Pony Soldier

This is a story about the old territories of northwestern Canada

during the first days of the Mounted Police.

It was the year 1876. The body I had 3 years of life.

And in posts distributed from Edmonton to Fort Calgary

and Fort Macleod. From Battelford to Maple Creek and Fort Walsh.

We tried to impose the law and keep the peace in the thousands

of square miles of Indian territory.

It has been called "The Great lonely land. "A land

of meadows, lakes and mountains. A beautiful and peaceful land.

But in those days, It was a powder keg.

The wild tribes of the meadow and mountain

they prepared to face each other in a bloody war.

Avoiding it was our job.

We were only 300 men in the Mounted Police.

I, Duncan MacDonald, had enlisted in Toronto and requested

destination in the far west. I was sent to Fort Walsh,

near the border with Montana. We were prepared for the worst.

South of the border, the Sioux and the American cavalry, to whom

for their sabers, the Indians called "Long Knives", faced

in bloody skirmishes, and our bellicose tribes

Canadians were in turmoil.

I will narrate what happened during the mission that I did

with the Indians. I will tell you such and how it happened.

Except that when the Creeks speak they do it in our language.

Many miles south of Fort Walsh, the Eared Bear Creek tribe,

had illegally trespassed border delimitation for

hunt buffaloes in the U.S.

Erect Bear, great chief of the Creek, I was happy.

The shops of its people they were overflowing with red meat

And the hunger spent during the winter had forgotten.

But his joy does not It was going to last a lot.

- Who has done it? - The "Long Knives".

They were looking for siouxs. They do not know the difference between creeks and siouxs.

We will teach it to you.

Withdrawal! Withdrawal!

The Creek danced to mourn the deaths of their own.

To mourn his defeat.

Erect Bear and the Chiefs They were sad and restless.

Signs of danger.

From our friends, Assiniboines.

The "Long Knives" come. Soldiers on horseback

With rifles. We must go north.

Back to the land of the great white mother.

There are many buffalo here. There is good hunting.

Konah says that We have to fight.

We can not. The "Long Knives" They are more than needles and pines.

- We must go north. Fast. - To what? To die of hunger?

We have the right to hunt where we want

Are you going to let the "Knives" Long "condemn us to go hungry?

Konah says to fight.

You have a woman's heart.

Also you, Erect Bears. Konah has spoken.

Erect Bear is not afraid to fight and die.

There is no glory in escaping of the enemy.

But Erect Bear is the big boss of all his people.

Think of women and children that will be without a husband and without parents.

This is your duty.

We will not fight. We will go north. Bear Erect has spoken.

The hearts of the "Knives Long "feel love for their people.

Take your best warriors. Search to some whites and capture them.

If the "Long Knives" attack us before reaching the border

we will have the captives for change them for peace.

Listen Listen to Konah. We will make a whipping.

Konah wants warriors to accompany him.

- We are going. - We are going.

Quick, to hide everyone.

- Creeks. - Are you sure?

Even a fool with one eye I would recognize these dogs.

- If they find us, they'll kill us. - Do not be afraid, Little Face.

They are looking for white men.

That is a good place. With plenty of water.

We will build our cabin there.

Next, the stables.

- Dad, come back here! - No, Jim, do not go.

Stay where you are, Esmerald. Get in the cart.

- Dad, dad, dad! - Hide.

No. We want them alive. Throw arrows of fire.

The Creeks not stealing horses. Not stealing cattle.

Taking prisoners!

- Where are you going, Natayo, my husband? - To cross the border

to see new soldiers of Fort Walsh.

The misfortune that has happened to them to those ranchers

it can be good luck for us.

Will you come back with a second woman, my husband?

You forget that my father was a man White. It is not customary

white men take more than one wife

Do not worry. To me enough with wife like you, Little Face.

And good?

- I caught up with ... - Rest.

I caught the horse thief and I continued to the mountains.

On the morning of the third day ...

Hello, Natayo Smith. Now I'm busy.

I told you I'm busy. Come back later

- You have not heard me, Natayo? - Twice.

I'm not busy. Have ample time. Wait.

Go on, MacDonald.

On the morning of the third day, I saw my man stopping in a cabin.

- He still had the horse stolen? - Yes sir.

As I approached, he fired. A bullet wounded and knocked down my horse.

What fell on me, what gave the man opportunity to flee.

Leave the details for the report. How did you arrest him in the end?

