ks of ice. There was but little game in
those dismal forests, and on those sear and bleak prairies. The savages
were pitiless, and would often give but a meagre portion to their
adopted brethren. Father Hennepin often divested himself of his
clothes, bound them upon his head, and swam across these streams. Upon
reaching the shore, his limbs would be so chilled and benumbed that he
could scarcely stand. The blood would trickle down his body and limbs,
from wounds inflicted by the sharp edges of the ice. The trail
invariably led to spots where the crossings of the swollen streams were
not very wide. Several of the Indians were men of gigantic stature.
Father Hennepin was a tall man, but his companions were very short, and
neither of them could swim. When they came to a ford where the water
was over the heads of the short men these tall Indians would carry them
across on their shoulders. When all were compelled to swim they would
help the unfortunate men across on pieces of drift wood.

The Indians seemed to have sinews of steel. They were alike insensible
to hunger, to drenched garments, and to freezing blasts. The celerity
with which they pressed on their way, astonished the Europeans. On
several occasions Father Hennepin, while traversing the broad bleak
prairie, was quite in despair. His trembling, tottering limbs would
scarcely support his body. Once, feeling unable to take another step,
he threw himself upon the ground, declaring that there he must die. The
rank and withered grass of the prairie was five or six feet high. Very
deliberately one of the savages set fire to the grass. It burst forth
in a consuming flame. "Now," said he, "you may follow us or be burned
to death."

On one occasion, when Father Hennepin had thrown himself upon the
ground, in utter exhaustion, one of the chiefs of the party came to
him, and pulling up a quantity of dried grass, made a soft bed for him
to lie down upon. Then seating himself by his side, he took from his
pocket two pieces of wood, very dry. One was a small block of cedar,
with an indentation in the centre, about two thirds of an inch in
diameter. The other was a round peg, five or six inches long, which
fitted into the hole in the block. This block he placed upon his knee,
and fitting the peg into the socket, spun it round with wonderful
rapidity between his two palms. Soon smoke began to appear, then a few
sparks were elicited, and then a gentle flame rose from the dust of t