Volume 1

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I06
ETHICS OF HOMICIDE.
whom she always despised and detested.
She thought this
a favorable opportunity to be revenged, and, taking up a
long stick, she gave him a blow on the head, which laid
him senseless ; then she ran off and hid in Crow's tent ; as
soon as he recovered he took his knife, and went for her
having found her, without any further quarrel or ceremony,
he took her by the left arm, drew his knife, and began to stab
her. He would have continued the blows, had not some of
the women taken the knife from him. I thought it extraordinary
that she did not attempt to defend herself, but
was told she made no resistance or attempt to get away
from him, which she easily could have done, but allowed
herself to be butchered, although
she was but little intoxicated.
I have frequently observed this to be the case with
these people. When they conceive themselves to have
been revenged, they are careless as to consequences, and in
a manner have no sense of fear. Even when death seems
certain, they scorn to avoid it ; but should the assailant fail
in his undertaking, he may rest assured the consequences
will be fatal to him some day. I attribute to this impulse
of ferocity the many instances I
have witnessed in which an
Indian, having failed in a premeditated murder, and being
well aware of the consequences, will injure or kill all who
come in his way, until his passion is satisfied, when he will
suddenly throw down his arms and give himself up to the
judgment of the camp. Sitting with his head between his
legs, he will allow even a child or an old woman to dispatch
him, without saying one word in his own defense.
If lenity
is shown him he afterward becomes a mean devil, and in
almost every drinking-bout will do some black deed until
he receives his death-blow; this happens generally very
soon, but sometimes immediately—particularly should he
not belong to the clan [totem].
I had trouble in preventing
the Indians from killing old Crooked Legs. Even his son
seemed anxious to dispatch him. We took all their arms
from them, and when at last I got them quiet, they promised
to respite the old man until the woman was dead, when