the order of things during the whole night. 
 It would be in vain to attempt to give the reader any 
 thing like a correct idea of the wild, unearthly discord 
 which characterized the proceedings of the savages 
 during this and the following night. Neither Moulton 
 or I slept for a single moment we could only listen to 
 the infernal noise that reigned without. Our feelings 
 were such, however, that, had there been no external 
 cause of disturbance, it is doubtful whether our rest 
 would have been composed, or our slumbers unbroken. 
 We had serious misgivings as to what this new order of 
 affairs meant, and what the result would be, with regard 
 to our own interests and welfare. 
 
 At an early hour next morning, we inquired (by signs) 
 of our guard the object of these proceedings ; and, for 
 the first time since our captivity, received from them an 
 answer to our question. They signified to us that the 
 Black-Foot nation had met together in council, to deter 
 mine upon what was best to be done with us. This in 
 formation, as the reader may well suppose, was not cal 
 culated to allay our agitation, or quiet our fears, as we 
 knew we had little mercy to expect at the hands of a 
 people so degraded, base, and cruel, as we had found 
 them. 
 
 The sky was clear this morning, and the sun shone pe 
 culiarly bright and beautiful. The noise, song, dance, and 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 51 
 
 scalp halloo had ceased suddenly, about day dawn, and 
 we were left to our reflections. About 10 o'clock in the 
 morning, we were conducted by our guard before the 
 council. The chiefs and warriors, and those admitted 
 to the deliberations of the council, occupied an open 
 space in the centre of the camp, in the form of a circle, 
 and were all seated on the ground in perfect silence. 
 We were conducted and seated upon the ground in 
 the centre of the ring. 
 
 We observed that during the progress of the delibera 
 tions, the women and children occupied another part of 
 the camp, at some distance from the council, and were 
 profoundly quiet. 
 
 All the Indians participating in the deliberations of 
 the council were painted, and wore the dress and car 
 ried the implements of war. Their appearance was 
 savage in the extreme, and illy calculated to re-assure 
 us, or raise our drooping spirits. The whole assemblage 
 remained perfectly silent for about ten minutes after we 
 had taken our seats in the midst of them. At a signal 
 from the chiefs, they all in an instant sprang to their 
 feet, and, preceded by the chiefs, commenced one of 
 their war-dances, moving around us in a circle. During 
 the progress of this ceremony, they hummed over a kind 
 of strange, unearthly music, which I could compare to 
 nothing I had ever heard ; and at regular intervals they 
 would stop, and whoop and screech most furiously, and 
 then continue their progress as before. Their bodies, 
 in the mean time, were thrown into every variety of con 
 tortion, and their features (always repulsive) were made 
 
58 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 to assume a hideousness which would have done honor 
 to Beelzebub himself. They finally brought this part of 
 the ceremony to a close, and having resumed their seats, 
 one of the chiefs arose, and commenced what we sup 
 posed to be a speech. To us, his language was like a 
 sealed book, as we understood not a word of it. That 
 the subject matter of the speech intimately concerned 
 us, we readily concluded, as, during his address, the 
 chief frequently pointed in a very significant way towards 
 the place where we were sitting. Judging from the 
 countenances of his auditors, his arguments were having 
 an effect upon them, by no means flattering to our pros 
 pects. During the delivery of the speech, their eyes 
 were fixed upon us in a most ferocious manner ; exhibit 
 ing, in a remarkable degree, -the emotions of anger, 
 hatred, and contempt, and a desire for a speedy and 
 terrible vengeance. 
 
 This speech occupied about ten minutes in its delivery, 
 and, at the conclusion, every Indian sprang to his feet 
 as quick as thought, and made the woods resound with 
 a succession of quick, nervous shrieks, and again took 
 their seats when, after a short interval, another chief 
 rose up, and proceeded to address the council when the 
 same savage demonstration (apparently of approbation) 
 followed. This order was continued until four speeches 
 were made the same attention being given, and the 
 same ceremony observed at the close. At the conclu 
 sion of the last speech, the savages quietly withdrew, 
 and the council broke up without any farther ceremony, 
 or any intimation that we could understand, of the re- 
 
AMONG THE BLACK- FEET INDIANS. 59 
 
 suits of their deliberations. We were now left to the 
 care of our guard, who conducted us back to our tent, 
 and bound us as before. From the demeanor of the 
 savages constituting the council, we were fearful of their 
 verdict ; for, although we could not understand their 
 language, and had no intimation from them what the 
 result was likely to be, yet we thought we could detect, 
 in their manners and conduct, vengeful intentions. 
 
 After being taken back to our tent, we inquired of 
 our guard what the result of the council was ; but could 
 get no definite answer from them. This tended, also, 
 to increase our agitation. It was about three o'clock 
 in the afternoon when the council broke up, and we were 
 immediately afterward served with our morsel of dis 
 gusting food. Quiet appeared to reign throughout the 
 camp until dusk, when the camp fires were again lighted, 
 and all the noise and confusion of the past night was 
 renewed, and kept up during the whole of this. In the 
 mean time, we had determined on making our escape 
 during this night, if possible, as we had much reason to 
 suppose that the savages meant to put us to death, and 
 that, probably, by means of some terrible torture. So 
 that, should we even fail, the failure would not probably 
 make our case any worse. 
 
 On this night, three other Indians took the place of 
 those who had heretofore guarded us. We laid down 
 at an early hour in the evening, and feigned to be sound 
 asleep ; yet, such was our anxiety as to the success of 
 what we were about to undertake, that our blood was 
 fired up in an extraordinary manner ; and the motion of 
 
60 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 our hearts was quick and spasmodic. Our savage guard 
 was engaged in conversation until after midnight, and 
 had, up to that time, given no indication of drowsiness. > 
 But, having spent the previous night in carousal, their 
 watchfulness began to relax before the urgent demand 
 for sleep ; and presently we noticed one of them drop 
 over on his side, apparently asleep, and, in the course 
 of ten minutes more, one of the others followed his ex 
 ample ; and before the expiration of half an hour, we 
 were gratified to find all three of them asleep, and 
 snoring lustily. 
 
 Now, by a little exertion with our hands, we soon re 
 moved the cords from our legs. We then quietly arose 
 to our feet, and gently elevating some of the branches 
 of which our tent was constructed, made an opening 
 sufficiently large for our egress. But here again was a 
 great difficulty to be overcome, or failure in our enter 
 prise must be the consequence. The camp-fires were 
 blazing in every direction from our tent, and shedding 
 a bright light over the whole scene, thus making strong 
 probability of our being detected ; especially, as the 
 savages were all astir, and making the night hideous with 
 their strange noises and ditties. However, there was no 
 time to be lost, and we slipped noiselessly through the 
 aperture, and taking a northerly direction, commenced 
 creeping along on our bellies, designing to pass centrally 
 between two fires, which were perhaps fifteen rods apart. 
 We had progressed some five or six rods from the tent, 
 when several dogs started off at a furious rate, (in the 
 direction that we were proceeding,) barking fearfully. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 61 
 
 We squatted flat upon the ground, but, to our infinite 
 mortification and terror, this did not save us. Scores 
 of the Indians followed the dogs, and it only required a 
 few moments for them to comprehend the whole affair. 
 We were again seized, kicked and cuffed, and, after be 
 ing taken back, amid the jeers and insults of hundreds 
 of savages, were bound hand and foot, and thrust upon 
 the ground. The uproar on the outside, occasioned by 
 our re-capture, had awakened our guard from their com 
 fortable sleep ; when, discovering that we were missing, 
 they hastened to the scene of action, and were exceed 
 ingly officious in re-conducting us back again. 
 
 Presently one of the chiefs came into the tent, and 
 learning what had occurred, soundly rebuked the guard 
 for their dereliction in duty, by giving them a few hearty 
 kicks in the posterior portion of their bodies, which 
 made them grin in a very interesting manner. 
 
 We now gave up all for lost ; for our last hope (as 
 far as we could see) had proved a failure, and would, 
 perhaps, hasten the calamities which we believed were 
 pending over our heads. Such had been the beneficial 
 result of the chief's reproof upon our guard, that, for 
 the remainder of the night, sleep seemed to have for 
 saken their eyes, as they were not only wide awake, but 
 boisterous. 
 
 As on the preceding morning, the noise and uproar 
 made by the savages ceased at day-light, and every 
 thing became perfectly quiet. After we had forced upon 
 our stomachs a few morsels of our miserable apology 
 for a breakfast, the chief appeared at the door of the 
 
62 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 tent, and having made some communication to our 
 guard, left us. About ten o'clock, the cords with which 
 we were bound were taken off by our guard, who led 
 us from the tent to a point in the camp where a large 
 number of savages were collected, who all appeared quiet 
 and orderly. As we approached, they gave way, and 
 we were led into the centre of the collected multitude. 
 
 Upon taking our position, what was our horror on 
 beholding a stake firmly driven into the ground, and a 
 great quantity of dry faggots collected and bound to 
 gether, and laid in piles. It was now evident that our 
 worst fears were about to be realized ; and that in a 
 very short time we would probably be put to the tor 
 ture, and die a most horrible death. Our feelings at 
 this time may be imagined, but they can never be de 
 scribed. Although we had been for some time trying 
 to reconcile our minds to any fate which might befall us, 
 yet, such is the tenacity with which humanity generally 
 clings to life, that it is exceedingly hard to relinquish 
 it voluntarily, (unless aroused by some enthusiasm,) 
 especially, when death is presented in its most painful 
 and repulsive form. 
 
 The male portion of the savages, both chieftains and 
 warriors, were painted in the most grotesque and hideous 
 style, and armed with their spears and knives. We 
 had occupied our position in the midst but a short time, 
 when one of the chiefs arose, and spoke for a few min 
 utes, in a loud, excited, and vehement manner. When 
 he sat down, the whole company of savages sprang from 
 their recumbent position, and commenced filing off in 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 63 
 
 the form of a circle around us, and flourishing their 
 weapons in a threatening manner, and, at regular in 
 tervals, hooting and shouting, until the forest gave back 
 the terrific sounds. After this ceremony had lasted 
 some ten or fifteen minutes, the chief who had aided in 
 our capture advanced to' the centre of the circle near 
 where we were standing, and tapped Moulton on the 
 shoulder three or four times with the side of his spear, 
 and then returned to his place. A second ring of sav 
 ages was then formed, the space between them being 
 about five feet. Moulton's guard then conducted him to 
 the interim between the two circles, whilst I was left 
 under the care of the guard in the first place assigned me. 
 Moulton had scarcely gained the open space between 
 the two circles, when the savages nearest to him attacked 
 him in the most ferocious manner with their knives, 
 spears, and clubs ; and, as he advanced around the circle 
 in order to avoid the severe torture which he was en 
 during, he met the same treatment at the hands of the 
 entire circle. In this way, he passed around the ring 
 three times, and then, from the severity of the treatment 
 and the loss of blood, he fell to the ground, but was im 
 mediately seized by the infuriated savages, and dragged 
 to the stake ; to which he was securely bound, and the 
 faggots speedily piled around him. 
 
 Whilst this was going forward, the chief signed to 
 me for his implements of war and of the chase ; and I 
 having pointed him to his gun and knife, they were 
 handed over to be consumed with him. 
 
 It is a custom with these savages, and also regarded 
 
64 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 amongst them as a principle of honor, that all the arms, 
 or implements used in hunting or in war whether they 
 belong to friend or foe shall follow the condition of 
 their owner, be he buried away in the earth, or con 
 sumed at the stake. And, whilst suffering death at the 
 stake, according to the custonl in this nation, the prison 
 er's hands are fetterless, as, according to their rude 
 notions of a future state, the free use of the hands, and 
 the accoutrements of a chief, or hunter, are as essential 
 to their convenience and comfort in that state as the 
 present. 
 
 During these inhuman inflictions of cruelty, Moulton 
 had not uttered a word, but bore his tortures with the 
 greatest stoicism and fortitude. His head, face, and 
 body were covered with blood when he was tied to the 
 stake, and so profuse was the flow from his temples, that 
 it was with difficulty he could see at all. I admonished 
 him to bear with fortitude every thing that his torment 
 ors inflicted upon him, and to trust, with full confidence, 
 through grace, in the salvation of Christ, and that I 
 should soon follow him, and that we would again be 
 united in the better world on high. 
 
 He replied, that his tortures had been intense, but 
 that the grace of God was sufficient to carry him through 
 all that could be inflicted upon him, and that he was 
 anxious for the termination of the scene as quickly as 
 possible. 
 
 The faggots were lighted, and in a, few moments 
 Moulton was enveloped in the flames, and without utter 
 ing a word, or exhibiting the least sign of pain, his 
 spirit passed from earth. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 65 
 
 The savages, amid the most tempestuous uproar, con 
 fusion, and demoniacal grimaces, continued to heap on 
 fuel until the body was entirely consumed after which, 
 I was again conducted to the tent, and bound as before. 
 This was contrary to my anticipations, as I had ex 
 pected the consummation of my melancholy fate would 
 immediately follow that of Moulton, but it was not to be. 
 
 It was now about two o'clock in the afternoon, and 
 having witnessed a scene the like of which I pray God 
 I may never again be constrained to look upon, I felt 
 very much exhausted and sick at heart, and had relin 
 quished all desire to live, and felt resigned to meet my 
 fate, and desired the end would soon come. 
 
 My attachment to Moulton had been very strong. 
 He was a faithful friend, liberal to a fault, and pos 
 sessed of a large and noble soul. He was rather of a 
 religious turn of mind, having been reared by religious 
 parents although he had never made any public pro 
 fession. He had a good constitution, was strong, ac 
 tive and robust, always calm and self-possessed, being a 
 stranger to fear of every kind. And although his end 
 was melancholy in the extreme, yet his fortitude never 
 forsook him. His life had been one of honest industry, 
 in a commendable calling, and he died in the full pos 
 session of the inspiring hope of the true believer. 
 
 Having slept none for several nights, and feeling 
 wearied both in mind and body, after my return to the 
 tent I soon fell asleep, and slept until some time after 
 dark. When I awoke, I noticed a number of camp- 
 fires burning, but, from some cause, the Indians were 
 3* 
 
66 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 quiet. Perhaps, in consequence of their loss of sleep 
 the two preceding nights, they gave themselves up to 
 repose on this. I slept but little from the time I awoke 
 until daylight. My guard, during the night, were 
 vigilant, not suffering their eye-lids to droop for a mo 
 ment, but keeping a constant watch on every motion I 
 made. 
 
 About eight o'clock in the morning I was unbound, 
 and taken perhaps a mile south of the camp, where we 
 again came upon the whole band of Indians. They 
 were assembled in the midst of a grove of timber, in 
 the same manner that they were on yesterday morning. 
 Why they had changed their location, I could not con 
 jecture, but subsequently learned it was on account of 
 the scarcity of water at the old camp. I was imme 
 diately conducted into their midst, where the fatal stake 
 and faggots were already prepared, and after going 
 through the same barbarous ceremonies as on the for 
 mer occasion, (with the exception of not compelling me 
 to run the guantlet around the circle,) I was firmly 
 fastened to the stake, by means of cords of hide passed 
 around my body and legs, and the faggots piled 
 around me. The same chief then brought me my 
 rifle and my hunting-knife, and, at my request, my 
 powder-horn. These savages seemed to have no idea 
 of the dangerous uses of fire-arms ; for, on inspection, 
 I found that the , same load was in my gun which was 
 there when we were captured. I reprimed it with 
 fresh powder in their presence, without seeming to ex 
 cite their suspicions. I had determined, when my arms 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 6t 
 
 were given me, that before the flames reached my body, 
 I would avenge myself on the chief who was at the 
 head of the party which captured us, by trying his pow 
 er of endurance in resisting the effects of a rusty load 
 from an English rifle. 
 
 The faggots were now fired in several places, and the 
 savages were performing their circular gyratory dance, 
 with the usual accompaniments of noise and confusion, 
 when, on raising my eyes in a suppliant attitude toward 
 Heaven, almost the first object that I distinctly compre 
 hended was a very large panther, laying on the limb of 
 a tree, almost directly above us. The idea immediately 
 occurred to me that this was Providential, and designed 
 as a means for my deliverance. Knowing the supersti 
 tion of these wild people, the thought flashed upon mo 
 that if I could bring the panther down (with my rifle) 
 in their midst, they would attribute the report and 
 smoke of the gun, and the simultaneous fall of the ani 
 mal, to supernatural agency, and the result might pos 
 sibly be my deliverance from the tortures of the stake. 
 My greatest fears resulted from the uncertainty that 
 might attend the attempt to discharge my rifle, in con 
 sequence of the load having been so long deposited. 
 But the emergency demanded prompt action, and I 
 threw my rifle to my shoulder, and although my nerves 
 were somewhat unsteady, I quickly brought the beast 
 within its range, and pulled the trigger, and at the re 
 port of the gun the panther gave one fearful shriek, 
 leaped from the limb, and with tremendous force came 
 crashing down amongst the savages. The report of the 
 
68 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 gun, followed by the descent of the lifeless panther, 
 frightened them nearly out of their senses. They in- 
 instantly fled some distance from the fatal spot, and 
 then turned around and regarded it with silent awe. 
 By this time the flames were advancing rapidly upon 
 me, and a few minutes more would decide my fate. At 
 this juncture about twenty of the savages rapidly ad 
 vanced to the stake, and in an instant severed the cords 
 that bound me with their knives, and in any thing but a 
 ceremonious manner jerked me away, and urged me 
 forward at a rate of speed which I had never before at 
 tained. We returned to the village from whence I had 
 been taken a few days before, but instead of being con 
 fined, as heretofore, I was taken to the chiefs lodge, 
 and provided with all the comforts that he enjoyed, and 
 was allowed to cook my meat to my own taste. 
 
 From this time the Indians seemed to regard me as a 
 superior being, exerting a kind of supernatural power, 
 and instead of insult and abuse, they paid the greatest 
 deference to my wishes, and in most cases were obedient 
 to my commands. 
 
 My rifle was a great mystery to them, (which I was 
 careful not to unravel,) and when they learned the cer 
 tainty with which it could be used, and its deadly effect 
 when brought to bear upon any living creature, they 
 seemed greatly amazed and were afraid to touch it. 
 
 I was allowed my liberty, upon the condition that I 
 would not attempt to escape ; which, of course, I prom 
 ised not to do, making at the same time great mental 
 reservations, as I felt determined in my own mind to 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 69 
 
 run away at the first favorable opportunity. For, al 
 though circumstances now seemed in my favor, at least 
 so far as my life was concerned, yet the awful calamities 
 that I had endured at their hands, and the deep im 
 pression made upon my mind and sympathies, by the 
 horrible murder of my two companions, Thornton and 
 Moulton, had inspired me with a loathing detestation 
 that I thought I should never forget. 
 
 
FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 CHAPTER Y . 
 
 THE Black-Foot nation of Indians (in the Indian 
 signification of the term) are considered brave and war 
 like, and are a constant terror to a number of the neigh 
 boring tribes. Toward their prisoners, taken in war or 
 otherwise, they are cruel to the last degree almost 
 uniformly putting them to death, either at the stake or 
 in some other cruel form. In their forays on other 
 tribes, they spare neither age nor sex, but indiscrimi 
 nately put all to death. 
 
 As a general rule, the males are tall, straight, and 
 muscular, exhibiting great activity when circumstances 
 call it forth. They are almost uniformly good horse 
 men, and exhibit much dexterity in the management of 
 these animals. They are fond of the chase, and spend 
 a good portion of their time in hunting and fishing, 
 but, withal, are exceedingly improvident and slothful ; 
 " taking but little thought what they shall eat or drink, 
 or wherewith they shall be clothed," but allowing every 
 day to take care of itself. 
 
 The females of this nation are in almost every re 
 spect inferior to the males. Their features are coarse 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 71 
 
 and forbidding, their manners rude, and their whole ap 
 pearance filthy and slatternly. This may principally 
 be accounted for by the fact that their condition, as re 
 gards the males, is that of absolute slavery. The wo 
 men are made do all the drudgery, and, in many cases, 
 they are made perform the tasks usually allotted to 
 beasts of burden carrying in the game, arms, and other 
 implements for their lazy lords. 
 
 The Black-Foot nation is divided into four distinct 
 tribes, or bands, to wit : the Bloods, the Piegans, the 
 Gros-Ventres, and the Black-Feet proper. All these 
 tribes are, however, generally included, when we speak 
 of the Black-Foot nation. They have been united by 
 consanguinity and lineage for many generations, and 
 their national interests ar.e a unit. In all their wars 
 with neighboring tribes, they act together as in a com 
 mon cause ; and no measures of general interest are 
 ever adopted without consultation with all the confed 
 erate tribes. Each one of these tribes or bands has its 
 own chiefs, and is independent qf each other, except in 
 regard to the common defense/or that which concerns 
 the whole nation. The language, manners and usages 
 of these tribes are, with a few slight differences, the 
 same. 
 
 The Black-Feet proper and the Bloods occupy the 
 country upon the source of the Marias and Milk rivers, 
 to the fiftieth parallel of latitude. The Piegans occupy 
 the country between the Marias and Milk rivers, upon 
 the Marias river and the Teton, and between the Teton 
 and Missouri. The Gros-Yentres inhabit the country 
 
T2 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 bordering on Milk river, to the territory of the Pie- 
 gans.* 
 
 The number of warriors belonging to the Black-Foot 
 nation is about four thousand, and in their contests with 
 the neighboring tribes, almost uniformly come off first 
 best. 
 
 Another peculiarity belonging to these Indians in an 
 especial sense, is their great passion for, and expertness 
 in, horse-stealing. The neighboring tribes lose hun 
 dreds of fine horses annually by these depredators. 
 But for this evil there is no help, as the Black-Feet are 
 the monarchs of all that region of country, and, like 
 other dignitaries, feel at liberty to take tithes of those 
 who owe them homage. 
 
 We were captured by a party from the Black-Feet 
 tribe proper, and after having been conducted to the 
 village, as before related, messengers were posted from 
 this to other tribes of the nation, giving them notice of 
 our capture, and inviting their presence at the council, 
 (and perhaps torture,) according to their custom in all 
 cases of this kind. Every tribe of the Black-Foot na 
 tion, as I subsequently learned, was represented in the 
 council which determined the fate of Moulton and 
 myself. Besides the chiefs of the tribes, there were 
 also many of the warriors present. 
 
 After the phenomenon of the panther, the savages 
 separated, and most of them set out for their respective 
 
 * The territorial boundaries, names of rivers, and other geo 
 graphical data, are taken from modern publications, in order to 
 render the work more intelligible. ED. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 3 
 
 tribes, leaving me in the hands of those who had first 
 taken me prisoner. 
 
 Up to this time, and for a considerable time after, I 
 understood but little of their language, and consequently 
 our conversation was principally carried on by signs. 
 Their language is not very difficult to acquire, and at 
 the end of six months I could both speak and under 
 stand it pretty well. Their vocabulary of words exhib 
 its great poverty, and much of their conversation is 
 carried on, amongst themselves, by means of signs. 
 Their general mode of conversation is to use a suffi 
 cient number of outline words to give form to the idea 
 that they wish to convey, and then to supply all minute 
 deficiencies by signs and gestures, rapidly conveyed, 
 and with great aptitude understood by them. 
 
 Since my Providential return to the village, I had 
 used every means in my power to strengthen and secure 
 their good opinion concerning me. I put on a cheerful 
 countenance and visited them at their huts freely, and, 
 externally at least, seemed careless and contented. 
 The attachment and veneration of the Indians toward 
 me seemed greatly increased, and in a short time I be 
 came an object of no inconsiderable influence amongst 
 them. As is customary with all savage tribes, a revul 
 sion in sentiment from barbarous cruelty usually ter 
 minates in the other extreme of great favor and conde 
 scension. 
 
 At their solicitation, I usually accompanied them in 
 their hunting and fishing excursions ; and by the con 
 stant exhibition of my superior wisdom in these pursuits, 
 4 
 

 t4 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 they regarded rne as a being possessed of a kind of super 
 natural prowess and wisdom, who had been sent amongst 
 them to instruct and benefit them. The ease and cer 
 tainty with which I could take game with my rifle, was 
 a source of astonishment, and was regarded by my sav 
 age observers with perplexity and awe. The report of 
 my gun was for some time a source of terror, and gave 
 them great uneasiness every time I discharged it, until 
 I explained to them that the noise was not the charm, 
 but only an evidence that the charm had passed by ; 
 which assurance, I was glad to find, entirely dispelled 
 their fears. 
 
 Hohoako-Kiwa, or " Mountain Eagle," the chief, ex 
 pressed a wish, on one occasion, to try his success upon 
 an antelope with my rifle, which I permitted him to do, 
 after giving him the necessary instructions. He drew 
 up in great haste and fired ; but the moment the report 
 reached his ears, he dropped the gun and sprang back 
 in great terror, at the same time uttering a loud pooh ! 
 So ludicrous was the scene, that I could not refrain from 
 laughing. After Hohoako-Kiwa had sufficiently recov 
 ered his self-possession, he remarked that he had no 
 doubt but rifle-charm was very good, but it was never 
 made for Black-Foot Indian. Whether the ball passed 
 within one or ten rods of the antelope, I could not tell, 
 as it loped off with all the ease and grace imaginable. 
 
 Since my return to the village, the chief had given 
 me permission to make for myself, from the skins of 
 animals, such a covering for my body as my own taste 
 might dictate. Accordingly, I made a kind of coat, 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 15 
 
 which came down to my knees, and also a pair of 
 leggings, which, after so long exposure, I found very 
 comfortable. The chief's wife also made for me a pair 
 of moccasins, which were neatly and curiously wrought, 
 and adorned with wampum in extravagant style. I 
 found them, however, very comfortable and serviceable 
 during the winter. 
 
 With the axes and auger that they had taken from 
 us at our capture, I made, for some of the squaws, sev 
 eral useful vessels and other conveniences, such as 
 water-buckets, troughs, &c. By these little offices of 
 kindness, they also became very partial to me, and were 
 always willing to do any thing in their power to minis 
 ter to my comfort. 
 
 About this time it was resolved to spend two weeks 
 hunting buffalo on the prairies, and that I should be of 
 the party. I expressed entire satisfaction with the ar 
 rangement, and a wish to accompany them and partake 
 of the amusement. Horses were provided for us to 
 ride, and the chief announced that all things were ready 
 for a start. 
 
 I had but little knowledge of the art of riding on 
 horseback, having done but little of it during the pre 
 ceding part of my life. My horse was pointed out to 
 me, and I was assisted to mount ; but no sooner had I 
 got fairly astride the animal than it commenced kicking, 
 rearing, and plunging, in a most furious manner, and 
 never ceased for a moment, until, after turning about 
 three summersaults, I landed upon my back some dis 
 tance in advance of him. At this display of my horse- 
 
16 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 manship, the Indians set up a tremendous shout of 
 laughter. As good luck would have it, I was not much 
 hurt, and was soon upon my feet again. The Indians 
 caught the horse and brought him back. After this 
 misadventure, I thought it no more than an act of pru 
 dence in me to modestly decline riding on horseback 
 altogether. But the chief insisted that I should give 
 the animal one more trial, as he was the most docile of 
 any that they possessed. He said he would hold the 
 horse until I was fairly seated, and then he would give 
 me the necessary instructions how to ride and manage 
 my horse. Accordingly, I again mounted, and after 
 telling me in what position to put my legs and adjust 
 my body, and how to use my hands and arms in 
 guiding a horse, he let him go ; and, although he 
 seemed restive for some time, yet he moved off tolerably 
 well. By watching the Indians, I soon acquired the 
 secret of their horsemanship, and could stick to a horse 
 almost as well as they could. These animals know 
 very quickly, however, whether the person mounting 
 them understands his business ; and if he does not, terra 
 firma is certain to receive him in an incredibly short 
 space of time. The mode of traveling on horseback of 
 these Indians is in single file, and at a full canter. I 
 found it rather difficult to keep along with them, espe 
 cially in passing through thick underbrush and over logs 
 and ravines. 
 
 Our course was up the Missouri river, and in riding 
 thirty miles we stopped but once, and that was to graze 
 the horses. We arrived at the point for which we set 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 77 
 
 out some time before night, and having pitched our 
 camp and partaken of our morsel of food, we prepared 
 every thing for an early start and busy day's hunt on the 
 morrow. Our camp was situated on the margin of a 
 beautiful prairie, and although the tall grass and herb 
 age were dry and sere, yet the extent and grandeur of 
 the prospect inspired the beholder with enthusiasm and 
 feelings of new life. 
 
 At an early hour in the morning we were astride our 
 horses, and darting across the prairie in every direction, 
 in search of buffalo. The Indians were armed with 
 their bows and arrows and spears, which they use with 
 fatal effect upon the buffalo, and, in fact, upon almost 
 every species of game. Their arrows are hurled with 
 such force, when under full headway in pursuit of game, 
 that even the powerful buffalo, in a short time, is made 
 to succumb to their deadly effect. Their spears are 
 used in close combat, and, when wielded by the hand of 
 a powerful Indian, do fatal execution. As for myself, I 
 carried my rifle and hunting-knife, fully persuaded that 
 in the chase the chances of success were in my favor. 
 
