OLD MISSOURI DAYS 179 



have taken his life had it not been for one of those strange 

 incidents which come, we know not why, nor can we ex- 

 plain them. A number of the chiefs came that day to 

 confer with Mr. Chardon, and while they were talking 

 angrily with him, he sitting with his arms on a table be- 

 tween them, a dove, being pursued by a hawk, flew in 

 through the open door, and sat panting and worn out on 

 Mr. Chardon's arm for more than a minute, when it flew 

 off. The Indians, who were quite numerous, clustered 

 about him, and asked him what the bird came to him for? 

 After a moment's thought he told them that the bird had 

 been sent by the white men, his friends, to see if it was 

 true that the Mandans had killed him, and that it must 

 return with the answer as soon as possible. He added that 

 he had told the dove to say that the Mandans were his 

 friends, and would never kill him, but would do all they 

 could for him. The superstitious red men believed this 

 story implicitly; thenceforth they looked upon Mr. Char- 

 don as one of the Great Spirit's sons, and believed he alone 

 could help them." 



