Chapter III: Preface (3)

Private (_crossing over_): Indians! (_Waving his hands for them to remain calm._) No, just one poor lonesome, hungry Indian--an old one at that.

Lieutenant } Did they kill him?
Sergeant }

Private: I guess not! the Captain was there.

Lieutenant: Well, what _did_ they do to make any fun?

Private: Well, they all ran at him with their guns, yelling "Redskin! Scalp him! Kill him! He's what we're after." Then the frightened old fellow drew from his belt a letter and whined out "Me good Injun, me no harm paleface. See--paper; from big white war chief." Someone grabbed the letter and read it aloud. It was from General Cass and said that the bearer Gerolomo was a friendly Indian and that he must be given food and shelter.

Lieutenant: Forged letter, no doubt.

Sergeant: I bet he was a spy.

Private: That's just what the others said. They all got around him and yelled "Shoot him! Kill him!" till I didn't think the poor beggar's life was worth two bits. He thought so, too, I guess, for he was so scared that he was almost white. They were all around him so that he couldn't run--tell you it looked tough. (_Draws long breath._)

Lieutenant: But go on; you said they didn't kill the worthless cur?

Private: "Worthless cur!" Well, I guess not! the Captain heard the men and dashing in among them, he laid his hand on the Indian's shoulder, and he just roared: "The first man that touches him dies!" O, boys, you'd orter been there. (_Goes up._)

Sergeant: Come back and tell the rest; what happened then?

Private (_comes down_): Someone sung out, "O, you're a coward, afraid of an old Indian. Let _us_ have him!" Whew! You'd orter seen him _then_. I never see the Captain so mad. "Who says I'm a coward?" he roared, rolling up his sleeves.

Lieutenant: Well, did they fight him? (_Laughs._)

Private: Guess not--didn't want to tackle that job. So the Captain after a minute or two took the old Indian by the arm and led him off to feed.

Sergeant: That was just like the Captain, but it may be the old fellow is a spy after all.

Lieutenant: Well, I guess that's the only Indian that we are likely to see and it's too bad of the Captain to spoil the boys' fun. O, here comes the noble red man now. (Gerolomo _enters at right, comes down slowly and timidly._)

Lieutenant: Hullo, there, you redskin! What's your name? (_Goes to him._)

Indian: Gerolomo. Me heap good Injun; heap like paleface, bring paleface heap meat. (_Shows gun and continues to move on slowly across stage._)

Lieutenant: Stand still, there, and tell us where the rest of your people are; we'd like pretty well to kill a few hundred.

Indian (_stands_): Big paleface tell Gerolomo go bring venison, go bring duck.

Lieutenant: Well, why don't you do it, then? Better mind him, I tell you, or he'll have you shot.

Indian (_shaking head decidedly_): No, no, big paleface heap good, heap brave; no harm poor Injun.

Sergeant (_going to_ Indian): You're off now, I'll bet, to tell your people just where to find us and just how many palefaces there are here.

Indian (_repeats former business_): No, no, Gerolomo go tell big paleface got venison, got duck, got squirrel.

Private (_going to him and shaking his fist at him_): None o' your lying now. If you go to the Captain with that yarn he'll make short work o' you. The Captain hates a liar, he does.

Indian (_whining_): Me no lie, me good Injun. Me go tell big paleface me bring venison, me bring duck, me bring squirrel.

Lieutenant (_to the others_): Listen to that, will you? He'll bring venison, he'll bring duck, he'll bring squirrel. My! but we'll be living high. (All _laugh._)

Sergeant: We'd like to _see_ your venison, your duck, and your squirrel.

Indian (_briskly_): All right, me bring 'em in, me bring heap meat. (_Turns about and moves toward right exit._)

Lieutenant: Better go with him, Dunn, because if he is lying to us, which he probably is, he'll not come back.

Private: All right, come on you "heap good Injun." We'll see what you've got out there. (_Exeunt._)

Sergeant (_saluting_): Hadn't I better go, too, Lieutenant? He may get away from Dunn.

Lieutenant: No, I think Dunn can manage him. But hasn't he learned the trick of telling a good lie?

Sergeant: I should think so. Venison, duck and squirrel, and he's only been in the woods a few hours.

Lieutenant: Well, of course he may be telling the truth, because the woods are full of game, and I daresay the old fellow is a good shot.

(_Enter_ Private Dunn, _carrying a squirrel in one hand, a duck in the other, followed by_ Gerolomo _dragging a dead deer. They stop at center._ Lieutenant Dash _and_ Sergeant Free _run to them._)

Lieutenant: Well, really, you old redskin you have told the truth for once in your life.

Indian (_lifting his hands and eyes_): Me shoot for big paleface. Great Spirit tell Gerolomo where venison, where duck, where squirrel for big paleface. Great Spirit always take care of big paleface. (Captain Lincoln _enters at left and comes down slowly, unseen by_ Gerolomo. _The others salute._) Big paleface take care poor old Gerolomo.

Captain Lincoln (_goes to_ Indian _and lays hand on his shoulder_): You have obeyed my orders and kept your promise, the whitest soldier among us all could have done no better.

_Tableau_

Curtain

WITH FIFE AND DRUM

Clara J. Denton

A PLAY IN TWO ACTS FOR FOUR GIRLS AND THREE BOYS

CHARACTERS

Mrs. Mortimer, _mother of the family_
Sally Caroline, _the daughter_
Albert, _the son_
Mr. Mortimer, _father_ (_this character has no lines_)
Auntie Temp, _a negro slave_
George Washington Augustus, _her son_
Clementina Diana, _her daughter_

SCENE

Neat home interior. Old-fashioned hair-cloth sofa at right of stage. Hair-cloth rocking-chair at left. Marble-topped table at center. Easel with large picture of Lincoln near center. Cane seat rocking-chair at left-front, also another at right-front. Crocheted tidies on sofa and all rocking-chairs, and any other minor accessories that will give to the room an old-fashioned appearance.

COSTUMES

Mrs. Mortimer and Sally Caroline: For these two characters borrow dresses made during the '60's. If this is impossible, make gowns of some cheap yet good-looking material to represent such. Let the skirt be very full and worn over hoops; the waist plain and tight-fitting with wide flowing sleeves with white muslin undersleeves. Wear a broad, flat, embroidered collar. Mrs. Mortimer wears her hair parted in the middle, two curls on either side of her face, held in place by side-combs; the remainder fastened in a knot at the back. Sally Caroline's hair hangs in curls. Let these costumes be planned and overlooked by a skillful matron who is at least sixty years of age.

Albert: In first act he wears an ordinary suit for young man; in second act butternut-color suit, ragged and soiled.

Auntie Temp: Bright-colored print gown, wide gingham apron, bright bandanna kerchief tied on head. This character should be represented by a stout person, if possible.

George Washington Augustus: Overalls and "jumper" of blue denim.

Clementina Diana: Cotton gown. The two last named must wear negro wigs or wigs of black wool. The characters making-up for negroes should cover the faces with some sort of toilet cream before applying the burnt cork or "black-face" preparation.

Mr. Mortimer: United States military uniform faded and ragged.