The short story "Leader of the Redskins" was created by the American writer O. Henry at the beginning of the last century and was included in the collection "Colorotation" published in 1910.
The short story was first translated into Russian in 1915. The work of O. Henry was filmed several times. Filmmakers often gave their own name. In the USSR, the book was adapted twice. In the early 60s, the film "Business People" was filmed in the Soviet Union based on the short story by an American writer.
The plot of kidnappers who are forced to pay for the return of the stolen to their relatives has become widespread and has been repeatedly used in fiction and cinema.
The story is about the face of Sam, one of the kidnappers. Sam and Billy are planning a big adventure. They plan to engage in speculation in land plots. Most of the start-up capital for starting a “business” has already been earned, but this is not enough. How much more time you need to devote to earning the missing part of the money is unknown. To get the money as quickly as possible, the accomplices developed a plan to kidnap Johnny, the son of Colonel Ebenezer Dorsett, the richest resident in a small town in Alabama. The criminals are sure that the father, without hesitation, will give 2 thousand dollars for the return of the child home.
Waiting for the right moment, Sam and Billy attack the boy. The colonel's son desperately resists, but he cannot overpower two adult men. The criminals kidnap Johnny and take him to a cave in the mountains. The joy of the accomplices was short-lived. As it turned out, the colonel's son was sure from the very beginning that everything that was happening was nothing more than an exciting game. The boy does not dream of returning home. The kidnapping becomes an exciting adventure for him. Johnny immediately joins the "game" and comes up with new names for all the participants. He calls himself the leader of the Redskins. Sam becomes Snake Eyes and Billy becomes Hank the hunter.
Waking up one morning from heart-rending screams, Sam finds that the kidnapped man is sitting on top of his accomplice and is trying to scalp him with a knife. Having struggled to free himself from the "chief", Billy makes assumptions that the boy's family probably won't want to take him home. No one will pay money for the return of the little "monster". Sam goes on a reconnaissance mission to the Colonel's house and finds no sign of concern in the house about Johnny's absence.
aggravation of the situation
Dorsett Jr.'s antics become more and more unbearable. The boy, having thoroughly entered the role of the leader of the Redskins, every day comes up with new amusements. It is especially difficult for Billy, since it is on him that the whole burden of worries about the prisoner lies.
In the end, "hunter Hank" persuades to reduce the amount of the ransom. Sam is forced to agree and write a letter to the colonel. While Snake Eyes was busy posting the letter, Billy let Johnny go home. "Hank" feels guilty before the accomplice, but assures that if he remained alone with the boy for at least a few more hours, he would certainly go crazy. Billy did not enjoy his deliverance for long. Before he could finish his story, Johnny suddenly appeared behind him.
Meanwhile, the boy's father, having received the letter, decided that the kidnappers were asking too much. The colonel makes a counteroffer to the criminals: he is ready to rid the accomplices of his son for only $250. The only condition is that the child must be brought home at night. The Dorsetts' neighbors had already rejoiced at Johnny's disappearance. If they see Sam and Billy bringing him back, the adventurers are unlikely to make it out alive. Snake Eyes is furious at this suggestion. However, Billy persuades him to agree.
To safely bring the "leader" home, the criminals had to deceive. Exactly at midnight the boy was delivered to his father. When Johnny realized he had been tricked, he clung to Hank's leg. The colonel had to tear his son off the attacker's leg "like a sticky plaster." Dorsett informs the kidnappers that his strength is no longer the same, which means that he will not be able to restrain Johnny for too long. Sam and Billy only have 10 minutes to escape. But after this time, the "leader" can break out and catch up with his new friends.
Sam and Billy
"Resourceful guys" do not intend to live honestly, because, in their opinion, honest big money does not exist. They worked long and hard to accumulate enough money to engage in speculation. However, when it turned out that there was not enough money to open a "business", Sam and Billy decided to fulfill their dream with the help of another scam.
However, the cunning and dexterity of the "hardened" criminals was defeated by stupidity and spontaneity. Perhaps the accomplices were preparing for clashes with the police, harassment, etc. Instead, something else was waiting for them, for which they were not ready. It can be said that Sam and Billy faced their own kind and, as a result, they were the losers.
It is difficult to judge the character of Johnny Dorsett, since he is still a child. However, not every boy of his age in the city can be "proud" of such "achievements". Johnny managed to get bored not only with his own family, but also with those around him. Neighbors, according to the colonel, will deal with those who return the missing boy home.
Finding himself in unusual conditions, the "leader of the Redskins" is not lost and does not give in to panic. Johnny isn't used to being afraid of anyone. On the contrary, it is he himself who inspires fear in everyone. It never occurs to the boy that he is in great danger. He feels superior to adults strong men. Ultimately, Johnny's behavior helps to avoid paying the ransom.
