Pioneers of the Mississippi Valley

stream. Thus they were supplied with meat. Up to this time they had seen no Indians along the Mississippi, but they knew they were coming nearer the land of the Sioux, who were wild and savage and not very friendly to white men. No white man had ever gone up the Mississippi River into this country, now known as Minnesota, and they knew not what might happen to them if they should fall into the hands of the Sioux. But in spite of this, the Frenchmen wished to explore the river farther up and find out about this new country and its people. Hennepin was always dressed as a friar, with a hood and cape, and a robe fastened with the beautiful cord of St. Francis. On the llth of April the party stopped in the afternoon to mend the canoe. Hennepin was daubing it with pitch and the other men were cooking a turkey. Suddenly a fleet of Sioux canoes came in sight, with a war-party of 120 naked savages. On seeing the Frenchmen, they raised a great shout. Some leaped ashore, others jumped into the water and surrounded the Frenchmen in an instant. Hennepin heldout a peace-pipe but one of the Indians snatched it from him. He next offered a piece of tobacco, which the Indian was more willing to take. The Indians were dressed for war and often spoke the word Miami, giving the Frenchmen to understand they were on their way to fight the Miami Indians. Hennepin, by signs and by drawing with a stick in the sand, made it plain that the Miamis had already crossed the river and left the cou...