White Fire

“The floor?” Colonel Russell grumbled, frowning. “Do you mean I am going to have to sit on the damn floor?”

“If you wish to have council, yes, the floor will have to do,” White Fire said, a mischievous gleam entering his eyes.

He waited until the colonel eased himself to the floor, sitting with his legs crossed, his hands resting on his knees. Then, White Fire went to the Sioux and talked to them in their language and told them to come and sit on the floor in a circle with him and the colonel.

His arms folded stiffly across his bare chest, Chief Shining Turtle stared sullenly for a moment into White Fire’s eyes. Then he spoke to his companions.

Their breechclouts brushing against their copper-colored, muscular legs, the chief and his three warriors went and sat down in a circle with the colonel. White Fire sat down in the center.

Soon the dialogue began. White Fire knew enough Sioux words to be able to translate their desires to the colonel.

“The recent Chippewa attack on Chief Shining Turtle’s encampment, when Chief Gray Feather came for his daughter, and at the same time freed me from my captivity, robbed Chief Shining Turtle of many of their supplies and warriors,” White Fire explained to the colonel. “After they were ushered home by the Chippewa, they found twofold hardships there than when they had left to trap and sell pelts on the banks of the river close to Fort Snelling. They have come to seek your assistance. They need provisions for their children and elderly.”

“There are more bands of Sioux than just this one,” Colonel Russell mumbled, his knuckles whitening as his grip hardened on his knees. “Ask them why they do not go and pester—no, do not use that word. Ask them why they do not go and seek help from their brothers at the other Sioux villages?”

Seeing the colonel’s lack of respect for the Sioux, which meant that he surely lacked the same respect even for the friendly Chippewa, caused White Fire to dislike him even more than before. Yes, it was true that White Fire himself had no liking for the Sioux. But it was not in him to ridicule them, for he knew that the Sioux had learned their manners toward whites after being mistreated by the whites.

He turned toward the Sioux chief. “Why do you not go to your Sioux friends at the other villages and ask them for assistance instead of asking white eyes?” he asked.

“Because my friends and brothers are as poorly as I,” Chief Shining Turtle said glumly. “It is not so much because of the recent Chippewa attack on my people as it is because of the white eyes that the Sioux are put in the position of begging. And tell this white eyes soldier that it just makes the Sioux hate the white eyes more and more because of being put in this position.”

“If you hate them so much, how can you take from them?” White Fire could not help but ask.

“Because we care more for our children, women, and elderly than we do for our pride,” Chief Shining Turtle said tightly.

“Do you not feel even the least bit awkward coming and asking this of the white eyes after you kept me, their friend, captive at your village?” White Fire asked, even though he knew that this was not a part of the dialogue expected by the colonel.

“You were a captive, but you are still alive, are you not?” the Sioux chief asked, his eyes suddenly gleaming.

“Yes, that is so,” White Fire said warily.

“I will say no more about it, for that should be enough for you,” Chief Shining Turtle said, his lips tugging into a smug smile. Then he frowned. “Get answers I need so that I can return to my people.”

White Fire sighed, then turned to the colonel. “Are you going to give them supplies?” he asked, his voice solemn.

“What would happen if I didn’t?” Colonel Russell said, glaring at the Sioux chief.

“What would happen?” White Fire said, arching an eyebrow. “Do you really wish to test the chief and see?”

“Then you are suggesting I give into his demands?”

“Colonel, although I carry much bitterness and resentment inside my heart for this particular Sioux chief, I urge you to help him. Mainly to keep down hostilities.”

“Then it shall be done,” Colonel Russell said. He looked from warrior to warrior, then looked into White Fire’s midnight dark eyes. “Tell the chief that he will be given as many provisions as he feels are required to ease the hunger and discomfort of his people. Then you, personally, take him to the commissary. Oversee exactly what they do take. Make sure they do not take more than what seems right in your eyes.”

White Fire nodded, then conveyed this to the Sioux chief.

Chief Shining Turtle was pleased. He smiled. But he didn’t offer any sort of friendly handshake to the colonel. He and his warriors followed White Fire to the commissary.

White Fire stood aside as the Sioux chose food, blankets, and even some white men’s clothes.

After these were secured in tight bundles on their horses, White Fire exchanged a lingering stare with the Sioux chief. Then he watched him and his companions ride out of t

he wide gate of the fort.

Curious as to whether or not the band might travel onward to their village, or make camp for the night and leave on the morrow, White Fire swung himself into his saddle and followed. He kept far enough back not to be seen.

After he traveled for some time, never allowing Chief Shining Turtle to get out of sight, White Fire drew a tight rein, and slid his horse quickly behind a thick covering of brush when he saw many Sioux warriors waiting for the chief.