 We had not gone far before we espied an immense 
 herd of buffalo in the distance, grazing on the prairie, 
 and, immediately dispersing our men in the proper di 
 rections in order to surround them, we gave them chase ; 
 and amid a cloud of dust almost impenetrable, and the 
 bellowing of the herd, we pursued them at the top of 
 the speed of our horses, every man in his own way. 
 Coming up within a few rods of a fine cow, I discharged 
 my rifle at her, but whether I hit her or not I never 
 
Y8 ^ FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 knew ; as, the moment my rifle cracked, my horse 
 squatted and sent me, at an angle of about forty-five 
 degrees, flying through space, leaving me not only with 
 an empty gun, but also with a sprained ankle. When 
 I had sufficient time to collect my senses, I saw my 
 horse cantering gaily across the prairie, in an opposite 
 direction, little regarding the mischief he had done. 
 Some of the Indians, discovering my difficulty, came to 
 my relief, and having pursued and caught my horse, 
 brought him back to me. One of the Indians assisted 
 me to mount, and then returned to camp with me, where 
 for two days and nights I suffered intensely from my 
 sprained ankle, but was finally relieved by the applica 
 tion of a kind of paste, made from a glutinous root 
 which" is common in this country. 
 
 During the two days of my confinement, the Indians 
 had succeeded in securing three of the buffaloes, and had 
 the beef in the process of drying. The whole of the third 
 day I spent (with two Indian assistants) in breaking 
 my horse to the use of my rifle. This I did by firing 
 my gun repeatedly before him, and behind him, and 
 over his head, until he seemed to take no notice of the 
 report. I then got upon his back and put him in rapid 
 motion, and whilst thus advancing, fired, until I was 
 satisfied that he took no farther notice of the noise. 
 
 On the next day I again set off with the Indian hun 
 ters, and we had the good fortune, about ten o'clock, to 
 fall in with a herd of buffaloes, and immediately gave 
 them chase. I soon overtook a large bull, and, taking 
 aim as best I could, fired for the region of his heart. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 79 
 
 He pitched forward and fell upon his knees, but quickly 
 recovering, made off with himself at a greatly retarded 
 speed. I immediately reloaded my rifle, and again 
 starting in pursuit, soon came up with him, and aiming 
 my ball as before, fired, when the bull, turning a com 
 plete summersault, fell to the ground . 
 
 When the Indians came up, they made a great ado 
 over my success, and congratulated me on my pros 
 pect as a successful buffalo hunter. My horse stood 
 the firing admirably, and I felt encouraged and proud 
 of my success. 
 
 Mine was the only buffalo secured to-day, the Indian 
 hunters having failed in killing any. They soon made 
 the proper disposition of the beef, and we returned to 
 camp for the night. 
 
 In this way we spent fifteen days, and secured, during 
 the time, ten buffaloes, four of which I killed with my 
 rifle. The Indians informed me that this was unusual 
 success, as they had often spent a much longer time in 
 the chase and not secured more than one or two, and 
 sometimes none. 
 
 Yet, amid our rejoicings at our good fortune, we 
 encountered a source of regret, in a sad calamity which 
 befell two of the Indians on the last day of the hunt. 
 Three of them started out in search of the horses early 
 in the morning, and having wandered off to some dis 
 tance among the bluffs on the border of the prairie, 
 were attacked by two enraged grizzly bears. Two of 
 the Indians were killed and their bodies horribly man 
 gled by them. The third Indian made his escape, and 
 
80 FIVE YEAES A CAPTIVE 
 
 reached the camp, half frightened out of his senses, and 
 related what had happened. 
 
 There is no foe which inhabits these regions half so 
 formidable to the Black-Feet as the grizzly and brown 
 bears. Their arrows and spears have but little effect 
 upon the vitality of these animals, and they dread them 
 more than they do all the fiends in this world or the 
 other. In fact, the Black-Feet have encountered but 
 one class of enemies whom they really fear, and they are 
 the bears. With all their prowess as a brave and warlike 
 nation of Indians, one grizzly or brown bear, turned 
 loose amongst them, would put the whole nation to 
 route ; and if the Crows, Snakes, or Flat-Heads were 
 only to keep one or two of these animals in their camp 
 when at war with the Black-Feet, they would at least 
 be in no danger of a sudden attack from the enemy. 
 
 I immediately proposed to take my rifle and go in 
 pursuit of the aggressors, but, to my astonishment, none 
 of the Indians were willing to accompany me in so dan 
 gerous an enterprise. 
 
 So, making the necessary inquiry as to the where 
 abouts of these animals, from the frightened fugitive 
 who had escaped from them, and seeing that my rifle 
 was in good order and properly loaded, I set out in 
 pursuit of them, contrary to the remonstrances of the 
 Indians. I had not traveled over a mile, when, on as 
 cending to the top of a bluff, I was in full view of the 
 bears, not more than thirty yards from me, devouring 
 the corpses of the slain Indians. I kneeled down upon 
 the ground, and resting the muzzle of my gun upon a 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 81 
 
 rock that happened to lie convenient, took a steady 
 and deadly aim for the butt of the ear of the largest, 
 and the bear dropped in its tracks, and, after a few vio 
 lent struggles, was dead. 
 
 The other bear, hearing the report of my gun and^not 
 knowing what to make of it, seated himself upon his 
 haunches and kept a vigorous lookout in the direction 
 where I was, but did not seem disposed to leave his 
 game. Retaining my position behind the rock, I re 
 loaded my gun, and again took deliberate aim for his 
 forehead, when, making a bound forward, he fell, and 
 expired immediately. 
 
 I then returned to camp and found the Indians hud 
 dled together in great terror, lest the bears, in their 
 rage, after destroying me, should make a sally upon the 
 camp. I told them their fears were groundless, as I 
 had killed both their enemies. Yet, so incredulous 
 were they, that it was some time before I could convince 
 them of the truth of what I told them, although they 
 heard the report of my gun on both occasions. 
 
 I finally succeded in persuading the whole party to 
 follow me to the place of combat, which they did at a 
 respectful distance in the rear. When they came up 
 and saw the two bears lying dead, their gratitude to me 
 was unbounded, and they heaped upon me, both by 
 words and signs, any amount of their rude encomiums, 
 and seemed to regard me as but little inferior to that 
 mysterious being whom they regard as the God of the 
 Black-Foot nation. 
 
 Whilst I was skinning the bears, the Indians took the 
 
82 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 remains of their companions, and having dug a shallow 
 hole in the ground, deposited them therein, and then 
 covered them with dirt, sticks, and stones. 
 
 The hides of these bears answered me a good pur 
 pose for a long time, in the way of supplying me with a 
 bed, which I much needed, and to which the Indians 
 made no objection. 
 
 Every thing being now ready, we started for the vil 
 lage, each one of us having as much as he could well 
 carry upon his horse, and arrived, at a late hour of the 
 night, amid much joy and satisfaction, expressed by the 
 squaws and children, in consequence of our success. 
 
 There were but few signs of sorrow or grief ex 
 pressed, even by the female relations of the two Indians 
 who were destroyed by the bears all such external 
 demonstration being regarded by them as weakness, and 
 unworthy the character of their people. Accordingly, 
 upon the occurrence of death among them, they assume 
 cheerfulness of countenance, nor suffer a melancholy 
 look to escape them. 
 
 We were supplied with meat enough to last for some 
 considerable time, and as these Indians seldom exert 
 themselves until forced by necessity, their time for more 
 than a month was spent in loitering about their village 
 in a very listless manner. 
 
 Winter now set in in earnest, and I found it difficult 
 to keep from freezing. I spent the most of iny time at 
 the chief's lodge, as it afforded a little better protection 
 than any of the others, and I was always made a wel 
 come guest. During this winter, a great deal of snow 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 83 
 
 fell ; a part of the time it lay four feet deep on the 
 level surface, and, our provisions becoming scarce, we 
 experienced much suffering from want of food before 
 spring. During the deep snows, it was impossible to 
 hunt to any advantage, and the consequence was that, 
 in these times of scarcity, we had to supply the defi 
 ciency with dog-meat, which afforded but a scanty 
 means of subsistence, as far as I was concerned. But 
 the Indians regard this kind of food with favor as a 
 great delicacy. Such is their partiality for this species 
 of animal, however, that, unless pressed by hunger, 
 they will not interfere with their mortal existence. 
 
 Whenever the weather would permit, I assisted them 
 in hunting, and, by keeping up this plan from time to 
 time, we reached spring without any deaths from starva 
 tion amongst us, although many other villages of the 
 nation were not so fortunate, as we learned in the 
 sp/ring there had many perished for want of food during 
 the severe weather. 
 
 This difficulty might be easily avoided, were they not 
 usually so excessively slothful and improvident. Whilst 
 they have enough to supply their wants to-day, they 
 have no thoughts for the morrow, and rarely, if ever, 
 go in search of food until forced to it by their necessi 
 ties. When this necessity overtakes them, they engage 
 in the necessary labor with cheerfulness and energy, and 
 seem to enjoy it very much ; but as soon as their press 
 ing wants are supplied, they again relapse into their 
 usual sloth and inactivity. During the time I was with 
 them, I tried to impress upon them the importance of 
 
84 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 laying up a sufficient store of provisions for the winter ; 
 but I never succeeded in moving them a particle from 
 their usual habits in this respect, although they would 
 acknowledge the reasonableness of my suggestions. 
 
 It was now the first of May, and the weather was 
 delightful, and vegetation was rapidly expanding in all 
 its native wild luxuriance. The young tender grass 
 had already clothed the prairies in their beautiful garb 
 of green, and a great variety of wild flowers, with 
 blushing modesty, were peeping from behind the rocks, 
 logs, and trees. All nature seemed again to rejoice in 
 the charms of a new-born spring. The birds, the 
 beasts, and even the wild and uncultivated savage, ex 
 hibited new signs of life and renewed energy. 
 
 To one who has a taste to admire the works of the 
 Almighty Architect, in their native wildness and ro 
 mantic loveliness, perhaps no part of the world is better 
 calculated to gratify it than this. Every thing appears 
 to have been prepared, and is presented to the eye of 
 the beholder upon a mammoth and most magnificent 
 scale. The prairies, the rocks, the hills, the mountains, 
 the rivers, the forests, the beasts, and the birds, are 
 complete within themselves, and faultless to the intelli 
 gent observer. 
 
 We had just returned from the prairies, (where we 
 had been spending the last ten days in the chase,) laden 
 with a plentiful supply of beef and venison, when our 
 village was visited by a number of deputies from an 
 other village, about thirty miles distant from our own. 
 Their object was to crave assistance in the capture of a 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 85 
 
 number of bears, which had presumptuously visited 
 their village a few evenings previous, and carried away 
 two of their young women. 
 
 The Indians had heard of the fame of the pale-faced 
 prisoner, (as they called me,) with regard to the mys 
 terious skill with which he destroyed these animals, and 
 were very anxious that I should accompany them 
 to their village. The chief, myself, and about thirty of 
 our warriors, went to their relief, and upon our arrival 
 found them in a truly pitiable condition. The bears 
 had paid them a second visit the night previous to our 
 arrival, and, having broken into one of their huts, had 
 carried away one of their young men and a child ; and 
 they were so affected with fear, that they knew not 
 which way to turn themselves, or how to act. 
 
 As before remarked, these animals are a source of 
 perpetual fear and dread to the savages, and many of 
 them are destroyed by this foe every year. It is nothing 
 uncommon for these beasts to make bold assaults upon 
 their villages, and kill or carry off a number of the in 
 habitants before relief can be had. And, although the 
 savages, goaded on by desperation, sometimes attack 
 them, and occasionally kill one, yet, such is their dread 
 of them, and the inefficiency of their means for destroy 
 ing them, that it is with great reluctance that they attack 
 them. And, indeed, when we take into consideration 
 the size, strength, ferocity, and tenacity of life of these 
 animals, it is not wonderful that they are terrible to these 
 people. They are even a formidable and dangerous foe 
 to combat, when brought in contact with the most de- 
 
86 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 structive weapons, and sometimes prove more than a 
 match for the arts of civilized man. The bears them 
 selves appear to be conscious of the fear entertained of 
 them by the Indians, and enjoy their supremacy with as 
 much cruel zest as any other set of tyrants in the world ; 
 and, although the Indians and the bears have inhabited 
 the same country together for many generations, yet they 
 are far from being upon amicable terms, and, like the rival 
 kingdoms of France and England, love to hate each 
 other with a most cordial pungency. 
 
 It may seem strange to the reader, after what has 
 been said of the prowess of the Black-Foot nation, that 
 they should exhibit so much cowardice and fear of this 
 species of foe yet it is nevertheless true. In their 
 wars and forays on other tribes, they are bold, adven 
 turous, brave, and apparently heedless of danger. In 
 the chase, in pursuit of any other species of game, they 
 are all ardor, animation and pluck ; but let it be known 
 that one of this species of bears is in their vicinity, and, 
 like a city smitten with the plague, their spirits at once 
 droop, and all their courage forsakes them. 
 
 It being near sunset when we arrived at the village, 
 it was too late to think of making any pursuit of the 
 enemy this evening, and we concluded to defer all ag 
 gressive action until morning. But as the inhabitants 
 were greatly in fear, lest the aggressors should return to 
 their village on this night again, I advised them to build 
 a large fire in the centre of the village, and to camp 
 around it during the night ; which, after the expression 
 of some reluctance, they consented to do. The fire was 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS, 8T 
 
 kept up all night, and the whole village, great and small, 
 collected around it, and thus spent the night. There 
 were but few of us, except the children, who slept dur 
 ing the watch ; for myself, I felt that the responsibility 
 for their safety during that night rested upon my 
 shouiders ; and with my rifle in hand, I kept a vigorous 
 look-out during the whole time ; and so greatly were the 
 fears of the Indians excited, that few of them so far 
 forgot their peril as to drop asleep. As it happened, 
 however, the foe did not molest us during the night, and 
 after partaking of a scanty meal, I set out, accompanied 
 by fifteen of the warriors, (principally from our own vil 
 lage,) in search of these audacious marauders, after 
 having first ascertained the line of their march. We 
 were not long in striking their trail, and found little dif 
 ficulty in following it, as it was distinctly marked, the 
 greater part of the way, with the blood of the victims 
 recently carried away from the village by them. 
 
 Their trail led us up the mountain's side to an enor 
 mous projecting cliff of rocks, into a cavity of which 
 the bears seemed to have entered. At the entrance' to 
 this cavity, we discovered some of the bones of one of 
 the Indians the flesh having been all gnawed off by 
 the bears. 
 
 This cliff of rocks was about four miles from the 
 village ; and, from the signs, we had no doubt but the 
 enemy made this their dwelling place for the time being, 
 and were now within. 
 
 With all my assurances to the contrary, the Indians 
 seemed uneasy as to their safety, and very anxious to 
 
88 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 obtain a situation at a more respectful distance from the 
 cliff. It was not probable that the bears would leave 
 their place of retreat until near sunset, and it would be 
 folly in us to make any attempt upon them where they 
 now were. We therefore concluded to return to the 
 village, and remain there until toward evening, and then 
 again return to the vicinity of the rocks, and keep a 
 sharp look-out until they made their appearace on the 
 outside. 
 
 About four o'clock we again returned, and having 
 stationed the Indians in a secure place behind some 
 rocks, at a considerable distance from the den, with the 
 command that they should remain quiet until I called 
 to them, I proceeded to select my own position within 
 a convenient distance from the entrance to the rocks. 
 This having been accomplished according to my wishes, 
 I took my seat, with rifle in hand, and patiently waited 
 for the appearance of the enemy until the disk of the 
 sun was almost beneath the western horizon, when, to 
 my great relief, (as far as patience was concerned,) two 
 very large grizzly bears emerged from the cavity in the 
 rocks, and commenced snuffing the air, as though they 
 were scenting something, in a very suspicious manner. 
 They kept up such a constant motion, that for some 
 time I found it difficult to shoot with any certainty of 
 success, and to make a half-done job of it, was the least 
 of my desires. The only certainty in bringing one of 
 these animals down with a rifle ball, is by penetrating 
 the brain. A shot in any part of the body is uncertain, 
 and generally has the effect (for the time being) to en- 
 


AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 89 
 
 rage and increase their ferocity ; and, although my 
 rifle only run fifty-six balls to the pound, I was unwill 
 ing to risk a shot on one of these bears in any other 
 part than the skull. Presently one of them started in 
 a direct line for the point where I was secreted, and 
 having arrived within fifteen yards of me, stopped, with 
 its side toward me. I leveled my rifle in great haste, 
 and fired for the back of the ear, but to my great sur 
 prise and terror, with a tremendous growl, he made 
 directly for my place of refuge ; which, of course, I was 
 not slow in vacating. I started, with all the speed of 
 which I was capable of exerting, toward the point of a 
 projecting rock, in the direction of the place where the 
 Indians had been concealed ; in turning a corner of 
 which, in order to ascend to its summit, and thereby 
 escape the fangs of the monster, the bear lost sight of 
 me, and pursued some of the Indians. 
 
 On hearing the report of my rifle, several of the In 
 dians, in order to gratify their curiosity, were in the act 
 of creeping up to the brow of the hill, to see how the 
 contest was progressing ; but seeing me running, and the 
 bear in pursuit of me, they sprang to their feet, and ran 
 for their lives giving the alarm to all the others, who 
 immediately followed their example. 
 
 By this time I had ascended to the top of the rock, 
 and was a passive spectator of the scene before me. 
 
 The savages, in their flight, scattered in every possible 
 
 direction ; each one endeavoring to save himself by his 
 
 superior speed. The wounded bear finally devoted all 
 
 his attention to the hindmost Indian of the retreating 
 
 4* 
 
90 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 party, and soon overtaking him, with a blow from his 
 huge paw, felled him to the earth. I had no other ex 
 pectation than that the Indian was killed, and, having 
 reloaded my gun, set off in pursuit of the bear. Before 
 I came within shooting distance, the monster left him, 
 and took a position at some distance in a pond of water, 
 which was densely studded with a small growth of timber. 
 When I came up to the Indian, I found him still 
 breathing, worse frightened than hurt ; for as the ball 
 of my rifle had passed through the lower jaw of the 
 bear, completely shattering it, he was unable to do any 
 harm with his fangs and after having made the attempt 
 to his heart's content, he retired in seeming disgust. 
 Upon examination, I found no bones had been broken ; 
 although the force with which he had applied his paw, 
 had stunned his victim. He soon recovered himself, 
 and made off for the village as fast as his legs could 
 carry him, leaving the bear and I to arrange matters as 
 best we could. The other Indians had disappeared en 
 tirely, and for aught I knew were ten miles away. I 
 felt no disposition, however, to give the matter up in the 
 shape it then presented, although it was getting late, 
 and I was single-handed. I considered my reputation 
 as the "bear-slayer" at stake in this transaction, and 
 was determined to give him another trial before I left 
 him, let the consequences be what they might. I there 
 fore continued in pursuit of him ; and as the pond was 
 not large, I soon got within view of him, standing in 
 the water up to his sides, endeavoring to quench his thirst 
 by lapping, in which exercise he seemed to make but 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 9i 
 
 poor speed, as not only his lower jaw, but his tongue also, 
 was much mangled. I was not long in bringing my 
 rifle to bear upon his scalp, when, using a great deal 
 more caution than I had in aiming my first shot at him, 
 I fired. At the crack of the rifle he sunk in the water, 
 and after a few vigorous plunges, all was over with him ; 
 and without going to the carcass, I started for the vil 
 lage, as the dusk of the evening was fast setting in. 
 
 It was after dark when I arrived, and you may sup 
 pose the savages were in a state of great terror and 
 anxiety. The report brought in by those who fled in 
 advance of the bear, and especially that part of it re 
 lated by the Indian who was overtaken by him, filled 
 them not only with fear, but with wonder and amaze 
 ment also. The fugitives represented the bear as being 
 as large as the largest sized buffalo bull, and of unpre 
 cedented ferocity. 
 
 I endeavored to allay their fears and soothe their 
 anxiety, by telling them that at least one of the mon 
 sters was destroyed, and I thought there would be no 
 danger from this twain hereafter. 
 
 It was long before I could convince them that I had 
 killed this terrible animal, which had been a source of 
 so much fear and anxiety throughout the tribe. Yet, 
 when satisfied that the big bear was really killed, they 
 expressed more gratitude than I ever knew them to upon 
 any other occasion. Indeed, they fairly oppressed me 
 with laudations ; and for the time being, I was the cen 
 tre of attraction for all eyes. 
 
 At this time, Hohoako-Kiwa, the chief of this tribe 
 
92 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 of the Black-Foot nation, gave me the name of " Wap- 
 sa-Kiwan" "the Bear- Slayer" by which cognomen I 
 was recognized as long as I remained with them. ;;-! 
 
 In the morning, the chief, a few of the warriors, and my 
 self started in search of the dead bear, which we found 
 floating upon the surface of the water in the place where 
 I left him. We soon managed to get him on shore, and 
 were not long in removing his shaggy coat. He was a 
 tremendous animal, full nine feet in length, and four feet 
 high. The Indians selected portions of the flesh, which 
 they carried to the village for food ; a single mouthful 
 of it, however, was sufficient to satisfy the craving of my 
 appetite, as I found it not only strong, but otherwise 
 offensive to my taste. 
 
 After this, we remained with these Indians at their 
 village two days and nights, without finding any more 
 trouble from bears, or any other cause. At the end of 
 this time we returned to our own village. Before leaving 
 them, I assured them that they need have no farther ap 
 prehensions from this den of bears, as it is a uniform 
 custom with them, if they are disturbed in one place of 
 concealment, to seek another immediately. And if one 
 of these animals loses its mate by the ruthless assaults 
 of the hunter, the survivor is almost sure to leave its 
 former haunts, and retire among the rocks or mountains 
 to a considerable distance. 
 
 The report of my rifle had the same effect on the sav 
 ages of this village that it had upon those of the one 
 of my adoption ; and, in fact, the same astonishment 
 and awe were manifested by all with whom I became 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 93 
 
 acquainted during my five years' captivity among them. 
 It was something new wherever I came, and the report 
 caused by the explosion of the powder with which it 
 was charged, filled them with amazement and fear, until 
 I explained the mystery to them, (as far at least as I 
 wished it understood,) when they would seem satisfied, 
 and even pleased with it. 
 
 On returning to our village, I ascertained that my 
 ammunition was almost exhausted ; and to procure any 
 more seemed out of the question, as it was many hun 
 dreds of miles, probably, to any point where I could ex 
 pect to procure supplies. I mentioned these facts to 
 the chief, and desired him to allow a number of his 
 young men to accompany me to one of the stations of 
 the Hudson Bay Company, in order to procure (as I 
 alleged) a fresh supply of ammunition. But to this 
 proposition he would by no means consent ; for although 
 he seemed very anxious that I should have a supply of 
 this necessary article, yet he would not consent that I, 
 in my individual capacity, or accompanied by his young 
 men, should venture away so far in search of it. From 
 whatever cause he rejected this proposition of mine, he 
 no doubt acted prudently, as it was my intention, in case 
 I succeeded in obtaining my request, after reaching one 
 of the stations of the Company, never to show my face 
 again among the savages. I was not so fortunate, how 
 ever, as to make my escape so easily ; yet I still hoped 
 for the best, and was determined ere long to seek some 
 means of escape from them, and to try to make my 
 way back to the Company on the coast of the Pacific. 
 
94 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 The undertaking, it is true, would be fraught with 
 danger and difficulty, and especially so, when under 
 taken by a single man ; for, besides the danger of again 
 falling into the hands of hostile savages by the way, I 
 would be liable to encounter, by night as well as by day, 
 ferocious animals. But all these difficulties, added to 
 that of supplying myself with food during my flight, 
 was not sufficient to deter me from the undertaking when 
 a proper opportunity should present itself. Thus far, I 
 had seen no chance for making a successful attempt ; and 
 notwithstanding my efforts to convince the Indians that 
 I was entirely satisfied with their mode of life and my 
 treatment, yet they always seemed to have an eye upon 
 me, lest I should attempt something of the kind. It is 
 true, that on several occasions in the chase, I seemed to 
 be left by them comparatively at my own discretion, but 
 it was uniformly under circumstances that forbade any 
 attempt at an escape. 
 
 The powder which I had been using heretofore, was 
 that contained in my own flask at the time of our cap 
 ture, and that found in the flask which had formerly be 
 longed to Moulton, and which, fortunately, had not been 
 consumed with his body. Three bars of lead, and the 
 moulds for running bullets, that belonged to each of our 
 rifles, had been found and carried away by the Indians 
 at the same time. This lead, run into bullets, had thus 
 far supplied my rifle in this particular. But my supply 
 of both powder and lead was now about exhausted ; 
 and when the ammunition was gone, my rifle would be 
 of no use. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 95 
 
 After retiring to rest one evening, revolving these 
 things in my own mind, the thought rushed upon me 
 that the bulk of the ammunition that we had brought 
 with us from Vancouver was possibly yet in our hut ; as 
 I had no recollection of its having been discovered and 
 taken by the Indians at the time of our capture. We 
 had brought with us from Vancouver fifteen pounds of 
 powder and about fifty pounds of lead, and the proba 
 bility was, that more than half of this supply had been 
 left in our lodge ; which, if not destroyed since our cap 
 ture, was there yet. 
 
 In order to preserve our powder from waste by acci 
 dent, at the time we built our lodge, we had prepared 
 a kind of garret with a few puncheons, upon which we 
 carefully stowed away our ammunition. The powder 
 was kept in a tin box the same in which we had car 
 ried it from the station and the lead had been laid away 
 in loose bars. 
 
 In the morning I informed Hohoako-Kiwa, and he 
 seemed much pleased that there was still a prospect for 
 a supply of these necessaries so near at hand. He 
 proposed that we should set out the following day for 
 our old station, in order to make the necessary investi 
 gation, to which proposal I acceded ; and accordingly 
 on the next morning the chief and myself, with fifteen of 
 his warriors, started on our journey. 
 
FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HAVING traveled over three days, we at length ar 
 rived at the camp from which, nearly a year before, 
 Moulton, Thornton, and myself had been so ruthlessly 
 carried away. The sight of this place brought vividly 
 before my mind, not only the pleasurable emotions that 
 had thrilled my heart whilst in the enjoyment of the 
 society of my two friends, but also the scenes of horror 
 and misery which we were forced to endure after our 
 captivity by these savages. 
 
 The Indians observed that I looked melancholy, and 
 some of them inquired the cause. I told them that the 
 long journey had very much fatigued me, and that I 
 felt quite unwell. I felt the necessity of exerting self- 
 control, however, and soon succeeded in wearing a more 
 cheerful countenance. 
 
 Upon approaching the hut, every thing appeared to 
 be in the same condition that it was when we left it ; and 
 upon entering it, I found the box and the lead in the 
 same place where we left them, undisturbed ; and upon 
 opening the box, the powder was found undamaged 
 from any cause whatever, and its explosive quality as 
 good as it ever had been. I was very much gratified on 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 91 
 
 realizing this good fortune, and the Indians seemed 
 equally pleased. We encamped for the night on this 
 (to me) almost sacred spot of earth, and it was with 
 great reluctance that I quitted it in the morning. 
 
 Prior to starting for this place, T had made up my 
 mind that, should a favorable opportunity present itself, 
 I would attempt my escape from '.lie savages during our 
 journey. But while here I could sec no opportunity of 
 fering, which presented a reason". '-'c prospect for the 
 accomplishment of my object. Indeed, there seemed to 
 be a kind of fatality controlling me ; for, although I 
 was watching for opportunities, and exceedingly anxious 
 to make my escape, and though I was constantly re 
 solved upon that measure, yet there was a seeming lack 
 of the necessary energy and resolution to carry my plans 
 into execution. And in view of what followed during 
 a portion of my subsequent captivity, I have often 
 thought that the hand of Providence was conspicuous 
 in shaping my course at this time. It was three weeks 
 from the time that we left, until our return to the village. 
 The greater portion of this time was spent in hunting, 
 during our return home. In this journey we killed a 
 number of deer, antelope, and one elk, which afforded 
 us a fine supply of venison for some time. 
 
 On our return, the whole village turned out to welcome 
 us, and seemed very much rejoiced at our success in ob 
 taining the ammunition. The quantity that I now had 
 on hand would, with reasonable economy, last me for 
 years, or, at least, as long as I thought it probable I 
 should be with the savages ; and enough also, perhaps, 
 5 
 
98 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 to enable me to provide the means of subsistence in 
 making my escape. 
 
 We had been at home but a few days, when a number 
 of deputies arrived at the village from one of the other 
 tribes belonging to the Black-Foot nation, informing us 
 of a battle which they had recently fought with the 
 Crow Indians, in which they had killed a great number 
 of the enemy, and had taken several prisoners, (among 
 whom was a pale-face squaw,) and inviting the warriors 
 of our village to attend the council to be held in a few 
 days, to determine on the fate of the prisoners. 
 
 As is the custom with these savages on such occasions, 
 during the stay of the deputies, feasting, rejoicing, and 
 carousing was the order of the day. I felt relieved 
 when the intruders upon the quiet of the village had 
 departed. 
 
