he was well received.  Upon his next visit to this Spanish dignitary, he found many sad and gloomy faces, because the United States were about to take possession of the town and country around it.  “Soon after the Americans arrived,” says Black Hawk, “I took my band and went to take leave, for the last time, of our father.  The Americans came to see him also.  Seeing them approach, we passed out at one door, as they entered at another—­and immediately started, in our canoes, for our village on Rock river—­not liking the change any more than our friends appeared to at St. Louis.  On arriving at our village, we gave the news that strange people had taken St. Louis, and that we should never see our Spanish father again.  This information made all our people sorry.  Sometime afterwards (1805) a boat came up the river with a young American chief (Lieutenant, afterwards General Pike,) and a small party of soldiers.  We heard of them, soon after he had passed Salt river.  Some of our young braves watched him every day, to see what sort of people he had on board.  The boat at length arrived at Rock river, and the young chief came on shore with his interpreter—­made a speech, and gave us some presents.  We, in return, presented him with meat and such provisions as we could spare.  We were well pleased with the speech of the young chief.  He gave us good advice; said our American father would treat us well.  He presented us an American flag, which was hoisted.  He then requested us to pull down our British flags, and give him our British medals—­promising to send us others on his return to St. Louis.  This we declined as we wished to have two fathers.”

Subsequently to this period, the building of Fort Edwards, near the head of the Des Moyens rapids, gave much uneasiness to the Sacs.  Some of the chiefs and a party of their followers went down to this point, and had an interview with the war chief who had command of the troops engaged in constructing the fort.  The Indians became satisfied and returned home.  Not long afterwards a party, of which Black Hawk was one, determined to attack and take Fort Madison, standing upon the west side of the Mississippi, above the mouth of the Des Moyens, which was then garrisoned with about fifty men.  Their spies having ascertained that the troops marched out of the fort every morning to exercise, they concealed themselves near it, with an agreement to fire upon them when they came out.  About sun rise, on the morning of the proposed attack, the gate opened, and a young man made his appearance, but was suffered to return without being molested.  The gate was again opened and four soldiers came out.  They were followed by a fifth, who was instantly killed.  The others then ran for the fort, but two of them were shot down before they reached it.  The Indians continued for two days, shooting into the fort, and endeavoring to set fire to it.  Finding their efforts unavailing, they gave up the attack and returned home.