War Arrow Page #2

I hear he came from St.

Louis and Washington.

He's still

Just another soldier.

Well, tell me,

what's he doing here?

Trying to get Seminoles

to fight Kiowas.

Why, Colonel,

you're jealous of him.

Hey. I always knew you

were a brave man, Major,

but goin' in through the colonel's

back door ain't recommended,

even for heroes.

That's Capt. Corwin's

widow. Oh. I'm sorry.

I always figured that

Corwin was too ornery to die.

Them Kiowas ain't choosy

about who they kill.

You knew him?

Yeah, I knew him.

It'd take more than a few

Indians to keep me away from that.

We're ridin' in a noose. I

know. Care to pick a number?

At least five,

or they'd be afraid.

Not 10,

or they'd have cut loose.

Seven.

Lucky seven.

We'll have to fight our way out. Yeah.

Probably try to catch us

at that other rise.

Tell Wilks to keep his eyes front.

He don't even know they're up there.

He's got barroom eyes.

When we reach that rim,

we'll go into a run.

Come over it shooting.

I'll take the left. You

and Wilks take the right.

How about them fellas

tellin' us it was dangerous...

for just the three of us

to ride in this country

They call this Coffin Rim. It's not famous

for the births that have happened here.

I'll bet you a dollar there

ain't an Indian within 10 miles.

You got a bet.

How're we gonna prove it?

Easy. Four Kiowas have got you in

their sights now. Don't look up!

Are you serious? When we hit

that ridge, you do as I do...

if you want to live long enough

for another promotion. Yes, sir.

Uh, you fellas

is lucky I was along.

You're right. I just

made an easy dollar.

Wilks and I will do

some cleaning up.

You contact the Seminoles

and tell them what I said.

I'll do what I can.

All right.

Schermerhorn,

I hate to bring this up,

but don't you think I oughta

hold the dollar? Just in case.

Uh-uh. if anything happens, I'm gonna

need some gambling money where I'm going.

Well, that Schermerhorn.

That feller could charm the Rocky

Mountains into goin' south for the winter.

Psst!

My father, Chief Maygro, said to

give you some food while he talks.

Rabbit, eh?

We call it Texas buffalo.

Say, you talk English

real good.

Why shouldn't I? I went

to school in San Antonio.

What's your name, honey?

Avis. It means bird. And do not

speak of putting salt on my tail.

Some fella already

beat me to it, huh?

Uh, my name is Wilks.

Sergeant Wilks.

And this fella here...

I forget his name.

Anyway, he's married

and got 16 kids.

You make him

sound interesting.

Uh, you like this life

out here? I hate it.

Would you like to spend your life in

a mud hut with corn husks for beds...

and rabbit

for food every day?

Well, uh, I might

if you was with me.

I won't be. I'm going someplace.

Any particular place?

Anywhere. It couldn't

be worse than this.

Maybe you and I could

work something out.

What I want,

you don't have.

Oh, try me.

Good food and clothes

and a decent place to live?

Well, that sure

lets out enlisted men.

What's your father

think about all this?

My father will not let me

leave. He won't? How come?

He says there's only one way

to get the things I want.

He could be right.

I don't care.

I know what I want. I'm going

to get it. Wait a minute.

There's a lot to be said

for bein' a nice girl.

Weren't you just suggesting

we could work something out?

I didn't mean... Who are you to

tell me what is nice and what isn't?

When I get the chance, I will

leave and I will do what I want.

Then you want us

to help you fight the Kiowa?

That's right, Maygro.

You Seminoles.

We are Kanyuksa Indians

from Florida.

Among our people,

'Seminole' is not a good word.

All right, Kanyuksa.

We number 300,

maybe 25 men

who could fight.

That's more than enough.

I try to understand... We have to

fight the Kiowas on their own terms.

A small, fast-moving,

hard-hitting force,

one that knows the country,

understands the language,

has endurance and doesn't

ask any luxuries.

Why should we do this

for you?

For six months' service, the government

will give you land of your own.

Like this? No, this

will be green land...

with water and cattle,

trees to build houses with.

Where is this land?

The whole

Santa Media Valley.

But to get it, we must fight. Yeah.

That is one thing

we cannot do.

Aw! We make foolish journey

to come here.

Why don't you

ask your people?

I am the law

of the Kanyuksas.

I say no.

You afraid, Maygro?

Come.

We speak with others.

Tell us, how will our

families eat when men are gone?

The army will send

supplies every month.

Meantime, $500 until the

first supply train comes.

We have put down

our guns for good.

Fighting will only lose us

the peace we find.

Peace?

You mean hunger!

Let me die fighting, not

from peaceful starvation!

Pino, you're too young to remember

what war did to the Kanyuksa.

When you have to fight,

you fight!

Even a snake

or gopher knows that.

Are we to sit around...

and watch the Kiowas run

through our camp for sport?

The young men have the heart,

but we have no weapons!

If I had a gun,

I would show them...

that the Kanyuksa have at least as

much courage as gopher! Pino, sit down!

When elders speak,

you listen. Sit down!

I am your leader.

When we were

driven from Florida,

we pledged to keep peace.

We knew it would be hard.

You want new leader,

say so.

Then as long as I am

Maygro, your leader,

I do what I think best.

You're less than women!

I'm ashamed that I talked to

you as equals, as men of courage!

Major!

Kiowas!

Well, at least you got

six more horses.

I never saw gun

shoot like that.

Fifteen times without reloading.

It's a Henry repeating rifle.

This is the weapon you'll have.

Makes one man equal to 30.

You teach

strong lesson.

I always said whoever called the

Kanyuksas 'Seminoles' was right.

That's all they ever were:

Seminoles, cowards, and renegades.

Avis, this is no time

for such talk.

You might yet turn out

to be men.

No one will give you anything

unless you fight for it.

Quiet.

We will go with Major.

I know,

and I am going with you.

You will stay in village where you

belong with the rest of the women.

Try and keep me there.

Hey, Schermerhorn, you

captured the wrong Indians.

Them ain't fighters:

they're sheep eaters.

I'm beginnin' to feel a little foolish.

You got the face to go with it.

I guess you're right.

Colonel, this is Maygro... Who said

these Seminoles were to be quartered?

The orders,

some of the fine print.

You don't pull sleeping

quarters out of the air.

Give 'em a gun and a horse and

they'll be gone by tomorrow morning.

The Kanyuksas will...

I'm talking to the major!

Go on, Maygro.

The Kanyuksas will not go. They will

fight well for land and food promised.

What land? What food?

The Santa Media Valley,

and a wagon train to

their families every month.

I need all the supplies

I have!

The supplies will be ready at

the nearest army railhead monthly.

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