you will give them clothing and something to eat, you may be sure that they will never kill another white man.'

"I shall give them nothing," said the agent," and still be sure that they will never kill another man. They will assuredly be hanged."

"Your heart is very hard, father," replied Descorrie. "Your heart is very hard, but I cannot think that it will be as you say. You know that if you take our young men's lives, we cannot prevent others from revenging them. Our warriors have always taken two lives for one. Our Great Father (the president) is not so hard-hearted as you are. Our young men have killed a great many of your people, and he has always forgiven them."

At that time, Prairie du Chien had no great reason to boast of her administration of justice. A soldier, indeed, had been scourged at the public whipping post, a man of ninety had been fined for lewdness, an Indian had been kicked out of a wheat-field on which he was trampling, and the magistracy prided themselves not a little on these energetic acts of duty. A jail there was, but it was of wood, and stood so far from the village, that a prisoner might carve the logs at noon-day without much danger of detection. Scandal says, that the jailor was wont to bolt the door of it with a boiled carrot. Into this strong hold the criminals were put at night-the place did not own a set of fetters-and in the morning they were missing. Had they been left to their own devices, there is little doubt that they would have remained to brave their fate, but it is thought that some white man advised them what their exact legal responsibilities were, and advised them to escape.

Coloned Willoughby Morgan commanded the military at Prairie du Chien. He immediately caused two Winnebago chiefs to be seized, and informed the tribe that they would not be liberated till the murderers were delivered up. They were soon brought in, and as the civil authority had proved unable to keep them, they were committed to the garrison guard-house. Shortly after the garrison was broken up by order of the secretary of war, and the troops were removed to St. Peters, two hundred miles farther up. There was no appearance of the district judge who was to try the prisoners, and they were therefore transferred to St. Peter's, there to await his coming.

They had long to wait; so long, indeed, that they grew excessively obese and phlegmatic. In the following autumn another party of Chippewas came to St. Peter's, and as they remembered what had happened the year before, they took care to arrive just at day-break and proceeded directly to the fort. There were twenty-four persons in the band, eight of whom were warriors; the rest were women and children. Their chief was Kweeweezaizhish, or the Flat Mouth, the great man of the Sandy Lake Chippewas. He led his little troop straight to the fort, where he unfurled and planted an American flag, and then demanded an interview with the agent and commanding officers.

The Dahcotahs soon learned what was passing, and by the time the gates were opened a considerable number of them had assembled to gaze upon the enemy. Presently the officers came forth, and desired the visiters to enter. "Be not angry, father," replied the Flat Mouth, "but I would rather say something here, before I enter your

VOL. III.

4

wigwam or eat your bread. I desire that these Nahtooessies (enemies) should hear it."

The colonel sent for the Chippewa interpreter, and when he had come, desired the chief to say on.

'Father," said the chief, "you know that more than a year since, we made peace with your Nahtooessie children, because you desired us. We have kept the peace and listened to your advice, as we always do, for our American fathers are wise men and advise us for our good. These men know whether they have done so or not. speak with a sick heart. We are but few here, and these men will not keep the peace with us. We ask you to protect us, as we would protect you, if you should come into our country."

I

The Colonel replied that he could have no concern with the quarrels or wars of the Dahcotahs and Chippewas. If they fought any where else, he could not help it; but while they remained under his flag they should not be molested, provided they did not molest others. He bade them pitch their lodges on a spot within musket shot of the walls, and there, he said and thought, they would be safe. He would make their cause his own if any harm should come to them there. This speech being expounded to the Dahcotahs, they all exclaimed, "Hachee! hachee! hacheetoo!" i. e. that is it! that is right. The Flat Mouth then entered the fort and partook of American hospitality. He then explained the object of his visit. It was the old story, repeated the thousandth time. They were very poor; they had left their friends at home with heavy hearts, and hoped that their father would give them something to make them glad. In short, the endless catalogue of Indian wants was summed by a humble petition for a little of their father's milk (whisky) "to make them cry" for certain friends they had lost. This shameless beggary should not be taken as a proof of want of spirit. The main point in their political code is equality of property; he that has two shirts thinks it a duty to give one to him who has none. He who has none, thinks it no shame to ask one of him who has two. The effect of this system is, that they are always in want of every thing, and the application of their own principle of action to their white neighbors makes their company excessively troublesome. It is true that they are willing to reciprocate, as far as lies in their power, but then they never have any thing to give.

