All language subtitles for 18 - Weight Of Command

Yeah, yesterday, day before, looks like.

Ah, it'll have to be since then, Major.

We had a thunderstorm day before yesterday.

It's a big herd, too.

Looks to me like they're moving north on up this wash.

Well, boys, we got meat.

Been 15, 20 miles. The question is where.

Beats me how you can tell all that from a bunch of tracks and a buffalo wallow.

Billy, they're signed all around you.

All you have to do is learn to read it.

You just listen to that fellow. He can teach you a few things.

I'm going on back to train.

Why don't you follow the coolie on up as far as Malachi,

see if he knows where the main herd is.

Who's Malachi?

You're about to find out. See you by sundown.

All right, I'll have the coffee on.

Signs all around you.

Signs all around you.

All you got to do is read it.

It was all around us, all right, but it wasn't buffalo.

I had my mind on tomorrow's hunting,

and we paid for my blindness in blood.

That's the way you generally pay for your mistakes west of the 100th Meridian.

You pay in blood.

¶¶

Hey, Malachi, you got company.

Malachi Jenkins.

Maybe he ain't home.

Smell that, Billy?

Yeah.

You know, he's got a big hunk of buffalo meat cooking on the stove right now.

Let's go meet him up or something.

Malachi.

Malachi!

Nobody home, I guess.

That's about ready to eat.

Coffee.

Funny.

We'll see if he's out back, Billy.

Let's go.

Malachi!

Malachi!

There's no sign of him.

Maybe you didn't yell loud enough.

Malachi!

Malachi!

That's funny.

He apt to run off like this?

Well, he's a hard-drinkin' old cuss.

Somebody come by with a jug of whiskey,

he's apt to drop whatever he's doin' and follow him all the way to California.

Looks like this wet ground here is fillin' his bucket

less than five minutes ago.

Well, he's not out huntin' buffalo, that's for sure.

Where's his artillery?

You reckon something's wrong?

Anybody else but Malachi, I might.

He's lived in this country too long to get into trouble on an empty stomach.

So we're waitin' for him. Let's go inside and sit down.

Yes, sir, Prudy.

The Cheyenne will tell you that where Buffalo's concerned,

a white man knows absolutely nothin'.

What do you say, Major?

Well, honey, I don't like to sound like a renegade,

but I'm afraid I'd be inclined to go along with the Cheyenne on that.

You know, the good Lord has seen fit to cover this land out here

with beef runnin' around on the hoof.

Beef that doesn't have to be fed or watered or cared for

when it's sick.

Anytime you feel like you want a steak,

all you gotta do is get way up there on a rock and sit real quiet,

and pretty soon they'll come walkin' by,

just bellerin' to be eaten.

The Cheyenne, he figures that's a pretty good way for things to be.

What do we figure?

Oh, we figure that's bad, that's bad.

So we set out to kill them all off, see,

so we can cover the range with cattle.

Cattle that's gotta be fed,

they gotta be watered,

and they gotta be taken care of when they're sick.

That's the way the white man's built, honey.

Anytime anything gets too easy, it's immoral.

What's immoral?

Well, that's anything that your Aunt Matilda would not approve of.

I haven't got any great Aunt Matilda.

Well, in that case, maybe you better ask your Ma what's immoral.

She won't tell me, most likely.

Whatever I ask her, she says no.

What have you been asking her lately?

Could I go buffalo hunting tomorrow for one thing?

Well, I'm afraid I'd have to agree with your Ma there.

Billy's going. Why can't I?

Honey, Billy is a boy, and he's 16 years old.

Now, boys can go buffalo hunting, but girls can't.

You're a lady.

I'm no lady.

You will be one of these days.

Besides, old Malachi Jenkins is probably gonna go hunting with us.

And that language of his, I assure you,

would not be approved by your great Aunt Matilda.

It's immoral.

Yes, it is that.

I wish I was a boy.

Well, you'll get over that sooner or later, honey.

Well, hello, William.

It's about time you got back.

Hi, Major.

Where's Billy, Mr. Hobbs?

