TATANKA SAPA AND HIS MEDICINE BOW
By David Scott

Daniel Hawthorne lived with his father Joseph and his mother Annette in a tiny one-room log cabin. It was a time when the West was still "wild" and when each step had to be taken with caution. Rumors of "savage" Indian tribes were known by all the squatters in the area, and the people said that if the Indians didn't get you, then the land certainly would. Because of high upbringing, Daniel believed those rumors thoroughly, even though his folks were generally good people who didn't spread falsehoods.

One day, while hunting, Daniel came upon an old Indian man laying helplessly in the forest. His first thought was to flee, until he saw how sick the old man really was. His fear quickly passed and he felt he had no choice other than to help him.

Daniel helped the old man to his feet, and although no words were spoken-at least none that were comprehended by either of the two-a great bonding had taken place. Slowly the Indian, with the help of his new friend, made his way through the forest carrying with him the last of all he possessed. The Indian kept on speaking in a language foreign to Daniel, and Daniel kept telling the old man how much trouble he was going to get into when he got home. On and on the two walked until they could both see the tiny log home. Upon seeing the cabin, the Indian seemed hesitant-almost afraid. Perhaps he had heard equally frightening stories of the "savage" settlers.

Daniel's parents were furious with him for bringing home an Indian. In fact, his father wanted to shoot the old man. Daniel ended the dispute by stepping between the two and reminding his father of the lessons which he'd learned.

"If someone is in trouble, no matter who they may be, you help them. Remember what you told me?" Daniel told his father. At that point, the reluctant parents had no choice other than to help the old Indian.

Over the course of the next four weeks, Daniel and the Indian become very close friends. He discovered that the old man's name was Tatanka Sapa, Black Bull. From his bed, Black Bull showed Daniel how to knapp arrowheads, set traps and play traditional Native American games. The two even learned words and sign language from each others language, but words did not need to be spoken for theirs was a friendship of the heart. As their friendship grew, however, the Indian continued to sicken.

Before the night of his death, Black Bull signaled for Daniel to come to his side. He reached beneath the bunk and pulled out a large bag made of animal skins, and motioned for Daniel to open it. Inside was the most beautiful bow, accompanied by ten meticulously made arrows. He gave the bow and arrows to Daniel and made the sign for brother, after which he passed away.

Several weeks went by, and one day Daniel fell asleep after finishing his chores. His mother and father were a half mile away gathering berries in the meadow. What they didn't know was that a grizzly bear was doing the same, keeping a careful eye on the couple at all times. The gnarled old bruin, eventually became bored with the two, and headed toward the cabin. Annette sensed that something was wrong. No birds were singing, no animals were chatting, even the wind was still. At that moment she saw the large bear enter the partially opened door of the cabin.

She and her husband rushed with great speed to save their son, yet they knew they were too far away to get there in time. When they finally reached the front door, they were astounded. There, sprawled out on the floor before them, was the great grizzly bear. On the bunk beside the bear lay their son fast asleep.

No one could figure out how the bear had died, for there was no obvious wound. But when Daniel's father was butchering the great beast, he found a beautiful handcrafted arrowhead embedded deep in its heart.

Quickly he dashed into the cabin where Daniel kept the bow and arrows given to him by the old Indian. The arrowhead retrieved from the bear's heart was a perfect match with the arrows given to Daniel, and when he counted the arrows in the quiver there were only nine, as for the tenth, it was gone.


STORY OUTLINE

I. Daniel Hawthorne lived on the frontier at a time when Indians were considered dangerous enemies.

II. He finds an ill, elderly Indian and brings him home to nurse back to health, much to Daniel's parents' objections.

III. The Indian returns Daniel's kindness with his friendship and a gift of a medicine bow. Then he dies.

IV. Daniel is asleep in the cabin one day, when his parents see a grizzly bear break into the cabin.

V. The frantic parents reach the cabin from their field, only to find the bear dead.

VI. Upon butchering the bear, Daniel's father finds an arrow has killed the bear and one of the arrows has mysteriously disappeared from the old Indian's quiver while Daniel slept.