They all felt that they had retained their scalps by a very close shave.
One in front bore a short pole, on which, as it afterwards appeared, were suspended several human scalps.
As we left our teepees in the morning, we were never sure that our scalps would not dangle from a pole in the afternoon!
If they are beaten off at the settlements I reckon they will pay you a visit for sure; they won't go back without scalps.
The Indians were out, and near at hand, reaping their harvest of scalps! That of young Poindexter was the firstfruits of their sanguinary gleaning!
"In what manner will he speak," demanded the wary chief, "when the runners count to him the scalps which five nights ago grew on the heads of the Yengeese?"
But it seemed that the bees were always on the alert and never entirely surprised, for they always raised quite as many scalps as did their bold assailants!
If they succeed there and get lots of booty and plenty of scalps, they may march back without touching you; they will be in a hurry to get to their villages and have their feasts and dancing.
As a general rule, no matter what the profit or urgent necessity which chance offers, these Indians will not hazard a contest when, to a certainty, they must expect their own killed will equal the number of scalps which they can obtain.