ntally at the side of the horse. Those who possess a carbine have
it fixed on the left side by a ring and a hook, the butt nearly close to
the sash, and the muzzle protruding a little before the knee.

The younger warriors, who do not possess the carbine, carry in its stead
a small bundle of javelins (the jerrid of the Persians), with which they
are very expert, for I have often seen them, at a distance of ten feet,
bury one more than two feet deep in the flanks of a buffalo. To
complete their offensive weapons, they have the lasso, a leather rope
fifty feet long, and as thick as a woman's little finger, hanging from
the pommel of their saddles; this is a terrible arm, against which there
is but little possibility of contending, even if the adversary possess a
rifle, for the casting of the lasso is done with the rapidity of
thought, and an attempt to turn round and fire would indubitably seal
his fate: the only means to escape the fatal noose is, to raise the
reins of your horse to the top of your head, and hold any thing
diagonally from your body, such as the lance, the carbine, or any thing
except the knife, which you must hold in your sight hand, ready for use.

The chances then are: if the lasso falls above your head, it must slip,
and then it is a lost throw, but if you are quick enough to pass your
knife through the noose, and cut it as it is dragged back, then the
advantage becomes yours, or, at least is equally divided, for then you
may turn upon your enemy, whose bow, lance, and rifle, for the better
management of his lasso, have been left behind, or too firmly tied about
him to be disengaged and used in so short a time. He can only oppose
you with the knife and tomahawk, and if you choose, you may employ your
own lasso; in that case the position is reversed; still the conquest
belongs to the most active of the two.

It often happens, that after having cut the lasso and turned upon his
foe, an Indian, without diminishing the speed of his horse, will pick up
from the ground, where he has dropped it, his rifle or his lance; then,
of course, victory is in his hands. I escaped once from being lassoed
in that way. I was pursued by a Crow Indian; his first throw failed, so
did his second and his third; on the fourth, I cut the rope, and
wheeling round upon him, I gave chase, and shot him through the body
with one of my pistols. The noose at every cast formed such an exact
circle, and fell with such precision,