118 THE LIFE 01-‘

“ Tell Hole-in-the-sky, I am coming to get his scalp.”
This took place three hours before they were ready to
march. In the midst of jeers and war-w/2.oops,I left
their mission house. They did not believe that I intend-
ed to go farther than Fort Snelling. As soon as I was
out of sight, I began to run as fast as I was able. I
called at the Post Office, which was nine miles from
the Crow Mission, got my papers and letters, and ran
about seven miles over the prairie, without stopping. I
bought a pony on the road, of a Frenchman, and having
no saddle, I rode but three miles of the whole distance.
I tied my pack on his back, and made him run all the
afternoon. In the night I slept without a fire. I was
so anxious to get home, that I had no appetite for eat-
ing, the first two days. I went at the rate of about
seventy-five miles per day, and arrived home at noon,
on the fourth day; having walked two hundred and
forty miles, forded eight large streams, and crossed the
broad Mississippi twice. My coat and pantaloons were
in strips. I crossed the Mississippi just in front of our
mission house, and, as soon as possible,I told the chief
that the war party were now on their way to our mission,
to kill them. I advised him to lead away the women
and children, which they did, and the next day they all
left us. We, that is, my family, myself, and the other
missionaries, were now left to the mercy of the Sioux.
But they did not come, although they sent spies.
Brother Brace, Cousin Johnson, and I, now ventured
to take our families down to St. Peters. VVe left in a
large bark canoe, and had only one lacy" of bread, two
quarts of beans, and two quarts of molasses. Brother