warns made of skin, encamping near the fort during the sum- 

 mer and passing the winters on the prairies engaged in hunt- 

 ing. These Indian wives of the Canadians were the only 

 women that Madame Lajimoniere had to associate with, and 

 they could not speak French so their conversations had to be 

 carried on by signs. 



J. B. Lajimoniere, we have already said, had, like many 

 of the traders of the time, taken a squaw for a wife during 

 the five years which he had passed at Pembina. He had left 

 this woman a year before his voyage to Canada and she re- 

 mained near the fort with her relations and other Indians ; 

 and when after two years' absence she saw him, whom she 

 regarded as her husband, return with a wife she was jeal- 

 ous and resolved to avenge her injuries upon Madame La- 

 jimoniere. 



It is commonly believed that these Indians, who are 

 heathens, have certain potions which they prepare and give 

 to their enemies in order to bewitch them. Invocation is made 

 to their Manitou over the preparation to aid them in bringing 

 evil upon their enemies, and many persons who have lived 

 amongst the Indians for a long time assure us that these 

 beverages, which are poisonous, succeed in producing the de- 

 sired effect. 



The squaw formed the design of poisoning Madame La- 

 jimoniere. She strove to hide her jealousy by a show of 

 friendliness and under the pretext of rendering assistance 

 came every day to visit Madame Lajimoniere in her lodge. 



Madame Lajimoniere, ignorant of the relations which had 

 existed between her husband and this woman, had no suspicion 

 of any evil intention hidden beneath her kindness and was by 

 no means upon her guard. 



Happily the squaw confided her secret to the wife of one 

 of the Canadians who lived near the fort. This woman has- 

 tened to acquaint Madame Lajimoniere with the danger which 

 menaced her, advising her at the same time to leave the Fort 

 with her husband and not return for some time. 



M. Lajimoniere, who knew something of the jealousy and 

 thirst for vengeance which the Indian nurses in his heart, 

 struck his tent immediately and left to pass the winter at the" 

 head of the Pembina River. 



This place was called the Grand Camp and in the autumn 

 nearly all the hunters met there, as it was the most favorable 

 place for the buffalo. 