 Preparations were immediately commenced, and every 
 one seemed on tiptoe with excitement, in anticipation of 
 the enjoyments to be r realized at this council, and the 
 cruel tortures which .would no doubt follow it. The 
 chief, and a number of the warriors, insisted that I 
 should accompany th^m, which I finally consented to 
 do principally on account of the report by the deputies, 
 that there was a white woman among the prisoners. I 
 determined, if this was the fact, to exert myself to the 
 utmost to save her. I felt confident that, with many of 
 the Indians, I could exert in her favor an influence 
 which would be hard to overcome. 
 
 Every arrangement jieing completed, we mounted our 
 horses and pursued our journey, traveling upon the 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 99 
 
 canter until evening, with the exception of about an 
 hour's halt at noon, in order to rest and graze our horses. 
 On the second day, about two o'clock, we arrived at the 
 village, and were met and escorted in with the usual tu 
 multuous demonstration characteristic of these people. 
 My appearance among them was hailed by the savages 
 as a matter of gratulation, wherever my bear-destroying 
 exploits were known amongst them. And Wapsa-Ki- 
 wan was received with the respect due a person of con 
 sideration, and treated with all the kindness and courtesy 
 that their savage natures would permit. 
 
 In company with a number of the savages, I went to 
 the tent to see the prisoners, where I saw ten poor, de 
 graded looking savages huddled together in the tent, 
 under charge of a competent guard. Their eyes were 
 all fixed upon the ground, apparently in deep medita 
 tion ; in which position they continued during the time 
 I observed them. Among them were two squaws of 
 the Crow nation, and they were all nearly naked. The 
 males were not so tall as the Black-Feet generally are, 
 but were muscular, and compactly built. The females 
 were short and clumsy in their appearance, and their 
 features were almost hideous. 
 
 I had seen as yet nothing of the pale-face squaw, of 
 whom the deputies had spoken ; and I took the liberty 
 to inquire of the guard if they had such a prisoner. 
 One of them pointed me to the opposite corner of the 
 tent, where, partially covered with a quantity of old, 
 filthy skins, I observed the form of a female laying, to 
 all appearance, sound asleep. 
 
100 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Her appearance, and manner of breathing, indicated 
 extreme weakness and fatigue, if not disease. Her face 
 was pale and hectic. Her features presented great reg 
 ularity of outline, and before falling into the hands of 
 the savages, she had no doubt been a handsome woman, 
 as traces of what she had once been still lingered about 
 her person. 
 
 Whilst contemplating her appearance as she thus lay 
 sleeping, many strange emotions passed through my 
 mind, as to who she was, how she had fallen into the 
 hands of the savages, and the miseries untold through 
 which she had probably passed since she had become a 
 victim of their cruelties. 
 
 I finally asked, and obtained leave from the guard to 
 speak to her for at this time all the sympathy of my 
 nature was aroused in her behalf. I stooped and spoke 
 to her in English, saying : " Strange lady, how fare 
 you ?" She opened her eyes, and with an appearance 
 of surprise, gazed steadily in my face for some time, as 
 though doubting the correctness of her senses her eyes 
 meanwhile filling with tears, she covered them with her 
 hands. 
 
 The eloquence of this appeal to my sympathies, so 
 affected me, that in my own mind I resolved, if possible, 
 to save her from the farther brutality of the savages, or, 
 with her, perish at their hands. 
 
 I continued to address her in a kind and soothing 
 manner, and so far gained her confidence, that she en 
 tered into conversation with me ; and after I had briefly 
 informed her that I was an Englishman by birth and 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 101 
 
 education, she gave me a hasty account of her capture 
 by the savages, and her subsequent treatment by them, 
 which will be related in the following pages of this book. 
 She seemed almost overcome with joy and gratitude, 
 that in this dark hour of her existence, far away as she 
 supposed from any civilized being the captive of sav 
 ages, perhaps as degraded and brutal as any upon the 
 earth she should be permitted again to recognize the 
 face of a countryman. 
 
 She also told me that her health was rapidly declining ; 
 and that the exposure and cruelty to which she had been 
 subjected within the last few days after having been 
 taken prisoner by these Indians, and compelled to travel 
 on foot in a very exposed condition for many miles had 
 completely prostrated her. 
 
 I promised her that I would spare no means within 
 my power to save her from the horrible doom which I 
 had no doubt was pending over the heads of the pris 
 oners. She said that such had been her suffering and 
 exposure since her captivity, that death, even in its 
 darkest and most repulsive form, had lost its terrors to 
 her, and that she had often asked her Maker to send her 
 death, as a blessed relief from all her sorrows, and thus 
 terminate a state of existence which had become a bur 
 then to her, and that she had hoped that her day of de 
 parture was at hand. She, however, finally consented 
 that I should exert my influence in her behalf, more as 
 ' a gratification to me, probably, than in consonance with 
 her own desires. I now took my leave, promising to 
 come again as soon as circumstances would admit. 
 
102 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 It was now getting toward evening, and preparations 
 to light the camp-fires were rapidly progressing in every 
 direction. The night was spent by the savages in the 
 usual revelry, and early in the morning every one was 
 agog for the council, which was to terminate the fate of 
 the prisoners on this day. The camp for the ceremony 
 was pitched about three miles south of the village, be 
 neath the shade of a number of large trees, skirting the 
 bank of a small stream. About nine o'clock in the 
 morning, the savages, preceded by the prisoners, left the 
 village for the encampment. 
 
 Through the influence of Hohoako-Kiwa and some 
 of the other Indians of our party, I obtained permission 
 for the pale-face prisoner to ride my horse to the camp, 
 upon the plea of her indisposition. 
 
 Upon arriving at the camp, I assisted her to alight, 
 and she thanked me cordially for these acts of kindness 
 toward her. The prisoners were kept in charge of the 
 guard until the council had assembled, when they were 
 conducted into the midst of the circle formed by the 
 savages. 
 
 For some time previous I had been busy with Hoho 
 ako-Kiwa, and the other savages with whom I was ac 
 quainted, in behalf of the pale-face prisoner, and per 
 haps for my gratification more than anything else, they 
 promised to do all they could to save her life. When I 
 informed them that she belonged to my country, and, 
 like myself, had been taken prisoner, they were greatly 
 surprised, and seemed at once to comprehend my anxiety 
 for her relief; and from this time took an active part in 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 103 
 
 her behalf. The chief said that her fate would depend 
 altogether upon the action of the council as all ques 
 tions of this kind, according to the customs of their 
 nation, were determined in this way ; although he 
 thought, in deference to my wishes, and the estimation 
 in which I was held by many warriors of the nation, as 
 well as from the fact that, being a prisoner among the 
 Crows, she would not be regarded as an enemy, that 
 her life would be spared. 
 
 As I had been regularly initiated into the honors of a 
 warrior of the Black-Foot nation, as a reward for the 
 services I had rendered them, in destroying some of 
 their most dreaded enemies, I had the same right to sit 
 in council, speak, and vote, that aaiy other warrior had, 
 and on this occasion I was determined to enjoy the 
 privilege. 
 
 The ceremonies observed by this council were sub 
 stantially the same as those observed in the trial of 
 Moulton and myself, elsewhere related. A number of 
 the chiefs and warriors had addressed the council a 
 majority of whom argued in favor of the sentence of 
 death against all the prisoners, by burning at the stake. 
 Hohoako-Kiwa and a few others, in their speeches, ex- 
 cepted the pale-face squaw (as they called her) from 
 this terrible penalty giving, as reasons, her innocence 
 of crime against the nation, and my earnest desire to 
 save her ; and urging my claims to be gratified in this 
 respect, from the eminent services I had rendered, and 
 might still render the nation. 
 
104 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 After the chiefs and warriors had concluded, I arose, 
 and addressed the council substantially as follows : 
 
 I remarked, that in conversation with the prisoner, I 
 had learned that she was a countrywoman of mine, who 
 had been taken prisoner by a tribe of Indians on the 
 other side of the Rocky Mountains, and had, without 
 any fault of her own, been sold from one tribe to another, 
 until she had fallen into the hands of the Crows, where 
 she was recently found and taken prisoner by a band of 
 the Black-Foot nation ; and, in making this request, I 
 was but conforming to the usages of my own country, 
 which, upon all occasions, urged upon its citizens the 
 claims of humanity, when any of its people were found 
 in distress. I reminded them, that since I had been 
 with them I had tried in every thing to conform, to their 
 usages, and had, in several instances, been of important 
 service to the tribe, as they themselves were willing to 
 acknowledge. And warning them against provoking 
 the anger of the great Spirit, (who gave me the power 
 to serve them,) by rejecting my petition, I sat down 
 amid a profound silence. 
 
 This address was delivered in their own language, as 
 they could understand no other, and at this time I had 
 so far acquired a knowledge of theirs, that I could un 
 derstand and speak it quite intelligibly. During the 
 delivery of my remarks, the Indians gave me profound 
 attention, and some of them seemed to receive what I 
 said with great satisfaction ; while from the countenances 
 of others, it was plain that what I was saying was dis 
 tasteful to them. 
 
 The council broke up about three o'clock, without 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 105 
 
 coming to any defiinite conclusion in the case of the 
 pale-face ; but the savages were all sentenced to be 
 burned on the two following days. 
 
 After the deliberations of the council had concluded 
 for the day, the prisoners were conducted back to their 
 quarters in charge of the guard, and after eating a little 
 broiled meat, I again visited their tent, where I found 
 the object of my solicitude sitting up, and trying to eat 
 some uncooked venison which had been given her by 
 the guard. I inquired if she would not prefer to have 
 it broiled. She said she would ; but since her captivity 
 amongst the savages, she had rarely enjoyed so great a 
 luxury. I went to our tent and procured a few choice 
 slices of venison, broiled them nicely over the fire, and 
 carried them to her. She seemed to relish the meat very 
 much, and was more cheerful than I had before seen her. 
 
 She inquired of me as to the result of the council, 
 and, after having informed her of every thing concerning 
 it, she thanked me with much feeling for the interest I 
 had taken in her case. She said she thought her time 
 had come, and that she was resigned to receive her re 
 lease in any way her Heavenly Father should permit. 
 
 I endeavored to re-assure her, by telling her I hoped 
 she had many years yet to live, and that she would ulti 
 mately be enabled to return to her friends and country. 
 
 After preserving silence for a few moments, she said : 
 " No ! I shall never again see my friends or country in 
 this life : the indescribable suffering I have endured for 
 the last two years has not only destroyed my constitu 
 tion, but even the desire of life. And, were it even 
 
106 FIVE YEAES A CAPTIVE 
 
 possible for me again to return to my friends in England, 
 such is the prostration of my spirits, that, after the ex 
 citement of a first meeting with them had passed, I 
 should again relapse into a life of solitary misery, but 
 little preferable to the one I am now enduring. All 
 my prospects for life have been blasted, and I have 
 been reduced to a point of degradation that is re 
 volting to my own mind, and that my conscience ab 
 hors. And although this has all come upon me without 
 any fault of my own, but in opposition to my prayers, 
 tears and agonized efforts to the contrary, yet the con 
 scious innocence and purity of my life, prior to the 
 dark hour when I became a victim to the unrestrained 
 passions of a savage, condemns the degradation into 
 which I have fallen, and refuses in ^the smallest degree 
 to relinquish an iota of the sentence : thus rendering life 
 to me a burden. 
 
 " It is a truth in theology, no doubt, as well as in com 
 mon sense, that we are only responsible for that over 
 which we have or may have control. But, as it is 
 equally true that whether degradation be brought upon 
 us voluntarily or in opposition to our best efforts, and 
 by means over which we have, or can have, no influence 
 whatever, purity equally condemns the thing in either 
 case. It is the eyes of purity which are constantly 
 looking in upon this conscious sense of degradation, 
 (although involuntary,) which poisons and renders of 
 fensive to my taste, the cup of life." 
 
 Such were the candor and truthfulness of these re 
 marks, that I dared not attempt to controvert or gainsay 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 107 
 
 them. I told her that I hoped Providence would so 
 shape our future, that we might have reason to rejoice 
 in the knowledge that " all things work together for the 
 good of those who love and serve Him." Expressing 
 a wish that she might enjoy a good night's rest, I bade 
 her farewell for the night, with thoughts more sombre 
 than those with which I entered the tent. 
 
 The more I talked with her, the stronger became my 
 interest in her behalf ; and although, as matters now 
 looked, it was hard to tell what would be her fate, I still 
 felt a consciousness that her life would be spared ; and, 
 upon learning from Hohoako-Kiwa that the council 
 would be convened in the morning, to hear again from 
 Wapsa-Kiwan, I felt that success was almost certain. 
 
 The council assembled about the same time as on the 
 previous morning, and the pale-face squaw was con 
 ducted to her former position in the centre of the circle. 
 Prior to addressing the council, Hohoako-Kiwa beck 
 oned me aside, and suggested the propriety, in my re 
 marks, of dwelling with a great deal of force on my 
 power to destroy ferocious and dangerous animals, and 
 particularly the bears, which infest their country. I 
 thanked him for the suggestion, and returned to the 
 council, which was in waiting to hear me. Before I 
 commenced speaking, one of the chiefs stated to the 
 council, that, owing to a difference of opinion, the coun 
 cil had not been able to agree in regard to the disposi 
 tion to be made of the pale-face squaw ; and they had 
 unanimously agreed to meet again this morning, to hear 
 what Wapsa-Kiwan could say in her behalf, and why 
 
108 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 the same penalty should not be inflicted on her that was 
 to fall on the other prisoners. He farther said that the 
 usages of the Block-Foot nation required the same 
 penalty to be inflicted on all prisoners taken in war, or 
 from a hostile camp, unless especial reasons could be 
 shown why exceptions should be made. Having con 
 cluded his remarks, he resumed his seat amid the pro- 
 foundest silence. 
 
 The council now gave me to understand that they 
 would hear my argument. I arose and spoke in the 
 Black-Foot tongue to this effect : 
 
 "Warriors and braves of the Black-Foot nation : I 
 am not insensible to the great kindness you have been 
 pleased to extend to me, in thus permitting me to ap 
 pear before a council of your wise men and braves, in 
 order to plead the cause of a poor white squaw, from 
 my own country, who, upon a visit to see her father, 
 many miles on the other side of the Rocky Mountains, 
 was unfortunately taken prisoner by a strange tribe of 
 Indians of that country, and, after being subjected to 
 untold abuse and ill treatment, was sold to another 
 tribe, and still another, until she fell into the hands of 
 those whom your braves recently succeeded in chastising. 
 And then and there, in company with a number of 
 others, she was taken captive, and is now on her trial 
 before this council. 
 
 Were I sensible that she had been guilty, even in the 
 least degree, by thought, word, or deed, against the 
 power of the Black-Foot nation, I should not so far. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 109 
 
 presume upon the magnanimity of this council as to 
 stand here in her defense. But such is not the fact. 
 Like the swan which floats upon the bosom of the 
 waters of your own lakes, her life has been pure and 
 spotless, and she is now ready to thank the Great 
 Spirit, whom she loves to serve and obey, that she has 
 fallen into the hands of the braves of the great Black- 
 Foot nation, where, she has confidence to believe, from 
 assurances that I have given her, that her condition will 
 be much improved. And now I appeal to my Black- 
 Feet brothers make not your pale-face brother a liar 
 before his countrywoman, by passing a severe sentence. 
 
 Since I have been among you, it has been my first 
 object to deserve and have the confidence of your 
 braves esteeming this one of the greatest honors to 
 which I could attain. I have, on several occasions, 
 risked my own, in order to save the lives of your peo 
 ple ; and the Great Spirit whom I worship has given 
 me power over bears, and all other ferocious beasts, that 
 I may, upon any occasion that I desire, call to my aid, 
 for their destruction, the thunder and lightning which 
 sleeps upon the summits of your mountains. 
 
 This is the first request that I have asked at your 
 hands ; and, should you refuse to grant it, the Great 
 Spirit, who watches over and protects me, may take 
 from me the power which he has given me over the 
 beasts of the forest ; and the bears and other desperate 
 animals may be let loose upon you, and your young 
 men, women, and children may be destroyed in great 
 numbers 
 
110 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 The Great Spirit whom I serve has commanded me 
 to appear before this council of your nation, and speak 
 to you in behalf of my countrywoman, that, being free 
 from guilt, her life might be spared at your hands." 
 
 Having said thus much, I sat down, and all remained 
 silent for a few moments, when one of the principal 
 chiefs, after the customary approbatory ugh ! said in the 
 Black-Foot tongue, "Pale brother talk much good;" 
 when the exclamation of approbation being echoed by 
 many, the war-club was passed around the circle, with 
 out being accepted by a single chief or warrior. 
 
 My remarks upon this occasion seemed to have a very 
 great effect upon the council, and for some time before 
 I had concluded them, I observed, from the expression 
 of their countenances, that they were being appreciated 
 by them. 
 
 During the time I was speaking, the captive sat in the 
 same position, with her eyes fixed upon the ground, and 
 the color in her face would come and go, as though 
 some fearful struggle was in progress within. I had 
 supposed that she did not understand what I was say 
 ing, as I spoke in the Black-Foot language ; but she 
 subsequently told me that she comprehended the greater 
 part of my remarks, as there was a great similarity 
 among all the Indian dialects that she had yet heard. 
 
 The council having unanimously declared in favor of 
 life for the pale-face squaw, they, at the same time, re 
 solved that she should be kept, and her wants supplied, 
 under my care and direction. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. Ill 
 
 A tent was then provided for her reception for the 
 time being, and I procured the services of an old squaw 
 to administer to her wants, until we were ready to re 
 turn to our village. 
 
 It was about 11 o'clock when the council broke up, 
 and the cruel process of burning the prisoners was im 
 mediately commenced. 
 
 I should have made an effort to save these captives, 
 also, from their cruel fate ; but I knew that if I at 
 tempted this, the probability was that I should fail in 
 every part of it, and therefore deemed it prudent on 
 my part only to ask immunity on the part of the one in 
 whom I felt most interested. 
 
 Five stakes had been driven into the ground, and all 
 the Indian prisoners were conducted to the place of 
 execution, and five of them were fastened to the stakes, 
 and the fire applied to the faggots. Whilst this was 
 going on, and during the whole time the bodies of the 
 captives were being consumed, the usual amount of 
 frightful noise, rejoicings, and savage contortions were 
 kept up. 
 
 Such was the horror of the scene to me, that I 
 withdrew before the bodies of the victims were con 
 sumed. I was astonished at the firm endurance with 
 which these ignorant savages endured their torments. 
 When they were completely wrapped in the flames, they 
 showed not the least sign of suffering their features 
 retaining the same rigid firmness as before they were 
 fastened to the stake. 
 
 Perhaps no one who has not witnessed the degrada- 
 
 
112 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 tion and cruelty of these more than heathen people, can 
 properly appreciate the blessings of a Christian civiliza 
 tion. We often conclude that the world is bad enough, 
 even under the teachings of the Scripture, and so it is ; 
 but fully to appreciate the blessings which a Christian 
 people enjoy, it is necessary for the individual to at 
 least witness the wretched state of ignorance, degrada 
 tion and shame into which these people are sunk. 
 
 From the terrible scene of cruelty that I had been 
 witnessing, I returned to the tent, oppressed with the 
 horrors of the inhuman spectacle. I felt exceedingly 
 anxious to leave this (to me) gloomy place, and to re 
 turn to the village ; but, lest such a suggestion might 
 give offense to the savages, I dared not mention it 1 . As 
 all I had to hope for in my present condition depended 
 upon my retaining their favor and confidence, and al 
 though my heart was sad and oppressed beyond mea 
 sure, I thought it prudent to at least assume cheerful 
 ness, and seem to enjoy what was so pleasing to them. 
 Although they excused me from taking an active part 
 in these tragic scenes, yet they insisted that I should be 
 present and witness them ; and they would have taken 
 it as a grave offense had I refused. 
 
 On my return to the tent, I found Roxana (for, as 
 she told me, that was her Christian name) sitting up, 
 and apparently engaged in deep thought. I inquired 
 after her health, and how she was satisfied with the re 
 sult of the council in her case. She said her health 
 was as good as it had been for some time past ; and as 
 for the result of the council in disposing of her case, 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 113 
 
 although she owed me a debt of gratitude which she 
 should never be able to cancel, yet she feared the 
 sequence would be, merely to prolong her miseries in 
 this life. "Yet," said she, "inasmuch as it has seemed 
 good, in the wisdom of my great Benefactor, that I 
 should again escape with my life, I will endeavor to 
 abide cheerfully my time, and, as far as possible, to be 
 content with my unhappy lot." 
 
 I endeavored, by conversation, to rouse her drooping 
 spirits to cheerfulness, and, in some measure, succeeded. 
 But so deep had been her humiliation, and so indelible 
 the impression it had made on her mind, that she seemed 
 to have lost all taste and desire for any thing pertaining 
 to time or sense, and to have settled down into a deep 
 and permanent melancholy. I still entertained hopes, 
 however, that, by care and attention, I could arouse her 
 from this seeming stupor. 
 
 I had thus far prepared her food with my own hands, 
 and although I had nothing but venison to give her, yet 
 she seemed to enjoy it with something of a relish, and 
 to be very thankful that her condition in this respect 
 was so much improved. She told me that since her 
 capture, now over two years, her food had almost en 
 tirely been confined to raw flesh often of the most for 
 bidding and filthy kind. 
 
 As a general rule, all the savages of this region, so 
 far as my knowledge extends, eat a large proportion of 
 their meat raw ; and I have seen them, before life was 
 extinct in an animal, cut pieces from the quivering flesh 
 and eat them. 
 5* 
 
114 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 They are uniformly filthy to excess, and take no pains 
 whatever to avoid dirt in their cookery. A super 
 abundance of the hair and excrement of the animal is 
 no impediment to the appetites of these savages, when 
 found in conjunction (which is nearly always the case) 
 with the flesh. 
 
 On this evening, I prepared a bed for Roxana, of a 
 number of clean, fresh skins, which I collected together 
 for that purpose, and, in the morning, had the satisfac 
 tion to learn from her, that she had enjoyed a good 
 night's rest, and that she felt much improved. 
 
 To-day, the remaining five prisoners were to be 
 burned, and preparations were in active progress for the 
 consummation. About 9 o'clock, the prisoners were 
 conducted to the stakes, and securely attached thereto, 
 when the fire was applied to the faggots, and the same 
 scene of horror, in every essential particular, that was 
 witnessed yesterday, was again enacted. The victims 
 exhibited the same firm stoicism as that shown by 
 those who had suffered first, and bore their torments 
 with as little concern, apparently, as any martyr who 
 ever suffered in the cause of his Master. 
 
 The encampment having broke up, we returned to the 
 village, two miles from the camp, where we spent the 
 night, and, in the morning, set off for our own village. 
 Through the assistance of Hohoako-Kiwa, I procured a 
 horse for Roxana to ride, as it was no part of my plan 
 that she should remain behind ; and the Indians, in def 
 erence to me, seemed willing that this matter should be 
 left entirely to my control. I constructed a kind of 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 115 
 
 saddle of a large bear-skin for her use, and although 
 we had to ride very fast in order to keep up with the 
 Indians, she stood the journey much better than I had 
 expected. 
 
 We arrived at our village on the third day of our 
 homeward-bound journey, and were made welcome by 
 the inhabitants who we had left behind. The chief 
 very kindly invited me to bring the pale-face squaw to 
 his lodge, which offer I gladly accepted for the timo 
 being. 
 
 Hohoako-Kiwa and hia wife had always treated me 
 with as much kindness and consideration as was consistent 
 with the ignorance and degradation of their savage state; 
 and, if for no other reason, I hoped, for the sake of Wapsa 
 Kiwan, they would receive Roxana in the same way. 
 And in this I was not mistaken ; for, whilst we were 
 inmates of their lodge, I have no recollection of ever 
 making a request on her behalf, but, if possible, it was 
 complied with. 
 
 At my request, Hohoako-Kiwa permitted me to se 
 lect, from the fur taken from our camp at the time of 
 our capture, such skins as I might wish, for the purpose 
 of supplying Roxana's necessities in the way of cloth 
 ing. I made choice of such skins as were the finest, 
 and the most easily put into the proper form. Upon 
 presenting these furs to Roxana, she expressed much 
 gratitude, as her wardrobe amounted to scarcely any 
 thing being simply the filthy skins worn by the sav 
 ages among whom she had been living. In a very short 
 time she had prepared for herself, from these skins, a 
 
116 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 kind of wrapper, which, although not exactly after the 
 cut of Parisian style, was, nevertheless, very comforta 
 ble to her, and not altogether without grace in appear 
 ance. 
 
 I was much pleased at this improvement in the way 
 of clothing, and, at my request, the chief's wife wrought 
 for her a neat and tidy pair of moccasins ; as thus far, 
 since her shoes had been taken from her immediately 
 after her capture, she had nothing to wear upon her 
 feet. 
 
 The cut of her wrapper seemed, at first, to amuse the 
 squaws exceedingly; but, in a short time, they seemed to 
 take no further notice of its oddity, and she was left in 
 the uninterrupted enjoyment of her own taste, in this 
 particular. 
 
 Upon taking Koxana to the chief's lodge, it was not 
 my intention, by any means, to make it a place of per 
 manent abode, but, with the chief's permission, to build 
 a cabin of my own, where the necessities and conve 
 niences required for an invalid might be better supplied, 
 as I entertained strong hopes that, notwithstanding the 
 shattered condition of her constitution, and her conse 
 quent prostration of spirits, with careful nursing, she 
 would ultimately recover. Upon my making the re 
 quest, the chief gave me permission to build a cabin for 
 our use, and pointed out the place, in the vicinity of 
 his own. 
 
 With one of the axes taken from us at our capture, 
 in the course of a few weeks I built, from logs and 
 puncheons, a habitation which, for permanence, neat- 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. lit 
 
 ness and comfort, was far in advance of any thing of the 
 kind in the village, the chief's residence not excepted. 
 I put into it a good puncheon floor, and covered it with 
 a permanent roof of the same material, and with mud, 
 logs, and sticks, I made a passable chimney. The in 
 terstices between the logs of the cabin, I closed with 
 mud and sticks, so that, in the coldest winter weather, I 
 could make it comfortable. A door and window af 
 forded us the means of locomotion and light, both of 
 which could be closed at pleasure, by means of swinging 
 doors, made from hewn puncheons, hung upon wooden 
 hinges, and fastened with pins. 
 
 During the progress of my building, I was constantly 
 surrounded by a troop of savages, of every age and 
 both sexes, whose curiosity seemed greatly excited at 
 my singular style of workmanship. They offered me 
 no assistance whatever, in any way, but simply loitered 
 about, in a state of masterly idleness and inactivity. 
 But as this may probably be considered as the normal 
 condition of these savages, perhaps there is nothing 
 strange in it. 
 
 Having completed my cabin, I constructed, with the 
 axe and our auger, (which the Indians had preserved 
 since our capture,) two rough bedsteads one for the 
 use of Roxana, and the other for myself. These beds 
 were supplied with a number of buffalo, bear, and other 
 skins, as clothing. Our bedsteads afforded the savages 
 a new object for curiosity, and gave them great latitude 
 for exercising their faculty of wonder, as they had never 
 before seen anything like them, and would, probably, 
 
118 FIVE YEAES A CAPTIVE 
 
 never have discovered the proper use for them, had not 
 the skins been placed upon them. 
 
 At this stage of my improvements in building and 
 furnishing, we moved into our new habitation, and found 
 it, under the circumstances, neat, commodious, and com 
 fortable; indeed, so far were we in advance of our 
 neighbors, in the style of our town residence and other 
 comforts, that we might, with justice, have been obnox 
 ious to the charge of aristocracy. 
 
 By the use of the axe and the auger, and some shells 
 prepared by the Indians, I also added to our furniture 
 a few benches and stools, and a wooden bucket, which 
 we found of great service. 
 
 I succeeded in persuading an old squaw to come and 
 live with us in our cabin, that, during my absence in our 
 hunting excursions, and upon other calls for my time, 
 Roxana might have the attention her circumstances re 
 quired, (at least, as far as a squaw could render it.) 
 Before leaving her to her mercy, however, I took great 
 pains in showing her what I wanted done during my 
 absence, and how to do it, and was pleased to realize 
 the fact, that Ke-Ka (which was the squaw's name) 
 took a great deal of pride in trying to deserve my com 
 mendation in all that she undertook to do. And al 
 though she was exceedingly ignorant and awkward at 
 first, yet, by her desire to please, and untiring patience 
 on the part of Roxana, she soon became of great value 
 to us. This squaw was a widow, having lost her hus 
 band and three sons in the wars with the Flat-Heads, 
 some years before ; and, having no other children, she 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 11V) 
 
 was almost entirely dependent upon the generosity of 
 the warriors for a scanty subsistence ; consequently, she 
 seemed well pleased with the comforts of her new home, 
 for besides the other advantages that she enjoyed from 
 being with us, she seemed to look with much complacency 
 upon our well-filled larder, which was at this time stocked 
 with meats of almost every kind which the country af 
 forded. And, to her honor be it said, ingratitude was 
 not one of her sins. She always appeared grateful for 
 the comforts which she enjoyed with us, and yielded a 
 ready obedience to Roxana's and my commands. 
 
