HEADS DOWN.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1521, 26 February 1886, Page 3

HEADS DOWN.

Playing tricks upon strangers is regarded as rare sport by the soldiers in the military posts of the Far West of America. The " Indian scare" is the favourite sport in this line, the victim being induced to accompany a party to shoot antelope. When near some gulch or pile of rocks, a party of soldiers dressed as Indians, dash yelling at the hunters (?) firing blank cartridges. Of course all the hunting party tall as if wounded, and shout to the victim to run for his life and then the fun begin?. The frightened " greeney " darting towards the garrison, w r ith every hair erect, forms so ludicrous a picture to thowo in the joke, that spasms of laughter at once supplant the demoniac ye Is, which but a moment before rent tbeair. Wheuthei.ilVighted victim reaches the post, he yells for men to fly to the rescue of their wounded comrades; and then tells a story of a fearlul conflict with an overwhelming body of savages, in which he fought like a demon. And when the false InJians come in, doubled up with laughter, the dupe either acknowledges the sell and j tins in the laughter, or sneaks away crestfallen, aud foots it to the nearest point. A tall, roughly-dressed fellow came up to the post-trader's store, at Fort Aspenhut, one day, aud -vas at oncejsurrounded by a group ot soldiers, one ot whom, asked him :

14 Do you like hunting ? " " Hunting ? well 1 reckon I do. At home 1 used to be the best hunter in the neighbourhood." Here was such a victim as the funloving soldiery seldom caught, and every one anticipattd rare fun. The party set forth, and the soldiers amused themselves with telling the stranger improbable stories of the quantity of game to be found, and in posting him as to the use of hit gun.

which they had been careful to load with blank cartridge.

When they had reached a point about eighty yards from a group of rocks, the Indians (sham) rose and poured in a volley—of smoke —and then charged, yelling like demons. Every one but the stranger fell, and amid groans and shouts for mercy, they begged him to run for his life and send them help. But instead of doing so, however, he stared at the attacking party in a dazed manner.

The firing party dashed at him, blazing away vigorously, but he never flinched, and when they got close to him, he said: " What in the name of common sense ails you ? You are like a drunk lunatic asylum turned loofe! " With renewed yells the party made a dash at him, when he coolly laid (bwn his old musket, and reaching back under his coat-tails, produced a couple of revolvers, and levelling them at the now disconfited" Indians," said :

"Now, you fellows have had your play, and now I'll have mine. Ground arms, every mother's son of you. Drop them lively !' and he cocked his revolvers.

The guns went quickly to the ground and the squadron looked with blank dismay at one another. " Now, everyone of you, s'and on your head !"

" Bur, 1 ' said a soldier, " don't you know that we were only go " " Up wiiii you at once, or a streak of daylight will follow a lump of lead through you in a holy minute." The troopers obeyed and he held them in this position for fully a minute. Then he made his late companions join the line, and for one hour he held them together, putting them through the most ludicrous acts and contortions. Then he told them to " Fiy for the camp," and sent them off at full speed to the post. That night he made it all up, apparently, and was inveigled into a game of draw-poker, with gome of the b(bt gamblers in the fort. They were playing all night long, and when the stranger took the train for Virginia, he carried with hitn over eight hundred doliars that he had won. As the train was starting he wrote a few words on | a piece of paper, and handed it to one !of his victims. It read as follows :

i "You never want to buy a wateri melon till you plug it, and see if it's | ripe, or you're liable to get sold. ; Good-bye.

" Slim Jim."

They then knew that they had been sold, and that their visitor was " Slim Jim, of Nevada," the best gambler, quickest shot, and most dancg desperado of those parts.