milar
occasions, but repetition has no horror for an Indian, and judging from
the flattering silence with which his speech is received, and the many
complimentary expressions with which he is greeted at its close, one
would at once conclude that the remarks were new and original. Boasting
is an Indian's weak point; given a listener, and the amount of bombast
and mock heroics which he will inflict on one, simply staggers belief.

If, on the contrary, the hunting party has not been successful, but
defeat and misfortune has been their portion, then the scene is changed.
In place of feasting and revelry, they are greeted with a death-like
silence, and, as the remnant of the party defile through the village,
they are objects of the closest scrutiny by anxious mothers and wives.
If the keen eyes of love, search in vain for the form of him, who a few
weeks before left the village in the glory and vigor of manhood, a
heart-rending wail goes up, which is instantly echoed by the assembled
women, until the welkin resounds with mournful cries. As on more joyful
occasions, a rush is made in the direction of the council lodge, and it
then becomes the painful duty of the survivors to relate their mishaps,
and how such and such an one met the enemy with his accustomed bravery,
and foremost fighting, fell.

In these recitals, the party in question always meet a foe who vastly
outnumbers them, and according to their account, their opponents always
suffer terribly in slain, and would have eventually been overcome, and
completely routed, had not some trifling accident--which could not be
foreseen--occurred to mar the effects of their stunning prowess.

I have never seen an Indian fight, and am not able to judge of their
actions on the field of battle, but, if observations of the red man in
his home, is any criterion, I should venture the opinion that an Apache
would fight valiantly under one condition, namely: when his party were
numerically stronger than the opposing force. I think they have a just
appreciation of the Falstaffian method of conducting warfare, and are
firmly convinced that "he who fights and runs away," has better
opportunities for glory, rapacity and booty, another day.

As these pages are being written, the country is again startled by the
news of fresh Indian outrages, this time, against the constituted
authority of the country, and close on the heels of the news of the
reopening of Indian hostilities, comes the thri