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Description:
The Second Edition of Sociology in Action: Social Problems is ideal for
teachers who want to provide students with an active learning experience
that relies less on lecturing and more on discussion, collaboration, self-
directed investigation, observation, analysis, and reflection. This text is an
effective tool for departments interested in bringing more students into the
sociology major, as it provides students with concrete ways to make use of
sociological training in the "real" world. Maxine P. Atkinson and Kathleen
Odell Korgen engage students in active learning in class, on their own, and
in their local communities, as they explore a range of social problems and
consider sociological solutions to issues facing society today. Sociology In
Action: Social Problems, Second Edition is one of the volumes in our "In
Action" series of undergraduate sociology texts. The two signature features
of this series are (1) a set of carefully developed and assignable learning
activities in each chapter; and (2) chapters contributed by authors who are
both experts in their subjects and committed to the kind of active learning
promoted by the SIA texts. This title is accompanied by a complete
teaching and learning package in SAGE Vantage, an intuitive learning
platform that integrates quality SAGE textbook content with assignable
multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student
engagement and ensure accountability.

1. Learning Activities
2. Preface
3. Acknowledgments
4. About the Authors
5. About the Contributors
6. Part I Inequalities as Social Problems
7. Chapter 1 Understanding and Solving Social Problems
8. What Is a Social Problem?
9. Social Problems Are Social Constructions
10. Social Constructionism Perspective
11. Confronting Social Problems 1.1 You and Your Society
12. Check Your Understanding
13. Sociology and the Study of Social Problems
14. Confronting Social Problems 1.2 Learning to Ask Why
15. Jane Addams (1860–1935)
16. W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963)
17. Check Your Understanding
18. Why Are Some, but Not Other, Social Conditions Considered Social Problems?
19. What Sparked the Quicksand Fear?
20. Social Problems and Power
21. The Power of Organized People
22. Same-Sex Marriage Movement
23. Confronting Social Problems 1.3 Constructing a Social Problem
24. Check Your Understanding
25. How Can Professional Sociologists—and You—Help Solve Social Problems?
26. The Core Commitments of Sociology and the Sociological Imagination
27. Confronting Social Problems 1.4 Using the Sociological Imagination to Address
Student Debt
28. Check Your Understanding
29. How to Conduct Social Scientific Research
30. Confronting Social Problems 1.5 Why Can You Trust the Social Scientific Research
Process?
31. Finding and Collecting Good Information
32. What Social Problems Do You Want to Address?
33. Check Your Understanding
34. Conclusion
35. Review
36. Discussion Questions
37. Key Terms
38. Chapter 2 Analyzing Economic Inequalities
39. Economic Inequality and Social Problems
40. Defining Economic Inequality
41. Slavery
42. Caste
43. Estate
44. Social Class
45. Confronting Social Problems 2.1 Comparing Social Class and Economic Inequality
46. Check Your Understanding
47. Explaining Economic Inequality
48. Social Reproduction Theory
49. Davis–Moore Hypothesis
50. Confronting Social Problems 2.2 Reflecting on Beliefs About Economic Inequality
51. Check Your Understanding
52. Wealth and Income Gaps: How Much Inequality Exists?
53. Wealth Inequality in the United States and Globally
54. Income Inequality in the United States and Globally
55. Confronting Social Problems 2.3 Looking at Wealth and Income Inequality
56. Check Your Understanding
57. The Question of Mobility
58. Trends in Mobility
59. Why Mobility Has Declined in Recent Decades
60. Neoliberal Economic Policies
61. Globalization
62. Automation/Technology
63. Decline of Unions
64. Confronting Social Problems 2.4 Moving Up or Down in Social Class
65. Check Your Understanding
66. Social Problems That Cause Economic Inequality
67. Racism
68. Sexism
69. Educational Inequalities
70. Social and Cultural Capital
71. Confronting Social Problems 2.5 Inequality and Mobility
72. Check Your Understanding
73. Social Problems Caused by Economic Inequality
74. Health Problems and Human Rights Violations
75. Loss of Contributions to Society
76. Harm to the Environment
77. Increased Violence
78. Government Instability
79. Problems for Individuals
80. Confronting Social Problems 2.6 Social Problems and Economic Inequality
81. Check Your Understanding
82. Solving the Social Problem of Economic Inequality: Policies, Movements, and Action
83. Evaluating Solutions
84. Solutions Based on Social Reproduction Theory
85. Solutions Based on the Davis–Moore Hypothesis
86. U.S. Policies That Decreased Economic Inequality in the Past
87. The New Deal
88. The War on Poverty
89. Current Policies and Economic Inequality
90. Economic Redistribution Policies
91. Solutions Involving Labor Unions
92. Social Movements to Reduce Economic Inequality
93. The $15/Hour Minimum Wage Movement
94. How Sociological Tools Can Help Us Understand and Address Economic Inequality
95. Confronting Social Problems 2.7 Reducing Economic Inequality
96. Check Your Understanding
97. Conclusion
98. Review
99. Discussion Questions
100. Key Terms
101. Chapter 3 Recognizing Racism and Racial Inequalities
102. What Is Race?
103. Confronting Social Problems 3.1 How Do We Identify Each Other?
104. Check Your Understanding
105. What Is Racism?
106. Confronting Social Problems 3.2 Explaining Prejudice and Racism
107. Check Your Understanding
108. Why Does Racial Inequality Exist?
109. Racially Discriminatory Laws and Policies
110. Slavery and Jim Crow Laws
111. Redlining
112. Urban Renewal, White Flight, and Gentrification
113. The Wealth Gap
114. Schools
115. Economic, Social, and Cultural Capital
116. Confronting Social Problems 3.3 Racial Privilege
117. Check Your Understanding
118. Why Do Racial Inequality and Racism Persist?
119. Inherited Wealth, Schools, and Racism in the Criminal Justice System
120. Confronting Social Problems 3.4 Origins of the Black–White Wealth Gap
121. Blaming Culture
122. Check Your Understanding
123. What Social Problems Relate to Racism and Racial Inequalities?
124. Voter Suppression
125. Confronting Social Problems 3.5 Racism and Voter Suppression