Oh, he stopped by your wagon, Prudy.

Bye, Major.

Goodbye, honey.

Well, what did you find out from old Malachi?

I didn't talk to him.

Billy and I went in and ate supper at his table.

Didn't see him.

He stopped playing games. Where is he?

I have no idea.

What do you mean, you have no idea?

Well, it looked like he took off in a hurry,

left his supper cooking on the stove,

and his old cow was out back bellaring to be milked.

His sharps was outside the cabin.

Why would he do a thing like that, I wonder?

Well, it's hard to tell.

Saw some fresh horse signs out in front.

Looked like somebody rode up

while Malachi was fetching some water.

Probably an old mountain man with a jug.

We hollered ourselves hoarse and then went in,

sat down, ate his supper,

stayed till sundown. No sign of him.

Well, we was up in Sioux country,

by God, let it start me to thinking.

Did you see any Cheyenne?

Oh, you don't have to worry about the Cheyenne.

Not since old Black Wolf put his mark

on that peace treaty last fall.

Did you see any sign on the way back?

Not Indian. Shod horses.

Possibly a troop of cavalry from Fort Willoughby.

Fresh tracks?

Since the rain.

I wonder what in tarnation they're doing

up here in this part of the country.

Just exercising, I suppose.

You're getting a little fidgety, aren't you?

Hey, I like it that way once in a while out here.

Well, you don't have to get spooked over a cavalry troop.

They come through all the time.

You know, old Black Wolf's sitting down there

with 200 teepees on that little blue.

I wonder if it isn't a good idea

if you'd run down there and have a look.

Is that an order?

No, just a suggestion. What's the matter? Don't you like it?

Not too much.

You know, I hate to think about missing out

on the best buffalo hunt this season

just because Malachi Jenkins

holed up someplace with a jug.

Well, all right, go get your rifle.

Get it cleaned up.

We'll pull out of here and sign up tomorrow morning.

Say, uh, you're getting a little mellow

in your old age, aren't you?

Oh, get out of here before I give you the back of my hand.

Just before the battle, Mother,

I was drinking Mountain Dew

When I saw the rebels coming

To the rear I quickly flew

Flew, flew, flew.

Did he show up yet?

Nope.

I wonder where he ran off to.

Mr. Hawks, being a poor, unlettered man of toil,

I do not try to read the Major's mind.

When I rolled out this morning, he was gone.

I think he went off someplace with that new fella.

Is he still fretting about Malachi?

Well, I suppose so. He didn't sleep any last night.

That's funny.

It's not funny when you stop to think about it.

And apparently you ain't.

Why do you say that?

Well, you take the job of moving 388 greenhorns across the country,

And you're gonna tend to fret a little bit yourself.

Of course, you don't have the responsibility. He does.

Charlie, we're in Cheyenne country now.

There hasn't been a shot fired

Since we signed the peace treaty last fall.

Oh, good morning, Duke.

Morning, Mr. Wooster.

You better lay off that mister stuff.

We're not used to much formalities around here.

Where?

Don't know. He said he'd have to pass up the hunt.

Wants you to go on without him.

I tried to tell him it wasn't much use

Getting all riled up about Indians in this country.

That was a mistake, wasn't it?

Yeah, it was. Is he like that all day

Or just when he rolls out in the morning?

Well, Duke, he's like that 40-rod whiskey.

The first drink you take, it's kind of hard to get down.

A little practice gets a lot easier.

Guess I ain't had that much practice yet.

How about a cup of coffee, Duke?

Sure. You know, I can't get over him

Talking about Indians here.

Come on, you little fella.

Looks to me like your mama's not gonna have

Any other customers for breakfast.

Guess it might as well be you

Who go on in there.

That's the stuff.

What's the matter, Lobo?

Did the old man go away, huh?

Did the old man go away?

Where'd he go, you know?

Come on, let's go in there.

What's the matter, Lobo?

Thirsty?

Yeah, come on. We'll give you a drink of water.

There you are, son.

There you are, boy.

What's happened to your boss there, Lobo?

