A SIOUX PRISONER. 35 



large camp of Crees who were much excited about the capture 

 of a Sioux Indian by some members of the tribe j the Sioux and 

 Crees being once more at war, as the peace which had been 

 made at Fort Carlton had lasted only one summer. 



On our arrival we were given a small lodge by an Indian, who 

 turned one of his wives out of it, and when we had put our 

 saddles, packs, &c. in it and placed a boy to watch them, we 

 went to pay a visit to " Big Bear" the head chief. We found 

 him in his lodge, holding a council as to what should be done 

 with the Sioux, and he hardly noticed us till this was over, 

 when he informed me through Badger, on my inquiring as 

 to the man's fate, that he was to be tortured on the next day 

 but one. I remonstrated and offered to buy him of them, 

 giving everything I had with me, but to no purpose, and I 

 left vowing vengeance which I had no means of executing. 



On the following morning I got leave to see the prisoner, 

 whom I fouud to be almost a boy, very small and weak -looking 

 but perfectly calm, though he had been told what his fate was 

 to be. Badger managed to make him understand that I was 

 trying to save him, on which he shook hands with me, but 

 seemed to think he must die. 



I went to see the chief again in the afternoon, and had a long 

 talk with him, adding to my previous offers if he would let me 

 have the Sioux, but he assured me he had really no power in 

 the matter. During the night I went near the lodge several 

 times in which the Sioux was confined, hoping to get him out 

 in the dark, but always found it guarded, and was ordered 

 back. 



In the morning we left the camp, as we did not wish to 

 see the torturing done, and late at night we reached a small 



D2 