 It is, perhaps, unnecessary for me to inform the reader, 
 that the more I saw of and conversed with Roxana, 
 the more deeply I became interested in her. So help 
 less, innocent and confiding, yet entirely candid and 
 truthful in all her ways did she seem, that at times I 
 could scarcely realize that the stricken being before me 
 was of this world. So terribly had her spirit been 
 chastened by the many trials and perils through which 
 she had passed, that her humility and trust, (in her Heav 
 enly Protector,) like that of a little child, seemed to flow 
 unbidden and without affectation from her heart. 
 
 Hitherto, since my captivity, my life had seemed al 
 most objectless, and my only hopes were centered in the 
 probability of my escape from the savages. But now, 
 Providence had entirely changed my relations in life ; 
 for, although I had not entirely given over my hope of 
 escape, yet, in consequence of the sacred charge which 
 had been placed, entirely Providentially, under my pro 
 tective care, the time and the opportunity for such an 
 effort on my part had been indefinitely postponed. 
 
120 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Should Roxana regain her health, and again become 
 strong and vigorous, it was my intention to try to effect 
 her escape, as well as my own ; and to use my best ef 
 forts to make our way back to some one of the posts of 
 the Company on the Pacific. But, in the present state 
 of her health, such an enterprise would be little better 
 than madness ; and when her health would admit of so 
 dangerous an undertaking, if ever, was uncertain. 
 
 But, let circumstances lead as they would, I was de 
 termined never to leave this helpless creature to the 
 mercies of the savages ; but, if necessary, in order to her 
 sustenance and protection, to spend the remaining por 
 tion of my days with these savages, amid the gorges 
 and defiles of the Rocky Mountains, and the adjacent 
 plains and prairies. 
 
 A considerable portion of my time was necessarily 
 spent in company with the savages in the chase. On 
 these occasions, I would frequently be absent from the 
 village from two to three weeks ; but I had the greatest 
 confidence in the care and attention of Ke-Ka towards 
 Roxana. In this way, I was enabled to keep our cabin 
 plentifully supplied with the best of meats, and skins, 
 which were equally useful in supplying us with wearing 
 apparel and bed-clothes. 
 
 Upon returning home after our absence on these oc 
 casions, I was uniformly greeted with the kindest ex 
 pressions of sympathy, in all that had occurred to us 
 whilst we were gone ; not from Roxana alone, but even 
 Ke-Ka, after a time, would come with humble importu 
 nity, endeavoring to make herself useful, by doing all 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 121 
 
 she knew to render me comfortable ; and I sometimes 
 thought that, after all, I had great reason to be thank 
 ful to Providence for the gift of at least a peaceful 
 home. And when I contrasted myself and my sur 
 roundings with the miserable, squalid beings with whom 
 I was daily associated, and their filthy habitations, their 
 ignorance and superstition, I felt that I ought to thank 
 Him, who had made me to differ from my fellows. And 
 yet this is the great Black-Foot nation ! 
 
 In our next chapter, I will give a more particular ac 
 count of Roxana her capture, and subsequent treat 
 ment by the Indians. 
 
122 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 CHAPTER VII . 
 
 WE doubt not but that the reader, by this time, is 
 anxious to know something more of the history of Rox- 
 an# and her misfortunes, which we will now proceed to 
 relate, substantially in her own language. 
 
 Roxana Wakeman was the daughter of James Wake- 
 man, who was an extensive stockholder in, and secretary 
 to, the Hudson Bay Company. He was regarded as 
 being a man of great wealth, and had but three children, 
 all of whom were daughters Roxana being the eldest 
 of the three, and her father's favorite. The family re 
 sided in London, while the father had spent the greater 
 part of his time, for the several last years, in Oregon, 
 attending to the interests of the Company. Having 
 made a visit home, and spent some time with his family, 
 he again returned to Oregon in the latter part of the 
 year IT 9 9, taking with him Roxana, then a sprightly 
 girl in her seventeenth year. 
 
 Being naturally of a romantic, adventurous turn of 
 mind, and being much with her father during his stay 
 at home, she had heard him from time to time speak 
 of the greatness of the Western Continent its lofty 
 mountains, its majestic rivers, and the grandeur and 
 beauty of its wide-spread prairie scenery, where a gently 
 undulating surface, often many miles in extent, covered 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 123 
 
 with tall grass, interspersed with the most gorgeously 
 beautiful of Flora's treasures, variegated here and there 
 by a clump of beautiful young timber, and the whole 
 scene enlivened frequently by almost innumerable herds 
 of every species of wild game found in this region. By 
 listening to her father's glowing descriptions, Roxana 
 caught a portion of his enthusiasm, and begged to be 
 permitted to accompany him to this (in her imagination) 
 almost fairy land. 
 
 Mr. Wakeman at first peremptorily refused the re 
 quest of his daughter, urging upon her consideration 
 the perils of the voyage, and the very great exposure 
 of various kinds to which one so tenderly reared would 
 be subjected by a residence in this wild, although sub 
 lime and beautiful country. But these representations 
 only increased Roxana's desire to accompany her father, 
 that she might add to his comfort, by nursing him in 
 sea-sickness, or any other affliction which might befall 
 him in the long voyage, and enliven his leisure hours 
 during his remaining sojourn in the Western wilds She 
 urged this reasoning strongly upon her father, and he, 
 probably pleased to find a spirit so near akin to his own 
 in his favorite child, and intending to return to England 
 in the autumn of the following year, in an evil hour, 
 consented ; and preparations were immediately made for 
 the voyage. Their ocean journey was tedious, but 
 prosperous, and they arrived safely, in the latter part of 
 the year 1799, at Vancouver, one of the stations of the 
 Company of which her father was Secretary. 
 
 During the winter, all went pleasantly in the small, 
 
 
124 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 yet agreeable circle composed of the officers of the 
 Company and their families ; and to Roxana was added 
 the especial gratification of being near her father. 
 
 In the spring of the year 1800, Mr. Wakeman and 
 his daughter, in company with several gentlemen, and 
 some of the employees about the station to act as ser 
 vants and guards, set out from Vancouver for another 
 station, some distance in the interior. Mr. Wakeman 
 and Roxana were traveling in a kind of pioneer dili 
 gence, drawn by two horses, which are sometimes used 
 in these countries. The other members of the party 
 were all riding on horseback. 
 
 About three o'clock on the second day of their jour 
 ney, they were surprised by a party of Indians who 
 were lying in ambush for them. The first notice they 
 had of the presence of the enemy, was from the dis 
 charge of a volley of arrows, by which every man in the 
 company, riding on horseback, was more or less injured, 
 a number of them fatally. They then surrounded the 
 men, scalped and tomahawked every one of them, 
 amidst horrible and unearthly shrieks and actions. Mr. 
 Wakeman's horses were caught and held by a num 
 ber of the savages, while others took hold of him, and 
 forcibly drew him from the diligence, and, in the presence 
 of Roxana, scalped and tomahawked him. 
 
 The horses were all secured by the savages, and hav 
 ing stripped the clothing from the murdered men, and 
 secured every thing that struck their fancy, they de 
 parted, taking Roxana with them as a captive 
 
 The state of her feelings at this crisis in her fortune, 
 
- 
 
 
 
AMONG THE BLACK- FEET INDIANS. 125 
 
 can be better imagined than expressed. How terrible 
 had been the change in her condition, which a few min 
 utes had brought about ! How fearfully fleeting is all 
 earthly hope ! The merry laugh and sprightly conver 
 sation of the company, had scarcely died away as it 
 floated upon the passing breeze, ere death, in horrid 
 form, had done his work, and herself taken prisoner by 
 brutal savages, far away from even the possibility of re 
 lief. A scene so startling and tragical, was sufficient 
 to paralyze with horror and despair the mind of the 
 most reckless adventurer, let alone that of so young and 
 tenderly reared a child as Roxana. 
 
 In the retreat, the savages would not even permit her 
 to ride one of the horses they had stolen from her mur 
 dered parent ; but, in the rapid march which, with sav 
 ages, always takes place after a scene of this character, 
 she was forced forward by a couple of them (one upon 
 each side) at an unmerciful rate, during the remainder 
 of that and a part of the next day. 
 
 About two o'clock on the afternoon of the second 
 day, she became so exhausted with this (to her) unusual 
 and severe labor, that she sunk down upon the ground, 
 unable to progress another step. The savages observing 
 this, called a halt, and after a few minutes' consultation, 
 ordered up one of the horses, and placing her upon its 
 back, proceeded on their journey one of the savages 
 leading the animal. In this way, late in the evening of 
 the second day of her captivity, she reached the camp, 
 or village, of the savages. On arriving at the village, 
 she was passed over to the protecting care of a number 
 
126 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 of the squaws, who summarily stripped from her her 
 own clothes, and made her don the style of these female 
 savages, which consisted of a short kind of frock, made 
 of the skins of beasts, extending from the hips to the 
 vicinity of the knees, and of most filthy and forbidding 
 aspect. Before continuing the chain of our narrative 
 further, the reader will indulge me in a brief digression. 
 
 At the time a portion of the thrilling incidents that I 
 am now relating were taking place, I still resided in 
 England, aud there read the accounts of this massacre 
 in the journals of the day. It was then supposed, and 
 so published to the world, that Roxana had also been 
 murdered by the savages as no account had been ob 
 tained of her (although search and inquiry was made by 
 the Company's agents) among the different tribes of In 
 dians with whom the Company were in the habit of 
 transacting business. 
 
 After I came to Oregon, and during the time I was 
 in the employ of the Company, I frequently heard the 
 facts connected with this catastrophe spoken of, and 
 conversed with several persons who had been well ac 
 quainted with Mr. Wakeman, and that had also seen 
 Koxana while with her father at Vancouver. They 
 spoke of her form and beauty as being faultless, and in 
 consequence of her sprightly conversation and wit, she 
 became the centre of attraction to all those who had 
 access to her company. 
 
 Although her remains were not recognized among 
 those of the men subsequently found, and buried by the 
 Company, yet it was conceded on all hands that she, 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 12T 
 
 too, had been murdered by the savages. The reader 
 can therefore judge of my surprise, when at the council 
 I learned from her own lips who she was, and the tragi 
 cal scenes of the two last years of her life and in 
 some sense will also account for the interest I felt in 
 her behalf. 
 
 The nation in whose hands Roxana had fallen, she 
 subsequently learned, was the Pischaus a people that 
 rank low, even amongst the other savages of this wild 
 region of country. She remained with these degraded 
 barbarians about six months, during which time she was 
 forced to submit to the most cruel and loathsome bond 
 age. The squaws seemed to take peculiar delight in 
 inflicting upon her every annoyance and indignity that 
 they could invent. They made her carry heavy bur 
 thens of wood, water, &c., daily; and if her motion 
 was not rapid enough to please them, (which was seldom 
 the case,) they would scourge her on the shoulders and 
 legs with thongs made of dried buffalo hide, knotted at 
 the ends. She informed me that frequently, from the 
 scourgings, the blood would trickle from her shoulders 
 to the ground. At other times, they bound her hand 
 and foot, and then placed her on the outside of the tent, 
 to remain during the night, upon the ground, scarcely 
 able to move, exposed to all the vicissitudes of the ele 
 ments, or what not. 
 
 Her food, during all the time she was with this tribe 
 of savages, was of the most loathsome and offensive 
 kind (although equal to that used by Jhese people in 
 general). It often consisted of a little meat, far gone 
 
128 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 in a state of putrefaction ; and at other times, she would 
 be supplied with a portion of the entrails of some ani 
 mal that they had killed. 
 
 A favorite dish with these people (to which she was 
 sometimes invited) consisted of a kind of hash made 
 with berries, crickets, and bugs, pummeled and stewed 
 up together, by means of a heated hole excavated in 
 the ground. This, with many of the savage tribes, is 
 not only regarded as a savory morsel of rarity, but also 
 of great delicacy, and on account of the scarcity of the 
 luxuries of which it is composed, is but seldom partaken 
 of. These savages, like most of the other tribes that 
 inhabit this country, as a general thing, prefer to eat 
 their meat in a raw state, with as much filth adhering 
 to it as possible. 
 
 After enduring almost everything that seems possible 
 for humanity to put up with, for six months, Roxana 
 was sold by the war chief of this tribe to a warrior of 
 the "Walla Wallas." This warrior, on a friendly mis 
 sion to the Pischau village, observed the pale-face 
 squaw, (as he called her,) and determined to purchase 
 and take her to his own hut to be his squaw. The chief 
 and " Walla Walla" warrior soon struck upon a bar 
 gain, and Roxana was formally transferred to her new 
 master, and conveyed by him upon his horse to his hut, 
 some fifty or sixty miles distant. On arriving at the 
 village, the warrior called on his chief to perform the 
 marriage ceremony between himself and his pale-face 
 squaw ; which, after the exhibition and expression of 
 much curiosity by the inhabitants of the village at the 
 
AMONG THE BLACK- FEET INDIANS. 129 
 
 novelty (as they supposed) of the stranger, he proceeded 
 to do. Understanding from the chief (principally by 
 signs) what was about to take place, Roxana endeav 
 ored to break away from the clutches of the loathsome 
 brute, but was firmly grasped by two other savages, and 
 held as in a vice. 
 
 The chief then proceeded to explain to her the nature 
 of the ceremony, by informing her that the warrior had 
 bought her from the Pischau chief, and that, according 
 to their customs, she was his property, and that there 
 fore he had a right to dispose of her in any way that 
 he saw proper ; that, by becoming his squaw, she ought 
 rather to esteem herself highly honored, and favored 
 even above many of the squaws belonging to their own 
 tribe. 
 
 At this awful juncture in her life, Roxana said she 
 mentally prayed to the Supreme Being, if it was con 
 sistent with His will, to remove her from a state of 
 degradation so ineffably bitter and loathsome to her 
 as death, in any form, no matter how revolting, would 
 be to her infinitely preferable to it. 
 
 The ceremony, however, of which she understood but 
 little, was gone through with by the chief, while she 
 was firmly held by the two savages. She was then, for 
 the time being, put in charge of the warrior's mother 
 a lusty and almost frightful looking squaw, considerably 
 advanced in years. In less than an hour from the time 
 the ceremony had been finished, she heard, at a little 
 distance from the hut, a great amount of noise and up 
 roar among the savages ; and before she had time to 
 
130 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 ascertain the cause, the savage to whom she had so un 
 ceremoniously been married a few minutes before, was 
 carried by several others and laid upon the ground, in 
 front of his hut, a bloody- corpse. 
 
 Roxana subsequently learned from the mother of the 
 dead warrior, that he had been put to death by a young 
 warrior of the same tribe, to avenge the death of his 
 brother, who had some time before, in a melee, been 
 killed by her son. The young savage had for some time 
 been seeking an opportunity of wreaking his vengeance 
 upon his adversary, but hitherto without success. Learn 
 ing what was going on upon this occasion, and naturally 
 supposing that in the excitement and festivities of the 
 occasion, he would be less upon his guard than ordina 
 rily, he took advantage of an occasion that the warrior 
 thought peculiarly propitious to his happiness, and, with 
 the precaution and determination peculiar to the Indian 
 character, stole upon him unobserved, and speedily ter 
 minated his earthly existence, by piercing him to the 
 heart with his spear. 
 
 Upon learning these facts, Roxana thanked the Lord 
 that, in His own good time and way, He had preserved 
 her honor, by removing the cause of her greatest trouble, 
 and forever severing the tie which, contrary to her con 
 sent, was sought to be fastened upon her by these de 
 graded barbarians. She fully believed that her prayer 
 had been heard and answered by the Almighty not, it 
 is true, in the way she expected it, but in that form 
 which accorded with His infinite wisdom and benev 
 olence. Although her condition still seemed forlorn and 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 131 
 
 beyond all human hope, yet she tried to believe that the 
 grace of God would be sufficient for her in every hour 
 of need. 
 
 Sometime during the night, the body of the dead sav 
 age was removed to another place, and the next day was 
 buried according to their customs upon such occasions. 
 She was surprised at the apparent little notice taken of 
 this tragic scene by the other savages, and especially by 
 the mother of the deceased ; for, instead of giving them 
 selves up to sorrow and mourning, they seemed rather 
 to make the occasion one of hilarity and rejoicing. The 
 mother of the deceased exhibited no traces of sorrow 
 whatever, and seemed to regard the occurrence as simply 
 a link in the chain of passing events. She informed 
 Roxana that transactions of that character were of fre 
 quent occurrence among their people that where the 
 life of a warrior had been taken by the hand of his fel 
 low, their customs permitted a relative or friend of the 
 deceased to take that of the slayer in turn. 
 
 Roxana continued to reside in the deceased warrior's 
 hut with his mother, who, from the fact, no doubt, that 
 she regarded her as the squaw of her late son, treated 
 her better than she would otherwise have done. While 
 with this tribe of Indians, however, she passed anything 
 else than an inactive life ; for, besides assisting the old 
 squaw in all her labors, she was frequently handed over 
 by her to perform labor for others, in the most humili 
 ating and degrading occupations 
 
 The moral, as well as physical grade of these savages, 
 might be regarded as a little in advance of the Pischaus, 
 
132 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 though it is scarcely possible to conceive of a state of 
 humanity more thoroughly degraded and unhumanized. 
 They were a little more tasty and tidy in their appear 
 ance than the former, and also appeared to be less cruel 
 to their captives. But their filthy and revolting mode 
 of cookery was about the same as that of the Pischaus. 
 Roxana's food, while with these people, was but little, 
 if any, preferable to what it was while with the Pischaus, 
 and consisted of about the same variety. 
 
 Although, by the customs of these barbarians, she 
 was the property, or, in other words, the slave of him 
 who had bought and sought to make her his wife, yet, 
 by a part of the same customs, upon the death of the 
 warrior, the widow is perfectly free not inheritable by 
 his relatives, or any one else ; and, in this particular, 
 there is no difference made between those that are cap 
 tives and those of their own nation. 
 
 A consideration is always paid to the father or near 
 relatives of the young squaw whose hand is sought by 
 a warrior as a companion. Widows, among this tribe 
 of Indians, are not allowed to marry the second time, 
 from the superstitious idea that the deceased warriors 
 will have use for them in the next world ; and that upon 
 their death, they will take their appropriate places in 
 the households of their defunct lords, at the new hunt 
 ing-grounds. 
 
 Roxana had been with these savages now about nine 
 months, during all of which time her sufferings, mentally 
 and physically, had been intense far beyond the power 
 of any words that I can command ; when, to her aston- 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 133 
 
 ishment and dismay, another change in her hard fortune 
 seemed about to take place. 
 
 This nation of Indians and the Flat-Heads, as she 
 afterwards learned, had for some time been on unfriendly 
 terms, and had come together, on several occasions, in 
 sanguinary combat, upon the field of battle. Better 
 counsels at length having prevailed, the two nations 
 agreed to a peace ; and in order to fortify each other's 
 words with the necessary confidence in accordance with 
 the customs of most of these hostile tribes they bound 
 themselves, respectively, to deliver to each other a num 
 ber of hostages, to be held by each of the contending 
 parties during pleasure, as an additional guaranty of 
 good behavior, respectively. 
 
 In selecting these hostages by the war chief, Roxana 
 was taken as one of them, and, with others, marched off 
 to where the council of the two nations was in session, 
 and formally delivered over to the chief of the Flat- 
 Heads. 
 
 The journey to this council (a distance of about fifty 
 miles) almost killed her. Her system was so much ex 
 hausted, in consequence of extreme weakness, induced 
 by traveling the whole distance on foot, that upon her 
 arrival at the council, she was scarcely able to stand 
 upon her feet ; and yet, on the morning after her arrival, 
 she was again compelled to set out, in company with the 
 Flat-Heads, on a long and wearisome journey of the 
 distance of which she had no idea. 
 
 She had not traveled far before her head became dizzy, 
 and blindness impeded her further progress ; and faint, 
 
134 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 and exhausted, she sank to the ground, unconscious of 
 aught that was transpiring. 
 
 When sufficiently recovered to recognize what was 
 passing, the savages had all collected around her, and 
 were intently gazing upon her, supposing that, of a cer 
 tainty, she was dead. By words and signs, she suc 
 ceeded in convincing them that she was not able to travel 
 on foot any farther, but if they would bring her a horse, 
 she would ride. 
 
 After counseling together for a few minutes, one of 
 the savages furnished her with a poor, jaded looking 
 animal, (there being a number of good horses in the 
 company,) and having assisted her upon its back, then 
 took it by the head and led it. In this way, she trav 
 eled the greater part of the remaining distance to the 
 village of the Flat-Heads. The last twenty or thirty 
 miles, however, she was compelled to travel on foot, as 
 the chivalrous savage who led her horse compelled her 
 to dismount, and then rode the remainder of the way 
 himself. 
 
 In consequence of this relief in making the journey, 
 she felt much improved ; yet, in accomplishing the last 
 part of it, her condition was almost as forlorn as it was 
 before ; and it required the repose of several weeks to 
 restore her health and strength to the point they occu 
 pied before setting out on this (to her) terrible journey. 
 
 The whole distance of this journey, she afterwards 
 learned, was between one and two hundred miles ; and 
 the exposure of camping out of nights, and laying upon 
 the bare ground, with nothing in the way of clothing to 
 
AMONG! THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 135 
 
 protect her from the wet and cold, was not the least of 
 her sufferings on this occasion. 
 
 The village to which she was taken, was only three 
 days' journey from the foot of the Rocky Mountains, 
 and was located on an elevated spot of ground, near a 
 small and beautiful lake. The general contour of the 
 country was mountainous and broken ; but the valleys 
 appeared to be fertile, and produced an abundant supply 
 of grass, and a great variety of beautiful wild flowers. 
 
 On her arrival at the Flat-Head village, her color, 
 features, &c., furnished an immense quantity of food for 
 the gratification of the curiosity of these degraded peo 
 ple but not much more, perhaps, than their flat heads 
 and otherwise singular and brutal appearance did for hers. 
 
 These Indians, although possessing the general char 
 acteristics of most of the other tribes of this country, 
 are, in many respects, their superiors. There is a kind 
 of gentility and affability in their manners, and a mild 
 ness of disposition, that is by no means common to many 
 of the other tribes. 
 
 On arriving at the village, Roxana was placed in the 
 charge of an elderly squaw, who occupied one of the 
 huts alone. This person was a widow, having lost 
 her husband many years before, in one of their wars 
 with the Black-Feet. She never had any children of 
 her own, and since the death of her warrior, lived a re 
 tired life by herself. Her treatment of Roxana was, 
 perhaps, as kind as she had any reason to expect from 
 an individual as ignorant and degraded as she was. 
 She allowed her but little idle time, however, for she 
 
136 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 always had something for her to do. Collecting to 
 gether and carrying wood and water, gathering berries 
 and roots, and assisting her in making moccasins, con 
 stituted a part of her routine of labor. 
 
 The manner of preparing and using their food, was 
 very much after the style of the other savages with 
 whom she had lived. They subsisted chiefly on the 
 flesh of animals, fish, berries, and roots. 
 
 Roxana regarded the males as excesively indolent, 
 (except when engaged in the chase,) spending their time 
 laying and loitering about, as though their lives were 
 almost a burthen to them the females, as is the case 
 generally with all these tribes, doing all the work, and 
 attending to the finances. Although the condition of 
 the females is but little preferable to a state of abject 
 slavery, yet they bear up under it with a remarkable de 
 gree of patience and contentment, but seldom giving 
 loose rein to their feelings. 
 
 A peculiar trait in the character of the males of these 
 savages is, that they seldom mistreat the females by 
 overt acts of abuse of any kind whatever. Should a 
 warrior so far forget his duty, as well as his dignity, as 
 to strike his squaw, he is forever disgraced with his 
 tribe, and there are none so degraded as to make him 
 an associate ; and his squaw is at once released from 
 every obligation of the marriage contract, and is at 
 liberty to leave his hut forever. 
 
 Notwithstanding the depression or flatness of the 
 heads of these savages, (caused by the wearing, during 
 infancy, upon the tops of their heads, flat boards, or 
 
THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 13t 
 
 stones, with a smooth surface,) their intellects, Koxana 
 thought, were as good as that of any of the savages 
 with whom she had become acquainted. 
 
 It was now the fall of the year, and the warriors were 
 preparing to go to the prairies, in order to spend three 
 or four weeks in hunting buffalo. At these times it is 
 customary with the warriors of this nation to take with 
 them their women and children, for the double purpose 
 of gratifying them with a kind of gala season, and also 
 to attend to the cutting up and drying the meat that 
 may be brought in by the hunters. This general hunt, 
 which is sure to take place during every fall of the year, 
 is regarded with delight by all ages and both sexes ; 
 and to the females and children is, no doubt, a season 
 of recreation and amusement. 
 
 All things being ready, they started the most of the 
 hunters on horseback, and the women and children on 
 foot. It is no part of the gallantry of these people to 
 so far discommode themselves as to permit their squaws 
 and papooses to ride, and themselves to travel on foot. 
 This would not be regarded as comporting with the dig 
 nity of either their character or employment. 
 
 The hunters rode in advance, and the women, children 
 and canines brought up the rear. The distance from 
 the village to the hunting-ground was about thirty 
 miles, and early in the afternoon of the second day of 
 their journey they reached the desired point. Roxana 
 was very much crippled up with the severity of the 
 journey, though the squaws and children seemed to bear 
 it without a murmur ; and even those females who car- 
 6* 
 
138 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 ried their young papooses, bound upon their backs, the 
 whole distance, seemed to suffer but little from fatigue. 
 
 Immediately upon arriving at the desired locality, all 
 hands were busy in preparing the camp for future use 
 and comfort. It was located on a beautifully rolling 
 piece of ground, upon the bank of a small stream of 
 running water, protected by a delightful grove of timber 
 skirting the border of the prairie. Every thing having 
 been arranged according to the taste and skill of the 
 squaws, whilst the hunters were pursuing their game on 
 the prairie, universal joy and hilarity seemed to take 
 possession of all those left at the camp. The squaws 
 hummed over their rude ditties, while the children rolled, 
 tumbled, and leaped, in a way that would have excited 
 the risibility of the most stubborn misanthrope. 
 
 They had been in camp about a week, and the labors 
 of the hunters had, thus far, been crowned with unusual 
 success. They had killed and brought to camp a num 
 ber of buffaloes and other game, and joy seemed to 
 pervade every countenance. But how transitory are 
 the hopes even of the rude savage, whose wants and de 
 sires are certainly few, and easily satisfied ! 
 
 About the hour of two o'clock of this night, when 
 the camp-fires had all died out, and sleep, like a sooth 
 ing anodyne, rested upon all, a deadly and indiscriminate 
 slaughter was commenced upon the camp. The fright 
 ful yells of the enraged enemy, amidst their fearful work 
 of blood and slaughter, was enough to strike terror to 
 the stoutest heart, and almost congeal the blood, as it 
 languidly coursed its way through the veins. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 139 
 
 The destruction of life was general, sparing neither 
 age nor sex in the impetuosity and fury of the charge. 
 Whether any of this party of the Flat-Heads (with two 
 exceptions) escaped this dreadful slaughter, Roxana 
 never learned ; but from the scene of death and carnage 
 presented in the camp on the next morning, she was of 
 the opinion that, with the exception of herself and two 
 of the squaws, every soul had been put to death. 
 
 In the haste and confusion of the x charge, the savages 
 had involuntarily passed by the tent in which Roxana 
 and the two squaws were sleeping having, as they sup 
 posed, murdered all. In afterwards passing about 
 amongst the dead and mangled bodies, scalping and 
 stripping them, they came upon them also, and were 
 much surprised (judging from their actions) that they 
 had escaped the common destruction. 
 
 Their thirst for blood having by this time been some 
 what appeased, they made use of no demonstrations of 
 violence towards them, further than ordering them in 
 the charge of two gigantic savages of most sinister 
 aspect. 
 
 During the progress of this bloody scene, Roxana 
 and her two companions would have made an effort at 
 escape, hud they seen any possibility of effecting it ; 
 but such appeared to be the number of the enemy, from 
 the noise and confusion they created, they supposed the 
 attempt would prove utterly futile, and that they might 
 as well calmly await their fate where they then were. 
 
 These strange savages, who, as yet, they knew nothing 
 about, continued in the camp till sometime after day- 
 
140 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 light ; and in passing about in the care of the two sava 
 ges who had them in charge, Roxana and the two squaws 
 had a full view of the melancholy picture before them, 
 frightful and ghastly in the extreme. Men, women, and 
 children, horribly mutilated and covered with gore, were 
 strewed over the ground, in every form and attitude of 
 horror. Such was the impression made upon Roxana's 
 mind by this exhibition of cruelty and death, that it ever 
 remained fresh in her mind, and seemed to glow before 
 her eyes with all the reality that tortured her senses on 
 the morning that she witnessed it. 
 
 After having secured the horses and everything else 
 that belonged either to the camp or persons of the Flat- 
 Heads, they set off for their own country. 
 
