They finally found the tracks, Sandra commented, that looks very strange these
prints are all walking single file. Michael agreed, like they are being ridden.
They continued to follow the prints for about two hours, over the next rise, they
saw a camp, looked like about twenty hide covered tents. Michael saw riders mounting and heading toward
them, all carrying spears no bows thankfully, he was very happy he had added a
pistol to his equipment, just in case he met a large group of wolves again. He instructed Sandra to fall back and cover him with her rifle, and notify Jhon of their new discovery with the walkie talkie he had given him. She nodded understanding and he rode towards the advancing men. Her and her pets stopped
on the ridge, watching carefully. She was extremely confident in her man but
still bit her lip anxiously. As the riders approached Michael dismounted and
held up a hand, one large man signaled the others to stop about thirty yards
from him, he rode closer to Michael and dismounted. The chief extended his hand
to Michael, surprised Michael took it, the Chief started squeezing his hand and pulling it to him, Michael likewise returned his grip, squeezing hard enough to impress the other of his strength but not hard enough to break bones, the Chief smiled and grunted releasing his hand, Michael immediately placed a small bag in his other hand to the Chief's surprise, a calculated move by Michael as a gesture of good faith. The Chief opened the bag and tasted its contents, his smile grew bigger he was very delighted, salt was like gold on the plains. He called back to his men in a language that was a mixture of some Indian Language, Spanish and English. He then proceeded to invite Michael and his woman down to his village. Concerned but he did not want to insult the man's offer of friendship,
they gathered around the fire at the village center. After exchanging names,
Chief Calian began talking of trade, after several iterations, Michael finally
understood he wanted Sandra, he was offering five horses, he also wanted more
salt, and tools. Michael smiled wrapped
his arm around Sandra and ella es mia, the Chief seemed to understand, Michael
then removed the katana from his back and presented it to the Chief, who with
great excitement pulled the blade from its sheath. His men roared approval.
After that Michael tried to convey they had much work to do, and that he would
return with more supplies to trade in a few days. As he mounted up the Chief
called to one of his men and he brought five ponies forward and placed the lead
ropes in his hand, it seemed he wanted to show his generosity, Michael with
obvious delight thanked him and rode away. By the time they returned all the
meat and hides had been added to the wagon. Traveling back across the river, the meat was stored in it's 40 degree embrace to hold it until it could be processed. Michael told of their new friends and gave Mathew
and Jhon the five ponies to use as they saw fit. The mood of the colony was
high as they felt their future was much more secure. After a week of hunting and meat curing, Micheal felt like they had enough to fill wagons, now they only had to wait for it to finish curing. He had bought barrels of salt for the curing process but Mathew said they had their own almost endless supply, in a
deposit they found a few hours away. Sandra was busy with her new babies during
the hunting, several buffalo calves were left motherless, and Sandra would bring
them all home. Michael as he promised, returned to the plains, bringing with
him Jhon and a couple of male soldiers, he did not want to go thru a dispute over
trading women. When the arrived he could tell the mood was different. He dismounted and Calian met him with a grim face, and said several of our men were captured and eaten by a large group raiders moving in their direction, his scouts said they are only a few hours away. Michael assured the Chief that they would help, they unloaded the wagon, barrels of salt, various tools, bows and arrows, cooking pots, and several large butcher knives. Micheal then not wanting to let the raiders endanger the women and children, moved the wagon to the top of the ridge, releasing the horses he had one brave take them back to the village, out of harms way. He considered trying to stop them and parley but when they were within a hundred yards he could see about fifty men with the
skulls hanging from their belts. With the tribesmen lined up ten to each side
of the wagon on horses, he gave orders to his men, when they charge shoot the
ones in the back first, I want them all killed, give none a chance to escape. The
cannibals saw them and started charging, Michael and his men started firing with deadly accuracy, only a half a dozen men on horseback made it to the wagon, then realized too late they were all alone. Calian's warriors made short work of them. Cheers went up as the last of the enemy lay dead. Chief Calian, stood in awe, maybe even in fear as he understood how deadly his new friends were. That evening he talked about the land and the areas they migrated to and from, as seasons changed. Michael asked that he train and supply horses to Jhon's colony across the river and if ever he should find his people in trouble again, to seek them out. Then he
presented him with a primer and list of rules, please teach these to your people, when I return, we will talk again. With that, he left for bed tomorrow they would head back.