For some time the employers and employed
agreed amazingly well, and as nothing is cheaper than military titles in
the United States, the half-breed became Colonel Overton, with boots and
spurs, a laced coat, and a long sword. Cunning as were the Yankees,
Overton was still more so; cheating them as he had cheated the Indians.
The holy alliance was broken up; he then retired to the mountains,
protected by the Mexican government, and commenced a system of general
depredation, which for some time proved successful. His most ordinary
method was to preside over a barter betwixt the savages and the traders.
When both parties had agreed, they were of course in good humour, and
drank freely. Now was the time for the Colonel. To the Indians he would
affirm that the traders only waited till they were asleep, to butcher
them and take back their goods. The same story was told to the traders,
and a fight ensued, the more terrible as the whole party was more or
less tipsy. Then, with some rogues in his own employ, the Colonel, under
the pretext of making all safe, would load the mules with the furs and
goods, proceed to Santa Fe, and dispose of his booty for one-third of
its value. None cared how it had been obtained; it was cheap,
consequently it was welcome.
His open robberies and tricks of this description were so numerous that
Overton became the terror of the mountains.
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