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Show ( 25 ) for my rescue; the scanty fuocl which I received, had reduced mv strength to that of a child, when once in the evening the old chi~t came into my prison :wrl sait.l : 'Sioux, to-morrow you shall appear before our people.' Without waiting for my ansv,rc r, he left me again to my despair, as I could not guess whether or not my deatl1 was to be the top'c of his people's conversation# or .amusement on the next day. "Early in the morning t.he old chief appeared again, causccl my pinions to be taken off~ and bade me follow him, while my three watchers took me into their midst and formed a moving triangle around me, as we went along between a row of warrio rs, behind whom I perceived a crowd of men, women and children. This time they did neither hoot. nor throw stones at me, but seemed concerned at my miserable appearance, as 1 looked like a skeleton and could hardly walk. "A wide semi-circle of warriors w:1s openecl at our approach, and c1osed after we had entered. The old chief took a scat in the middle of the bow, between other chiefs, and showed me a seat among theirs, which was placed so that all the chiefs could see my face, when I sat UJ'On it. A deep silence prevailed for a few moment s, but soon two men on the Jefl wing of the sem icircle began to be, t upon a pair of drums, to the time of which those who formed the strai~ht line of the semicircle commenced a council-Jance. "I th ere fore thought that I was not doorneJ to death, although nothing else gave me the least idea of what I had to expect, for none of the features around me showed any feeling of good ot· evil, and 1 knew how to exhibit the same indifference, which is natural with every Indian, particularly in diflicult situations. " The council-dance lasted about one hour, during which I was at· tentively observed by some hundred eyes, while only the sounds oft he drums interrupted the deep silence which prevailed and proved the 8olemnity of the council-dance. At its conclusion, the old chief said, ' Sioux!' I rose and turned about, and he continueJ- " 'Sioux! Listen to me! The Sacs and Foxes arc no cowards! None of us thirsts aftct· your blood, because you have beh aved like ~man and not spoken a bad \Yord ngainst us during your long captivity; for if yo·\ had, we would have killed yt..u in sacrifice to th e· Great Spirit, by whom you were led among us. You have well <>vercome your hard trwl. Now you are free, to leave us or to join us. If you think we have wronged you, ask fot· any sati ~ l : t ct 1on, and you shall be satisfied. Will you fi~ht? Challenge any of u:·;. myself not excepteJ. Will you marry ? Choose any one of' OGI' daughters, and you shall have her. Tell us what you want, and if we can we will grant it to you now. I have spoken.' '" Oh, fathers and bt·others,' cried I, in a phrensy of dC'f:pair and impatience, • give me my arms and my horse! Let me return to my poor wife and child whom I have left alone, far from here, in yonder \·vilucrness! I came hither as your friend and would have beeome yo Ill' brother, but you have treated me as a foe and a traitor; you h::1ve kept me in prison so long that my poor wife and child must ha vc |