Notwithstanding this assurance, my husband did not like to venture, so he determined to leave his horses and proceed on foot, to the residence of his mother and sister, a distance of about half a mile.
We set out on our walk, which was first across the ice, then down the northern bank of the river. As we approached the house we were espied by Genéviève, a half-breed servant of the family. She did not wait to salute us, but flew into the house crying.
“Oh! Madame Kinzie, who do you think has come? Monsieur John and Madame John, all the way from Fort Winnebago on foot!”
Soon we were in the arms of our dear, kind friends. A messenger was dispatched to “the garrison” for the remaining members of the family, and for that day at least, I was the wonder and admiration of the whole circle, “for the dangers I had seen.”
CHICAGO IN 1820.
From a sketch by H. R. Schoolcraft, in “Indian Tribes,” vol. iv., p. 192.
