I saveys about Bill Connors, an' likewise sech other aborigines as lives
in mem'ry; still, it shakes my estimates of Peets to find him eager over
Injuns, they bein' low an' debasin' as topics. I says as much to Peets.

"'Never you-all mind about me,' says Peets. 'I knows so much about white
folks it comes mighty clost to makin' me sick. I seeks tales of Injuns
as a relief an' to promote a average in favor of the species.'

"This Bill Connors' is a good-lookin' young buck when I cuts his trail;
straight as a pine an' strong an' tireless as a bronco. It's about six
years after the philanthrofists ropes onto Bill an' drags him off to a
school. You-all onderstands about a philanthrofist--one of these sports
who's allers improvin' some party's condition in a way the party who's
improved don't like.

"'A philanthrofist,' says Colonel Sterett, one time when Dan Boggs
demands the explanation at his hands; 'a philanthrofist is a gent who
insists on you givin' some other gent your money.'

"For myse'f, however, I regyards the Colonel's definition as too narrow.
Troo philanthrofy has a heap of things to it that's jest as onreasonable
an' which does not incloode the fiscal teachers mentioned by the Colonel.

"As I'm sayin'; these well-meanin' though darkened sports, the
philanthrofists, runs Bill down--it's mebby when he's fourteen, only
Injuns don't keep tab on their years none--an' immures him in one of the
gov'ment schools. It's thar Bill gets his name, 'Bill Connors.' Before
that he cavorts about, free an' wild an' happy onder the Injun app'lation
of the 'Jack Rabbit.'

"Shore! Bill's sire--a savage who's 'way up in the picture kyards, an'
who's called 'Crooked Claw' because of his left hand bein' put out of
line with a Ute arrow through it long ago--gives his consent to Bill
j'inin' that sem'nary. Crooked Claw can't he'p himse'f; he's powerless;
the Great Father in Washin'ton is backin' the play of the philanthrofists.

"'Which the Great Father is too many for Crooked Claw,' says this parent,
commentin' on his helplessness. Bill's gone canterin' to his old gent to
remonstrate, not hungerin' for learnin', an' Crooked Claw says this to
Bill: 'The Great Father is too many for Crooked Claw; an' too strong.
You must go to school as the Great Father orders; it is right. The
longest spear is right.'

"Bill is re-branded, 'Bill Connors,' an' then he's done bound down to
them books. After four years Bill gradyooates;