Hondo Page #3

lf that's your cur, get him out of the way.

Walk around him.

Ill be hanged if l go out of my way

for any cur dog.

A man ought to do

what he thinks is best.

Quit blocking the door.

Where did you get this?

- Half a day's ride south of Twin Buttes.

- How?

Took it off a couple of Indians, Apaches.

Running Dog Lodge of the Mescaleros.

Mescaleros are up, too.

That makes all the Apache lodges.

Say, while l was south, did any settlers

get in from the north basin?

A few, the last couple of weeks.

Handsome woman, fair,

with a boy about six?

No, mostly middle-aged

or elderly people.

Get some sleep, Lane, use my tent.

Thank you.

While you're sleeping,

Ill move your possibles over to my tent.

Pete Britton was scouting with C troop.

Wintered with old Pete once

up on the Divide. Ornery cuss.

Them Indians you took

that pennant offen.

- Dead Indians?

- Finally.

- Hi, Pete.

- Hi, Hondo.

Broke my heart

when l heard you made it.

Your pap know you started out

against this so-called whiskey?

l ain't seen him for a month.

l know you haven't. Come here,

l got a message for you.

Leave him be, Hondo,

l can't make no money scouting.

Aw, these other fellows'll excuse you.

Come on over at the bar.

l won't. I'm out almost $100.

- That figures, with Buffalo in the game.

- Wait a minute.

These shirts are hard to come by.

- What'd you hit me for?

- 'Cause l know you.

Leather it.

No, don't leather it.

No wonder them Apaches

call him Emberato.

- What does it mean?

- Bad temper.

l should've let him shoot you.

That's the second time Ive tangled with

that mouthy no-good...

- What's his name?

- Calls himself Lowe, Ed Lowe.

Johnny.

Johnny!

Mommy.

Hi, Mommy.

Vittorio says Ill make a good Apache.

l thought... l didn't know he was

with you, l didn't hear anything.

- Apache no make noise.

- Look what he gave me.

- lt is lodge token. His.

- lts very pretty, thank you.

He will ride well.

And he no afraid.

- l speak with your mother, go to house.

- Yes, Vittorio.

Lodge should have man.

- My husband will be home any day now.

- l no think so.

l think he dead.

Small Warrior should have father.

See, Sergeant, just like l told you.

That's my horse, all right.

Got my brand on it. "E.L." Ed Lowe.

What he says true?

- Yeah, that's his horse.

- Where'd you get him?

From his ranch,

that's where Im taking him back.

That's where he can pick him up.

But that's Indian territory, strict orders

against any Whites going in there.

You know something, Joe, l got a bad

ear. L can't hear a thing you're saying.

Aren't you gonna prefer charges

against him?

He may be a mean, ornery,

son-of-anything-you-wanna-call-him,

but he ain't no horse thief.

And Im not gonna call him one,

to his face or his back.

You stay here.

l thought the Apache were always silent.

Not when they seek squaw.

You pick one.

What?

Its not good for Small Warrior

to be without father

to teach him how to be man.

This is the one l was calling Emiliano.

Very brave, has taken many scalps.

He has six horses, and two squaws,

but one old and will soon die.

He's good hunter.

Never hungry, his wickiup.

This is one who is called Kloori.

He has ten horses, one squaw.

Sachito, brave warrior, many horses.

Not much beat squaws, sings very loud.

- Boy, go stand by my horse.

- Yes, Vittorio.

Small Warrior never to see tears,

Apache does not weep.

Chief, you can't make me do this,

Im married.

You are fool, your man dead.

Soon come planting rain.

lf your man come home by then, good.

lf not, you take Apache brave.

Remember, time of planting rain.

He's getting kind of deep

into Indian territory.

And so are we.

What are you squawking for?

You're getting well paid.

He'll be making camp pretty soon.

Don't get a chance at him then,

we'll turn back.

Quiet, Sam, l hear them.

Come on, Sam.

That's his camp, all right.

Rifle's gone,

must be out looking for camp meat.

- You're all right, you're not hurt bad.

- This tintype saved me.

That did it.

Now, every Apache between us

and the ranch will be alerted.

They'll have us cut off.

No, there's nobody between us

and Fort Seddon.

Beat it, Sam!

- White man understand Apache.

- A little.

He know now how he die.

Your coup stick shows many scalps.

Yes, many. Soon, you.

Man's scalp would look

out of place there.

You took all yours from squaws,

papoose, and dogs.

Your lodge should be real proud of you.

You will take long time die.

Where are soldiers, White man?

- How many?

- l don't know, Vittorio.

You know my name?

l saw you once at the Treaty Council

at Fort Meade.

The treaty.

The treaty was like rustle of wind

to White man.

- Now you tell, where are soldiers?

- This, l do not know.

- Hat. Soldier hat.

- l was once a soldier.

Why you here Apache land?

This is for me to know.

Im told you speak insults

to this one of my chiefs.

The cougar screams insults

and is brave.

A coyote howls insults and is a coward.

We shall see.

Cougar or coyote.

You will die bravely in silence,

or you will wail

like woman bringing forth child

and cry out to us

where pony-soldiers are.

He claims the blood right,

you understand?

You mean, he says l shot his brother?

l understand.

So that life may ebb cleanly.

Forget your blood right

or join your brother.

You think you buy your life now?

l don't think.

You may live or die, we see.

Indians.

Is this your man?

Speak, is this your man?

- Yes, this is my husband.

- White man,

you lived with the Apache, that's good.

You know how Small Warrior

should be taught that,

he be honored son of wickiup

of one who's called Vittorio.

Watch like the hawk,

be patient as the beaver,

brave as puma, that he may learn well.

Know it, then,

or your dying will be long before

you welcome death.

- More coffee?

- No, thanks.

- What are you gonna do?

- Gonna fix up your shirt.

Not before l show you something.

- Did Ed give you this?

- l took it off his body.

He's dead.

Tried to tell you before.

Funny, Im not surprised.

Perhaps because l knew all along,

just wouldn't admit it to myself.

- Hi, Emberato, you didn't die, did you?

- Hello, Johnny.

Be careful.

l wanna show you something,

Emberato. My Indian emblem.

Vittorio gave it to me, didn't he, Mom?

- He's taken a great liking to Johnny.

- Probably saved your life and mine.

Indians place great value

on male children.

They also place a great value

on dying well.

Did Ed die well?

l keep it under my pillow.

He died well.

When Johnny's old enough,

when he has to be told,

it will make him proud.

Here it is, Emberato. Im a chief now.

Isn't it wonderful?

- lsnt it?

- Yes, Johnny.

- Where's your mother?

- Picking watercress.

- Any luck?

- Not a bite this morning.

See where the sun is?

- Up there.

- Yeah, on the back of your neck.

You're casting a shadow.

lf you can see it, the fish can see it.

Always fish with the sun in your face.

The other bank's the place.

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