Meek's Cutoff Page #3

and there's nothing ahead,

so I'm saying north.

We'll move closer

to the Columbia.

That way

we can rejoin

the communication.

[William]

I I see your thinking.

How many days

to the Columbia

from hereabouts?

[Meek]

Well, too many.

West is the goal.

The sooner we get moving

west, the better.

The quickest way west,

by my reckoning

south.

Mr. Gately,

do you have an opinion?

[Thomas]

I think north too.

[Meek]

Well, I'm advising against that.

Now, I've been all through

this country, more or less.

By God, you contracted me

to get you to the Valley.

I will.

[Solomon]

We understand that, Mr. Meek.

We understand.

But you work for us, Mr. Meek.

You'll be paid.

Just, uh,

we're not going around.

We're going north.

[Bridle Rattling]

[Meek]

Suit yourselves.

[Meek]

We'll do what we do.

[Solomon]

Two shots if we find water.

[Men Clicking Tongues]

[Gasps]

Hyah!

[Gasping, Panting]

[Boy]

Mrs. Tetherow,

look what we found!

[Glory]

What is it,

Emily?

Jimmy.

[Groans]

[Meek]

So he wore clothes?

Yes.

Yes, some.

Paint on his face?

No.

Horse?

Uh, yes.

Was he carryin' a weapon?

A knife or a bow?

Uh... no.

No, I don't think so.

[Stammering]

I'm not sure.

I was upset.

He-He had a a scar

on his shoulder though.

Well, if he wore clothes,

he's no Digger.

They're hardly

more than animals.

We're too far south

for that anyway.

Might be Paiute.

Could be Nez Perce.

He could be Cayuse.

They're from the north.

It's far west for Blackfoot,

but that's possible.

And what does that mean?

[Meek Chuckles]

Jimmy,

go help your mother.

[Meek]

Well, frankly, I'm amazed.

Mrs. Tetherow

saw this redskin

and lived to tell the tale.

I mean, you rarely see

hide nor hair of a hostile...

till he justjumps you

and cuts your throat.

They can disappear

in their own shadow.

They can hide under a wolf skin

so quiet, you step on 'em

before you know it.

And where one redskin is,

there's a dozen more

just lurkin' nearby.

And they're all armed by now.

[Laughing]

And sometimes...

I mean, sometimes they wait

till they're fired on,

but most of ten they don't.

When they come

on a woman,

they kill her.

I mean, they'd never dream

of sparin' a woman.

So I'm guessin'

it's Cayuse.

On a horse

this far north.

I mean, they roam

all over the basin here,

all the way down to Mexico.

They pick up slaves

from the Klamaths.

They sell' em at Celilo.

We'll find out presently,

I reckon.

[Solomon]

No fires tonight.

[Meek]

And double watch.

[Thomas] Dandy.

[William]

Mercy.

[Meek]

Hell's full of Indians,

my friends.

You were lucky tonight,

ma'am.

Don't want a blanket.

Don't make it worse.

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