y landed, but they did not stop until they got below the Des Moines
rapids, where they came ashore and commenced building a fort. I did not
want a fort in our country, as we wished to go down to the Two River
country in the fall and hunt, it being our choice hunting ground, and
we concluded that if this fort was built, it would prevent us from going
there. We arrived in the vicinity in the evening, and encamped on a high
bluff for the night. We made no fire, for fear of being observed, and
our young men kept watch by turns while others slept. I was very tired,
and was soon asleep. The Great Spirit, during my slumber, told me to
go down the bluff to a creek, that I would there find a hollow tree cut
down, and by looking in at the top of it, I would see a large snake with
head erect--to observe the direction he was looking, and I would see the
enemy close by and unarmed. In the morning I communicated to my braves
what the Great Spirit had said to me, took one of them and went down a
ravine that led to the creek. I soon came in sight of the place where
they were building the fort, which was on a hill at the opposite side
of the creek. I saw a great many men. We crawled cautiously on our hands
and knees until we got to the bottom land, then through the grass and
weeds until we reached the bank of the creek. Here I found a tree that
had been cut down; I looked in at the top of it and saw a large
snake, with his head raised, looking across the creek. I raised myself
cautiously, and discovered nearly opposite to me, two war chiefs walking
arm in arm, without guns. They turned and walked back toward the place
where the men were working at the fort. In a little while they returned,
walking directly towards the spot where we lay concealed, but did not
come so near as before. If they had they would have been killed, for
each of us had a good rifle. We crossed the creek and crawled to a
cluster of bushes. I again raised myself a little to see if they were
coming; but they went into the fort, and by this they saved their lives.

We recrossed the creek and I returned alone, going up the same ravine I
came down. My brave went down the creek, and I, on raising the brow of
a hill to the left of the one we came down, could plainly see the men
at work. I saw a sentinel walking in the bottom near the mouth of the
creek. I watched him attentively, to see if he perceived my companion,
who had gone toward him. The sentinel stopped for some time