THE RAPE OF THE DEMIJOHN The row down at the river house was more noise than fight, so far as results seemed to indicate.

It was all about a small dame jeanne of fine brandy, which an Indian by the name of Long-Hair had seized and run off with at the height of the carousal.

He must have been soberer than his pursuers, or naturally fleeter; for not one of them could catch him, or even keep long in sight of him.

Some pistols were emptied while the race was on, and two or three of the men swore roundly to having seen Long-Hair jump sidewise and stagger, as if one of the shots had taken effect.

But, although the moon was shining, he someway disappeared, they could not understand just how, far down beside the river below the fort and the church.
It was not a very uncommon thing for an Indian to steal what he wanted, and in most cases light punishment followed conviction; but it was felt to be a capital offense for an Indian or anybody else to rape a demijohn of fine brandy, especially one sent as a present, by a friend in New Orleans, to Lieutenant Governor Abbott, who had until recently been the commandant of the post.