[Dahcotah by Mary Eastman]@TWC D-Link book
Dahcotah

CHAPTER III
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He kept firing, and the Sioux retreated.

The Chippeway and his young son reached their home in safety, there to mourn the loss of others whom they loved.
The sun set upon a bloody field; the young and old lay piled together; the hearts that had welcomed the breaking of the day were all unconscious of its close.
The Sioux were avenged; and the scalps that they brought home (nearly one hundred when the party joined them from the massacre at Saint Croix) bore witness to their triumph.
The other party of Sioux followed the Chippeways who had gone by way of the St.Croix.While the Chippeways slept, the war-cry of the Sioux aroused them.

And though they fought bravely, they suffered as did their friends, and the darkness of night added terror to the scene.
The Dahcotahs returned with the scalps to their villages, and as they entered triumphantly, they were greeted with shouts of applause.

The scalps were divided among the villages, and joyful preparations were made to celebrate the scalp-dance.
The scalps were stretched upon hoops, and covered with vermilion, ornamented with feathers, ribbons and trinkets.
On the women's scalps were hung a comb, or a pair of scissors, and for months did the Dahcotah women dance around them.

The men wore mourning for their enemies, as is the custom among the Dahcotahs.
When the dancing was done, the scalps were buried with the deceased relatives of the Sioux who took them.
And this is Indian, but what is Christian warfare?
The wife of the hero lives to realize her wretchedness; the honors paid by his countrymen are a poor recompense for the loss of his love and protection.


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