On the occasion in question our Chippewa friends got, if not all they asked, yet more than they had expected. Then after having entertained the garrison with the buffalo dance, they left the fort and set up their lodges as they had been directed.

In the afternoon Toopunkah Zeze arrived from the Batture aux Fiévres, with seven of his own band and one other. They went directly to the Chippewa camp and entered the largest lodge, where it happened that there were just nine persons. The young Dahcotah above named held in his hand a pipe, the stem of which was gaily ornamented with porcupine's quills and hair stained red. The Chippewas spread skins for his party, shook hands with them, invited them courteously to be seated. They also directed the women instantly to prepare a feast of venison, corn, and maple sugar, all of which articles were mixed together and placed before the Dahcotahs in brimming

bowls. When the entertainment was over, Toopunkah Zeze filled the peace-pipe he had brought and passed it round. None rejected it, and all might, therefore, consider themselves pledged to peace, if not to love. The conversation then became general and amicable. The Chippewa women coquetted with the Dahcotah youths, who seemed in no wise disposed to consider them as enemies.

No Daḥcotah is suffered to wear a war eagle's feather in his hair till he has killed his man. Toopunkah Zeze wore one for the Chippewa he had so treacherously slain the year before, as we have already rélated. One of the fair Chippewas noticed it. "You are young to

wear that," said she.

"I shall wear another before I am much older," he replied.

Certainly after so much friendly intercourse and so many demonstrations of good will, no one could have suspected any sinister purpose. The Chippewas, too, might have relied on their proximity to the fort. But, "the heart of man is desperately wicked." The Dahcotahs had shook hands and smoked the pipe of peace with their former foes, had eaten of their fat and drank of their strong. At last, at sunset, they took their guns and rose to depart. The eight foremost halted outside the door, while the last held it aside with his foot, and all discharged their guns into the lodge, excepting one, whose piece missed fire. The assassins gave the Indian cri de joi, and fled like deer.

The guns were heard in the fort, and the news soon reached the commanding officer, who immediately ordered an officer to proceed to the nearest village with a hundred men, and apprehend as many Dahcotahs as possibly he could. No time was to be lost, for the night was fast coming up the horizon. The Chippewas who had not been hurt joined the party. Circumstances proved favorable to the enterprise; just as the party left the gate, upwards of a hundred armed Dahcotahs appeared on a low ridge near the fort. Captain divided his force, and despatched one party round a small wood to take the enemy in rear, while he advanced upon them in front. The Dahcotahs kept their ground firmly. Some covered themselves with the scattered scrub oak trees, others laid down in the long grass. were already cocked when the detached party appeared in their rear. Then the Indians gave way. Most escaped, but thirty were taken and speedily conveyed to the fort, where accommodations were provided for them in the guard-house and the black-hole. The Chippewas, too, removed their lodges into the fort, and the wounded were carried to the hospital.

Guns

Eight balls had been fired into the Chippewa lodge, and every one took effect. The wounds were the most ghastly that we ever saw made by bullets. The party had been lying, or reclining, on their mats; for there is no standing in a Chippewa lodge. Consequently the balls had passed through their limbs and bodies diagonally, tearing and cutting more than it is usual for pieces of lead to do, though as ragged as chewing can make them. One woman was killed outright, one man was mortally, and another severely wounded, the latter being shot through both ancle joints and crippled forever. All the rest were women and children, and more or less severely wounded.

There was weeping and wailing in the Chippewa lodges that night. The noisy lamentations of the women broke the rest of the whole garrison; but no one desired them to be silent, for the rudest soldier there respected the sincerity of their sorrow. Never were Indian knives driven deeper into squaw's flesh in token of grief than on that occasion. This practice of mortifying the body, on the death of friends, seems to be, and to have been, common to all rude people. The Jews clothed themselves in sackcloth and threw ashes on their heads; Achilles refused to wash his face till the funereal rites had been performed over the body of Patroclus. Now, the male Chippewas blackened their faces, indeed, but they did not gash their arms. A soldier who spoke their language asked them why they did not conform to the ancient usage of their nation. Perhaps we shall have use for our guns to-morrow," replied the Little Soldier. "We must lose no blood, though our hearts bleed, for we must be able to see straight over our gun barrels."

