Repository: UIHistories Project: Illio - 1896 [PAGE 47]

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bird. Klunkem gathered up the scrolls and sent the young braves and souaws to their wigwams. On the morrow all who were found worthy gathered themselves at the teepee •of the wampum keeper. At the fifth hour after sunrise this great chief arose, and when each candidate gave him four handsful of wampum beads he gave them the tokens, and henceforth they were permitted to live in the village and to call themselves Groutchers. They settled on the north bank of t h e ' River of Odors, and because of their wisdom were called the Children of Knowledge. So great have been the deeds of this faction of the tribe, that a record has been kept for their children and grandchildren to read and to imitate.

CHAPTER II.

FROM T H E GREAT PEACE D A N C 1 TO T H E RETURN OE T H E P A R D O N E D KEWANEES.

In the second year of their sojourn in the tribe the older warriors gathered together and gave a feast and dance to the new men and maidens. The feast was spread in the wigwam of Ilotstuff, the mighty leader of the warriors. The Children of Knowledge gathered in full war paint and made merry until the crowing of the cock in the early morning. When the long winter was nearly over they decided to have a friendship dance among themselves. At this announcement the other bands belonging to the (iroutchers were overwhelmed with astonishment. They said among themselves that the Children of Knowledge were too fresh, and vowed great vows that the dance should not come off. On the morning of the great affair, as Not-afraidof-the-sophs, the leader of the new-comers, was leaving his lodge, he was seized by some burly, husky warriors from that family called Kewanee who dwelt on the other bank of the river. He was bound and taken from his loved ones to a cabin deep in the forest. Notwithstanding the absence of their leader, the Children went bravely forward with their dance, and it was dawn when the pipe of peace was passed around and the musicians ceased to beat the tom-toms. When Push-it-along heard of the great insult that had been put upon the new members, he was very wroth. He caused a great pow-wow of the chief medicine men to be called, and amidst much confusion and excited speech making the verdict was reached. All who had helped to take Not-afraid-of-thesophs away from his lodge were dismissed from the tribe. Then was there a great uproar among the young men and maidens from both sides of the river. Birch bark was produced in great plenty, and all signed their names thereon and asked that the young braves be received again into the tribe. Even the Children of Knowledge signed their names, and then it was that the great council saw that it was good for the young men to come back. Messengers were sent through the forest to overtake them, and when the pardoned braves were seen returning there was great rejoicing, and many went out to meet them. 66