not to break the peace, to
which they have agreed."

I remained for some time at the village of Gomo, and went with him to
the fort to pay a visit to the war chief. I spoke the Pottawattomie
tongue well, and was taken for one of their people by him. He treated
us friendly, and said he was very much displeased about the murder of'
Washeown. He promised us he would find out and punish the person who
killed him. He made some inquiries about the Sacs, which I answered.
On my return to Rock river, I was informed that a party of soldiers
had gone up the Mississippi to build a fort at Prairie du Chien. They
stopped near our village, appearing very friendly, and were treated
kindly by our people.

We commenced repairing our lodges, putting our village in order, and
clearing our cornfields. We divided the fields belonging to the party on
the Missouri among those who wanted them, on condition that they
should be relinquished to their owners on their return from the peace
establishment. We were again happy in our village. Our women went
cheerfully to work and all moved on harmoniously.

Some time afterward, five or six boats arrived loaded with soldiers on
their way to Prairie du Chien to reinforce the garrison at that place.
They appeared friendly and were well received, and we held a council
with the war chief. We had no intention of hurting him or any of his
party, for we could easily have defeated them. They remained with us
all day and gave oar people plenty of whisky. Doing the night a party
arrived, by way of Rock river, who brought us six kegs of powder. They
told us that the British had gone to Prairie du Chien and taken the
fort. They wished us to again join them in the war, which we agreed to
do. I collected my warriors and determined to pursue the boats, which
had sailed with a fair wind. If we had known the day before, we could
easily have taken them all, as the war chief used no precaution to
prevent it.

I started immediately with my party, by land, in pursuit, thinking that
some of their boats might get aground, or that the Great Spirit would
put them in our power, if he wished them taken and their people killed.
About half way up the rapids I had a full view of the boats all sailing
with a strong wind. I discovered that one boat was badly managed, and
was suffered to be drawn ashore by the wind. They landed by running
hard aground and lowered their sail. The others passed on. This boat the
Great Spirit gave