Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-07-19
The following extract is taken from DR..
Mayo's very popular story of Kaloolah, just
published in this city by Mr.. Putnam;
Joe Downs Story.

puDllSneu III Ahio Wy ~ AA'' "'''N-
Joe Downs Story.
"Shall we have any company" l inqui-
red.
mo, not white face within forty miles
of US. There'll be plenty Of REDSKINS
halE-a dozen canoes went up the river yes
terday, but they amt of no account. They
are poor, lying, cheating, stealing set of
yagabonds. There isn't one Of them that
I'd trust within mile of my camp"
But don't you ever have any difficulty
with themF"
"Why, no, not what you may call real
downright difficulty. We used to, a good
many years ago, but now, although they'll
murder you il they get chance for pack
of skins, they don't vally scalp. No
since finished one of the biggest scoun-
drels in the whole St. Regis nation, haint
been been troubled"
How was that Z"
Why, I'll tell you you see it was way
towards Tupper's Lake. There had been
light fall of snow, and was scouting round,
when happened to make a circumbendl-
bus, and came across my own track, and
there l saw the marks Of an lnlian's foot
tight on my trail. Thinks I, that's kind of
queer the fellow must have been following
me howsomever, I'll try him and make
sure, SO made another large circle, and
struck my own track, and there was the tar
nal Indians foot again. Says | this won't
do; must find out what this customer
wants, and how he'll have it. So stopped
short, and soon got sight of him he knew
that saw him; so he came along up In the
most friendly manner you can think. But
| didn't like his looks, he was altogether too
darned glad to see me. He had no gun,
but he had an almighty long handled toma-
hawk, and lot of skins and rat traps
Thinks |, may be, old fellow, your gun has
burst, or you have pawned it for rum, and
you can't raise skins enough to redeem it,,
and you want mine, and perhaps you'll get
'em."
" AT last grew kind of nervous, knew
the fellow would Ratchet me if give him
chance, and yet | didn't want to shoot
him down Just on suspicion. But thought
if | let him cut my throat first, it would be
too late TO shoot him afterwards. So con-
cluded that the best way would be to give
him chance to play his hand, and, if so
be, he lead the wrong card, why | should
have right to take the trick. Just then at
the right time, partridge flew into a clump
| that stood FIVE or SIX rods Oft
So kind of uncovered round little,
drew out nv ramrod as If to feel whether
the ball i'll my rifle was well down, but in
stead Of returning it, kept it in my hand,
and without letting the vagabond see me,
go out handful of powder. | then saun'
tered off to the hush shot the partridge,
and in an instant passed my hand over the
muzzle Of my rifle, and dropped the pow
der in. picked up the bird, and then just
took aud run my rdmrod right down on tc
the powder. Now he thought was his chance
before loaded my gun again. He came
towards ME with his Ratchet. | saw that he
was determined to act wicked, and begar
to back off, he still came on lowered
my rifle and told him too keep away. He
raised his tomahawk, gave one yell, ant
bounded right at me. When he was abou
three or four feet from the mnzzIe, fired
You never see fellow jump SO. He kick
ed his heels up in the air and came dowr
plump on his head"
dead ?"
dead as julius Caesar. Henever wink
ed the ramrod-a good hard, tough piece
Of hickory--had gone clean through him
and stuck cut Of his back about two feet
Starved him right; didn't it! 2"
Certainly, | don't see what else yol
could have done."
" Nor mother bnt Pm sorry took hi'
traps Howsomever, ! didn't keep EN- long
| gave them to halt drowned redskin, who
had lost his in trying to cross the river
right at the head of the big wolf chute
There's a story about that too; but wei
put it off till we get up to our camp. 81
what do you say Shall we go!
agreed" said l. And in few word,
our plans were all laid and we returned tC
town to make arrangements for carrying
them out"