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THE RED MEN OF IOWA.
labor of replenishing his larder with a winter supply. So he voluntarily called on the commandant at Fort Armstrong, and informed him that while on a recent hunting excursion he had yielded to temptation and had taken the scalp of a Sioux whom he had met. He confessed that he had done a very wrongful act, and wished to save the geat father at Washington the trouble of sending a letter ordering his arrest; he would, therefore, surrender himself as a prisoner. His plan, however, did not succeed any better than his former plot to enter Fort Madison. The commandant, Colonel Davenport, told him he was an honorable Indian, and that his voluntary offer to surrender himself was sufficient guarantee that he would appear when sent for. Pashepaho was never called upon to answer to the self-preferred charge.
Pashepaho was exceedingly vindictive in disposition. For some fancied offense he once undertook a long journey with the avowed purpose of killing the Indian agent at Prairie du Chien. The chief Taimah, hearing of the purpose of The Stabber, hastened to the agent and revealed his design, thus probably saving the agent's life.
Pashepaho was among the chiefs present at the negotiation of the treaty of 1832, when the "Black Hawk Purchase" was made. He was also present at Fort Armstrong in August, 1833, on the occasion of the liberation of Black Hawk and his companions, where, after drinking a glass of champagne, he shook hands with Major Garland and others, and then made the following speech:
"Brothers: We met this morning. I am glad to meet again. That wine is very good; I never drank any before. I have thought much of our meeting to-day; it was one
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MINOR SAC AND FOX CHIEFS AND BRAVES.
that told us we were brothers--that we were Sacs. We had just returned from a buffalo hunt; we thought it was time for our brothers to be here, as our father at St. Louis told us this was the moon. We started before the rising sun to meet you; we have met and taken our brothers by the hand in friendship. They always mistrusted our counsels, and went from the trail of the red men, where there were no hunting-grounds and friends. They returned and found the dogs howling around their wigwams, and wives looking for their husbands and children. They said we counseled like women, but they have found our counsels were good. They have been through the country of our great father. They have been to the wigwams of the white men, who received them in kindness and made glad their hearts. We thank them. Say to them that Keokuk and Pashepaho thank them. Our brother (Black Hawk) has promised to listen to the counsels of Koekuk. What he said in council to-day was like the Mississippi fog--the sun shone and the day is clear--let us forget; he did not mean it. His heart is good, but his ears have been open to bad counsels. He has taken our great father by the hand, whose words are good. He listened to them, and has closed his ears to the voice that comes across the great waters. He now knows that he ought to listen to Keokuk. He counseled with us and our young braves, who listened to his talk. We told our great father that all would be peace. He opened his dark prison and let him see the sun once more; gave him to his wife and children, who were without a lodge. I once took the great chief of the Osages prisoner. I heard the cries of his women and children; I took him out by the rising sun, and put him upon the trail
