Tomahawk Page #3

Maybe you'll get an invitation.

Misery loves company?

Or maybe you'd rather be alone?

No, you're very welcome company.

What's your misery? The old fellow?

How you call him? Dan?

I imagine he'll be all right.

He'll pull through.

The doctor says Dan's going to die.

He won't operate. He says the

arrow is too close to his heart.

That doctor...

- He could be wrong.

- You said you could take it out.

I had before. I said he shouldn't

be left the way he is now.

Would you?

Do you think the old fellow

is game?

- I can't promise anything.

- But you'll try.

I'll try.

I won't be responsible.

Dan's willing.

As long as I can't stop you.

Drink as much of this as you can.

I never turn down a free one.

When we get this over with

I'll have one with you.

Hold on Dan.

That's it.

Nothing to do now but wait until

the shock wears off.

Don't worry. He's tough.

He'll make it.

Hold it!

- Williams, James!

- Here.

- William, John...

- Morning assembly.

Come on, maybe we can get

some coffee in the mess hall.

You're a strange man.

The things you know!

Like what you did for Dan.

You were better than any doctor.

You don't have to live wild

like you do.

You could be a big man.

I have my idea of bigness.

Then why do I somehow

feel sorry for you?

You shouldn't. I live

the way I like to live.

But you miss so much.

For every way of living

something has to be given up.

What do you give up?

Crazy notions like...

- Miss.

- Yes?

There's something you could do

that I'd take as a favor?

Yes?

It's for Monahseetah.

She's just a kid and she's scared.

I'll be away scouting.

Would you look after her for me?

Well, Dan and I are leaving

as soon as he's able.

That'll be weeks.

- But don't you see...

- Yes. I think I do.

I'm sorry Miss Madden.

Wait.

Has he been bothering you?

No, not really.

They say he cut

the arrow out of Dan.

He saved Dan's life.

If he lives he can thank

his own toughness, not Bridger.

Has that sqaw man been asking

any questions about me?

No. Why should he?

What do you mean, sqaw man?

Why a man who marries a sqaw.

Is she...

Is she his wife?

I doubt if any preacher

mumbled over them.

The Colonel is worse than innocent

to bring him here to the fort.

Bridger is a spy for Red Cloud.

- No.

- He saw where the Sioux went.

He lied to save their skins.

Any trouble we have with Indians

from here on out

I'll bet a month's pay can

be traced right back to Bridger.

Jim, over here.

- Jim.

- Colonel.

Someday I'll get it through

my head you always get back.

- Beck get in alright?

- Rode in three days ago.

He scouted as far south

as Red Fork.

I'll finish with Dan here

and I'll be right with you.

- How do you feel Dan?

- Fit as a fiddle.

- Alright?

- Fine.

Dan, the show would be good

for the men. It'd cheer them up

and make them forget their worries

at least for an hour.

That's if you make it

good and lively.

We'll do our best, of course

I can't do my juggling yet

but I'll figure out something

else to do

and Julie's singing here will

liven things up plenty.

I'm sure it will.

Is that alright with you Miss?

- Oh yes. That'll be fine.

- Good.

I'll tell them at assembly.

- Jim, you cover a lot of country?

- I got as far as Montana.

A lot of them, an awful lot,

camped along the Big Horn.

Winter is months off and they're

already storing away meat.

Those young braves seem to be

getting kind of impatient.

It doesn't look very good.

Dancy claims you load

the reports to scare us.

What do you think?

You can't make me think it's

any worse than I know it is.

Every day there's another incident.

While you were gone

we lost three more troopers.

Trail wagon escort.

They sending reinforcements

up from Laramie?

They haven't answered. They did

close the road to settlers.

- That's good.

- Last week I sent another request.

If they can't send men I asked

for ammunition and rifles.

Mail detail's due now.

Hold it!

Halt!

Open up! It's Hanna.

- Where's the Colonel?

- In his quarters.

The other men sacrificed themselves

so Hanna could bring us the mail.

Including the latest answer

from Commissioner Davis.

"Our informants"...

"have convinced us that you

exaggerate your situation.

Additional forces are

unnecessary at Fort Kearney.

However we have dispatched some

of the equipment you requested.

Signed:
Russel E. Davis

Commissioner for Indian Affairs."

Three men died to bring me that.

- At least we're getting equipment.

- Let's hope it's rifles and powder.

It could be a new mowing machine

for the parade ground lawn.

I'd like to speak my piece again.

Davis is right.

We don't need reinforcements

considering the caliber of our men.

They're all seasoned veterans.

One Cavalry troop, a handful

against 4000 Sioux.

The only answer to these Indian

outrages is an immediate campaign.

I agree with Capt. Fetterman sir.

Send out every man we can spare,

surprise the Sioux in his camp...

What's so funny?

I imagine he's laughing at the idea

of surprising the Sioux camp.

That camp stretches more than

20 miles along the Big Horn River.

We've only your word for that.

Your own experience should tell you

that I'm right Lieutenant.

You've done a little

Indian fighting, haven't you?

Weren't you in that

Colorado campaign in '64?

In 1864 I was in

a Military Hospital in Washington.

- Let's have your advice Jim?

- I don't know.

Prayer and those chuckleheads

like Davis find out this fort

has no business being here and

maybe you'll be ordered out in time.

Shouldn't somebody ride down

and hurry that equipment?

If it is on the road.

Otherwise they'll take their

own sweet time.

- Jim?

- I'll go if you want me to.

And pay your friend Red Cloud

a visit?

Gentlemen!

It was my idea Lieutenant.

Jim's friendly with the Indians.

He's sure to get through.

- Maybe I ought to go instead.

- You seem anxious to volunteer.

Meaning I might pay a visit

to Red Cloud?

Could be.

But that's a gamble.

Less of a gamble to send a soldier

down the road.

But that's up to you Colonel.

I'll take a chance on you Beckworth.

I'll come back to it later.

Dan, you think you're

fit enough to travel?

I am but the Colonel won't let

us leave before it's safe.

I'm sick of this fort.

The Lieutenant getting

hard to handle?

- Rob Dancy?

- Or is that Jim Bridger?

You don't think I'm so blind

I don't know what ails you?

- What ails me?

- The way you've been banging around.

There's no special reason.

Yes there is honey.

A man's got you surrounded.

Only he's a man who can't be

harnessed to your kind of life,

who won't go near

the big, bright cities.

That isn't what's wrong Dan.

Even if it breaks your heart I'd

rather Bridger than that Lieutenant.

That isn't what ails me.

Only I never could say

I'm sorry.

How does a girl go about

saying she's sorry!

If she's really sorry,

it'll get said.

I'm going out for a while.

- Out where?

- Riding.

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