SOURCE OF ST. PETER's RIVER. 301 



of this fatal purpose of his. Finding her bent upon with- 

 holding her consent to his plan, he informed her that all 

 opposition on her part was unnecessary, as he had already 

 selected another partner ; and that if she could not see his 

 new wife as a friend, she must receive her as a necessary 

 incumbrance, for he had resolved that she should be an 

 inmate in his house. Distressed at this information, she 

 watched her opportunity, stole away from the cabin with 

 her infants, and fled to a distance where her father was. 

 With him she remained until a party of Indians with 

 whom he lived went up the Mississippi on a winter hunt. 

 In the spring as they were returning with their canoes 

 loaded with peltries, they encamped near the falls. In the 

 morning as they left it she lingered near the spot, then 

 launched her light canoe, entered into it with her children, 

 and paddled down the stream singing her death song; too 

 late did her friends perceive it 5 their attempts to prevent 

 her from proceeding were of no avail ; she was heard to 

 sing in a doleful voice, the past pleasures which she had 

 enjoyed, while she was the undivided object of her hus- 

 band's affection ; finally her voice was drowned in the 

 sound of the cataract ; the current carried down her frail 

 bark with an inconceivable rapidity ; it came to the edge 

 of the precipice, was seen for a moment enveloped with 

 spray, but never after was a trace of the canoe or its pas- 

 sengers seen. Yet it is stated by the Indians that often in 

 the morning a voice has been heard to sing a doleful ditty 

 along the edge of the fall, and that it dwells ever upon 

 the inconstancy of her husband. Nay, some assert that 

 her spirit has been seen wandering near the spot with her 

 children wrapped to her bosom. Such are the tales or 

 traditions which the Indians treasure up, and which they 

 relate to the voyager, forcing a tear from the eyes of the 

 most relentless. 



