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163 for the benefit of our young readers. At present we shall have time only to introduce Mrs. Newman and her three children, captives, taken by the Lower Bands and who have succeeded in getting to Simon’s for protection since the rebels moved up.107 We called to see her on our way from the fire; we found in her another example that in trials, deep trials, Jesus is the only real comforter and soother in our afflictions. Friends may try to alleviate sufferings, but it is sometimes beyond human agency to relieve the anguish of the heart. She seems a meek and loving disciple of her Lord and Master. How glad the captives are to get among the friendly Indians! The praise is all due to that gospel which makes the savage heart become humane, and man respect the rights of his fellow man. CHAPTER SEVEN108 CAmp neAr ruSh brooK. The rebels are camped on the opposite side of us. We have only six tents in our company. A part have gone about half a mile above; we came here with the intention of deceiving the enemy, thinking that if we showed no signs of fear or desire of escaping, they might remove their diligent watch. We are confident that by leaving the tent and team standing we could make our escape if we were only able to walk the distance necessary to take a canoe, though we have been a little intimidated by one woman being shot, or reported to have been, for trying to get away. That would be our fate or similar should we be discovered.109 Sabbath Sept. 7th.—Lorenzo addressed the people, about forty in number. The tents being all small, seats were made of the boards we had saved from the Mission and placed in front of our tent. Mrs. Decamp and Mrs. Newman, with their families, came. Quite an excitement arose during the exercises by the rebel soldiers suddenly appearing, about one hundred in all, mounted, and firing off their guns into the air, and singing A Thrilling nArrATive of indiAn CApTiviTy 164 triumphant songs. Only a few came into our camp, but not a Dakota left their seats. The white captives were not so quiet. Some of them having more reason for fear than we had, tried to secrete themselves in the tent.110 The cause of this sudden move was the return of a war party from Forest City, bringing more captives. The day has been truly a sad one; rebels, as if to show how much disregard as possible to all sacred rights of christians, burned the church in the forenoon. Paul tried to prevent this by calling a council the day previous, and endeavoring to persuade them to desist, and to spare the church; that it was no use for them to think they could escape the penalty of justice, and that they had done terrible deeds, and continuing, would only add vengeance to justice in their final retribution; pleading with them and even demanding the captives, telling them the white people would pursue them though they might secrete themselves in the forests, or flee to the mountains, and the husbands and brothers of the captives, if not restrained by a Higher Power, would literally destroy them root and branch.111 We learned afterwards that the superstitious savages were almost afraid to commit to flame the house dedicated to the Most High, especially on the Sabbath. Undoubtedly had some ghastly figure been represented on the wall it would have prevailed more than all the combined force of Paul’s argument.112 Early Sabbath forenoon, one of Little Crow’s head warriors came to our camp with a small day-book which had been found by some of his war parties. It was a brief sketch of the times, at that place. The object, he said, in bringing it to us was to see if we interpreted it the same as the others who had read it. He eyed us closely while it was read. At any other time we might have quailed beneath his stern gaze, but we were so elated at the good news contained in the little book that we could scarcely keep from expressing by our countenance what we felt in our hearts. It stated that General Sibley was marching forward with a large force.113 About three o’clock Monday forenoon Mrs. De Camp sent Catherine for her boy.114 We awoke him...

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