Moccasin Trails Free online reading

In 1809, John Potts and John Colter were taking two canoes up the Jefferson River in Montana. Potts and Colter came upon a band of several hundred Blackfeet Indians who demanded they come ashore. Colter guided his canoe ashore and was disarmed and stripped naked. When Potts refused to bring his canoe ashore he was shot and wounded. He returned fire and killed one of the Blackfeet warriors. He died immediately, riddled by a hail of bullets fired by the Indians on the shore. His body was brought ashore and hacked to pieces in front of Colter. Colter tried to protest, but was slapped across the face with a rifle butt.

The Blackfeet held a council and it was decided that he would be a little sport for several of the young warriors. Colter was brought before the War Chief and told in the Crow language that he would be permitted to leave in his naked condition. A few seconds later a brave would be sent out after him for the purpose of killing him. A few seconds later another warrior would be sent and so on until 10 Blackfeet pursued him. This would be a naked “run for his life.”