Our Fellows

d scolding which they kept up, found it something of a task to restrain the fiery steeds, which were impatient to be off.

ay, large and good-natured like his master, very fleet, and able to carry his hea

el, with white mane and tail, and four white feet. He 18was a good on

the command of his master, and pick up his gl

morning; but he was so handy with his heels, and had such an easy way of slipping out from under a fellow when he tried to mount him, that, with the exception of his master, who thought him the very best hor

al, and had an ugly habit of laying back her ears and opening her mouth, when 19any one a

Christmas present from an uncle who lived in Kentucky; and I thought so much of h

, but somehow I never could induce the others to acknowledge it. Sandy stubbornly refused to give

was the first to swing himself into the saddle, leaped his horse over the bars, a

our fellows before I had gone half a mile, and when I reached

d the neatly-dressed, imposing savages which you will find in pictures, I saw before me a score of wretched brush shanties, which could afford their inmates but poor protectio

ned a precarious living by hunting, fishing, stealing and cotton-picking. This band had been encamped on our plantation during the last two weeks

their pipes, while their wives were at work in the cotton-field; but now that the crop had been gathered and the money paid, they had thrown away t

it a “hop, skip and a jump”), and trying to run races; while the women stood around in little groups, chat

on the banks of which the camp was located; but, at any rate, they seemed to be animated by the same spirit

asked him if he would like to come out and try his strength. Now, if Mark had been in good health, the challenge would have been promptly accepted; and if I am any judge of boys, that young Indian would have found himself flat o

rhaps for the twentieth time, that he was out of condition; “I show you w

read out 23his sinewy arms, as if

the ague? If he was well, he would throw you or any other young Indian in the camp. Go away now, I t

ung savage’s supple form, which, cold as the day was, was stripped to the wa

t, Mark,” I

that conceit out of him. I’ll soon be up to my regular wrestling weight,” he ad

ed Jim. “I w

th those wild Indian whoops ringing in our ears. To me there was something almost unearthly in the sound, and I thought I could imagi

oo weak to ride all day on horse-back, remained at home with his hounds for company; and, for want of

but about eleven o’clock they began their dancing and shouting again. After that, Mark did not perform hi

ugh the gate that led into the garden, 25he was startled by a loud yell, which was followed by a grea

ted Mark’s ears were almost as loud and unearthly as those which came from the Indian camp. He did not like the look of things, but, being a resolute fellow, he de

aw him running toward the kitchen, followed by hi

kept on, and when he reached the door discovered the cause of the disturbance in the p

o the kitchen, where active preparations for dinner were going on, attracting the attention of the cook by flou

g Injun, an

d stampede among the women, and the savage, being left

ninvited guest had got all he wanted. He filled his mouth, and his arms, too, and when Mark discovere

he act, he started in hot pursuit of the Indian, 27resolved to punish him for what he had

shed against him like a battering-ram—an action which caused the Indian to flourish his heels in the air, and fall headlong to the ground, scattering the bread, meat, pies and cakes, with which his arms w

id mother, who had mustered up cour

the robber rose slowly to his feet, “you had better take

ent, and finding that he was opposed by nothing more formidable than a few frightened women, a b