126. Discrimination in Employment
127. The Informal Economy and Gangs
128. Check Your Understanding
129. How Can We Challenge and Address Racism and Racial Inequality?
130. Gaining Education and Changing Institutions
131. Confronting Social Problems 3.6 Making a Difference
132. Participating in Social Movements and Voting
133. Check Your Understanding
134. Conclusion
135. Review
136. Discussion Questions
137. Key Terms
138. Chapter 4 Examining Gender Inequalities
139. How Does the Social Constructionist Perspective Help Us Understand Gender
Inequality?
140. The Social Construction of Gender
141. Different Ways of Doing Gender
142. Confronting Social Problems 4.1 How Does the Media Construct Gender
Norms?
143. Broadening Our Gender Lens: Intersectionality
144. Where Does Gender Inequality Happen?
145. Check Your Understanding
146. The Roots of Contemporary Gender Inequality: Identifying Patriarchal Culture
147. Confronting Social Problems 4.2 The Underlying Cause of Contemporary
Gender Inequality
148. Check Your Understanding
149. Contemporary Gender Inequality in the Workplace
150. Defining the Gender Wage Gap
151. Explaining the Wage Gap: Occupational Segregation
152. Explaining the Wage Gap: Employer Preference and Discrimination
153. Explaining the Wage Gap: The Glass Ceiling
154. Confronting Social Problems 4.3 Making Sense of the COVID-19 “Shecession”
155. Explaining the Wage Gap: Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environments
156. Explaining the Wage Gap: The Glass Escalator
157. Explaining the Wage Gap: Gender Socialization
158. Check Your Understanding
159. Men’s Violence Against Women
160. Rape and Sexual Violence
161. Sexual Assault on College Campuses
162. Street Harassment
163. Cyber Harassment and Digital Abuse
164. Confronting Social Problems 4.4 What Is Rape Culture?
165. Check Your Understanding
166. How Do Today’s Gender Expectations Impact Boys and Men?
167. Work-Related Injuries and Death
168. Suicide and Other Health Issues: The Stigma of Vulnerability and
Victimization
169. Confronting Social Problems 4.5 “Man Up”
170. Family Engagement
171. Check Your Understanding
172. Other Gendered Social Problems
173. Mass Shootings as a Gendered Social Problem
174. Sexual Objectification of Women in the Media and Pornification of Culture
175. Confronting Social Problems 4.6 Mass Shooters and Gender
176. Regulating and Policing Women’s Bodies
177. Check Your Understanding
178. Gender-Based Movements and Social Change
179. Confronting Social Problems 4.7 Social Movements That Address Gender
Inequality
180. Check Your Understanding
181. Conclusion
182. Review
183. Discussion Questions
184. Key Terms
185. Chapter 5 Focusing on Sex and Sexualities
186. Sex and Sexualities
187. Sexual Orientation
188. Types of Sexual Orientations
189. Other Conceptions of Sexualities
190. Confronting Social Problems 5.1 Defining and Reflecting on Sexualities and
Sexual Orientation
191. Social Problems and Sex and Sexualities
192. Check Your Understanding
193. Social Responses to Sex and Sexualities
194. Sodomy Laws
195. Confronting Social Problems 5.2 The Relationship Between Laws and
Structural Inequalities
196. Sex Work Laws
197. Sexual Abuse and Assault Laws
198. Sex Trafficking and Sexual Slavery
199. Sexual Orientation Laws
200. Treatment of LGBTQ People in the Military
201. Same-Sex Families and the Law
202. Confronting Social Problems 5.3 Sexuality-Related Laws Across Countries
203. Check Your Understanding
204. Enforcing Sexual Norms at the Micro Level
205. Backlash Against LGBTQ Gains
206. Anti-LGBTQ Hate Crimes: Bullying, Harassment, and Violence in Schools and
the Workplace
207. Bullying and Harassment in Schools
208. Bullying and Harassment at Work
209. Confronting Social Problems 5.4 Assessment of LGBTQ Acceptance in Your
Social Environment
210. Socioeconomic and Health Consequences of Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination
211. Medical Care
212. Check Your Understanding
213. Why Attitudes Toward Sex and Sexualities Change
214. Moral Panics
215. Moral Panic and Sex Offenders
216. Changing Norms Around Sexual Behavior Outside of Marriage
217. Shifting Attitudes on Sexual Orientation and Same-Sex Marriage
218. Check Your Understanding
219. Conclusion
220. Review
221. Discussion Questions
222. Key Terms
223. Part II Global Population Problems
224. Chapter 6 Preparing for Aging Societies
225. What Is Population Aging?
226. Measuring Population Age
227. Why Do Populations Age?
228. Demographic Transition in Theory and Practice
229. Examples of Aging Populations
230. Confronting Social Problems 6.1 Population Aging in the United States
231. Check Your Understanding
232. What Social Problems Accompany Aging Societies?
233. Sustainability of Social Security and Other Entitlements
234. Medical Expenditures and Demand for Health Care Services
235. Critical Perspectives on the “Gray Tsunami”
236. Micro-Level Aging Challenges
237. Aging, Inequalities, and Later-Life Well-Being: Socioeconomic Status, Gender,
and Race/Ethnicity
238. Poverty and Inequalities Within Older Populations
239. Confronting Social Problems 6.2 What Messages About Aging Does Popular
Culture Convey?
240. Social Status, Age, and Discrimination
241. Intergenerational Conflict
242. Check Your Understanding
243. What Are Governments Doing to Prepare for Aging Populations?
244. Retirement Age, Pension Reform, and Social Security Policies
245. Confronting Social Problems 6.3 Mandatory Age-Based Retirement
246. Health Care for Aging Societies
247. Family-Focused Programs and Reproductive Incentives
248. Immigration Policies
249. Check Your Understanding
250. What Can Local Communities Do to Improve Conditions of Aging?
251. Slowing the Rate of Population Aging in Local Communities
252. Promoting Aging in Place
253. Creating Age-Friendly Spaces
254. Transportation
255. Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings
256. Social and Civic Life
257. Housing
258. Sociological Tools and Everyday Conversations
259. Confronting Social Problems 6.4 Cultivating Age-Friendly Awareness
260. Check Your Understanding
261. Conclusion
262. Review
263. Discussion Questions
264. Key Terms
265. Chapter 7 Making Sense of Migration and Immigration
266. What Is Migration?
267. Confronting Social Problems 7.1 How Many Immigrants?
268. Check Your Understanding
269. The Social Construction of Immigrants as a Problem
270. The United States and the Social Construction of “Them”