He's got a thirst too, maybe?

Come on.

Well, there goes that moose.

Got enough booze there

To blow the top off a chimney rock.

Guess he didn't go hunting.

Took his sharps.

Took his spencer and his gun belt

And holster.

Hell, I guess he's driving light.

Come on.

Move, son. Move.

Move.

Cavalry.

Machine.

Move.

Move.

Those are bulls.

Leave those bulls alone.

Move up here.

The cows are up front.

There you go.

You know, the nearest I ever came to one of these, Bruce,

Before was in the zoo.

Well, you're ahead of me.

I'm alive.

Get that good and snug, Dan.

You got a 20-mile ride back.

What are you making out, young fella?

I'm trying to follow orders.

You got the makings of a real top hand.

I wish you'd tell that to my pa.

Yeah? Why?

Well, he don't give me credit for much.

Oh, it ain't that he don't like me.

It's just, well, he can't get the idea through his head

That I'm almost a man.

Well, Billy, most pa's are that way.

Well, how's that?

Not bad for a school teacher.

A doctor of philosophy, you mean.

Oh, well, I'm sorry. Doc, you better get mounted up.

I'll bet you that new bride of yours

Has got the skillet ready right now. Let's go.

Billy, you lead off, and I'll follow behind.

Okay.

Cheyennes.

You think they're friendly?

Yeah. We'll ride out and meet them.

You stay right alongside my stirrup.

Go real slow.

Dan, you stay here with the pack horses.

Whoa.

This ain't in the books.

What do you mean?

They signed a peace treaty with their chief last November.

The stuff you see on their faces is war paint.

I want you to steady down

And act like this happened to you every day.

Just ease your horse around.

Get back to where dad is.

We're gonna walk. You understand me?

All right.

See them make a move,

I want you to light out for that old ranch house

That we passed as fast as you can. You got that?

Yeah.

All right, you get real easy like.

Come on.

Let's go.

Let's get out of here.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Get the horses inside.

Whoa.

They're running off.

They're just getting out of range, billy.

What do you suppose they're up to?

Probably trying to figure a way to take us without getting hurt.

Just like any sensible soldier.

They're at peace, did you say?

Yeah.

What's it like when they go to war?

They're on their own.

Old black wolf's gonna skin them alive when he finds out about this.

Here they come.

Take them.

We got one.

We're caught out of jet, son.

Watch it.

Keep your eye on them, billy.

Where did he get you, dad?

Let him take a look at it.

How long do you expect they'll keep this up?

Well, it's hard to say.

They're good soldiers.

They figure it's gonna cost them too much to take us.

They might just quit and ride off.

When?

That's something we don't know.

Mom?

Yes?

Should I put nine years old or ten?

Doesn't matter.

How old are you, prudy?

Nine.

Well, then put nine.

But I won't finish it until I'm ten.

Well, you put whatever you want.

Billy says to put nine and a half.

But it won't fit.

Well, it's not billy's sampler. It's yours.

It's ten minutes past four.

They're four hours overdue.

Don't fret so.

Well, what could be holding them up?

Why don't you let major adams worry?

That's what he's here for.

I'm sorry. I let billy go.

Well, I can't help it.

He's too young to go riding off on a buffalo hunt.

Don't use his head.

He's likely to go galloping through a prairie dog town.

He's got more sense than you give him credit for.

I hope he has.

Oh, hello, ms. Foster.

I baked a few biscuits. I thought you might like some.

Well, that's real sweet of you.

We'll have them when billy gets back.

No sign of them.

Don't worry, ms. Foster.

I'm trying not to.

But there's all this talk going around about indians.

What about indians?

Well, they were talking about it a few minutes ago,

Down by the spring.

Major adams went off by himself to scout.

Left before daylight.

They say he's uneasy about indians.

I know it's silly, but...

Well, dan and I are such greenhorns.

We just aren't used to it.

Well, now, don't you worry about it.

Bill hawks knows what he's doing.

He'll see that they get back, all right.

I'm sorry.

