When they found themselves near their enemies, the chief forbade a gun being fired off; no straggling was allowed; none but the spies were to go beyond a certain distance from the party.

But after they entered the Chippeway country the duties of the war chief were still more important.  He had to prophesy where the enemy, was to be found, and about their number; and besides, he had to charm the spirits of their enemies, that they might be unable to contend with the Dahcotahs.  The spirits on this occasion took the form of a bear.

About nine o’clock at night this ceremony commences.  The warriors all lie down as if asleep, when the war chief signifies the approach of the spirits to his men, by the earnestness of his exertions in singing.

The song continues, and increases in energy as the spirit gets nearer to the hole in the ground, which the chief dug and filled with water, previous to commencing his song.  Near this hole he placed a hoop, against which are laid all the war implements of the chief.  Before the song commences the warriors sit and look steadfastly at their leader.  But when the spirit approaches this hole, the warriors hardly dare breathe, for fear of frightening it away.

At last the spirit gets close to the hole.  The war chief strikes it with his rattle and kills it; this ensures to the Dahcotahs success in battle.  And most solemnly did the Owl assert to his soldiers, the fact that he had thus dealt with the bear spirit, while they as earnestly believed it.

The next morning, four of the warriors went in advance as spies; one of them carried a pipe, presented as an offering to deceive the spirits of their enemies.  About noon they sat down to rest, and waited until the remainder of the party came up.  When they were all together again, they rested and smoked; and other spies were appointed, who took the pipe and went forward again.

They had not proceeded far when they perceived signs of their enemies.  In the sand near the borders of a prairie were the footprints of Chippeways, and fresh too.  They, congratulated each other by looks, too cautious even to whisper.  In a few moments a hundred Chippeways could be called up, but still the Dahcotahs plunge into the thick forest that skirts the edge of the prairie, in order to find out what prospect they have for delighting themselves with the long wished for revenge.

It was not long before a group of Chippeways was discovered, all unapprehensive of evil.  At their camp the Chippeways had made pickets, for they knew they might expect retaliation; but those who fell a sacrifice were not expecting their foes.

The spies were not far ahead—­they returned to the party, and then retraced their steps.  The low cries of animals were imitated to prevent any alarm being given by the breaking of a twig or the rustling of the leaves.  They were very near the Chippeways, when the war chief gave the signal on a bone whistle, and the Dahcotahs fired.  Every one of the Chippeways fell—­two men, three women, and two children.