Analysis of the work
Crime, as such, was not considered a great atrocity among the inhabitants of the Wild West, who came to an unfamiliar continent in search of a better life. The American nation was formed on the basis of a common mentality and common ideas: work as hard as possible and you will be rich. A person who has achieved success is honored and respected by others. How the money was made is of no interest to anyone. The end justifies the means, and a successful citizen becomes a role model.
We invite you to read the summary of the only novel by the American writer O. Henry "Kings and Cabbage", the events of which take place in the exotic evergreen forests of Latin America.
The short story by O. Henry "The Last Leaf", included in the collection "Burning Lamp" is one of the author's masterpieces, and helps to take a fresh look at life and its value.
Sam and Billy decided on a rather serious crime. Despite the fact that the accomplices did not plan to kill or torture their victim, they could pay dearly for what they did. The comical situation presented in the novel is that it is not the outright criminals who are really cunning and prudent, but a respectable resident of the city. The Colonel doesn't miss a chance to earn an extra $250. Having quickly mastered the rules of the game, Dorsett turns the situation in his favor and does not lose, but receives money. Johnny, not yet possessing life experience and worldly wisdom, acts instinctively. But even now, one can say about this child that he will "go far."
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Literary critics consider "The Leader of the Redskins" a short story (story) of a humorous nature.
The plot of the story O. Henry
The events begin with a criminal undertaking by two criminals - the main characters of the "Leader of the Redskins": in a fit of material need, the scammers decide to kidnap the son of a local rich man. The story takes place in America, in Alabama.
The kidnapped boy is kept in a cave, while a letter is sent to his father with the ransom price of his son. But the young man does not take what happened seriously, believing that what is happening to him is just a game. The boy, or Chief of the Redskins, as he calls himself, enjoys the adventure and does not want to return to his native nest.
The youngster liked the “game” so much that he forces the swindlers to participate in it: as a result, the boy manages to impose his own rules of the game on the kidnappers. The humor of the story can be traced in the fact that the boy is so annoying to the criminals that they forcibly drive him to his father.
But what was the surprise of the scammers when the boy returned. Hoping to “sell” the young man as soon as possible, the heroes reduce the ransom price: from two thousand to one and a half thousand. The funny thing is that the father does not expect a son at all and does not even want to pay a ransom for the boy: the Leader managed to annoy the father, as well as the neighbors, who were delighted with the disappearance of the young man. The story ends with the fact that the father offers the scammers to pay him $ 250 - so that he takes his son home and saves the kidnappers from the naughty.
The main characters of the story "Leader of the Redskins"
adventurers
Sam
The story is told in the name of this character. Sam says that one day he and his fellow scammers - Bill - decide to get money. The gangsters need funds because they plan to pull off frauds related to land plots. Some "seed capital" has already been collected, but this is still not enough for land speculation. Fraudsters do not want to spend time earning the missing amount. Adventurers want to get money quickly and easily. Sam believes it's impossible to make "big money" honestly. We are not talking about honest work, and therefore friends kidnap the son of an influential rich man, Ebenezer Dorset.
The first ransom set for the boy is $2,000. Sam is the head of the scam and the main entertainer in a small criminal duo. Entrusting the prisoner to a colleague in the crime, Sam makes an exit to the city to find out the attitude of the locals to the incident. The hero writes a letter for Mr. Dorset, delivers the message to the city and leaves it in the mailbox. As a result, the fraud scam turns against the criminals - the main characters of the "Leader of the Redskins", as they are ready to give their own money so that Mr. Dorset takes the terrible rogue back.
Bill
A comical character who constantly gets hurt by the Chief of the Redskins: the boy draws the adventurer into the game, throwing cones and doing various dirty tricks while Sam goes about his business. Bill has no doubt that the father will immediately pay the named amount for the return of his son.
However, events unfold differently than the kidnappers expected. The boy turned out to be a tomboy and a robber. The leader of the Redskins forced Bill to be his "horse", the boy hunted the swindler, playing "Indians", and also almost tore off Bill's scalp. Sam, awakened by the cries of his accomplice, saved his comrade from this fate. Then Bill suggested that the family of the little robber did not want Johnny to return home. Going to reconnoiter the situation, Sam really does not notice that any of Johnny's relatives showed concern about the loss of the boy.
Dear readers! We invite you to familiarize yourself with O. Henry
Exhausted, Bill persuaded a partner in the scam to lower the ransom, but Dorset still didn't pay. In the end, the kidnappers drive the boy away so that the young tomboy goes home. But the Chief of the Redskins does not want to return home. As a result, the scammers contact the young man's father, asking him to take his son. Mr. Dorset refuses and offers the unfortunate villains to pay him extra for getting rid of the little robber.
