The men had, by this time, prepared the house as well as possible for defending ourselves against our pursuers, by opening crevices in numerous places, to be used as loop-holes for the rifles. They gave us weapons, such as axes, hatchets, butcher-knives, &c., and sent us all up stairs, where we had a good look-out from the windows. The men told the Indians who still staid by us, that they could take their stand in the stable, not liking to trust them in the house. They said they would fight to the last for the white people, but that they had no ammunition, whereupon two guns and a quantity of ammunition were furnished them. I told my husband I had no confidence in them. He replied that he did not know as they could do any better than to trust them; if they proved friends, we should need their help very much, but he said he should keep an eye on them. He then asked an Indian who could talk a little English, if he would fight for the whites. He replied that “he didn’t know.” Our enemies now made their appearance. We could see them around the house of Mr. Smith, shaking some white cloths, and making a great noise. Now and then an Indian would mount his pony, ride out into the field, fire a gun, and then turn and ride back as fast as he could. They performed in this manner a long time, occasionally shooting an ox or cow, running loose in the field. The Indians that were with us said that if we would all fire our guns it would frighten them away. Accordingly they all went out, Mrs. Wright with the rest. Her husband being gone at the time, down below Mankato, she had slung the powder-horn and shot-pouch over her shoulder, and loaded his gun. They all fired together, but the Indians, who reserved their fire till after all the rest had fired. I went to my husband, and begged of him not to discharge his gun again until after the Indians had fired. I think they reserved their charges to shoot the white men, when their weapons were all empty, but were too cowardly to do it, when the time came to act. These volleys of musketry did not seem to alarm the savage troop in the least. Old “Pawn” then said he would go and meet them, and see how many there were, and what they wanted. But before he had gone far, several Indians came towards him as fast as they could ride. He stopped, and they called to him: he then went up to them, and stopped there talking with them for some time. He finally came running back, and reported that there were two hundred hostile Indians coming, and if we would go peaceably away, they would not harm us; but if not, they would burn down the house over our heads. Upon this, the men held a short council: the majority of them decided that it was best to leave the house. So we all started, across the prairie, except Charley Hatch and Mr. Rhodes. These latter were sent with two horses to the house of Mr. Everett, a distance of half a mile, to get a wagon to carry the women and children, and some flour and quilts,