 Up to this time, Roxana had been with the Flat- 
 Heads seven months ; and although her condition had 
 been far from pleasant or agreeable, upon the whole, she 
 had been better used by them than by either of the 
 other tribes into whose hands she had fallen ; and at 
 this time her feelings could not be otherwise than most 
 gloomy upon so sudden and tragic a change in her his 
 tory. Not only from the cruelties perpetrated upon this 
 occasion, but from the physiognomy and manners of her 
 captors, she was led to believe them a very base and 
 treacherous tribe of savages. 
 
 Before leaving the camp, the two Flat- Head squaws 
 were mounted upon horses, and each one of them being 
 taken in charge by a lusty savage, set out on their 
 journey at a brisk pace. What subsequently became of 
 them, Roxana never learned, as the company of sav- 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. HI 
 
 ages here separated, forming two parties, the one that 
 the two squaws were with taking one direction, and the 
 one that Roxana was with taking another. 
 
 Roxana was also mounted upon a horse and taken 
 charge of by a fiendish-looking savage, who, from his 
 accoutrements, she supposed was a chief, and whose 
 very appearance caused her to shudder. Her horse was 
 urged along by them at a rate which was exceedingly 
 unpleasant and fatiguing to her. 
 
 While thus passing along, to her horror and dismay, 
 the loathsome savage in whose charge she had been 
 placed, sought, on divers occasions, to use familiar 
 liberties with her person, to the great merriment and 
 satisfaction of the others. Thus far, amidst all the 
 calamities that she had passed through since she had be 
 come a captive to the savages, she had, in this respect, 
 been shielded from insult ; and upon this occasion, so 
 great was her humiliation and depression of spirit, that 
 she humbly besought the Lord that, rather than she 
 should be thus humiliated, he would remove her hence 
 by any means of His providence that might in His 
 sight seem good. But, for reasons which no doubt 
 were founded in wisdom, and in harmony with His 
 providence, He suffered her soul to pate through this 
 terrible infliction ; and during the two months that she 
 was with these brutal savages, she became a prey (not 
 withstanding her prayers and resistance to the contrary) 
 to the diabolical passions and caprice of the inhuman 
 wretch who had usurped power over her. 
 
 All her hopes, pride, and desire for life forsook her ; 
 
142 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 and, had it not been for the conscious wickedness of the 
 act, she would, on divers occasions, have ended her 
 sorrows by destroying herself, as the only adequate 
 remedy to soothe the bitterness of a state of degrada 
 tion which, to her, seemed insupportable. Her mind 
 became a prey to itself; and, though conscious of no 
 guilt, either in thought, word, or deed, yet her heart 
 and mind united in the declaration that the beautiful 
 goddess of innocency and purity of thought had taken 
 her flight, and left her a prey to the unrelenting buffet- 
 ings of a most cruel fortune. Why should she now de 
 sire to return to her home in England in order once 
 more to embrace her dear mother and sisters ? Would 
 not the ever-conscious sense of her own shame and 
 degradation the more keenly torment her ? Or, in her 
 own language, " Oh, Death, propitiously smile upon my 
 lost and forlorn condition, and speedily sever the cord 
 that binds me to an existence that has lost all that is 
 pleasant, agreeable or desirable, and let the record of 
 my life remain a blank during all time to come." 
 
 Hitherto, during her captivity among the savages, 
 her heart had been constantly buoyed up in the midst 
 of all her afflictions, with a consciousness that there was 
 another besides the loving hearts of her mother, sisters, 
 and numerous kind friends, that would sacrifice all its 
 hopes and prospects in this world for her recovery and 
 preservation, had it only a hint that she was yet alive 
 among the savages of Oregon. 
 
 Charles G-oodhue, the son of a wealthy merchant of 
 London, had, for some time previous to Roxana's leav- 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 143 
 
 ing London, been paying his addresses to her, and their 
 marriage was to have taken place on her return home. 
 Roxana informed me that he was a young man of a 
 noble, honorable mind, upon whom her young and ar 
 dent affections were centred, and with whom all that she 
 desired or expected to enjoy in this world was invested. 
 Using her own language: "Well do I remember his 
 last words to me, and the ardent pressure of my hand, 
 as he bid me farewell on board the ship, a few minutes 
 before we sailed for Oregon." 
 
 Thus far she had lived in hopes that, by some means 
 unknown to herself, Providence would effect her release 
 from the savages, and enable her again to return to her 
 friends in England. But now, not only were her hopes 
 blasted forever, but even the desire for such an event 
 perished in her bosom. Could the change have taken 
 place by a single volition of the will, she informed me 
 that she would be loth to make it. " For," said she, 
 " what would be my condition on returning home ? 
 Could I look Charles in the face without a blush, or a 
 feeling of conscious shame ? Never, never ! Rather 
 than bear the weight of a sense of this crushing de 
 basement, I would rather, a thousand times, perish in 
 the wilderness, and be forgotten forever." 
 
 Upon arriving at the village of their savage captors, 
 she was taken to the hut of him who had her in charge, 
 and forced, at the risk of her life, there to remain, under 
 the strictest surveillance of two of his squaws, whose 
 disposition, would have cast dishonor upon that of the 
 enraged tiger of the jungle. 
 
144 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 She endured, at the hands of these savages, every 
 species of cruelty and degradation that they could 
 heap upon her, and to a heart that was already well 
 nigh broken, their cruelties added despair ; and so fran 
 tic did she become with the accumulation of misery, 
 that, had not Providence, at this time, seen proper to 
 change her condition, death must, in a very short time, 
 have closed her mortal career. 
 
 At this time, after she had been with the Crow In 
 dians about two months, the village was unexpectedly 
 attacked by a party of Black-Feet, (their old enemies,) 
 and the greater part of its inhabitants put to death 
 either on the spot, or afterwards as prisoners of war. 
 The chief and the two squaws, who were her principal 
 tormentors* were killed and scalped by the Black-Feet, 
 and Roxana was only saved by elevating her hands in 
 an attitude of supplication, and giving them to under 
 stand, by signs, that she had been a prisoner to the 
 Crows. In company with ten other prisoners, taken at 
 the same time, she was marched off to the country of 
 the Black-Feet. 
 
 Of all the tribes with whom she had yet become ac 
 quainted, she found the Crows the most cruel and de 
 graded being, in point of intelligence, or in any other 
 respect, but little above the grade of the brute creation. 
 Numbers of them, of both sexes, wear nothing whatever 
 in the way of clothing, during the warm weather ; and 
 the only thing in the shape of a garment worn by any 
 of them, during the summer months, is a cloth made of 
 skins, and tightly drawn around the loins. Their food 
 
. 
 AMONG THE BLACK- FEET INDIANS. 145 
 
 is in character with every thing else filthy and disgust 
 ing in the extreme. 
 
 Unfortunately, it so happened, that shortly after the 
 Flat-Heads had arrived at the prairies, for the purpose 
 of hunting, this party of Crow Indians (having crossed 
 the mountains) approached the same prairies, for the 
 same purpose. Discovering that they had been pre 
 ceded by the Flat-Heads, with whom they were on ill 
 terms, unperceived and unexpected by the latter, they 
 kept themselves secreted until a late hour in the night, 
 and then, taking advantage of the darkness, and the 
 soundness of their slumbers, like enraged tigers, fell 
 upon and destroyed them. 
 
 I have now given the reader, in substance, a few of 
 the principal facts, as related to me by Roxana, touch 
 ing her visit to Oregon, her subsequent capture, and 
 treatment by the Indians. In the relation of these 
 tragic scenes, in a few instances, I have given them in 
 her own words ; and although the account is far from 
 being as full as that given by her to me at different 
 times, yet it contains the most prominent facts in her 
 thrilling narrative which, upon my mind, made a deep 
 and lasting impression. 
 
 Having been taken prisoner by the party of Black- 
 Feet, as related by her, the reader is already familiar 
 with the proceedings of the council that was called to 
 gether to try the prisoners, and its final results. 
 f 
 
146 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 IT was now the first of July, 1803, and notwithstand 
 ing the care and attention that both myself and Ke-Ka 
 had bestowed upon Roxana, her health seemed to be 
 exceedingly delicate, and if there was any change for 
 the better, it was slight indeed. She was evidently 
 laboring under great physical exhaustion and depression 
 of spirits, which, in the absence of some adequate rem 
 edy, must, sooner or later, prove fatal to her. 
 
 When at home, I always made it a point to put on a 
 cheerful countenance, and, through the medium of con 
 versation, act upon her spirits, and thus arouse her 
 from that unfortunate state of mind into which she had 
 fallen. Sometimes this plan seemed to succeed well, 
 and, for a time, she would appear quite cheerful ; but, 
 ere long, would again relapse into her former melan 
 choly habit. 
 
 I still had great hopes, however, of her recovery, and 
 that she would again be enabled to return to her family 
 and friends in England; but these considerations (which 
 to me were worthy of almost every sacrifice) seemed to 
 give her no pleasure. 
 
 Ke-Ka had become very much attached to her, and 
 was willing to do any thing in the world for her, that 
 she could do ; and, in consequence of her unremitting 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS, 147 
 
 attentions and uniform kindness, Roxana was very af 
 fectionately disposed toward her. By way of rallying 
 her, I used frequently to tell her that her health would 
 soon be sufficiently restored for me to start with her to 
 Vancouver, that she might again return to England. 
 Upon these occasions she would say to me, that so far 
 as the same would be a gratification to me, she de 
 sired it would be so ; but as for herself, she was of opin 
 ion that the future had in reserve for her a very different 
 banquet. 
 
 It was a source of sorrow to me that I could not 
 spend more of my time at home than thus far I had 
 been able to do ; but, under the circumstances, it was im 
 possible, as our supplies had to be kept up mainly 
 through our success in the chase, which, of itself con 
 sumed a considerable portion of our time ; and in ad 
 dition to this, I had to hold myself in readiness for any 
 emergency that might transpire in the nation, whether 
 it was in the form of an expedition in order to chastise 
 some of the neighboring nations, or to engage in the 
 destruction of bears, or some other species of animal, 
 that had proved more than a match for the savages. 
 
 My name, fame, and exploits had by this time be 
 come familiar throughout the nation, and hundreds of 
 those ignorant people, from remote parts of the country, 
 had visited our village on purpose to see Wapsa-Kiwan, 
 "the bear-slayer." 
 
 Upon these occasions, they would manifest the great 
 est regard and admiration for me, of which it was pos 
 sible for them to evince, and almost uniformly bestow 
 
148 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 upon me some presents, in the form of skins, moccasins, 
 or venison. 
 
 Such had become my popularity with them, that upon 
 appearing amongst them at any of their villages, I was 
 treated with the most distinguished respect, and at once 
 formed the central object of all eyes and attention. 
 This (to me) favorable state of things had mainly been 
 brought about by the zeal and readiness with which, 
 upon all occasions, I entered into their plans and enter 
 prises thereby convincing them that I was indeed their 
 friend. In this way having obtained their friendship 
 and confidence, their admiration of me seemed to know 
 no bounds. 
 
 As the great object of my solicitude was now Rox- 
 ana, and as it was uncertain how long we would be 
 compelled to remain amongst them, I regarded it as a 
 matter of the utmost moment to us both to still cultivate 
 their friendship and cherish their confidence. 
 
 At this time, word was brought to the village that, 
 while a party of our nation was hunting buffalo on the 
 prairies, they had been attacked, and several of their 
 number killed, by a numerous party of the Snake tribe ; 
 and, also, that several of them had been taken prisoners 
 by the enemy ; and requesting immediate help, not only 
 in order to rescue the prisoners, but to punish, in an ex 
 emplary manner, this outrage upon the rights and dig 
 nity of a neighboring nation. 
 
 The place of rendezvous was to be about thirty miles 
 from our village, and was to take place on the evening 
 of the next day. Upon receiving this important infor- 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 149 
 
 mation, Hohoako-Kiwa, the chief, convened the warriors 
 of the village, and, in form of a brief speech, informed 
 them of these facts, and that early in the morning he 
 would expect them to be ready to start for the point de 
 signated. 
 
 Of course, in an enterprise so important as this, I was 
 expected to constitute one of its number, and with my 
 rifle carry terror and consternation (if nothing else) into 
 the ranks of the enemy. Hohoako-Kiwa had some 
 time before procured for me (to be worn on these occa 
 sions) a military hat, in form of a gigantic arch of fea 
 thers, in size, form, and splendor not much inferior to 
 his own. In the morning, after the process of painting 
 had been gone through with, and we were ready to 
 mount our horses and be off for the rendezvous, the 
 chief brought it to me and requested me to put it on ; 
 which, in order to gratify him, I did. This occasioned 
 considerable amusement to the party, and they con 
 gratulated me (in their uncouth way) upon my fine ap 
 pearance, in full costume of a Black-Foot warrior. 
 
 At a signal from the chief, every man mounted his 
 horse, and, amidst an uproar of wild shrieks, indicative 
 of war, started off at full speed. At about 3 o'clock 
 in the afternoon we arrived at the place of rendezvous, 
 and found a considerable number of warriors already 
 collected in advance of us ; and during the remaining 
 portion of the afternoon and evening, they continued to 
 pour in, until the number collected together was a little 
 over five hundred. 
 
 The fore part of the night was occupied by a grand 
 
5 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 council of the chiefs and warriors, and a plan of the 
 campaign was agreed upon, which was essentially as 
 follows : 
 
 The party was to move, with all possible haste, early 
 in the morning, to the margin of the prairie, where the 
 attack of the Snakes had been made, and then, for the 
 time being, remain in camp. Six of their most expe 
 rienced spies were to be then sent out, in search of the 
 trail of the retreating Snakes. In case they came upon 
 the trail, one of their number was to be sent back to 
 the camp, to notify the party of the fact ; when, under 
 conduct of this spy, it was immediately to set out, and, 
 at a convenient distance, move forward in the wake of 
 the spies. The better to enable the party to move for 
 ward in the line of the spies, they were occasionally to 
 drop in their path, as they passed along, bits of green 
 leaves. Should the spies come in view of the enemy, 
 they were immediately to send back another one of 
 their number, in order to notify the advancing party of 
 the fact, and the other spies were still to keep up their 
 observations, until the enemy either called a halt or 
 camped for the night ; in which case further notice was 
 to be given to the party, in order to enable it to pre 
 pare for the attack. 
 
 In pursuance to this plan, the party moved forward 
 in the morning, and about one o'clock camped on the 
 margin of the prairie, as agreed upon. The spies were 
 then sent out, and about three o'clock one of them re 
 turned with the information that the trail had been 
 found ; when, in perfect silence, the party commenced 
 moving forward. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 151 
 
 As the Snakes had more than two days the start of 
 us, I had but little idea of overtaking them, knowing 
 with what rapidity those savages generally move off, 
 after committing depredations of this kind, in order to 
 avoid expected vengeance 
 
 It being late in the afternoon when we set out in 
 pursuit, of course we made but little advance this day. 
 We pitched our camp about dusk, in the midst of a 
 clump of trees, and after partaking of a little dried 
 meat, dropped down upon the ground for a night's rest. 
 At the dawn of day we were again in motion, and 
 found no difficulty in following the trail of the spies, and 
 regulating our motion to suit theirs, although never in 
 sight of them ; for, from the appearance of the bits of 
 green leaves which the spies occasionally pulled off and 
 dropped on the ground, the Indians could tell to within 
 a few minutes the number of hours the spies were in 
 advance of us ; and as they wished to keep the distance 
 of about two hours (of their time) between them, they 
 were by this means enabled to adjust the motion of the 
 party accordingly. 
 
 During this day we marched about forty miles, and 
 camped for the night on the bank of a small, muddy 
 stream of water, where we found plenty of grass for our 
 horses. As yet, we had received no tidings from the 
 spies. 
 
 On this, the third day of our pursuit, we were again 
 early in motion, and advanced at about the same rate 
 of speed that we did on the day previous ; and, without 
 any word from the spies, camped for the night, weary 
 and tired at least so far as I was concerned. 
 
152 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 By this time, I began to feel somewhat discouraged 
 with the prospects of our undertaking, but Hohoako- 
 Kiwa was sanguine that on the next (the fourth day of 
 the pursuit) we would obtain some favorable tidings 
 from the spies, as, he said, he had not expected from 
 the beginning to hear from them sooner. 
 
 On the morning of the fourth day, about the usual 
 time, we again set out, and, about 2 o'clock in the after 
 noon, were hailed by one of the spies, who informed us 
 that they had obtained sight of the party of Snakes ; 
 that they were very numerous, and were still moving 
 forward ; and that the other spies would keep them in 
 view till they camped for the night, when other runners 
 would be sent in, to notify us of the fact, in due time. 
 
 It was a matter of surprise to me, that, although we 
 had thus far been traveling on the trail of the Snakes, 
 we had, as yet, come upon none of their places of en 
 campment for the nights that they had necessarily spent 
 on the way. Upon mentioning this to Hohoako-Ki wa, he 
 informed me that this was by no means strange, as, in 
 making a retreat of this kind, in order to avoid an at 
 tack after night, these people neither reposed in camp 
 nor kindled fires, and that, unless from the litter of their 
 horses, no indication of an encampment was apt to be 
 left behind them ; that, from appearances, this party 
 had been unusually careful to obliterate every thing in 
 their progress that was calculated to direct the attention 
 of an enemy in their pursuit. 
 
 Continuing our progress till evening, and having 
 heard nothing farther from the spies, we again pitched 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 153 
 
 our camp ; but had scarcely got things to rights before 
 our attention was called by the return of the spies. 
 They reported the Snakes about ten miles in advance of 
 us, encamped on the summit of a small hillock, envel 
 oped in a growth of young timber 
 
 They had, by this time, reached the territory of their 
 own country, and, finding themselves so far from the 
 scene of their mischief, felt safe, no doubt, from the in 
 roads of the Black-Feet. But, on this, as well as on 
 preceding occasions, they greatly mistook the character 
 of the enemy with whom they had to deal. Having 
 obtained from the spies the locality of the ground upon 
 which the enemy was encamped, and such other infor 
 mation as was deemed important, it was then determined 
 by the chiefs, in council, to divide their force into four 
 commands, and, at about the hour of midnight, move 
 upon the enemy, and under cover of the darkness, and 
 while they were unsuspectingly reposing in sleep, avenge 
 themselves at the least possible risk. 
 
 But it is said that almost every question presents at 
 least two sides for disputation, and so we found it on 
 this occasion ; for, notwithstanding the secrecy and 
 caution with which we moved forward and approached 
 the enemy's quarters, we were detected by an outside 
 sentinel, while yet a considerable distance from their 
 camp, and the alarm given. In obedience to the orders 
 given, (upon a contingency of this kind,) our whole force, 
 in the form of a circle, immediately rushed forward with 
 great impetuosity for the centre of the enemy's camp, 
 for the double purpose of preventing them from making 
 
154 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 their escape, and at the same time striking an effective 
 blow before they had time to recover from the effects of 
 the surprise into which they had evidently been thrown. 
 
 What a few moments before had seemed the trifling 
 work of but a moment, had now enlarged itself into 
 fearful proportions to be contended for. We had no 
 time now, however, to count upon probabilities, even if 
 we had had the 'disposition. 
 
 The enemy, seeing themselves surrounded by a supe 
 rior force to their own, were determined to sell their 
 lives as dearly as possible, and accordingly commenced 
 a raking fire upon us with their arrows, while we were 
 yet in the act of advancing upon them ; which was re 
 turned in good earnest by a similar charge from our 
 side ; and in a moment thereafter the contending ele 
 ments were in close combat, using their spears and 
 tomahawks in a way that was not calculated to impress 
 the disinterested beholder that there was much of the 
 milk of human kindness in the nature of these savage 
 tribes. 
 
 At the request of Hohoako-Kiwa, I took my posi 
 tion by his side. And, for him, it was well that I did 
 so ; for otherwise he would never have left the field of 
 combat alive. He had already received several slight 
 wounds from the enemy's spears, when a gigantic sav 
 age of the Snakes struck him from behind with a pon 
 derous war-club, which brought him to the ground, and 
 while in the act of repeating the blow, I shot him dead 
 on the spot. During the remainder of the contest, my 
 knife did good service, and was the means on several 
 occasions of saving my life. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 155 
 
 The battle lasted about twenty-five minutes, during 
 which time we lost, in killed, twenty warriors, and in 
 wounded, over one hundred. Of the enemy, there were 
 killed fifty-seven, and we took twenty-six of them 
 prisoners of war. During the progress of the battle, a 
 number of the enemy broke through our lines and made 
 their escape, but as to what proportion of them, we 
 could not ascertain. 
 
 While the contest was progressing, I received a 
 slight wound, in my left arm, from one of the enemy's 
 spears, which, though somewhat painful, was of but 
 little inconvenience to me. 
 
 When Hohoako-Kiwa had sufficiently recovered from 
 the stunning effects of the blow he had received, he ex 
 pressed many thanks to me for the service I had ren 
 dered him at so critical a juncture in his fortune. 
 
 We remained in possession of the camp all night, and 
 in the morning were surprised to find the prisoners that 
 the. enemy had taken from our nation no where amongst 
 us. Upon farther examination among the dead, we 
 found their bodies, shockingly mangled almost hewed 
 to pieces with the tomahawks of the enemy. Finding 
 themselves attacked with but little prospect of making 
 good their escape, they had put the prisoners to death, 
 in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of 
 their friends. 
 
 The scene presented on the field of battle, when day 
 light again opened upon us, was, to me, most shocking. 
 Scores of savages, in their gore, lay stretched upon the 
 ground, in every direction ; while many of the wounded 
 
 
156 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 and disabled, with gaping gashes, were writhing under 
 the pain they were enduring. 
 
 A portion of the day was spent in scalping and strip 
 ping the dead of the enemy, and in suitably burying our 
 own dead. This last rite was performed by digging, 
 with their tomahawks, a hole in the ground, of consid 
 erable extent in circumference, and then laying, in tiers, 
 the bodies, together with their bows and arrows, spears, 
 tomahawks, &c.; then covering them up with dirt, 
 stones, and branches. 
 
 During the interment, one of the chiefs officiated in a 
 kind of funeral service, expatiating on the valor and 
 virtues of the dead, and propitiating the Great Spirit 
 of their nation, to supply them with plenty of game 
 when they arrived at the great hunting-ground for which 
 they had taken their departure. Although to an en 
 lightened mind this ceremony would appear the extreme 
 of nonsense, yet the solemnity with which it was char 
 acterized invested it with much impressiveness. 
 
 The afternoon was now far advanced, and, lest we 
 might be attacked by a reinforcement from the enemy, 
 it was thought best not to remain in our present posi 
 tion over another night. The horses (as well those of 
 the enemy as our own) were brought up, and having 
 secured the plunder, and mounted the wounded, we set 
 out on our journey home. The prisoners, in charge of 
 a competent guard, were marched in advance of the 
 party, with their arms pinioned behind their backs. 
 In this way we proceeded until about 10 o'clock at 
 night, when we struck our camp ; and, having posted a 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 151 
 
 sufficient guard to detect the approach of an enemy, 
 coiled ourselves down, and were soon asleep. 
 
 Perhaps, by this time, the reader is ready to condemn 
 the motives by which I was actuated in taking part in 
 this sanguinary affair of savage life. If so, I frankly 
 confess that I can't help it. My mission among the 
 savages was neither in the capacity of a missionary nor 
 reformer. In the same way that politicians and theolo 
 gians sometimes do, I made the doctrine of expediency 
 the scape-goat of what otherwise and under different 
 circumstances would have appeared inconsistent with 
 high-toned, manly principle. I had laid down the 
 axiom that, in my present circumstances, it was a duty 
 that I owed Roxana and myself, at all hazards, to 
 conciliate the favor of the savages with whom our lot 
 was cast. The part I took in this transaction was as 
 moderate as consistency with my former professed in 
 terest with their welfare, and maintenance of their con 
 fidence, would admit. 
 
 So far as the two contending nations of savages were 
 concerned, I regarded them as alike base, barbarous, 
 and inhuman ; and, unconnected with Roxana's and my 
 own welfare, cared but little as to the result of this or 
 any other foray, which the Black-Feet might have with 
 neighboring tribes. It is true that my heart was 
 touched with pity toward the poor, ignorant prisoners, 
 taken upon this, as well as upon other occasions ; and 
 could I, in any sense, have ameliorated their condition, 
 I should gladly have done so ; but, at all events, they 
 were only suffering the penalties of the barbarous cus- 
 
158 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 toms which themselves contributed to establish and 
 maintain, and the effects of which they delighted to see 
 carried out upon others ; and, upon this occasion, these 
 prisoners had simply taken the place of those of the 
 Black-Feet whom they had in charge the day before. 
 
 It may be said that, in consequence of the ignorance 
 and degradation of these people, they should not, in 
 any sense, be held responsible for their conduct. Like 
 some other doctrines taught in the world, this may do 
 as a fine-spun theory ; but when viewed in the light of 
 a practicable fact, is found void of truth. The greater 
 proportion of ignorance, superstition, and barbarity in 
 the world even with the most degraded heathen na 
 tions is voluntary and self-inflicted ; and, so far at 
 least as this life is concerned, they are held to a strict 
 accountability for their conduct, to that law of retri 
 bution which saith, " He that taketh the sword, shall 
 perish by the sword," and, " With what measure ye 
 mete out to others, the same shall be meted to you 
 again. " In this, respect there is no difference between 
 the most enlightened and degraded people : conduct 
 alone determines the question, regardless of means of 
 knowledge. As demonstrative of this fact, how terri 
 bly is the truth vindicated in the case of these ignorant 
 savages 1 
 
 It is possible that, after what I have endured at the 
 hands of these people, in connection with what I have 
 seen, I am not an impartial judge ; but, still, I am 
 firmly of the opinion that, with all their ignorance and 
 degradation, their knowledge is much better than their 
 practice. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 159 
 
 The next morning, by the time the sun was tinging 
 the eastern horizon with his ruddy mantle, we were on 
 our journey, and without encountering any casualty 
 worthy of note, on the evening of the fourth day of our 
 homeward march, landed at the village ; and I was 
 gratified to find Roxana no worse. 
 
 As usual upon those occasions, she seemed very glad 
 of my safe return, and informed me that during my ab 
 sence she had been very uneasy for my safety knowing 
 the dangers that uniformly follow these hostile adven 
 tures. 
 
 Her sympathies were very much moved in behalf of 
 the prisoners that we had brought with us, and she re 
 quested me to interfere in their behalf, and, if possible, 
 procure their release. I informed her that this was im 
 possible, as the mere suggestion of such an idea to the 
 council would cause them to look upon me with suspi 
 cion ; as these prisoners were regarded as their deadly 
 enemies, and had been taken in battle ; and as that, ac 
 cording to the code of laws of these people, any sen 
 tence (in cases of this kind) less^than that of ignomini 
 ous death, would not only bring upon them the wrath 
 of their ancestors, but the displeasure of the Great 
 Spirit of their nation. 
 
 The next step in the programme of this expedition 
 was the council, which, in the course of a week, was 
 called to pass upon the deserts of the prisoners. It 
 assembled near the village to which the party belonged 
 who had been attacked by the enemy on the prairies, 
 and to which place, also, the prisoners had been con 
 ducted. This village was fifty miles from our own/ 
 
160 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 When the day for setting out for the council arrived, 
 I urged indisposition as an excuse for remaining at 
 home ; and although Hohoako-Kivva and a number of 
 others were very anxious that I should attend, and par 
 ticipate in the enjoyments of the occasion, yet, in defer 
 ence to me, on account of my distemper, with which 
 they supposed I was possessed, they suffered me to re 
 main behind. 
 
 They were absent on this mission over a week ; and 
 when they returned home, they seemed much rejoiced to 
 find that my distemper had in a great measure left me. 
 Hohoako-Kiwa gave me a thrilling account of the pro 
 ceedings of the council, and the horrid scenes of bar 
 barity that ensued. Five days were occupied in put 
 ting to death the prisoners, by burning them at the 
 stake, after first scalping and otherwise tormenting 
 them. 
 
 Upon hearing this recital of cruelty, I was thankful 
 that my feelings had been spared the contemplation of 
 scenes so shocking and brutal. 
 
 For some time after these events, our attention was 
 not engrossed by any adventure of moment, except the 
 ordinary routine of hunting and fishing, by means of 
 which our supplies were kept up from time to time. 
 
 These people appear to be entirely ignorant of vege 
 table productions, as nothing of the kind is cultivated 
 by them. The squaws sometimes gather berries, and a 
 species of esculent root, of spontaneous production, 
 which they stew together in connection with dried buf 
 falo beef, and is regarded by them as being very good, 
 and something of a rarity. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 161 
 
 As occasion served, I gathered such wild fruits for 
 Roxana as I thought would be agreeable to her taste, 
 some of which she relished very much. 
 
 The third winter since my captivity had now set in, 
 and unlike the one preceding it, bid fair to be a very 
 severe one. The snow had already fallen to a consid 
 erable depth, and it was intensely cold. I had laid in 
 during the fall a plentiful supply of meat for the winter, 
 but many of the Indians of the village, with that im 
 providence which seems to be a part of their very ex 
 istence, were upon the point of absolute want, and, as 
 was their custom in exigencies of this kind, looked to 
 me for their daily supplies, and it would have been fu 
 tile on my part to have attempted to turn them away 
 empty. 
 