271. The Incorporation of Newcomers: What Becomes of “Them”?
272. Confronting Social Problems 7.2 Identifying Assimilation Patterns in
Quantitative Data
273. Check Your Understanding
274. Social Problems Causing Migration
275. Personal Factors
276. “Push” Factors
277. “Pull” Factors
278. Intervening Obstacles
279. Confronting Social Problems 7.3 Push–Pull Profile
280. Check Your Understanding
281. Social Problems Affecting Immigrants
282. Discrimination
283. Confronting Social Problems 7.4 Immigrant Challenges
284. Check Your Understanding
285. Social Problems Caused by Immigration
286. Undocumented Immigration in the United States
287. The Undocumented Children of Undocumented Immigrants
288. Confronting Social Problems 7.5 Challenges for Host Societies
289. Dealing With Refugees and Asylees
290. Check Your Understanding
291. Conclusion
292. Review
293. Discussion Questions
294. Key Terms
295. Chapter 8 Researching Environmental Problems
296. The Link Between Environmental and Social Problems
297. Using and Losing Resources
298. Treadmills of Production and Consumption
299. Why Do We Always Want More?
300. Increasing Production Increases Material Waste and Environmental Harm
301. E-Waste
302. Reducing Waste
303. Confronting Social Problems 8.1 Giving Up Technology
304. Check Your Understanding
305. The Environmental Costs of Powering Our Lives
306. Growing Energy Demand Pushes Us to Riskier Energy Sources
307. Nuclear Energy
308. Confronting Social Problems 8.2 Communicating Danger
309. Renewable Energy as a Solution to Increasing Energy Demands
310. Past and Present Impediments to Renewable Energy
311. The Coming Demise of Fossil Fuel and the Rise of Renewable Energy
312. Check Your Understanding
313. Recognizing and Curbing Climate Change
314. What Is Climate Change?
315. Scientific Consensus
316. Where Do Greenhouse Gases Come From?
317. Effects of Climate Change
318. Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change
319. Confronting Social Problems 8.3 Climate Change
320. Check Your Understanding
321. Food and Agriculture
322. Technological Advancements in Agriculture: The Good and the Bad
323. Treadmills of Production in Agriculture
324. Confronting Social Problems 8.4 Pros and Cons of Industrial Agriculture
325. Solutions to Problems in the Food System
326. Check Your Understanding
327. Confronting Environmental Injustice
328. Historical Context of the Environmental Justice Movement
329. Confronting Social Problems 8.5 Historic Land Use and Modern
Environmental Injustice
330. Check Your Understanding
331. Conclusion
332. Review
333. Discussion Questions
334. Key Terms
335. Chapter 9 Contesting Crime
336. The Social Construction of Crime
337. Distinguishing Deviance and Crime
338. The Case of Murder
339. Confronting Social Problems 9.1 When You are Expected to Commit Crimes
340. Check Your Understanding
341. Mistakes in Claim Construction
342. Confronting Social Problems 9.2 Fear of Crime Versus Reality
343. The Media
344. Claims-Making With Statistics
345. Check Your Understanding
346. Class, Race, Gender, and Critical Criminology
347. Confronting Social Problems 9.3 Critical Race Theory
348. Check Your Understanding
349. Social Problems That Cause Crime
350. Problems With the Criminal Justice System
351. Neighborhood Problems
352. Economic Structures
353. Confronting Social Problems 9.4 Applying Theories to Reduce Crime
354. Check Your Understanding
355. Conclusion
356. Review
357. Discussion Questions
358. Key Terms
359. Chapter 10 Understanding War and Terrorism
360. Understanding War as a Social Problem
361. Sociological Theories of War
362. Marx’s and Weber’s Perspectives on War
363. Total Wars, Just Wars, and the Functions of Wars
364. Confronting Social Problems 10.1 War and Terrorism
365. Check Your Understanding
366. Seeing War as a Social Problem
367. The Vietnam War
368. War in the 21st Century
369. New Technology and New Ways to Fight Wars
370. Confronting Social Problems 10.2 War and Social Problems
371. Check Your Understanding
372. War’s Impact on Society
373. Guns Versus Butter
374. Individual Costs of War
375. The Hidden Wounds of War
376. Confronting Social Problems 10.3 Guns vs. Butter
377. Check Your Understanding
378. Understanding Terrorism as a Social Problem
379. Confronting Social Problems 10.4 Defining Terrorism
380. 9/11 and Terrorism as a Social Problem
381. Terrorism, the Media, and Moral Panics
382. Check Your Understanding
383. Consequences of Terrorism
384. Confronting Social Problems 10.5 Consequences of Terrorism
385. The Social and Individual Costs of Terrorism
386. Check Your Understanding
387. Confronting War and Terrorism
388. International Efforts to Prevent and Mitigate the Effects of War
389. Social Movements
390. Stopping Terrorism
391. Confronting Social Problems 10.6 Efforts to Stop War and Terrorism
392. Check Your Understanding
393. Conclusion
394. Review
395. Discussion Questions
396. Key Terms
397. Note
398. Part III Institutional Problems
399. Chapter 11 Identifying Problems in the Criminal Justice System
400. The U.S. Criminal Justice System
401. Components of the Criminal Justice System
402. Criminalization
403. Types of Criminal Offenses
404. Origins of Law—Consensus Versus Conflict
405. Confronting Social Problems 11.1 Changing Laws Over Time
406. Questioning the Criminal Justice System
407. Check Your Understanding
408. Policing
409. Policing as Dangerous Work
410. Broken Windows
411. Race and Policing
412. Traffic Stops
413. Stop and Frisk
414. Police Use of Force
415. A “Ferguson Effect”?
416. Improving Policing
417. Confronting Social Problems 11.2 Measuring Your Legal Cynicism
418. Check Your Understanding
419. Courts and Corrections
420. Why Do We Punish?
421. The Wealth Gap in Justice
422. Jail or Bail?
423. Reforming Bail
424. If You Cannot Afford an Attorney ...
425. The White-Collar Premium
426. Confronting Social Problems 11.3 What Would You Do?
427. Mass Incarceration
428. Mass Probation and Parole
429. Check Your Understanding
430. Criminal Records
431. The “Ban-the-Box” Movement
432. Confronting Social Problems 11.4 Criminal Activities Checklist
433. Expungement of Criminal Records
434. Check Your Understanding
435. Conclusion
436. Review
437. Discussion Questions
438. Key Terms
439. Chapter 12 Discovering Problems in the Family
440. What Is a Family?
441. Personal Definitions Versus Official/Legal Definitions
442. Confronting Social Problems 12.1 Definitions of Family
