In O'Henry's classic short story "The Ransom of Red Chief," Sam and Bill kidnap the son of a wealthy mortgage fancier in the town of Summit and hope to make a large sum of money for the boy's ransom. Shortly after kidnapping Johnny Dorset, Sam and Bill realize that they are in way over their head when Johnny turns out to be a nightmare. Once the kidnappers drag Johnny into the cave, the boy demands to play Indian and christens himself Red Chief. When Sam returns to the cave, Johnny is in full character and immediately names him Snake-Eye, the Spy. Red Chief informs Snake-Eye that he will be broiled at the stake at the rising of the sun.

Johnny also gives Bill the name Old Hank, the Trapper, who is one of Red Chief's captives. Bill proceeds to explain to Sam that he will be scalped at daybreak by Red Chief. At this point in the story, the men view Johnny as a minor annoyance and do not believe that he will attempt to harm them. Johnny then takes a quick break from playing Indian during dinner and talks incessantly as the men eat. Every few minutes, Johnny returns to his role as Red Chief and looks for scouts of the hated pale-face from the mouth of the cave. At daybreak, Sam wakes up to Bill's screams and finds Johnny sitting on his chest with a knife in his hand, preparing to scalp him. As Red Chief, Johnny is merciless and Sam is forced to intervene to save his friend. For the remainder of the story, Johnny continues to torture his kidnappers until they pay his father to take him back.