miable
mood. Father Hennepin had landed, and was alone in a frail cabin which
he had reared as a shelter from the hot sun. Anthony had gone into the
prairie for food. Father Hennepin writes:

"Aquipaguetin, seeing me alone, came up tomahawk in hand. I seized
two pocket pistols, which we had regained from the Indians, and a
knife. I had no intention of killing my pretended father, but only
wished to frighten him, and to prevent his killing me, in case he
had that intention."

Probably the savage had no such murderous designs. He informed his
adopted son that there were no Frenchmen at the Wisconsin, and none had
been there, and therefore urged his return up the river. There was no
alternative. But Father Hennepin and Anthony could not keep pace with
the eleven-oared, or rather paddled, canoe of the savages. They crept
along slowly after them. They thus paddled up the swift current of the
Mississippi two hundred miles, running the risk, Hennepin says, of
perishing of hunger.

They had but ten charges of powder left. These they divided into
twenty, and succeeded in killing some wild pigeons. At one time, for
two days, they had no food whatever, though they landed and searched
for game. They found a fish whose flesh was almost putrid, dropped by
an eagle. With bits of this they baited two hooks, which they floated
from the stern of the canoe. Father Hennepin then fell upon his knees
and prayed to St. Anthony that he would come to his relief. While
praying, they perceived a strain upon the lines, and running to the
canoe, drew in two fishes, so large that they could with difficulty
take them from the water. They broiled pieces upon the coals, and the
starving men made an abundant repast.

The next morning they met the remainder of the Indians whom they had
left above the Falls of St. Anthony. They were descending the river, in
search of more southern hunting grounds. Michael Ako was with them. He
had developed want of courage and energy which excited the contempt of
the savages. There was a large number of canoes, composing this fleet,
crowded with a motley group of men, women, and children. They had
encountered herds of buffaloes, and were well supplied with food.

Father Hennepin and Anthony again joined them, and accompanied them
back down the river, as he says, about eighty leagues. But as we have
before remarked, we cannot place much reliance upon his estimate of
distances. The discomforts of t