SOURCE OP ST PETERS RIVER. 411 



without either rest or food, he at last reached Pembina. 

 On hearing his sad tale, the inhabitants were so much pa- 

 nic-struck, that none at the settlement would venture with 

 him in the prairie to inter his fjiends, and remove his cart 

 and other property. Hearing, however, that his surviving 

 daughter was in one of the Yankton villages, he set out 

 with the desperate resolution of recovering her or perish- 

 ing in the attempt. At the termination of another arduous 

 journey across the prairie, he reached the camp and was 

 met by many Yanktons, one of whom, a tall athletic man, in- 

 quired of him whether he was a friend or foe ; " You know 

 me," said Charles Hess, " as your foe ; you know me by 

 the name of the Standing Bull; you know you have kill- 

 ed one of my daughters and taken the other prisoner." 

 The Indian stepped backwards and pointed his arrow at 

 him ; Mr. Hess levelled his gun at his opponent. The Da- 

 cota seeing this, relaxed his bow and extended his hand to 

 him. The Indians all complimented him upon his valour; 

 they invited him to feast at most of the lodges. He saw 

 his daughter; she informed him that she had been kindly 

 treated, and that her master was unwilling to part with 

 her. Two horses were offered for her release by some In- 

 dians of a neighbouring nation, who were passing that way, 

 and who were friendly to Hess ; these were refused ; four 

 horses were in like manner offered and refused. At last 

 her master consented to release her for the following ran- 

 som, viz. two fathoms of scarlet cloth, two white blankets, 

 two fathoms of blue strouding, a chief's coat, a tin kettle, 

 two guns, one pair of fine pistols, a framed looking-glass 

 and a paper one, two knives, six double handfuls of gun- 

 powder, two hundred bullets, and a quantity of blue beads. 

 So high a ransom fell heavy upon this poor man, who 

 had lost his little all at the same time that his daughter was 



