Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/554

 474 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY ducked head foremost into the water. AVhen I regained a stand- ing position the two Indians were fishing for their guns and powder horns from the river bottom. We soon secured all the lost baggage, as the water was not more than three feet deep where the catastrophe occurred. It was fortunate for me that I had but little acquaintance with the language at that time. So the scathing rebuke which was given did not arouse my indigna- tion. Acknowledging my ignorance, I promised to keep still in the future, and after wringing some of the water from our gar- ments, we embarked again, and finished the trip without further accident. After this I learned very soon how to paddle the canoe, and frequently took short journeys in one. The same vehicle could be, and was sometimes, used for traveling on land. On the Fourth of July, 1852, we celebreated the day by an excursion down to the head of the lake, visiting with the trader, Mr. Bullard. and family, at that place. The party consisted of John Bush, Indian farmer, his wife, myself, wife, and one child. Mr. Bush considered that it would be easier to take a team and go by land than to go on the river. A large canoe was brought into requisition. The oxen were hitched to one end by a log chain. We took four seats on quilts in the canoe. Mr. Bush, driving the oxen, walked by their side. The wild grass being quite tall and thick, the canoe glided along where the ground was level like a sleigh over the snow. But in many places the land was uneven. The oxen seemed in good spirits, and walked rather lively. Frequently the canoe struck a stone or a sideling place, and we were immediately turned out. These turnovers were often, and gave ns great merriment. We were thrown out at different times, and found ourselves in all sorts of positions imaginable. Mr. Bush protested that he tried to find the smooth- est places, but I rather suspect his honesty. We accomplished the 1 rip, however, had a good time, and returned in the evening with the same consequences of turning over — and fun. That twelve miles of riding in a canoe by land was the most laughable experience of my life. The Uakotas were a kind people to those who were friendly and kind to them. During several year's' residence among them we had no difficulty with them. Early in the spring of 1851 a new scholar came to our school with the other children. Her appearance being somewhat strange, we called her the wild girl. It was nothing uncommon for boys and girls to go from one village to another, to stay a month or so, and return again to their parents. The severity of parental dis- cipline, I think, was often the occasion of such wandering. To have a new scholar, some fourteen or fifteen years of age, make appearance at the school was therefore no matter for wonder.