I guess I'm just not used to

Having dan out in the wilderness like this.

I hope you enjoy the biscuits.

Thanks, ms. Foster.

You're welcome.

Indians.

Mrs. gentry, your boy billy

Is not the first buffalo hunter

That ever came in late,

And he's not going to be the last, either.

What's this talk about indians?

Just that, just talk.

They probably shot more buffalo than they intended

And gave themselves a lot bigger skin and job.

Nothing to be upset about.

Can't we send someone out to meet him?

No, that's not necessary.

Now, you just go on back to your wagon

And get your supper ready,

Because they'll be barging in here in a few minutes.

That boy of yours will be hungry as a wolf.

I'm sorry.

Just don't worry.

Who are you telling not to worry?

I'll be quiet.

About four days back to mackenzie, isn't it?

Well, in case there's trouble,

We can't go back to fort mackenzie.

It's not as well if it's closer.

It's on the other side of that goddarn pass.

Those birds over there

Are not going to listen to us

When we start yelling for a cavalry escort, either.

In case this whole country here blows up,

They're going to have a lot more to do

Than just ride and herd on a wagon train.

That's the trouble.

Maybe nothing to it at all.

Maybe, just in my mind,

That's always the trouble.

Hi, duke.

Howdy.

See any sign of them?

They followed the creek north about five miles,

Then hit fresh tracks of the herd.

Country's so stomped on up there,

I lost the trail.

Any indian signs?

Oh, campsites, all.

How old?

Right after green-up, look like.

Major, ain't you getting awful riled up

Over a stray cavalry horse?

Maybe you think that was a stray cavalry horse,

But, by golly, I don't.

I got a notion that whoever was riding that horse

Was laying out there on the prairie,

Flat over his back with no hair on his head.

And I'd like to bet you

That it wasn't a cavalry horse, it's a militia.

Cavalry, militia, what's the difference?

There's a whole lot of difference when it comes to common sense.

Did you look for any smokes?

Yeah.

Nothing?

Black wolf was probably

Sitting down there on that little blue

Under a cottonwood tree

Without a goll-darn mean thought in his head,

And it'll cost me a half a day

To go back and find out for sure.

What's got into him?

Just leave him be. How about some coffee?

Charlie, duke. Yeah?

I want you to pass out extra rifles and ammunition.

Make sure each man's got 50 extra rounds.

Major,

You're gonna upset the folks with an order like that.

Can't help it. That's the way it's gonna be.

I want every man armed

And every wagon ready to pull out of here on five minutes' notice.

What about the hunters?

Well, we're just gonna have to pray

That they get back before we leave, that's all.

Charlie, as soon as you get through with that ammunition,

You get yourself back here.

You and I are gonna take a little ride. Yes, sir.

Now, hurry up. Both of you. Yes, sir.

Come on, duke.

Hold it.

Hold it.

Now.

Now.

You hit? Nah.

They let me get down to that waterhole on purpose.

Just playing with us.

If wolf gets wind of this, he's gonna have their hides.

There's a camp right down there,

Right around that bend to the right.

Been there ever since last fall

When he signed that peace treaty.

Well, I don't know.

Better go find out, I guess.

Come on.

That's what I was afraid of.

200 teepees.

When do you think it happened?

Still smoking. Not more than two days ago.

Who do you think done it?

Some glory-hunting militia officer, I figure.

Well, we gotta get back before sundown. Let's go.

Is it always coyotes?

Not always.

Sometimes it's quail or screech owl.

Means the same thing, I expect.

Think they'll move in during the night?

Nope.

When?

Oh, about sunup.

Well, we ought to have help by then.

Yeah. One of us gets through.

Well, let's see how old ned takes this fella.

Hello, ned.

Hello, ned.

My pa's gonna worry something fierce.

You suppose you'll get tanned when you get back?

Figures I'm still tan in size, I expect.

You've grown some in the last three hours.

He's ready.

Take one, dan.

Already voted.

So did billy.

Don't give me an argument about this.

Go on. You're elected.

It's not generosity.

You've got the best chance of getting back.