Chief of the Redskins (Johnny)
Johnny is the son of the local colonel, Mr. Ebenezer Dorset. When two adult men suddenly attacked the boy, he was unable to provide the strong criminals with the necessary resistance.
Young Dorset, a boy who calls himself the Leader of the Redskins, is not at all upset that he was far from home: the swindlers kept the prisoner deep in the cave, in the mountains. The young man perceives the ongoing events as a fun game, forcing the kidnappers to entertain himself. The boy gives Sam the nickname "Snake Eyes", and Bill - "Hunter Hank".
The boy is full of energy, he is curious and inquisitive. Once outside the house - for the first time in his life - the youth is pleased with the freedom that suddenly fell on his head. Young Dorset is convinced that games are a serious thing, and therefore you need to play as believable as possible. Therefore, the main target of the amusements of the active Leader of the Redskins - Bill - is not easy. By cunning, the adventurers were lucky to get rid of the captive, because he liked to live in the "freedom", and the boy did not at all long to return home.
The comicality of the situation is manifested in the fact that the villains did not expect a collision with a child - stupid and spontaneous. This unsettled Sam and Bill, because the criminals were preparing for something familiar, like police and shooting.
Mr Dorset
Ebenezer Dorset is a supporting character. As part of the local Alabama township, Dorset is considered a respectable and wealthy citizen. O. Henry informs readers that this character of the novel is a colonel. The hero is depicted endowed with such qualities as honesty and justice.
Knowing the intolerable nature of his son, Mr. Dorset has no doubt that the boy will not suffer. Therefore, the father decides to teach the kidnappers a lesson, who, having completely exhausted themselves, even agree to pay the father to take his son back.
Johnny does not want to return to the cage at home, enjoying the free life of the forest. The father, motivating his advice to bring the boy at night, says that the neighbors will be against the return of Johnny, because everyone is already happy about getting rid of the little "monster". Therefore, the colonel advises, the case should be carried out carefully so that the kidnappers leave alive from embittered neighbors. Also, Mr. Dorset kindly offered the adventurers his help in holding Johnny until Sam and Bill escaped. However, the villains have only 10 minutes to escape, since the colonel is already old to restrain the active young man for too long.
The name "Leader of the Redskins" has long become a household name, and O. Henry's idea inspired many writers and directors to create masterpieces based on the novel.
Two adventurers - the narrator Sam and Bill Driscoll - have already earned something, and now they need a little more to start speculating in land. They decide to kidnap the son of one of the wealthiest residents of a small town in Alabama, Colonel Ebenezer Dorsett. The heroes have no doubt that dad will calmly pay two thousand dollars for his beloved child. Having seized the moment, the friends attack the boy and, although he "fought like a brown bear of medium weight", they take him away on a wagon to the mountains, where they hide in a cave. However, the boy is delighted with his new position and does not want to go home at all. He declares himself the leader of the Redskins, Bill - the old hunter Hank, a prisoner of the formidable Indian, and Sam receives the nickname Snake Eyes. The child promises to scalp Bill, and, as it turns out, his words do not differ from his deeds. At dawn, Sam is awakened by wild screams. He sees that a boy is sitting on Bill and is trying to scalp him with the knife they used to cut the brisket. Bill has his first doubts that anyone in their right mind would be willing to pay money for the return of such a treasure. However, having gone on reconnaissance, Sam really does not notice signs of anxiety in the Dorsett house.
Meanwhile, the situation in the camp is heating up, and the battered crooks are helpless in front of the antics of their captive, who perfectly entered the role of the leader of the Redskins. At the insistence of Bill, on whose shoulders the main burden of protecting the captive falls, the ransom is reduced to one and a half thousand. After that, Sam goes with a letter to the nearest mailbox, and Bill remains to guard the child.
Upon his return, Sam learns that Bill could not stand the test and sent the boy home. “I rode all ninety miles to the outpost, not an inch less. And then, when the settlers were rescued, they gave me oats. Sand is an unimportant substitute for oats. And then I had to explain for an hour why there is emptiness in the holes, why the road goes both ways and why the grass is green. Bill admits his guilt to his partner, but assures that if the child had remained, he, Bill, would have to be sent to an insane asylum. But Bill's happiness is short-lived. Sam asks him to turn around, and behind his back his friend discovers the leader of the redskins. However, the case is drawing to a close. Colonel Dorsett thinks that the kidnappers asked too much. For his part, he makes a counteroffer. For two hundred and fifty dollars he is ready to take his son back. He only asks to bring the child under the cover of darkness, since the neighbors hope that he is missing, and the father does not vouch for what they can do with those who bring him back. Sam is outraged, but Bill begs him to accept Colonel Dorsett's generous offer ("he's not only a gentleman, he's also a spendthrift").
