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〃Thanks be to the 'Great Mystery；' I have been successful in the
fortunes of war！ None can say that Tawasuota is a coward。 I have done
well； so well that our chief； Little Crow； has offered me the honored
position of his chief soldier； ta akich…itah！〃 he said to himself with
satisfaction。
The sun was just over the eastem bank of the Minnesota River； and he
could distinctly see upon the level prairie the dwellings of logs which had
sprung up there during the year； since Little Crow's last treaty with the
whites。 〃Ugh！ they are taking from us our beautiful and game…teeming
country！〃 was his thought as he gazed upon them。
At that moment； out of the conical white teepee； in shape like a new…
born mushroom； there burst two little frisky boys； leaping and whooping。
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They were clad gracefully in gar… ments of fine deerskin； and each wore a
minia… ture feather upon his head； marking them as children of a
distinguished warrior。
They danced nimbly around their father； while he stood with all the
dignity of a buck elk； viewing the landscape reddened by sunrise and the
dwellers therein； the old and the new； the red and the white。 He noticed
that they were still unmingled； the river divided them。
At last he took the dancing little embryo warriors one in either hand；
and lifted them to his majestic shoulders。 There he placed them in
perfect poise。 His haughty spirit found a moment's happiness in
fatherhood。
Suddenly Tawasuota set the two boys on the ground again； and signed
to them to enter the teepee。 Apparently all was quiet。 The camps and
villages of the Minnesota reservation were undisturbed； so far as he could
see； save by the awakening of nature； and the early risers among his
people moved about in seeming se… curity； while the smoke of their
morning fires arose one by one into the blue。 Still the war… rior gazed
steadily westward； up the river； whence his quick ear had caught the faint
but ominous sound of a distant war…whoop。
The ridge beyond the Wahpeton village bounded the view； and
between this point and his own village were the agency buildings and the
traders' stores。 The Indian's keen eye swept the horizon； and finally
alighted once more upon the home of his new neighbor across the river；
the flaxen…haired white man with many children； who with his white
squaw and his little ones worked from sunrise to sunset； much like the
beaver family。
Ah！ the distant war…whoop once more saluted his ear； but this time
nearer and more distinct。
〃What！ the Rice Creek band is coming in full war…paint！ Can it be
another Ojibway at… tack？ Ugh； ugh！ I will show their warriors again
this day what it is to fight！〃 he exclaimed aloud。
The white traders and Government employ… ees； those of them who
were up and about； heard and saw the advancing column of war… riors。
Yet they showed no sign of anxiety or fear。 Most of them thought that
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OLD INDIAN DAYS
there might be some report of Ojibways coming to attack the Sioux；a not
uncommon incident；and that those warriors were on their way to the post
to replenish their powder…horns。 A few of the younger men were
delighted with the prospect of witnessing an Indian fight。
On swept the armed band； in numbers in… creasing at every village。
It was true that there had been a growing feeling of distrust among the
Indians； because their annuities had been withheld for a long time； and the
money payments had been delayed again and again。 There were many in
great need。 The traders had given them credit to some extent （charging
them four times the value of the article purchased）； and had like… wise
induced Little Crow to sign over to them ninety…eight thousand dollars； the
purchase…price of that part of their reservation lying north of the
Minnesota； and already occupied by the whites。
This act had made the chief very unpop… ular； and he was ready for a
desperate ven… ture to regain his influence。 Certain warriors among the
upper bands of Sioux had even threatened his life； but no one spoke
openly of a break with the whites。
When； therefore； the news came to Little Crow that some roving
hunters of the Rice Creek band had killed in a brawl two families of white
settlers； he saw his opportunity to show once for all to the disaffected that
he had no love for the white man。 Immediately he sprang upon his white
horse； and prepared to make their cause a general one among his people。
Tawasuota had scarcely finished his hasty preparations for war； by
painting his face and seeing to the loading of his gun； when he heard the
voice of Little Crow outside his lodge。
〃You are now my head soldier；〃 said the chief； 〃and this is your first
duty。 Little Six and his band have inaugurated the war against the whites。
They have already wiped out two families； and are now on their way to the
agency。 Let my chief soldier fire the first shot。
〃Those Indians who have cut their hair and donned the white man's
clothing may give the warning； so make haste！ If you fall to…day； there is
no better day on which to die； and the women of our tribe will weep proud
tears for Tawasuota。 I leave it with you to lead my warriors。〃 With
these words the wily chief galloped away to meet the war…party。
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〃Here comes Little Crow； the friend of the white man！〃 exclaimed a
warrior； as he ap… proached。
〃Friends and warriors； you will learn to…day who are the friends of the
white man； and none will dare again to insinuate that I have been against
the interests of my own people；〃 he replied。
After a brief consultation with the chiefs he advised the traders：
〃Do not hesitate to fill the powder…horns of my warriors； they may be
compe