Stránka:book 1922.djvu/515

Some Indian Ways 485 rows of medals on an old soldier's breast, they are the record of wonderful past achievements, that every one of them was won perhaps at the risk of his Ufe. What wonder is it that travelers on the plains to-day tell us that the Indian values his headdress above all things else. He would usually pre- fer to part with his ponies and his teepee before he will give up that array of eagle plumes, the only tangible record that he has of whatever was heroic in his past. PLENTY-COUPS I remember vividly a scene I once witnessed years ago in the West when my attention was strongly directed to the significance of the warbonnet. I was living among a cer- tain tribe of Indians and one day they were subjected to a petty indignity by a well-meaning, ill-advised missionary. Two regiments of United States Cavalry were camped near, and so, being'within the letter of the law, he also had power to enforce it. But this occurrence was the last of a long series of foolish small attacks on their harmless customs, and it roused the Indians, es- pecially the younger ones, to the point of rebelhon. A Grand Council was called. A warrior got up and made a strong, logical appeal to their manhood — a tremendously stir- ring speech. He worked them all up and they were ready to go on the warpath, with him to lead them. I felt that my scalp was in serious danger, for an outburst seemed at hand.