The old Indian he'd traded with caught up tohim again and offered to help him.
The Indian spoke English and Wes wassurprised.
"Why didn't you tell me you spoke English?"Wes asked Black Feather as they camped that night.
"You did not ask." Black Feathersnorted.
"I guess you are right. I didn't." Wessmiled.
"What you do with these horses?" LittleFeather asked him.
"I'm going to take them down to the valley,sell some and breed some and raise them."
"You take all of them, alone, byyourself?"
"Unless you want to help me. I would giveyou twenty-five head if you help me get them down there."
"Twenty-five horses."
"I mean, I figure it might help yourpeople."
The old Indian looked at him and thensmiled. "You take them to my village, then I help you get the restto your valley."
"It's a deal." Wes smiled. He reached outhis hand to him to shake. The old Indian smiled back.
"It's a deal!"
Wes slept better that night, and the nextday they headed for Black Feather's camp. It was miles to the west,but Wes didn't mind. With help he could get these horses down. Hehadn't thought the herd would be so big, but it would be a greatstart he figured. And Indians were good with horses.
It was nearly a week getting to the campsiteand they were greeted by his entire tribe. When the others foundout about the bargain Black Feather had struck with Wes, they wereexcited and pleased. They offered him food, and a dry place to layhis head.
"It is good. We have a hard time gettingthrough the forest and rough terrains in winter on foot. This willmake it easier on the entire tribe. I would like to know if I couldmake more bargains with you."
Wes smiled, "Name your bargain?"
"If we trade corn, and fish and hides, wouldyou trade horses every year?'
"How many?" Wes asked.
"Ten horses a year."
"Done." Wes smiled and shook on it.
"You are a good trader, my friend." BlackFeather told him.
"It will benefit us both."
"Agreed."
They stayed a couple of nights and when theygot ready to leave two young braves came up to them. After talkingto Black Feather, they wanted to go and help get the horses downfrom the thick forest and hill country.
Knowing the Indians knew the best routes andthe dangers, Wes was agreeable to the extra help.
"It is good my friend. But why you trust theIndian so much?" Black Feather asked.
Wes sat back against his saddle now andlooked at Black Feather. "I've been a drifter for years, BlackFeather and I have met many people, many different people. By beingfriendly I have learned to get along with most of them. Unless aman robs, kills, or lies, I see no reason to be unfriendly toanyone." Wes told him.
"It is good. Perhaps my people could learn alot from you." Black Feather smiled.
"The time of wars is almost past. A lot ofblood was shed on both sides. Then the big war came when the whiteman fought his own people. And killed way too many of them. I liketo think we learned something from that war. Your tribe is small,but you couldn't exist if it were big. Like before. They'd have youon a reservation. But as long as there is peace, things aregood."
"Yes, many died on both sides. They alwaysdo."
"The civil war was a blood bath, like manyof your wars against other tribes."
Black Feather nodded his expression sad andthoughtful.
"Are you married, Black Feather."
"No more, she died of the white man'sdisease, smallpox."
"I'm sorry. Do you have children?"
"Yes, these are my sons, Blue Dog, and WhiteFox." He told him proudly.
Wes nodded at them with a smile. "Do theyspeak English?"
"Some, not as much as I. But I try to teachthem. It is important that we learn from the white man and maybethe white man can learn from us." Black Feather said quietly.
"That's true. I've done a lot of traveling,but my knowledge of the hill country is not as good as yours. Idon't usually stay in one place long."
"We cannot take up the white man's religion,nor discard our beliefs, but we can be friends and not make war anylonger. Tell me, does my white brother have a family?"
Wes smiled at the 'white brother' comment."I have. I have a sort of father, and a girl I want to marry."
"That is good, for man should not bealone."
"Yeah, I'm beginning to believe that." Wessmiled.
"How long you think it will take to get downthis rough terrain?" Wes asked.
"With this many horses, four, five, maybesix weeks. But we will not lose them my friend, that is what isimportant."
"Yes, you're right again."
That night Wes slept peacefully. He was gladto have the help and to have made friends with these people. Hefelt good about his future now.
For the next two weeks they pushed thehorses slowly through the thick forest of trees. The stallion thatled them gave them some trouble but oddly enough Blue Dog seemed toknow exactly how to handle him and Wes paid close attention how hedid it. Sometimes the boy worked on foot to get the reaction hewanted from the horse. But the kid knew horses better than anyoneWes ever saw. Lucky seemed to follow his lead too and helped BlueDog.
That evening at the campfire Wes told BlackFeather, "Anytime they want a job working with the horses, let meknow. I've never seen anyone better than your boys. Also, I'd becoming back this way or to other areas to round up mustangs, and ifyou and they want to help, I can promise to keep your tribe inhorses for years to come."
"That's good my brother. The Indian hastaken naturally to the horse. For many years, our ancestors had nohorse and dogs were used to transport our camp from one place toanother. When the Spanish came with their magnificent horses, theIndian quickly learned to master them."
"Well, I've sure
