Comanche Page #2

all for their scalps.

So, that's the way it is:

Comanches kill Mexicans

to get even with

the Spanish,

And, the Mexicans kill Comanches

in revenge for that.

- It's become a way of life.

- I can see how it began.

But the Comanches must

throw away their war paint,

or we'll have to make them.

If they knew they'd paying a

bounty for the scalps,

It would make big medicine

with them.

That's right.

We could base peace

talks on that.

I don't know.

I still think troops are the answer.

People can't go on killing

each other forever.

You see, Commissioner, the

Comanches are known

as "lords of the south plains".

They're a very proud

warrior race.

Maybe they'd sit down

and talk peace,

but they'd get right up

and go again,

if they weren't given

honorable terms.

As the personal emmissary of

President US Grant,

I have explicit powers

to make the peace with the

Comanches and get it ratified.

But, naturally no agreement is good

unless it's fair to both sides.

If we could only get through

to Quanah Parker!

Parker? Quanah Parker?

Chief of the Antlopes, the

Comanches deadliest tribe.

If he'd stop fighting,

all the rest will.

But ... Parker, that's an

American name.

It's his mother's family name.

How could any American girl ...

She was kidnapped by

Quanah's father.

- Sounds like one of those frontier legends.

- No, sir, it's not a legend.

Have you tried to reach

Quanah, General?

I sent runners twice.

They didn't come back.

What about this Quanah?

Can we trust him to keep his word?

He's never been known to violate it.

He'll keep his word, if

you'll keep yours.

I believe my integrity, Read,

equals that of Quanah.

Then, it's on a pretty high plain

mister commissioner.

You really mean that, I'll try

to find Quanah for you.

Or let him find me.

I'll travel by day, this time.

You know, don't you, that since

Quanah bolted that peace council

at Medicine Lodge,

No American has faced

him and lived.

Until today.

Two of Downey's hunters were

captured

and Quanah freed them.

I never met him, but

I known Indians.

Freeing those two men is

a sign of peace.

Well, it's your hair.

If you're not worried

about losing it ...

I'll tell the quartermaster to

issue your supplies.

By the way, who's going with you?

Next time, we play

with four aces.

Him!

Puffer? That old buzzard?

He knows the country

as well as I do.

What are you doing here?

Hiding from the Injuns?

At it again, huh?

Get down to the quartermaster's tent.

Get some jerk beef, biscuit,

bacon and beans,

plenty of cartridges.

Where are we going, Jim?

Back to our gold mine?

Get enough for two weeks supply.

Where are we going, Jim?

Dang it, Jim, where are we going?

What about that gold mine?

We're going to pay a social call

on the Comanches.

Please don't mention them

critters to me.

I'm a sick man. Go ask that General

for a leave of absence.

Except, you couldn't find your

way without me.

You'd just get yourself lost.

That's all.

- Puffer?

- Yes?

Just a minute.

I've got something for you.

-Hmmm?

- I got it in Santa Fe.

- Well, where is it?

- Open it and see.

This is the dangest scalp

as I ever did see.

It's not a scalp, you skinhead,

it's a wig.

What's it for?

To keep that bald head

of yours warm.

I'm sick and tired of hearing you

complain all the time.

- You look almost human.

- Damn!

Here, take a look for yourself.

I bet I'm the only dude

on the Staked Plains

with an extra scalp.

It might come in handy, sometime.

It sure makes a heap of difference, Jim.

It's been many years, since I enjoyed

being out in the cold morning air!

No matter what anybody says,

you wear it!

I'm not waving the flag,

you don't need it.

Just remember this. All

out Indian war

or peace hinge on the success

of your efforts.

Good luck and get back

as soon as they can.

Thank you Commissioner.

Two weeks, maybe less.

So long, Jim.

Normally, I would be warning you to

stay away from the Comanches.

Well, this is a little different, Sir.

- Ready, Puffer?

- I'm always ready.

Let's go.

Good luck, Read. You're sure

going to need it.

- Why do you say that?

- Oh, I got my reasons.

Just who are you?

My name Downey, commissioner.

Art Downey.

I used to be chief scout,

until I retired.

Retired? What do you do now?

Ah, a little prospecting,

buffalo hunting ...

Just what do you know about

the Comanches?

Well, Sir, I've lived out here

for 20 years.

I taught Jim Read

all he knows.

You said that he would fail on

this mission. Why?

Well, it's nothing personal, sir.

Jim's a good man. One of the best.

It's the thinking that's wrong,

Commissioner.

You don't send out one man to

talk to an Indian tribe.

You just don't do it..

What do you do?

Well, Sir, the Comanches

are just plain savages.

They live by force and

obey by force.

If we try to reason with them,

They're going to think you're weak.

You got to show they you're

stronger than they are,

They respect force.

Just like they respect a

Cavalry regiment.

I said virtually the same thing to

General Miles and Read.

They felt otherwise.

You're the only person I've met

out herewho thinks as I do.

Well, sir, like I said, I've

lived out here for 20 years.

I scouted for six of them.

You got to learn something about

the Indians in that time.

The worst part is sending one cousin

to do business with another.

- Downey?

- Sir?

You're talking in circles.

To whom are you referring now?

Jim Read and Quanah Parker.

I hope I didn't hear you right.

Did you say Read was

cousin to a savage?

First cousin.

Their mothers were sisters.

- Why wasn't I informed?

- You mean you weren't?

No, I was not.

That makes it worse

than ever.

Two cousins ...

dealing for and against

the government.

I better speak General Miles

about having Read recalled.

Dang them Comanches.

Ain't never around when we want 'em.

# On the prairie he has his day

# He's on a journey to meet with fate

# He keeps on riding and takes no rest

# For he knows best that time won't wait

# A man is as good as his word

# as good as his word as he

# And if he is as good as his word

# He's good enough for me

# Quanah Parker the Comanche Chief

# Is on the warpath and time is brief

#Read knows that Quanah is brave and just

# They stake their trust on a firm belief

# A man is as good as his word

# as good as his word is he

# And if he is as good as his word

# He's good enough for me

You know, Jim, I just can't help enjoying

and looking at this here store hair

I can feel myself getting better in less time than

it takes a rooster to make a chicken green

A Spanish gal. She been shook clean down

to her innards

Do you understand English?

Comprende English?

Where did you come from?

Where do you live? Where's your home?

- What'll we do with her, Jim?

Poor thing's plum loco.

Come on. - No! I will escape again!

It is better to die.

Oh! The blood of my parents

is in your hands.

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