443. Private Versus Public Views of Families
444. Three Ways to Think About Social Problems as They Pertain to Families
445. Check Your Understanding
446. Social Construction of Families as Problems
447. Cultural Shifts in Marital Expectations
448. Confronting Social Problems 12.2 Relationship Expectations
449. Family Structure and the Construction of the “Ideal” Family
450. Heterosexual Marriage
451. Same-Sex Marriage
452. Divorce
453. Cohabitation
454. Nonmarital Childbearing
455. Social Construction of “Bad Mothers”
456. Check Your Understanding
457. Family Problems as Social Problems
458. Child Marriage
459. Family Violence
460. Child Maltreatment
461. Intimate Partner Violence and Coercion
462. Elder Abuse
463. Paid Work and Caregiving
464. Confronting Social Problems 12.3 Parental Regrets Online
465. Check Your Understanding
466. Social Problems Affecting Families
467. Poverty’s Effects on Families
468. Confronting Social Problems 12.4 Parenting on the Minimum Wage
469. Debt and Families
470. Mass Incarceration’s Effects on Families
471. Check Your Understanding
472. Conclusion
473. Review
474. Discussion Questions
475. Key Terms
476. Chapter 13 Pursuing Equity in Education
477. Education and Schooling
478. Confronting Social Problems 13.1 Making the Familiar Strange: Formal
Schooling
479. Check Your Understanding
480. The Purpose of Education
481. Status Attainment: Schools as the Great Equalizer
482. Social Reproduction
483. Critical Pedagogy
484. Confronting Social Problems 13.2 Legislative Bans of Critical Race Theory
485. Check Your Understanding
486. Social Problems in Education and Schools
487. Education: A Human Right Not Accessible to All
488. Inequality Among Schools
489. Funding
490. Segregation
491. Inequity Within Schools
492. Academic Tracking
493. Discipline Disparities
494. Hidden Curriculum
495. Confronting Social Problems 13.3 How Schools Create and Maintain
Inequality
496. Inequality Outside of Schools
497. Check Your Understanding
498. Reforms That Can Improve Education Systems
499. Expanding Access to Education
500. Changing the School Experience
501. Supplementing Classroom Instruction
502. Restructuring Education Funding
503. Confronting Social Problems 13.4 Education Equity
504. Diversifying the Teaching Profession
505. Check Your Understanding
506. Conclusion
507. Review
508. Discussion Questions
509. Key Terms
510. Chapter 14 Prioritizing Health and Health Care Inequalities
511. Understanding Health and Health-Related Social Problems
512. How Our Understanding of Illness Affects Our Responses to It
513. Medicalization
514. Confronting Social Problems 14.1 The Social Construction of Health and
Illness Through Advertisements
515. Demedicalization
516. Check Your Understanding
517. How Social Problems Affect Health
518. Economic Inequality and Health
519. Racial Inequality and Health
520. Gender Inequality and Health
521. Social Isolation and Health
522. Confronting Social Problems 14.2 Examining Social Determinants of Health
523. Check Your Understanding
524. Social Problems and Inequalities in the Health Care System
525. Inequality in the Health Care System
526. Confronting Social Problems 14.3 Imagining Health Policy
527. Check Your Understanding
528. Facing Health Challenges Collectively
529. Confronting Social Problems 14.4 How You Can Make a Difference
530. Check Your Understanding
531. Conclusion
532. Review
533. Discussion Questions
534. Key Terms
535. Chapter 15 Realizing the Power—and Vulnerability—of Institutions
536. Why Does a Society Need Social Institutions?
537. Societies That Do Not Have Effective Institutions
538. Karachi, Pakistan
539. Venezuela
540. Confronting Social Problems 15.1 Belonging to Groups and Institutions
541. Check Your Understanding
542. Why Do Institutions Fail?
543. Institutional Failure in Venezuela and Pakistan
544. Confronting Social Problems 15.2 Legitimate and Illegitimate Power
545. Check Your Understanding
546. The Rise of Authoritarian Governments
547. Authoritarianism: Here Now and Nothing New
548. Activating Authoritarianism
549. Sowing Doubt in Democratic Institutions—“I Alone Can Fix It”
550. Confronting Social Problems 15.3 Democracy Versus Authoritarianism
551. Check Your Understanding
552. Declining Confidence in Institutions in the United States
553. Loss of Confidence in the Media
554. Declining Satisfaction With Democracy
555. Confronting Social Problems 15.4 Satisfaction With Democracies
556. Check Your Understanding
557. How Can Social Problems Weaken Institutions?
558. The Great Depression: The New Deal in the United States and the Rise of
Fascism in Germany
559. Social Media and Tribalism
560. Confronting Social Problems 15.5 How Can Social Problems Weaken
Institutions?
561. Check Your Understanding
562. How Can We Save Our Social Institutions?
563. Confronting Social Problems 15.6 The Tragedy of the Commons
564. Restoring Trust in Government
565. Organize effectively
566. Vote
567. How Sociology Can Help You Save Our Social Institutions
568. Check Your Understanding
569. Conclusion
570. Review
571. Discussion Questions
572. Key Terms
573. Appendix: Addressing Social Problems Through Service-Learning
574. Fundamentals of Service-Learning
575. Reflection as a Key Element of Service-Learning
576. Benefits of Service-Learning
577. Students
578. Community
579. Faculty
580. The Institution
581. Types of Service-Learning
582. Traditional Service-Learning
583. Critical Service-Learning
584. Research-Focused Service-Learning
585. Service-Learning in Online Courses
586. Assessment of Service-Learning
587. Reflection Activities
588. Tips for Faculty Considering Service-Learning
589. Managing Risk and Liability Issues
590. Working With Community Partners
591. Service-Learning in a Social Problems Course
592. Creating a Service-Learning Course
593. Preparing the Syllabus
594. Sample Goals for a Social Problems Course
595. Sample Objectives for a Social Problems Course
596. Sample Assignments for a Social Problems Course
597. Additional Advice for Faculty
598. Glossary
599. References
600. Index
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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The skeleton
scout; or, The border block
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States
and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
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ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The skeleton scout; or, The border block

