Lakota Surrender Read Online Free Page B

murder.
    Murmurs were traded within the circle, but none rose to speak.
    Finally a young chief, Shonka, rose and strode to the front of the fire.
    “Are we women that we sit here and wonder what we should do to avenge our brothers’ deaths? We all have heard the rumors from beyond the Missouri of the white man’s treachery. We have felt his greed in our trades this year. Why do we wait? There are white men here within our reach. They have cheated us this year. Are they not brothers of these white soldiers? We must avenge these deaths tonight, within this trading post. The white man has shown he has no honor; he has no soul. He must go. We must make war on these white men. They must pay for the murders of our brothers. Have we not more warriors than they do? Why do we stand here?”
    At this rallying cry, warriors bounded to their feet, whooping and brandishing their weapons. Drums burst out their rhythms. Young men, hungry to prove themselves, surged to their feet, shouting.
    Tahiska sat still. He was uneasy. It was his father who lay slain, yet this talk was not good. There was no honor in this. He, too, desired revenge. Anger stirred in his blood, and he, probably more than anyone here tonight, required a white man’s scalp to atone for the death of his father. But not from these whites at the post. They had committed no crime of murder. No good would come of it.
    Hawonjetah strode to the center of the council. “Is there no one else to speak? Shonka speaks with the fire of the young. I, too, desire revenge. But from these people at the trading post? Must we, too, become murderers? What will become of us if we begin to kill people who had no part of another’s murder? Do we not ourselves become like them? What do you say?” Hawonjetah spoke directly to Tahiska. “Was it not your father who was slain?”
    Tahiska jumped to his feet. He tread swiftly into the center of the circle.
    “You are right to ask me, chief of the Minneconjou. I, too, believe we must avenge these deaths, but not from the white people here.”
    Hawonjetah, satisfied that the young man would speak, turned and resumed his seat at the head of the council.
    Tahiska faced the elders of the combined council. “Friends, there are many from my tribe here. My father is dead and I, too, desire revenge. But this revenge is mine to take and none other’s. I will seek out the true murderers. Do we not have their descriptions? I will track them. It is my duty to avenge my father’s death. I do not require all of our men to do this task. The right of revenge is mine and mine alone. I will find these whites who killed my father and his brother. There is a soldier fort a full moon’s journey south and east from our home. I will go to this fort. I will seek out these men and I will bring their white, dirty scalps home to decorate my mother’s tepee.”
    Wahtapah flew to his feet and joined his friend in the council circle. “I will ride with my cousin to this soldier fort. I will be part of his glory and I will help slay the evil ones who committed these crimes.”
    Neeheeowee, the Cheyenne brave who had just recently arrived at the Sioux encampment, sprang to his feet and joined his friends in front of the fire. “I, too, will ride with my friends from the Lakota tribes. Together we will kill these murderers.”
    Only a few wars whoops still sounded. The elder chiefs talked in conference, while the women whispered to one another and the young warriors gazed with envy upon the three in the center.
    At length, Hawonjetah rose. “All look upon your bravery and your honor with admiration. It is good that you seek the death of these murderers yourselves. It honorable and just. We ask one other thing of you when you are in the soldier fort. Investigate their trade. If it is worthwhile, we will bring our furs and our horses no more to this post on the Teton. I have spoken.” Hawonjetah tapped the ashes of his pipe upon the ground, signaling the end of the