 Ever since my arrival among them, I had been trying 
 to impress upon their minds the importance of laying in 
 during the fall of the year a sufficient supply to carry 
 them through that portion of the winter,, at least, that 
 would not admit of hunting. But upon no account 
 could I induce them to change their habits in this re 
 spect. It is true that some of these savages are more 
 provident than others ; but it is nevertheless a trait of 
 character which, to a very great extent, applies to them 
 all. 
 
 During this, as well as the first winter of my cap 
 tivity, there was much suffering for the want of food in 
 our village ; but from the assistance I was enabled from 
 time to time to give them, from the supply that I had 
 laid in, as well as in the way of hunting, when the state 
 7* 
 
162 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 of the weather would admit of it, they finally reached 
 spring, without any deaths from starvation, though 
 many of them were gaunt as hungry wolves. 
 
 Roxana's health, during this winter, seemed sensibly 
 .to have improved, and when the fine weather of spring 
 set in, she was able to walk out a little ; which she had 
 not before done since her arrival at the village. My 
 hopes were inspired with the belief that she was about 
 to recover from the almost hopeless condition to which 
 she had been reduced by the treatment she had received 
 from the savages ; and, perhaps, before we were over 
 taken by another winter, we would be enabled to make 
 our escape, and reach some one of the stations of the 
 "Hudson Bay Company." But before so bold an en 
 terprise could with safety be ventured, her strength 
 would have to essentially improve from what it even 
 then was. The journey would unquestionably be a hard 
 and trying one, for even the best constitution; and 
 what could be expected, in an enterprise of this kind, 
 from a delicate female, laboring to a serious extent un 
 der disease ? It would certainly have been madness 
 and presumption, while in this state of health, to have 
 attempted it. 
 
 The plan that I had fixed upon in my own mind, for the 
 accomplishment of this enterprise, was the following : 
 During one of our hunting excursions at which times 
 all our young warriors are absent from.the village, en 
 gaged in the chase I would feign some excuse to re 
 turn to the village, and thereby obtain leave of absence 
 for two or three days, taking with me the horse I was 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 163 
 
 in the habit of riding. Arriving at the village late in 
 the night, and having procured a second horse for Rox- 
 ana to ride, unobserved by the remaining villagers, set 
 off on our way. I thought it probable that, in this 
 way, we could at least obtain two or three days the 
 start of them, before they would have any knowledge of 
 the game I was playing off upon them, and by that 
 time we would be so far in advance of them that it 
 would not be probable they would overtake us. 
 
 But, as the reader will see in the sequel, this beautiful 
 plan, which had cost me so much severe reflection, 
 proved to be a mere chimera of the brain, that never 
 assumed practical form, so far as RoxahV was con 
 cerned. 
 
 The spring and summer of this year (1804) passed 
 away without the occurrence of any event of particular 
 notoriety. About the usual amount of time was spent 
 in hunting, and the remainder in idleness about the 
 village. 
 
 Early in the fall of this year, news was brought to 
 our village that a party of thirty or forty pale-face 
 warriors had been seen, about two weeks previous, 
 passing up the Missouri river in boats.* This news 
 was a source of no little wonder and anxiety to 
 me. Who could they have been ? where were they 
 
 * It is probable the incident here alluded to "by Mr. Dixon, 
 was that of Lewis and Clark, in their exploring expedition to 
 the mouth of the Columbia river, as, I believe, it was during 
 this year that they passed over this region of country. ED. 
 
164 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 from ? and what could have been their business ? were 
 questions that frequently occcured to my mind, but 
 which I could not answer. 
 
 I informed Roxana of the fact, and so keenly were 
 both of our feelings touched with the idea that Euro 
 peans had passed within our vicinity, that we both in 
 voluntarily shed tears not of sorrow, nor yet of joy, 
 but from a kind of commingling of both, in connection 
 with the thoughts of our past, present, and future. I 
 would have given the world (had it been mine) to have 
 met this party of men on the river, or to have known in 
 time of their passing by. We finally settled down in 
 the belief that this party had been sent out by the 
 Hudson Bay Company, in search of Roxana, and after 
 a fruitless attempt were probably returning home. 
 These thoughts worried and perplexed us both, and 
 were a source of misery to us. Like the individual cast 
 away at sea, who has for a long time been clinging to a 
 frail piece of plank as the only alternative between him 
 and a watery grave, with what joy does he hail the 
 appearance of a ship in the distance ! and, as she ap 
 proaches, how he exerts himself to attract the attention 
 of those on board ! but, unobserved by any one, she 
 passes heedlessly by 1 How his heart now sinks within 
 him, and how much more terrible is the gloom that en 
 velops him than it was before ! 
 
 To a certain extent, this was our condition upon this 
 occasion. We imagined to ourselves with what ease we 
 could have been removed hence, if we only had known 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 165 
 
 of the visit of this party I But, alas 1 it was now too 
 late. 
 
 But we had seen too many of the vicissitudes of this 
 life, to be long cast down by thoughts of this kind, and 
 soon assumed our usual courage and cheerfulness. 
 
 In the month of October, a deputation was sent to 
 me from another village, (about fifty miles distant,) re 
 questing my aid in the destruction of two brown bears, 
 that had recently destroyed one of their warriors, while 
 hunting in the mountains. In company with Hohoako- 
 Kiwa and three warriors of our village, I set out for the 
 point designated, and about 3 o'clock on the second 
 day arrived at the village, and found the inhabitants, 
 as usual on those occasions, greatly terror-stricken at 
 the audacity of the enemy. These bears were supposed 
 to inhabit a ledge of rocks in one of the gorges of the 
 mountain, about seven miles distant from the village. 
 
 On the following morning, in company with about 
 twenty of the warriors, I set out for the mountains, in 
 search of those disturbers of the good order and peace 
 of society. Calling a halt in the vicinity of the moun 
 tains where the enemy was supposed to be, (from the 
 known cowardice of these people, from the fear of those 
 animals,) I requested them all, with the exception of 
 one guide, to remain where they then were, until I, in 
 company with the guide, would go up the mountain and 
 make observations. This they readily consented to do, 
 and the guide and myself slipped along the brow of 
 one of the bluffs, with great caution, peering down the 
 rocks, in the meantime, to the bottom below. 
 
FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Whilst thus intently gazing on the scene beneath, 
 our eyes fell upon two monster brown bears, laying in 
 the sun at the head of the gorge, apparently asleep, 
 while two cubs were playing over them performing a 
 great variety of antics. From the point of our obser 
 vation the bank was about fifty feet high, and nearly 
 perpendicular; and the bears were almost directly 
 under us. 
 
 Our position was unfavorable to an unerring shot, and 
 yet the temptation was far too great to forego a chance 
 so inviting. I drew up my rifle, and took deliberate 
 aim for the butt of the ear of the one at the greatest angle 
 from where I stood. At the crack of my rifle, what 
 was my astonishment on beholding the Indian guide, 
 who had been standing on a boulder on the brow of 
 the bluff, by my side, with the rapidity of lightning de 
 scending the ledge of rocks, to the bottom of the gorge 
 where the bears were. He had scarcely struck the 
 bottom before he was seized by both of them, and al 
 most instantly torn to pieces. While in the act of 
 reloading my gun, I distinctly heard the craunching of 
 his bones by the enraged animals. In my haste, I had 
 missed the object of my solicitude, which under the cir 
 cumstances was perplexing in the extreme. I deter 
 mined this time to use more precaution than I had be 
 fore done ; and having made what I supposed to be a 
 proper allowance for the rise of the ball in shooting on 
 so descending a scale as this was, I again discharged my 
 rifle at the curly pate of the same animal ; and this 
 time had the satisfaction of seeing it drop to the 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 16 f 
 
 ground, and after a few violent struggles, give up the 
 ghost. My ball had made a terrible incision in its 
 skull, and caused its brains to flow profusely. The 
 other bear, although suspicious that all was not right at 
 this point in the contest, made no attempt to evade 
 what might yet be in reserve, and still continued its ag 
 gressions upon the body of the dead Indian. My po 
 sition was such that, without more sagacity than these 
 animals seemed to possess, I was beyond its vision. 
 
 Having again loaded my gun, I aimed, as before, for 
 the brain-pan of the survivor of these desperate animals; 
 and, although I shattered its head in a shocking man 
 ner almost entirely carrying away the whole top of 
 the skull with the force of the ball yet it run, before it 
 fell, about fifty yards, in directly an opposite course 
 from its den. 
 
 At the first discharge of my gun, the cubs, well nigh 
 frightened out of their senses, had made their escape to 
 the den, where we left them, on account of the imprac 
 ticability of coming at them. 
 
 Of the three carcasses that now lay in proximity, the 
 most frightful one was that of the guide. The flesh had 
 been torn from his bones, not only by mouthfuls, but 
 by sections, and nearly every bone in his body had been 
 crushed. 
 
 By what process he had been sent to the bottom of 
 the gorge upon the discharge of my rifle, I never could 
 tell, unless the jar caused by the explosion had set the 
 boulder upon which he was standing in motion, thereby 
 precipitating him down the ledge of rocks to the bottom. 
 
^tt 
 168 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Having notified the Indians of what had transpired, 
 they all accompanied me to the scene of death, and not 
 withstanding the sight of the mangled remains of their 
 companion, seemed greatly rejoiced at my success in 
 destroying an enemy so much dreaded by them. In 
 deed, such was their joy on this occasion, that they took 
 very little notice of the casualty which had resulted in 
 the death of the guide, and were much more intent in 
 their bestowal of thanks upon me, whom they regarded 
 in the light of a great benefactor, than they were in 
 their duties toward the dead. 
 
 Dispossessing the two bears of their comfortable 
 robes, and collecting together the fragments of the dead 
 Indian, we returned to the village, where we were 
 greeted with the usual demonstrations of joy and re 
 spect by the inhabitants. The next day, the remains of 
 the guide were taken a short distance from the village, 
 and interred according to custom. After this we re 
 mained with them (at their urgent request) another day ; 
 at the end of which time they reluctantly suffered us to 
 return to our village. 
 
 On arriving at home, with much regret I learned 
 from Roxana that her health was not so good as it had 
 been before I left. She had by some means, although 
 ignorant of the cause, taken cold ; and, added to her 
 other difficulties, she was very much annoyed by a hack 
 ing cough. Her strength was much exhausted, and it 
 was with difficulty that she could walk at all. In con 
 sequence of this discouragement, I almost despaired 
 of ever seeing her restored to her wonted health. The 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 169 
 
 conclusion began to force itself upon me, that the " fell 
 destroyer, consumption," had marked her for its own, as 
 her symptoms more and more indicated every day. 
 During the last spring and summer, her health seemed 
 to improve, and my hopes and expectations in her be 
 half run high ; but early in September she began a 
 gradual decline, and now her case seemed more hopeless 
 than I had ever witnessed it. 
 
 From the time of her arrival at our village, in one re 
 spect, my mind had gone under no change touching her 
 case : I still felt determined to stand by, protect, and 
 sustain her to the last even though in doing so I 
 should sacrifice my own life. For should I do other 
 wise, I felt that my conscience would forever condemn 
 me, and that I should lose that respect for my own 
 manly principle, which thus far in my life had been a 
 solace to me. 
 
 During the whole of the following winter, there was 
 but little change in her condition for the better, and I 
 was absent from home just as little as possible for I 
 found that my (assumed) habitual cheerfulness and dis 
 position to talk, tended very much to keep her from de 
 sponding, thereby promoting her comfort very essen 
 tially. Although Ke-Ka was kind to her, and ready to 
 do any thing in her power to promote her happiness, 
 yet she was no society for her. 
 
 As warm weather began to return in the spring, her 
 health gradually improved, and during the fine summer 
 weather of this year, (1805,) she so far recovered as to 
 
170 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 be able to go out a little, and my hopes for her recovery 
 again became buoyant. 
 
 On a certain occasion during the spring of this year, 
 she told me it would be a gratification to her, if she 
 could be provided with the necessary implements to 
 write a little, at the same time adding "that she 
 supposed nothing in the way of paper and ink could be 
 procured in this country. " 
 
 After a little reflection, I informed her that I thought 
 I could furnish her with a substitute that would answer 
 her purpose. What her object was in making this sug 
 gestion, I did not then know, nor did I think it would 
 be prudent in me to inquire. 
 
 I procured a couple of otter-skins, and after submit 
 ting them to a process of dressing, by means of which 
 I produced upon them a smooth, compact surface, I 
 gave them to her, with the remark that I thought she 
 would find them an excellent substitute for paper. At 
 the same time, I gave her a species of ink, expressed 
 from the root of a plant that is indigenous to the soil 
 of this country, of a deep red color, and that is exten 
 sively used by the natives in painting, and is almost in 
 delible in its character. 
 
 She thanked me kindly for this display of generosity; 
 and having also supplied her with a pen made from the 
 quill of an eagle's wing, I felt gratified that I had been 
 enabled to comply with a desire which upon first 
 thought appeared impracticable. The recompense of 
 knowing that in this matter I had gratified her feelings, 
 and that my kindness was duly appreciated by her, was 
 sufficient compensation for me. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 171 
 
 The last winter had not been so cold and inimical to 
 the pursuit of the hunter as the one previous, and the 
 savages had passed through it with comparatively little 
 suffering. 
 
 In the month of September, while a number of the 
 squaws of the village were gathering berries, at the dis 
 tance of three or four miles, they were attacked by a 
 brown panther, and one of them, with her pappoose, 
 destroyed by the ferocious beast. The others came 
 running home, out of breath, frightened almost out 
 of their senses, and related what had taken place. The 
 warrior whose squaw and pappoose had been left be 
 hind at the mercy of the panther, appeared to be very 
 indignant at his loss, and his zeal and valor for the pur 
 suit and destruction of the animal seemed to know no 
 bounds. 
 
 But little time was consumed in getting ready for the 
 chase ; and about thirty of us (inclusive of the discon 
 solate husband and father) set out, armed and equipped 
 in proper style. We were not long in reaching the vi 
 cinity where the bloody tragedy had been enacted ; and 
 calling a halt, at my suggestion the party separated, in 
 order to form a circle around the locality where (from 
 the account given us by the squaws) we supposed the 
 enemy to be. 
 
 Sufficient time having been given for each man to 
 take his position, and be ready for action in case the 
 panther sought to make its escape, we commenced 
 closing in toward the centre. Upon reaching the brow 
 of a small hillock, one of the Indians pointed it out to 
 
It 2 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 me, at the distance of about one hundred steps. It 
 was near the foot of the hill, still in the act of replen 
 ishing its stomach from the remains of the pappoose. 
 I immediately brought my rifle to bear upon it, and 
 aiming for the region of the heart, pulled the trigger ; 
 and, after one tremendous scream, it broke and run for 
 its life, in the opposite direction from where I was. 
 
 It so happened that the line of its course led to the point 
 occupied by the warrior whose squaw and pappoose had 
 been destroyed by it, and who, a short time before, by 
 both words and actions, exhibited so much courage and 
 pluck in behalf of its destruction. But, seeing the 
 panther, with all the speed which it was capable of exert 
 ing, approach the point where he had taken his position, 
 his courage at once gave way, and relying upon his legs 
 for his deliverance from the fangs of the enemy, with 
 the speed of a frightened gazelle, he bounded over the 
 ground in the direction of the village, without even an 
 attempt at its destruction, or scarcely taking time to look 
 back, in order to observe the imminence of his danger. 
 The scene was so ludicrous that I could not refrain 
 from a hearty laugh. To see this warrior, who but a 
 short time before had exhibited so much zeal and hero 
 ism in the enterprise, now fleeing with such haste and 
 determination when he was in no manner of danger, was 
 more than my gravity could endure even on so melan 
 choly an occasion as this. We saw no more of our hero 
 until we returned to the village, Avhere we found him, 
 silent and sullen, in no way disposed to converse on the 
 day's adventure. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 113 
 
 I had shot the panther too low ; and although in 
 flicting upon it a severe and perhaps fatal wound, it 
 succeeded in making its escape from us. We pursued 
 its trail some four or five miles, and, though it bled 
 freely, we did not come up with it, when, on account of 
 the lateness of the day, we gave it up. 
 
 The body of the pappoose was nearly consumed by 
 the panther there being but the head and a few of the 
 larger bones left. The body of the squaw laid about 
 ten feet from the pappoose, and although considerably 
 mangled and disfigured, had not been much preyed 
 upon by the hungry beast. The mortal remains of the 
 mother, and the remaining fragments of the child, were 
 taken to the village by the savages, and on the follow 
 ing day consigned to their final resting place. 
 
If 4 FIVE YEAES A CAPTIVE 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 DURING this winter, also, owing to the decline in Rox- 
 ana's health, I was away from home as little as circum 
 stances would admit only spending sufficient time in 
 the chase to keep up our supplies from time to time. 
 There was but little of the time that she was able to be 
 up, and the conclusion was forced upon my mind, that 
 without a speedy and radical change in the state of her 
 health, death would soon accomplish what little re 
 mained of his work. By times she was greatly annoyed 
 by her cough, and though suffering but little physical 
 pain, yet the lamp of life seemed to burn with less and 
 less brilliancy, as time rolled on. 
 
 Although her condition was a source of constant 
 pain and regret to me, to Tier the sky of the future was 
 clear, and unobstructed by a single cloud. Her mind 
 seemed as calm and placid as the blue ether above us, 
 being well equipped and furnished with all the armor 
 necessary to the Christian warfare. To her, Death had 
 lost all his terrors, and was regarded as a friend, whose 
 call was rather to be desired. 
 
 Notwithstanding I had been raised in a Christian 
 land, by pious parents, there was yet something about 
 her that I could not comprehend. Her calm resigna 
 tion and humility, under all her trials and sufferings, 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. It 5 
 
 gave me a realizing sense of the power of the Chris 
 tian's hope, that I never before had conceived of. 
 
 She was undoubtedly aware that the time of her 
 departure was at hand, and would frequently, in her 
 conversation, allude to the fact ; but for a time, so re 
 pugnant was the thought to my feelings, that I could 
 not reconcile my mind to it, and would vainly endeavor 
 to convince her, as well as myself, to the contrary. 
 Seeing that these thoughts were a source of trouble to 
 me, she would, for the time being, refrain from pressing 
 them upon me ; but, subsequently, as occasion offered, 
 would call my attention to it, with the evident intention 
 of preparing my mind for the occasion. 
 
 This spring (1806) set in unusually early, and the 
 weather was warm and pleasant from early in March, 
 and had the effect, in an essential degree, of promoting 
 Roxana's health ; for as soon as it became settled, she 
 took a change for the better. Had the usual amount of 
 changeable and disagreeable weather followed in the 
 footsteps of the spring of this year that is generally the 
 case in this climate, it would have been impossible for 
 her to have survived till April, as every symptom au 
 gured a speedy dissolution. I had given up all thought 
 of ever seeing her again upon her feet, and the reader 
 may judge of my agreeable surprise when I discovered 
 that her strength in some measure was returning, and 
 observed other signs of improvement. By the first 
 of May she was able to sit up a little, and ultimately 
 so far recovered as to be able to walk to the door of 
 our hut without assistance. 
 
176 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Hohoako-Kiwa, in conjunction with several other 
 chiefs of the nation, had for some time been meditating 
 a descent upon the territory of the Flat-Heads, in order 
 to avenge upon them an old grudge, and at the same 
 time supply their necessities with an adequate number 
 of the enemy's horses. 
 
 These two nations have been cordial enemies time out 
 of mind, and take peculiar pleasure in afflicting each 
 other with every enormity that their ingenuity can de 
 vise. About the first of June was fixed upon as the 
 time to set out on this hostile expedition, and prepara 
 tions for the event were in rapid progress. I had 
 hoped, through some expedient of my own upon this 
 occasion, I would be permitted to remain behind ; but 
 such was not the case. Hohoako-Kiwa would hear 
 nothing in the form of an excuse from me ; and had I 
 not finally consented to accompany them upon this ex 
 pedition, I verily believe he never would have forgiven 
 me, and, perhaps, have lost all confidence in my former 
 professions of friendship. On finally giving him my 
 consent to go with them, he seemed almost overjoyed, 
 and declared that on so important an occasion as this 
 was likely to be, he could not do without me. I had two 
 reasons for desiring to stay at home. The first and 
 most important was, the reluctance I felt in leaving, for 
 so long a time, Roxana ; and the other was, the disgust 
 I felt in being a participant in these barbarous forays. 
 
 But for several years I had been the child of the 
 freaks of fortune, and why should I not be on this oc 
 casion also ? I was not consulting my own will, but 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 177 
 
 that of those who had power over me, and, in some 
 sense at least, I was not responsible for my own con 
 duct in these transactions. 
 
 Every preparation having been completed, we left the 
 rendezvous on the second day of June, and directed our 
 course for a certain pass in the Rocky Mountains, (fa 
 miliar to the Indians,) on the west side of which lay 
 the country of the enemy. Our party consisted of 
 about two hundred warriors, equipped and painted in 
 true savage style. We were all mounted on horses, and, 
 as usual, rode in single file, at a full canter making but 
 little noise, and only halting long enough to graze our 
 horses and partake of a little food ourselves. 
 
 On the evening of the third day we reached the ter 
 ritory of the Flat-Heads, having traveled about one 
 hundred and fifty miles. We were now within forty 
 miles of the village on which the attack was to be made, 
 and the remainder of the journey required great secrecy 
 and caution, in order to avoid detection by the enemy. 
 After a brief consultation, it was determined that, after 
 grazing our horses and taking a few hours' rest, we 
 would continue our journey to within fifteen or twenty 
 miles of the village, and, having secreted ourselves as 
 well as we could, would remain over the next day, in 
 order to recruit ourselves and reconnoitre the adjacent 
 country, preparatory to the consummation of our object 
 on the following night. This arrangement was accord 
 ingly carried out; and about 2 o'clock at night, we 
 reached a grove of timber, at about the proper distance 
 from the village, as we supposed, in which we secreted 
 ourselves. 
 
178 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Early in the morning spies were sent out, with in 
 structions, after having made all the observations neces 
 sary touching the country, locality of the village, &c. , 
 to return at as early an hour in the evening as was pos 
 sible. We remained secreted in the forest all day, and 
 preserved a degree of quietude characteristic of these 
 wild people, while preparing to attack an enemy. 
 
 About 8 o'clock in the evening the spies returned, 
 giving us the desired information reporting that the 
 village contained about fifty huts, and was numerously 
 inhabited by warriors, squaws and pappooses. They 
 also reported having seen many fine horses grazing in 
 the vicinity of the village. This last information was 
 especially gratifying to the warriors of our party, as 
 they are not only accomplished horse-thieves, but take 
 great delight in the possession of a liberal supply of 
 these animals. 
 
 Every thing being put to rights, we set out, on foot, 
 for the enemy's quarters, expecting to arrive there about 
 1 o'clock at night. Our horses were (as usual on those 
 occasions) left behind, in charge of a sufficient guard, 
 until further word from us. 
 
 Having reached the vicinity of the village, a halt was 
 ordered, and the party divided into three squads, prop 
 erly officered, with orders to spare neither age nor sex, 
 and the attack to be simultaneously made. 
 
 The greatest danger of alarming the fears of the 
 sleeping enemy, was to be apprehended from their ever- 
 watchful dogs, who are always upon the qui vive, in 
 order to discover something to excite into action their 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. If 9 
 
 barking propensities. In case the enemy should be 
 alarmed from any cause, on the proper signal being 
 given, our party was to advance rapidly, and before they 
 would have time to comprehend the nature of the dan 
 ger with which they were menaced, rush upon them, 
 from all sides, with sanguinary effect. 
 
 These arrangements being made, we continued our 
 movements upon the village, with steps so light and 
 well directed, that a person at the distance of ten feet 
 could scarcely have heard us. In this way we moved 
 forward, without even exciting the attention of the dogs, 
 till within a few rods of the huts ; when one of the ca 
 nines, with scent more acute than his companions, 
 alarmed the whole gang by a few shrill, nervous yelps. 
 Prompt and vigorous action was now the highway to 
 success ; and, accordingly, a general rush and deadly 
 attack was commenced by our party upon the be 
 wildered inmates of the huts ; and before they had 
 time to gain their thresholds, to determine the cause of 
 alarm to their dogs, they were cut down like grass be 
 fore the scythe, and their bodies horribly mangled I 
 Whether any of the inhabitants of the village escaped 
 this massacre or not, is more than I can tell, but am of 
 opinion not. Such was the sudden and vigorous nature 
 of the attack, that escape was rendered almost impos 
 sible. 
 
 The contest lasted but a few minutes, when a village 
 of near two hundred souls was silent in death. The 
 horrors of this night's work could only be realized 
 when daylight fully revealed them in the morning. At 
 
180 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 this time I visited most of the huts, and contemplated 
 a picture of death and savage brutality, that has ever 
 since remained fresh in my mind. Old and young, 
 males and females, with bodies mangled and gory 
 sometimes in groups, and again at intervals from each 
 other met my gaze in every direction. The sight was 
 not only disgusting to my feelings, but sickening, and 
 caused me to shudder at the barbarous cannibalism of 
 these people. 
 
 The war-dance, with its usual wild accompaniments, 
 occupied the remainder of the night, after the accom 
 plishment of this murderous act ; and the fore part of 
 the next day was occupied in scalping and plundering 
 the dead. 
 
 The Black-Feet lost but two of their warriors in this 
 engagement, in addition to a few others slightly wound 
 ed, and neither took nor lost any prisoners. 
 
 At the risk of my popularity with these people, I re 
 fused to take an active part in this outrage regarding 
 it as a piece of cold-blooded butchery, cowardly and 
 dishonorable. 
 
 Having, in proper form, buried the two warriors 
 who were killed by the Flat-Heads, and collected to 
 gether all the spoils, with over fifty of the enemy's 
 horses, we were ready to set out on our return. Our 
 other horses, in the meantime, had been brought up ; and 
 after setting fire to every hut in the village, we left this 
 scene of devastation and death. It was about 3 o'clock 
 in the afternoon at the time of our departure, and we 
 camped for the night upon the same spot of ground 
 where we had laid concealed the day previous. 
 

 
 
 
 
 - J&4Mfr '& 
 
 i ^-*p5fc^ "^ 
 
 
 
,. g, ^^^f ^ 
 
 ~V 
 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 181 
 
 We had but little noise in our camp on this night, 
 owing to the fact, in part, that most of the savages had 
 slept none the night previous, and were now disposed to 
 rest as well as from the fact that it was deemed by 
 them an act of prudence, in order to avoid surprise 
 from some new party of the enemy, who might be lurk 
 ing about the country. 
 
 Early in the morning we were ready to resume our 
 journey, but owing to one of those unlooked-for casual 
 ties with which we occasionally meet during the course 
 of our pilgrimage through life, we were detained till 
 the afternoon. 
 
 One of the horses taken from the enemy proved to 
 be restive and vicious, and peremptorily refused to allow 
 any one of our party to ride him. Hohoako-Kiwa, 
 who had always piqued himself upon his horsemanship, 
 undertook to bring the refractory animal to submission; 
 and having leaped upon its back with the agility of a 
 monkey, it reared and plunged with desperation ; the 
 chief applied the whip to it to the utmost extent of his 
 ability. Finding this to be rather an uninteresting ex 
 ercise, the horse finally took to his heels, and run with 
 all the speed of which he was capable the whip being 
 freely applied in the meantime. Striking across the 
 plain in an opposite direction from where we were, and 
 having gone to the distance of perhaps half a mile, he 
 stumbled and pitched forward, turning a complete 
 summerset, throwing the chief with tremendous impetus 
 several yards in advance of him, with his head and 
 shoulders against a rock, fracturing his skull and killing 
 
182 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 him instantly. By the time we reached the fatal spot, 
 the horse had regained his feet, and was continuing his 
 flight far in advance of us. 
 
 The scene before me (notwithstanding the horrors of 
 the one I had just passed through) was exceedingly 
 melancholy. Before me, in lifeless form, lay all that re 
 mained of one of the ablest and most brave of the 
 chiefs of the Black-Foot nation ; and the one who had 
 given the late expedition, as well as all others in which 
 he had engaged, life and importance. I could not help 
 but think this calamity was brought on him and his 
 people by the special providence of the Almighty, in 
 consequence of the cruel massacre inflicted upon a por 
 tion of the Flat-Heads but a few hours previous. 
 