Exactly at midnight, Sam and Bill betray the boy they brought home by deceit to their father. Realizing that he was cheated, he clings to Bill's leg with a death grip, and his father rips him off, "like a sticky plaster." When asked how long the colonel can hold the child, Dorsett says that his strength is no longer the same, but in ten minutes he vouches. "In ten minutes," says Bill, "I'll cross the Central, Southern, and Midwestern states and make it to the Canadian border."
retold
Two adventurers - the narrator Sam and Bill Driscoll - have already earned something, and now they need a little more to start speculating in land. They decide to kidnap the son of one of the wealthiest residents of a small town in Alabama, Colonel Ebenezer Dorsett. The heroes have no doubt that dad will calmly pay two thousand dollars for his beloved child. Having seized the moment, the friends attack the boy and, although he "fought like a brown bear of medium weight", they take him away on a wagon to the mountains, where they hide in a cave. However, the boy is delighted with his new position and does not want to go home at all. He declares himself the leader of the Redskins, Bill - the old hunter Hank, a prisoner of the formidable Indian, and Sam receives the nickname Snake Eyes. The child promises to scalp Bill, and, as it turns out, his words do not differ from his deeds. At dawn, Sam is awakened by wild screams. He sees that a boy is sitting on Bill and is trying to scalp him with the knife they used to cut the brisket. Bill has his first doubts that anyone in their right mind would be willing to pay money for the return of such a treasure. However, having gone on reconnaissance, Sam really does not notice signs of anxiety in the Dorsett house.
Meanwhile, the situation in the camp is heating up, and the battered crooks are helpless in front of the antics of their captive, who perfectly entered the role of the leader of the Redskins. At the insistence of Bill, on whose shoulders the main burden of protecting the captive falls, the ransom is reduced to one and a half thousand. After that, Sam goes with a letter to the nearest mailbox, and Bill remains to guard the child.
Upon his return, Sam learns that Bill could not stand the test and sent the boy home. “I rode all ninety miles to the outpost, not an inch less. And then, when the settlers were rescued, they gave me oats. Sand is an unimportant substitute for oats. And then I had to explain for an hour why there is emptiness in the holes, why the road goes both ways and why the grass is green. Bill admits his guilt to his partner, but assures that if the child had remained, he, Bill, would have to be sent to an insane asylum. But Bill's happiness is short-lived. Sam asks him to turn around, and behind his back his friend discovers the leader of the redskins. However, the case is drawing to a close. Colonel Dorsett thinks that the kidnappers asked too much. For his part, he makes a counteroffer. For two hundred and fifty dollars he is ready to take his son back. He only asks to bring the child under the cover of darkness, since the neighbors hope that he is missing, and the father does not vouch for what they can do with those who bring him back. Sam is outraged, but Bill begs him to accept Colonel Dorsett's generous offer ("he's not only a gentleman, he's also a spendthrift").
Exactly at midnight, Sam and Bill betray the boy they brought home by deceit to their father. Realizing that he was cheated, he clings to Bill's leg with a death grip, and his father rips him off, "like a sticky plaster." When asked how long the colonel can hold the child, Dorsett says that his strength is no longer the same, but in ten minutes he vouches. "In ten minutes," says Bill, "I'll cross the Central, Southern, and Midwestern states and make it to the Canadian border."
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Title of the work: The leader of the Redskins
Year of writing: 1907
Genre of work: story
Main characters: Sam and Bill- swindlers, The leader of the Redskins- kidnapped boy Mr Dorsett- father.
Plot
The action takes place in a small town in Alabama. Sam and Bill want to succeed in land speculation. There are not enough funds to achieve this goal. Namely, you need to get 2 thousand dollars. They decide to kidnap the boy, Colonel Dorsett's son. An appropriate ransom amount has been set. The bandits managed to bring the child into the cave. But he, on the contrary, was delighted with the “journey” and decided to involve the crooks in the game of Indians. The boy's antics were unbearable. Bill he called his prisoner, and himself the Leader of the Redskins. The terrible antics of the prisoner are forced to send a letter to his father about reducing the amount to 1500. But he has his own conditions - the kidnappers pay 250 dollars, and he will take the boy. The swindlers nevertheless agreed to this proposal and, having given the “Leader”, they hurried to hide so that he would not find them.
Conclusion (my opinion)
The writer clearly does not support the view that honesty and decency can be sacrificed to make money. The situation did not develop at all as the invaders had originally planned. It reminds you that life loves surprises. Children left to themselves are completely out of control. Education has always been essential.
