American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-12-07

at 10 $50 what remained of their car
csss,as, not a bone would be found left
Behind. In time | discovered that they
would tear the flesh from the bones and
then carry them tn their i-ir, 10 ttick on
during the day. killed buffalo, ante
iopcs, aux: isc&-rabhits until | wearied
OF even that kind of sport, and so glad
was to see any thing human. the "sii-
est and most ignorant ',,-n on the globe
would have hcen an houored and well
co,''e f-tost. After remaining a month
IN that vast solitude, resolved to throw
up my position-a although it was a lu-
crative one and go where could have
the company of at least one human be-
ing, but AN Incident occurred just at
that time which caused me to alter my
determination.
go. THE POOR INDIAN"
Sitting one day in tho door of my
"dobey" peelirg some potatoes for din
ner, was startled by the appearance of
| q shadow but little distance from me-
CHANGING up suddenly, s'Lo! the poor
Indian" was standing a few feet from
the door with lordly mien and an air
which l Thought denoted an intention to
possess himself of my scalp. Not, de-
! string, however, to part with it. spreng
from my seat and had him covered with
my carbine before he had time to "get
the drop" on me.
"Pale face no shoot. Heap good
friend" said he; "me good Iniin, and
do heap work for pale facee. Cooky
and wash good, Pswnee brave, ughl''
At first was under the impression
that there were more than one present,
but when | discovered my mistake put
down my carbine and fel. no further
fear.
He told me he had been captured by
tie Sioux from the Pawnee tribe, but
had escaped from his captors, and if l
would let him stay he would work for
me, and be cheap big clever 1njun.'
MY DUsKy COMPANION.
l hailed his coming with delight; in
the first place because 1 wanted some
kind of q companion, and in the second
because 1 was fond of studying the In
dian character, and here was splendid
opportunity for gratifying the within. 1
made him wash himself thoroughly and
put on suit of my own clothes, and
found, when he was decently rugged out
sans war-paint, feathers and other gew-
gaws, that he was a tolerable fair speci-
men of the genus horte.
He had a long Indian name 1 could
not spell or pronounce, SO 1 proposed
to him to change it to "Ioe.'' This
suited him greatly. and all during the
day while he was washing the pots and
doing the Z" Homework" generally, l
could hear him saying to himself, "Pele-
faced chief call me Joe, ice, Joe. Pale
face heap clever and good to Joe. Joe
will tell faWnee chief about pale-faced
chief, and make him give pale faced
Chief heap squaws!"
l mistrusted him at first, fearing that
he would run off with my horse and fire.
arms, but in time learned to trust him
implicitly, and became very fond of
him. The sequel TO my story will prove
how worthy he was of my confidence.
y.
An, what a royal time we had to-
gethcr chasing the antelope and the buff
falo. My interest revived in this sport |
after the protracted silence was broken,
and some days we would wander many |
miles out on the plains. Joe was fleet |
of foot, and could walk all day long
without the least sign Of fatigue. Occa-
sionslly would take him up benin ME |
but he generally insisted upon walking, |
and let him have his way. He was
particularly solicitous about my comfort |
and convenience, and every day / was
delighted with the development of new
phases in his character. He had a no.
BILE mind, and was as sympathetic and
soft-hearted as child. He had, too,
an air of chivalry and courtesy about
him which was particularly engaging,
and needed nothing but the opportuni-
ty to make himself a real courtier. l
tried to induce him to eat with me, but
he could not be prevailed upon to do SO,
always standing by me with a deferen-
tial air, anticipating all my wants. l
=
decorum, and often wondered where he
acquired his gentle and often dignifed
never having noticed such
characteristics in any other Indian. All
the reward he asked for bis faithful serv-
ices was kind treatment and assurances
from me that appreciated him.
JOE'S TIMELY WARNING
He came one day to where 1 was
cleaning my pistols, the perfect person.
iication of grief. / observed that he
was deeply disturbed, but waited for
him to speak.
Finally he said: "Pawnees soon get
On war-path big. Mixing their paint
now. Pale-faced cheek have to leave
fore long, or Pawnee take scalp of
pale-faced chief. Joe can't save pale
laced chief if he stay, but will tell him
when to leave.'
After this frequently heard him NUT
.ering to himself. L heard him say one
"Pawnee heap kill pale faces when
get war-paint on. Shan't kill pale
laced chief, for Joe will save him. Joe
will never see pale-faced chief after he
runs away from Pawnee braves. Poor
Joe, poor joel"
Then he would weep bitterly, SEEM
ing to suffer the most poignant sorrow.