Mrs. Riggs' clothes as well as their own. For doing so they were, of
course, paid.

The missionaries who had preceded the Riggs at Lac-qui-parle had not
been very successful, if success be judged by the number of converts
made. The native Church consisted of seven people, but before the
Riggs had been there many months nine were added. Most of these were
women, and it was they, and not the men, who assisted in the building
of the first church at Lac-qui-parle.

When Mr. and Mrs. Riggs had worked for some time with success at
Lac-qui-parle they removed to a new station--Traverse des Sioux. But
four years later the news reached them that since their departure from
Lac-qui-parle there had been a sad falling back into heathenism among
the converts, and they hurried back to their old station. Backsliders
were reclaimed, and the missionary work carried on with increased
energy.

But the missionaries had much to contend with. The Indians were hard
pressed for food, and occasionally shot the mission cattle. Grog shops
had been opened in the neighbourhood, and many of the Sioux bought
drink when they should have purchased provisions. Excited by the
fire-water, the Indians were frequently riotous, and, although they
never assaulted the missionaries, it was clear that they might massacre
them. On one occasion Mrs. Riggs had a very unpleasant experience.
While her husband was away, twenty-six Sioux warriors paraded in front
of mission house and fired their guns in the air. Mrs. Riggs was
naturally somewhat frightened, until she found that they were not bent
on murder and scalping. They had been searching for some Chippewas,
but, having failed to find them, they fired their guns for practice.

Mr. and Mrs. Riggs continued their work with but few interruptions
until 1862, when the Sioux rising occurred. It began in this way. The
Sioux had assembled at Yellow Medicine to receive their annual
allowance from the Government official. While distributing the
allowance the official announced that the Great Father (President
Lincoln) was anxious to make them all very happy, and would therefore
give them, very shortly, a bonus. The Indians, having recently
suffered greatly from want of provisions, were delighted at the
prospect of an additional grant, and waited in the vicinity of the
agency for its arrival. When it arrived the Sioux found to their
dismay that it was a paltry gift of $2.50 a man. Their disgust and
ange