What happened in Chapter 18?

Chapter Eighteen opens with daybreak and the commencement of shooting. Through the “flashes of guns,” (97) the people dug tunnels and it is via these tunnels that Sound of Running Feet reaches her baby sister in the arms of Deer Woman, a Ne-mee-poo woman who has been breastfeeding the baby. Sound of Running Feet brings them food and keeps them company, sleeping intermittently and dreaming of Wallowa. Eventually, she hears the rifle fire die down and “a great quiet spread over the plain” (98). The soldiers wave a white flag signifying a truce, and Chief Joseph and two warriors meet with two soldiers, Colonel Miles and Tom Hill. In the centre of the plain, the men converse, but Chief Joseph appears to be shaking his head at the white men’s words. They grab him, pulling out a pistol and forcing him to march back to their camp with them. Chief Joseph’s trusting nature has led to his being made prisoner, thinks Sound of Running Feet. But then, a white soldier enters the Ne-mee-poo camp and is taken prisoner, and White Bird warns the warriors not to kill the prisoner, for as long as he lives, Chief Joseph does, too. The officer, Lieutenant Jerome, had come to see if the Ne-mee-poo would surrender.

Sound of Running Feet is responsible for ensuring the prisoner’s well-being alongside Yellow Bull, a warrior. The soldier shows no fear, and does not try to escape, but he takes out a pencil and writes on a paper, calling for Tom Hill. Tom Hill comes to read the note, and translates for the Ne-mee-poo: “the soldier had good food, a warm bed, and good treatment. He hoped that the Blue Coats were treating Chief Chief Joseph the same way,” (102) said the note. Soon after, the Blue Coats offer to exchange Chief Joseph for the soldier Jerome, which is achieved by bringing both men to the centre of the plain and allowing them to return to their camps. Jerome and Chief Joseph shake hands, and the shooting recommences upon their return.