University of Virginia Library

2. CHAP. II.

THE Captain apprehending that he
might not yet drop his designs upon
the Irishman, but be tampering with him
out of doors, should he come across him,
sent for Teague. For he well knew, that
should the Indian treaty man get the first
word of him, the idea of making him a
king, would turn his head, and it would be
impossible to prevent his going with him.

Teague coming in, said the Captain to
him; Teague, I have discovered in you,
for some time past, a great spirit of ambition,
which is, doubtless, commendable
in a young person; and I have checked it
only in cases where there was real danger,
or apparent mischief. There is now an
opportunity of advancing yourself, not so
much in the way of honour as profit. But
profit brings honour, and is, indeed, the
most substantial support of it. There has
been a man here with me, that carries on
a trade with the Indians, and tells me that
red-headed scalps are in great demand with

them. If you could spare yours, he would
give a good price for it. I do not well
know what use they make of this article,
but so it is the traders find their account in
it. Probably they dress it with the hairy
fide out, and make tobacco pouches for
the chiefs, when they meet in council. It
faves dyeing, and besides, the natural red
hair of a man, may, in their estimation,
be superior to any colour they can give by
art. The taking off the scalp will not give
much pain, it is so dextrously done by them
with a crooked knife they have for that
purpose. The mode of taking off the scalp
is this; you lie down upon your back;
a warrior puts his feet upon your shoulders,
collects your hair in his left hand,
and drawing a circle with the knife in his
right, makes the incision, and, with a sudden
pull, separates it from the head, giving,
in the mean time, what is called the
scalp yell. The thing is done in such an
instant, that the pain is scarcely felt. He
offered me an 100 dollars, if I would have
it taken off for his use, giving me directions,
in the mean time, how to stretch it
and dry it on a hoop. I told him, No;
it was a perquisite of your own, and you
might dispose of it as you thought proper.
If you chose to dispose of it, I had no objections;
but the bargain should be of
your own making, and the price such as
should please yourself. I have sent for you,
to give you a hint of this chapman, that
you may have a knowledge of his wish to
possess the property, and ask accordingly.
It is probable you may bring him up to a
half Johannes more, by holding out a little.
But I do not think it would be adviseable
to lose the bargain. An hundred
dollars for a little hairy flesh, is a great
deal. You will trot a long time before
you make that with me. He will be with
you probably to propose the purchase. You
will know when you see him. He is a tall
looking man, with leggins on, and has several
Indians with him going to a treaty.
He talked to me something of making you
a king of the Kickapoos, after the scalp is
off; but I would not count on that so
much; because words are but wind, and
promises are easily broken. I would advise
you to make sure of the money in
the first place, and take chance for the
rest.

I have seen among the prints of Hogarth,
some such expression of countenance as
that of Teague at this instant; who, as

soon as he could speak, but with a double
brogue on his tongue, began to intimate
his disinclination to the traffic. The hair
of his scalp itself, in the mean time had
risen in opposition to it. Dear master, vid
you trow me into ridicule, and the blessed
shalvation of my life, and all dat I have in
the vorld, to be trown like a dog to de
savages, and have my flesh tarn of my head
to give to dese vild bastes to make a napsack
to carry their parates and tings in, for
an 100 dollars or the like. It shall never
be said that the hair of the Oregans made
mackeseens for a vild Indian to trat upon.
I would sooner trow my own head hair and
all in de fire, dan give it to dese paple to
smoke wid, out of deir long pipes.

If this be your determination, said the
Captain, it will behove you to keep yourself
somewhat close; and while we remain
at this public house, avoid any conversation
with the chapman or his agents, should
they come to tamper with you. For it is
not improbable, while they are keeping
you in talk, proposing to make you a
Kickapoo chief, and the like, they may
snatch the scalp of your head, and you
not be the wiser for it.

Teague thought the caution good, and

resolving to abide by it, retired to the kitchen.
The maid at this time, happening
to want a log of wood, requested Teague
to cut it for her. Taking the ax accordingly,
and going out, he was busy chopping,
with his head down; while, in the
mean time, the Indian treaty-man had returned
with one in Indian dress, who was
the chief of the Killinoos, or at least passed
for such; and whom he brought as having
some recruiting talents, and might
prevail with Teague to elope, and join the
company. I presume, said the Indian
treaty-man, you are the waiter of the
Captain who lodges here at present. Teague
hearing a man speak, and lifting up his
head, saw the leggins on the one, and the
Indian dress on the other; and with a
kind of involuntary effort, threw the ax
directly from him at the Killinoo. It
missed him but about an inch, and fell behind.
Teague, in the mean time, raising
a shout of desperation, was fixed on the spot,
and his locomotive faculties suspended; so
that he could neither retreat nor advance,
but stood still, like one enchained or enchanted
for a moment; the king of the
Killinoos, in the mean time, drawing his
tomahawk, and preparing for battle.

The Captain, who was reading at a
front window, hearing the shout, looked
about, and saw what going on at the woodpile.
Stop villain, said he, to the king of
the Killinoos; you are not to take that
scalp yet, however much you may value
it. He will not take an 100 dollars for
it, nor 500, though you make him king of
the Kickapoos, or any thing else. It is no
trifling matter to have the ears slit in tatters,
and the nose run through with a bodkin,
and a goose quill stuck a cross; so
that you may go about your business; you
will get no king of the Kickapoos here.
Under cover of this address of the Captain,
Teague had retired to the kitchen, and
ensconced himself behind the rampart of
the maid. The Indian treaty-man, and
the Killinoo chief, finding the measure
hopeless, withdrew, and turned their attention,
it is to be supposed, to some other
quarter, to find a king of the Kickapoos.