White Feather Page #5

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Up here!

- You ride a fine new horse.

- Thanks to your brother and American Horse.

We played a game with them.

It was good sport.

- Did you win the game?

- Who could lose to Crows?

I almost did.

- Broken Hand.

- My father.

What's the matter?

Everyone else in the village is happy

and excited tonight. Why aren't you?

Tonight my father

will tell his decision.

If it is war, I will be sad.

If it is peace, we must move,

and I will not like that.

Well, if you- if you do move,

you'll still be with your father...

and your brother and your friends.

The lady who came to the fort gate with you,

she is your woman?

No. I have no woman.

She is very beautiful.

To marry her will cost many horses.

As many as 200, do you think?

My father asks to see you.

Come with me.

My father.

Chief Broken Hand.

My son has told me of you.

He has said you come as a friend.

Is this true?

That is true.

Then you are welcome here.

You will come to the council and sit with us.

It is my wish.

The white one is here as our friend.

My son, Little Dog...

will tell those who need to be told.

It is the time of deciding.

I have listened to all

that has been said.

I have thought long thoughts.

In the time of our fathers...

there were two great herd

of buffalo across this land.

Then... when we were

young warriors...

there became only one herd ofbuffalo.

And now our sons for many moons...

have hunted for the buffalo

which is no longer...

as it was in this land.

It is gone.

Our neighbors, the Sioux...

the Blackfeet

and the Arapaho know this.

I have called this council

to tell you that on this day...

they have agreed to take

the offer of the white man...

and leave this country.

So if we stay in this, our land...

we will have to fight

the white man alone...

and without meat in our bellies...

to give us the strength to fight.

Our young men are brave!

We will fight!

Our young men are brave...

but if we stay in these hills,

they will be killed.

They will all die.

This I know.

So, the decision is made.

We will sign this treaty

with the white.

We will leave this land for

the new land in the south.

We will take our horses...

and our lodges and our weapons.

But we will never again use these weapons

to kill our Indian enemies...

or the white man.

That is over.

The killing is ended.

Ha!

Tanner.

You will wait for me in my lodge.

I will speak with you there.

It is best that he goes.

Things must now be said

that cannot be said before him.

It is my wish that you tell

the leader of the white soldiers...

what you have heard here.

- I will.

- If he brings the paper saying the things I have said...

tell him I will put my mark on it.

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