How many of you guys(and gals) are real history buffs? Now I’m not talking dinosaurs and Vikings, I’m referring to the old west. Times when men were men and boys must become men in order to survive. Things were pretty much the same over on the Indian reservations. Although at that time they weren’t called reservations yet.

Remember the story about the Union and Pacific railroads? What transpired when the two companies met head to head. Yep that’s right they drove a Golden Spike in place, to commensurate the occasion. What you may not know is that that there was a second golden spike.

Mr. Jim was the foreman for the spur running from east to west and Mr. Joe was the foreman of the spur, running west to east. Now Mr. Jim and Mr. Joe used to mount their horses and ride towards each other’s camp and usually managed to me just about where the two railroads would eventually meet. This was more than a social get together for the two men. Although they were lifelong friends from back east. Who ever got there first usually started the meal. And by the time the other man arrived it was ready to eat. They exchanged news from each camp. But today they had a problem, a real problem. You see, each camp had over 1000 men working 12 hours a day, which meant they had to make 3,000 meals a day. This put quite a demand on the quartermaster for each group. The cattle herds were down to less than 10 head in either of them, which meant beans, beans and more beans. And when they ran out neither of them had any idea what they were going to do. However Jim thought that he had an idea which might work. One day Jim had observed a lone Indian brave riding in a variable sea of buffalo. He watched as time and time again the brave shot his arrows into the flanks of the galloping herd. After the dust had settled, at least three dozen of the beasts lay on the prairie. The women and children swarmed out to the dead animals and in a short period of time had stripped all the usable parts off the animals, loaded them on horseback and were taking them back to their camp. The warrior rode around and around the group as if protecting them by his mere presence. Jim was curious, he started to ride closer cautiously towards the group. The warrior did not seem to notice the approaching white man, but in truth every muscle in his body was tensed and ready just in case. Jim approached closer and finally the warrior let him know that he was aware. He jerked the head of his pony around and faced Jim, lance at the ready.

Jim stopped immediately, both hands went straight up to let the warrior know that he had no intention to threaten him or his party. The warrior, Silver Cloud motioned for the white man to advance on foot. Jim dismounted and walked forward, leaving his horse in the care of a young boy that Silver Cloud had ordered to watch his horse. Silver Cloud swung his leg over the pony’s back and seemed to float to the ground. Leaving his lance with his pony, Silver Cloud held both hands out in a palms up gesture as if to say, "What do you want" At the same time he muttered in his native tongue the same phrase. "Ho deum?" Jim motioned to the dead animals lying nearby, " Food" he said as he rubbed his stomach. Well ole Silver Cloud took it to mean that Jim wanted something to eat ."Candoff" he uttered and a squaw sliced a great chunk of the raw shoulder and brought it to Silver Cloud, who immediately took a great bite and handed it to Jim. Well guys Jim almost lost his cookies to say the least. But in order not to offend Silver Cloud, he also bit and chewed a good sized chunk of the raw meat.

Now is was his turn to show Silver Cloud how the white man ate. Looking around he found a stick and with his knife he sharpened the end. Sticking the meat on the end of the stick, he put it into the flames to cook. After a few minutes he pulled it out and very gingerly took a bite of the hot meat. Burning his mouth and making all sorts of gestures. The followers of Silver Cloud rolled in laughter, for they could not understand why anyone would want to heat their food in order to burn their mouth. Silver Cloud however kept a straight face, he did mot want to insult Jim, after all, he tried it he Indian way, so he would try it the white man’s way. Gesturing for the stick he also took a bite. But by now the meat had cooled enough to eat. So he saved face by not making all the funny gestures that Jim did. Silver Cloud thought that the meat tasted kind of burnt, but still it had a different taste. Actually he enjoyed it and gestured for another piece. "Hoopah !" said Silver Cloud, good".

As time progressed Jim explained his problem, he needed meat, lots of meat for his men. He was willing to pay almost any price. Clothes, tools, horses anything Silver Cloud needed even a new rifle to help him in his hunting. After several hours, Silver Cloud agreed to some calico cloth, leather hides from already expired cattle, 5 horses and some tools. Jim thought, "Hey I’m getting by cheap. He tried to find out what Silver Cloud wanted for himself. The warrior shook his head and motioned with his hand over his shoulder as if to say "Just provide for my people is enough " Well, Jim was so happy that he finally has solved his food problem that he held up one finger to indicate 1 minute. He went to his horse and pulled out a brand new Winchester repeating rifle, going to his saddle bags, he also removed several boxes of shells and another small box. The rifle and shells he presented to Silver Cloud. The brave shook his head, Jim held his hand to his heart as if to say, "this is my gift to my friend. So as not to insult his guest Silver Cloud accepted. Again Jim held up one finger, he pointed to a cactus plant about 150 yards from where they were standing. Making actions he wanted Silver Cloud to use his bow and shoot at the plant. Muscles popping sweat, Silver Cloud pulled back with all his might and released. For all his strength the arrow still fell short about 25 yards. Jim loaded a shell into the chamber of the rifle, placed the butt against his shoulder and pulled the trigger. Silver Cloud saw the cactus disintegrate right before his eyes. Jim reloaded and handed him the rifle. The chief tried to mimic the aiming actions that Jim had done. He jerked as the recoil hit his shoulder, but his eyes widened as he saw the impact of the bullet a good 50 yards beyond the cactus plant. "Hoopah!" good said Silver Cloud as he examined the rifle from top to bottom. As he handed it back to Jim, Jim shook his head and indicated that this was a gift for his friend. Accepting the rifle the chief’s eyes were still on the small box laying on the rock behind Jim. Jim knew this and ignored the fact. He loaded the rifle to its capacity and indicated the buffalo, then motioning that there were many buffalo he fired again and again without reloading. The chief’s eyes were as large as saucers

Silver Cloud knew immediately the importance of this fire stick and he extended his hand to seal the bargain. Once again Jim held up that finger. Patiently Silver Cloud waited as Jim bent down and picked up the small box. This he opened and inside was a brand new pocket knife, exactly like the one he had used earlier with the meat. This he handed to the chief, only then did he extend his hand.

Jim now explained all this to Joe. As Joe listened he was envious of Jim. Jim was the only person he knew that could extend fellowship to another of a completely different culture. Even with the language barrier Jim had solved the food problems. When the two locomotives finally came together, there in the background a tall tanned figure was handing another gold spike to a full dressed Indian chief. This spike right here. How did I come across it, well guys, that's another story.

Don’t ever be afraid to extend the hand of Christian friendship to someone else, no matter what the cultural barrier or physical impairment. God will provide a method and a formula for success.