The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-08-20
aAnsIndiall4.sI1 legend. ).

i Illustrated st. Paul aud Fireside Companion,
i 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. sf
Some fifteen years ago, while on our way
to VermilliOn lake with COMPANY of ex-
p!orers, We camped on the banks of beau
tiful sheet of water some twenty miles from
the city of st. Paul, when our s.Necarnis, .
or best friend-that is an Indian in the
party who had attached himself to our per-
81 nentertained us through our interpreter,
Porter, with the following intensely interest
ing legend:
"Many moons ago. said the Indian, with
Whit of his pipe, "a party of Sioux In
dians crept down silently to the shores of
Me- de-wa- ka-now Lake Como-and gazing
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
"hen she saw these enemies of her race, she
screamed and ran to the tepee, which was
located near tho identical spot where the
hotel now stands. MINI pe-wa pa, her broth
| er-brave, gallant, affectionate-like deer
dashed from the wigwam. and catching his
sister in his arms, asked-'what fear?" He
leo pa pointed to the brush, ana tremblingly
replied, ''Sioux -
Tho Indian was silent. He gazed upon
the blazing fire; gave out glutteral sound,
and then whiting his pipe several times,
continued: -.>
"Nim pe-wa-pa brave! MIN -pe-wa-pa no
fear Sioux! Nim-pe wa pas heart be big!''
housing the band the Chippewas we're soon
in pursuit of the fleeing enemy, led by MINI
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!
1t was night. The full orbed moon sent a.
ray of mellow light down upon the beautiful
scene, while from oil parts of the shores of
the lake numerous bands of Indians RECALLED
themselves, either reclining upon the messy
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 a 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
a light bound, she skipped among her COM
panions, the fairest of them all. With
perfect figure; beautiful, soft black eye : jet
black hair, and clear compilations; with
merry laugh, and heart warm and gener-
GUS in its impulses, no wonder she was the
queen of her sex and the loved of her tribe.
just Is NJ ons had passed over her fair head
and still so innocent, still so lovely, still
80 charming!"'
The old Indian paused; dropped bis head
upon his hands; uttered 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 aims of nature. nesting with
the flowers and listening to the whippoor-
will, wandered 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 pulled their pipes
and recalled the stirring scenes of the fight;
when, all of q sudden, there was piercing
scream ! 1t 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
hasts ming in the direction of the noise, halt
ed. What means it? Who is missing?
1t seems that while He.le o-pa wandered
in the moonlight, talking, as it were, with
invisible beings, a company of thirty Sioux
stole in upon her-seized her bound her to
pony and was flying with her to the camp
could be devised by those who had congre-
Dated VI ho
wa-pa gave a most mournful wall and
bounded in among them, uttered imprecas
tions upon the miscreants, and with-"He-
le-o-pa-revenge and deeth!' dashed into
the thicket followed by his friends.
The Indian paused again. He refilled his
pipe; then stretching himself up to his full
height, exclaimed ''Nisisshin!''- and
closed his story in the following graphic
manner: .,-
"Nim-pe-wa-pa sped like an arrow.
Through the bushes, over logs, Jumping ra-
vines, he seemed to possess the power of the
incarnate. He rode the air, and his men
fed like birds at his command. The re-
treating Sioux are in the distance. Ten of
his men have left the main party to inter-.
cept them. On they rush, pell-mell. The
Chippewas are gaining the Sioux are scat
terlng. With the impetuosity of hurricane,
Nim-pe-wa-pa darts down upon them. He
approaches them and IN the full moonlight,
fires. Mad with revenge, he continues the
onslaught. He draws nearer; again
he fires; Sioux falls. How he gloats as he
tears the scalp from his head, and then again
continues his pursuit. In the meantime his
friends have come up to the rescue and soon
begins one of the fiercest Indian fights on
record. Hand to hand they meet; hand to
hand they fall; hand to hand they die.
Where is He-le-o-pa? Death! death! The
party of ten Chippewas haye intercepted the
flying Sioux. Tney close in upon them.
Red, CORY blood curdles in the moonlight.
N'm-pe-wa-pa rides like demon. Five of
the enemy have fallen by his unerring aim;
and still, with loss of vital force from a
dangerous wound, he continues the con-
h'ot. Dashing into the thickest Of tho
fight, he makes one desperate effort, and in
! that effort he confronts the Sioux who has
He.le-o-pa bound to his horse, and with an
impetuous plunge, dismounts him, but in
the act yhe animal upon which his sister is
secured falls dead! Nim-pe- pa reels,
staggers, drops to the earth! The conflict is
over! Several Chippewas and eight Sioux lie
dead upon the field. Twenty-Five of the
Sioux have escaped--three Ohlppewas are
lifeless. The bodies of He le-o-pa and
MIN no. no hronrht 4a,,lo,,I,,