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〃Let us hear that story；〃 was the general re… quest。
〃You have all heard of Hachah； the great medicine man； who did many
wonderful things。 He once dreamed four nights in succession of fly… ing
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from a high cliff over the Minnesota river。 He recollected every
particular of the scene； and it made a great impression upon his mind。
〃The next day after he had dreamed it for the fourth time； he proposed
to his wife that they go down to the river to swim； but his real purpose was
to see the place of his dream。
〃He did find the place； and it seemed to Ha… chah exactly like。 A
crooked tree grew out of the top of the cliff； and the water below was very
deep。〃
〃Did he really fly？〃 I called impatiently from the doorway； where I had
been listening and laugh… ing with the rest。
〃Ugh； that is what I shall tell you。 He was swimming about with his
wife； who was a fine swimmer； but all at once Hachah disappeared。
Presently he stood upon the very tree that he had seen in his dream； and
gazed out over the water。 The tree was very springy； and Hachah felt
sure that he could fly； so before long he launched bravely forth from the
cliff。 He kicked out vigor… ously and swung both arms as he did so； but
nevertheless he came down to the bottom of the water like a crow that had
been shot on the wing。〃
〃Ho； ho； ho！ Ho； ho； ho！〃 and the whole company laughed
unreservedly。
〃His wife screamed loudly as Hachah whirled downward and went out
of sight like a blue heron after a fish。 Then she feared he might be
stunned； so she swam to him and dragged him to the shore。 He could not
speak； but the woman over… whelmed him with reproaches。
〃'What are you trying to do； you old idiot？ Do you want to kill
yourself？' she screamed again and again。
〃'Woman； be silent；' he replied； and he said nothing more。 He did not
tell his dream for many years afterward。 Not until he was a very old man
and about to die； did Hachah tell any one how he thought he could fly。〃
And at this they all laughed louder than ever。
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XII First Impressions of
Civilization
I WAS scarcely old enough to know anything definite about the 〃Big
Knives；〃 as we called the white men； when the terrible Minnesota
massacre broke up our home and I was carried into exile。 I have al… ready
told how I was adopted into the family of my father's younger brother；
when my father was betrayed and imprisoned。 We all supposed that he
had shared the fate of those who were executed at Mankato； Minnesota。
Now the savage philosophers looked upon ven… geance in the field of
battle as a lofty virtue。 To avenge the death of a relative or of a dear
friend was considered a great deed。 My uncle； accord… ingly； had spared no
pains to instill into my young mind the obligation to avenge the death of
my father and my older brothers。 Already I looked eagerly forward to the
day when I should find an opportunity to carry out his teachings。 Mean…
while； he himself went upon the war…path and re… turned with scalps every
summer。 So it may be imagined how I felt toward the Big Knives！
On the other hand； I had heard marvelous things of this people。 In
some things we despised them； in others we regarded them as wakan
（mysterious）； a race whose power bordered upon the superna… tural。 I
learned that they had made a 〃fire… boat。〃 I could not understand how
they could unite two elements which cannot exist together。 I thought the
water would put out the fire； and the fire would consume the boat if it had
the shadow of a chance。 This was to me a preposterous thing！ But when
I was told that the Big Knives had cre… ated a 〃fire…boat…walks…on…
mountains〃 （a loco… motive） it was too much to believe。
〃Why；〃 declared my informant； 〃those who saw this monster move
said that it flew from moun… tain to mountain when it seemed to be excited。
They said also that they believed it carried a thunder…bird； for they
frequently heard his usual war…whoop as the creature sped along！〃
Several warriors had observed from a distance one of the first trains on
the Northern Pacific； and had gained an exaggerated impression of the
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won… ders of the pale…face。 They had seen it go over a bridge that
spanned a deep ravine and it seemed
First Impressions of Civilization 281
to them that it jumped from one bank to the other。 I confess that the
story almost quenched my ardor and bravery。
Two or three young men were talking together about this fearful
invention。
〃However；〃 said one； 〃I understand that this fire…boat…walks…on…
mountains cannot move except on the track made for it。〃
Although a boy is not expected to join in the con… versation of his
elders； I ventured to ask： 〃Then it cannot chase us into any rough
country？〃
〃No； it cannot do that；〃 was the reply； which I heard with a great deal
of relief。
I had seen guns and various other things brought to us by the French
Canadians； so that I had already some notion of the supernatural gifts of
the white man； but I had never before heard such tales as I listened to that
morning。 It was said that they had bridged the Missouri and Miss… issippi
rivers； and that they made immense houses of stone and brick； piled on top
of one another until they were as high as high hills。 My brain was
puzzled with these things for many a day。 Finally I asked my uncle why
the Great Mystery gave such power to the Washechu （the rich）
sometimes we called them by this nameand not to us Dakotas。
For the same reason；〃 he answered； 〃that he gave to Duta the skill to
make fine bows and ar… rows； and to Wachesne no skill to make anything。〃
〃And why do the Big Knives increase so