Shadow People
Created | Updated Sep 29, 2003
This is the story about living in the shadow of a monsterous giant.
One time, long ago, Swallow came to live with Runner. Swallow had no family left because the immigrants had killed them all, so Runner's family took her in. She had been working on a farm for awhile, earning her keep and learning about religion, but then she ran away. Runner's people found her snaring rabbits one day by herself.
By and by Runner needed a place of his own so he joined up with a band of people who had followed Wakala or Wakara, who the whites called Walker.
But Wakala was dead now so the people who followed him had drifted around for a few years, making their livings by raiding and trading mostly.
In this band was a breed called McDermott, but Runner called him Madelmud and so did Swallow. And Swallow took a shine to McDermott and he to her. So they began talking with each other sometimes when people were around and sometimes not.
One time McDermott came back from a raid with presents for Swallow, presents she had asked for, guns. A short rifle and a pistol. The short rifle was loaded from the muzzle. McDermott showed Swallow how to run ball, make bullets with a mold and fire.
"Lookee here," he would say. "See that hollow in that bullet."
And Swallow would nod her head solemnly.
"Well that's the hindend. Now see those grooves in the barrel? That skirt around that hollow expands when the powder burns."
"What's 'expands"?" asked Swallow.
"That means it opens like a cactus flower and that skirt gets in the grooves and those grooves make that bullet spin so it carries farther."
Swallow didn't know too much about ballistics but she knew that that bullet did carry a ways farther than anything else. That's because she learned to shoot. McDermott taught her how and she was very diligent in practicing all the skills, making her own cartridges from lead, powder, newsprint and fat from some of the cattle they rustled. That was how she came to know things about shooting. Even the pistol which had a cartridge box with foil cartridges inside she learned how to shoot and a very good shot she was with that pistol.
But Runner started to get jealous and told Swallow she should stay with him all the time.
So Swallow said to Runner, "I'll stay with you all the time if you take me on raids."
"That's not a good thing. Women shouldn't go on raids," said Runner.
But Swallow wouldn't be put off.
"I can ride and shoot like the men and I can cook and make a shelter for us and the baby. That's what I can do. So if you don't take me, then I will go with Madelmud. That's what I'll do, because Madelmud knows I can shoot. He taught me everything he knows so I know how."
Runner's face turned kind of red when he heard what she was saying but he didn't yell or beat her because she had said many times that he owned her since she was small and in her people's way she had chosen Runner, which was a great honor for him.
So then Runner and Swallow went with McDermott and the others. And wherever they went, the men learned how good Swallow could shoot, far off. And so if they wanted to shoot down some herders a long ways away, they asked Swallow to do it and that's what she did."
One time, after a pretty big fight with some ranchers, some of the men were shot. So the head of the band, who was called Old Man, said maybe it would be a good thing to move away, maybe move west.
But McDermott and Runner both said no. It wouldn't be a good thing. They said that the ranchers got their supplies from the Melikans called Molmons and those Molmons lived in a big town on the other side of the big salt lake.
So maybe they should go to that town and burn it down.
But Old Man said, "That's not a good idea. There are many more Molmons than you, even soldiers who live in forts where even Swallow can't shoot them. I have seen them when I'm a younger man. I know this."
"That's true I've heard it also," said Runner, "but maybe we could raid around that town, give them something to think about so they don't send wagons to the ranchers around here."
"That's a good idea," agreed McDermott.
Finally, after much discussion, everyone was agreed that the band should move to the other side of the lake and raid around there for awhile. So that's what they did.
They traveled through the big wall of rock and descended into the white plain, flat and vast, next to the lake where the mountains seemed to hover over the water still as the glass mirrors the white women carried, but kind of greenish blue like the pretty thunder making stones, the turquoise, that Swallow liked to wear around her neck.
By and by they came to a valley where there were scattered ranch houses made from logs. So McDermott and Runner took the most men and rode down the valley where some houses were clustered close together while another man led a smaller group of two other men and Swallow and most of the women towards a solitary ranch house up the valley a little bit.
The leader rode up to the door and yelled out,
"Yoo hoo!! Yoo hoo!!"
But nobody answered.
"Maybe they're not home," he speculated as he turned around to face the others, but just as he did that, the door opened a little bit and the two barrels of a shotgun could be seen.
A raspy woman's voice yelled, "You git now. You git away you thievin' savages. We ain't got nothin' to spare. You hear?"
But the leader answered her, "I hear you missy mam plenty good. We not harm you missy. We just hungry now. You give us something to eat maybe?"
"No, I said! Ain't you got ears to hear. I said we don't got nothin' to spare. Now git before I git the men after you. We got plenty to handle you bucks and those squaws with you."
So then Swallow got down off her horse. She set the baby down in his cradle board and unslung her rifle from her shoulder. And she shot that woman right through the chink in the logs next to the door. And that woman fell down against that door and it swung wide open.
So the leader and the two men who were with him dragged that woman next to the corncrib and left her there.
So somebody started shooting from out in the pasture and the men saw three white men standing in an irrigation ditch so they shot back, but one of the men got hit in the ankle and he fell down. So the leader shot at the white men and one of them fell down too. And the other man with the leader shot and another white man fell down. But the third white man got down in the ditch and no matter how the men shot at him, they couldn't hit him so they called for Swallow to do something.
Well, Swallow reloaded her gun and crept up to that corn crib where she had a pretty good view of that ditch and she saw that that white man was resting on his elbow on the side of the ditch when he shot at the men. So she shot him in the elbow and he slid down in that ditch and started screaming and cussing but he didn't shoot no more.
So then the men went into the house and started searching for useful things and they found a jug of whiskey behind a curtain and they started drinking.
