How Running White Wolf and White Eagle Met

It all began in the Black Hills of South Dakota in the early to late 1870's. I was a scout and was searching for gold deep in the Black Hills, the Sacred Hills of the Sioux Nation. The Black Hills were known as Paha Sapa to the Sioux Nation. On a particular bright starry night and with no full moon, I had finished cooking my meal, I was lying down looking into the sky, pondering! The stars were so bright. I began to think of my past and how I came to be in this area. Many things went through my mind. The terrible Great War was over. One thought was how excited I became when I found a few gold nuggets today. They were of good size. I only hope I can find more nuggets tomorrow. I put more logs on my fire to keep it going strong to last the night and for protection against the wilds of the Black Hills.

Suddenly, a shooting star flashed across the sky. I became somewhat surprised for the path of the star was very brilliant and long! I immediately, sat up to wonder if I were receiving a message. I fixed my bedroll and got into my little tent for a night of good sleep for I was very tired. Many sounds of the wilds were heard close by. I heard the serenade of the wolves in the vicinity - calling and answering - what a chilling noise the wolves make. Then, there was the hoot owl making its ghostly whooo-whooo-whooo call. There was a crackling sound in the wood burning, which caused a lot of sparks to shoot forth high and wide. I began to relax and fell asleep.

Next morning, after my breakfast, I packed my belongings and equipment to move on to another place near the clear running creek. Off in the distance, the calls of the crows were making their racket, or was it a warning to me, when suddenly I came face to face with a Lakota Brave. We were both startled! I gestured in sign language that I was a friend and not an enemy. Likewise, he too, gestured in sign language to be a friend. We both gave the sign, touching our foreheads, then to our hearts and outward towards each other with palm upwards. We then grasped each other's right arm in friendly brotherhood. I was glad and thrilled at this showing of friendly communication. I showed him the golden rocks that I had found, and I asked him if he knew of this yellow rock. "Oh yes", he replied. "Come with me, I will show you many yellow rocks, but first, you must go with me to my village to meet my people." I was somewhat taken with surprise at this invitation. But, being alone in their sacred lands, I agreed and journeyed with him to his village.

After a full day of walking towards the setting sun in the Black Hills, we came to an opening where I saw what seemed to me to be hundreds of teepees - a large Indian village - a large number of Lakota Indians. All of the natives eyed me whether I was a friend, an enemy, or what. Why had a brave of their tribe brought me into their midst in such a friendly manner? And they were wondering what was about to take place. Their life style was very different to the life style that I was accustomed. Children were with their mothers, braves and warriors were coming towards us hurriedly and yelling in their excitement about this white face stranger who had come to be into their camp. Finally, I was led to a teepee that had a large Flaming Sun painted on its side. This must have been the teepee of the Chief of the Tribe.

He was called Raven - the wise one! One who speaks with authority and respect! We made the greeting sign of friends, with our right hand bent up at the elbow, palm up to each other. I was immediately accepted into their fold. Thank Goodness! Then we went into the large teepee. For some unknown reason, I had no difficulty talking to them. They understood me perfectly, and I understood them equally as well! As we talked, I told them about me, why I was there, and that I had fought in the big War in the East. In which many whites were killed, but I had escaped the death road and came out here to meet you and become one of you! They had heard of the Big War in the East where much was destroyed. They wanted to know much about this Great War.

We talked for what seemed to be hours, when a beautiful young Indian woman appeared inside with food and water. Our eyes met for the first time. She no doubt had wondered what a paleface really looked like. She was looking me over with very sharp eyes. Then she turned and left the teepee. As we talked, the leaders of the tribe and I became close friends. They trusted me. I was led to a teepee where I would make my lodge. A brave was posted at my teepee's entrance whether to see that I would not leave, or that no harm would come to me. I hoped that he was there to see that no harm came to me while I was there in their midst and among the Tribe. This Tribe was a part of the Great Lakota Nation.

During the day of exploring their village and their tribal ways, I went to a small clear stream. It was flowing strong. I knelt down to cup some water to drink from my hand when I saw in the creek an image of someone standing behind me. I turned around and saw the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She had long black hair, her figure filled her doeskin dress, which was very colorful and very pretty! She said, "Ho!" I assumed this was a greeting, as I would say "Hi." She sat on the little bank with me, and we stared at each other. I took her hand in mine. I looked at her hand and rubbed it softly. She seemed to enjoy this gesture, and she took my hand into hers. She said, "strong hands." After awhile talking and being together, she left me there to go to her people.

I was led around touring their village by my new Lakota friend. He was named Standing Bear. He got this name because on a particular day in the forest he came upon a huge brown bear when suddenly, the bear made its charge. My friend told me he made a loud guttural sound that caused the bear to suddenly stop. The bear stood up with its front paws stretched wide apart and then scurried hurriedly away! Since then he was known as Standing Bear. Standing Bear and I became good friends. We enjoyed being together.

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