Outdoor Life and Indian Stories / Making open air life attractive to young Americans by telling them all about woodcraft, signs and signaling, the stars, fishing, camping, camp cooking, how to tie knots and how to make fire without matches, and many other fascinating open air pursuits. Also, stories of noted hunters and scouts, great indians and warriors, including Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, General Custer, Pontiac, Tecumseh, King Philip, Black Hawk, Brandt, Sitting Bull, and a host of others whose names are famous; all of them true and interesting

by Edward Sylvester Ellis

Black Hawk arrived in Buffalo in the latter part of June, and on the afternoon of the next day, paid a visit to the Senecas, who had gathered in their council house to give them welcome. Captain Pollard was their spokesman, and taking the hand of Black Hawk, he welcomed in a few fitting words, telling him of the pleasure it gave him and his people to greet the great chief of the Sacs and Foxes. Then, with touching earnestness, he urged his visitors to go to their homes with peaceable minds toward the whites; to cultivate the earth, and to think no more of war, which was certain at all times to bring evil and suffering upon them.

Black Hawk's native sense, coupled with what he had seen for himself, of the resources and power of the United States, could not fail to convince him of the truth of the words of the Seneca chieftain. He meant what he said:

"Our aged brother of the Senecas, who has spoken to us, has spoken the words of a good and wise man. We are strangers to each other, though we have the same color, and the same Great Spirit made us all, and gave us this country together. Brothers, we have seen how great a people the whites are. They are very rich and very strong. It is folly for us to fight with them. We shall go home with much knowledge. For myself, I shall advise my people to be quiet and live like good men. The advice which you gave us, brother, is very good, and we tell you now that we mean to walk the straight path in the future, and to content ourselves with what we have and with cultivating our lands."

A marked but perhaps natural change in the feelings of the white people showed itself as the Indians drew near Detroit, for they were then entering a section where the inhabitants could not forget the injuries they had suffered from these redskins. While they offered no violence, they scowled at them. Insulting remarks were made in their hearing, and several men, more impulsive than their fellows, burned Black Hawk and his companions in effigy.

It will be remembered that the Menominies and Winnebagoes had always been enemies of the Sacs and Foxes. They made savage war against them during the late hostilities, and it was a couple of Winnebagoes who brought the chief to the camp as a prisoner. From Green Bay, the route of the party was through the country of these people, and the danger of an attack by them was thought to be so great, that a strong guard of troops escorted the returning captives to Chicago, which at that time was little more than a frontier post.

Naturally, Black Hawk and his companions seemed depressed when they drew near the scene of the late stormy events in their lives. They saw the lands they loved in the possession of the invaders, and the homes that once had been theirs in ashes and ruins. But their dejection showed only in their faces. None uttered a word of complaint.

Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, had been selected as the place where the Indians were to be made fully free, with liberty to go whither they chose and do what they pleased, so long as they did not injure the white people. When their old comrades came in with news of the families of those who had been separated so long from them, the spirits of all rose, and as the numerous presents were distributed, every one was happy, as might be expected.

The bitterest cup of which Black Hawk had to drink was now pressed to his lips. He and Keokuk had headed two warring factions of the Sacs. But for the aid given by the white men to his rival, Black Hawk was sure he would have triumphed; but that rival was more cunning than he, in that he took the side of those who were mightier than the two together. He had conquered, and was now the sole head of the Sac nation. Black Hawk must meet him, and submit to the crowning shame of all. There was no help for it.

Keokuk was absent on a buffalo hunt when Black Hawk reached Fort Armstrong, but he and a number of his warriors came in the following day. It did not add to Black Hawk's peace of mind to see his rival's breast covered with medals presented to him by the people who had despoiled both. But Keokuk could afford to be genial, and when he saw the other he advanced toward him.