“Hole in the Day” was the chief of the Chippeways.  He owed his station to his own merit; his bravery and firmness had won the respect and admiration of the tribe when he was but a warrior, and they exalted him to the honor of being their chief.  Deeds of blood marked his course, yet were his manners gentle and his voice low.  There was a dignity and a courtesy about his every action that would have well befitted a courtier.

He watched with interest the trials of strength between the young men of his own tribe and the Dahcotahs.  When the latter celebrated one of their national feasts, when they ate the heart of the dog while it was warm with life, just torn from the animal, with what contempt did he gaze upon them!

[Illustration:  FALLS OF ST. ANTHONY.]

The amusements of the dog feast, or dance, have closed, and the Chippeway chief has signified to his warriors that they were to return home on the following day.  He expressed a wish to see several of the chiefs of the Dahcotahs, and a meeting having been obtained, he thus addressed them—­

“Warriors! it has been the wish of our great father that we should be friends; blood enough has been shed on both sides.  But even if we preferred to continue at war, we must do as our great father says.  The Indian’s glory is passing away; they are as the setting sun; while the white man is as the sun rising in all his power.  We are the falling leaves; the whites are the powerful horses that trample them under foot.  We are about to return home, and it is well that nothing has happened to occasion strife between us.  But I wish you to know that there are two young men among us who do not belong to my band.  They are pillagers, belonging to another band, and they may be troublesome.  I wish you to tell your young men of this, that they may be on their guard.”

After smoking together, the chiefs separated.  “Hole in the Day” having thus done all that he deemed proper, returned with his warriors to his teepee.

Early in the morning the Chippeways encamped near St. Anthony’s falls; the women took upon themselves all the fatigue and labor of the journey, the men carrying only the implements of war and hunting.  The Chippeway chief was the husband of three wives, who were sisters; and, strange to say, when an Indian fancies more than one wife, he is fortunate if he can obtain sisters, for they generally live in harmony, while wives who are not related are constantly quarreling; and the husband does not often interfere, even if words are changed to blows.

In the mean time, the two pillagers were lurking about; now remaining a short time with the camp of the Chippeways, now absenting themselves for a day or two.  But while the Chippeways were preparing to leave the Falls, the pillagers were in the neighborhood of Fort Snelling.  They had accompanied Hole in the Day’s band, with the determination of killing an enemy.  The ancient feud still rankled in their hearts; as yet they had had no opportunity of satisfying their thirst for blood; but on this morning they were concealed in the bushes, when Red Boy and Beloved Hail, two Dahcotahs, were passing on horseback.  It was but a moment—­and the deed was done.  Both the Chippeways fired, and Beloved Hail fell.