MIKE FINK, THK KEEL-BOATMAN. 1 09 



indignities ; finally the Indians made a precipitate re- 

 treat ashore, amid the hooting and jeering of a thought- 

 less crowd which considered them as poor devils, desti- 

 tute of both feeling and humanity. 



Among this band of outcasts was a Cherokee, who 

 bore the name of Proud Joe ; what his real cognomen 

 was, no one knew, for he was taciturn, haughty — and, in 

 spite of his poverty and his manner of life, won the name 

 we have mentioned. His face was expressive of talent, 

 but it was furrowed by the most terrible habits of 

 drunkenness. That he was a superior Indian was ad- 

 mitted : and it was also understood that he was banish- 

 ed from his mountain home, his tribe being then numer- 

 ous and powerful, for some great crime. He was always 

 looked up to by his companions, and managed, however 

 intoxicated he might be, to sustain a singularly proud 

 bearing, which did not even depart from him while pros- 

 trate on the ground. 



Joe was careless of his person and habits — in this 

 respect he was behind his fellows ; but one ornament of 

 his, was attended to with a care which would have done 

 honor to him if still surrounded by his people, and amid 

 his native woods. Joe still wore, with Indian dignity, 

 hie scalplock ; he ornamented it with taste, and cherished 

 it, as report said, until some Indian messenger of ven- 

 geance should tear it from his head, as expiatory of his 

 numerous crimes. Mike had noticed this peculiarity; 

 and, reaching out his hand, plucked from the revered 

 scalplock a hawk's feather. 8 



