PREFACE 385 



this new chief; a hard, niggardly person could not have reconciled 

 himself to such a hospitable reception in behalf of a subordinate 

 who was a total stranger to him" (pp. 205-206). Kurz remained 

 with Denig three years. 



Again. Kurz wrote: "In his relations with me he is most kind 

 and agreeable. Every evening he sits with me either in my room 

 or in front of the gate and relates experiences of his earlier life. 

 As he has held his position in this locality for 19 years already, 

 his life has been full of adventure with Indians — particularly since 

 the advent of the whisky flask. He wishes me to paint, also, a 

 portrait of himself and his dog, Natah (Bear), a commission I am 

 very glad to execute " (p. 211). 



Again, in speaking of the duties of Mr. Denig, Kurz wrote: 

 " It goes without saying that a bourgeois who occupies the position 

 of responsible warden, chief tradesman, and person in highest au- 

 thority at a trading-post far removed, where he has fifty men under 

 his direction, may regard himself of more importance than a man 

 who directs five men " (p. 213). 



Again Kurz wrote: "As a matter of course, Denig keeps the 

 subordinate workmen strictly under his thumb — what is more, he 

 has to, if he is to prevent their overreaching him. He feels, how- 

 ever, that one man alone is not sufficient to enforce good order 

 among these underlings, for every one of them is armed and, though 

 not courageous in general, are, nevertheless, touchy and revengeful. 

 So, for purposes of order and protection he has attached to himself 

 the clerks who stand more nearly on the same level with him in 

 birth and education and afford, besides, the only support, moral as 

 well as physical, upon which he can reckon" (p. 21G). 



Again Kurz wrote: "He talks to me continually about Indian 

 legends and usages. As he writes the best of these stories for Pere 

 De Smet, by whom they are published, there is no need of my pre- 

 serving more than some bits of memoranda" (p. 238). This ex- 

 plains why the writings on these matters of Father De Smet have a 

 close family resemblance with those of Mr. Denig. 



Again Kurz wrote: "Mr. Denig has been reading to me again 

 from his manuscript, which is extremely interesting. He is very 

 well educated and he has made a thorough study of Indian life — a 

 distinct advantage to him in trade. He is so fond of the life in 

 this part of the country that he is averse to any thought of going 

 back to his Pennsylvania home in the United States. For the 

 reason, as he says, that he may avoid political carryings-on that 

 disgust him" (p. 242). 



Another entry in the Kurz Journal reads: "September the 24th. 

 Began a portrait of Mr. Denig — life-size, knee-length. This work 



