64 THE WINNEBAGO TKIBE [eth. ann. 37 



Tcap'o'sgaga had been offered tobacco. ''Well/' he said, "I will 

 try it." At night he started out and jumped into the water. Across 

 there were enemies, so he turned himself into a goose. In the middle 

 of the lake, a lone goose suddenly squawked. Those across shouted, 

 "Tcap'o'sgaga is over there." "Yes," was the answer. Then he 

 went around the shallow water and crossed over, and as he sat there 

 bathing some one went by. They said to him, "Are you cooling 

 yourself off with water?" "Yes," he answered. 



Then he got himself ready and went to the French and when he 

 arrived among them he said, "Father, different tribes banded 

 together are trying to destroy us." "My child, go home, for I will 

 come to-morrow." 



When Tcap'o'sgaga returned he went around the other tribes. 

 He went across the island. Wlien he was home he said to the 

 Winnebago, "Our father is going to come." All therefore expected 

 that their father would come. Soon after the French ship came in 

 sight. The other tribes went toward the boat as it came in sight. 

 The Winnebago saw them go toward it. The Winnebago were 

 frightened as they saw the other people go toward the boat, thinking 

 that the French might take part against them. 



Tlien the other tribes spoke to the French. "Father, you know 

 very well that the Winnebago are bad people. Just as a big dog 

 jumps on to a small dog and would like to kill it, so the Wmnebago 

 used to do to us. Let us therefore reduce them to ashes." The 

 Frenchman agreed with them and said, "You have spoken the truth 

 and I will help you. I will let you go on (if you M-ish) but the result 

 will be simply that you will reduce everything to ashes. This is 

 what will happen if you continue. You know that the Winnebago 

 gets very resourceful when he starves. That is his nature and 

 therefore I will take him home with me and fatten him up for you. 

 But you must do what I now tell you. From whatever different 

 places you come, go back to them. If you don't do it, as long as I 

 live, never will I sell any ammunition to you. If you do not let up 

 on the Wiimebago, I will give them ammunition and lend them my 

 own men." "All right," said they. 



Then they scattered and the women and children were taken into 

 the boat. The men who coidd walk fast, walked. As soon as he 

 had brought them back near the fort he gave them food with which 

 to sustam themselves. When they were strong enough he bade 

 them flee and gave them good guns and as much food as they could 

 carry m their boats. Coffee, sugar, bread, and all kinds of food 

 he provided for them and he said, "Children, as you're about to flee 

 (remember this) . Never hunt fish with a spear. You might thus let 

 a fish escape and if it dies later on and (the enemy) hook a dead fish 

 and inspect it, they will say, 'This fish was speared and got away 



