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It was James Lynd, one of the early traders, and a good friend to the Indians. No sooner had Tawasuota fired the fatal shot than every other Indian discharged his piece. Hither and thither ran the frantic people, seeking safety, but seeking it in vain. They were wholly unprepared and at the mercy of the foe. The friendly Indians, too, were taken entirely by surprise.
Immediately he sprang upon his white horse, and prepared to make their cause a general one among his people. Tawasuota had scarcely finished his hasty preparations for war, by painting his face and seeing to the loading of his gun, when he heard the voice of Little Crow outside his lodge. "You are now my head soldier," said the chief, "and this is your first duty.
"Ho, nephew," said one of them with much gravity, "you have precipitated a dreadful calamity. This means the loss of our country, the destruction of our nation. What were you thinking of?" It was the Wahpeton chief who spoke, a blood-relation to Tawasuota. He did not at once reply, but filled his pipe in silence, and handed it to the man who thus reproached him.
There he placed them in perfect poise. His haughty spirit found a moment's happiness in fatherhood. Suddenly Tawasuota set the two boys on the ground again, and signed to them to enter the teepee. Apparently all was quiet.
He had emptied one barrel of his gun, and, if he chose to do so, could have killed Myrick then and there; but he made no move, exclaiming: "Ho, ho! Nina iyaye!" Away sped the white man in the direction of the woods and the river. "Ah, he is swift; he will save himself," thought Tawasuota.
No, I must fight the whites until I die; and neither have I fought without cause; but I must see my sons once more before I go." When Tawasuota left his mother's teepee he walked fast across the circle toward the council lodge to see Little Crow. He drew his blanket closely about him, with his gun underneath.
Even the permanent dwellings of the Indians were empty, and all the teepees which had dotted with their white cones the west bank of the Minnesota had disappeared. Here and there were small groups of warriors returning from their bloody work, and among them was Tawasuota. He looked long at the spot where his home had stood; but it was gone, and with it his family.
They are armed; they can defend themselves," remarked the old chief, and Tawasuota replied: "Uncle, you speak truth; I have committed the act of a coward. It was not of my own will I did it; nevertheless, I have raised my weapon, and I will fight the whites as long as I live. If I am ever taken, they will first have to kill me." He arose, took up his gun, and joined the war-party.
The keen eye of the wily chief detected the severe expression upon the face of his guest, and he hastened to speak first. "There are times in the life of every great man when he must face hardship and put self aside for the good of his people. You have done well to-day!" "I care little for myself," replied Tawasuota, "but my heart is heavy to-night.
It had also developed during the day that there was a large party of Sioux who were ready to surrender, thereby showing that they had not been party to the massacre nor indorsed the hasty action of the tribe. At evening Tawasuota saw that there would be a long war with the whites, and that the Indians must remove their families out of danger. The feeling against all Indians was great.
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