IT TOOK MORE THAN PURELY PHYSICAL COURAGE TO ENFORCE THE LAW IN AN INDIAN RESEERVATION SETTING; IT TOOK MORAL STAMINA TO STAND BEHIND WHITE MEN'S RULES THAT WERE UNPOPULAR WITH THE POLICEMAN'S OWN PEOPLE. THIS THEME WAS ILLUSTRATED IN THE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF A NEAR-UPRISING OF THE CROW INDIAN TRIBE, AVERTED ONLY BECAUSE THE CROW POLICEMAN, FIRE BEAR, WAS WILLING TO SLAY HIS TRIBE'S IMMENSELY POPULAR LEADER. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN FIRE BEAR'S YOUTH, AND HE WAS STILL SERVING ON THE POLICE FORCE, A WIZENED OLD MAN IN 1912. TYPICAL OF THE CRIMES AGAINST WHICH THE RESERVATION POLICE HAD TO CONTEND WERE BOOTLEGGING, HORSE-THEFT, CATTLE RUSTLING, AND GUNFIGHTING. THE TERRITORIES POLICED WERE LARGE AND REMOTE, BUT THE INDIAN POLICE EXHIBITED GREAT TENACITY AND INNATE CUNNING IN THE PURSUIT OF CRIMINALS. THE APACHE KID WAS A VALUED MEMBER OF HIS TRIBE'S POLICE FORCE BEFORE HE EMBARKED ON AN OUTLAW CAREER BY ATTEMPTING TO AVENGE HIS FATHER'S DEATH ACCORDING TO INDIAN TRADITION. THE MANAGEMENT OF A NATIVE POLICE FORCE REQUIRED A DELICATE BALANCING OF DISCIPLINE AND RESTRAINT ON THE AGENTS' PART, SINCE THE REBELLIOUS INDIAN SPIRIT WAS STILL FELT TO BE JUST BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE MEN THEY HAD ARMED. ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)