Why did these two people, who obviously knew one another, show so little emotion to each other? This seemed especially odd because Stands Strong had observed that the white men within the fort—and even his almost-mother—tended to greet one another with great enthusiasm, as did the Blackfeet upon greeting one another.
Because Stands Strong was watching their mouths and lips closely, he could discern a few of their words. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he saw the white man's lips utter the word "gold."
Gold!That could mean trouble.
What was it his almost-mother had told him about the sparkling golden rock? "There is always trouble in the white man's world when gold is involved."
Indeed, the Pikuni people had long looked upon the white man's lust for gold as unreasonable. And, as clearly as the white man didn't understand the tensions and war between the Plains tribes, the Indian did not comprehend how this golden rock could cause the white man to forget all else except obtaining it.
Even family.
As his almost-father had once told him, "There is no common sense to be found from one white man to another when there is gold to be fought for and won."
So, his almost-father was right: there was trouble coming into Pikuni country…and it was in the form of the golden rock.
Because Stands Strong had not come alone into this part of the prairie, he reached out into the environment to locate the position of his friend and fellow scout, First Rider. Using the time-honored form of communication between scouts—the mind-to-mind speak—he said silently, "There are white men upon the prairie."
"I know," answered First Rider, who was Stands Strong's almost-cousin. Although First Rider was the adopted son of Pikuni Chief Chases-the-enemy, First Rider's real father had beenCrow, as was his mother. And so, because neither Stands Strong nor First Rider were blood relatives of the Pikuni, their friendship with one another was, perhaps, natural. Indeed, they had spent their early years playing boys' games together, and growing up into their adult years, they had chosen similar paths to follow in life.
"Where are you?" asked First Rider in the same mind-speak.
"I am in a trench I have dug on the hill leading to the long-ago usedpisskan,"answered Stands Strong, using the same manner of communication. "I am looking at a single white man's prairie wagon, and I have seen the word 'gold' upon the lips of the man who appears to be the owner of the wagon."
"You have done well to have discovered this, Almost-cousin. I will join you there shortly."
The communication ended.
His almost-cousin must have been close by because First Rider came belly crawling into the trench after very little time had elapsed. Quickly, utilizing the language of sign, Stands Strong told First Rider of his encounter with Czanna; he spoke of his shock when, having followed her, he had seen only the one wagon. Lastly, he went on to describe the older man who had uttered the word "gold" and who had then ridden away, leaving his family alone upon the prairie.
First Rider signed, "What kind of man is this who deserts his women, the boy and a babe alone on the vast prairie? He is either touched in the head or evil. Do you know which he is?"
"I do not. But, because the woman, Czanna, mentioned several wagons were a part of her group, this man might have left to find and bring the others to justice," replied Stands Strong, again utilizing the sign language. "The men from the other wagons have, after all, left this one of their own behind, when all know one wagon alone could invite all manner of evil upon it."
"Your ideas are reasonable," said First Rider in sign. "But, I still think the man has none of his wits about him."
"Maybe," signed Stands Strong. "But, I also watched as the man gave the woman a purse and another object. Perhaps he believes these small objects will protect her and the rest of his family from a misplaced arrow. Also, I saw his lips say he would meet up with her at Fort Benton."
First Rider remained silent.
"As you know," continued Stands Strong through the language of sign, "our chiefs have bid you and me to join our cousins Medicine Fox, Howling Wolf and Snow, who are heading south to obtain the wild ponies. But, although you and I were to be part of their party, the chiefs first asked us to discover what the danger is that my almost-father dreamed about. And, upon discovering what might be the danger, we agreed to report anything we find back to the chiefs.
"And now," continued Stands Strong in sign, "after witnessing the word 'gold' spoken on the tongue of the white man, I believe we may have found the threat to our people. And, if this be the case, we must learn more and then report what we find back to the chiefs."
"Yes," First Rider signed.
"Yet, there are now two parties we must follow. One is the white man who has left his family. We are tasked to discover what danger this man has experienced, and if the threat be gold, we must return to the chiefs with haste. There is also the family he has deserted, who, being a small party, will likely come to harm if left undefended. Because I have already met and spoken with one of the women traveling in the prairie wagon, I believe she might influence the others to allow me to join them. In this way, I will do what I can to ensure they arrive at Fort Benton unharmed."
First Rider nodded. "I will, then, follow the trail of the man. I will watch these gold seekers and determine who these people are and what they plan to do. I will then bring the news to you, and together we shall leave our cousins who are traveling south insearch of the wild ponies while we report our discoveries back to our chiefs."
Stands Strong nodded and signed, "Good. Let us now do as we have agreed before the white men, who are seeking gold, get too far away."
"Yes," agreed First Rider in sign, and, with each man placing his hand upon the other's shoulder, they parted. Stands Strong watched his cousin for a moment, but then returned his attention to the family and their single conveyance. A lone wagon upon the trail was a dangerous position for the white man to have put upon his family, since any war party in the vicinity would look upon the wagon as fair game and an easy target.
However, as serious as it was, Stands Strong couldn't help smiling a little as he watched the two women and the young boy try to harness two of their horses onto the white man's transport.
He debated whether he should approach the family now and give them the aid they needed. However, glancing toward the north, he saw several black clouds gathering there, and, realizing a storm would soon be upon them, he surmised Czanna's family would not be in a position to hunt.Hánnia,they would require food.
The storm, while it would release its fury upon these people, was not necessarily harmful. And, it would act as a shield against any wandering war party, giving Stands Strong the chance to hunt. Since a food offering had a way of easing another's fear, it might, perhaps, act as a peace offering to Czanna and her family.
Climbing out of the dugout, Stands Strong took the time needed to fill it in again with the earth nearby, adding some landscaping around the place in case another scout were in the vicinity. Then, on belly and forearms, he scooted up and over the hill and disappeared from view.
