rest of your people, are anxious you should return, and Keokuk has asked me to send you back. Your chiefs have pledged themselves for your good conduct and I have given directions that you should be taken to your own country.

Major Garland, who is with you, will conduct you through some of our towns. You will see the strength of the white people. You will see that our young men are as numerous as the leaves in the woods. What can you do against us? You may kill a few women and children, but such a force will soon be sent against you as would destroy your whole tribe. Let the red men hunt and take care of their families; but I hope they will not again raise their hands against their white brethren. We do not wish to injure you. We desire your prosperity and improvement. But if you again plunge your knives into the breasts of our people, I shall send a force which will severely punish you for all your cruelties. When you go back, listen to the counsels of Keokuk and the other friendly chiefs. Bury the tomahawk and live in peace with the frontier, and I pray the Great Spirit to give you a smooth path and a fair sky to return."

Black Hawk and the prophet both replied to this speech, promising not to go to war again. The captives were next conducted to Philadelphia, where they arrived on the tenth of June, and remained at Congress Hall until the fourteenth. While in this city they were taken to see all the features of interest, and before they left they had the pleasure of witnessing a grand military display in front of the quarters. Black Hawk at once inquired whether or not these were the soldiers who had conquered him and his warriors on the previous sumIn speaking of his war he said:

mer.

"My heart grew bitter against the whites and my hands were strong. I dug up the tomahawk and led my warriors to fight. I fought hard; I was no coward. Much blood was shed. But the white men were mighty. They were as many as the leaves in the forest. I and my people failed. I am sorry the tomahawk was raised. I have been a prisoner. I see the strength of the white men; they are many, very many. The Indians are but few; they are not cowards; they are braves;

but they are few. While the Great Spirit above keeps my heart as it now is, I will be the white man's friend. I will remain in peace. I will go to my people and speak good of the white man. I will tell them they are as the leaves of the forest, very many, very strong, and that I will fight no more against them."

They were next taken to New York city, where, immediately upon their arrival, they had the pleasure of witnessing a balloon ascension at Castle Garden. This novel sight greatly pleased the red men, and one of them appealed to the prophet to know if the air ship was "going to see the Great Spirit.” When the crowd ascertained that Black Hawk was present, the air was rent with shouts of welcome, and the press of the multitude to see the strangers was so great that they could not reach their lodgings until placed in carriages and committed to the care of the police. It was with much difficulty that they reached the Exchange Hotel, which was immediately surrounded by thousands who would not be dispersed until "General Black Hawk" would show himself, which he did. While in New York they were treated with many civilities. They were conducted to all public places of interest, and were much pleased with their visit.

The party was conducted to Albany, Buffalo, and thence to Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, where they arrived about the middle of August. "In passing by the site of the old Sac village, Black Hawk was deeply affected, and expressed much regret for the causes which compelled him to emigrate beyond the Mississippi. The return of the prophet was also attended with melancholy associations. His village, over which he had long presided, was entirely broken up, his wigwam in ashes, his family dispersed and he a suppliant for a home in the village of some other chief."

CHAPTER XL.

CEREMONIES OF LIBERATING BLACK HAWK-KEOKUK'S TRIUMPH — BLACK HAWK'S ANGER- - HE WILL NOT CONFORM TO THE COUNCILS OF KEOKUK- HIS SPEECH-HE DEPARTS TO HIS SQUAWS - INTERESTING INCIDENTS AT ROCK ISLAND.

