On the west, there is prairie far as the eye can reach.
But it is to the free only that nature is beautiful.

Can the prisoner gaze with pleasure on the brightness of the sky, or listen to the rippling of the waves?
they make him feel his fetters the more.
I am here, with my heavy chain! And I look on a torrent sweeping by.
And an eagle rushing to the sky, And a host to its battle plain.
Must I pine in my fetters here! With the wild wave's foam and the free bird's flight, And the tall spears glancing on my sight, And the trumpet in mine ear?
The summer of 1845 found Sullen Face a prisoner at Fort Snelling.
Government having been informed of the murder of Watson by two Dahcotah Indians, orders were received at Fort Snelling that two companies should proceed to the Sisseton country, and take the murderers, that they might be tried by the laws of the United States.
Now for excitement, the charm of garrison life.

Officers are of course always ready to "go where glory waits" them, but who ever heard of one being ready to go when the order came?
Alas! for the young officer who has a wife to leave; it will be weeks before he meets again her gentle smile! Still more--alas for him who has no wife at all! for he has not a shirt with buttons on it, and most of what he has are in the wash.

He will have to borrow of Selden; but here's the difficulty, Selden is going too, and is worse off than himself.

But no matter! what with pins and twine and trusting to chance, they will get along.
Then the married men are inquiring for tin reflectors, for hard bread, though healthy, is never tempting.