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degrees these atrocities were traced to the malign influence of a new chief
of the tribe。 As yet little was known of him but through his baleful
appellations； 〃Young Man who Goes for his Teacher；〃 and 〃He Lifts the
Hair of the School Marm。〃 He was said to be small and exceedingly
youthful in appearance。 Indeed； his earlier appellative； 〃He Wipes his
Nose on his Sleeve；〃 was said to have been given to him to indicate his
still boy…like habits。
It was night in the encampment and among the lodges of the 〃Pigeon
Toes。〃 Dusky maidens flitted in and out among the camp…fires like
brown moths； cooking the toothsome buffalo hump； frying the fragrant
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bear's meat； and stewing the esculent bean for the braves。 For a few
favored ones spitted grasshoppers were reserved as a rare delicacy；
although the proud Spartan soul of their chief scorned all such luxuries。
He was seated alone in his wigwam； attended only by the gentle
Mushymush； fairest of the 〃Pigeon Feet〃 maidens。 Nowhere were the
characteristics of her great tribe more plainly shown than in the little feet
that lapped over each other in walking。 A single glance at the chief was
sufficient to show the truth of the wild rumors respecting his youth。 He
was scarcely twelve； of proud and lofty bearing； and clad completely in
wrappings of various…colored scalloped cloths； which gave him the
appearance of a somewhat extra…sized pen…wiper。 An enormous eagle's
feather； torn from the wing of a bald eagle who once attempted to carry
him away； completed his attire。 It was also the memento of one of his
most superhuman feats of courage。 He would undoubtedly have scalped
the eagle but that nature had anticipated him。
〃Why is the Great Chief sad？〃 asked Mushymush； softly。 〃Does his
soul still yearn for the blood of the pale…faced teachers？ Did not the
scalping of two professors of geology in the Yale exploring party satisfy
his warrior's heart yesterday？ Has he forgotten that Hayden and Clarence
King are still to follow？ Shall his own Mushymush bring him a botanist
to…morrow？ Speak； for the silence of my brother lies on my heart like the
snow on the mountain； and checks the flow of my speech。〃
Still the proud Boy Chief sat silent。 Suddenly he said： 〃Hist！〃 and
rose to his feet。 Taking a long rifle from the ground he adjusted its sight。
Exactly seven miles away on the slope of the mountain the figure of a man
was seen walking。 The Boy Chief raised the rifle to his unerring eye and
fired。 The man fell。
A scout was dispatched to scalp and search the body。 He presently
returned。
〃Who was the pale face？〃 eagerly asked the chief。
〃A life insurance agent。〃
A dark scowl settled on the face of the chief。
〃I thought it was a book…peddler。〃
〃Why is my brother's heart sore against the book…peddler？〃 asked
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Mushymush。
〃Because；〃 said the Boy Chief； fiercely； 〃I am again without my
regular dime novel； and I thought he might have one in his pack。 Hear me；
Mushymush； the United States mails no longer bring me my 'Young
America；' or my 'Boys' and Girls' Weekly。' I find it impossible； even with
my fastest scouts； to keep up with the rear of General Howard； and
replenish my literature from the sutler's wagon。 Without a dime novel or
a 'Young America；' how am I to keep up this Injin business？〃
Mushymush remained in meditation a single moment。 Then she
looked up proudly。
〃My brother has spoken。 It is well。 He shall have his dime novel。
He shall know what kind of a hair…pin his sister Mushymush is。〃
And she arose and gamboled lightly as the fawn out of his presence。
In two hours she returned。 In one hand she held three small flaxen
scalps； in the other 〃The Boy Marauder；〃 complete in one volume； price
ten cents。
〃Three pale…faced children；〃 she gasped； 〃were reading it in the tail
end of an emigrant wagon。 I crept up to them softly。 Their parents are
still unaware of the accident；〃 and she sank helpless at his feet。
〃Noble girl！〃 said the Boy Chief； gazing proudly on her prostrate form；
〃and these are the people that a military despotism expects to subdue！〃
CHAPTER IV
But the capture of several wagon…loads of commissary whisky； and
the destruction of two tons of stationery intended for the general
commanding； which interfered with his regular correspondence with the
War Department； at last awakened the United States military authorities to
active exertion。 A quantity of troops were massed before the 〃Pigeon
Feet〃 encampment； and an attack was hourly imminent。
〃Shine your boots； sir？〃
It was the voice of a youth in humble attire； standing before the flap of
the commanding general's tent。
The General raised his head from his correspondence。
〃Ah；〃 he said； looking down on the humble boy； 〃I see； I shall write
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that the appliances of civilization move steadily forward with the army。
Yes；〃 he added； 〃you may shine my military boots。 You understand；
however； that to get your pay you must first〃
〃Make a requisition on the commissary…general； have it certified to by
the quartermaster； countersigned by the post…adjutant； and submitted by
you to the War Department〃
〃And charged as stationery；〃 added the General； gently。 〃You are； I
see； an intelligent and thoughtful boy。 I trust you neither use whisky；
tobacco； nor are ever profane？〃〃I promised my sainted mother〃
〃Enough！ Go on with your blacking； I have to lead the attack on the
'Pigeon Feet' at eight precisely。 It is now half…past seven；〃 said the
General； consulting a large kitchen clock that stood in the corner of