FORT ARMSTRONG had been chosen as the proper place for the ceremonies of the liberation of Black Hawk and his party. Its central position enabled the commander to assemble the surrounding Indians at short notice, runners being sent out for that purpose. The first to arrive were the friendly Keokuk and his band. He ascended the Mississippi by water, and led the van with two large canoes lashed side by side, handsomely decorated, with a canopy erected over them, "beneath which sat the chief and his three wives, with the American flag waving over them. More than twenty canoes followed the chieftain, each containing from four to eight of his warriors, whose shouts and songs swept over the transparent waters of the Mississippi and were echoed from shore to shore." The little fleet passed slowly up the river, opposite the camp of the captives, and landed on the west side of the river. At this place Keokuk and his party spent several hours in arranging their dress, painting and equipping themselves for the occasion. When this important duty had been completed they crossed the river. Reaching the bank the great Keokuk turned to his followers and said: "The Great Spirit has sent our brother back; let us shake hands with him in friendship." He then approached Black Hawk, followed by his warriors. The old chief was seated in front of his temporary lodge, surrounded by his followers, and appeared to be deeply affected by the scene. Now the rivals met face to face-Keokuk in his glory and Black Hawk in disgrace, fallen, forsaken! But the

proud ruler did not exult in his well-merited triumph. Approaching the old chief, Keokuk stretched forth his hand in friendship, which Black Hawk grasped with a degree of cordiality. Keokuk and his followers then took seats, which was followed by a long silence. The pipe was lighted and passed from hand to hand, followed by friendly sentiments expressed by both parties. At length Keokuk arose and shook hands with the fallen chief, saying, "We will return to-morrow." He then re-crossed the river to his own camp.

On the following day the grand council for the liberation of the captives was held. "It presented," says Mr. Conclin, "the novel spectacle of a chief, compelled by a third power, to acknowledge the authority of a rival, and formally descend from the rank which he had long sustained among his people. Fort Armstrong presented a commodious room for the cere monies of the day, and it was fitted up for the occasion. About ten o'clock in the forenoon Keokuk and one hundred followers re-crossed the river and proceeded in martial array to the garrison. They were conducted into the council room and shown the seats which they were to occupy. Keokuk was seated with Pashepahow (the Stabber) on one side, Wapellar (the Little Prince) on the other the former a chief of the Sacs, the latter of the Foxes. The remainder of his band took their seats in the rear, and maintained throughout the ceremony profound silence."

In a few minutes Black Hawk and his followers came into the council. As they entered, Keokuk and the two chiefs by his side rose and greeted them. The old chief and his associates were seated directly opposite Keokuk. Black Hawk was accompanied by his son, Nasinewiskuk, and both appeared to be displeased. They had, the day previous, offered great objec tions to the council, saying it was altogether unnecessary and would be very painful to them, and it was now with the greatest reluctance that they came into it.

For several minutes a profound silence reigned over the assembly, at the end of which Major Garland rose and addressed the council. He said he was pleased to see the Sacs and Foxes greet Black Hawk with friendship, and he believed that here

after they would live in peace. At this point Major Garland caused the speech delivered to Black Hawk at Baltimore by the President to be again interpreted to him. This ended, Keokuk rose, and after shaking hands with those around him, said:

"I have listened to the talk of our great father. It is true we pledged our honor, with those of our young braves, for the liberation of our friends. We thought much of it; our councils were long; their wives and childred were in our thoughts; when we talked of them our hearts were full. Their wives and children came to see us, which made us feel like women; but we were men. The words which we sent to our great father were good; he spoke like the father of children. The Great Spirit made his heart big in council. We received our brothers in friendship; our hearts were good towards them. They once listened to bad council; now their ears are closed. I give my hand to them; when they shake it they shake the hands of all! I will shake hands with them and then I am done."

Major Garland again rose and said that the President, their great father, would hereafter recognize Keokuk as the principal chief of the Sac and Fox nations, and that he wished and expected that Black Hawk would conform to his (rival's) councils. All unfriendly feelings between them must be buried, and the band of Black Hawk must be hereafter merged in that of Keokuk. And just here I cannot resist from making a single comment: Was it not enough that Black Hawk, whose once powerful band of warriors had been shot down by American soldiers, had been left without any followers, that he had suffered the shame of a long, and, in some respects, merciless confinement? Why crush out the last spark of pride within him?

On hearing the words of Major Garland, the old chief, who had suffered his captivity and imprisonment with fortitude, lost all control of himself and became deeply excited. The great spirit which had borne him through the daring struggles of his great war, and made his name terrible wherever it was spoken, suddenly returned and burst forth with great violence.