One of the Sarcees fell.  E-k[=u]s’-kini said to his men, “A-wah-heh’” (Take courage).  “These people cannot kill us here.  Where that patch of choke-cherry brush is, in the very centre of their camp, we will go and take our stand.”  Another Sarcee fell, and now there were only three of them.  E-k[=u]s’-kini said to his remaining men:  “Go straight to that patch of brush, and I will fight the enemy off in front and at the sides, and so will keep the way open for you.  These people cannot kill us here.  There are too many of their own people.  If we can get to that brush, we will hurt them badly.”  All this time they were killing enemies, fighting bravely, and singing their war songs.  At last they gained the patch of brush, and then with their knives they began to dig holes in the ground, and to throw up a shelter.

In the Cree camp was K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s (Round), the chief of the Crees, who could talk Blackfoot well.  He called out:  “E-k[=u]s’-kini, there is a little ravine running out of that brush patch, which puts into the hills.  Crawl out through that, and try to get away.  It is not guarded.”  E-k[=u]s’-kini replied:  “No, Children of the Crees, I will not go.  You must remember that it is E-k[=u]s’-kini that you are fighting with—­a man who has done much harm to your people.  I am glad that I am here.  I am sorry for only one thing; that is, that my ammunition is going to run out.  To-morrow you may kill me.”

All night long the fight was kept up, the enemy shooting all the time, and all night long E-k[=u]s’-kini sang his death song.  K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s called to him several times:  “E-k[=u]s’-kini, you had better do what I tell you.  Try to get away.”  But he shouted back, “No,” and laughed at them.  He said:  “You have killed all my men.  I am here alone, but you cannot kill me.”  K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s, the chief, said:  “Well, if you are there at daylight in the morning, I will go into that brush and will catch you with my hands.  I will be the man who will put an end to you.”  E-k[=u]s’-kini said:  “K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s, do not try to do that.  If you do, you shall surely die.”  The patch of brush in which he had hidden had now been all shot away, cut off by the bullets of the enemy.

When day came, E-k[=u]s’-kini called out:  “Eh, K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s, it is broad daylight now.  I have run out of ammunition.  I have not another grain of powder in my horn.  Now come and take me in your hands, as you said you would.”  K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s answered:  “Yes, I said that I was the one who was going to catch you this morning.  Now I am coming.”

He took off all his clothes, and alone rushed for the breastworks.  E-k[=u]s’-kini’s ammunition was all gone, but he still had one load in his gun, and his dagger.  K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s came on with his gun at his shoulder, and E-k[=u]s’-kini sat there with his gun in his hand, looking at the man who was coming toward him with the cocked gun pointed at him.  He was singing his death song.  As K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s got up close, and just as he was about to fire, E-k[=u]s’-kini threw up his gun and fired, and the ball knocked off the Cree chiefs forefinger, and going on, entered his right eye and came out at the temple, knocking the eye out.  K[)o]m-in’-[)a]-k[=u]s went down, and his gun flew a long way.