More shattered illusions

As an impressionable lad in the 1950s, I was fascinated by The Lone Ranger comic strip in which a cowboy (TLR) and his trusty Indian companion, Tonto, performed heroic deeds. The only phrase Tonto ever uttered in the course of his duties was ‘Kemo Sabay’, which I naturally assumed was Indian for ‘yes boss’. Now cynics tell me it means ‘Horse’s Ass’. There was also that scene in which TLR and Tonto are besieged by marauding Indians dressed to kill and whooping like mad. “Looks like we’re surrounded, Tonto”, says the hero. “Whaddya mean ‘we’, paleface”, replies Tonto.