You heard him.

I'll be back by sunup.

You can count on it. Give me a hand, will you?

Yeah.

They're moving around out there.

It's up to you, ned.

Good luck.

Hold out till sunup, will you?

We'll be here.

Aah!

You already rolled out, mrs. Foster?

I told you, mr. Shannon.

I'm not going without dan.

Afraid you won't have much choice, ma'am.

Major says we roll in ten minutes,

and you can't stay here.

Oh, the major says so, does he?

Will you tell the major for me that I'm a grown woman

and capable of making my own decisions,

and I'm not going on without my husband?

You don't mean that.

Really, mr. Shannon?

I can't go on without dan.

There's nothing worse in the world than...

Yes, there is, ma'am.

Out here, there is.

You'll just have to take my word for it.

I'll be back to take your wagon for you

when it's time.

What time is it?

Hmm?

What time is it?

Oh.

Five minutes to eight.

You want the rest of this coffee?

No.

I'm gonna pour it out anyway,

and I hate to spoil a perfectly good piece of this prairie sod.

You know, one time a centipede rat

swallowed some of this stuff, major,

and that was the end of the centipede.

Will you shut up, charlie?

I'm sorry.

Charlie, I'm cutting it just as close as I can.

I'll be here within five minutes.

That only gives us nine hours to get through that pass.

You remember what happened last time?

Lead wagon broke an axle.

It took us 12 1 2 hours to fix it,

and that was daylight. Do you remember that?

What do you want me to say?

Answer me.

Well, I can't give you the answer

you're looking for, major.

I wish I could, but I can't.

And I know exactly what you want me to say.

Sure,

it took us 12 1 2 hours.

Sure, it's perfectly all right

for you to push through tonight and leave them hunters behind.

Sure,

there'll be a whole army of Cheyennes here

to ambush us at daybreak in the morning if we don't get through.

And I can't say it, major.

You're the boss.

You're running this outfit.

You do the thinking, and you give the orders.

All by yourself, too.

Major?

We're all ready to roll.

All right, Duke.

Get all the fires put out and go ahead.

Go ahead, Duke.

All right.

Let's go.

Hello.

George.

Hester.

Who is it?

I don't know.

Hold up! It's Hawks!

Major Adams!

It's Hawks! Bill Hawks!

He's taking care of himself.

What do you mean?

Mr. Hawks, is Dan all right?

Yes, ma'am, he's all right. Scratched, but all right.

You all right, Bill?

Yeah. Have to go back after the others, though.

Where are they?

Holding off a bunch of Cheyennes,

an old adobe ranch house back on Cottonwood Creek.

Hit us just before we started back here.

Cheyenne, huh?

There's about 20 of them.

Take 25 or 30 of us to run them off.

Cottonwood Creek.

That's a good six hours' ride from here.

It's more like seven,

but I think they can hold out till we get there.

I'll round up the men.

We'll need spencers and 50 rounds apiece.

Wait a minute, Bill.

We're not going back.

What do you mean, we're not going back?

I need every man I've got

to push us through that pass before sunup.

Are you out of your mind?

Major, there's two men back there

holding off 20 Indians,

and they can't last out the night.

I'm sorry for them.

I wish I could go after them.

I can't.

We're going. I told them I was coming back,

and I'm going back.

You're not going anyplace, Bill,

unless I tell you to get that through your head.

Those 20 Cheyenne bucks you're talking about,

they're not renegades. They're part of a war.

War? What are you talking about?

Black Wolf signed a peace treaty.

He's gone up in smoke.

Black Wolf's burned out his whole village.

How do you know this?

I saw it myself. 200 lodges burned to the ground.

Who did it?

I'll guess with you.

Major, this is no time for guessing.

If we don't get back to that ranch house,

those two men are going to be killed.

This I know. I'm not guessing.

Are you asking me to gamble the lives

of 386 people against those two?

Is that what you want?

There's no war you're dreaming, this whole thing.

Then why did Malachi pull out?

Because he's a drunk, that's why.

Oh, he's a drunk, huh?

