Red Plume — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A “BARRICADE. 81 harpoon in hand, universally acknowledged and respected as a great medicine-man, it being believed by the Blackfeet that ’ he could not only cure the sick, but could bring the dead to life. This announcement was received with. much surprise, as well as gratification. “Was he educated asa physician, Mrs. Carver?” asked Cap- tain Steele. ‘“ Iremember an instance of an eastern herb doctor, who was also something of a surgeon, who was taken by the Rickarees, and not only was his life spared, but they kept him in captivity for several years, until a lucky chance enabled him to effect his escape.” *« Precious little he knows about medicine, captain,” answer- ed the lady. “ He ’tended an apothecary’s shop when he was young, and may have picked up a little knowledge, but that is all.” “He must have imposed upon the Indians, then, by some Yankee trick, or by the most extraordinary impitdence. é ** Eben is capable of either the trick or the impudence, sir. He was always a scapegrace, and continually getting into dif- ficulty.” “In that case, it will not be long before the Blackfeet dis- cover and expose the imposture, and there will be an end to his doctoring and his life. I wish we could do something for him and your daughter, but we are now ourselves threatened With an attack, and it is much better to meet these scoundrels on our own ground than on theirs. Hesides, my son and Bill Bush are on their trail, and they will do all that men can do, under the circumstances.” Although Captain Steele received with composure the al of the hostile intentions of the Blackfeet, he did not omit to make all proper preparations for the defense of his camp. He ranged his wagons, bales and packs on three sides of a hol- low square, the fourth side being protected by the river; brought all his animals within the inclosure, where they were _ well secured, and ordered all the men to have their arms in readiness to repel an attack at any moment. He felt secure, relying on his barricade, and the rifles in the hands of hi own people and the free trappers who had collected in hi ‘camp. “Ve comicbooks.com