A TmEF PUNISHED. Ill 



mounting a wing of hDls as it approached the river, presented a medley of 

 curious and fantastic shapes, — objects alike of amusement and wonder- 

 One of the latter, denominated the "Devil's Tea-pot," exliibited exter 

 nally an almost perfect facsimile of that kind of vessel. It was of gigantic 

 proportions, — being one hundred feet high, and, occupying a conspicuous 

 position, may be seen for a distance of many mOes.' 



The 'Indians from a near village, immediately upon our arrival, came 

 flocking around for the threefold purpose of begging, trading and stealing: 

 and, from this forward, we rarely experienced an interval free from iiu .r 

 anoyance. 



Prompt arrangements were here commenced for building a store room 

 and trading house ; — but meanv/hUe, we were forced to keep strict guard 

 both night and day. 



Two braves were secured to " act soldier," and assist in keeping the 

 thieving propensities of their people in check. Yet, notwithstanding the 

 united vigilance of all hands, the latter would frequently perpetrate their 

 petit larcenies under our very eyes, without being detected in the act, — 

 so adroit were they at the business. An instance of this kind happening to 

 myself is perhaps worth relating. 



Previously to the erection of houses, v/e were necessitated to sleep in the 

 open air. Wearied by the lateness of the hour, one night I spread down 

 ray couch by the camp-fire, with the intention of retiring. The weather 

 being very cold, I had scarcely turned to warm myself, when a backward 

 glance revealed tlie sudden disappearance of my sleeping appendages- 

 robes blankets and all ! 



Informing the trader of my mishap, and catching a glimpse of the tliief 

 as he dodged past a knot of Indians at the further extremity of the camp, gun 

 in hand, I started after the nimble lark ; but the thick bushes and darkness 

 Boon shut him from view and left me in fruitless pursuit. 



At length, relinquishing the hope of ever regaining the stolen articles, 

 and vexed at the impious savage, who, instead of obeying tlie Scripture in- 

 'unction of " take up ihy bed and u-alk," had snatched my bed and kun ! I 

 leturned to camp. Here I was shown a robe, by the trader, that had been 

 brought in scarcely a minute before and offered in barter for liquor ; — ^it 

 was one of the two I had lost 



The bearer was now promply charged as being accessory to the theft 

 This he stoutly denied, alleging that the robe had been given him by an- 

 other Indian for the purpose he had offered it. 



Upon this tlie affair was referred to oiu- soldiers, who, after much parley- 

 ing and no little threatening, succeeded in causing him to return the nrus- 

 sing articles. The fellow then demanded of me a cup of liquor as pay for 

 bringing them back. Mustering to my aid a few words of Sioux, I replied: 

 " Mea warche yau wechacha ceicha, opata-ne ha warktash-ne coga 1 — ^I 

 neither like bad men, nor will I pay for domg bad." 



Marto-nazher, (Standing Bear,) one of our soldiers, on hearing mv an- 

 swer, arose- and addressed the crowd in an earnest and impressive mauner. 

 He waa grieved on account of the many depredations continually commits 

 ted by his people upon the property of tlie whites. It is wrong — very 

 wrong, saia h^ to conduct in this manner ; — if such wickedness ia allow- 



