Chapter 30

I left him speaking softly to the animal in Dakota as I took our weapons to the loft and changed out of my white man’s clothing. When I returned, Bear mounted his brother’s pony and led the mare by the reins as we started to town. Neither of us spoke a word on the long, sad ride.

The sentry outside the fort’s entrance fingered his rifle nervously as two Indians in loincloths and moccasins, approached with two drags carrying what were obviously bodies covered by buffalo skins. Without halting, we rode straight for the headquarters building.

“Halt! Hold on. You can’t go in there.”

Another soldier started for us, but as he made a grab for my reins, a sergeant stepped out of the administration building and called him back. Then the Three-Stripe stood waiting on the portico.

“Tell the major that River Otter and Little Bear are here.”

The man eyed the shrouded forms resting on the two travois and nodded. “I’ll do that. You wait right here.”