drift from two shores(漂流)-第28节
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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 his
tent。
The little boot…black looked up； the General was absorbed in his
correspondence。 The boot…black drew a tin putty blower from his pocket；
took unerring aim； and nailed in a single shot the minute hand to the dial。
Going on with his blacking； yet stopping ever and anon to glance over the
General's plan of campaign； spread on the table before him； he was at last
interrupted by the entrance of an officer。
〃Everything is ready for the attack； General。 It is now eight o'clock。〃
〃Impossible！ It is only half…past seven。〃
〃But my watch and the watches of your staff〃
〃Are regulated by my kitchen clock； that has been in my family for
years。 Enough！ It is only half…past seven。〃
The officer retired； the boot…black had finished one boot。 Another
officer appeared。
〃Instead of attacking the enemy； General； we are attacked ourselves。
Our pickets are already driven in。〃
〃Military pickets should not differ from other pickets；〃 interrupted the
boot…black； modestly。 〃To stand firmly they should be well driven in。〃
〃Ha！ there is something in that；〃 said the General； thoughtfully。 〃But
who are you； who speak thus？〃
Rising to his full height； the boot…black threw off his outer rags； and
revealed the figure of the Boy Chief of the 〃Pigeon Feet。〃
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〃Treason！〃 shrieked the General； 〃order an advance along the whole
line。〃
But in vain。 The next moment he fell beneath the tomahawk of the
Boy Chief； and within the next quarter of an hour the United States Army
was dispersed。 Thus ended the battle of Boot…black Creek。
CHAPTER V
And yet the Boy Chief was not entirely happy。 Indeed； at times he
seriously thought of accepting the invitation extended by the Great Chief
at Washington； immediately after the massacre of the soldiers； and once
more revisiting the haunts of civilization。 His soul sickened in feverish
inactivity； schoolmasters palled on his taste； he had introduced base ball；
blind hooky； marbles； and peg… top among his Indian subjects； but only
with indifferent success。 The squaws insisted in boring holes through the
china alleys and wearing them as necklaces； his warriors stuck spikes in
their base ball bats and made war clubs of them。 He could not but feel；
too； that the gentle Mushymush； although devoted to her pale…faced
brother； was deficient in culinary education。 Her mince pies were
abominable； her jam far inferior to that made by his Aunt Sally of
Doemville。 Only an unexpected incident kept him equally from the
extreme of listless Sybaritic indulgence； or of morbid cynicism。 Indeed； at
the age of twelve； he already had become disgusted with existence。
He had returned to his wigwam after an exhausting buffalo hunt in
which he had slain two hundred and seventy…five buffalos with his own
hand； not counting the individual buffalo on which he had leaped so as to
join the herd； and which he afterward led into the camp a captive and a
present to the lovely Mushymush。 He had scalped two express riders and
a correspondent of the 〃New York Herald〃； had despoiled the Overland
Mail Stage of a quantity of vouchers which enabled him to draw double
rations from the government； and was reclining on a bear skin； smoking
and thinking of the vanity of human endeavor； when a scout entered；
saying that a pale…face youth had demanded access to his person。
〃Is he a commissioner？ If so； say that the red man is rapidly passing
to the happy hunting…grounds of his fathers； and now desires only peace；
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blankets； and ammunition； obtain the latter and then scalp the
commissioner。〃
〃But it is only a youth who asks an interview。〃
〃Does he look like an insurance agent？ If so； say that I have already
policies in three Hartford companies。 Meanwhile prepare the stake； and
see that the squaws are ready with their implements of torture。〃
The youth was admitted； he was evidently only half the age of the Boy
Chief。 As he entered the wigwam and stood revealed to his host they
both started。 In another moment they were locked in each other's arms。
〃Jenky； old boy！〃
〃Bromley； old fel！〃
B。 F。 Jenkins； for such was the name of the Boy Chief； was the first to
recover his calmness。 Turning to his warriors he said； proudly
〃Let my children retire while I speak to the agent of our Great Father
in Washington。 Hereafter no latch keys will be provided for the
wigwams of the warriors。 The practice of late hours must be
discouraged。〃
〃How！〃 said the warriors； and instantly retired。
〃Whisper；〃 said Jenkins； drawing his friend aside； 〃I am known here
only as the Boy Chief of the 'Pigeon toes。'〃
〃And I；〃 said Bromley Chitterlings； proudly； 〃am known everywhere
as the Pirate Prodigythe Boy Avenger of the Patagonian Coast。〃
〃But how came you here？〃
〃Listen！ My pirate brig； the 'Lively Mermaid；' now lies at Meiggs's
Wharf in San Francisco； disguised as a Mendocino lumber vessel。 My
pirate crew accompanied me here in a palace car from San Francisco。〃
〃It must have been expensive；〃 said the prudent Jenkins。
〃It was； but they defrayed it by a collection from the other passengers
you understand； an enforced collection。 The papers will be full of it to…
morrow。 Do you take the 'New York Sun'？〃
〃No； I dislike their Indian policy。 But why are you here？〃
〃Hear me； Jenk！ 'Tis a long and a sad story。 The lovely Eliza J。
Sniffen； who fled with me from Doemville； was seized by her parents and
torn from my arms at New Rochelle。 Reduced to poverty by the breaking
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of the savings bank of which he was president；a failure to which I largely
contributed； and the profits of which
