The Arkansas banner., 1849-07-24
Joe Downs,s story.

The following extract Is taken from Dr. Mayo's vsry pOpular story of " KalooIah, just published la New York by Mr. Putnam:
 "shal we have any companyf' inquired
 "No. no. white face within forty miles of us. i -ere II be plenty of red skins iisif dozen canoes wen, up tho river yesterday, bat they ain, of DO account; they POor, lying. ehsatisx. stealing set of vsgabondsthere Is n't one of tsm I'd trust within mile of my eamP.'
 But don't yOu ever have any difficulty with thcmf"
 "Why. no; net what you mpy call real down right difficulty. We nsed to, good many years ego; but now, although they Ii murder you if they get chance, for pack of skins, they don't vaIiy scalp. No; since finished off one of the bigges, scoundrels in the whole St Regis Nation, hain't been troubled'
 "How was thatl''
 "Why, I'll tell you: You see 1t was way towards snow, and was scouting round, when happened to make circambcndus, and came across my own tract and there saw the marks Of sa Indians $ foot right on my traii Thinks l, that is kind of queer. the fellow must have been following me; howsom- ever, I'll try him and make sure. So 1 made other large circle. aud arain struck my own track and there was the tarna Indisa's foot agaia. Says I, this won't do; mus, and ont what this customer wants, and how heti have it. So stopped short, aud soon got sight of him. He knew that saw him, so he came along up, in the most friendly manner you can think; but did n't like his looks; he was altogether too darned glad to see me. He had no gun, bat he had almighty long handled tomahawk, and lot of skins aud ral-traps. ThiHks I-naybe, old fellow, your gun has burst, or you ve pawnsd it for rum. and yon can't raise skins enough to redeem 1t, and you waat mine. and perhaps you II get il.
 "At last grew kind of nervous. knew tho fellow would hatehet me if gayo him chance, and yet did n't want to shoot him right down. just on suspicion; but thought if l let him cut my throat first, 1t would be too late to shoot him afterwards; so concluded that tho best way would be to give him chance to play his hand; and if so be he'd lead the wroag card. why should have n right to take the trick. Jsst then. at the righ, time, partridge flew into ciump that stood five or six rods of; so kind of 'neuvred round little. drew out my ramrod, as if to feel whether the ball in my rifle well down; and wiihoat letting the yagabond see me. got out handful Of pow der. then sauntered of to the bush, shot the partridge, and in instant passed my hand oyer the muzzls of my rifle and dropped the powder in. picked up the bird, and then just took and run the ramrOd down upon the powder. Now. he thought. was the chance, before loaded my gun agatn. He came towards me with his halchet in his hand. l saw that he was determined to act wicked, and began to back off ue still came on. lowered my rifle and told him to keep away. He l raised his tomahawk, gave one yell, and bounded right at me. When he was just about three or foar feet from the muzzle fired. You never saw fellow jump SO! He kicked his heels up in the air and came down plump on his head!'
 Dead2'
 "Dead as Julias CRsar. He never winked! The ramrod-a good. hard. tough piece of hickory--hsd gone clean through him, aud stack cut about two feet from his back. Served him right, ,sdia nt tr'
 "Certainly. l don't sec what else yoa could have doBe'
 "Nor l, mother. But am sorry took his traps lIowsOmeyer, did nj keep them long; lgave ihem away to half-drowned red skin who had lost his in trying 10 tine rver right al the head of the Big Wolf Chute. There's a story about that, too; but we Il put it of till we get up to our camp, So what do you sayl Shall goi
 "Agreed," said l.
 In few words our plans were laid, and we re- turned to town to make arrangements for carrying them out