Bismarck tribune., 1879-08-30
An Indian Legend.

st. Paul Illustrated and Fireside Companion.
There is something peculiarly fascinating
about an Indian tradition, handed down as
it is, not in books, but from father and son,
while smoking their pipes around the wig
wan fire; and there is something addition
ally charming in the story as told by the In
dian himself.
Some fifteen years ago, while on our way
to Vermillion lake with q company of ex-,
plorers, we camped on the banks of beau
tiful sheet of water some twenty miles from
the city of St. Paul, when our "Necarnis,"
or best friend-that is an Indian in the
party who had attached himself to our per-
&C n entertained us through our interpreter,
Porter, with the following intensely interest
ing legend: >,
Whit of his pipe, sa party of Sioux In
dams crept down silently to the shores of
wa-ka-now Lake Como and gazing
a moment, disappeared in the thick under
brush that encircled the lake. A young
Chippewa girl, beautiful as the fawn, with
features radiant with perfection, was sitting
upon the bank, toying with the gentle waves
as they came and kissed her tawny feet, but
when she saw these enemies of her race, she
screamed and ran to the tepee, which was
located near the identical spot where the
hotel now stands. MIN -pe-wa-pa, her broth
er-brave, gallant, afectionate- deer
dashed from the wigwam. and catching his
sister in his arms, asked-"what fear!" He
leo pa pointed to the brush, and tremblingly
replied, ''Sioux -
The Indian was silent. He gazed upon
the blazing fire; gave out glutteral sound,
and then whiting his pipe several times,
continued:
'sNim pe-wa-pa brave! Nim-pe-wa-pa no
fear Sioux! Nim-pe wa-pa's heart be blg!'
Rousing the band the Chippewas were soon
in pursuit of the fleeing enemy, led by MINI
pe-wa-pa; but they had passed the boundary
line, and could only reach them by confront
ing the whole Sioux nation; so, chatting for
revenge, they returned to their camp on the
silent shore of Me-de-wa-ka!
It was night. The full orbed moon sent
ray of mellow light down upon the beautiful
scene, while from all parts of the shores OF
the lake numerous bands of Indians RECALLED
themselves, either reclining upon the mossy
banks, or riding in their light canoes. The
prattle and laughter of childhood, the ring
ing notes of maidens, the plaintive songs OF
mothers, as they rocked their loved ones to
sleep, gave charm to the scene and pre-
sented picture unrivalled in beauty and in
innocence.
The stars stopped down and kissed the fair
maiden, He-le-o pa, as with soft tread and
q light bound, she skipped among her COM
panions, the fairest of them all. With q
perfect figure: beautiful, soft black eyes; jet
black hair, and clear complexion; with
merry laugh, and q heart warm and gener-
ous in it's impulses, no wonder she was the
queen of her sex and the loved OF her tribe.
Just 18 moons had passed over her fair head
and still so innocent, still 80 lovely, still
80 charming:'
The old Indian paused; dropped bis head
upon his hands; uttered q moan, and then as
if recalling something in the long past, be-
came as calm and as cold as marble and con-
tinued his. story
Up short distance from the lake, embos-
omed in the arms of nature. nesting with
the flowers and listening to the whippoor-
will, wande red He-le-o-pa. The noise OF the
children had ceased; the moon was high IN
the blue sky; quietness brooded over and
about the lake; the Indians puffed their pipes
and recalled the stirring scenes OF the tight;
when, all of sudden, there was piercing
scream It broke out again, and the echo
came back to remind the peaceful Indian
village that an enemy was in their midst
The women and children entered their to-
pees the men clutched their guns, and
hastening in the direction of the noise, halt
ed. What means it? Who is missing?
It seems that while He-le o-pa wandered
in the moonlight, talking, as itwere, with
invisible beings, company of thirty Sioux
stole in upon her-seized her--bound her to
a pony and was flying with her to the camp
of the enemy. Before any concert OF action
could be devised by those who had congre-
gated where the noise was heard, Nim-pe-
wa-pa gave a most mournful wall and