it calmed the spirits of the clamorous warriors, who now regarded Keokuk as their ruler, and obeyed his counsel.

It will be seen that the Sacs were divided, part under Black Hawk and part under Keokuk. This division created many dissensions in the tribe, and at length led the overthrow of the latter, a young brave being elected to take his place. Keokuk received the change with a good grace, and took his place among the common warriors without a word. But it was not long before the incapacity of his successor manifested itself, and Keokuk was again called upon to rule the councils of his nation, and lead the warriors to battle.

In 1832, five Sacs, belonging to Keokuk's party, murdered a settler in Illinois. One of the guilty party was his own nephew, but he immediately seized and delivered up to the civil authorities, the other four having escaped. Some time after, the Americans demanded the other four prisoners, but they could not be found. Keokuk called a council and stated the matter at length, saying that something must be done to appease the wrath of the president. An expedient was soon offered. Four young warriors came forward and gave themselves up, manifesting a willingness to die for the crimes of their brethren. These brave men were turned over to the proper officers and imprisoned. Keokuk was present at their trial, and testified that the prisoners were not guilty, but that they had offered to die in order to satisfy the law. He said that the real murderers had escaped. The prisoners were, of course, set at liberty.

Some time after, Keokuk, Black Hawk and several Sac chiefs made a visit to Washington and the principle cities of the eastern states, in which they were well received. In Boston they created great excitement, which was caused by the war dance on the common. In all the savage virtues, Keokuk was a superior Indian, far in advance of Black Hawk.

We have now before us two men - Black Hawk and Keokuk. A glance at their different virtues has enabled the reader to judge somewhat of these Indians. Let us now notice, briefly, the prin cipal acts of their lives. Black Hawk and his band had not been long in their new village before difficulties began to arise which terminated in a violation of the treaty which he had made subse

quent to his removal. They had been sent away from their homes too late in the season to admit of planting corn and beans, and before autumn was over they were suffering for provisions. It is not surprising that in this condition they should attempt to steal the corn which they had planted on the opposite side of the river in the spring. Many events followed, trivial in their character, but all well qualified to foster the hatred which already existed between Black Hawk's band and the Americans. In April, 1832, the whole party, under this chief crossed over the river, and, in open violation of their treaty of the previous year, asscended the Rock river to the territory of their friends, the Winnebagoes, having been invited thither to raise corn. Gen. Atkinson, with a body of troops, was then at Fort Armstrong, having been ordered by the government to that point for the purpose of quelling a war which existed between the Menominies and the Foxes. Black Hawk had not proceeded far up the river when. he was overtaken by a messenger from Gen. Atkinson with an order for him and his party to return and recross the Mississippi. This the chief refused to obey, saying that the general had no right to issue such an order. He declared that he was at peace with the Americans, and that he was peaceably traveling towards the village of his friends. They journeyed on, but were soon overtaken by another messenger, who brought word that, unless the Sacs returned and recrossed the Mississippi at once, an armed force would be sent to compel them. Black Hawk's reply was decisive; he would not return. Arriving at the village to which he was traveling, the Sac chief found that in case he should be pursued by the troops at Fort Armstrong, he would be unable to obtain any assistance from these Indians, and he therefore resolved, if overtaken, to return peaceably. He encamped at Kish-wa-cokee and began preparations for a dog-feast, with which to compliment the Pottawatomies.

Meanwhile the Illinois militia was ordered out and formed a junction with the regular troops under Gen. Atkinson, at Rock Island. From this point the militia, being for the most part mounted, proceeded by land to Dixon's ferry, on Rock river, about half way between the fort and Black Hawk's present encampment. Gen. Atkinson, with three hundred militia and three

hundred regulars, ascended the river in boats to the same point. Maj. Stillman," says Mr. Conclin, "having under his command a body of two hundred and seventy-five mounted volunteers, obtained leave of Gen. Whitesides, then in command of the Illinois militia at Dixon's ferry, to go out on a scouting expedition. He proceeded up Rock river about thirty miles, to Sycamore creck, which empties into that river on the east side. This movement brought him within a few miles of the camp of Black Hawk and a part of his braves at the time when the old chief was engaged in getting up a dog-feast in honor of his Pottawatomie visitors."

While engaged in this ancient ceremony, on the 14th of May, Black Hawk received intelligence of the advance of a large number of mounted volunteers, which were reported as being about eight miles distant. "I immediately started," says the old chief, "three young men with a white flag to meet them and conduct them to our camp, that we might hold a council with them and descend Rock river again; and directed them, in case the whites had encamped, to return, and I would go and see them. After this party had started, I sent five young men to see what might take place. The first party went to the encampment of the whites and were taken prisoners. The last party had not proceeded far before they saw twenty men coming towards them in full gallop. They stopped, and finding that the whites were coming so fast, in a warlike attitude, they turned and retreated, but were pursued and overtaken, and two of them killed. The others made their escape. When they came in with the news, I was preparing my flags to meet the war chief. The alarm was given. Nearly all my young men were absent, about ten miles off. I started with what I had left, about forty, and had proceeded but a short distance before we saw a part of the enemy approaching. I raised a yell, and said to my braves, 'some of our people have been killed -wantonly and cruelly murdered! we must avenge their death!" In a little while we discovered the whole army coming towards us in full gallop! We were now confident that our first party had been killed. I immediately placed my men in front of some bushes, that we might have the first fire, when they approached close enough. They made a halt some distance from us. I gave