Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-05-14
itltaGeilausuus.
A FrOntierSman's Adventure.
A TRUE STORY.

| 1t was my fortune few years ago to be
! iourneving in tagecoach in one 0:
our Western States. | was lucky in hav-
ing agreeable companions, among whom
were two young men hardly past boyhood,
partners and friends, keen, hardy. adven-
turous froniiersmen.
A mutual acquaintance was formed in
the free and-easy manner OF Western
travellers. and we were soon beguiling
the tedium of the way by general CONVEX
sation.
The DRIFT of our talk turned principally
upon personal experiences, and there was
a unanimous assent to the remark that
courage was absolutely essential to life
on the plains.
"Never show the white feather" said
Jack, one of the young men l have re-
ferred to- eff Harry and l hadn't had
plenty of pluck last winter, we should
have been robbed. if not murdered, by
the redskins, sure You haven't forgot
ten that time, guess. have you chum?"
II reckon not" sententiously replied
Harry. "Whv don't you tell the captain
the story. Jack?"
We'll" began Jack, you must know
that we heard of good opening near
Fort w, in northern Wisconsin; so we
got lot of supplies and set up little
store in the village. We were peaceable,
quiet traders, and had the good will of
everybody except the man whom we
bought out, who envied our good luck
The rascal told the Indians who were al
ways skulking round that we had plenty
of rum in the store, and advised them to
90 and get some.
$50 one day while | was looking over
the accounts, and Harry was sweeping
up, the door opened, and in walked big
Indian, and another, and another, till
there were twelve in our little room
Ugly looking customers they were, tor
they were rugged out in all their toggery,
paint and feathers, with an eve to effect.
eve knew in a half-a- second what they
had come for, and we knew that they
shouldn't have it, too.
II tell you, sir we had to think quick
if ever. we did,-.wo slim boys as we
were, with those twelve great, brawnv
savages there. unwelcome and unlimited
before us.
They seated themselves upon the floor
at first and after waiting few minutes.
the first one said in his Indian lingo which
| won't try to repeat, that they wanted
rum and must have it after they had
smoked their pipe.
Then he lighted his pipe and smoked
a few whiffs and passed it to the next one.
The first one then got up and made a
speech
''He told us that he had quarrel with
a white man once. and ran him through
with his knife, and showed us Just how
he did it by his motions.
| Then he seated himself. and after the
second one had smoked and passed the
pipe along, he rose. and initiating the
leader. he told us that he shot white
man dead in fght,-and so on through
the whole dozen, each one making his
boast
Then they all looked at me, as much
as to say, Now bring on your fire water. :
Harry had slipped out and unfastened
Tige. the savage watchdog, and was hold
ing him by the collar just outside the door
ready to let 60 if gave the signal
81 Jumped over the counter and went
among the goods and rolled in key and
put it in the middle of the floor Just be-
fore the chiefs. Then | opened it and
took out handful of powder and threw
it into the open fireplace. Baug!! The
Indians started and looked at me in sur
prise.
Next laid a train of powder from the
keg little way, lighted a candle and set
it at the end. Then | stepped back and
looked up to see how that pleased our
visitors, and true as you live, sir, the
twelfth Indian was Just stepping out of
the doorway. Without one word of part
ing they had quit.
Il took up the candle carefully. clasping
it with both hands. and carried it to a safe
place.
You'd better believe, gentleman. we
each drew long breath and had good
shake hands
''But that isn't the end A few DAYS
afterwards some of the same Indians came
to the store again and asked us to be
friends with them. We told them mo-:
that their own stories told that they killed
white men. and we should soon 90 up to
the fort and bring back with us a compa
ny OF soldiers who would attend to their
case.
AT that they declared they were only
fooling; that they wanted to scare US. but
we were so brave they wanted to be
friends.
I'VE told them mo-; that they had told
their stories and must take the conseouen-
ces. they offered us marten-skin
apiece. which we refused, and demanded
two beaver-skins, worth ten dollars each.
"Afterconsderable haggling the Indians
came to our terms, and the matter was
thus finally settled. Good Cheer.
Baptizing the Wrong Woman.