So Swallow followed them into that house and looked around, but she could feel somebody staring at her and she looked up into the loft and she saw a girl there with a big butcher knife. And she told that girl to come down from there but that girl just shook her head and waved that knife around. And Swallow noticed there were other children in that loft too and one of them, a little boy, asked Swallow where their mama was, what had been done with her.
So Swallow said, "Your ma has gone to see the heavenly father and she's plenty happy to be seeing him again as you've been taught. And you see her and him too by and by, but that's after you grown up maybe and after you got children of your own so you come down now and I'll fix you something to eat."
But they wouldn't budge so Swallow said, "You come down now or I set fire to this house and you going to burn up."
So then they came down, crying and sniffling. And Swallow found some flour and salt and baking powder and fat and she fried some bread in a big iron skillet for those children. And while they were eating she talked to them.
"You there, girl! You the elder sister no?"
"No," answered the girl. "I'm the younger wife."
"Yo ho, your old man got plenty money to seal two wives. Is he the one with beard out in the ditch?"
"Yes," replied the girl with a shudder. "You didn't kill him did you?"
"No," said Swallow. "I winged him so maybe after he gets stiff some he don't try to fight. Then I take his hair and tie it on my bridle. That's what I do maybe."
"Please!" begged the girl. "We're godfearing people and so are you. You know about sealing the marriages so I think you've heard the missionaries tell you how you're my sister and my husband is your uncle."
"Yes, I heard that. Somebody said that to me right after that man shot my family. That's what he said to me. I'm his little sister. That's what he said. But I don't believe none, no I don't. I run away first chance I get. Run far in the dark, that's what I did.
Now you stop saying we sisters because you and me not sisters. But maybe the men can fetch a good price for you from the Mecheegans. Maybe they get many horses and guns for you. That's what I think."
When she heard Swallow saying these things, the girl seemed relieved that she wouldn't be killed but worried about what else might happen to her and the children.
But Swallow told her that Swallow would make sure nothing bad happened until they found the Mexicans and she would put in a good word if that girl and those children worked hard and helped out on the trail.
And by and by Runner, McDermott and the others returned while the women were collecting supplies from that house and they had plenty of things to show that they got from the other houses. There was smoke drifting from those houses as they burned.
McDermott had a hat made of felt with a wide brim and a red ribbon around the crown that he had found. Attached to the ribbon was a rose made out of the same fabric. So he gave that hat to Swallow so the sun wouldn't get in her face so much and she was very pleased but Runner wasn't pleased so he took charge of the captives and the women and led them away.
McDermott waited until they had gone over the ridge, then set fire to the house and watched with his men as it burned in the twilight, crackling so loud it echoed.
Then he and other men left, carefully watching their back trail.
It had been a profitable raid. There was much to divide among the families, cattle, horses, corn and other grains and many other useful things. There was also a wagon and team so much of the loot was put in that wagon.
Old Man had a dream that night and next morning he told everyone they needed to go to the other side of the lake because somebody was coming after them.
So that's what they did. They visited some of their relations living in the foothills on the other side of the lake and they shared what they had taken in the raid with those relations too.
But by and by after three days maybe, the scouts saw a plume of dust and they investigated. Then they came whipping their horses back and told Old Man there were soldiers coming on many horses and two wagons, maybe more soldiers than all the men in the camp.
So Old Man told the people to leave the wagon and team and anything else they couldn't carry or pack and follow him up to the pass through the rock wall. But the relations wouldn't leave saying the soldiers weren't looking for them.
Old man said that was fine. He and his people would leave and the soldiers would chase them maybe for a long time but give up by and by when it got too hot and they ran out of water.
So the band left their relations there in the foothills and rode toward the pass.
But Swallow had a bad feeling so she drifted back by and by and Runner came with her because he thought she was going to meet McDermott somewheres.
From a high rock maybe 200 yards above the camp, Swallow and Runner watched the soldiers come up to the camp. For awhile nothing happened while the soldiers dismounted. Swallow noticed most of them weren't wearing blue coats like real soldiers so she figured they must be the militia. But several of the men wore blue coats with gold braids on the shoulders so she figured they must be the leaders.
And one of those leaders had a long knife that flashed in the sunlight. He was waving that knife around while the other men were getting in a line. Pretty soon he pointed that knife at the camp and the men fired all at once then reloaded and fired again and again.
And people were screaming and trying to get away and many were falling down, many women and children as well as men.
So Swallow got mad and she sat down on that rock and she aimed her rifle at that leader with the gold braid and the long knife and she shot at him. His horse fell down and his leg was pinned underneath.
Runner said, "You got his horse. Let's go."
"No," said Swallow. "You got a gun! Use it!"
So then Runner shot while Swallow reloaded then Swallow shot while Runner reloaded, again and again so pretty soon there were a few soldiers lying on the ground too. And Swallow shot that leader stuck under his horse again and he didn't move no more.
The rest started running for their horses which were being held by horse holders behind the line they'd made. So Swallow shot two of those horse holders and the horses ran away.
But many more of the soldiers mounted their horses. They'd seen the smoke and knew where Swallow and Runner were hiding. So they started to charge towards that rock.
So Runner said again, "Let's go!"
And Swallow followed him as they fled on horseback up the slope. Runner was whipping his horse, but Swallow kept hers at a fast trot so pretty soon he was far ahead of her. So he dismounted and waited. She kept her horse going at the same fast trot zig zagging up the slope which got pretty steep at the top while the soldiers pursued her, hollering and shooting but the bullets just kicked up dust around her a little.
Runner shot a few times and brought down a couple of the men leading the chase. That slowed them down some.
When he and Swallow finally got over the ridge, she whipped her horse into a gallop and he followed hard behind her. That was just as the first soldiers got over the ridge and they followed at a gallop too but slower because their horses were getting worn out.
