"""" Tomahawk  """" 

   By: Christian M

Run was the only word racing around inside of Tomahawk's head. He hadn't wanted to spy against his mother's tribe but he needed the rifle he would get from the U.S. army. Although they hated him for his father being Sioux, his mother's tribe offered to take him in. He did not know. He still had to choose between U.S. Army or Indian.

Crack! Crack! Two rifles fired in unison behind him. He chanced a backwards glance. The four Crow Indians were not far behind now. Soon they would be upon him. Like fire, a new burst of energy spurred him on. He could not get caught. "No," he thought, that was death for sure.

Quickly, he shinnied up a tree to his right. He raced onto a stout branch that stood over the path. The four Crow came galloping around the corner of the trail. Tomahawk dropped. He landed on the rump of the horse which the Crow was sitting atop. The horse reared onto the air. The Crow and Tomahawk toppled off. Tomahawk ripped out a knife and swung at the Crow. The injured enemy fell back holding his side.

Tomahawk jumped onto the horse, but not soon enough. The other Crows turned and fired at him. Two bullets slammed into his shoulder. He kicked the horse's sides into a gallop with deathly pain piercing through his shoulder. Now he was on a horse, but his arm was weakening. He had to make it to the U.S. camp. Taking the knife in his other hand, Tomahawk turned and threw it. The lead Indian got it. The force of the throw and the force of him racing forward doomed him. Crack! The two rifles fired again. Both missed.

And then, there it was! Joy now controlled all his thoughts and he momentarily forgot all the pain in his arm. He shot into the clearing around the lake. The U.S. lookouts saw him gallop into the clearing and fired at the already retreating Crow Indians. When Tomahawk reached the other side of the lake, the soldiers hurried him into Captain Anderson's tent.

"What news have you got, Tomahawk?"

"Well, for one, I have two bullets in my arm."

"Is that all?"

"Wrong. The Crow are planning to attack here. They want revenge on the death of White Wolf."

"What's he got to do with it?"

"He was the Chief's son, like I tried to tell you."

"I know you tried to tell me. Now go on."

"They are going to shoot fire arrows into the tents, encircle you with the lake at your back, and drive you into the water. That's pretty much it. They plan to attack at sunset."

"Thank you, the doctor will see to your arm and the sergeant will see to you getting your rifle in return for spying. Corporal, take fifteen men with you and when the Crow encircle us you attack them from behind. That should send em' packin."

The corporal threw a smart salute and took his ten men with him to carry out the order. 

The moment the sun began to set, fire arrows swarmed out of the woods and harmlessly struck the watered-down tents. After five minutes, they gave up. Then with screams and war cries they charged the soldiers. At that moment, ten rifles rang out from behind the Crow Indians. Confusion was mainly what sent them packin' but none of the soldiers or Tomahawk had ever seen Indians run as fast as they did that day.

That night, the soldiers celebrated with fresh meat and a bottle of cider that was passed around. He had chosen the United States.

                        The End