Edge of the Wilderness - By Stephanie Grace Whitson Page 0,4
time to look into each man’s eyes before continuing. “This seemed good to the general. But he said he must write the Great Father in Washington and ask him about it.” Sacred Lodge smiled. “The Great Father thought it might be all right.”
Daniel felt a surge of emotion. Did Sacred Lodge mean they would be leaving this awful place? He tried not to let the hope rise too high. He glanced at Jensen who had uncrossed his arms and was standing, his fists clenched, his face a mask of disgust.
“The five men I chose pleased General Sibley.” Sacred Lodge paused and looked down at the four men seated around the stove. “But when I learned that you five were here at Mankato, I said that I wished also to take Daniel Two Stars, Robert Lawrence, Big Amos, Spirit Buffalo, and Good Voice Hail with me.”
Jensen snorted loudly and rubbed his nose.
Sacred Lodge continued. “The General asked, ‘Do you think it is a wise thing to take full-blooded Dakota Indians out of prison and turn them loose as scouts so soon after what happened?’”
Daniel bent his legs and hid his face by leaning his forehead onto his knees. Robert shifted his position to accommodate Daniel’s movement, although he chose to look Sacred Lodge in the face.
Big Amos interjected, “The General is such a wise man. He understands that all mixed-bloods are good Indians and all full-bloods are bad.” It was an attempt at humor, but no one laughed.
“When they doubted me,” Sacred Lodge continued quietly, “I told him he should not think of all full-bloods as hostile or all mixed-bloods as good. I said you five men are more steadfast and more to be depended upon than many of the mixed-bloods in the peace camp.”
Daniel looked up at Sacred Lodge as he concluded, “General Sibley listened to me. We have permission to go.”
Big Amos snorted in disbelief. He waved a broad hand in the air. “The general speaks and suddenly Dakota prisoners may take horses and guns and ride away?” Looking at the other four men, he said, “You know what I think? I think they want us to go outside Mankato so they will have an excuse to kill us.”
Sacred Lodge sat down before them. “They aren’t giving us horses or guns here in Mankato. We will ride in wagons that glide over the snow—with soldiers as a guard. Once we have made camp at Rice Creek they will leave us with horses and guns. Then we will be free men, my brothers.”
Daniel heard Jensen swear under his breath. He stomped out the door and shouted for someone to take over guard duty while he went to talk to the commanding officer.
Sacred Lodge repeated, “We will have horses and guns, freedom to hunt—”
“—freedom to hunt our friends,” Big Amos said bluntly. Good Voice interrupted Big Amos. Nodding toward the log prison barely visible through the filthy windows, he said, “Part of what Sacred Lodge says sounds good to me.” He looked up at Sacred Lodge. “I want to be a free man. But I could never bring my peaceful brothers to a place like this.” His voice lowered. “Better they die than come here.”
Sacred Lodge argued gently. “Any peaceful Dakota we find will camp with us until spring. Then all Dakota will be going to a new reservation. Even the ones at Fort Snelling.” He stood up and began to walk slowly around the little circle of men as he spoke. “Our frightened brothers who are still wandering around the country need to hear this good news. There is a place where they will be safe both from soldiers and from the hostile Sioux who hate them for not fighting.”
Good Voice reasoned, “If we help Sibley find the hostiles, perhaps the Great Father in Washington will let us have a home again.”
“You will be able to keep any horses you capture,” Sacred Lodge said quickly. “And guns. And they are sending a cook with us.”
“You mean we won’t have to kill our bread before we eat it?” Big Amos joked.
“You must promise the army to stay for six moons,” Sacred Lodge explained. “They will give you uniforms now. Horses and guns once we reach camp. They will pay seven U.S. dollars a month in wages. And,” he looked at Robert and Big Amos, “the scouts’ families will join them in camp.”
Daniel jerked his head up and looked at Robert. He saw the emotion flashing in his friend’s eyes, and spoke