- I did not do it. - It did not?

No sir. By the time I reached closest ranch

to buy another horse, my man I was nine hours ahead.

I figured that by the time I gave reach, I would have crossed the border.

- That calculated? - Yes sir.

What does the border have to do?

Well, sir. According to article 33 of the regulation,

the members of the body they can not enter the US UU

- So I followed the regulation? - Yes sir.

How long it takes in the body, MacDonald?

A year and a half, sir.

In office work in Toronto, is not it?

- Yes sir. - And you want to go back there?

- Oh, no, sir. I prefer this. - Then, show it.

Take off your head that this is the adventurous life of a gentleman.

It's something that they already explained when he took an oath.

You pay 75 cents a day for impose the law where there is none.

This has been his first mission. And he has not earned his pay.

- Yes sir. - Sit down and write the report.

Per quintuplicado.

That is Article 85.

What do you want from me, Natayo?

Is it so strange that man Do you ever visit a friend?

Oh, a friendly visit.

Tell me, how much will it cost? to His Majesty?

Something to be interesting for man maybe not interesting for friend.

Your information always It's interesting, Natayo.

Thanks for a good opinion and high esteem.

- A lot of snow in mountains. - Interesting.

- Now I come from the USA UU - I know.

Head of mounted soldiers to know a lot.

I appreciate your good opinion and high esteem.

And what have you seen in the USA? UU.?

I have seen many different Indians. Up to Erect Bear creeks.

Do you have news of the creeks?

My friend does find this interesting?

Speak clearly, Natayo. How much do you ask?

My rifle, it does not throw anything right. A lot of lead in the canyon.

- Very well. I will give you a new one. - Yes, but one soldier mounted.

That shoots many bullets.

Better that your news be good. Those rifles are very expensive.

Last winter, very cold. Two blankets from Hudson Bay.

Well, give me the information.

Then. Thinking of a woman, you need new cooking pot.

- A pan. - Coppermade.

- Coppermade. - Size for two buffalo tongues.

Okay, fine. Nothing more Natayo.

A rifle, two blankets and a copper pot

The Erect Bear Indians They have gone from your reservation.

We already knew it. We have been searching. That is all?

Calm your heart They fought with "American Long Knives"

in Red Rock Canyon. They were made bits ...

- How did you know? - Seven or eight creeks attacked

a cart of American settlers in Black River.

Take prisoners alive, two.

Prisoners alive? It's strange.

Hostages, probably.

- Me, Natayo, I've seen that. - In what direction did they go?

On the way to Assiniboine, to the north.

Will you give me a piece of paper for things you have promised me?

- Just a moment. MacDonald. - Yes sir.

How much did you learn from language Creek in the academy?

- I passed the course, sir. - Have you heard what Natayo said?

Yes sir.

I want you to free those prisoners and bring the Creeks to the reservation.

That will be your mission. Natayo

You know that way as the palm of your hand.

I want you to accompany MacDonald. Be your guide.

My plans look in other directions.

You will be paid very well.

No. Ask Natayo to sleep in nest of snakes.

Ask him to put his hand in the mouth of a bear.

Ask him to walk barefoot in blizzard

All that will do it. But go with this Soldier apprentice mounted, no.

I can not force you, Natayo.

Sir, one of our tasks It's the customs inspection, right?

Like mr. Smith just came from I know. UU., By simple routine,

Would not it be convenient to him register your bag?

Maybe yes, MacDonald. May be.

I'm surprised, mr. Smith A former police guide

know that alcohol is prohibited in these territories.

I came here running. it's possible forget when the head is full.

For bringing contraband alcohol to the northwest territories,

will have to pay a fine of one repeating rifle, two blankets

- From Hudson Bay ... - A copper pot.

And a copper pot.

Inspector Frazer's ingenuity is greater than Natayo's.

Also the soldier apprentice He has a fine ear.

- Now I'll leave here. - Wait, I'm not finished.

Besides the fine you'll have to cut and stack 20 logs.

But if you agree to accompany him in this mission, you will not cut wood.

And I will give you everything promised.

Cut 20 logs of wood It's like dying 20 times.

But going with this apprentice is like die more quickly.

- I will go. - All right.

But the riding boss knows that This mission is very, very dangerous.

Okay, I will not force you to go. MacDonald will go alone.

- Maybe, I could go if ... - Not one more thing, Natayo.

- You're well paid. - No, it's not for more things.