William Hepworth Dixon, White Conquest: Volume 1

[265] and women. In spite of smart reporters, no White women live in Vinita; and no White men, except seven or eight railway servants, and a dozen fellows who have married squaws. The only White men who have got into trouble at Vinita, are two scalawags, who brought whisky to the place, and tried to sell it, contrary to law. Some braves got drunk; a row began, and while this row was on, the two whisky vendors got hung. No one can tell me how it happened. No one but myself enquires. Who cares about a scalawag more or less? Dead men collect no bills.

But a more serious fray than a whisky broil threatens the prosperity of Vinita. These Cherokees are cursed with a tribal feud; a feud which has a counterpart in every Indian camp.

When the Cherokees were being ousted from their ancient hunting-grounds in Georgia and Alabama, and were offered their present lands-given to them in exchange, to be their own “as long as grass should grow and water run,” the Indians were divided in counsel as to what they ought to do. A cunning chief, who had assumed the name of Ross, became the leader of such Cherokees as wished to