When Swallow got to the start of the next rise, she slowed her horse to a trot again and Runner did the same. By now the soldiers were starting to hang back because they were getting strung out. But some of them were still coming on at a gallop and as they tried to climb the rise, their horses began to stumble and fall and this delayed them even more.
So it went from rise to rise until Swallow and Runner were nearly to the pass. They stopped for a little while and noticed approvingly that the soldiers were nowhere in sight. So they rode through the pass and detoured to a, low flat topped mountain nearby where Swallow led the way along the rim until she found a way down over the scree. Then they resumed traveling in the direction that the rest of the band had taken.
Old man had decided the people should join a big camp by the river and so that's where the people decided to go and Swallow and Runner followed and caught up with them by and by about dusk.
For the next few days the scouts went out and watched the backtrail, but nobody was following. Finally, the band came to the river and found the big camp. There was much celebrating when they arrived and Old Man talked a long time with the head man of the big camp.
That head man told him that soldiers were coming pretty soon to make a treaty for safe passage through the country. So he asked Old Man and his people to stick around so the soldiers would know there were warriors around with many guns if those soldiers decided to start shooting. And besides the soldiers had promised to bring presents for everybody.
After a few days those soldiers came, not very many, just an officer and his escort, a few wagons full of presents. A larger band of soldiers was camped farther away up the river in tents but they didn't come any nearer.
All these soldiers wore blue coats like real soldiers too. And the officer who they called Major talked a long time with the head men.
By and by though some riders came to the soldiers' camp, members of the Mormon militia and one of them, a young man with red hair came to see the Major and told him about the trouble that had happened.
"I can understand your concern, Mr. Nielsen, but the fact remains I have orders to make a treaty with these people."
"I'm aware of that, Major, but you also have a sworn duty to protect United States citizens from these marauding savages. I reckon you ought to remember that."
"Do you have any idea that there's a war on?" asked the Major. "A real war, not one of your perennial frontier skirmishes. I notice you haven't volunteered, Mr. Nielsen, although you are reputed to be a citizen of the Union in good standing. Perhaps, you can explain to me why I must spread my meager command over thousands of square miles while your so-called militia drills in Temple Square to the tune of a brass band?"
"Sir, with all due respect, we're talking about civilian lives here. Those people aren't really prepared for war. They're peace loving ranchers and farmers trying to eke out a living in this wilderness. The least you could do is help us track down the savages that not only murdered all those people in Skull Valley but also attacked Lieutenant Brady's command at Salt Creek."
"You think the miscreants are here then?"
"I do indeed sir. I saw one of them when I rode into camp earlier today. A squaw with a bonnet bound with red ribbon. I saw her shoot down Lieutenant Brady with my own eyes."
"A squaw? You can't be serious surely?!!"
"I've never been more serious in my life, sir, and if it's last thing I do I'll see that squaw swing at the end of a rope along with the rest of that renegade rabble, as God is my judge."
"The report you brought along from Sergeant Schrader, what did it say? Oh yes, it said Brady ordered the attack without provocation."
"We saw my uncle's wagon and team those rogues had stolen. That was all we needed to see. At least Brady had the guts to do something besides talk."
"That will do, Mr. Nielsen. I'll not be addressed in such fashion.
Now my mission is clear. It is a peace mission, not a war mission. I can certainly sympathize with your situation, but I'll not have any vengeance taken here while negotiations are going on. Is that clear?"
"Major, I don't think you understand the gravity.. "
"And I don't think you understand what's at stake. I have no one to spare if things escalate into a general indian war and no hope of replacements. My first responsibility is to my men and I'll not risk their lives for a wagon and team."
"That's not what I meant! I meant.. "
"I know exactly what you meant, Mr. Nielsen. My only concern is that you know exactly what I mean. Leave the diggers be! Understood?"
Nielsen bit his lip barely containing his rage but finally nodded his head and quickly left the Major's tent. "You haven't heard the last of this!" he said under his breath.
That night Nielsen, although a practicing Mormon, decided to share a jug of whiskey with some of the Major's troops. He got drunker and drunker and began to complain bitterly about the indians and how they'd basely murdered his uncle and aunt and no one knew what they'd done with his other aunt and the rest of the children. Most likely tortured them to death after committing fowl insults upon his aunt's person. That's what he said.
Well, by and by, Swallow heard about his talking and went to see what he was saying. She stood just beyond the light cast by the fire and listened quiety in the darkness.
".. and that squaw, she kilt Lieutenit Brady. Shum hof you might haf knowd him, a goooood ossifer, fair and truth."
The other men nodded their heads as the jug made it's way around the circle.
"All I wan ish justish. That's all. That's all I wan. I wan just one shot at shat whore, jush one and I'll wipe that thiefin grin osh her ugly fash."
"You be looking for me then white boy?"
Nielsen was startled by her voice and dropped the jug.
"What the gaw dam hell?!!"
"You be looking for me white boy?" Swallow repeated. You be wanting to shoot me white boy?"
Nielsen spun around and almost lost his footing. A corporal nearby got to his feet. He had let the jug pass mostly so he wasn't weaving like Nielsen.
"Take it easy, Mr. Nielsen. Who's out there?"
Swallow stepped partially into the circle of light.
"Swallow's out there. Swallow hears white boy making threats. Swallow says no use waiting for white boy to come looking, come to shoot Swallow while she sleeps. Swallow give white boy even chance then."
"As you were, Nielsen!" commanded the corporal.
"I don't take no gaw dam ordersh from you! I'll gonna cut her dirty teats off I swear to gawd!"
