Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

In the 1860'’s,

valor and high courage rode west to Utah.

These qualities were not exclusively masculine.

The wives and mothers who accompanied their men-folk

often performed acts of quiet courage

and heroism along the way.

It was such bravery that caused the Ute Indians

to award Rachel Barrett,

I'’d better get at those traces.

Is it broken, Tim?

Yeah, yeah, but I can fix it.

Pa, the train'’s pulling out.

We'’ll catch up.

Lafe, help your ma in the wagon.

Are you all right, honey?

Of course, Tim.

I just wish we could go a might easier.

Well I wish we could too,

but we gotta put a lot of distance between us and those Indians.

Mm-hmm.

What'’s the matter, son?

A dead Indian, Pa.

Any ways, it sure looks like he'’s dead.

[Rachel] Tim, he'’s still alive.

Ho!

No.

This is a man.

You can'’t do that.

Rachel, he'’s an Indian.He'’s a human being.

Tim, no, wait.

We'’ve got to help him.

He'’ll die if we leave him here.

Rachel, don'’t you realize that he would'’ve been glad to kill every one of us?

But he didn'’t.

Nobody was killed.

But it wasn'’t for want of trying, Ma.

The rest of the Indians are scared off.

There'’s no sign of them.

Rachel that wagon train is far ahead of us.

We'’ve got to catch up.

We'’ve got to live with ourselves, too, Tim.

How can we leave a man to lie alone out here

until he bleeds to death?

It would be no different than murder.

All right, Rachel.

It'’s real bad, ain'’t it, Pa?

Here, keep this handy.

Rachel, there isn'’t anything you can do.

I can try.

Honey, he'’s dead.

Well, at least he didn'’t have to die out here...

alone.

Leave those horses--

Oh, my wife just put a bandage on the boy and--I thought, um--

I thought I could stop the bleeding.

I thought maybe he might be all right.

He die!

Well we all tried! It'’s all anyone could d--

[ speaks in native language ]

[ speaks in native language ]

White woman help, try to save brave'’s life.

People of Tall Fox have debt--

a life for a life.

We pay white woman.

[ speaks in native language ]

Pa, them stakes-- are they gonna torture us?

No, no, no, Son, they just mean to scare us.

[ speaks in native language ]

[ speaks in native language ]

What are they gonna do to us, Pa?

I wished I knew.

It'’ll be all right, they--

they don'’t mean to harm us.

Only son of Tall Fox,

only son of chief,

only friend of enemy.

Two summers ago, white doctor take out spearhead.

Because of him, I, Red Eagle, am still alive.

One saved Indian,

but plains black with dead Indians.

There-- bad medicine in white man'’s clothes,

the son of great Tall Fox.

[ speaks in native language ]

Tim!

Lafe!

[ speaks in native language ]No!

Let them go, please.

They haven'’t hurt you or your people.

They'’ve only tried to help you.

White squaw tried to help.

White braves? No.

But my husband drove the wagon,

he could have just gone on. We--

We could have just left him there to die, alone.

White brave command he stop wagon,

help Indian.

No.

A life for a life.

That is the law of my people.

No brave deed goes without gift.

That also is law.

Oh, then you will let us go--

Is that my gift?

No.

White squaw go free.

My warriors will take you to wagon train.

That is gift.

My husband and my son.

One must die.

You choose.

Well, I can'’t.

Don'’t ask me to make a choice like that.

A life for a life.

One white brave lives.

You say which.

You-- you can'’t do this.

This isn'’t human!

Tall Fox has spoken.

Come.

You say which one die.

This is my husband,

and this one is my son--

my only son.

I love them both, more than life itself.

Now, can'’t you understand that?

Tall Fox understand law of his people,

white woman.

You would choose to lose your only son?

You could choose?

I could choose.

Well, I can'’t,

and no woman could.

I'’d rather die myself.

Kill me.

Kill me, Tall Fox, but let them go.

You want only one life, well, take my life,

but let Tim and Lafe go.

Stop it, Rachel! Stop it!

Ma, don'’t talk like that!