 Although Hohoako-Kiwa was vindictive and cruel to 
 ward those he regarded as enemies, to his friends he was 
 habitually kind and condescending, and was universally 
 beloved and respected by them. There was but little 
 vanity in his composition ; and upon no occasion did I 
 observe airs of authority or superiority over his people, 
 notwithstanding the dignity of his office. In all his 
 transactions with his people, he was scrupulously just 
 and truthful ; and in his death I felt that I had lost not 
 only my best, but most influential friend. For several 
 years his friendship for me had been warm and constant, 
 and whatever his infirmities in other respects might be, 
 I felt that in him I was deprived of a friend whose con 
 stancy of heart was not dependant upon external de 
 monstrations of worldly glory, or the vanity of riches. 
 With the aid of a Christian education, he would (in my 
 opinion) not only have been a good, but a great man. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK- FEET INDIANS. 183 
 
 We prepared a kind of litter from a bear-skin, in 
 which we conveyed his remains to the camp. It was 
 the desire of us all that he should be taken home and 
 interred near the village ; but from the fact that the 
 weather was very warm, and that we were at least three 
 days' journey from there, (without any impediment to 
 our progress,) it was thought best to bury him where 
 we then were. An excavation was made in the ground 
 near the camp, about two feet deep ; the body was then 
 wrapped in one of our best bear-skins, and then placed 
 in the excavation. His arms, and implements of every 
 kind, together with his apparel, were then placed by his 
 side ; and, after the usual ceremony was gone through 
 by one of the other chiefs who accompanied us on this 
 expedition, the body was covered with dirt and stones, 
 and we prepared to set off on our journey. 
 
 The solemnity and regret exhibited by the savages 
 on the death of their chief, was something that I had 
 not before witnessed, upon the death of any one else, 
 since my sojourn with them. I had come to the conclu 
 sion that those melancholy visitations were occasions of 
 joy, rather than grief ; but, in this case at least, I was 
 mistaken ; for a well-defined sorrow seemed to settle 
 down upon the features of the whole party, and during 
 the remainder of their journey they indulged but little 
 in their usual mirth and vanity. 
 
 We reached our village on the evening of the fourth 
 day of our homeward journey ; and the inhabitants of the 
 village who had remained at home, learning from us the 
 sad intelligence concerning the death of Hohoako-Kiwa, 
 
184 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 greatly lamented the calamity, and regarded their loss 
 as almost irreparable. 
 
 I found Roxana's health about the same as when I 
 left ; and, as usual, she was much rejoiced that I was 
 again permitted to return without having received any 
 injury. She was very much affected with my account 
 of the death of Hohoako-Kiwa, whom she could not 
 help but respect, for his uniform kindness toward us 
 both, ever since our arrival at the village. 
 
 The account of the massacre of the Flat-Heads I 
 kept from her, knowing it would only have a tendency 
 to excite her feelings, and thereby strengthen her dis 
 ease. 
 
 A brother of Hohoako-Kiwa, who for some time had 
 officiated as council chief, was duly inaugurated into the 
 office of his deceased brother, under the name of ^ah- 
 Kiwan, ("the brave warrior.") The initiatory -service 
 took place on the first day of July, and was attended 
 and participated in by a large concourse of savages 
 from distant parts of the nation. Many of their most 
 distinguished chiefs were present in honor of so impor 
 tant an occasion, as well as to ordain the new chief. 
 The simplicity and solemnity by which the whole cere 
 mony was characterized, were truly impressive. There 
 was no effort at ostentation or display ; but pure, un 
 alloyed, primeval simplicity constituted both the begin 
 ning and the ending of the whole transaction. 
 
 The substance of the ceremony consisted in a solemn 
 pledge, on the part of the new chief, to nourish and 
 protect his people, and to hold himself in readiness, at 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 185 
 
 all times, to punish in an exemplary manner the enemies 
 of their nation and people. 
 
 Upon the conclusion of this rite, an old chief, whose 
 locks were as white as the driven snow, with great de 
 liberation and dignity rose to his feet, and made a kind 
 of eulogistic speech in behalf of the deceased chief. 
 His remarks, though in their own language, was in sub 
 stance as follows : 
 
 "Braves and warriors of the Black-Foot nation : I 
 have lived to see the snows of an hundred winters ; 
 I have fought many battles and taken many scalps ; I 
 was familiar with the bears and buffalo when most of 
 you were not yet born. I was well acquainted with 
 your late chief, and his father before him they were 
 both brave, and deserved well of our nation. Hohoako- 
 Kiwa I sincerely loved not because he was only brave, 
 but also because he was faithful and just. I dandled 
 him upon my knee when he was but a mere pap- 
 poose, and have known him ever since. The Great 
 Spirit, no doubt, had need of him, and hath called him 
 to the great hunting-ground prepared for our people, 
 and also where, before the fall of many more leaves, I 
 will follow him." 
 
 During the delivery of this address, the profoundest 
 attention was given to the old warrior ; and that eye, 
 which was dim and languid with age, (as he progressed 
 in his remarks,) again kindled and flashed with its 
 wonted lustre and fire. 
 8* 
 
186 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Having finished his remarks, he slowly resumed his 
 seat, and the assembly immediately broke up and dis 
 persed. 
 
 From this time until winter set in, the most of my 
 time was spent hunting, and laying in a supply of pro 
 visions that would last us till spring. During the fall 
 of this year we had extraordinary success in the chase. 
 Game, of almost every kind common to the country, 
 was abundant, and we found but little difficulty in se 
 curing it to almost any extent we desired. I dried and 
 laid in, on this occasion, a much larger quantity of meat 
 than I had ever done before, and as circumstances 
 turned out, it was well that I did so. 
 
 About the middle of October, Roxana was taken 
 much worse, and, as time advanced, her disease seemed 
 rapidly to culminate to a fatal crisis. Great physical 
 prostration had again taken hold upon her, and, by 
 times, she could not turn herself in bed, or speak above 
 her breath. In the course of a few weeks, she became 
 extremely emaciated ; and, from every indication, I 
 thought it was not possible for her to survive any con 
 siderable length of time. But when upon the very 
 verge of death, (apparently,) her disease wftuld seem, 
 to some extent, occasionally to release the malignity of 
 its grasp as though it was sporting with the intensity 
 of her sufferings and, for a brief space of time, again 
 permit her partially to recuperate her exhausted ener 
 gies, when it would return with more severity than 
 ever. 
 
 In this way she continued gradually to wear away, 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 18T 
 
 until the fifth day of March, 180T, when death closed 
 the scene of her mortal existence, and her spirit took its 
 departure for that haven of rest prepared for the right 
 eous, at the right hand of Him that sitteth upon the 
 throne and judgeth all things well. 
 
 During the whole course of Roxana's lingering illness, 
 I never heard a murmur or complaint from her, or even 
 observed an expression in her countenance indicative of 
 impatience or anxiety. Her whole being appeared to 
 be merged in the good pleasure and will of her Maker, 
 and was entirely satisfied to abide, with humility, what 
 soever His providence deemed proper in her case. 
 
 Was I about to set oftt upon a mission to travel the 
 world over, in search of a perfect exemplification of the 
 power of the grace of God upon the human heart, I 
 would despair of finding one more beautifully illustrative 
 of this great truth than was the case of Roxana. By 
 means of the long and severe chastening to which she 
 had been exposed, her Christian character had developed 
 itself in an extraordinary manner, and, like fine gold 
 thoroughly purged by the heat of the fire, was void of 
 every impurity. 
 
 Notwithstanding the joy I felt that all her sufferings 
 were now Over, and that she was unspeakably happy in 
 Heaven, yet how utterly lost did I feel, and what gloomy 
 forebodings 'took possession of my mind when I fully 
 realized that Roxana was gone. She had for several 
 years been my constant companion when at home, and 
 perhaps the only one in the world who knew my condi 
 tion, and could sympathize with me. Her happiness 
 
188 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 had been the great object and centre of all my desires 
 and exertions for several years, and I now felt as though 
 all that had rendered my life at all endurable amongst 
 these people had been taken away from me, and that 
 henceforth my cup would be full of wormwood and gall. 
 I felt no remorse of conscience in consequence of having 
 come short of any known duty toward her ; for so far 
 as was possible under the circumstances, I spared neither 
 time nor trouble in order to make her comfortable. 
 
 To a person tenderly reared in civilized society, as 
 was the case with Roxana, neither the food upon which 
 she had to subsist, or scarcely anything else with which 
 we were provided, was calculated to contribute either to 
 her health or comfort ; but, knowing it was the best 
 that was possible, she was entirely content. Times al 
 most without number, she has expressed her gratitude 
 to me for my attentions to her ; and in her prayers 
 uniformly asked the Lord, of His abundance, to suitably 
 reward me for my kindnesses to her. 
 
 About three weeks before her death, she informed me 
 of a beautiful dream she just had ; and, as it made a 
 lasting impression on my mind, with the permission of 
 the reader, I will relate it in her own words : 
 
 " I dreamed, that I died, and was carried by the an 
 gels to Heaven, where I beheld my father, and an innu 
 merable number of redeemed spirits, clad in raiment white 
 as snow, congregated around the Throne, singing praises 
 to the Lamb. Upon entering the realms of bliss, I was 
 greeted with ravishing demonstrations of joy, and my 
 
AMONG THE BLACK- FEET INDIANS. 189 
 
 Savior took me by the hand, and with a smile and cor 
 diality of greeting which thrilled my soul with delight, 
 welcomed me to the home of the blessed. His appearance 
 was lovely beyond anything that my imagination in its 
 loftiest flights had conceived, or of the power of words 
 to describe. I saw the River of Life, clear as crystal, 
 flowing through the Heavenly plain, and an inconceiva 
 ble variety of ambrosial fruits kissing its refreshing wa 
 ters. Birds of rarest beauty and plumage discoursed 
 seraphic music, and flitted from branch to branch amidst 
 the gorgeous foliage of the tree of Life. Myriads of 
 angels, with golden pinions and extended wings, hov 
 ered around the Throne of the Lamb, and chanted 
 His praises day and night. The brightness of the 
 Heavenly City infinitely surpassed that of the Sun, and 
 such was the glory and splendor thereof, that my soul 
 was filled with the most exalted admiration and bliss. 
 In my dream, I thought I became so inexpressibly happy 
 in contemplating the glory and splendor of the scene 
 before me, that I was completely lost and swallowed up 
 in its contemplation. My capacity for enjoyment was 
 infinitely enlarged, being as boundless as the domains of 
 Heaven ; and yet my soul was filled to the extent of its 
 capacity, with a sense of joy and bliss which no words 
 can describe. No exhibition of pain or suffering did I 
 witness there. Joy, love and peace pervaded every 
 countenance, and the fullness and completeness of our 
 rest, like the waters of a mighty river, flowed on, and 
 still on, through the infinitude of eternity. 
 
 But of all the beautiful objects that I witnessed in 
 
190 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 my dream, there was none so lovely and enchanting to 
 my gaze as the Redeemer of the world for the bright 
 ness of His glory lighted up the heavens, and gave en 
 chantment to the scene. His crown was of burnished 
 gold, and sparkled in the rays of light refracted from 
 the brow of Omnipotence, with a resplendent brightness 
 that caused the stars to vail their faces in darkness. 
 His presence was the glory of the city, and His praises 
 constituted the theme of all tongues. Oh ! the raptur 
 ous loveliness of this vision ! and how inadequate in 
 description are my words. " 
 
 This 'interesting dream was related by Roxana in a 
 spirit and tone of voice that indicated to me that she 
 appreciated it, in some sense, as a foretaste of that haven 
 of bliss which was in reserve for her enjoyment at no 
 distant day. 
 
 By the aid of my axe and auger, I made, from a few 
 puncheons, a rough coffin, into which Ke-Ka placed the 
 remains, after having carefully wrapped them in some of 
 the finest fur that I could obtain for the purpose. By 
 means of a wooden shovel, prepared by me for the oc 
 casion, I dug her grave to the depth of three and one- 
 half feet. The locality for the same was selected by 
 myself, at the distance of a mile from the village, upon 
 the summit of a beautiful mound-shaped spot of ground, 
 beneath the rich and ever green foliage of a stalwart, 
 cone-shaped pine. With the exception of this tree, 
 there was no timber within forty rods of it and the 
 ground in the vicinity was rolling, and covered during 
 the summer and fall with a beautiful sward of grass. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 191 
 
 About two o'clock on the seventh day of the month, 
 with the assistance of a number of the Indians, I con 
 veyed the remains to the grave prepared for their re 
 ception, where my last attentions to all that was mortal 
 of Roxana were bestowed. 
 
 Many of the Indians, both male and female, attended 
 the burial, and in deference to my feelings, showed as 
 much respect as was consistent with their ignorance. 
 They were much surprised and amused at the novelty 
 of the proceeding, and were anxious to know why I did 
 not procure the services of the chief, to officiate in the 
 funeral service ; but upon being informed that in my 
 country this was contrary to our religious belief, they 
 gave me no more trouble. 
 
 Ke-Ka seemed very much affected at the death of Rox 
 ana. She had lived with us for a number of years, and 
 her attachment to her had become strong indeed. She 
 would sit for hours together, in the most melancholy and 
 dejected mood, without uttering a word, while the tears 
 would steal down her brawny cheeks, and drop to the 
 ground. I consoled her feelings as well as I could, and 
 presented her with a number of small articles which had 
 belonged to Roxana, as mementoes of remembrance 
 which seemed to gratify her feelings very much. 
 
 On returning to' my hut, after the interment, so deso 
 late and lonely did I feel, that my life appeared to be 
 bereft of every joy, and time bore upon me with a weight 
 almost unendurable. My desire to leave the wretched 
 abodes of the savages, since the death of Roxana, re 
 turned upon me with redoubled force and, sink or swim, 
 
192 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 live or die, I was determined to make the effort. With 
 this resolution on my mind, before making the attempt, 
 I concluded to enclose the grave of Roxana with a sub 
 stantial fence, and adorn it with a quantity of wild flow 
 ers and shrubs. Accordingly, in the following month 
 of May, I procured a number of substantial posts, and 
 with the axe and auger, constructed a post and rail 
 fence, which, although far from being a neat job, had, 
 in a great degree, the quality of permanence. After 
 having completed this part of the work, I procured a 
 variety of beautiful wild flowers and shrubs, and planted 
 them around and upon the grave ; and then, with slow 
 and measured steps, returned to the village, with the 
 thought upon my mind that, in all probability, I would 
 never again behold the narrow resting place of all that 
 was mortal of Roxana. 
 
 A few days before she died, she beckoned me to her, 
 and told me that she expected to live but a short time, 
 and that upon the parchment that I had prepared for 
 her, she had written a letter to her mother and sisters, 
 which, provided I ever succeeded in making my escape 
 from the savages and returned to England, she desired 
 I would convey to them ; which I faithfully promised to 
 do. She then told me where I would find the parch 
 ment, and requested me, immediately after her death, to 
 secure and preserve it in a sure place. 
 
 After her death, I found the letter as she had directed 
 me, neatly folded up, unsealed, and with the proper di 
 rection upon the back. I subsequently opened it, and 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 193 
 
 found in it a lock of her hair neatly platted, designed 
 as a last token of remembrance for her mother. 
 The following is a copy of her letter : 
 
 "JUNE 15, 1806. 
 
 " MY DEAR MOTHER AND SISTERS : Should this 
 epistle providentially fall into your hands in the future, 
 you will learn from it, that at the time it bears date, 
 your unfortunate Koxana still survived ; although, in 
 consequence of a broken constitution and the ravages 
 of disease, it is hardly possible for her to live many 
 months to come. My dear mother, were I to detail to 
 you the incidents connected with my captivity amongst 
 the savages of Oregon, and the dreadful cruelties in 
 flicted upon me by them, it would almost break your 
 heart, and cause you to weep many bitter tears, which, 
 pardon me, I do not mean to do. Permit me to say, 
 however, that for two years I endured all that it was 
 possible for me to bear up under, and that in consequence 
 of the severity of my treatment, consumption has taken 
 hold upon me, and has nearly accomplished its fatal 
 work. I have scarcely enjoyed a well day for more than 
 five years, and much of the time I have been confined 
 to my couch. For upwards of four years I have been 
 living in one of the villages of the Black-Feet Indians, 
 under the care and protection of Mr. John Dixon, 
 (formerly from England,) and who is likewise a captive 
 to the savages, but in consequence of numerous bold 
 adventures which met their approbation and gratified 
 their vanity, he has become exceedingly popular with 
 9 
 
194 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 them, and thereby has been enabled to protect me from 
 outrage and insult. Had not Providence provided me 
 with this friend and protector in a land of gross barbar 
 ism, I must have long since passed from earth. 
 
 Should Mr. Dixon ever return to England, there is 
 no service you can render him that will be too great in 
 return for the kindness and attention he has bestowed 
 upon me. The affection of the tenderest brother could 
 have done no more to assuage my sufferings, than has 
 the constant and faithful attentions of Mr. Dixon. 
 
 Should it be consonant with the will of our Heavenly 
 Master for him to hereafter return home, you will un 
 doubtedly learn from his lips many of the incidents con 
 nected with my captivity, which are far too painful for 
 me to relate to you. 
 
 This lock of my hair, I design as a last offering of 
 love and respect to my mother. Adieu, 
 
 KOXANA. " 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS, 195 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ABOUT the first of June, as was our custom, we set 
 out for the prairies to spend some time in hunting ; and 
 prior to setting out, I had resolved to make this the 
 occasion of my escape so long contemplated by me. 
 Accordingly, I accompanied the savages on the enter 
 prise, as usual ; but upon arriving on the hunting-ground 
 I discovered that I had forgotten my powder-flask. (It 
 is hardly necessary, perhaps, for me to inform the reader 
 that this, on my part, was intentional, in order to furnish 
 me with an excuse for a brief absence.) Upon making 
 this unfortunate discovery, it became necessary for me 
 to return to the village, in order to obtain the ammuni 
 tion. The chief proposed sending one of the warriors 
 to accompany me on the journey back ; but I told him 
 it was unnecessary to divert any of his men from the 
 object of our journey that I would return myself, and, 
 although the distance was not much short of fifty miles, 
 they might expect me back on the evening of the second 
 day from that time. This arrangement was entirely sat 
 isfactory to them nor did they seem, in any sense, to 
 suspect me of improper motives. So long had I been 
 with them, and such was the confidence they entertained 
 of the fidelity of my motives, that they regarded me as 
 one of themselves in every respect. 
 
196 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 On the next morning after reaching the hunting- 
 ground, I set out on my return to the village, and dur 
 ing the day, kept my horse to a lively speed a little 
 after dusk arriving at the village ; and after having in 
 formed some of the inhabitants who were left behind 
 the object of my return, and partaking of a little dried 
 venison in my cabin, as I supposed for the last time, 
 retired to rest for the night, where, without sleeping a 
 wink, I ruminated in my mind the dangers of the enter 
 prise I had just undertaken. To say that my nerves at 
 this time were a little unsteady, would convey but a 
 faint idea of the emotions with which I was oppressed. 
 Such was my anxiety on the subject, that I rolled and 
 tossed myself all night. But the die was cast, and let 
 the result be what it might, I was resolved to make the 
 attempt 
 
 Before it was light in the morning I was up, and 
 having provided myself with a quantity of dried meat, 
 enough to last me a week, I mounted my horse and was 
 off. In order to allay any suspicion that might exist in 
 the minds of any of those in the village, I started, and 
 continued to travel for several miles in the direction from 
 whence I had come, as though I was returning to the 
 prairies, But having got beyond observation, I wheeled 
 my horse at a right angle, and struck with rapid speed 
 for the old camp from which Moulton, Thornton, and 
 myself had been so ruthlessly taken nearly five years 
 before. My object in making for this point was, with 
 greater precision to determine my course, in order to 
 reach, as speedily as possible, some one of the stations 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 191 
 
 of the " Hudson Bay Company." About 12 o'clock on 
 the second day after setting out from the village, I ar 
 rived at our old quarters having spent the previous 
 night without fire or blanket, in the wilderness, some 
 twenty or thirty miles from the deserted camp. Here 
 I halted, in order to graze my horse and replenish my 
 own stomach. 
 
 Whilst thus engaged, what was my surprise and mor 
 tification in beholding Wah-Kiwan, and twenty of his 
 warriors approaching me at the full speed of their 
 horses. My flattering prospects prematurely perished ; 
 for it would have been the hight of presumption in me 
 now to have made any further effort in the prosecution 
 of my purpose. I therefore resolved to submit to what 
 seemed inevitable, and put the best face on the affair 
 possible. Upon their coming up I hastened to them, 
 and assuming an unusually joyous countenance, appeared 
 very much rejoiced to see them. 
 
 They appeared to suspect, however, that all was not 
 right, for they were demure, and but little disposed to 
 talk. I told them that in returning to the prairies, as I 
 had agreed to do, I had become bewildered and lost 
 my way, and had only recognized my position upon 
 coming unexpectedly in sight of the old encampment. 
 They listened to my narrative with evident indications 
 of doubt ; and at length, Wah-Kiwan replied, that it 
 was strange that I found the way from the prairies^ to 
 the village without getting lost ; and that, upon be 
 coming bewildered, I should have turned the feet of my 
 horse so suddenly from the course I was pursuing, and 
 
198 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 that I should, by chance, reach this particular locality. 
 I must confess that these doubts of the chief rather 
 put my wits to rack, in order to meet them with a proper 
 answer j but it was all important to me, as matters now 
 stood, that I should at once furnish a reasonable solution 
 to his queries. I told him that mystery was connected 
 with many things that we almost daily encountered, and 
 although it might seem strange to him that I should 
 have thus lost my way and finally arrived at this point, 
 it was nevertheless true, as his own eyes would bear 
 witness. That perhaps, in my anxiety to return to the 
 prairies, I had not been as particular in observing the 
 course as I should have been, and having unobservedly 
 got out of my way, I was unable afterwards to find it 
 again. 
 
 I also informed him that, after reaching the camp, 
 and thereby recognizing my error, it was my intention, 
 after grazing my horse and partaking of a little food 
 myself, to have set out on my return to the village. I 
 also reminded them of the fact, that I had now been 
 with them five years during all which time they had 
 ample proofs of my fidelity to them, and never before, 
 upon any occasion, had cause to doubt my words. 
 
 To these arguments on my part, they made no further 
 attempt at a reply but for some minutes remained 
 silent, as though they were revolving in their minds the 
 probable truth of my remarks. At length they became 
 more cheerful, and conversed freely on other topics, and 
 having also grazed their horses and partaken of their 
 lunch, we set off on our return to the village 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 199 
 
 To say that I was excessively mortified at this sum 
 mary result in my long cherished scheme of escape, 
 would be but to tell half the story. I almost despaired 
 of ever seeing my condition any better than it then was, 
 for so signal a failure on my part would increase the 
 chances against me, in any similar attempt in the future, 
 by destroying to some extent the confidence the savages 
 had heretofore reposed in me thereby increasing their 
 watchfulness upon all my movements. 
 
 We reached the village late on the evening of the 
 following day, and in the mean time no further allusion 
 had been made to the unfortunate circumstance of my 
 getting lost in the woods. As to the effect of my ex 
 planation of the affair upon their minds, I was, as yet, 
 in total ignorance. 
 
 I was not a little puzzled with the idea as to how 
 these warriors, whom I had left at the prairies fifty miles 
 from the village, and who designed to be absent two or 
 three weeks, had so soon got word of my departure, and 
 with such promptitude followed me up. But on my re 
 turn to the village, the mystery was solved in a very 
 natural way. 
 
 I learned from some of them, that on the same day 
 that I had left the prairies, in order to get the powder 
 that I had forgotten, the party had discovered fresh 
 signs of a numerous party of the Snake Indians ; and, 
 as our party was by no means large, it was thought pru 
 dent for the present to evacuate the field to the enemy. 
 Accordingly, about noon of the same day that I left the 
 village in order to make my escape, the whole party re- 
 
200 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 turned, and learning that I had set out in the morning 
 on my return to camp, and that by some mishap they 
 had missed me on the way, a party, headed by the chief, 
 immediately set out in pursuit of me, lest unfortunately 
 I might reach the prairies and fall into the hands of the 
 Snakes, and be destroyed. They took my trail, and 
 with the aptitude of blood-hounds in an enterprise of 
 this kind, they followed me up with as much ease and 
 precision as a boy would thread the promenade on Lon 
 don Bridge. 
 
 On the third day after our return, Wah-Kiwan, the 
 chief, came to me and informed me that himself, in 
 council with his warriors, had determined to submit my 
 case to the " Qualle." I informed him that I was ig 
 norant of his meaning, and requested him to explain 
 himself to me. He then informed me that it was the 
 opinion of his warriors that I had made an attempt to 
 escape from them ; but, inasmuch as my character had 
 hitherto been good, and there was no positive evidence 
 against me, they had unanimously agreed to refer my 
 case to the "Qualle," in order to test the truth or falsity 
 of my statements. 
 
 He then explained to me the nature of the "Qualle," 
 which I found to be a species of trial by ordeal, which 
 was practiced during the dark ages in England, and 
 in most of the countries of Continental Europe, and 
 founded on the same reasoning, to wit : a supposed ref 
 erence of the justice of the controversy to the Supreme 
 Being, or, in this case, to the Great Spirit of the Black- 
 Foot nation who, these ignorant people believe, will 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 201 
 
 always interfere in behalf of the innocent, and save them 
 from unmerited punishment and disgrace. 
 
 I endeavored to convince Wah-Kiwan, that their 
 suspicions of my fidelity and good intentions toward 
 them were unfounded, and did me great injustice, after 
 so many manifestations by me to the contrary. He re 
 plied, that the proceeding was in conformity to the cus 
 toms of the nation in all cases of this kind, and that if 
 innocent, as I claimed to be, I had nothing to fear ; that 
 if the " Qualle " declared in my favor, I would be re 
 instated to the full confidence of the nation ; but if 
 against me, death was the penalty. 
 
 Finding that nothing I could say or do was likely to 
 be of any service to me in my present circumstances, I 
 consented to accompany him to the place of trial, which 
 I found already prepared, about two miles from the 
 village. 
 
 The " Qualle" consists of a cord made of the inside 
 bark of a species of poplar that grows in this country, 
 and is about seventy feet in length attached to one of the 
 topmost branches of a tree, the other end extending to 
 the ground. This bark is stripped from the tree in 
 pieces about ten feet long, three inches in breadth, and 
 a fourth of an inch thick, and then knotted together until 
 the desired length is obtained. The accused is then 
 forced to ascend the tree to which the cord is attached, 
 and then descend it to the ground. If the cord breaks, 
 or any of the knots slip, by means of which the culprit 
 is precipitated to the ground, he is held to be guilty of 
 the offense charged and upon striking the earth, is im 
 mediately attaked and hewn to pieces by the savages. 
 
202 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 Upon approaching the spot and learning the nature 
 of the evidence that I was required to adduce touching 
 my innocence, in order to meet the demands of this sin 
 gular tribunal, I had but precious little hopes of satisfy 
 ing the demands of the law, save at the expense of my 
 life and least of all were my spirits buoyed up by the 
 faith I entertained -in the saving power of the Great 
 Spirit of their nation. 
 
 Before making an effort to ascend the tree, I tried to 
 get hold of the cord in order to try its strength, but the 
 savages forced me away, for reasons, I suppose, purely 
 technical. 
 
 Seeing no alternative but submission on my part, I 
 commenced climbing the tree, amidst the- shouts and 
 screams of the savages. Although I considered myself 
 a good climber, by the time I reached the branch to 
 which the cord was attached I felt considerably the 
 worse of the wear for in my ascent, I had the assist 
 ance of but two limbs to help me on my way. At 
 length I reached the point from which the most critical 
 part of the performance was to commence, and having 
 taken sufficient time to recover my breath, and to some 
 extent quiet my nerves after carefully examing the 
 manner in which the cord was fastened to the limb, and 
 satisfying myself that at this point it was safe I cau 
 tiously commenced my downward motion, and succeeded, 
 without any accident, in reaching about half the length 
 of the cord. At this success my spirits began to revive, 
 and hope again sprang up in my breast, when, to my 
 surprise and mortification, two of the savages seized 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 203 
 
 hold of the end of the cord, and commenced running 
 at the top of their speed describing a complete circle 
 in their motion. In the mean time, the whole party set 
 up a boisterous howl, and appeared almost frantic with 
 merriment at the novelty of my position, and my evident 
 fright. I shouted to them to let go of the cord, but 
 this only made the matter worse. After clinging to it 
 for some time, in the momentary expectation of its snap 
 ping asunder and dashing me to the ground, I again 
 commenced the descent, notwithstanding the difficulties 
 attending my efforts, in consequence of the motion and 
 inclination of the cord. At this juncture of the inves 
 tigation, I had but faint hopes of escaping with my life, 
 for I thought it scarcely possible that the slender cord 
 of bark would be able to stand the severe test to which 
 it was being subjected. But to my astonishment, and 
 contrary to my expectations, I ultimately reached the 
 ground in safety. When I had approached to within 
 perhaps ten feet of it, the two savages let go of the cord, 
 and suffered me to land without further molestation. 
 But so much was my strength exhausted by the severity 
 of labor to which I had been subjected, and my fright, 
 that when I reached the ground, it was with difficulty 
 that I could stand. The savages, however, came to my 
 relief, and in their rude manner, congratulated me upon 
 the successful issue of my cause, and conducted me to a 
 log and seated me upon it. 
 
