Tomahawk Page #2

Caravan might roll up tomorrow

or a month from tomorrow.

Can't we have cavalry escort now?

There's only one cavalry troop

at Fort Phil Kearney.

We haven't got the men to escort

every contraption that comes along.

The rule is no escort

for less than five wagons.

Every day I'm not in Virginia City

it's costing me 500 dollars.

If you are riding into the fort

why can't we come along with you.

We're the mail detail.

This wagon can't do 30 miles a day

and we have to ride fast.

You could likely

get through all right alone

if you're a good shot.

You better take the long way round...

Go back to Laramie, cut due north.

- That would take a month longer.

- Well as he said, we're in a hurry.

Sergeant, who's commanding

this detail?

I decide how fast we travel.

We can escort you as far

as Fort Kearney.

Why that's...

That's acting like

a perfect gentleman.

Cavalry men are well known

for their gallantry.

We'll return the favor

by giving a free show at the fort.

The Colonel will be glad

for the diversion Ma'am.

If you're ready?

We're ready.

Think we'll get to the fort soon?

I'm in no hurry. Are you?

No, but Uncle Dan thinks that

gold in Virginia City

is melting away like butter.

It's not just that.

I have to keep moving.

I got iron in my blood.

If I sit still I rust.

Somebody's messing

with the horses.

Come on.

Don't shoot Lieutenant.

You shouldn't have done that.

You know the Colonel's orders.

Just a kid.

Just a scrawny little kid.

If anyone asks Sergeant

it was a fox.

A fox was scaring the horses.

I shot and I missed.

Now let's get him out of sight.

Get your ropes!

I'll take the lines.

Dan and I would have just sat here.

We wouldn't have known what to do.

Tricks of the trade.

How long have you been in the army?

Seven years off and on.

I was wounded in '63

and got a medical discharge.

I joined up again last year.

And got shipped out to

this howling wilderness.

I asked for this assignment.

I got a taste for Indian fighting

while I was out of the army.

How?

Ever hear of Chivington?

No.

He was a preacher who had

a volunteer Indian fighting outfit.

I served with him for

two solid years.

We really cleaned up

that part of the country.

Chivington was quite a man.

We had a high time.

All ready Lieutenant.

Giddy up!

Hold it!

Lieutenant.

What do you make of that?

Indian sign of some sort.

Warning do you think?

We're too near the fort.

Looks like there's gonna

be a little trouble.

Julie, it's awful nice of that

young lieutenant to escort us.

- You mean Rob?

- So it's Rob now, is it?

- The lieutenant's crowding you.

- He thinks he is.

Rob!

Rob!

Stay with the wagon.

Come on, Sergeant!

They never went down there.

Where'd those Sioux go?

I didn't see anybody.

How about you Beck?

You must have seen them.

They made off behind those rocks.

Gully on the other side?

Sheer cliff. They couldn't

have gone down there.

The Sioux are good horsemen.

They can ride where you couldn't

or I couldn't.

Is she Sioux?

No. She's Cheyenne.

Sure don't know

your Indians, do you?

Let's get back to the wagon.

We'll push on.

There's a doctor at the Fort.

Take it easy with that wagon.

That's a fool thing to do.

Likely kill that old man to

bounce around with an arrow in him.

Rob, maybe he's right.

- There's nothing we can do.

- You can take that arrow out.

That's a job for a doctor.

Go on. I'll ride behind.

We can manage from here.

The Colonel hired us as scouts.

We'll ride along with you.

Is the Colonel expecting her?

I think so. She was with us

when we were hired.

I doubt it'll go down with the men

to have an Indian in the Fort.

That Sioux arrow should

have got him.

No, I wouldn't want any Indian

to kill that pretty soldier boy.

Oh, he's the one.

He's the guy Monahseetah

spotted in Laramie.

He looks so young. She was

just a kid when this happened.

- She could be wrong.

- I know that.

That's why I'll wait

until I'm sure.

After all these years,

you still trying to track him down?

Wouldn't you be?

Come on. Let's beat it.

Mail detail approaching.

Open the gates.

Mail detail approaching.

Jim!

- Jim! I'd about given up on you.

- Hello Colonel.

Major, you know Jim Bridger.

Is that Jim Bridger?

My mean have done

a good job here Jim,

and a fast one.

- What do you think of it?

- It's well placed Colonel.

We built this fort in 34 days.

Hurry up with the mail Parr.

We had a brush with the Indians.

A man in the wagon was wounded.

- How many Indian casualties?

- None. They all got away.

I want a full report.

Go to my office. You too Sergeant.

Parr, Lt. Brown will help you

sort the mail and distribute it.

- Yes sir.

- Major, take care of the wounded man.

Right sir.

There's not much I can do Miss.

- Doctor, please.

- I won't risk an operation.

If the doctor's brain was put

in a jaybird, he'd fly backward.

- Say, you THE Jim Bridger?

- That's right.

What's that Indian name I heard?

"Techa" something?

- Techahngpe.

- "The chump"?

No, "Techahngpe". That's

Sioux for Tomahawk.

You must've been in this country

quite a while I reckon.

- I've been out here a while.

- Yeah, Jim says that

when he first came west them hills

was nothing but holes in the ground.

The Adjutant said you men can bunk

in the Quartermaster Barracks.

He couldn't figure what

to do about the squaw.

We'll wait here until

he can figure.

She can't sleep in the barracks

and the wives in the fort...

Mr. Bridger?

The Colonel says you should

report to the office.

They kept hidden until

we were nearly past.

They made a fast attack and ran.

There was no provocation.

I left Red Cloud's village

four days ago.

He said they wouldn't fight

unless they were pushed.

And an Indian's word

is Gospel?

In fact Indians don't lie.

It's part of their religion.

Lieutenant, were you with that

wagon all the way from Laramie?

All the way from the outpost.

- And nothing happened?

- To the wagon? No sir.

And no other incident

was reported to us.

- And you Sergeant, hear anything?

- Not a thing.

What about it Jim?

Let the Lieutenant have it his way.

They attack out of pure cussedness.

Let's have it now.

Let's have the whole story.

Don't lie. I can read your face

as plane as that buffalo skull.

Those Indians had a reason

for making that attack.

Something happened on the road,

something Dancy didn't tell.

I got to serve under Lt. Dancy.

If I make him out a liar...

The Colonel will nail your hide

unless you spit it out now.

Let's have it.

Dancy killed a Sioux.

One of the horses whinnied and

we went to have a look see.

Two Indian kids were trying

to steal the horses.

Dancy went and shot one.

I told him he hadn't ought to.

It was just two puny,

scared, little kids.

What are you telling the Colonel?

Nothing.

Lights been flashing out there

all last night.

Never seen them before.

Now smoke signals.

The Sioux are having a conversation.

They're calling in the hunters.

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