And with that, Nielsen jerked out the pistol he had stuffed in his belt and fired at Swallow, but Swallow had dropped down on one knee and was cradling her pistol in the crook of her arm. She instantly shot back, the bullet hitting Nielsen in the head while his shots went wild.
The other men began to scatter, staggering in all direction, all except the corporal who undid the flap on his holster and began to pull his pistol but Swallow shot him too before he even got the gun clear of the holster.
There was general confusion all around the camp as men ran yelling and screaming that someone had been shot. But by the time the guards surrounded the fire, Swallow had slipped away.
Next morning, the Major and escort came looking for Swallow in Old Man's camp. Runner said she should run away, but Swallow said she had done a good thing but if the white men wanted to hang her for it, then they could do that if they left the rest of the people alone.
So she surrendered herself to the Major and was led away in chains and taken to the Major's tent. Old Man followed with some of the other elders.
The guards shoved Swallow throught the tent flap so hard she fell to the ground. The Major stepped over her and sat down at a small writing desk.
"I don't think there's much to determine here," he said. "The defendant shot Mr. Nielsen and Corporal Grant in cold blood and from ambush. Is that not the case?"
He was looking straight at Swallow when he said that. But she didn't look back at him.
"Do you have nothing to say in your own defense, young woman? Does she understand English?"
Old Man nodded his head.
"I understand plenty good that English," said Swallow.
"Very good," replied the Major. "Then would you be so kind as to inform this tribunal why you shot down those two men without provocation?"
"What's 'provocation'?"
"Provocation, being provoked, uh, being given cause to defend yourself. Do you understand?"
Swallow shook her head.
"I don't know what you meaning, Major white man. I know that that white boy said he going to shoot Swallow, cut off her tits, torture her then. I know what that white boy means then. I tell that white boy he got even chance. That's what I told him then he got mad and shoot at Swallow so Swallow kill him and then that soldier with yellow stripes take his gun from the scabbard so Swallow shoot him too. That's all."
"So you are claiming self-defense? Is that correct."
"I don't know what selfing defense meaning. I tell you what happened. That's all."
"Well, if your story can be corroborated, then I'll set you free. Do you have any witnesses, people of your own who might have seen what happened?
Regrettably the stories I'm getting from my own men are hardly consistant at all, except they all agree that you shot those men while you yourself were concealed by the darkness. That's not exactly what I'd call giving someone an 'even chance'."
"Whatever, Major."
"Very well then. Take her away."
The Major turned away from the guards as they roughly jerked Swallow to her feet. Old Man tried to say something but the Major waved him away.
So he left along with the others, not following the guards or Swallow. Later after a cage had been constructed she was thrown into it along with a blanket, still in chains.
That evening, McDermott came to see the Major and they talked for awhile and the next morning the Major told Old Man that if he would free the captives they were holding, returned them to the Major, then Swallow would be set free too.
So by and by, Old Man got the captives from where they were hidden and gave them to the Major and the Major let Swallow go. But he told Old Man there wouldn't be no presents for him or his people so he better go away and pretty quick.
So Old Man told the people what the Major had said and they agreed that they should go away pretty quick and that's what they did. But Old Man said that the Major was mad at Swallow and she shouldn't go with them.
Swallow said they should shoot all those soldiers, but Old Man said that was a very foolish thing to do and the people agreed with Old Man.
So Swallow rode away with her baby and those people never saw her again. But Runner didn't go with her and neither did McDermott. Later McDermott tried to catch up with her, but she saw him coming a long way off and she hid from him.
So he hunted her maybe a few days, but he couldn't find her for awhile. Then one night she came to where he was bedded down.
"I think you looking for Swallow, Madelmut," she said.
"I heard you coming," he replied. "That's true, Swallow. Did you not want to see me?"
"I can see you plenty good, I think. Why didn't you defend me when the people were talking in the council?"
McDermott didn't answer for awhile and Swallow was silent too.
Finally he said, "I got you freed. I traded those whites for you. Didn't you know?"
Swallow looked up. He could see some tears in her eyes.
"Yes I know that, but why didn't you defend me when that white boy was talking, making threats? Why didn't you settle it then with him?"
"I thought it would be better if we didn't stir things up just then. That's what I thought."
"Well, they got plenty stirred up anyways. Sometimes I think you're not as brave as people say."
"Well, now, that might be true. But you're much braver than people say. You're even braver than they think. You scare them a little."
"Since those whites came into the country it's been pretty scary I think and they don't care nothing for the people, nothing at all, so why don't the people understand that and kill all those whites?"
"There's too many, Swallow. They come from the east and the more you kill the more come to take their places. That's just how things are."
Swallow thought about those words and then she said, "I think I'm going to ride west from here maybe. I think I'm going to go over the mountains."
"There's more whites there than here. What will you do? How will you live?"
"Maybe I'll work on a farm then and learn more religion."
"I'll come with you and we'll make do."
"No, I got nobody now. You go back to those people who know you."
"I'm a rich man. Even got plenty of gold. Maybe I get some land from the government and some cattle and you can help me run that ranch?"
Swallow didn't say anything for awhile and McDermott was silent too, patiently waiting.
Then she said, "You taught me to shoot. By and by maybe you teach me other things? Maybe you can do that because you're one of them and then I'll become one of them too, like that white woman I shot? Living in a house made of logs?"
"That would be a good thing. Time changes things, that's all. It's everyone for himself now. Come? Share my blanket, Swallow. In the morning we'll go to the town and get some land and I'll buy you another hat too."
Swallow wrapped the baby on his cradleboard and put him close by. Then she snuggled next to McDermott and after they'd made love for awhile, they fell asleep.
McDermott was exhausted from the lovemaking and slept late that morning. The sun was in his face when he awoke, but Swallow was gone and he never saw her again, even in the shadow of the monsterous giant from the east who stood trumphant on the land.
