12.07.2015 Views

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

278 HENNEPIN AMONG THE SIOUX. [1680.own h<strong>and</strong>s, placed before Hennepin a bark dish containinga mess <strong>of</strong> smoked meat <strong>and</strong> wild rice.Autumn had come, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> travellers bethought<strong>the</strong>m <strong>of</strong> going home. The Sioux, consoled by <strong>the</strong>irpromises to return with goods for trade, did notoppose <strong>the</strong>ir departure; <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y set out toge<strong>the</strong>r,eight white men in all. As <strong>the</strong>y passed St. Anthony'sFalls, two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> men stole two buffalo-robes whichwere hung on trees as <strong>of</strong>ferings to <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>cataract. When Du Lhut heard <strong>of</strong> it he was veryangry, telling <strong>the</strong> men that <strong>the</strong>y had endangered <strong>the</strong>lives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole party.Hennepin admitted that in<strong>the</strong> view <strong>of</strong> human prudence he was right, but urgedthat <strong>the</strong> act was good <strong>and</strong> praiseworthy, inasmuch as<strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ferings were made to a false god; while <strong>the</strong>men, on <strong>the</strong>ir part, proved mutinous, declaring that<strong>the</strong>y wanted <strong>the</strong> robes <strong>and</strong> meant to keep <strong>the</strong>m.The travellers continued <strong>the</strong>ir journey in <strong>great</strong> illhumor,but were presently soo<strong>the</strong>d by <strong>the</strong>excellenthunting which <strong>the</strong>y found on <strong>the</strong> way. As <strong>the</strong>yapproached <strong>the</strong> Wisconsin, <strong>the</strong>y stopped to dry <strong>the</strong>meat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> buffalo <strong>the</strong>y had killed, when to <strong>the</strong>iramazement <strong>the</strong>y saw a war-party <strong>of</strong>Sioux approachingin a fleet <strong>of</strong> canoes. Hennepin represents himselfas showing on this occasion an extraordinarycourage, going to meet <strong>the</strong> Indians with a peacepipe,<strong>and</strong> instructing Du Lhut, who knew more <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong>se matters than he, how he ought to behave.Sioux proved not unfriendly, <strong>and</strong> said nothing <strong>of</strong>The<strong>the</strong><strong>the</strong>ft <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> buffalo-robes. They soon went on <strong>the</strong>ii

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!