University of Virginia Library

2. CHAPTER II.

We shall see how faithfully the Chippeway chief kept
the treaty that he had called upon the Great Spirit to
witness. There has been great diversity of opinion concerning
Hole-in-the-Day. The Chippeways and Dahcotahs

all feared him. Some of the white people who
knew him admired, while others detested his character.

He was certainly, what all the Chippeways have been,
a friend of the white people, and equally an enemy to the
Dahcotahs. He encouraged all attempts that were made
towards the civilization of his people; he tried to induce
them to cultivate the ground; indeed, he sometimes
assumed the duties which among savages are supposed to
belong exclusively to females, and has been frequently
seen to work in his garden. Had it been possible, he
would even have forced the Chippeways to civilization.

He had three wives—all sisters. He was fond of them,
but if they irritated him, by disputing among themselves,
or neglecting any thing which he found necessary to his
comfort, he was very violent. Blows were the only arguments
he used on such occasions.

The present chief is one of his children; several of them
died young, and their father felt their loss most keenly.
Grave and stoical as was his deportment, his feelings were
very strong, and not easily controlled.

He was a man of deep thought, and of great ambition.
The latter passion was gratified to as great a degree as
was possible. Loved by his tribe, feared by his enemies,
respected and well treated by the white people, what more
could a savage ask? Among the Indians he was a great
man, but he was truly great in cunning and deceit.

On this occasion, however, the Dahcotahs had perfect
confidence in him, and it was on the first day of April, in
the same year, that they arrived at the place appointed to
meet the Chippeways, near the east branch of the Chippeway
river, about thirty miles northeast of Lac qui parle.

The women raised the teepees, six in number, and prepared
the scanty portion of food for their families. Here they
remained, until their patience was almost exhausted, constantly
expecting Hole-in-the-Day to appear; but day after
day passed, and they were still disappointed. Now and
then the reports of fire-arms were heard near them, but
still the Chippeways did not visit the camp of the Dahcotahs.

Famine now showed itself among them. They had neither
corn nor flour. Had the wild ducks flown over their
heads in clouds, there was but little powder and shot to
kill them—but there were few to be seen. Some of the
Indians proposed moving their camp where game was more
plenty—where they might see deer, and use their bows and
arrows to some purpose. But others said, if they were not
at the appointed place of meeting, they would violate the
contract, and lose their claim to the articles that Hole-in-the-day
had promised to deliver to them.

It was finally concluded that the party should divide, one
half moving off in search of food, the other half remaining
where they were, in hopes that Hole-in-the-Day would make
his appearance.

Three teepees then remained, and they were occupied by
seventeen persons, all women and children excepting four.

It was drawing on towards evening, when the Dahtocahs
heard the sound of footsteps, and their satisfaction was very
great, when they perceived the Chippeway chief approach,
accompanied by ten of his men. These men had been
present at the council of peace in February.

One of the Dahcotahs, named Red Face, had left his
family in the morning, to attend to the traps he had set for
beaver. He had not returned when the Chippeways arrived.

His two wives were with the Dahcotahs who received the
Chippeways. One of these women had two children; the
other was quite young, and, according to Indian ideas,
beautiful too. She was the favorite wife.

The Dahcotahs received the Chippeways with real pleasure,
in full faith and confidence. “Hole-in-the-Day has
been long in coming,” said one of the Dahcotahs; “his
friends have wished to smoke the pipe of peace with him,
but some of them have left us to seek for food. We welcome
you, and will eat together, and our friendship shall
last forever.” Hole-in-the-Day met his advances with every
appearance of cordiality. One thing, however, the Dahcotahs
observed, that the Chippeways did not fire their guns
off when they arrived, which is done by Indians when they
make a visit of friendship.

The party passed the evening in conversation. All the
provisions of the Dahcotahs were called in requisition to
feast the Chippeways. After eating, the pipe went round
again, and at a late hour they laid down to sleep, the Chippeways
dividing their party, several in each teepee.

Hole-in-the-day lay down by the side of his host, so
motionless you would have thought that sleep had paralyzed
his limbs and senses; his regular breathing intimates a
heart at peace with himself and his foes; but that heart
was beating fast, for in a moment he raises himself cautiously,
gazes and smiles too upon the sleeping Dahcotah
beside him. He gives the appointed signal, and instantaneously
plunges his knife into the heart of the trusting
Dahcotah. It was child's play afterwards to quiet the
shrill shrieks of the terrified wife. A moment more, and
she and her child lay side by side, never to awake again.

For a short time broken and shrill cries were heard from
the other teepees, but they were soon over. The two wives
of Red Face had laid down without a fear, though their
protector was absent. The elder of the two clasped her
children to her heart, consoled, in a measure, while listening
to their calm breathing, for the loss of the love of her husband.
She knew that the affections of a husband might
vary, but the tie between mother and child is indissoluble.

The young wife wondered that Red Face was not by
her side. But he would return to-morrow, and her welcome
would be all the greeting that he would wish for.
While her thoughts are assuming the form of dreams, she
sees the fatal weapon pointed at the mother and child.
The bullet that kills the sleeping infant on its mother's
breast, wounds the mother also; but she flies in horror,
though not soon enough to escape the sight of her other
pleading child, her warrior son, vainly clasping his hands in
entreaty to the savage, who, with another blow from his
tomahawk, puts an end to his sufferings. The wretched
mother escapes, for Hole-in-the-Day enters the teepee,
and takes prisoner the younger wife. She escapes a
present death—what will be her future fate?