Off To See The Wild West Show Part 1, Chapter 10 (4/4) By Frank Beill 1886: Hull, Yorkshire

(1/4), (2/4), (3/4), (4/4). Part 1 Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Part 2 Prologue, Chapter 1, 2, 3.

I examined Red Shirt closely. Was he my father? Father looked so tall the last time I saw him but I was much smaller then. I tried to see behind bright streaks of white, red and yellow grease desperate to recognise the face beneath. 'Is it yer father?' George whispered, squeezing closer to me. 'No.' My head dropped. The Redmen could kill me now, if they wanted to. I didn't care anymore. All my hopes sank, right down to the depths of the Atlantic where my father's ship must have gone.

The chief spoke to us but it was in an unintelligible tongue, which just brought blank looks from us in return. 'Red Shirt want to know what tribe you from?' The warrior who spoke in broken English was translating his leader's words. 'Sailors' Orphanage!' Some of George's courage had returned.

'No, you!' The warrior pressed a forefinger onto my forehead. 'Like he said ... Sailors' Orphanage!' I realised my fists were still raised and I lowered them slightly. I was threatening no one. The translator shook his head and muttered more strange words to Red Shirt who also shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. 'Not know say-lass hore-fanage.' The go-between had turned back to face me. 'Why you here? You ... like us.' 'Always thought I was,' I whispered to George before speaking up. 'I'm looking for me father.'

There was a lot more muttering and shaking of heads between the members of the war band. 'What's happening, Sammy?' George was bewildered. 'Dunno.' I didn't understand the situation any better than him.

Amidst the strange gabbling I made out the words 'John Nelson.' There was lots of nodding among the group and repeating of that name and also the words 'Cha-Sha-Cha-Opeoyeo.' I learned later these words meant 'Red Willow Fill The Pipe,' which was the Sioux name given to this John Nelson. I learned later it was something to do with him smoking tobacco in a pipe. One of the braves ran off in the direction of the food marquees. The others remained and continued looking at us inquisitively. Were young boys such a novelty to them?

'Are they cannibals?' George was still trembling with fear. 'Looks like they're sizing us up for dinner!' 'No. They just eat buffalo meat.' I wanted to reassure my friend, although all I really knew about the Sioux was what was in my novel. 'We send for John Nelson. He speak our tongue.' The warrior with the few words of English spoke again.

Copyright © Frank Beill 2005

Continued.. Part 1, Chapter 11

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