The ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry
The ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry
Sam: It looked like a good thing, but wait until I tell you. We were in Alabama — Bill Driscoll and me — when this kidnapping idea came to us. It was a crazy idea, but we didn’t realize it at that time.
Bill:Summit is a good place for kidnapping, Parents love their children in small towns. And there are no curious journalists..
Sam: We chose for our victim the only child of an important man named Ebenezer Dorset. Mr Dorset was respectable and rich. The kid was a boy of ten with red freckles and red hair.
Sam: Bill and I decided that Ebenezer Dorset would pay the ransom of two thousand dollars for his son. But wait until I tell you.
Bill: Hey, little boy!Do you want a bag of candy and a nice ride?”
The boy threw a piece of brick at Bill’s eye
Bill: That will cost the old man an extra five hundred dollars!
Johnny: Ha! Paleface, this is the camp of Red Chief, the terror of the plains!
Bill: He’s all right now. We’re playing Indians. I’m a hunter called Old Hank and I’m Red Chief’s prisoner. He’s going to scalp me at daybreak. My God, that kid can hit hard!
Johnny: When the Indians return they will cook you on the fire for dinner!I like this very much. I’ve never camped out before, but I had a pet opossum once, and I was nine last birthday. I hate to go to school. Are there any real Indians in the forest?. We had five puppies. What makes your nose so red, Hank? My father has lots of money. Are the stars hot? I don’t like girls. Why are oranges round? Have you got beds to sleep on in this cave? A parrot can talk, but a monkey or a fish can’t….
Every few minutes he remembered that he was Red Chief, took his stick rifle and looked out of the cave. “I want to see if there are any palefaces. I hate them!” Now and then he cried loudly and that made Old Hank shiver.
Sam: Red Chief, do you want to go home?
Johnny: What for? I don’t have any fun at home. I hate to go to school. I like to camp out. Please don’t take me home, Snake Eye!
Red Chief was sitting on Bill’s chest. He was pulling Bill’s hair with one hand. In the other hand he had a knife. He was trying to take Bill’s scalp!
Bill: Why did you get up so early, Sam?
Sam: Me? Oh, I’ve got a kind of a pain in my shoulder. I thought sitting up would help.
Bill: You’re a liar! You’re afraid. You’re afraid to be cooked on the fire! You’re afraid he’ll do it. And he will, if he can find a match. Isn’t it awful, Sam? Do you think anybody will pay money to get the little devil back home?
Sam: Sure. Parents love noisy little devils. Now you cook breakfast and I’ll come back in a few minutes.
Bill: What is he going to do? Do you think he’ll run away, Sam?
Sam: If you don’t behave, I’ll take you home. Now, are you going to be good, or not?
Johnny: I was only playing, I didn’t want to hurt Old Hank. But why did he hit me? I’ll behave, Snake Eye, but please don’t send me home. Can I play Black Scout today?
Sam: I don’t know the game. That’s for you and Mr Bill to decide. Now, come in and make friends with him and say you are sorry for hurting him, or home you go, at once.
I made him and Bill shake hands
Bill: You know, Sam,I’ve stood by you in earthquakes, fire and flood — in poker games, police raids, train robberies and cyclones. I’ve never been afraid of anyone or anything. But I’m afraid of this kid. You won’t leave me long with him, will you, Sam?
Sam: Now we’ll write a letter to Old Dorset.”
Bill and Sam started writing the letter. Red Chief was playing outside the cave.
Bill: It isn’t human, to ask $2,000 for that terrible kid. Let’s ask Mr Dorset for $1,500
Sam: Mr Dorset,
We have your boy hidden in a place far from Summit. Don’t try to find him. We want $1,500 in large bills for his return. The money must be left at midnight at the same place and in the same box as your answer to the letter. If you agree to pay the money, send your answer with a messenger to-night at half-past eight. If you don’t pay the money, you will never see your boy again.
If you pay the money, he will be returned to you safe and well in three hours.
Two desperate men.
Johnny:Snake Eye, I want to play Black Scout.
Sam: Play it, of course, Mr Bill will play with you. What kind of a game is it?
Johnny: I’m Black Scout. I have to ride to the fort to warn the settlers that the Indians are coming. I’m tired of playing Indians. I want to be a scout.
Bill: What must I do?
Johnny: You’re my horse. Get down on your hands and knees. How can I ride to the fort without a horse?
Sam:You’d better keep him interested.
Bill got down on his all fours, and there was a scared look in his eyes — like a rabbit caught in a trap.
Bill: How far is it to the fort, kid?
Johnny: Ninety miles. And you must hurry to get there on time!
Bill: Sam. You’ll think I’m a coward, but I’ve sent the kid home.
Sam: What’s the trouble, Bill?
Bill: That was too much for me. He rode on my back for ninety miles. He didn’t give me a chance to have a rest. I had to eat sand for lunch. A human cannot stand so much! But now he’s gone — gone home. I showed him the road to Summit and kicked him. I’m sorry we’ve lost the ransom, Sam, but that kid was terrible. I was going crazy!
Now there was a look of peace on his rose- pink face.
Sam: Bill, there isn’t any heart disease in your family, is there?
Bill: No. Why?
Sam: Then turn around… and have a look behind you.
. He suddenly sat down on the grass and he couldn’t speak.
Sam:This evening at 8.30 p.m. we’ll have an answer from Mr Dorset. And at midnight we’ll have the money! Then we’ll leave this place immediately.
. I opened the letter and read it to Bill.
Sam:To two desperate men
Gentlemen,
I received your letter today by post. I think the ransom you want for the return of my son is too big. I have another offer. YOU bring Johnny home and pay me $250 in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands. You had better come at night, because the neighbours believe he is lost. I don’t know what they will do to anybody they see bringing him back.
Very respectfully,
Ebenezer Dorset
Bill: Oh, no! I can’t believe it… We’ve got $250. One more night with this kid and I’ll go crazy. Mr Dorset is a real gentleman. He’s made a wonderful offer. You aren’t going to let the chance go, are you?”
Sam: To tell you the truth, Bill, this little devil is getting on my nerves too. We’ll take him home, pay the ransom and leave this place.
It was midnight when we arrived at Ebenezer’s house. Bill gave him the $250. When the kid saw that we were going to leave him at home he started screaming loudly and took Bill’s leg. His father pulled him away with great difficulty.
Bill: How long can you hold him?
Dorset: I’m not as strong as I used to be, but I think I can promise you ten minutes.
Bill: Enough, in ten minutes I’ll cross most of the United States, and be near the Canadian border.
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