One time, long ago, Swallow came to live with Runner. Swallow had no family left because the immigrants had killed them all, so Runner's family took her in. She had been working on a farm for awhile, earning her keep and learning about religion, but then she ran away. Runner's people found her snaring rabbits one day by herself.
By and by Runner needed a place of his own so he joined up with a band of people who had followed Wakala or Wakara, who the whites called Walker.
But Wakala was dead now so the people who followed him had drifted around for a few years, making their livings by raiding and trading mostly.
In this band was a breed called McDermott, but Runner called him Madelmud and so did Swallow. And Swallow took a shine to McDermott and he to her. So they began talking with each other sometimes when people were around and sometimes not.
One time McDermott came back from a raid with presents for Swallow, presents she had asked for, guns. A short rifle and a pistol. The short rifle was loaded from the muzzle. McDermott showed Swallow how to run ball, make bullets with a mold and fire.
"Lookee here," he would say. "See that hollow in that bullet."
And Swallow would nod her head solemnly.
"Well that's the hindend. Now see those grooves in the barrel? That skirt around that hollow expands when the powder burns."
"What's 'expands"?" asked Swallow.
"That means it opens like a cactus flower and that skirt gets in the grooves and those grooves make that bullet spin so it carries farther."
Swallow didn't know too much about ballistics but she knew that that bullet did carry a ways farther than anything else. That's because she learned to shoot. McDermott taught her how and she was very diligent in practicing all the skills, making her own cartridges from lead, powder, newsprint and fat from some of the cattle they rustled. That was how she came to know things about shooting. Even the pistol which had a cartridge box with foil cartridges inside she learned how to shoot and a very good shot she was with that pistol.
But Runner started to get jealous and told Swallow she should stay with him all the time.
So Swallow said to Runner, "I'll stay with you all the time if you take me on raids."
"That's not a good thing. Women shouldn't go on raids," said Runner.
But Swallow wouldn't be put off.
"I can ride and shoot like the men and I can cook and make a shelter for us and the baby. That's what I can do. So if you don't take me, then I will go with Madelmud. That's what I'll do, because Madelmud knows I can shoot. He taught me everything he knows so I know how."
Runner's face turned kind of red when he heard what she was saying but he didn't yell or beat her because she had said many times that he owned her since she was small and in her people's way she had chosen Runner, which was a great honor for him.
So then Runner and Swallow went with McDermott and the others. And wherever they went, the men learned how good Swallow could shoot, far off. And so if they wanted to shoot down some herders a long ways away, they asked Swallow to do it and that's what she did."
One time, after a pretty big fight with some ranchers, some of the men were shot. So the head of the band, who was called Old Man, said maybe it would be a good thing to move away, maybe move west.
But McDermott and Runner both said no. It wouldn't be a good thing. They said that the ranchers got their supplies from the Melikans called Molmons and those Molmons lived in a big town on the other side of the big salt lake.
So maybe they should go to that town and burn it down.
But Old Man said, "That's not a good idea. There are many more Molmons than you, even soldiers who live in forts where even Swallow can't shoot them. I have seen them when I'm a younger man. I know this."
"That's true I've heard it also," said Runner, "but maybe we could raid around that town, give them something to think about so they don't send wagons to the ranchers around here."
"That's a good idea," agreed McDermott.
Finally, after much discussion, everyone was agreed that the band should move to the other side of the lake and raid around there for awhile. So that's what they did.
They traveled through the big wall of rock and descended into the white plain, flat and vast, next to the lake where the mountains seemed to hover over the water still as the glass mirrors the white women carried, but kind of greenish blue like the pretty thunder making stones, the turquoise, that Swallow liked to wear around her neck.
By and by they came to a valley where there were scattered ranch houses made from logs. So McDermott and Runner took the most men and rode down the valley where some houses were clustered close together while another man led a smaller group of two other men and Swallow and most of the women towards a solitary ranch house up the valley a little bit.
The leader rode up to the door and yelled out,
"Yoo hoo!! Yoo hoo!!"
But nobody answered.
"Maybe they're not home," he speculated as he turned around to face the others, but just as he did that, the door opened a little bit and the two barrels of a shotgun could be seen.
A raspy woman's voice yelled, "You git now. You git away you thievin' savages. We ain't got nothin' to spare. You hear?"
But the leader answered her, "I hear you missy mam plenty good. We not harm you missy. We just hungry now. You give us something to eat maybe?"
"No, I said! Ain't you got ears to hear. I said we don't got nothin' to spare. Now git before I git the men after you. We got plenty to handle you bucks and those squaws with you."
So then Swallow got down off her horse. She set the baby down in his cradle board and unslung her rifle from her shoulder. And she shot that woman right through the chink in the logs next to the door. And that woman fell down against that door and it swung wide open.
So the leader and the two men who were with him dragged that woman next to the corncrib and left her there.
So somebody started shooting from out in the pasture and the men saw three white men standing in an irrigation ditch so they shot back, but one of the men got hit in the ankle and he fell down. So the leader shot at the white men and one of them fell down too. And the other man with the leader shot and another white man fell down. But the third white man got down in the ditch and no matter how the men shot at him, they couldn't hit him so they called for Swallow to do something.
Well, Swallow reloaded her gun and crept up to that corn crib where she had a pretty good view of that ditch and she saw that that white man was resting on his elbow on the side of the ditch when he shot at the men. So she shot him in the elbow and he slid down in that ditch and started screaming and cussing but he didn't shoot no more.
So then the men went into the house and started searching for useful things and they found a jug of whiskey behind a curtain and they started drinking.