Author: Albert W. Aiken

Release date: July 16, 2022 [eBook #68538]

Language: English

Original publication: United States: Beadle and Adams, 1872

Credits: David Edwards, Graeme Mackreth and the Online

Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
(Northern Illinois University Digital Library)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE

SKELETON SCOUT; OR, THE BORDER BLOCK ***
 THE

SKELETON SCOUT;
OR,

THE BORDER BLOCK.

BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON,

AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POCKET NOVELS:

17. Ben, the Trapper.

22. Indian Jo, the Guide.

NEW YORK:

BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,

98 WILLIAM STREET.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by

 FRANK STARR & CO.,

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

THE SKELETON SCOUT;

OR,

THE BORDER BLOCK.

CHAPTER I.
A YANKEE ON A LOG.
The scene opens upon one of those great rivers of the West, in the
country which Tecumseh claimed and fought for so gallantly. The
forest was at rest, save only the songs of birds and the splash of the
fish leaping in the river. A thicket of bushes which bordered the path
down to the water, was suddenly pushed aside and a grim face
peered out, a face rendered doubly fierce by its war-paint, for it was
that of an Indian of Tecumseh's noble race.
Satisfying himself that no one was in sight, the Indian rose slowly,
stalked out into the path, and took his course toward the river.
Another and another followed, until ten had come into view, gliding in
silence down the forest-path.
Each savage was naked save the breech-cloth and moccasins. Only
the man who first showed himself, was differently dressed. He was a
tall, stately warrior, bearing upon his naked breast the totem of his
tribe painted in bright colors, and wearing upon his dark hair the
plumed head-dress of a chief.
Each Indian carried a rifle of the most approved make in the English
service, together with the inevitable scalping-knife and tomahawk.
Not one of them spoke, but followed their chief's cautious steps
down to the water's edge, where, sheltering themselves behind the
bushes, they peered across the stream.
It was late in the afternoon, and the sun was already out of sight
behind the tree-tops on the western shore. But, not upon the glories
of nature did the eyes of those fierce-visaged sons of the forest rest.
What then?
Upon the other shore, close to the river, stood a log cabin of the
largest size, with heavy walls and doors, calculated to resist any
ordinary attack. The fields around it were green with varied crops, for
it was now near the end of summer.
A strong wall of logs, hewn smooth, and leaving no chance to a
climber, surrounded the house. It was plain that the builder, whoever
he might be, was fully awake to the dangerous position he occupied
in the midst of the Indian country, but that he did not apprehend any
immediate attack was apparent, for his huge stockade gates were off
the hinges and leaning against the walls on either side.
The Indians lay under cover of the bushes, their gleaming eyes
riveted upon their expected prize, but they made no movement, for
they beheld a man standing upon the point which stretched out into
the stream, a rifle in his hand, pacing up and down as if on guard.
As they gazed a strange sight greeted their astonished vision.
Something was coming down the river in mid stream. It seemed to
be a man, seated in a canoe.
The current swept him rapidly downward, and, as the nondescript
craft came near, they saw a man seated astride of a log, keeping its
head down the current by the aid of a flat stick which he held in his
hand. As he neared the stockade he began to paddle vigorously, and
whirled the head of the log more toward the shore. By this time the
watcher on the point had run down to the water's edge, and the click
of a rifle-lock sounded.
"Ahoy, there!" he shouted.
"Hello!" replied the man on the log. "How de dew?"
"Hadn't you better come ashore?" said the sentry, persuasively,
pointing his rifle.
"Seeing it's yew, I donno but I had," replied the navigator, coolly.
"Yew seem mighty pressing, somehow."
"I'd like to persuade you to come ashore," replied the sentry, with a
laugh.
"Ain't I coming?" growled the man on the log. "Yew needn't put on
sech style over me, I guess! I ain't said nothing tew yew, I judge.
Don't be sech a 'tarnal fool tew keep p'inting that weepin at me. It
might go off."
"It will go off, if you don't come ashore, sir," replied the sentry. "Hurry
up!"
The Yankee—there could be no mistake as to his nationality—turned
the head of the log toward the shore, and as it struck the land, began
to rise slowly from the water. The sentry kept up his attitude of
command so long as his Yankee friend showed only the ordinary
amount of bone and muscle, but his eyes opened as foot after foot
rose from the water, and the Yankee stood six feet seven in his
stockings! A queer looking specimen of the genus homo he was,
such as, for the good of the race, nature rarely framed. In breadth of
shoulder and girth of body he was no larger than men of ordinary
size, and this added to his imposing hight. His face, which did not
show a particle of beard, was round, good-natured and smiling,
furnished with a mouth of mighty breadth, and a nose curved like the
beak of an eagle. His arms were of extraordinary length, even for so
tall a man, reaching nearly to the knee. His hair was of a flaming
yellow.
He was dressed in a dirty shirt of homespun, which never had known
any other cleansing since first put on than that it received from the
clouds or streams. A black leathern belt was strapped about his
waist, but it bore no more deadly weapon than an ordinary knife. His
feet were covered by moccasins rudely made and tied with buck-skin
strings. Upon his head he wore a cap of beaver-skin, mangy and
worn bare in spots, giving him a far from prepossessing appearance.
A certain whimsical, devil-may-care air marked the fellow, which was
irresistible, and the sentry laughed aloud, as the long stranger faced
him on the beach. The sentry was a young man in the dress of a
rifleman, with the bar of a captain on his shoulders. He was a stout-
built, handsome fellow, and looked with an air of commingled
amusement and astonishment, at the lofty proportions of the new-
comer.
"You are a nice specimen of a prize-baby," he said, running his eyes
up the long, lank body.
"Yaas, yaas! My mother always said I was a sweet little infant!"
replied the Yankee. "How's all the folks?"
"Oh, they are in good health. I hope you left your own family in a
good state of preservation, my long friend."
"My fam'ly allers travel with me," said the stranger. "Thar ain't so
many of us so't we kin afford to sep'rate. Got a right neat little place
here, ain't yew? Sort o' like the looks of it myself."
"What were you doing on that log?" demanded the sentry.
"Lord love yew, I thought you knew that! I was riding."
"Any fool knows that," replied the young man, roughly.
"Then what made yew ask me, if yew know'd it so well?" demanded
the Yankee, indignantly. "Yew git eout! kan' a feller-being take a ride
if he wants tew?"
"Certainly."
"Waal, I was a-coming down the river, and I thought I'd ruther ride
than walk, so I took to the water. But look a here, darn and blast
sech contrary logs as that thar. I've bin pitched neck and crop inter
the water four times in the last five miles, and darn my ear ef this
ain't the trewest thing I've said this good while. I got along a darned
sight better when I could get my foot on the bottom and steer that
way. Yes I did."
"How far have you come?"
"I dunno nothing 'bout distances in these dangerous woods. It might
have bin ten miles an' it might have bin twenty, I dunno."
"Do you travel without arms?"
"Not by a darned sight, I don't! What dew yew call them things?"
He stretched out a pair of arms nearly as long as an ordinary man's
leg.
"Pshaw! I mean have you no weapons."
"Got a jack-knife," replied the Yankee, coolly.
"Is that all?"
"Ain't it enough? Thunder! yew don't want a man tew be a walking
armory, dew yew?"
