n until about my fifteenth year. I was not allowed
to paint or wear feathers, but distinguished myself at an early age by
wounding an enemy; consequently I was placed in the ranks of the Braves.

Soon after this a leading chief of the Muscow nation came to our village
for recruits to go to war against the Osages, our common enemy.

I volunteered my services to go, as my father had joined him, and was
proud to have an opportunity to prove to him that I was not an unworthy
son, and that I had courage and bravery. It was not long before we met
the enemy and a battle immediately ensued. Standing by my father's side,
I saw him kill his antagonist and tear the scalp from off his head.
Fired with valor and ambition, I rushed furiously upon another and smote
him to the earth with my tomahawk. I then ran my lance through his body,
took off his scalp and returned in triumph to my father. He said nothing
but looked well pleased. This was the first man I killed. The enemy's
loss in this engagement having been very great, they immediately
retreated, which put an end to the war for the time being. Our party
then returned to the village and danced over the scalps we had taken.
This was the first time I was permitted to join in a scalp dance.

After a few moons had passed, being acquired considerable reputation
as a brave, I led a party of seven and attacked one hundred Osages! I
killed one man and left him for my comrades to scalp while I was taking
observations of the strength and preparations of the enemy. Finding that
they were equally well armed with ourselves, I ordered a retreat and
came off without the loss of a man. This excursion gained for me great
applause, and enabled me, before a great while, to raise a party of one
hundred and eighty to march against the Osages. We left our village in
high spirits and marched over a rugged country, until we reached the
land of the Osages, on the borders of the Missouri.

We followed their trail until we arrived at the village, which we
approached with exceeding caution, thinking that they were all here,
but found, to our sorrow, that they had deserted it. The party became
dissatisfied in consequence of this disappointment, and all, with the
exception of five noble braves, dispensed and went home. I then placed
myself at the head of this brave little band, and thanked the Great
Spirit that so _many_ had remained. We took to the trail of our enemies,
with a full determination never to re