Fools Crow

One day, One Spot is running around teasing girls when he spots a wolf “with whiteness around his mouth” (260). He taunts the animal, who immediately pounces on him and bites into his face. After four nights, One Spot begins to show signs of recovery, but the family worries that the wolf that bit him may have been rabid (262). After seeming to recover, One Spot falls ill again. Heavy Shield Woman realizes that it is “the white mouth” (rabies) and sends for Fools Crow and Red Paint. Since Mik-api is nowhere to be found, Fools Crow administers medicine and performs the healing ceremony himself. Because of Fools Crow’s efforts, One Spot survives.

Rides-at-the-door rides with Heavy Runner and several other Pikuni chiefs to meet with the seizers about a new agreement between the Pikunis and the Napikwans. He knows that the seizer chiefs will not be happy because many chiefs, like Mountain Chief, have refused to join, as they do not want to parley with the Napikwans. Rides-at-the-door thinks that Heavy Runner is the wrong man to lead this party, as he is too trusting of the Napikwans and does not realize that they only want land and do not actually value good relations with the Pikunis (271).

When they reach the gates of the Napikwan fort, Heavy Runner addresses the soldiers guarding the gates in the Blackfeet language; when they look at him in fear and confusion, Rides-at-the-door says in English that they have “come to council with [their] chiefs” (274). The party is admitted into the fort; the men dismount and put down their weapons before being led into a room inside one of the buildings. Through his translator, General Sully expresses disappointment that more chiefs have not joined Heavy Runner in coming to meet with them. He thinks to himself that there is little point to attempting an agreement with such a small group.

Sully states that he has three major “points of contention” to discuss with the Pikunis (279). First, the U.S. army wants the Pikunis to help them arrest Owl Child so that he can be brought to justice for the murder of Malcolm Clark. Second, the United States government would like all horses stolen from white settlers to be returned to their rightful owners as soon as possible. Third, the United States demands that all attacks on American citizens by the Blackfeet cease immediately.

Heavy Runner replies that although he regrets that many of his people have committed atrocities against the Napikwans, the seizers must understand that Owl Child is already an outcast among the Pikunis and will be very difficult to kill or apprehend. Furthermore, locating and returning all Napikwan horses is a nearly impossible task. Nonetheless, they will do their best to kill Owl Child and return the horses to avoid further conflict. Heavy Runner says that in return, however, they need the Napikwans’ help in getting food, medicine, and blankets as many of their people are falling sick with the white-scabs disease. Sully says they cannot give them these things until they have returned the horses and captured Owl Child. Before leaving the meeting, Sully warns the chiefs that many of his people are very angry at the Blackfeet and “wish to settle the score in a less peaceful manner” (286). He tells them to convey his ultimatums to the rest of the chiefs and make them understand that “war is imminent” and that “their people will be killed like so many buffalo” (286). Before leaving Heavy Runner asks that Sully put in writing the fact that he and the others present do not wish for war with the Napikwans; Sully prepares a document, dated 1 January 1870, stating that “these men… cooperated with the United States and were therefore not to be considered hostiles” (287).