So Swallow followed them into that house and looked around, but she could feel somebody staring at her and she looked up into the loft and she saw a girl there with a big butcher knife. And she told that girl to come down from there but that girl just shook her head and waved that knife around. And Swallow noticed there were other children in that loft too and one of them, a little boy, asked Swallow where their mama was, what had been done with her.
So Swallow said, "Your ma has gone to see the heavenly father and she's plenty happy to be seeing him again as you've been taught. And you see her and him too by and by, but that's after you grown up maybe and after you got children of your own so you come down now and I'll fix you something to eat."
But they wouldn't budge so Swallow said, "You come down now or I set fire to this house and you going to burn up."
So then they came down, crying and sniffling. And Swallow found some flour and salt and baking powder and fat and she fried some bread in a big iron skillet for those children. And while they were eating she talked to them.
"You there, girl! You the elder sister no?"
"No," answered the girl. "I'm the younger wife."
"Yo ho, your old man got plenty money to seal two wives. Is he the one with beard out in the ditch?"
"Yes," replied the girl with a shudder. "You didn't kill him did you?"
"No," said Swallow. "I winged him so maybe after he gets stiff some he don't try to fight. Then I take his hair and tie it on my bridle. That's what I do maybe."
"Please!" begged the girl. "We're godfearing people and so are you. You know about sealing the marriages so I think you've heard the missionaries tell you how you're my sister and my husband is your uncle."
"Yes, I heard that. Somebody said that to me right after that man shot my family. That's what he said to me. I'm his little sister. That's what he said. But I don't believe none, no I don't. I run away first chance I get. Run far in the dark, that's what I did.
Now you stop saying we sisters because you and me not sisters. But maybe the men can fetch a good price for you from the Mecheegans. Maybe they get many horses and guns for you. That's what I think."
When she heard Swallow saying these things, the girl seemed relieved that she wouldn't be killed but worried about what else might happen to her and the children.
But Swallow told her that Swallow would make sure nothing bad happened until they found the Mexicans and she would put in a good word if that girl and those children worked hard and helped out on the trail.
And by and by Runner, McDermott and the others returned while the women were collecting supplies from that house and they had plenty of things to show that they got from the other houses. There was smoke drifting from those houses as they burned.
McDermott had a hat made of felt with a wide brim and a red ribbon around the crown that he had found. Attached to the ribbon was a rose made out of the same fabric. So he gave that hat to Swallow so the sun wouldn't get in her face so much and she was very pleased but Runner wasn't pleased so he took charge of the captives and the women and led them away.
McDermott waited until they had gone over the ridge, then set fire to the house and watched with his men as it burned in the twilight, crackling so loud it echoed.
Then he and other men left, carefully watching their back trail.
It had been a profitable raid. There was much to divide among the families, cattle, horses, corn and other grains and many other useful things. There was also a wagon and team so much of the loot was put in that wagon.
Old Man had a dream that night and next morning he told everyone they needed to go to the other side of the lake because somebody was coming after them.
So that's what they did. They visited some of their relations living in the foothills on the other side of the lake and they shared what they had taken in the raid with those relations too.
But by and by after three days maybe, the scouts saw a plume of dust and they investigated. Then they came whipping their horses back and told Old Man there were soldiers coming on many horses and two wagons, maybe more soldiers than all the men in the camp.
So Old Man told the people to leave the wagon and team and anything else they couldn't carry or pack and follow him up to the pass through the rock wall. But the relations wouldn't leave saying the soldiers weren't looking for them.
Old man said that was fine. He and his people would leave and the soldiers would chase them maybe for a long time but give up by and by when it got too hot and they ran out of water.
So the band left their relations there in the foothills and rode toward the pass.
But Swallow had a bad feeling so she drifted back by and by and Runner came with her because he thought she was going to meet McDermott somewheres.
From a high rock maybe 200 yards above the camp, Swallow and Runner watched the soldiers come up to the camp. For awhile nothing happened while the soldiers dismounted. Swallow noticed most of them weren't wearing blue coats like real soldiers so she figured they must be the militia. But several of the men wore blue coats with gold braids on the shoulders so she figured they must be the leaders.
And one of those leaders had a long knife that flashed in the sunlight. He was waving that knife around while the other men were getting in a line. Pretty soon he pointed that knife at the camp and the men fired all at once then reloaded and fired again and again.
And people were screaming and trying to get away and many were falling down, many women and children as well as men.
So Swallow got mad and she sat down on that rock and she aimed her rifle at that leader with the gold braid and the long knife and she shot at him. His horse fell down and his leg was pinned underneath.
Runner said, "You got his horse. Let's go."
"No," said Swallow. "You got a gun! Use it!"
So then Runner shot while Swallow reloaded then Swallow shot while Runner reloaded, again and again so pretty soon there were a few soldiers lying on the ground too. And Swallow shot that leader stuck under his horse again and he didn't move no more.
The rest started running for their horses which were being held by horse holders behind the line they'd made. So Swallow shot two of those horse holders and the horses ran away.
But many more of the soldiers mounted their horses. They'd seen the smoke and knew where Swallow and Runner were hiding. So they started to charge towards that rock.
So Runner said again, "Let's go!"
And Swallow followed him as they fled on horseback up the slope. Runner was whipping his horse, but Swallow kept hers at a fast trot so pretty soon he was far ahead of her. So he dismounted and waited. She kept her horse going at the same fast trot zig zagging up the slope which got pretty steep at the top while the soldiers pursued her, hollering and shooting but the bullets just kicked up dust around her a little.
Runner shot a few times and brought down a couple of the men leading the chase. That slowed them down some.
When he and Swallow finally got over the ridge, she whipped her horse into a gallop and he followed hard behind her. That was just as the first soldiers got over the ridge and they followed at a gallop too but slower because their horses were getting worn out.
