Chapter 3

Just before sunset, Bear Claw and I entered the camp. Bear Claw had stitched up my cut and put a dressing on it like I had put on her shoulder. I had my rifle slung over my back and pistol in my holster.

Running Elk introduced his father, Grey Wolf, as the chief of this tribe of Blackfoot. It was twice the size of the tribe I was friends with. I found out the small tribe were outcasts a group that followed a crazy chief who had died earlier this year, pride was keeping them from rejoining the larger tribe.

Grey Wolf had a feast ready for us and thanked me for helping his son during the battle with the Crow warriors. It was two against one and even though he felt his Braves were the best fighters, it is hard to win against those odds. Grey Wolf said that my long and short thunder sticks took two Crow Braves out of the fight just as his son took one with his spear. So it became a man-to-man fight and that was more to the favor of the Blackfoot Braves who won. I said that Running Elk woke me just in time to keep the Crow from killing me in my sleep. Grey Wolf just smiled knowing that they may have surprised me, but they would not have been able to kill me in my sleep. To thank me, Grey Wolf gave his battle tomahawk to me. It was hand forged with a 4" curving face and 6" long head seated over a 1" diameter oak handle 18" long. It was almost as big as my camp axe. I thanked Grey Wolf and knew the custom of always giving a gift in return of almost equal BUT NEVER GREATER value, since that would be considered rude.

Reaching behind my back, I untied the leather thong holding my Bowie sheath to the belt and pulled the knife and sheath off my belt and handed it to Grey Wolf. Everyone smiled and Grey Wolf nodded his head as he took the Bowie and shouted a loud Indian Cheer showing just how pleased he was with the exchange. I could buy another Bowie. In fact, I made a note to buy three, one for Bear Claw, one to replace mine, and a third just in case this happened again. I looked at the tomahawk and realized that it was truly magnificent and was worth a lot more than the cost of the Bowie I traded. It felt perfect in my hand the balance was superb.