410 EXPEDITION TO THE 



ened, Mr. Hess left the camp in search of him, and soon 

 caught him ; his companions, at that moment, observed two 

 buffaloes on the prairie, and, as his horse was the fleetest, 

 they called out to him to chase them ; he did so, and was 

 for a while separated from his party. In leaving the en- 

 campment, the anxious parent advised them to be watch- 

 ful, and it was with the utmost reluctance that he separat- 

 ed from them. While he was killing the buffalo, a dog 

 came up to him ; this excited his suspicions ; he followed 

 the dog back, and, after a long ride across the prairie, came 

 to a small valley where he observed his cart, and flattered 

 himself with meeting with his famil)-. On approaching, his 

 consternation was extreme, when he saw one of his com- 

 panions feathered with arrows, scalped, and his feet sepa- 

 rated from his legs. A little further lay his daughter, mur- 

 dered, and with a knife still lodged in her breast; with 

 streaming eyes, he withdrew it, but it was too late, she 

 was lifeless. He in vain rode three times round the place, 

 in search of his other daughter, he could find no trace of 

 her. At some distance he discovered the corpse of his other 

 companion likewise pierced with arrows. 



The distracted parent remained for a while unable to re- 

 solve in his mind what course he ought to pursue ; he at- 

 tempted to dig a grave for the unfortunate victims, but be- 

 ing only provided with a knife, he soon gave up this at- 

 tempt as a vain one ; he then determined to leave his dog 

 to watch the corpses, and to return to Pembina for assist- 

 ance. We cannot dwell upon the sad particulars of the 

 feelings and sufferings of the agonized father, as he left the 

 body of one of his daughters, swearing that he would fol- 

 low, even into the camp of his enemies, his other offspring 

 who, he still hoped, might have survived this calamity. 

 After three days and nights spent in travelling on foot, 



