In old times, Europeans had not made settlements in the country near the Rocky Mountains. Tribes of American Indians fought one another over that whole region. A few bold European explorers, fond of wild life, lived there, in order to hunt and trap the animals for meat and furs. But they themselves were always in danger of being hunted by the Indians.
The Indians called Blackfeet and those called Crows were at war. They stole each other's horses at every chance, and the Indians of each tribe were always seeking to kill those of the other.
In one of their attacks on the Blackfeet, the Crows carried off an Indian girl. One of the bold trappers of the Rocky Mountains was a Mexican. His name was Loretto. He visited a Crow village and saw the kidnapped Blackfoot girl. He fell in love with the captive and bought her from the Crows. Whether he paid for her in horses or in beaver skins, I do not know. But from a slave of the enemies of her tribe she was changed to the wife of a man who loved her.
Loretto was hired to trap for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. This company bought furs from the Indians of the Far American West. They sent large parties to the mountains every year with guns, knives, hatchets, blankets, and other things, which they traded to the Indians for animal skins.
Loretto was marching over the plains with a party of trappers belonging to the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. He had his young Blackfoot wife and his baby with him. The Europeans were much afraid of the Blackfoot Indians. The company that Loretto was with examined every ravine that they passed, for fear that the Blackfeet would surprise them.
One day a band of the Blackfoot tribe appeared on the prairie, but they kept near some rocks to which they could easily retire. They made signs of friendship. The trappers also made friendly signs. Then the Blackfeet sent out a party with a pipe of peace. The trappers sent out a party to meet them. They smoked the pipe in the open ground between the two companies. This is the Indian way of making peace.
Of course, Loretto's wife was much interested in the Blackfeet. They were her own people. It had been a long time since she had seen one of them. She looked closely at the company smoking together, and saw that one of them was her brother. She handed the child to Loretto. Then she rushed out to the place where the treaty was going on, and her brother threw his arms about her with the greatest affection.
But just at that moment, Bridger, the captain of the traders, rode out where the pipe was being smoked. He had his rifle across the pommel of his saddle. The chief of the Blackfeet came up to shake hands with him. Bridger was afraid the chief meant to hurt him, so he slyly cocked his rifle. The chief heard the click, and seized the gun. He bent it downwards, and the gun went off, shooting a bullet into the ground. The chief took the gun and knocked Bridger off his horse with it. Then he mounted Bridger's horse and galloped back to his Indians. Indians and traders now got behind the rocks and trees which were not far away, and began to shoot at each other.
Loretto's wife was carried away by her tribe. In vain she struggled to get free, and begged to be allowed to go back to her husband and child. The Indians would not let her go.
Loretto saw her struggles, and heard her cries. He took his child, and ran to the Indians with it. He handed the child to its mother. Bullets and arrows were flying all about them.
The chief saw him carry the child across the open ground, and his heart was touched. It was a noble action.
He said to Loretto, "You are crazy to go into such danger, but go back in peace; you shall not be hurt."
Loretto begged to be allowed to take his wife with him, but her brother would not let her go, and the chief now began to look angry.
"The girl belongs to her tribe," he said. "She shall not go back."
Loretto wanted to stay with his wife, but she begged him to go back, lest he should be killed on the spot. At last he left her, and went back to the traders.
Night came on, and the Indians drew off. Not much harm had been done to anybody.
Loretto could not be happy without his wife. A few months later, he settled his accounts with the Fur Company and went away. He went boldly into one of the villages of the Blackfeet. Here he found his wife, and stayed with her.
When the traders made peace with the Blackfeet, they set up a trading house among them. Loretto joined the traders. They were glad to have him, because he could speak the language of the tribe.
European trapper Loretto fell in love with a Blackfoot Indian woman who had been captured and made a slave by the Crow Indians. Loretto bought the Blackfoot woman from the Crow Indians and made her his wife. Loretto and his wife made a life together and had a baby. When the European trappers engaged in a skirmish with the Blackfeet, Loretto's wife and baby were carried away by her tribe. Rather than live without his wife and child, Loretto risked his life to live with his wife in a Blackfoot village.
Vocabulary
Captive: A person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined. Hatchet: A small ax with a short handle for use in one hand. Band: A group of people who have a common interest or purpose. Treaty: A formal agreement between countries or groups. Pommel: The upward curving or projecting part of a saddle in front of the rider. Slyly: In a cunning and deceitful or manipulative manner.
Enrichment
Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson
After you read the lesson, narrate it aloud using your own words.
Activity 2: Map the Lesson
In the lesson, a few bold European trappers lived near the Rocky Mountains.
Look at the map to determine whether the Rocky Mountains are on the eastern or western side of the United States.
Which mountain range runs along the side of the United States opposite the Rocky Mountains?
Activity 3: Discuss the Story
In the lesson, Loretto's wife is first captured and enslaved by the Crow Indians, bought by Loretto, and then captured by her own people, the Blackfeet.
Do you think it was right for the Crow Indians to capture and enslave the woman?
Do you think it was right for Loretto to buy the woman from the Crows?
Do you think it was right for her own people, the Blackfeet, to force her to leave with them?
Activity 4: Complete Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing
Click the crayon above. Complete pages 64-65 of 'Second Grade American History Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing.'
Review
Question 1
Who captured and enslaved the Blackfoot woman in the story?
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Answer 1
The Crow Indians captured and enslaved the Blackfoot woman in the story.
1 / 5
Question 2
Why did Loretto buy the Blackfoot woman from the Crow Indians?
2 / 5
Answer 2
Loretto bought the Blackfoot woman from the Crow Indians because he fell in love with her and wished to marry her.
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Question 3
Why did Loretto's wife run to the Blackfeet?
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Answer 3
Loretto's wife ran to the Blackfeet because she recognized her brother.
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Question 4
Why did the Blackfeet force Loretto's wife and child to leave with them?
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Answer 4
The Blackfeet forced Loretto's wife and child to leave with them because they were her people and she had been stolen from them. The Blackfeet felt she belonged with them.
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Question 5
How did Loretto reunite with his wife and child?
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Answer 5
Loretto risked his life and went and lived with his wife in a Blackfoot village.
Who captured and enslaved the Blackfoot woman in the story?
The Crow Indians captured and enslaved the Blackfoot woman in the story.
Why did Loretto buy the Blackfoot woman from the Crow Indians?
Loretto bought the Blackfoot woman from the Crow Indians because he fell in love with her and wished to marry her.
Why did Loretto's wife run to the Blackfeet?
Loretto's wife ran to the Blackfeet because she recognized her brother.
Why did the Blackfeet force Loretto's wife and child to leave with them?
The Blackfeet forced Loretto's wife and child to leave with them because they were her people and she had been stolen from them. The Blackfeet felt she belonged with them.
How did Loretto reunite with his wife and child?
Loretto risked his life and went and lived with his wife in a Blackfoot village.