I volunteered my services to go, as my father had joined him, and was
proud to have an opportunity to prove to him that I was not an
unworthy son, and that I had courage and bravery. It was not long
before we met the enemy and a battle immediately ensued. Standing by
my father's side, I saw him kill his antagonist and tear the scalp
from off his head. Fired with valor and ambition, I rushed furiously
upon another and smote him to the earth with my tomahawk. I then ran
my lance through his body, took off his scalp and returned in triumph
to my father. He said nothing but looked well pleased. This was the
first man I killed. The enemy's loss in this engagement having been
very great, they immediately retreated, which put an end to the war
for the time being. Our party then returned to the village and danced
over the scalps we had taken. This was the first time I was permitted
to join in a scalp dance.

After a few moons had passed, being acquired considerable reputation
as a brave, I led a party of seven and attacked one hundred Osages! I
killed one man and left him for my comrades to scalp while I was
taking observations of the strength and preparations of the enemy.
Finding that they were equally well armed with ourselves, I ordered a
retreat and came off without the loss of a man. This excursion gained
for me great applause, and enabled me, before a great while, to raise
a party of one hundred and eighty to march against the Osages. We
left our village in high spirits and marched over a rugged country,
until we reached the land of the Osages, on the borders of the
Missouri.

We followed their trail until we arrived at the village, which we
approached with exceeding caution, thinking that they were all here,
but found, to our sorrow, that they had deserted it. The party became