"UPSHUR" Choctaw Gold

White Buffalo's presence was felt immediately. He was dressed in the ceremonial skin of the white buffalo, decorative moccasins and leggings, and his face was expressionless as he studied Rodney for a moment then came forward to grip Billy's arm and hand in friendship. "It is unpleasant to welcome Man-With-Glass-eyes in such sad times. I am happy you have come,...but too late, I think." "Too late?" Billy could see the indecision in the Chief's usually stern features. "Why is it too late?" Looking down at the floor, White Buffalo moved to his place at the head of the feasting robe, crossed his legs and sat down, inviting them to join him there, and once they were seated, raised his eyes to look sadly at Billy. "Thirty of your days past, six white men entered these mountains. I sent warriors to warn them away, but not to kill them, as they had not committed any crime.,,,But only five men left." He paused as a woman placed food and water before them then waved her away. "One man was brought before me." He continued. "He had been bitten by the serpent and later died." He reached under his robe and brought out a folded piece of brown paper of which he passed to Billy. "He carried the paper in his clothing,...our mountain is there." Billy unfolded the grimy, faded map and stared at it. It was crudely drawn, but it clearly showed a direct route across Indian Territory, all the way to Devil Mountain. It also showed a very large entrance tunnel, and he saw what could be the main cavern and several smaller ones, and on the paper also was a hastily scrawled, and unpronounceable word. He looked quizzically at White Buffalo while passing the map to Rodney. "We was told about this map by men in the mountains,...is it true?" White Buffalo nodded. "My great Grandfathers knew of the great doorway with it's strange markings. When the spirit wolf brought them here, they found many bones, many iron shirts, and strange weapons everywhere. Head-wear, with many colored feathers, and more strange weapons were found among many other bones in the valley....My Grandfathers found the great doorway open and placed all the weapons and iron shirts inside. There was much wealth behind the great door, and so my Grandfathers closed the doorway,...and being afraid of the unknown, never opened it again." Billy took a deep breath, taking the mal back from Rodney and passing it on to the Chief. "White Buffalo shows a gold mine on it, they might not know about the treasure cave at all....But either way,...we're here to fight with you." "And to die with me?" "If it comes down to it,...yeah." "Man-With-Glass-Eyes is a warrior, greater even than my own warriors, and he honors me with his presence." He looked across at Rodney then. "Is this man also a warrior?" "Yes." Nodded Billy. "He's a man of the white man's law, an honest man, and much respected. He is my friend, and uncle to to my son."