When Swallow got to the start of the next rise, she slowed her horse to a trot again and Runner did the same. By now the soldiers were starting to hang back because they were getting strung out. But some of them were still coming on at a gallop and as they tried to climb the rise, their horses began to stumble and fall and this delayed them even more.
So it went from rise to rise until Swallow and Runner were nearly to the pass. They stopped for a little while and noticed approvingly that the soldiers were nowhere in sight. So they rode through the pass and detoured to a, low flat topped mountain nearby where Swallow led the way along the rim until she found a way down over the scree. Then they resumed traveling in the direction that the rest of the band had taken.
Old man had decided the people should join a big camp by the river and so that's where the people decided to go and Swallow and Runner followed and caught up with them by and by about dusk.
For the next few days the scouts went out and watched the backtrail, but nobody was following. Finally, the band came to the river and found the big camp. There was much celebrating when they arrived and Old Man talked a long time with the head man of the big camp.
That head man told him that soldiers were coming pretty soon to make a treaty for safe passage through the country. So he asked Old Man and his people to stick around so the soldiers would know there were warriors around with many guns if those soldiers decided to start shooting. And besides the soldiers had promised to bring presents for everybody.
After a few days those soldiers came, not very many, just an officer and his escort, a few wagons full of presents. A larger band of soldiers was camped farther away up the river in tents but they didn't come any nearer.
All these soldiers wore blue coats like real soldiers too. And the officer who they called Major talked a long time with the head men.
By and by though some riders came to the soldiers' camp, members of the Mormon militia and one of them, a young man with red hair came to see the Major and told him about the trouble that had happened.
"I can understand your concern, Mr. Nielsen, but the fact remains I have orders to make a treaty with these people."
"I'm aware of that, Major, but you also have a sworn duty to protect United States citizens from these marauding savages. I reckon you ought to remember that."
"Do you have any idea that there's a war on?" asked the Major. "A real war, not one of your perennial frontier skirmishes. I notice you haven't volunteered, Mr. Nielsen, although you are reputed to be a citizen of the Union in good standing. Perhaps, you can explain to me why I must spread my meager command over thousands of square miles while your so-called militia drills in Temple Square to the tune of a brass band?"
"Sir, with all due respect, we're talking about civilian lives here. Those people aren't really prepared for war. They're peace loving ranchers and farmers trying to eke out a living in this wilderness. The least you could do is help us track down the savages that not only murdered all those people in Skull Valley but also attacked Lieutenant Brady's command at Salt Creek."
"You think the miscreants are here then?"
"I do indeed sir. I saw one of them when I rode into camp earlier today. A squaw with a bonnet bound with red ribbon. I saw her shoot down Lieutenant Brady with my own eyes."
"A squaw? You can't be serious surely?!!"
"I've never been more serious in my life, sir, and if it's last thing I do I'll see that squaw swing at the end of a rope along with the rest of that renegade rabble, as God is my judge."
"The report you brought along from Sergeant Schrader, what did it say? Oh yes, it said Brady ordered the attack without provocation."
"We saw my uncle's wagon and team those rogues had stolen. That was all we needed to see. At least Brady had the guts to do something besides talk."
"That will do, Mr. Nielsen. I'll not be addressed in such fashion.
Now my mission is clear. It is a peace mission, not a war mission. I can certainly sympathize with your situation, but I'll not have any vengeance taken here while negotiations are going on. Is that clear?"
"Major, I don't think you understand the gravity.. "
"And I don't think you understand what's at stake. I have no one to spare if things escalate into a general indian war and no hope of replacements. My first responsibility is to my men and I'll not risk their lives for a wagon and team."
"That's not what I meant! I meant.. "
"I know exactly what you meant, Mr. Nielsen. My only concern is that you know exactly what I mean. Leave the diggers be! Understood?"
Nielsen bit his lip barely containing his rage but finally nodded his head and quickly left the Major's tent. "You haven't heard the last of this!" he said under his breath.
That night Nielsen, although a practicing Mormon, decided to share a jug of whiskey with some of the Major's troops. He got drunker and drunker and began to complain bitterly about the indians and how they'd basely murdered his uncle and aunt and no one knew what they'd done with his other aunt and the rest of the children. Most likely tortured them to death after committing fowl insults upon his aunt's person. That's what he said.
Well, by and by, Swallow heard about his talking and went to see what he was saying. She stood just beyond the light cast by the fire and listened quiety in the darkness.
".. and that squaw, she kilt Lieutenit Brady. Shum hof you might haf knowd him, a goooood ossifer, fair and truth."
The other men nodded their heads as the jug made it's way around the circle.
"All I wan ish justish. That's all. That's all I wan. I wan just one shot at shat whore, jush one and I'll wipe that thiefin grin osh her ugly fash."
"You be looking for me then white boy?"
Nielsen was startled by her voice and dropped the jug.
"What the gaw dam hell?!!"
"You be looking for me white boy?" Swallow repeated. You be wanting to shoot me white boy?"
Nielsen spun around and almost lost his footing. A corporal nearby got to his feet. He had let the jug pass mostly so he wasn't weaving like Nielsen.
"Take it easy, Mr. Nielsen. Who's out there?"
Swallow stepped partially into the circle of light.
"Swallow's out there. Swallow hears white boy making threats. Swallow says no use waiting for white boy to come looking, come to shoot Swallow while she sleeps. Swallow give white boy even chance then."
"As you were, Nielsen!" commanded the corporal.
"I don't take no gaw dam ordersh from you! I'll gonna cut her dirty teats off I swear to gawd!"
And with that, Nielsen jerked out the pistol he had stuffed in his belt and fired at Swallow, but Swallow had dropped down on one knee and was cradling her pistol in the crook of her arm. She instantly shot back, the bullet hitting Nielsen in the head while his shots went wild.
