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almost like a living creature to me； this new vehicle with four legs； and the
more so when we got out of axle…grease and the wheels went along
squealing like pigs！
The boys found a great deal of innocent fun in jumping from the high
wagon while the oxen were leisurely moving along。 My elder brothers
soon became experts。 At last； I mustered up courage enough to join them
in this sport。 I was sure they stepped on the wheel； so I cautiously placed
my moccasined foot upon it。 Alas！ before I could realize what had
happened； I was under the wheels； and had it not been for the neighbor
immediately behind us； I might have been run over by the next team as
well。
This was my first experience with a civilized vehicle。 I cried out all
possible reproaches on the white man's team and concluded that a dog…
travaux was good enough for me。 I was really rejoiced that we were
moving away from the people who made the wagon that had almost ended
my life； and it did not occur to me that I alone was to blame。 I could not
be persuaded to ride in that wagon again and was glad when we finally left
it beside the Missouri river。
The summer after the 〃Minnesota massacre；〃 General Sibley pursued
our people across this river。 Now the Missouri is considered one of the
most treacherous rivers in the world。 Even a good modern boat is not
safe upon its uncertain current。 We were forced to cross in buffalo…skin
boatsas round as tubs！
The Washechu （white men） were coming in great numbers with their
big guns； and while most of our men were fighting them to gain time； the
women and the old men made and equipped the temporary boats； braced
with ribs of willow。 Some of these were towed by two or three women or
men swimming in the water and some by ponies。 It was not an easy
matter to keep them right side up； with their helpless freight of little
children and such goods as we possessed。
In our flight； we little folks were strapped in the saddles or held in
front of an older person； and in the long night marches to get away from
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the soldiers； we suffered from loss of sleep and insuf… ficient food。 Our
meals were eaten hastily； and sometimes in the saddle。 Water was not
always to be found。 The people carried it with them in bags formed of
tripe or the dried pericardium of animals。
Now we were compelled to trespass upon the country of hostile tribes
and were harassed by them almost daily and nightly。 Only the strictest
vigilance saved us。
One day we met with another enemy near the British lines。 It was a
prairie fire。 We were sur… rounded。 Another fire was quickly made；
which saved our lives。
One of the most thrilling experiences of the following winter was a
blizzard； which overtook us in our wanderings。 Here and there； a family
lay down in the snow； selecting a place where it was not likely to drift
much。 For a day and a night we lay under the snow。 Uncle stuck a long
pole beside us to tell us when the storm was over。 We had plenty of
buffalo robes and the snow kept us warm； but we found it heavy。 After a
time； it became packed and hollowed out around our bodies； so that we
were as comfortable as one can be under those circumstances。
The next day the storm ceased； and we dis… covered a large herd of
buffaloes almost upon us。 We dug our way out； shot some of the
buffaloes； made a fire and enjoyed a good dinner。
I was now an exile as well as motherless； yet I was not unhappy。 Our
wanderings from place to place afforded us many pleasant experiences and
quite as many hardships and misfortunes。 There were times of plenty
and times of scarcity； and we had several narrow escapes from death。 In
sav… age life； the early spring is the most trying time and almost all the
famines occurred at this period of the year。
The Indians are a patient and a clannish people； their love for one
another is stronger than that of any civilized people I know。 If this were
not so； I believe there would have been tribes of cannibals among them。
White people have been known to kill and eat their companions in
preference to starving； but Indiansnever！
In times of famine； the adults often denied themselves in order to make
the food last as long as possible for the children； who were not able to bear
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hunger as well as the old。 As a people； they can live without food much
longer than any other nation。
I once passed through one of these hard springs when we had nothing
to eat for several days。 I well remember the six small birds which consti…
tuted the breakfast for six families one morning； and then we had no
dinner or supper to follow！ What a relief that was to mealthough I had
only a small wing of a small bird for my share！ Soon after this； we came
into a region where buffaloes were plenty； and hunger and scarcity were
for… gotten。
Such was the Indian's wild life！ When game was to be had and the sun
shone； they easily forgot the bitter experiences of the winter before。
Little preparation was made for the future。 They are children of Nature；
and occasionally she whips them with the lashes of experience； yet they
are forgetful and careless。 Much of their suffering might have been
prevented by a little calculation。
During the summer； when Nature is at her best； and provides
abundantly for the savage； it seems to me that no life is happier than his！
Food is freelodging freeeverything free！ All were alike rich in the
summer； and； again； all were alike poor in the winter and early spring。
However； their diseases were fewer and not so destructive as now； and the
Indian's health was generally good。 The Indian boy enjoyed such a life
as almost all boys dream of and would choose for themselves if they were
permitted to do so。
The raids made upon our people by other tribes were frequent； and we
had to be constantly on the watch。 I remember at one time a night attack
was made upon our camp and all our ponies stam… peded。 Only a few of
them were recovered； and our journeys after this misfortune were effected
mostly by means of the dog…travaux。
The second winter after the massacre； my father and my two older
brothers； with several others； were betrayed by a half…breed at Winnipeg to
the United States authorities。 As I was then living with my uncle in
another part of the country； I be… came separated from them for ten years。
During all this time we believed that they had been killed by the whites；
and I was taught that I must avenge their deaths as soon as I was able to go
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