Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Raven of the Reynards.
BY PERCY B. ST. JOHN.

Ner the confluence of the Wisconsin with
the great father of American rivers, and at
no great distance from the Painted Rock and
Fox village on Turkey river, the French,
in 1888, formed settlement, and, from a
family of Reynard Indians known as the
:" Dogs" called the village of Prairie du
Chen. In the present day the place is fa-
nous as station for the voyager on the
Mississippi; but at the date of which we
write it was distant and little frequented
outpost, in the very heart of the Indian
country The prairie on which the village
is built is bounded in the rear by high bald
hills, at the foot of which then dwelt band
of Reynard or Fox Indians. The principal
settlers in the Prairie du Chen were the
Guards, the Antayas, and the Dubuques,
while the post was commanded by a middle
aged officer, by name Joseph Reinville.-
This Joseph Renvile had recently heard
of the arrival of his wife and only child at
Natchez, whence they were every day ex-
pected by boat which made periodical
Journeys to the young settlement.
1t was early dawn, and Capt. Reinvllle,
with rifle on his shoulder, left the village,
accompanied only by two fayorite dogs,
with view, it appeared, of hunting in the
neighboring forest. His object, however,
was very different; it was one which for
some time be had at heart, and which the
approaching arrival of his family made him
still more anxious than ever to carry out
About half mile from the village, cOmmo-
diously situated on the borders of a limpid
rivulet, and surrounded on three sides by
the sycamore, cedar and pine, was lovely
tlx. u I,x..v
ity to the waters edge It was truly an ex-
quisite spot, and one which the eye OF any
lover of nature would have Immediately Sc
lected as suitable for residence. Its soil,
too, was most fertile, as the luxuriant and
rank vegetation, the bursting and odorous
flowers, abundantly testified. On this spot
Reinville had set his heart, and had long
been determined to build house thereon,
and to turn its natural meadows into pro-
ductve fields. The tumbling block which
had ever stood in his path had been the
presence of small band of friendly Indians,
whose wigwanls gracefully dotted the sur
face, commanded by the renowned Raven
of the Reynards, a young chief, whose val
or and energy had raised him from a sim
pie bravo to the command of select band
of warriors. After a walk, during which
the captain turned over in his mind every
conceivable mode of obtaining possession,
without coming to any satisfactory conclu-
sion, save that force might be necessary, a
sudden bend in the trail brought him in full
view of the Indian hamlet.
Within twenty yards of the forest stood
a wigwam of somewhat stately proportions,
in front of which group at once attracted
the captains attention. Near to him, lean
ing on a musket, was the erect form of the
Raven Of the Reynards. About thirty, his
proportions gracefully set off by bis scanty
dress, were singulariy perfect. His limbs
were round and seemingly full of yigor and
ability. A string of black bears claws was
around his neck, shaggy cloak from the
same animal covered his shoulders, while
tunic and moccasiGs of deer skin completed
his attire. His face was striking, though
high cheek-bOnes, and a low retreating fore
head, rendered it less attractive than il 9TH
erwise might have been. On huge felled
tree near at hand, his hack turned to the
captain, and engaged in conversation with
an Indian lad, was a white man. Busting
in and out of the tent, was a young sguaw,
the Petit Girls of the Reynards, and wife TO
the Raven.
Advancing a few steps, the captain adj
dressed the Indian chief in friendly tones;
and, without touching on the topic which