Hawk shrugged. “It could be,” he said, “but it ain’t. They ain’t lookin’ to raid nobody. They ain’t in any shape to raid anybody. They’re just hungry, and there ain’t no more buffalo to hunt, thanks to us.”

“If they’re hungry, they should report to the reservation,” Meade snapped. “It’s our job to drive them there, if they don’t go willingly.”

“That’s one way of lookin’ at it,” Hawk allowed. “But it ain’t always turnin’ out for ’em like that. Judgin’ by what’s happened to some of their brothers, the reservation just gives them a place to sit around while they starve to death.”

Meade fixed on him with an expression of disgust. “Sometimes I forget your love for your Blackfoot friends. I was willing to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your loyalty to the people who pay your salary as a scout. But I can plainly see that your loyalty continues to ride with the Indians. In view of that, I’m telling you, as of this instant, you are no longer employed by the U.S. Army.” He waited for Hawk’s reaction, half expecting to have to have him restrained.

Hawk didn’t say anything for a long moment. He was not really surprised, but somewhat stunned by the incredibly simple excuse to fire him. He had known for a long time that it was Meade’s desire to fire him. But because of Hawk’s popularity with all the other officers, it had been difficult for him to find good reason. When Hawk finally responded, it was to say, “Well, you’re the boss. I figured you’d come up with something sooner or later.” He turned to Ben Mullins, who appeared to be more in shock than Hawk was. “There are tracks on the other side of the creek where they headed back west toward the Crazy Mountains. They’ll most likely give you a good time tryin’ to find ’em up in those mountains.” With that, he turned, took Rascal’s reins, and led the big buckskin gelding toward the rear of the column, exchanging nods of good luck with several of the soldiers as he passed. Behind him, he heard Meade giving orders to rest the horses. Rascal deserved a rest as well, so to avoid any further conflict with the lieutenant, he walked a few dozen yards upstream before letting his horse go to water.