Blood Feather Read Online Free PDF

spare elk-skin shirt from his bedroll and put it on, then took it off, opting for the sunlight and fresh air to help heal his wounds. He packed his belongings and started leading Gabe slowly, very slowly, along the ridge. He was only able to walk five minutes at a time, then sit down and rest, before several more minutes later, he and Gabe would limp along again.
    It took the rest of the day and several naps to travel the one mile to the spring. Joshua, exhausted, fell asleep by the spring while Gabriel grazed on the tall, lush green grass.
    When Strongheart awakened, the morning sun was in his eyes, and he looked at the red hue on the snowcapped peaks of the Sangre de Cristos across the valley from him. He understood fully why they had gotten their name from that crimson reflection complemented by the clear blue sky above. He had a pounding headache and realized his whole body felt like a giant toothache. A good sign, though, was that he was starving. The Pinkerton grabbed some beef jerky from his saddlebag and chewed on that, while he pulled out his small coffeepot and made some coffee.
    After seeing how badly he needed nutrition, he grilled some biscuits and cut a slab of bacon into the pan from his saddlebags.
    Afterward, he spent most of the day cleaning and treating his wounds and Gabe’s. The Lakota would use witch hazel, derived from the witch hazel bush, which Joshua carried in his saddlebags, mixed with smashed acorns to treat poison ivy and poison oak. They also used just straight witch hazel to treat a variety of ills, such as sore muscles, aches, and pains.
    Joshua found some acorns, mashed them up, and made poultices by mixing them with the witch hazel, figuring that adding the acorn mash would help the mixture serve as an antiseptic and astringent. He then applied the poultices to Gabe’s wounds and his own. Gabe’s were then covered with more poultices, these ones made of moss, which Joshua easily found on the north side of trees. He bandaged his own wounds with bandaging cloth he also carried for emergencies.
    He cleaned his pistol and sharpened his knife, then, grabbing his crutch, he made the relatively long trek back to Blackjack. He was perplexed to find a bloody eagle feather placed atop Blackjack’s face. Next, he went through his friend’s pockets to retrieve what he could. This would all be turned over to his boss, including his fellow agent’s Pinkerton badge. Knowing now that the body was too far gone to return to Lucky, Strongheart then gathered a great deal of firewood and built a giant woodpile around Blackjack’s body, then cleared the perimeter for a good distance and began the cremation process.
    With darkness approaching, and while the fire raged, he removed the bear’s claws and cut some meat from the hindquarters to cook later. Joshua did not particularly like bear meat, and the cleaning process was very messy as the meat was very, very greasy to the touch.
    Satisfied that the fire would not send showers of sparks or spread any farther, he departed for his own campsite. By the time Joshua made the mile hike back to his camp, his eyesight was blurry and the whole scene spun around. He collapsed to the ground and splashed water on his face. After looking over at Gabe, who was standing in the tall grass, napping, he fell asleep and slept until morning.
    Strongheart awakened the following morning very sore and headachy, plus his eyesight was bad, as both eyes were still swollen almost shut and very black and blue. His right leg and left arm both ached horribly. He made it to Gabe, and the big horse was now limping around the small glade. He walked up to Strongheart when he saw him coming. He wanted to have his head rubbed and held. Joshua gave his lifesaver plenty of loving.
    Still standing next to Gabe, he turned his head and was amazed to see three mule-deer does standing in the grass, one of them drinking from the spring. He glanced at his fire, and the wind