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CHAPTER IX.
     THE FRENCH HALF-BREEDS.-BALAKLAVA S CHARGE.
   The Indians appeared to be pretty short on meat supply
during my stay in their camp, but the poor creatures had
no more idea of the imminence of the famine which subse-
quently compelled their surrender, than so many children.
The faithful squaws went out on the wooded bluffs and
gathered all kinds of berries to make up for the lack of ani-
mal food. Yet it was the intense humanity of Major Walsh
that absolutely kept the wretched people from eating their
horses. I knew then that the reign of Sitting Pull would
not be long in the land.
   The question has often been asked, "Are there any
really pretty squaws?"  I will answer it here: There are
not very many, but there are some. Many of the girls have
quite attractive features, but, when they marry, hard work
speedily disfigures them.  In point of virtue these women,
mr ried or sigle, arc likle most of thice bolon-ring to tWi
Northern tribes that have not come too much in contact
with white men-as nearly perfect as human nature, civil-
ized or savage, can be. This, I think, is one of the reasons
why the Sioux nature is so vigorous, warlike and unsub-
dued. With all this virtuousness, in a physical sense, tbl
S:oux women are not over-elegant in thIir phraseolojv.
TL--y can talk vulgarlv enough, btt when it comnes to p
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