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A THIEF PUNISHED. 77 



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

 curious and fantastic shapes, — ohjects alike of amusement and wonder. 



One of the latter, denominated the "Devil's Tea-pot," exhibited 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 miles. 



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, w^e rarely experienced an interval free from their 

 anoyance. 



Prompt arrangements were here commenced for building a store room 

 and trading house ; — but meanwhile, 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, we were necessitated to sleep in the 

 open air. Wearied by the lateness of the hour, one night I s})read down 

 my 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 the sudden disappearance of my sleeping appendages — 

 robes blankets and all ! 



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

 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 

 soon 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 the Scripture in- 

 junction of "take up thy bed and walk,'" had snatched my bed and run! I 

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

 brought in scarcely a minute beiore and oftered 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 the affair was referred to our soldiers, who, after much parley- 

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

 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 warclie yau wechacha ceicha, opata-ne ha warktash-ne coga ! — I 

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



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

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

 He was grieved on account of the many depredations continually commit- 

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

 wrong, said he, to ccnduct in this nianncr; — if such wickedness is allow- 



