He taught me all that I know, and when I go to the land of spirits, my son must dance alone all night, and he will learn from me the secret of the medicine of our clan." All listened attentively to the old man, for not an Indian there but believed that he could by a spell cause their instant death; and many wonderful miracles had the "Elk" wrought in his day.
In the corner of the wigwam sat the Bound Spirit, whose vacant look told the sad tale of her want of reason.

Generally she sat quiet, but if the cry of an infant fell upon her ear, she would start, and her shriek could be heard throughout the village.
The Bound Spirit was a Sisseton.

In the depth of winter, she had left her village to seek her friends in some of the neighboring bands.

She was a widow, and there was no one to provide her food.
Accompanied by several other Indians, she left her home, which was made wretched by her desolate condition--that home where she had been very happy while her husband lived.

It had since been the scene of her want and misery.
The small portion of food they had taken for their journey was exhausted.