Now they met for peaceable purposes.  Hole-in-the-Day wished permission to hunt on the Dahcotah lands without danger from the tomahawk of his enemies.  He proposed to pay them certain articles, which he should receive from the United States Government when he drew his annuities, as a return for the privilege he demanded.

The Dahcotahs and Chippeways were seated together.  They had smoked the pipe of peace.  The snow had drifted, and lay piled in masses behind them, contrasting its whiteness with their dark countenances and their gay ornaments and clothing.  For some years there had been peace between these two tribes; hating each other, as they did, they had managed to live without shedding each other’s blood.

Hole-in-the-Day was the master spirit among the Chippeways.  He was the greatest hunter and warrior in the nation; he had won the admiration of his people, and they had made him chief.  His word was law to them; he stood firmly on the height to which he had elevated himself.

He laid aside his pipe and arose.  His iron frame seemed not to feel the keen wind that was shaking the feathers in the heads of the many warriors who fixed their eyes upon him.

He addressed the Dahcotah warriors.  “All nations,” said he, “as yet continue the practice of war, but as for me, I now abandon it.  I hold firmly the hand of the Americans.  If you, in future, strike me twice or even three times, I will pass over and not revenge it.  If wars should continue, you and I will not take part in them.  You shall not fight, neither will I. There shall be no more war in that part of the country lying between Pine Island and the place called Hanoi catnip, (They shot them in the night).  Over this extent of country we will hold the pipe firmly.  You shall hold it by the bowl, and we will hold it by the stem.  The pipe shall be in your keeping.”  So saying, Hole-in-the-Day advanced and presented the Dahcotahs with a pipe.

After a moment he continued his speech.  “On account of your misconduct, we did desire your death, and if you had met us last winter to treat of peace, however great your numbers, we should have killed you all.  White men had ordered us to do so, and we should have done it; because the Mendewakantonwans had informed us that you intended by treachery to kill us.”

The Dahcotah chief then replied to him saying, that the Dahcotahs were willing that the Chippeways should hunt on their lands to the borders of the prairie, but that they should not enter the prairie.  The Chippeways then agreed to pay them a large quantity of sugar, a keg of powder, and a quantity of lead and tobacco.

After their engagement was concluded, Hole-in-the-Day rose again and said, “In the name of the Great Spirit, this peace shall be forever,” and, turning to Wandiokiya (the Man that talks to the Eagle), a Dahcotah who had been taught by the missionaries to read and write, requested him to commit to writing the agreement which had just been made.