girdle ornamented with the scalps of the enemies they had slain in battle, completed their attire.

Some of my younger readers may say, "What is a scalp?" I must interrupt the story for a little while to tell them.

Fighting is always a cruel thing; but among the Indians it is carried on in the most barbarous manner. They try to kill their enemies in the most savage way, and to obtain a proof of the victory which they have achieved. As soon as they have overcome an antagonist, they cut round the skin of the top of the head with the scalping-knife which they always carry in their belt, and tear it off from the skull. This scalp hanging at the waist, is looked upon by them as a great ornament, and as a proof of their courage and bravery. am sure my readers will agree with me that this custom is a proof of the horrid cruelty of these people as well. They feel proud and are honoured according to the number of scalps they have taken just as among ourselves those persons are treated with regard who have titles and rank, although these distinctions are often obtained in a far easier

manner.

I

The Indians by whom Ralph was surrounded were armed in a very primitive way. They had quivers of arrows hanging over their shoulders, and bows in their left hands. They carried tomahawks, a short but powerful kind of axe, in their belts; this is a fearful weapon in their hands, with which they often kill

their enemies at one blow. In the right hand they held a lance about ten feet long, to which a "medicine" bag was fastened, one of the most sacred treasures of a Blackfoot. Those, however, would make a great mistake who should imagine that the Indians carry medicine always with them, as we understand it, to use in case of sickness. By this word they mean an amulet or charm against danger. As long as the "medicine" is in their possession, they feel themselves secure from misfortune of any kind. Should it be lost, then honour and respect are lost also. If it is taken in battle, disgrace and shame rest upon the loser, which can only be removed by his taking another from an enemy, with his scalp.

This charm, to which such blind and superstitious reverence is attached, is obtained in the following way: When the young Indian has reached his thirteenth year, he is allowed to take part in war, and to enjoy the honours of manhood. Before exposing himself to the dangers of active life, he goes away from the rest of the tribe to a solitary place, and there with fasting and prayer beseeches the Great Spirit whom the Indians worship, to show him in a dream the animal that is appointed to be his guardian. Whatever animal he dreams of, whether it be a beast, bird, fish, or serpent, he regards from that time as his protector, and does not rejoin the tribe until he has captured it, which sometimes requires several days. A small bag is then made of the skin of the

animal, into which some part of the body is put. It is then painted by the magician with the most brilliant colours, and the youth fastens it to his lance, feeling convinced that he has got an effectual shield and protection against all danger.

The Indians regarded with astonishment the quiet bravery and self-possession which the pale-face manifested. Neither the certainty of his death, nor the intense pain he suffered, caused him to relax a muscle of his face, and he gradually rose in their opinion.

On entering the chief's wigwam, the leading men sat down on the ground in a circle. Tsaut-weih took his red pipe made from the sacred clay found on the banks of the Orincco, a district which is so sacred to the Indians that it is said that tribes which are at deadly enmity with each other, are friendly as long as they remain there. It was of a simple form, but the stem was ornamented with coloured silk, gold thread, and pearls. It was called the pipe of peace and council, because all deliberations were commenced with it. The old chief filled and lit it, and having taken a powerful whiff, he blew the smoke slowly into the air, and handed it to his neighbour. After it had passed round the circle, and had been returned to Tsa-ut-weih, he commenced the business.

"The 'pale-faces," he said, "drive the red man away from all his best hunting-grounds, and now they have come to the Kansas to rob him of his means of subsistence. The red man

fights, and destroys his enemies, but not as How-ku-tho has done, who killed the 'paleface' as he was coming to ask mercy from the great tribe of the Blackfeet. The young 'paleface' wished to escape because he saw perfidy. Shame and disgrace have been brought upon us. The chief should have judged the old man, not How-ku-tho! What shall be done with the . young 'pale-face'? Shall he be put to death, that fresh shame and punishment from the Great Spirit may come upon us? Tsa-ut-weih says, Let him live! If any of our daughters choose him, let him become a member of the tribe. Tsa-ut-weih will protect him."

The old men were silent for a little while, expecting the chief to speak further; they then said with one voice, "Let the 'pale-face' live."

"And How-ku-tho? What punishment shall he have?" asked the chief, looking silently round the circle.

"Let him be bound, and taken home," they answered.

"And the 'pale-face'?" asked Tsa-ut-weih again.

"Let him go free to the village," they replied; "but if he attempts to escape, let him be pursued, and his scalp taken by the man who can strike him down with his tomahawk."

"So be it!" said the chief.

He rose and put on his state dress, that he might deliver the sentence with becoming dignity and effect. This dress consisted of a tightly fitting coat made of the finest doeskin,

which reached to the knees, elaborately embroidered with gold thread, mixed with long hair from the scalps of his conquered enemies, for which he had no room on his girdle. His hair was bushy and long; and he wore a cap of snow-white ermine, ornamented with the small black tails of that pretty creature. On each side of his cap he wore a buffalo horn, a mark of his distinguished bravery, which he had earned by numerous feats of strength and boldness. His legs were bare, but he wore mocassins of doeskin richly ornamented. In his right hand he held the long lance with three "medicine" bags, two of which were trophies of victory in battle. In his left hand he carried the pipe of peace. He had a tomahawk in his girdle, which was remarkable for the elaborate decoration of the handle. His appearance was in the highest degree striking, as he strode majestically out of the wigwam, slowly followed by the head men.

As soon as he appeared, the Indians sprang to their feet, and formed a circle round the tree to which the pale-face was bound.

A cold shudder ran through Ralph as he looked at the iron countenance of the chief. He surmised his fate, and guessed that he would either be tortured to death on the spot, or taken by the Indians to their village, and tortured there. It was possible that he might have the chance of saving his life by running; but he knew how rarely a prisoner was swift and enduring enough to tire out his pursuers. But before this hunt or race took place, he