 The chief then informed me that, the Great Spirit 
 having pronounced in my favor, I was fully restored to 
 the confidence and respect of his people. This infor- 
 
204 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 mation was of course gratifying to my feelings ; but, at 
 the same time, it failed to infuse into my mind any great 
 amount of respect for the impartiality with which (it 
 was said) the Great Spirit of their nation punished the 
 guilty. However, I felt rejoiced that my restoration to 
 their former confidence and favor would afford at least 
 one more chance at escape which, notwithstanding the 
 disastrous results of my first effort in that way, I was 
 resolved, at the proper time, to put into practice. 
 
 Having fully rested myself, in company with the sav 
 ages, I returned to the village, and during the time I 
 was with them, after this occurrence, no allusion, by any 
 one, was ever made to the circumstance, and they seemed 
 to regard me in every respect, as far as I could discover, 
 with the same confidence that they had done before. I 
 deemed it prudent, however, before making another at 
 tempt at escape, to remain with them awhile longer, in 
 order to confirm their good opinions concerning my in 
 tegrity, by some new instances of adventure with them. 
 
 My stock of powder had by this time become very 
 much reduced, and it was only by using great economy 
 that it held out so long. A small portion of the stock 
 that I originally had I carefully put away, to be used by 
 me only in procuring means of subsistence, and in self- 
 defense while engaged in making my escape. I had 
 managed, in various ways, in deterring the savages from 
 acquiring the use of my rifle knowing that if they 
 once succeeded in this, my ammunition would soon dis 
 appear, and the hold which I had upon their supersti 
 tion would be lost. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 205 
 
 I accompanied them, and took part, after this, in 
 various hunting excursions, and in the mean time as 
 sumed a cheerful and contented mind. 
 
 In the month of July of this year, while engaged in 
 hunting near the source of a small stream that rises in 
 the Rocky Mountains and flows into the Missouri river, 
 the chief, in company with half a dozen of his warriors, 
 returned to camp one evening, bringing with them a 
 quantity of gold, which they said they had picked up 
 from a sand-bank that they came upon in their travels, at a 
 considerable distance from the camp. These specimens 
 had the appearance of once having been in a state of 
 fusion, and by some commotion of nature been sev 
 ered from the general mass assuming, in the process of 
 cooling, an almost endless variety of form. 
 
 From the size of the specimens brought to the camp, 
 as well as from the accounts given by the savages, this 
 metal must have existed in large quantities. I desired 
 them to conduct me to the place where they had pro 
 cured it, but this they peremptorily refused to do as 
 signing as a reason, that the Great Spirit of their nation 
 had intrusted the secret to them alone, and it would be 
 a betrayal of confidence were they to intrust it to others. 
 The chief, however, made me a present of one of the 
 specimens, which, in England, would have been worth, 
 perhaps, two pounds. 
 
 These savages have no idea of the value of this metal, 
 except that which they attach to it in the way of trinkets, 
 to be worn upon their persons. In this respect, they 
 do not differ from other barbarous nations ; for in the 
 
206 
 
 use of these ornaments they are excessively prodigal. 
 It is common for both the males and females to adorn 
 their persons most profusely with trinkets of gold, 
 moulded by them into a variety of forms, in order to 
 suit the peculiar taste of the wearer. 
 
 I had often, on former occasions, endeavored to learn 
 from them where they obtained this metal, but uniformly 
 without success. In visiting the mines to procure it, 
 advantage was always taken of times and circumstances 
 that were not calculated to excite my suspicions, and 
 the consequence was, that notwithstanding a residence 
 of five years amongst them, I never succeeded in fathom 
 ing this secret. This is, perhaps, not to be wondered 
 at, when the locality of these deposits is kept a profound 
 secret from a" large majority of their own people, from 
 the fact (as they suppose) that if every one knew of 
 their locality, through immoderate and constant use, 
 they would soon become exhausted. 
 
 An equitable system of policy exists, however, in the 
 distribution among the people of the proper quantum 
 of trinkets, and dissatisfaction from this cause seldom 
 arises. 
 
 The chief informed me that this was a new deposit, 
 which they had hitherto known nothing about, and that 
 it promised to be more productive than any of their 
 old ones. 
 
 About this time a couple of deputies arrived at the 
 village from the southern part of the nation, informing 
 us that a party of the Crow Indians had made a sally 
 upon their territory, and stole a number of their horses, 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 20f 
 
 and soliciting aid from us in their recovery, and also in 
 the chastisement of the intruders. 
 
 Preparations, in order to obey a requst at once so 
 reasonable and just, were immediately commenced, and 
 on the following day we set out upon our mission of re 
 taliatory justice. On the evening of the third day of 
 our journey, we arrived at the quarters of our friends, 
 where we found about two hundred warriors awaiting 
 our arrival, anxious to avenge the recent outrage upon 
 the sovereignty of their nation. 
 
 Before setting out on this mission, I made all the ar 
 rangements which I deemed necessary preparatory to 
 another attempt at escape ; for I thought it probable 
 that during this campaign, some favorable opportunity 
 for that purpose might present itself in which case I 
 was determined to embrace it. 
 
 The enemy had so much the start of us, that the 
 council deemed it inexpedient to try to overtake them 
 on their homeward march, but determined to make a 
 bold and energetic push for their territory, and then 
 regulate their motions as circumstances might seem to 
 require. On the second day of September, we left our 
 camp for the enemy's country, and after a toilsome march 
 of three days, reached the northern boundary of their 
 territory. A council was again called, and it was de 
 termined to send out a number of scouts, in order to 
 make observations touching the enemies' locality, &c. 
 
 Twenty-five scouts were sent out in different directions, 
 with orders to return to camp as soon as possible, after 
 having thoroughly scoured the country in search of signs 
 
208 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 of the retreating enemy. During the absence of the 
 scouts, we remained in camp, preserving the most com 
 mendable quietude. This interval of inactivity was oc 
 cupied by me in reflecting upon the means of my escape, 
 and the following plan was ultimately fixed upon for 
 future use, provided circumstances met my expectations. 
 There was little doubt but that we would have a struggle 
 with the enemy, and that, as usual on these occasions, 
 it would take place after night. My plan of escape, 
 therefore, was to disappear under cover of the darkness 
 of night, at the time the belligerent parties were fairly 
 hitched in mortal combat ; and having made the best 
 possible use of my time during the remainder of the 
 night, secrete myself in the morning, and so remain all 
 day, 
 
 By adopting this plan, I thought it reasonable to sup 
 pose the Black-Feet would conclude that I had either 
 been killed or carried away by the enemy. At all 
 events, upon the supposition that I had escaped from 
 them, they would hardly venture to search for me in the 
 enemy's country, 
 
 A part of the scouts returned to camp on the evening 
 of the second day from the v time of setting out, and re 
 ported having fallen in with the trail of the retreating 
 Crows, and having followed it a considerable distance, 
 they at length came in sight of the smoke of a village, 
 which, upon close observation, they ascertained to con 
 tain about seventy-five huts, and a large number of war 
 riors, who appeared to be engaged in the act of rejoicing 
 over some bold achievement. Our party at once came 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 209 
 
 to the conclusion that a portion of these people must be 
 those who had done the mischief. 
 
 The remaining part of the scouts having returned, by 
 the time day began to dawn in the east we were in 
 motion, under guide of the scouts, and, after having 
 traveled all day, and till nine o'clock at night, called a 
 halt, and, hastily disposing of our meal, continued our 
 journey on foot our horses, as usual, being left in charge 
 of a number of the party. About two o'clock in the 
 morning we reached the enemy's village, and while in 
 the act of marching to the attack, in accordance with 
 the plan agreed upon, we were discovered by some of 
 the enemy who were loitering about the outskirts of the 
 village, and the alarm given. Before we had time to 
 reach the huts (although advancing with great rapidity) 
 a. shower of arrows were discharged upon us by them, 
 and a number of our party fell. The conflict now be 
 came general, and, from every indication, sanguinary. 
 At this stage of the affair, I instantly disappeared from 
 amongst them unobserved, I believe, by a living soul, 
 and rapidly moved off in a southerly direction. 
 
 My object had been, after going some distance in this 
 direction, to change my course, and travel in a north 
 westerly direction, in the hope of reaching the territory 
 of the Hudson Bay Company ; but in consequence of 
 my ignorance of the country, and the darkness of the 
 night, I became confused in my mind and mistook my 
 reckoning, which, as the reader will see, was the cause 
 of a world of suffering and trouble to me. 
 What the result of the contest between the two par- 
 *9 
 

 210 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 ties of savages was, of course I never learned ; but from 
 appearances at the time of my departure, I was of the 
 opinion that if the Black- Feet succeeded at all in the 
 chastisement of their enemy, their laurels would be 
 dearly bought, as the Crows seemed to be not only nu 
 merous, but well prepared for their reception. But, to 
 a people so accustomed to victory in almost all their 
 contests with the neighboring tribes as the Black-Feet 
 were, the odds would have to be great indeed, ere they 
 would succumb to the prowess of the enemy. 
 
 I traveled during the remainder of the night, making 
 the necessary angle, as I supposed, in order to reach the 
 point of my destination. As day began to dawn, I se 
 creted myself beneath the foliage of a thicket of under 
 brush, where I remained all day. 
 
 During this interval of inactivity, I had time to revolve 
 in my mind the magnitude of my undertaking ; and in 
 contemplating the many difficulties and dangers to which 
 I would necessarily be exposed, in making the long 
 journey before me, even in view of the most prosperous 
 results, I almost despaired of success. 
 
 An unbroken wilderness, of many hundreds of miles 
 in extent, lay before me, infested with barbarous savages 
 and ferocious beasts ; and it was hardly to be expected 
 that, for so long a time as I would necessarily be en 
 gaged in making this journey, I would be so fortunate 
 as to escape the malignancy of both these enemies ; be 
 sides my constant exposure to numerous other contin 
 gencies of perhaps equal danger. But I had now been 
 in captivity to the savages for five years, and, without a 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 211 
 
 desperate effort on my part, I must live and die with 
 them ; the thought of which, I could not for a moment 
 endure. Let the issue of the matter be what it might, 
 I regarded the effort on my part as being commendable, 
 and worthy of my best energies. I therefore reconciled 
 my mind to meet with courage and in a proper spirit 
 every possible evil that might befall me while in pursuit 
 of this, the great object of my heart. 
 
 I had with me a small quantity of dried meat, which 
 the savages designed to last me through the campaign 
 with the Crows ; and, after this was exhausted, I would 
 be forced to rely upon my rifle for supplies which, by 
 the by, had never failed me in an emergency of this kind. 
 
 As soon as night had again covered the earth with its 
 sable mantle, I pursued my journey, and as daylight 
 began to appear in the morning, stopped to rest myself 
 beneath the branches of a cluster of young elms, and 
 being very tired, soon fell asleep, and did not wake till 
 near noon ; when, after partaking of some of my ven 
 ison, I again set out on my way. From this time for 
 ward, I traveled altogether in daylight, and rested my 
 self during the night. 
 
 In this way, my toilsome journey was prolonged till 
 the second day of November nearly two months from 
 the time I set out. A few of the more prominent inci 
 dents with which I came in contact in the mean time, I 
 will now proceed to relate. 
 
 On the 15th day of September, as I was progressing 
 on mydpurney, I suddenly came upon an Indian village, 
 and was in imminent danger of losing my life. With- 
 
212 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 out expecting a casualty of this kind at the time, my 
 mind was wholly absorbed in contemplating the proba 
 bilities of my escape, when, emerging from a dense wood, 
 I found myself almost within the purlieus of the village 
 limits. That I had been observed was evident, from 
 the rapid retreat of a number of squaws and naked 
 children. My condition was extremely perilous, and I 
 instantly sprang back into the woods. Presently three 
 warriors, with bows and arrows in their hands, cautiously 
 approached the spot where I had emerged from the 
 wood. By this time, I had retired at a little distance, 
 and taken up my position behind the trunk of a large 
 tree regarding it as dangerous to undertake to effect 
 my escape by flight, when the enemy was so close upon 
 me. Having reached the edge of the wood where I 
 had been observed, they stopped, and commenced peep 
 ing and peering in every direction, in order to get their 
 eyes upon me. 
 
 While thus employed, a prudent regard for my own 
 safety dictated to me that this was the proper time to 
 make the best disposition possible of a bad case. At 
 all events, I could hardly make it any worse. The 
 largest savage of the three occupied a position a little 
 in front of the other two. My rifle was already in posi 
 tion against the side of the tree, and bringing it to bear 
 upon the region of the heart of the large Indian, I 
 pulled the trigger, and leaping into the air at least three 
 feet, he dropped upon his face, quivering in death. A 
 nervous shout from the two other savages folldfc^ed the 
 report of my gun,. succeeded by a rapidity of flight that 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 213 
 
 would have been credible to the speed of thorough-bred 
 greyhounds. And, by the way, after this adventure, my 
 own speed was by no means contemptible, for upon it I 
 supposed my life depended. 
 
 Varying my course, in order to avoid the village, 
 during the remainder of the day and a portion of the 
 succeeding night, I passed over a credible extent of 
 territory. 
 
 To what tribe these savages belonged is more than I 
 can tell, as they differed in some respects in appearance 
 from any I had seen. It is probable that the warriors 
 of this village, with few exceptions, were, at the time of 
 this occurrence, absent on a hunting tour, as upon this 
 hypothesis only could I account for the appearance, on 
 so important an occasion as this,, of so few of them. 
 
 I entertained serious fears of being pursued, and per 
 haps waylaid by them ; and to avoid a contingency of 
 this kind, I took pains to conceal my trail as much 
 as possible, thereby rendering it difficult of pursuit 
 Whether these fears were well founded or not, is more 
 than I can say at any rate, I never saw or heard from 
 them aftewards. 
 
 On the night of the 20th of this month, while en 
 deavoring to compose my mind to sleep after a weary 
 day's journey, near the source of a small ravine, I was 
 aroused by the tumultuous howling of what appeared 
 to be legions of wolves. At first, they seemed to be 
 at a considerable distance, but from the gradual increase 
 in the Alume of noise, they were evidently approxima 
 ting thwplace of my rest ; an<J from the known audacity 
 
 I 
 
'214: FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 of these animals when pressed by hunger, I felt but 
 littje disposed to enter the arena with them ; though 
 circumstances seemed to require on this occasion that I 
 should give them a cordial, if not an enthusiastic re 
 ception. I collected together a quantity of dry leaves 
 and sticks, and having set them on fire by means of the 
 flint in my gun and a little powder, I was in hopes the 
 conflagration would keep them at bay. They still ap 
 proached nearer and nearer, however, and as a last pre 
 cautionary movement on my part, with rifle in hand, I 
 climbed into the branches of a small tree that stood 
 near, and composedly awaited their approach. 
 
 While the fire burned they preserved a respectful dis 
 tance, but in the course of a couple of hours, it having 
 all died out, they ventured up in great numbers, and 
 made the night hideous with their wild and sonorous 
 music. Judging from their noise and the moving mass 
 which I was enabled to distinguish through the dark 
 ness, there must have been a hundred in the gang. I 
 was not able to get a moment's rest during the night 
 for besides the perils of submitting myself to the arms 
 of Morpheus while astride the branch of a tree, the in 
 cessant howling of the wolves drove all desire for this 
 luxury from my eyes. During the night I fired my rifle 
 twice amongst the moving mass, with the hope of at 
 least frightening them away which, upon both occa 
 sions, had for the time being the desired effect; but 
 they soon rallied again, apparently as courageous as 
 before. As day began to dawn in the east, Aey de 
 parted for their dens, ano my great joy, leftSKe again 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 215 
 
 to the peaceful contemplation of my own mind. On 
 descending the tree in the morning, I found that one of 
 the discharges of my rifle had taken effect upon the 
 vitals of one of these canines, as a portion of its bones 
 were left strewed upon the ground, a standing testimony 
 of the remorseless hunger of its companions. 
 
 On the night of the 30th of the same month, (Sep 
 tember,) I again found myself in a most perilous situa 
 tion. I had quartered myself for the night upon the 
 summit of a slight elevation of ground, beneath a kind 
 of canopy formed- by a union of the branches of numer 
 ous shrubs and vines. Sometime in the night, I was 
 aroused from my sleep by a deep gutteral growl, which 
 seemed at no great distance from me. From the sound 
 of the noise I was convinced that it proceeded from a 
 grizzly and only by the most prompt and desperate 
 effort on my part could I expect to save myself from 
 the devouring jaws of this monster. I instantly sprang 
 to my feet, at the same time clutching my rifle in one 
 hand and my knife in the other. 
 
 The night was moderately dark, and my fire had en 
 tirely gone out. For some time after gaining my feet, I 
 looked in every direction, in order to get my eyes on the 
 disturber of my repose, but apparently to no effect, as 
 I was able to recognize nothing that my imagination 
 could torture into a grizzly, or, in fact, the form of any 
 other animal. While thus standing, intently gazing 
 around, another hideous growl drew my attention to the 
 branches^ka large oak tree, which stood in the imme 
 diate viciBy ; and, to my ani||nnent, I there beheld, 
 
216 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 squatting upon a limb, an animal that I recognized at 
 once as being a panther of large size, apparently in the 
 proper attitude to leap upon me. Its eyes, in the dark 
 ness, glowed like two balls of fire, and my danger was 
 evidently most imminent. Time was precious, and the 
 advantage would probably result to the assailing party ; 
 at any rate, under the circumstances, I regarded the in 
 itiative the safer policy, and, accordingly, was not slow 
 in bringing my rifle upon a level with the beast, and aim 
 ing my ball for that part of its body lighted up by the 
 reflection of its eyes, fired upon it, when the monster 
 rolled off the limb, and with tremendous force came 
 crashing to the ground. After discharging my gun, I 
 immediately drew my knife, in expectation of a hand- 
 to-hand encounter with the enemy. But to my infinite 
 delight, I soon discovered that in this respect I need be 
 under no apprehension, as a state of profound silence 
 soon convinced me that its aggressive principles were 
 done for forever, and that its malignant spirit had already 
 taken its departure. 
 
 After rekindling my fire, I took a light in my hand 
 and approached the place where it laid, and found it to 
 be a very large brown panther My ball had entered 
 its head between and a little above its eyes, and taking 
 an upward direction, carried away a considerable part 
 of the skull. Half an inch higher, and I would have 
 missed it entirely ; and then, no doubt, I would have 
 had a most interesting time in order to have maintained 
 the supremacy of the field with so chivalroAa knight 
 of the species feline. 
 
AMONG THE BLAOK-FEET INDIANS. 217 
 
 Such had been the excitement, to say nothing of the 
 terror that had taken hold upon me during these trans 
 actions, that I felt no disposition to sleep during the 
 remaining portion of the night ; but I passed the time 
 away as best I could, sitting by my fire till morning. 
 
 After this adventure, I met with nothing serious on 
 my way till the 5th of October. On this day, as I was 
 in the act of crossing a narrow prairie, I beheld away 
 in the distance on my right what I took to be six In 
 dians on horseback, rapidly approaching in the direction 
 where I was. I immediately sunk down and concealed 
 myself beneath the high grass. I was very fearful that 
 they had seen me, and that the object of their present 
 mission was my capture, if nothing worse. In these 
 fears, however, I was happily disappointed ; for they 
 rode on past me without checking the speed of their 
 horses in the least, or apparently taking notice of any 
 passing object. They soon disappeared among the tim 
 ber at the other end of the prairie, when I again rose 
 to my feet and continued on my way. 
 
 On the 13th, I encountered a precipitous hill, upon 
 the north side of which a tremendous slide had recently 
 taken place, carrying with it a great number of trees 
 and rocks into the valley below. At the foot of the 
 hill, along the whole length of the rear end of the slide, 
 in great abundance, was collected together in puddles 
 a substance which very much resembled quicksilver, 
 and upon which the rays of the sun had a most luminous 
 and beautiful appearance. Its glowing brightness was 
 such as to sensibly affect the sight by looking upon it 
 
 10 
 
 
 
218 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 for any considerable length of time Such was the 
 abundance of this substance, that I might have gathered 
 gallons of it in a very brief space of time. 
 
 My wonder at this singular phenomenon was greatly 
 excited ; for although I had heard of quicksilver mines, 
 yet I had hardly realized in my own mind the fact of 
 their existence in any other part of the world, much less 
 the idea of their exemplification in so remarkable a man 
 ner in this wild and almost uninhabited region of the 
 country. Not only in its general appearance, but in 
 its extreme versatility, it resembles that sold in the 
 shops of London, and other European cities ; and I am 
 fully persuaded in my own mind, that this is the same 
 substance. 
 
 On the night of the ITth, I was much annoyed by 
 the almost constant howling of wolves, and the occa 
 sional mournful cry of a panther ; but, from some cause, 
 they gave me no farther trouble, and although I slept 
 but very little, I had the satisfaction of retaining pos 
 session of my humble couch. 
 
 The greater part of the 21st I spent in concealment 
 at the source of a deep and almost impenetrable ravine. 
 Early on the morning of this day, I discovered that I 
 was in the vicinity of the habitations of a tribe of sav 
 ages, as I saw in advance of me a number of squaws 
 picking up sticks. I changed my course in order to 
 avoid them, and accepted of the protection afforded by 
 the first place of security with which I met ; for travel 
 ing in daylight where I then was, I regarded as hazard 
 ous in the extreme. After night had fairly set in, I 
 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 219 
 
 continued my journey, and traveled all night, in order to 
 get as far beyond the locality of these savages as possi 
 ble by morning. 
 
 I had now been subsisting for more than a month up 
 on the game that I chanced to kill with my rifle on the 
 way, and hitherto had met with little inconvenience from 
 short allowance. But for the succeeding twelve days 
 of my wanderings, I met with scarcely any game, and 
 was in imminent danger of starving to death. And had 
 it not been for one of those fortuitous circumstances 
 which occasionally cross our path under the most des 
 perate fortune, even at a time when hope has abandoned 
 its mission of mercy, these facts would never have been 
 narrated by me. But the sequel will show the result. 
 
 The painful conclusion had for some time forced itself 
 upon my mind that I had lost my way, and that, instead 
 of advancing in the direction of the territory of the 
 Hudson Bay Company, the probability was, that I was 
 wandering about to no purpose, in this wild and inhos 
 pitable country. 
 
 These thoughts, added to the prospect of absolute 
 starvation, in connection with all my other troubles and 
 difficulties, caused me almost to despair and give myself 
 up for lost. For a month and a half I had now been 
 contending with the fury of the elements above, as well 
 as that of prowling beasts and wandering savages ; 
 and from aught that appeared, I was no nearer the 
 great object of my heart than I was the day I set 
 out. My condition at this time was indeed pitiable, 
 and my distress can never be fully appreciated by 
 
 
220 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 any living creature. The last morsel of food that I 
 had was consumed by me on the morning of the 22d, 
 after which I set out on my journey with the hope that 
 I would come upon some game during the day ; but in 
 this I was doomed to disappointment, for, although I 
 was diligent in the use of all the means calculated to 
 insure success, yet, during the whole day, I came upon 
 nothing in form of fish, fowl or beast ; and in the evening, 
 weary and hungry, I laid down to spend the night. 
 
 By dawn of day on the morning of the 23rd, I re 
 sumed my course, with hopes of better success on this 
 day ; but, as though the star of my fortune had gone 
 out forever, as on the preceding day, I found nothing, 
 and in an almost famishing condition was obliged to 
 spend another night. 
 
 On the 24th, it rained all day, and I was drenched 
 from morning till night ; nevertheless, the day was fully 
 occupied by my labors for subsistence. Sometime in 
 the afternoon of this day, while following the margin of 
 a small stream, I shot a fowl of the crane species, and 
 hastily removing its feathers and intestines, in an in 
 credibly brief space of time had it roasting over a brisk 
 fire. So great were the cravings of my appetite, that 
 before it was sufficiently cooked, I commenced devour 
 ing it ; and, although it was exceedingly poor, I thought 
 it excellent. But a few minutes served me for its con 
 sumption, and niy hunger was still unappeased. This 
 timely relief, however, added greatly to my strength, 
 and I continued my travels till dark, without even get 
 ting a glimpse of any thing else that would have been 
 useful to me as food. 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 221 
 
 The 25th was also spent to no purpose, so far as 
 game was concerned, and with the exception of an an 
 telope, which I failed to get a shot at, I saw nothing 
 that would afford me relief. Weary in body, and broken 
 in spirit, I threw myself upon the ground, at the base of 
 a large tree, in order to spend the night. I soon fell 
 asleep, and dreamed that I was in the midst of a great 
 variety of game, consisting, in part, of deer, elk, and 
 buffalo, and that I killed a great many of them. Upon 
 waking from my sleep to a consciousness of my condi 
 tion,- what was my mortification on finding my vision of 
 plenty the deception of a mere dream. 
 
 On the 26th, the only relief I obtained in my starving 
 condition was a snipe, which I killed while passing 
 along. This bird was about the size of an English 
 quail, and in color very much resembled it. It afforded 
 me an apology for a meal, and to my taste was the most 
 delicious food that I ever ate. 
 
 The 27th was utterly barren of results, in the way of 
 supplying my necessities. And from this time forward 
 to the afternoon of the second day of November, I was 
 able to procure nothing in the way of food. Such had 
 become my extreme weakness and exhaustion, that on 
 the 31st day of October I found myself unable to ad 
 vance any farther on my way, and beneath the shadow 
 of a venerable spruce, laid down upon the ground, re 
 signing myself a martyr to cold and hunger. 
 
 Perhaps there is no death that can befall us so pro 
 lific of the extremes of misery and wretchedness, as that 
 by starvation. In its more advanced stages, grim-vis- 
 
222 FIVE YEABS A CAPTIVE 
 
 aged hunger, in form of a hideous monster, rears its 
 head aloft, and with a mighty arm forces under its des 
 potic rule not only all that is noble and exalted in mor 
 als and religion, but all the other passions of the heart. 
 So that the most gentle, loving females, pressed by this 
 demon power, have destroyed their own offspring in order 
 to appease its cravings. 
 
 It is true that my experience does not go to the ex 
 tent of actual death from this cause ; yet I certainly 
 passed through every stage short of it, on this occasion. 
 My whole being was a prey to the lusts of its power ; 
 and I thought, cared, or dreamed of nothing, but how 
 to gratify the ceaseless gnawings of appetite. 
 
 While laying in this hopeless condition, unable tp 
 move either hand or foot, and with my mind delirious 
 from the greatness of my misery and distress, I was 
 rescued from the jaws of death by a party of Mexican 
 traders, who, on the 2nd day of November, providentially 
 passed that way on their return home. Upon perceiving 
 me, several of them dismounted from their horses, and 
 seeing that I was not dead, and from appearances, as 
 well as from a few signs which I gave them, learning 
 that I was perishing from starvation, they prepared a 
 little food and gave it to me. Two of their number re 
 mained with me all night, and by giving me small allow 
 ances of food at short intervals through the night, by 
 the next morning I felt much improved ; and by two 
 o'clock in the afternoon, was able to ride on horseback. 
 At their request, I gave them a brief sketch of my life, 
 from the time I was taken captive by the Indians up to 
 
AMONG THE BLACK-FEET INDIANS. 223 
 
 '"%" 
 
 the present. They appeared much interested in my 
 narrative, and expressed their sympathy for my mis 
 fortunes. 
 
 They informed me that I was upon the confines of 
 Mexico, and that the section of country through which 
 (for the last ten days of my travels) I had passed, was 
 nearly destitute of game, from the fact that for many 
 years it had been much visited by the hunters from 
 Mexico, as well as by those of a number of tribes of 
 Indians. 
 
 I could scarcely realize the fact, that in traveling as 
 I supposed in the direction of Vancouver's Island on 
 the Pacific, I had so far lost my way as to have reached 
 the territory of Mexico ; and yet I dared not question 
 my authority. I thanked the Lord, however, for the 
 deliverance He had thus sent me, though at so great a 
 cost on my part, and in a way that I had not expected. 
 Both of the men who were left with me could talk 
 broken English, and they advised me to accompany 
 them to Mexico as my only means of safety, and one 
 that would ultimately afford me a chance to return to 
 my own country. 
 
 Of course, under the circumstances, I readily em 
 braced their advice ; and being supplied by them with 
 a horse, went with them to their own country. Being 
 entirely destitute of money, as well as decent apparel, 
 my return home, as a matter of course, had to be de 
 ferred until I could provide myself with a proper supply 
 of these essentials. 
 
 The people generally with whom I have become ac- 
 
224 FIVE YEARS A CAPTIVE 
 
 quainted, seem to take considerable interest in my be 
 half, and through their influence, I obtained my pres 
 ent situation as shepherd to Castro Urego, a wealthy 
 Spaniard of this country. The term of my service is 
 for one year ; at the end of which time, I am to receive 
 for my services a sum of money about equal to one 
 hundred pounds sterling, when I shall immediately set 
 out for England, by way of New Orleans in America. 
 
 Here Mr. Dixon's notes terminate, and, as a conse 
 quence, our labors with them. By way of explanation, 
 however, we will inform the reader that Don Zeno (to 
 whom reference is made in the introduction) informed 
 Mr. Winter, that before Mr. Dixon's term of service 
 was up, he was attacked by a malignant fever, and after 
 lingering in great distress for about three weeks, died, 
 and was buried under his father's directions. 
 
 EDITOR