me that there must have been some even in the old days, yet there
are well-attested instances of remarkable prophecies and other mystic
practice.

A Sioux prophet predicted the coming of the white man fully fifty
years before the event, and even described accurately his garments and
weapons. Before the steamboat was invented, another prophet of our race
described the "Fire Boat" that would swim upon their mighty river, the
Mississippi, and the date of this prophecy is attested by the term
used, which is long since obsolete. No doubt, many predictions have been
colored to suit the new age, and unquestionably false prophets, fakirs,
and conjurers have become the pest of the tribes during the transition
period. Nevertheless, even during this period there was here and there a
man of the old type who was implicitly believed in to the last.

Notable among these was Ta-chank-pee Ho-tank-a, or His War Club Speaks
Loud, who foretold a year in advance the details of a great war-party
against the Ojibways. There were to be seven battles, all successful
except the last, in which the Sioux were to be taken at a disadvantage
and suffer crushing defeat. This was carried out to the letter. Our
people surprised and slew many of the Ojibways in their villages, but in
turn were followed and cunningly led into an ambush whence but few came
out alive. This was only one of his remarkable prophecies.

Another famous "medicine-man" was born on the Rum River about one
hundred and fifty years ago, and lived to be over a century old. He was
born during a desperate battle with the Ojibways, at a moment when, as
it seemed, the band of Sioux engaged were to be annihilated. Therefore
the child's grandmother exclaimed: "Since we are all to perish, let him
die a warrior's death in the field!" and she placed his cradle under
fire, near the spot where his uncle and grandfathers were fighting, for
he had no father. But when an old man discovered the new-born child, he
commanded the women to take care of him, "for," said he, "we know not
how precious the strength of even one warrior may some day become to his
nation!"

This child lived to become great among us, as was intimated to the
superstitious by the circumstances of his birth. At the age of about
seventy-five years, he saved his band from utter destruction at the
hands of their ancestral enemies, by suddenly giving warning received in
a dream of the approach of a large war-party. The men immediate