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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 side out, and make

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tobaccopouches for the chiefs, when they meet in council.
It saves 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 hundred 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 choose to dispose of it, I had no objections;
but the bargain sbould 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

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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 hundred 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.

It 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 off 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

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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 Killinno. 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 was
going on at the wood-pile. 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 hundred 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 across; 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.

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