I'’m not afraid.

[ chattering ]

[ speaks in native language ]

My people say, kill all three.

You choose, or this I do.

Your law says one life.

You tell me it is my choice.

Does Tall Fox go back on his word?

No.

Then take my life.

That should satisfy your law.

No squaw can be payment for a strong warrior.

Even brave squaw...

Sun sets.

When it rises, you choose.

No!

I'’ll never make that choice!

I can'’t!

Then all three die.

Kill them now. They are enemies.

My word is given.

The United States Army is sending troops

to escort the wagon train.

Now, if you harm us, you'’ll be caught,

and you'’ll be punished!

No pale-faced troops can find Tall Fox and his people.

No white man has seen this place,

only these.

Oh, you'’ll never get away with it.

Never.

Tie white squaw there till the sun rises.

White squaw, brave as bear,

wise as panther.

Small Wolf... Red Eagle...

One will sleep, one will guard, then change.

I, too, will take turn.

No, Black Foot. Small Wolf, Red Eagle-- it is enough.

Red Eagle,

friend of white squaw?

Then why does not Red Eagle bind white squaw?

Or is he man?

Red Eagle not hurt white squaw.

Help us, please.

One Indian, many Indians,

warriors kill anyway.

Red Eagle die also.

Red Eagle watch first.

Oh, Tim, Lafe-- I'’d sooner cut off both of my arms.

Honey, honey, it wasn'’t your doing.

It was just something that happened, that'’s all.

It was my doing!

I could have just left that Indian to die there.

I wouldn'’t want you any other way--

never.

[Lafe]Pa.

What are we gonna do?

I don'’t know, Son.

Rachel, I'’ve had a good life and a long one.

Considering, well, there'’s some things that I'’ve left undone,

but not many.

so I want you and Lafe to go free.

I'’ll stay.

Oh, Tim, I couldn'’t.

It'’s you, Ma, who needs Pa-- more than me.

This is a rough country, and--

and there'’s gonna be all that homesteadin'’ in Oregon.

It takes a man.

You best go with her, Pa.

Son, you'’re a man. Believe me.

Now, you listen to me. Comes morning,

I want you and Lafe to catch up with that wagon train.

Now, do you hear me?

Yes.

It'’s sun up, Pa.

Yes, son.

You'’ll wake the whole village, honey.

Never mind me-- get Lafe and get out of here.

We came together, and we'’ll leave together.

Yours is so tight. Lafe, can you untie that?I'’m trying, Ma.

Where are the horses?

Come on, Rachel.Tim, he'’ll kill him.

That'’s not our problem. Let'’s get out of here!

He'’s just a boy! He can'’t get free.

We'’ve got to help--Rachel!

Stop it!

Pa, look!

[ speaking in native language]

Rachel, come on, come on.

They'’re coming, they'’ll take care of him.

Tim! Tim! Tim!

Tim!

[ speaks in native language ]

White squaw save Red Eagle.

Well, I hope he wasn'’t hurt badly.

Because of what you do, he live.

Law of Tribe gives life of my son to you,

white woman.

So you could choose.

No, I-- I couldn'’t take Red Eagle

because you love your son as I love my boy...

but you do understand now, don'’t you?

Then he stay, but white squaw must choose other gift--

any gift.

Tall Fox gives word.

Well you owe my one gift.

By your word, you owe me two.

Two gifts.

Choose.

I choose my husband and my son.

[ crowd chattering ]

Tall Fox has given word.

Release prisoners.

No.

A squaw who is more fearless than bravest warrior

not walk.

[ speaks in native language ]

Well, thank you.

Oh, Tim. Poor boy.

Forget him. He'’s earned it.

A kindness for a kindness, Dad.

That'’s what saved your life,

all of our lives,

and don'’t you ever forget it.

The Barrett family soon caught up with the wagon train

to the astonishment of their fellow travelers

who'’d given them up for lost.

They made their way on to Oregon with the rest.

Another incident of the courage and daring

that made possible the opening of the West.

Be with us next week for another true story

from Western history.