The Little Soldier was right in his surmise and precaution. At early day dawn the commanding officer visited the wounded Chippewas, and asked them if they could recognize any of their aggressors, in case they should appear before them. They replied eagerly in the affirmative. He then asked them why they had not been more on their guard. "We respected your flag," replied the mortally wounded man, "and thought that our enemies would do the same." The colonel then asked whether they had given the Dahcotahs no provocation. None," said the Chippewa, "but we endured much." He presented the peace-pipe which the Dahcotahs had brought with them, and said that the hair with which it was ornamented had belonged to a Chippewa head. We know not how he made the discovery, but it is well known to all who have lived on the frontier, that an Indian, on seeing a scalp, can tell, with unerring certainty, to what tribe it belongs.

The wounded men were then, with their own joyful consent, placed on litters and borne to the guard-house. The Dahcotah prisoners were paraded before them and they identified two of the number, as having belonged to the band of assassins.

"I deliver them into your hands," said the Colonel to the Chippewa warriors." They have deserved death, and you may inflict it, or not, as you think proper. If you do not, they must be tried by the laws which govern us Americans. I have no power to put them to death. You may let them go, if you please; I wash my hands of the matter." This speech was interpreted faithfully to the Chippewas, but none of them answered. Instead of speaking, they examined the flints and priming of their guns. The Little Soldier drew from beneath his robe a few fathoms of cord, cut from an elk skin, and presently secured the two criminals, fastening them together by the elbows. It was observed that he drew his knots rather tighter than was absolutely necessary; but no one blamed him. The Dahcotahs were then led forth. As soon as they passed the gate, the Chippewas halted and cocked their guns, for their vengeance was growing impatient.

"You must not shoot them under our walls," said one of the officers.

"I hope you do not expect us to take them very far," replied a Chippewa.

The procession then moved on. One of the Dahcotahs struck up the death song. The other attempted it, but did not succeed; his voice sunk into a quaver of consternation. The Chippewas led them to a rising ground, about two furlongs from the fort, there halted, and bade them run for their lives. They were not slow to obey the mandate, and their executioners gave them thirty yards law. At that distance, six guns were discharged at them, and they fell dead. Instantly the prairie rang with the Chippewa cri de joie, and the executioners rushed towards the corpses, with their knives bared, yelling like fiends. Twice and thrice did each plunge his weapon into the bodies of the prostrate foes, and then wipe the blade on his face or blanket. One or two displayed a ferocity which those only who saw, can entirely realise. They drew their reeking knives through their lips, and exclaimed, with a smack, that they had never tasted any thing so good. An enemy's blood was better than even fire water. The whole party then spat upon the body of him who had feared his fate, and spurned it with their feet. They had not tasted his blood. It would, they said, have made their hearts weak. To him who had sung his death song, they offered no indignity. On the contrary, they covered him with a new blanket. They then returned to the fort.

The colonel met them at the gate. He had prevented all over whom his authority extended from witnessing the scene just described, and had done his best to make the execution the exclusive business of the Chippewas. He now told them that the bodies of the slain must not be suffered to remain upon his land, where the spectacle might grieve the Dahcotahs who were innocent of their crime. The party retired, and proceeded to the slaughter ground. They took the dead Dahcotahs by the heels, trailed them over the earth to the bluff, and there threw them over a perpendicular precipice a hundred and fifty feet high. The bodies splashed and sunk, and nothing more was ever seen or heard of them.

Among the Dahcotahs detained in the guard-house was an old man named Khoya-pa, or the Eagle's Head. We knew him well-he once cheated us out of a considerable amount of merchandize; but it was in the way of trade, all fair, according to Indian ethics, and we bear him no malice. He had not slept during the night, but had tramped up and down the floor, deeply agitated, to the extreme disturbance of the soldiers. One of those who were put to death, was his nephew. When this young man was designated by the wounded Chippewas as one of the assassins, and led forth to suffer death, his tears flowed; and when he heard the report of the guns which ended him, his emotion became uncontrollable. He immediately sent for the commanding officer.

"Father," said he, "the band of the Batture aux Fièvres are bad people. They are always getting themselves into trouble, and others are always sure to suffer with them. It was foolish to shoot the Chippewa last year, but they did it, and perhaps one of my grand children will be scalped for it. What they have just done was a folly. They persuaded my nephew to join them, and he is dead. Let them take the consequences of their own act themselves, this time. I know where I can find two more of them, and if you will let me out I will