"You are an odd chicken. Perhaps you won't object to giving me your
name?"
"No, thank yew, I don't like to give away my name. I dunno whether I
could git a better one."
"What is your name?"
"Oh; yew want me tew tell my name. Waal, try Seth Spink, and see
how that will work. I'm the all-firedest man yew ever did see. I've
traveled from St. Louis tew Bostin, and from Oswego tew New
Yorleans. Thar ain't no place on this created hemisphere where I
ain't set my foot. Yaas," he continued, "I've rode alligators in the
bayous of Louisiana and it make it more lively for a man, 'cause he
has to keep jerking up his legs to keep the young alligators from
chawin' 'em off."
"There; that lets you out," said the young captain. "Now I'll return
your confidence. This is one of the outposts of the fur company, and
my father's house at the same time. His name is Matthew Floyd. My
name is William Floyd, and I have the honor to be a captain in the
rifles, upon the staff of Governor Harrison."
"Glad tew meet yew, William," said the Yankee, extending a hand
looking like a side of mutton. "Shake."
"Confound your impudence," said the staff officer. "It passes all
belief. But come into the house and get something to eat, although I
am afraid that long body will breed a famine."
"Don't yew believe it! yew give me a little hog or tew and a small
beef-critter for supper, and I won't complain. I like a light meal, I
dew."
"A small hog or two and a beef-critter? Do you mean to eat the
provisions of the entire garrison at a single meal?"
"'Tain't much of a garrison that don't eat no more nor that! All right;
then bring me a loaf of bread and a ham, and I'll show you how tew
eat."
Captain Floyd laughed, and led the way into the house through the
open gate of the stockade. The Yankee had picked up a stick on the
bank and was whittling away dexterously, whistling in the minor clef,
but keeping his eyes about him nevertheless. He shook his head
when he saw the gates off the hinges, and muttered to himself. Floyd
turned upon him quickly.
"What are you growling about there? Let me know at once."
"Git eout! Waal, if yew must know, I was thinking what a darned good
pertection a gate is to a house when it's off the hinges, standing
ag'in' the wall."
"You are inclined to be sarcastic, and are more observing than I gave
you credit for. To tell the truth up to this time we have been in no
danger. The Shawnees have been friendly, and Tecumseh himself
has eaten in our house. The Prophet was here only last week."
"Who?"
"The Prophet; the brother of Tecumseh, who has built a town upon
the upper Wabash near Tippecanoe."
"I dunno much about it, but it seems to me I did hear summers that
that Prophet is a treacherous old cuss," said Seth.
"I have heard the same, but he appeared very friendly."
The Yankee said nothing more, and they entered the house. A girl,
who was reading near a window, rose to receive them, looking
surprised as she saw the stranger.
"Cousin Madge," said Floyd, in a bantering tone, "let me introduce to
you an errant knight who has wandered from the paternal castle
even to the banks of the Wabash. His ancestral name is Spink."
"How can you, Will?" said Madge, laughing. "I am sure Mr. Spink is
very welcome."
She was very beautiful—a strange flower to bloom in the wilderness.
She was not the daughter of Matthew Floyd by blood, but the child of
a dear friend, Herbert Carlysle, who had long ago gone down into
the valley of the shadow, leaving her to his care. And when the hour
of trial came to her adopted father, she followed him boldly, to make
a new home and fortune upon the prairies of the far west. She was,
as we introduce her, a young girl, with hair banded back from a lofty
brow, and rolled in great braids upon her regal head; a face a little
browned by exposure to the sun, but very beautiful. She came
forward immediately and greeted the Yankee with cordial ease and
grace, and he looked down on her with a broad smile.
"A strange place tew bring sech a gal as this, Capting Floyd," he
said. "The towns would be the safest place fur her, now."
"She will not leave my father," said Floyd. "If we could have our way
she would not be here. Madge, our friend is hungry. Will you go to
Phillis and ask her to get him something to eat? She probably will not
do it unless you speak coaxingly to her, for a more obstinate old
woman never breathed."
"W'at?" exclaimed a voice. "Who you's talking 'bout, mass' Will? You
t'ink cause you's white dat dis chile gwine ter lay down so dat you
can tramp on her, but she ain't; no sah! I's a nigger, but Goramity he
med me black hese own self, an' all de water in Egypt can't wash me
white, nohow."
"Now Phillis—" said Will.
"Oh, hold you hush, do, mass' Will! You gwine 'bout to mek mischief,
dat's w'at you's gwine to do! You s'pose I gwine to dirty all my dish
for dis low-lived Yankee truck, gwine 'bout in de woods like a roarin'
lion for to come for to go fur to eat ebbery t'ing? How we give him
'nough to eat, a great long shadder?"
Phillis had come up unobserved while they were talking, and stood in
the doorway when Will made that allusion to her native obstinacy.
She was a ponderous female, weighing very nearly three hundred
pounds, being built on the model of the redoubtable Wouter Van
Twiller, of famous memory, who was five feet six inches high, and six
feet five inches in circumference. She held in one hand a dishcloth,
and in the other a frying-pan which she had been washing when
curiosity called her to the door.
"There's a sight to wake the finer feelings of our natur'," said the
Yankee, looking at the negress with a grin. "A good fat, healthy
female like that is a credit to human natur', she is, by Jehosaphat.
She makes me think of my maternal grandmother, only the old lady
had the misfortune to be white, more the pity! 'Cause the good Book
teaches us thar was a good chaince of black men in Scripter times.
Now, my grandmother—"
"See yer," said the old housekeeper, "you's git inter trouble one of
dese days, ef you fool roun' dis chile. G'way, g'way, you's makin'
mischief! Oh, gosh all to pieces, you gwine stan' dar and poke fun at
me all de time? Berry well; wait till I gub you any t'ing to eat, dats all!"
"But, aunty—" said Madge, coaxingly. "How can you act so?"
"Dar, dar, chile! 'Tain't dat I valley cookin' de leastest bit, it do mek
me powerful mad when dey pokes fun at me."
"Did the old lady think I was funnin'?" said the Yankee, with a solemn
face. "I wa'n't, now that's a fact. My grandmother was a bu'ster, now
you'd better believe! Why, ef you was to put her on one end of a
beam, and this old lady on the other, you'd see this old lady fly like a
bird in the air. She wouldn't weigh a feather alongside of my old lady,
that gal wouldn't."
"Tole 'em I wa'n't so drefful fat," said Phillis, considerably mollified.
"But, dey won't none ob 'em beliebe me, nohow. Dar; I's go an' see
w'at I kin pick up for de gemman. Would you like some venison?"
"Yaas."
"Or mebbe veal would suit ye better?"
"I ain't partic'lar. I'll taste 'em both. Ef ye've got some pickles handy,
throw a bushel or two on the table with a couple of hams, and two or
three loaves of bread. Any thing will dew for a lunch."
Phillis looked at him very much as she would have looked at a
dangerous maniac unfit to go at large, and went slowly out into the
kitchen, the floor shaking under her ponderous tread. The next
moment a storm of vituperation directed at the heads of her
satellites, announced that she was at work, and a savory smell was
wafted to their nostrils. Seth pricked up his ears like the war-horse
"that smelleth the battle afar off," and waited. When the table was
set, he marched in and gave Phillis a grand exemplification of the
power of a good appetite. Pone bread in huge masses leaped down
his capacious maw. Slice after slice of venison followed, washed
down by various cups of coffee. Phillis, appalled at his appreciation
of her cookery, watched with uplifted hands, and finally fled to Will
Floyd in dismay.
"You git dat wolf outer dis house jus' as quick as you kin! He stay har
one week an' he eat us out ob house an' home."

