First came an old medicine man, whose Indian name I cannot recall; but the children of the garrison called him "Old Sneak"-- a most appropriate appellation, for he always looked as if he had just committed murder, and was afraid of being found out.

On this occasion he looked particularly in character.

What a representative of the learned faculty! After him, in Indian file, came his wife and children, a most cadaverous looking set.

To use a western phrase, they all looked as if they were "just dug up." Their appearance was accounted for in the following ludicrous manner--the story is doubtless substantially true.
There was a quantity of refuse medicine that had been collecting in the hospital at the fort, and Old Sneak happened to be present at a general clearing out.

The medicine was given to him; and away he went to his home, hugging it up close to him like a veritable old miser.