had
left the main body and gone off to the south with a small party, as he
was accustomed to do every summer, to seek revenge of some sort on the
whites for all the injuries that they had inflicted upon our family.
This time he met with a company of soldiers between Fort Totten and Fort
Berthold, in North Dakota. Somehow, these seven Indians surprised the
troopers in broad daylight, while eating their dinner, and captured the
whole outfit, including nearly all their mules and one white horse, with
such of their provisions as they cared to carry back with them. No doubt
these soldiers reported at the fort that they had been attacked by a
large party of Indians, and I dare say some promotions rewarded their
tale of a brave defense! However, the facts are just as I have stated
them. My uncle brought home the white horse, and the fine Spanish mules
were taken by the others. Among the things they brought back with them
were several loaves of raised bread, the first I had ever seen, and a
great curiosity. We called it aguyape tachangu, or lung bread, from its
spongy consistency.

Although when a successful war-party returns with so many trophies,
there is usually much dancing and hilarity, there was almost nothing
of the kind on this occasion. The reason was that the enemy made little
resistance; and then there was our old tradition with regard to the
whites that there is no honor in conquering them, as they fight only
under compulsion. Had there really been a battle, and some of our men
been killed, there would have been some enthusiasm.

It was upon this journey that a hunter performed the feat of shooting
an arrow through three antelopes. This statement may perhaps be doubted,
yet I can vouch for its authenticity. He was not alone at the time, and
those who were with him are reliable witnesses. The animals were driven
upon a marshy peninsula, where they were crowded together and almost
helpless. Many were despatched with knives and arrows; and a man by the
name of Grey-foot, who was large and tall and an extraordinarily fine
hunter, actually sent his arrow through three of them. This feat was not
accomplished by mere strength, for it requires a great deal of skill as
well.

A misfortune occurred near the river which deprived us of one of our
best young men. There was no other man, except my own uncle, for whom I
had at that time so great an admiration. Very strangely, as it appeared
to me, he bore a Christian name. He w