CHAPTER II.
WILLIMACK, THE WYANDOT.
By the time the Yankee had finished his repast, night had come on,
and he came hurrying out of the kitchen, with his mouth full of
venison steak, and ran to the window.
"How many dew yew reckon in this post, boss?" he said, turning to
the young soldier.
"Myself, my father, two soldiers of the rifles, and two black boys."
"Yaas. Now let me ask yew a little question. Does it look like
common sense for yew tew keep yure gates off the hinges?"
"To tell you the truth, I have some doubts myself, but the Prophet
seemed to think it showed confidence in the Indians on the Wabash
to leave the gates open, and it was more to please him than any
thing else that we did it."
"The Prophet? Now, see here, capting; I ain't bin but a little while in
this kentry, but I know what the Shawnee Prophet is. He's a
treacherous old fox. He's got some plot ag'in' the people of this
section, and I know it, sartin sure! Jest see the raft of villains he's got
round him up thar on the Wabash. Kickapoos, Winnebagoes,
Micmacs, Shawnees, and the Old Scratch knows what other nations
—the riff-raff and off-scourings of the tribes. They're nice fellers to
live nigh, ain't they?"
"I have often thought them dangerous," said Floyd. "But what can we
do?"
"Yew kan put up yure gates, anyhow. And say; hadn't yew better call
in yure men, ef yew've got any outlyin', 'cause it's gittin' dark."
"I think you are right," said Floyd.
He took down a horn, and going to the door, took a long breath and
blew a gallant blast, which echoed far and wide through the depths
of the forest. Shortly after, the tramp of coming feet could be heard,
and there emerged from the woods behind the house four men
advancing at a hurried pace. As they entered the stockade the
Yankee saw that two of them were common soldiers of the American
army, one an Indian of the Shawnee nation, and the fourth an old
man with white hair. The Yankee swung himself up on the head of a
cask standing within the stockade, and, taking out a piece of pigtail
tobacco, twisted off a mighty "chaw," and sat there, rolling the sweet
morsel under his tongue.
"What made you so late, father?" said young Floyd, advancing.
"Willimack got puzzled in regard to the path, and if we had not heard
your horn, I do not know how long we might have stumbled about in
the darkness."
The Yankee uttered a long whistle and thrust his tongue into his
cheek. The sound drew the attention of the old man to him, and he
scanned him curiously.
"Who is this?" he said.
"A traveler, who has stopped here for shelter," replied the young
man, coming forward. "What did you mean by that whistle, Spink?"
"Sho, now! Don't be so blasted inquisitive. I wouldn't, anyhow. I'll tell
yew by an by; but, the fust thing yew dew is to put up them gates, do
ye hear?"
The Indian had been standing just within the gates, and, as he heard
the voice of the stranger, he cast a quick glance in his direction, and
his hand stole to the handle of his hatchet. But, the Yankee sat upon
the cask, beating time with his heels upon the sides, and muttering
to himself. The Indian stalked gravely to his side, and looked fiercely
into his face. The savage was a rather good-looking brave of the
Wyandot tribe, whose powerful limbs, strong shoulders, and
muscular hands gave promise of great strength. The down-easter
endured his fixed gaze for the space of three minutes without moving
a muscle of his set face, until the savage spoke.
"Who is this?" he said. "Dare you come here to sing an evil song in
the ears of my father with the gray hair, to make him distrust his
brethren of the Shawnees and Wyandots?"
"Oh, git eout! Who said any thing tew yew? The most cantankerous
Injin I ever see in all my born days."
"You laugh at Willimack, the chief? Why should my father put up his
strong gates?"
"'Cause he's a man of sense, I guess. Now, don't rile up, Injin, don't!
'Tain't that I care any thing about yew, understand, but I sort o' hate
to see things go this way. Willimack, they call you?"
"Willimack is my name."
"All right. Been guiding this party on a prospecting tour, so tew
speak?"
"We have been exploring," said the elder Floyd.
"See any Injin signs?" asked Seth.
"A great many," replied the old man. "What of that? The Indians are
friendly now."
"Glad to hear it, 'cause I didn't know it. So this man Willimack lost his
way?"
"Yes."
"Youngster," said the Yankee, leaping off the barrel, "you come here
a minnit. I want tew speak with yew."
Young Floyd went with the Yankee aside, followed by the suspicious
glances of the savage, who would have gone aside with them, but
Floyd signed to him sternly to keep back, and he obeyed, chafing
inwardly.
"Look here," said Spink, when they were out of ear-shot. "They say
we Yankees are a little gumptious, an' I guess we be, but, it don't
need much smartness tew see threw his gilding. That Injin is a
Wyandot, and knows every foot of the soil along the Wabash, and yit
he loses his way! Now, does that sound nat'ral? I only ask yew fair."
"It does look strange."
"Then put up yure gate. I won't tell yew why, but it'll be better for yew.
Now I'll tell yew how tew prove Willimack, cuss him! Go out an' offer
tew put up the gates, and yew see ef he don't huff and want tew
hurry away."
"Let him go."
"Umph! No; don't dew any thing of the kind. Keep him all night, by all
means."
"For what purpose?"
"Never mind. Yew will find eout, afore morning. Oh, blame my cats ef
