62 THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE [eth. axs. 37 



All the Foxes went into mourning. 



Ten Winnebago youths proud of their tattoos had been out (in 

 the woods) before these troubles began. As the.y were returning 

 they said to the one who was their leader, "Let us go around the 

 large village and court women. " '"Only if you go around the small 

 village will you escape unharmed," said the leader. "We will go 

 by the large village even if all of us are killed by the spirits," 

 they said. "Well, let us go by way of the small village," the war 

 leader said to them. "If you are afraid, as you say, you may go 

 alone by way of the smaller village: we, however, will go by the way 

 of the large village." The leader, however, refused and also went 

 by way of the large village. That they would die, he knew ver}' 

 well, but nevertheless he accompanied them to the edge of the big 

 village. When they got there (they said), "Let us paint ourselves. " 



Then they painted themselves, and as they were painting them- 

 selves an old man in deep mourning appeared and said, "Are you 

 returning from your travels ? Stay with us, for our men are giving 

 a feast. I will tell them to come after you." 



Then he went away and soon a .young man came (and said), "You 

 are invited. Come right along." "Men, you have seen that all 

 are in mourning. Once more, let me tell you something. In the 

 feast in which you are now to take part, do not lend your knives to 

 anyone. Hold your knife ready," he told them. "All right," said 



they. 



Then they entered the lodge and when aU were in they (the Foxes) 

 made room for them and they sat doAvn. Then the host arose and 

 spoke and pointed to a place that was nearest him, for the leader. 

 Then toward another place he pointed for the second and thus each 

 one (Winnebago) received a seat. With each Winnebago were placed 

 several Foxes, making eight in aU. 



Then the host spoke, "As I rise, I will blow upon my flute and 

 have a song started. I am anxious to have them start a song," he 

 said. Then he rose and blew his flute and as soon as the song was 

 started the Winnebago were seized. It was a long time before they 

 could seize the war leader, but the others had lent their knives and 

 were consequently seized easUy. The war leader killed many, but 

 finally his knife broke and he was seized. Then they bound him 

 and prepared the torture. Ten posts they stuck in the ground. 

 Then the war leader said, "I told you of this, but you doubted me. 

 Here we are going to die. " 



Then the youths came after them and they began torturing them. 

 They applied firebrands to them. They burnt them in those places 

 where they would suffer most. Then the war leader said, "Well, 

 my boys, we are now courting women. " 



Thus thev burned them to death and destroyed them utterly. 



