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followed her。 She met the strangers and offered her hand to them。 They
accepted her friendly greeting； and as a result of her brave act we were left
unmolested and at peace。
Another story of her was related to me by my father。 My grandfather；
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who was a noted hunter； often wandered away from his band in search of
game。 In this instance he had with him only his own family of three boys
and his wife。 One evening；when he returned from the chase； he found to
his surprise that she had built a stockade around her teepee。
She had discovered the danger…sign in a single foot…print； which she
saw at a glance was not that of her husband； and she was also convinced
that it was not the foot…print of a Sioux； from the shape of the moccasin。
This ability to recognize foot… prints is general among the Indians； but
more marked in certain individuals。
This courageous woman had driven away a party of five Ojibway
warriors。 They approached the lodge cautiously； but her dog gave timely
warning； and she poured into them from behind her defences the contents
of a double…barrelled gun； with such good effect that the astonished braves
thought it wise to retreat。
I was not more than five or six years old when the Indian soldiers
came one day and destroyed our large buffalo…skin teepee。 It was
charged that my uncle had hunted alone a large herd of buffaloes。 This
was not exactly true。 He had unfortunately frightened a large herd while
shooting a deer in the edge of the woods。 However； it was custom… ary to
punish such an act severely； even though the offense was accidental。
When we were attacked by the police； I was play… ing in the teepee；
and the only other person at home was Uncheedah。 I had not noticed
their approach； and when the war…cry was given by thirty or forty Indians
with strong lungs； I thought my little world was coming to an end。
Instantly innumerable knives and tomahawks penetrated our frail home；
while bullets went through the poles and tent…fastenings up above our
heads。
I hardly know what I did； but I imagine it was just what any other little
fellow would have done under like circumstances。 My first clear realiza…
tion of the situation was when Uncheedah had a dispute with the leader；
claiming that the matter had not been properly investigated； and that none
of the policemen had attained to a reputation in war which would justify
them in touching her son's teepee。 But alas！ our poor dwelling was
already an unrecognizable ruin； even the poles were broken into splinters。
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The Indian women； after reaching middle age； are usually heavy and
lack agility； but my grand… mother was in this also an exception。 She was
fully sixty when I was born； and when I was seven years old she swam
across a swift and wide stream； carrying me on her back； because she did
not wish to expose me to accident in one of the clumsy round boats of
bull…hide which were rigged up to cross the rivers which impeded our way；
especially in the springtime。 Her strength and endurance were
remarkable。 Even after she had attained the age of eighty…two； she one
day walked twenty…five miles without appearing much fa… tigued。
I marvel now at the purity and elevated senti… ment possessed by this
woman； when I consider the customs and habits of her people at the time。
When her husband died she was still compara… tively a young womanstill
active； clever and industrious。 She was descended from a haughty
chieftain of the 〃Dwellers among the Leaves。〃 Although women of her age
and position were held to be eligible to re…marriage； and she had several
persistent suitors who were men of her own age and chiefs； yet she
preferred to cherish in solitude the memory of her husband。
I was very small when my uncle brought home two Ojibway young
women。 In the fight in which they were captured； none of the Sioux war
party had been killed； therefore they were sympathized with and tenderly
treated by the Sioux women。 They were apparently happy； although of
course they felt deeply the losses sustained at the time of their capture； and
they did not fail to show their appreciation of the kindnesses received at
our hands。
As I recall now the remarks made by one of them at the time of their
final release； they ap… pear to me quite remarkable。 They lived in my
grandmother's family for two years； and were then returned to their people
at a great peace council of the two nations。 When they were about to
leave my grandmother； the elder of the two sisters first embraced her； and
then spoke somewhat as follows：
〃You are a brave woman and a true mother。 I understand now why
your son so bravely con… quered our band； and took my sister and myself
captive。 I hated him at first； but now I admire him； because he did just
what my father； my brother or my husband would have done had they
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opportunity。 He did even more。 He saved us from the tomahawks of
his fellow…war… riors； and brought us to his home to know a noble and a
brave woman。
〃I shall never forget your many favors shown to us。 But I must go。
I belong to my tribe and I shall return to them。 I will endeavor to be a
true woman also； and to teach my boys to be generous warriors like your
son。〃
Her sister chose to remain among the Sioux all her life； and she
married one of our young men。
〃I shall make the Sioux and the Ojibways；〃 she said； 〃to be as
brothers。〃
There are many other instances of intermar… riage with captive women。
The mother of the well…known Sioux chieftain； Wabashaw； was an
Ojibway woman。 I once knew a woman who was said to be a white
captive。 She was married to a noted warrior； and had a fine family of
five boys。 She was well accustomed to the Indian ways； and as a child I
should not have suspected that she was white。 The skins of these people
be… came so sunburned and full of paint that it re… quired a keen eye to
distinguish them from the real Indians。
IV： An Indian Sugar Camp
WITH the first March thaw the thoughts of the Indian women of my
childhood days turned promptly to the annual sugar… making。 This
industry was chiefly followed by the old men and women and the children。
The rest of the tribe went out upon the spring fur…hunt at this sea… son；
leaving us at home to make the sugar。
The first and most important of the necessary utensils were the huge
iron and brass kettles for boiling。 Everything else could be made； but
these must be bought； begged or borrowed。 A maple tree was felled and
a log canoe hollowed out； into which the sap was to be gathered。 Li