And he went off with an old mountain man

who had one gallon of whiskey.

When he had four full gallons in his own cabin,

he went off and left his cow unmilked

and his dog with no water?

I don't give a tinker's damn about his cow or his dog.

I'm talking about two men's lives.

You're not talking anymore. Get that through your head.

Major! Shut up!

Sure, you're right.

I'm guessing.

But it's my job to guess at a time like this.

I'm guessing that the old black wolf

was up north there

with at least a half a dozen other Cheyenne chiefs.

Maybe some Arapaho and Pawnee

and even the Sioux.

I'm guessing that they'll be sweeping down here

in the morning before sun up

3,000 or 4,000 strong.

God help us if we're in their way.

Sometimes it's just a matter of arithmetic.

There's two men up there in that house.

There's 386 men,

women and children here.

It's an awful choice to make,

but I've made it.

It's going to take us at least nine hours

to get through that pass.

I need every man-jack, mule, horse that I can get

to get through there in time,

and we're going ahead, Bill.

All right, let's get ready to roll.

Bill.

Did you hear me, Bill?

I just pray to God that you know

what you're doing, that's all.

I do, too.

I'm going to get you out of here.

I'm going to get you out of here.

All right, let's roll.

Ready.

Go.

How's that pass?

Any better shape than it was last time?

Considerable.

Are we going to have to double team?

Nope, I don't think so.

That's a piece of luck we can use.

You better go back there and keep them moving.

There's something else, though.

Yeah? What's that?

40 wagons circled up in the meadow

about a half a mile ahead of us.

You better go talk to them.

Yeah.

You better come with me.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Howdy.

Joe Henry. Bill Hawkes here.

All right.

What's on your mind?

Well, we got a wagon train coming through.

Now?

Yeah.

You generally move by night?

Well, no, not generally.

This happens to be a special kind of a night.

We thought maybe you'd like to bring your outfit

and go through with us as far as Fort Willoughby.

Well, now, that's real hospitable of you,

but just why would I do that?

Well, Mr. Henry,

I'm afraid if you wait till sunup,

you might not get through.

The Cheyennes blew up the whole nation.

Where'd you get an idea like that?

Did you run into that bunch of renegade dog soldiers?

What about them?

Just a bunch of young hotheads

broke away from Black Wolf.

They've been taking nips

at the farmers and the freight wagons hereabouts.

We run them off yesterday

about 10 miles out in the flats.

Have you seen Black Wolf?

No.

I don't know so much about him.

Oh, Charlie here.

His mother's a Cheyenne.

Tell him about Black Wolf, Charlie.

He signed peace treaty.

He not break word.

Yeah, I, uh...

I know he did.

How long since you seen him?

Three day.

And you don't know he was burned out?

What do you mean, burned out?

His camp on the Little Blue.

200 lodges burned to the ground.

Well, this shot fit might have hit him a couple of days ago.

The ash is still hot

when we came through this afternoon.

What about that, Charlie?

You say Little Blue?

Yeah.

That's where his camp was.

That not Black Wolf.

That car village. Black Wolf down on Washita.

Oh?

When did he move down there?

Two months.

And who burned the car village?

They do.

What are you trying to tell me?

They burned down own village, mister.

Smallpox.

Well, there hasn't been a smallpox epidemic

around this part of the country in 15 years.

There is now.

40 car die.

They burned down lodge.

Move out.

You wouldn't lie to me, would you, mister?

You better go.

Mr. Henry.

I'm trying to tell you.

Black Wolf was burned out.

Those were not car teepees that I saw.

I'll take Charlie's word for it.

Does that mean you're not going through with us, then?

We'll get through by sundown tomorrow.

That'll be soon enough.

Mr. Henry,

I'm afraid you might not get through at all.

Come on, Bill.

Hold it, Major.

I want to talk to you.

I know what you're going to say, Bill.

All right.

I'll say it anyway, then.

It's pride, isn't it?

Stubbornness and pride.

Isn't that it, Major?

Bill, don't say anything

that you're going to be sorry for.