The other men began to scatter, staggering in all direction, all except the corporal who undid the flap on his holster and began to pull his pistol but Swallow shot him too before he even got the gun clear of the holster.
There was general confusion all around the camp as men ran yelling and screaming that someone had been shot. But by the time the guards surrounded the fire, Swallow had slipped away.
Next morning, the Major and escort came looking for Swallow in Old Man's camp. Runner said she should run away, but Swallow said she had done a good thing but if the white men wanted to hang her for it, then they could do that if they left the rest of the people alone.
So she surrendered herself to the Major and was led away in chains and taken to the Major's tent. Old Man followed with some of the other elders.
The guards shoved Swallow throught the tent flap so hard she fell to the ground. The Major stepped over her and sat down at a small writing desk.
"I don't think there's much to determine here," he said. "The defendant shot Mr. Nielsen and Corporal Grant in cold blood and from ambush. Is that not the case?"
He was looking straight at Swallow when he said that. But she didn't look back at him.
"Do you have nothing to say in your own defense, young woman? Does she understand English?"
Old Man nodded his head.
"I understand plenty good that English," said Swallow.
"Very good," replied the Major. "Then would you be so kind as to inform this tribunal why you shot down those two men without provocation?"
"What's 'provocation'?"
"Provocation, being provoked, uh, being given cause to defend yourself. Do you understand?"
Swallow shook her head.
"I don't know what you meaning, Major white man. I know that that white boy said he going to shoot Swallow, cut off her tits, torture her then. I know what that white boy means then. I tell that white boy he got even chance. That's what I told him then he got mad and shoot at Swallow so Swallow kill him and then that soldier with yellow stripes take his gun from the scabbard so Swallow shoot him too. That's all."
"So you are claiming self-defense? Is that correct."
"I don't know what selfing defense meaning. I tell you what happened. That's all."
"Well, if your story can be corroborated, then I'll set you free. Do you have any witnesses, people of your own who might have seen what happened?
Regrettably the stories I'm getting from my own men are hardly consistant at all, except they all agree that you shot those men while you yourself were concealed by the darkness. That's not exactly what I'd call giving someone an 'even chance'."
"Whatever, Major."
"Very well then. Take her away."
The Major turned away from the guards as they roughly jerked Swallow to her feet. Old Man tried to say something but the Major waved him away.
So he left along with the others, not following the guards or Swallow. Later after a cage had been constructed she was thrown into it along with a blanket, still in chains.
That evening, McDermott came to see the Major and they talked for awhile and the next morning the Major told Old Man that if he would free the captives they were holding, returned them to the Major, then Swallow would be set free too.
So by and by, Old Man got the captives from where they were hidden and gave them to the Major and the Major let Swallow go. But he told Old Man there wouldn't be no presents for him or his people so he better go away and pretty quick.
So Old Man told the people what the Major had said and they agreed that they should go away pretty quick and that's what they did. But Old Man said that the Major was mad at Swallow and she shouldn't go with them.
Swallow said they should shoot all those soldiers, but Old Man said that was a very foolish thing to do and the people agreed with Old Man.
So Swallow rode away with her baby and those people never saw her again. But Runner didn't go with her and neither did McDermott. Later McDermott tried to catch up with her, but she saw him coming a long way off and she hid from him.
So he hunted her maybe a few days, but he couldn't find her for awhile. Then one night she came to where he was bedded down.
"I think you looking for Swallow, Madelmut," she said.
"I heard you coming," he replied. "That's true, Swallow. Did you not want to see me?"
"I can see you plenty good, I think. Why didn't you defend me when the people were talking in the council?"
McDermott didn't answer for awhile and Swallow was silent too.
Finally he said, "I got you freed. I traded those whites for you. Didn't you know?"
Swallow looked up. He could see some tears in her eyes.
"Yes I know that, but why didn't you defend me when that white boy was talking, making threats? Why didn't you settle it then with him?"
"I thought it would be better if we didn't stir things up just then. That's what I thought."
"Well, they got plenty stirred up anyways. Sometimes I think you're not as brave as people say."
"Well, now, that might be true. But you're much braver than people say. You're even braver than they think. You scare them a little."
"Since those whites came into the country it's been pretty scary I think and they don't care nothing for the people, nothing at all, so why don't the people understand that and kill all those whites?"
"There's too many, Swallow. They come from the east and the more you kill the more come to take their places. That's just how things are."
Swallow thought about those words and then she said, "I think I'm going to ride west from here maybe. I think I'm going to go over the mountains."
"There's more whites there than here. What will you do? How will you live?"
"Maybe I'll work on a farm then and learn more religion."
"I'll come with you and we'll make do."
"No, I got nobody now. You go back to those people who know you."
"I'm a rich man. Even got plenty of gold. Maybe I get some land from the government and some cattle and you can help me run that ranch?"
Swallow didn't say anything for awhile and McDermott was silent too, patiently waiting.
Then she said, "You taught me to shoot. By and by maybe you teach me other things? Maybe you can do that because you're one of them and then I'll become one of them too, like that white woman I shot? Living in a house made of logs?"
"That would be a good thing. Time changes things, that's all. It's everyone for himself now. Come? Share my blanket, Swallow. In the morning we'll go to the town and get some land and I'll buy you another hat too."
Swallow wrapped the baby on his cradleboard and put him close by. Then she snuggled next to McDermott and after they'd made love for awhile, they fell asleep.
McDermott was exhausted from the lovemaking and slept late that morning. The sun was in his face when he awoke, but Swallow was gone and he never saw her again, even in the shadow of the monsterous giant from the east who stood trumphant on the land.