it ain't hard tew git any thing threw yew! Why don't yew go an' put up
them cussed gates?"
"I will do it," said the young man, turning back quickly. "Here, Forbes,
Lefebre! I want you to help me put up these gates."
Willimack started and turned upon the young man almost fiercely, for
his eyes burned like glowing coals. The young soldier looked at him
in surprise.
"Let my young brother pause before he puts his hands to something
for which he will be sorry," said the Wyandot. "He has trusted the
great tribe, and they have never deceived him, then why should he
do wrong to them now? Let the gates rest. There is nothing to fear
from the Shawnees and Wyandots."
"The Indians have no right to be angry if we close our doors," replied
Floyd. "There are good warriors as well as bad, and some of these
wicked ones might chance to pass by."
"Then the chiefs of the Shawnee would punish them," said
Willimack.
"That would be but little help to us, you understand," said Floyd,
"after they had taken our scalps. No, I think I will close the gates."
"Don't let him waste time talkin'. Shet 'em up now!"
"Ha, dog of the long back," screamed Willimack, "do you come to
make a bad heart between the Indians and their white friends?
Willimack will drink your blood."
"Ah, no yew won't," replied long Seth, with admirable composure,
thrusting his hands into his pockets, and looking keenly at the
savage. "Yew ain't so dry as that comes tew. Shet them gates, darn
yew! I tell yew not tew lose time!"
Willimack suddenly drew his hatchet and rushed at the imperturbable
Yankee, who did not even take his hands from his pockets, but,
when the Indian came within reach, planted his moccasined foot in
the region of the knife-belt, with a force which sent the Wyandot
flying against the side of the stockade, half stunned. The elder Floyd
would have helped him up, but Spink demanded of him angrily to
desist, and help them to raise the gates, while the negro boys
brought out the heavy bars and had them ready to drop into their
places. Just as they were about to raise the first gate to its place, the
Indian staggered to his feet, and turned to go away.
"Farewell, men of the bad heart," he said. "A deep sorrow has come
upon the heart of Willimack. His soul is very sad, because the
brother with the gray hair has turned against him."
"Oh, hush up, yew," said the Yankee, releasing his hold on the gate,
"and git intew yure corner ag'in."
"No," said Willimack, "I will stay no longer in the place where I have
been insulted."
"Yew won't, eh?"
"No; Willimack will go."
"I differ; Willimack will stay. Yew ain't goin' tew git eout and call yure
comrades up here afore we git the gates in shape. Don't yew b'lieve
it!"
"I really think you are too fast, my friend," said the elder Floyd. "The
Indians have always treated me well."
"I don't care a darn how they've treated yew. That Injin ain't goin' out
of this gate till it's hung; and if yew take my advice, yew'll keep him
till morning, 'cause I b'lieve my soul he's got comrades outlying in
them bushes."
"I will go!" screamed Willimack. "Who will stay the course of the chief
of the Wyandots?"
"This identical cuss. Yew offer tew go eout of this gate, and I'll give
yew a back-hander that will make yew forgit yure parents. Now yew
bet yure boots on that."
Willimack was no coward, and made a rush at the immovable figure
of the Yankee, knife in hand.
For the first time the ire of Seth Spink seemed to be fully aroused,
and, rushing at the chief with a snarl like that of a wild beast, he
caught him by the wrist, and, giving it a wrench, shook the weapon
from his grasp. Then, seizing him by the shoulders, he lifted him
from the ground, shook him as a terrier shakes a cat, and dashed
him to the earth with stunning force.
"Bring ropes here!" he hissed. "The devil is in this condemned skunk,
bigger than a woodchuck."
Will Floyd threw him some pieces of buck-skin, with which he bound
the feet of the savage, and then sprung up to work upon the gate.
"Work, ye devils, work!" he shouted, applying his Herculean strength
to the huge door. "Up with her, quick! How a man of yure
understanding could take them gates off the hinges I don't know."
"We thought it would please the savages," said the elder Floyd. "I am
afraid we are doing wrong."
"Ef yew don't sing another song in less than an hour, then I'm a
nigger. Heave with a will, boys; no time to lose. It's the mercy of God
that yure son blew that horn for yew tew-night, mister, or Willimack
would have led yew into an ambush."
"I can hardly believe that, sir," said the old man.
"Can't yew? Take hold of that gate there. Lift away! What's that?
Somebody give the son of a tinker a belt in the mouth."
Willimack, lying upon his back, had begun a succession of fearful
yells, intended to hasten the movements of his friends. He was
answered by a cry so close at hand that the people of the stockade
were appalled by the closeness of their enemies. They worked away
with desperate zeal, and with a cry of delight felt the door swing to its
place and dropped the heavy bars before it. Long Seth turned in a
fury upon the Indian.
"Yew ought to have yure coat tails filled chock full of boots—old
boots, big boots, heavy boots, long boots, and moccasins tew match.
Ef I had my way, yew'd git it, tew. Ah, yew pizen critter!"
As he spoke, they heard the sound of rushing feet, and the first of
the savage band who had been lying upon the other bank of the
stream, and who had crossed at dusk, rushed up against the gate