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Show 9.6 JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE whom he wished to speak, he hoped I would remain one day, when all the Sioux would be down, and I might have the command of a thousand n1en of them, that 1 would probably think it no honor ; but that the British used to flatter them they were proud of having thetn for soldiers. I replied in general terms, and assur. cd him that it was not for the conduct of two or three rascals that I Incant to pass over all the good treatment I had received fron1 the Sioux nation ; but, that in general council I would explain myself. That as to the coundrel who fired at my sentinel, had I been at hon1e, the Sioux nation would never have been troubled with him, for I would have killed hin1 on the spot. But that my young men did not do it, apprehensive that I would be displeased. I then gave hin1 the news of the Sautcurs, &c. that as to remaining one day, it would be of no service ; that I was n1uch pressed to arrive below ; as 1ny general expected me, my duty called me, and that the state of my provision demanded the utmost expedition ; that I would be happy to oblige him, but that 1ny n1en n1ust eat. lie replied, that Lake Pepin being yet shut with ice, if I went on and encamped on the icc, it would not get me provision. 'That he would send out all his young men the next day ; and, that if the other bands did not arrive he would depart the day after with me. In short, after much talk, I agreed to remain one day, knowing that the take was closed and that we could proceed, only nine ~1iles if we went ; this appeared to give general satisfaction. I was invited to difTerent feasts, and entertained at one by a per, on whose father was enacted a chief by the 0paniards. At this feast 1 saw a man (called by the 1' rench the Roman nose, and by the Indians the Wind that Walks) who was formerly the second chief of the Sioux, but being the cause of the de: th of one of the traders, seven }Cctrs since, he vnlnntarily relinqui~hcd the dignity, and TO THE SOURCES OF TJIE MISSISSIPPI. 97 l1as frequently r equC'stcd to be given up to the whites. Bnt he was now dctennined to go to St. Louis and dcliv r himself up whC're he said they might put him to death· I Iis long repentance, the great confl.dence of the nation in him, would perhaps protect him from a punishment which the crime merited. But as the crime was cmnmitted long before thr 1Jnit cd St·atcs assumed its authority, and as no law of theirs could aDl.'ct it, unless it was ex post facto, and hau a r etrospective effect, I conceive it would certainly be dispuni ~h able now. I did not think proper, however, to inform him so. I here r eceived a lett )r frOin Mr. Rollet, partner of Mr. Cameron, with a present of some brandy, coffee and s ugar. l hesi tated about r eceiving those articles from the partner of the man I intended to prosecute ; their amount being trifling, however I accepted of them, offering him pay. I assured him that the prosecution .aro.se from a sense of duty, and not from any personal prejudtcc. My canoe did not come up, in consequence of the head wind. Sent out two men in a canoe to set fishing lines ; the canoe oversct, and had it not been ~or the timely assistance of the savages, who carried them mto their lodges, undressed them and treated then1 with the greatest humanity and kindness, they must inevitably have perished. 1\.t this place I was informed, that the rascal spoken of as having threatened my life, had actually cocked his gun to shoot me from behind the hills but was prevented by the others. ' 14th April, Monday.-Was invited to a feast by the Roman .Nose. His conversation was interesting, and shall be detailed hereafter. The other Indians not yet arrived. Messrs. Wood, Frazer, and myself, ascended a high hill called the Barn, from which we had a view of Lake Pepin. The valley through which the Mississippi by numerous channels wound itself to the St. Croix ; the Cannon river and the lofty hills on each side. N |
