Jeremiah Johnson Page #2

lt is a name l have always admired.

You like that? Caleb?

Do what you like.

l was much the same myself.

Damn!

Are you all right?

Sure, l got a fine horse under me!

Got one of them feathers in my nose.

Keep sneezing,

it'll come out all right.

Haven't seen anyone pass by recently,

have you?

Nobody's gone in front of me.

Can't say what's happened

behind me though.

The lnjuns put you here?

lt weren't Mormons.

A chief, name of Mad Wolf.

Nice fellow, don't talk a hell of a lot.

You wouldn't have

an extra hat on you, would you?

Shade's getting scarce in these parts.

What did you shave your head for?

Mad Wolf figures like

every other lnjun l know.

Says this scalp ain't fit

for no decent man's lodgepole.

Ain't the first time l protected

my head in such a way.

Name's Del Gue.

With an ''E.''

How long since they've been through?

Not more than a few hours ago.

l will be happy to see my horse.

l hate walking.

l knew you would help me

get my pelts back.

l wouldn't leave a man

without a horse or gun.

Ain't that Hatchet Jack's rifle?

How did you get it?

l found him, froze to a tree.

Damn!

That Hatchet Jack was a wild one.

He was living with a female panther.

Two years in a cave

up in the Musselshell.

She never did get used to him.

That be them.

-How many you figure?

-Three.

Just like before.

Are you smelling them Blackfeet?

No, l'm locating my horse.

Dirtiest animal this side of hell.

Come dark, you give me your pistol.

Load that bear rifle full of nails.

No, l got no truck with them Blackfeet.

l plan to be here a long time.

And l do not want them down on me.

Them critters hammered me

into the ground. Took my rifle, horse.

Stole my pelts. Not to mention

what they done to that boy's folks!

Then let it pass?

Nope.

But they'll be asleep soon.

Should be no trouble to slip in there

and then get your possibles.

Use this blanket, boy.

To keep you warm.

He don't say a lot, does he?

No.

No.

Stay here with the animals.

l am Del Gue!

l can whip my weight in wolverines...

...straight through a crab apple orchard

on a flash of lightning!

You've stolen my pelts!

And die, you must!

You skinheaded son of a b*tch,

you almost got me killed!

Where are you going?

Don't you want any of these?

What?

Scalps!

No.

Mother Gue never raised

such a foolish child.

Stop that, boy.

-What do you do with them scalps?

-Sell them to the English.

English?

London is wallpapered

with lnjun scalps.

-We could pull into those trees.

-Don't go getting hasty.

Them is Flatheads, and they've hurt

nobody that l know.

Just hold back.

What's he saying?

Says they're Blackfeet ponies.

He asks if you are the great warrior...

...who avenges the Crazy Woman

in the Wolf Tail Valley.

She's big medicine.

And so are you,

if you are that man.

So what's he shouting for?

Scared of you.

-But how did you...?

-l didn't know they'd be Flatheads.

lt's all right, boy.

Chief here is named

Two-Tongues Le Beau.

Mighty educated too.

French missionaries

taught him their language.

-Christian lndians?

-Lots of them.

He says the scalps are fierce...

...and the horses are fleet.

Take them.

And the ponies.

l have no further use for them.

Damn fool,

you may have cooked our brains!

He brought us here to honor you

and you want to give him a gift.

lf he cannot give you a better one,

it'll be an insult.

What's so funny?

The danger is over.

He has thought of a better gift.

His daughter.

Now you have a son,

you need a wife.

-l don't want no wife--

-He says he'll be very happy

What is that word?

Oh, yes!

He may read the Bible,

but he's still an lnjun.

And his rules is his rules.

lf you value your hair,

you will get married!

l do not think this is funny.

lt ain't.

When you get out of here, you can

take her to Fort Hawley and sell her.

But you best take her, friend.

Besides, maybe she ain't near bad.

He says she's called The Swan,

but she'll answer to anything you want.

But maybe you need her.

You turn down this gift, they'll slit

you, me, Caleb and the horses...

...from crotch to eyeball

with a dull deer antler!

Pleased to make your acquaintance,

Mrs. Johnson.

Your husband has told me

so much about you.

Congratulations, Two-Tongues.

Wonderful wedding.

Bye, Jeremiah Johnson!

Where are you going?

l wouldn't want to disturb

your wedding night.

l'll see you in the fall.

Have a nice honeymoon,

Mrs. Johnson.

The way that you wander

ls the way that you choose

The day that you tarry

ls the day that you lose

Do you speak any English?

l don't speak any Flathead.

So don't bother me,

neither of you!

Sunshine or thunder

A man will always wonder

Where the fair wind blows

Wondering about something?

Go ahead, ask.

Leave it be.

Nothing wrong with quiet.

Cooking sure don't smell

like Bear Claw's.

Tie him off, boy.

Suppertime!

Go on, boy, and eat.

lt's good for you.

l'm full.

You religious too?

Religious.

l'm not going to harm you.

Religious.

Yes.

l'm not going to harm you.

Ain't that a lot easier

than saying all that gibberish?

Great hunter.

Fine figure of a man, yes?

That is all you need to know.

For now.

You getting enough, boy?

This wasn't my idea, you know?

Lord!

This'll do.

River in front, cliffs behind.

Good water.

Not much wind.

This will be a good place to live.

Hawk.

Going for the Musselshell.

lt'd take me a week's riding.

And he'll be there in....

Hell, he's there already.

l wish you would see fit to stop

the practicing of these ceremonies.

Take notice of the traps

and go fetch some proper food.

And keep your nose open,

there may be lndians about.

Be going for buffalo soon.

No, you'll stay here.

Go on,

fetch the rest of that wood.

Swan, l cannot stand this weight.

lt will have to do.

lt will keep me warm

in the strong wind.

And the rain

will not pass through neither.

Thank you.

You have beaver scent?

What's happened to your face?

My beard?

Here, l want you to watch this.

Spring.

There.

Careful, that'll take your hand off.

Put that smell down.

Won't come around without the smell.

Hell, don't run off.

lt's me.

What?

Skin this.

Troop, halt!

l'm Lieutenant Mulvey,

Third Cavalry.

That's Reverend Lindquist.

We've been watched ever since

we started the climb up from the Gila.

Who are they, Flathead?

l said, are they Flathead?

-Did l say something?

-No.

lt's been a long time...

...since l had...

...so much of the English language

spoken at me.

l ain't used to it.

Crow.

This is Crow land.

This is the Department of Colorado.

You're on good terms with them.

Crow?

Who gave you that idea?

People talk about it down below.

You live up here.

l do that.

And you know the high country.

Do you know Feather Mesa?

l do. So?

We have wagons there.

Three of them.

Broke down in the snow and ice.

We got to get them

out of there before they freeze.

Or the lndians get them.

Would be wise.

We were told that

you would know how to get there.

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