I can't help it.

I'm not going to say anything

that you're going to be sorry for.

I can't help it.

I gave my word to two men

that I'd bring them back help.

Listen to me, Bill.

That half-breed over there is lying.

He's led this outfit into an ambush.

Don't try to make it

any easier on yourself.

Don't you think I know a Cheyenne teepee

when I see one?

You're afraid to admit it, aren't you?

You're afraid to admit you're wrong.

The great Major Adams,

wagon master,

gives two men to the dogs

and admits you're wrong.

Isn't that it, Major?

¶¶ ¶¶

Bill, I want you to scout both sides of the trail

down there at the foot of the grade.

There's a couple of stretches there I don't like.

Still looking for an ambush?

They're going to be there waiting for us.

I just want to know about it, that's all.

Bill.

Bill, I'm sorry.

I guess I kind of lost my head back there.

Yeah.

¶¶ ¶¶

¶¶ ¶¶

Howdy, soldier.

Name's Seth Adams.

Got a wagon train outside. Is your colonel in?

Yes, sir.

Things seem to be pretty peaceful around here.

We have our troubles.

Cheyenne? Yes, sir.

Black Wolf? No, sir.

Bunch of renegades.

I don't know anything about the Cheyennes hereabouts.

None of Black Wolf's doing, though.

He's a good Indian, if you can say that about any of them.

I'll tell the colonel you're here, sir.

Thank you.

I don't know anything about a raid on the Cheyennes, Major.

Black Wolf was camped on a little blue, wasn't he?

He was last week.

Could have moved, of course.

Why should he move?

He's been camped there ever since last fall.

The southern herds move down around the Ouachita.

He usually picks up and follows the buffalo this time of year.

Anybody else been camped on the little blue?

Two or three villages a cause, that's all.

You heard of any smallpox down there?

No, but it's possible.

Adams, if horse soldiers hit Black Wolf's village,

you'd hear the explosion clean up to the upper Missouri.

Colonel, that's exactly what I'm trying to tell you.

The fuse has already been lit.

It couldn't be cavalry, or I'd know about it.

Who else could it be?

Militia, maybe.

What militia?

I don't know.

You tell me.

All I can tell you is that one of my men

picked up shod horse tracks near Malachi Jenkins' place yesterday.

That would be the Colorado volunteers.

A couple hundred of them went through on their way to Denver.

You know who their commander was?

New man. Parkinson, I think his name is.

I wasn't here, up at Laramie.

You know, Adams, if I were you,

I wouldn't conjure up an Indian uprising

without having more to go on.

I wish I could help you,

but except for those renegade dog soldiers,

it's been pretty quiet.

All right, Colonel. Thanks.

Sorry I took up your time.

Not at all.

So long.

Bye, Adams.

Come on, Bill.

Where?

We need to get a bunch of men and go back through that pass.

I told all you men

what we might run into in that pass.

Well, our people are safe here,

so it's only our own necks that we're risking by going back.

I just hope I was wrong.

If I was, I've got no excuse.

I only did what I felt I had to do.

If I made a mistake,

and it's cost us the lives of those men,

there's nothing I can do about bringing them back.

All I can say is I'm sorry.

Let's go.

Come on.

Scout on ahead, some of you.

Maybe some of them are still around.

Can I say...

Nothing.

There ain't a man on earth that can raise you up to you.

Not a one.

Let's get the burying done, Bill.

We got a long ways to go.

Yeah.

All right, boys, break out yourselves.

Let's go to work.

Make sure you got them all well covered with rocks.

But, Major, I...

Yeah, George.

I'd like to go back to the fort if it's all right with the others.

We found Billy like this, I don't think I...

It's all right, George, I understand.

I ain't holding anything against you, Major.

Thanks, George.

You finish this up,

and I'll see if any of the others want to go back with you.

George?

George!

Billy.

Billy!

Billy!

Oh, Billy.

They went away, Pa.

Just four son up.

When we was about done, they went away.

You are a man after all, Billy.

Oh, Billy.

Billy.

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