DOC’S good deed in curing Tiny’s ankle made it possible for Tiny to play in the ball game between the Sacs and Foxes, and because of that we were adopted into the Sac nation with unparalleled rapidity—a circumstance whose influence upon us was far-reaching, as without it we might never have turned back to white men again.

The game was played three days after our arrival, before thousands of spectators—played with three hundred men on a side, not one of them hampered by any garments except a strip of cloth in front and a horsehair tail lashed on behind to curve gracefully above his rear. Each player carried a snowshoe-like bat that was frequently used as a weapon, during the arguments that took place between the players. The goal posts were a third of a mile apart and the side which won was the first side to make 100 goals. The game lasted from nine in the morning until sundown without intermissions; and Tiny, by making the one hundredth goal for his side, brought riches to the Sacs, the wildest gamblers among all Indian tribes. They won fifty ponies, a score of Pawnee slaves, innumerable bowls, pans, pots, coats, pipes, leggins, muskets, tobacco pouches, belts, spears, bows, arrow cases and God knows what-all that the Foxes had wagered on their powerful team. Hence Doc Means’s prestige increased; and Verrieul and I, as satellites of his, shared a reflected credit.

After the game there was a feast of rejoicing, held in the long dance house, a house a hundred and fifty feet long, with fires burning down the center, so that we could scarcely see for the smoke.

The pièce de résistance was the greatest delicacy that can be served at an Indian banquet—dog meat boiled with dried blueberries in bear fat.

After the feast three beaver robes were spread on the floor of the council house, whose atmosphere by this time was rich, and Doc, Verrieul and I were seated upon the robes. Then Pahokuk addressed us, Verrieul translating.

“My sons,” Pahokuk said, “you have come a great distance. In your travels, we are told, you carried yourselves with patience and dignity, as the warriors of this nation are taught to bear themselves. Before that, we have been told, you fought well. Because of this we have decided you are worthy to become members of the Sac nation—though the things we heard about your former nation at first led us to doubt the wisdom of such a step.