the whites even further into the slough.
The settlers pressed on. The ground became rough with potholes and grass tussocks. The wagon jolted heavily. Mrs. Christians groaned.
Crydenwise played his cocked musket around. “Boys, I think we’ve been worked.”
“No shooting now,” Reverend Codman warned over his shoulder. “Steady.”
Theodosia said, “Remember, friends, sweet will be our rest in heaven when all this is finished.”
Theodosia carried Johnnie high against her bosom. His little feet dangled with each step. She walked slim and stiff and looked straight ahead.
Except for the slough directly ahead, the settlers were soon surrounded by the Indians. Whitebone and his soldiers’ lodge rode silently on the settlers’ left. Pounce and his dark, lowering savages walked mostly along on the right. Mad Bear and his renegades cut off all retreat behind them. Whitebone’s face was expressionless. Pounce was all smirks. Mad Bear frothed at the lips.
Ted asked from the wagon, “Mama, will we eat when we get to the church?”
“Yes, my darling son. All of us. After we’ve thanked the Lord for preserving us.”
Tallak’s face was ashen white. He stalked along with high steps. “By gol, if it wasn’t for that damn Mad Bear and his devils, I think we could make it.”
Silvers nodded. “They’re no good. No good to anybody. Even the Indians hate ’em.” Silvers swung his gun around menacingly to protect their rear. “You should hear some of the stories I’ve heard about ’em. Turn your stomach inside out.”
“Ya, I suppose.”
Theodosia said, “As long as the least of these have souls, we must do everything within our power to save them.”
“Souls, hell. When they’re so rotten they’ve been known to sleep with wild animals fresh killed?”
The old wagon lurched heavily. Then the reach cracked underneath. There was a sound of splintering wood.
It could not go on.
Reverend Codman turned and held up his hands.
Vikes reined in his grays. “Whoa, there, whoa. Steady now.”
It came over Joe Utterback and Crydenwise what they had to do. It was mole under or lose hair. They took one wild look around, then plunged toward the tall rushes in the center of the slough.
A half dozen of Pounce’s braves tried to head them off. They were too late. Both whites vanished.
Maggie Utterback was outraged. “That dirty skunk. That coward.” She swore. She spat after Joe. “Joe, come back here and fight like a man. Fat lot of good that knife’s gonna do me now, stuck in your belt.”
No answer. Nor was there any stirring in the green rushes to indicate where the two benedicts might be lying secret.
Mad Bear’s band rushed up close, brandishing guns, howling, yelling, dancing. Pounce’s bunch joined them. The din was unearthly. Sight of so many roaring wild Indians made the children on the wagon cry. Random shots whistled over the heads of the settlers.
Reverend Codman approached Pounce with his raised left hand. “Brother in Christ, what is this? Did you not grant us safe passage to the Good Book Tepee? Is your tongue split?”
Pounce’s heavy lips turned down at the corners.
Reverend Codman said sternly, “It seems my brother’s word has as much worth as an empty corn shuck.”
“It is the young braves who make the war.”
“Is this what my eyes see?”
“The young braves make me go to war.” Pounce rubbed his heavy belly in a circular motion. “But I will shoot up, over your heads. Do not fear.”
Mad Bear danced up, black eyes rolling, mouth foaming. He roared, “The white man must die!” He had a big yellow circle painted around his right eye. It meant he was his band’s best shot. Close up, it could be seen that his grotesque necklace was made of fingers chopped from the hands of his victims. “The white man must die!”
Reverend Codman continued to address Pounce, ignoring Mad Bear. “I have lived with you twenty winters. A whole generation has grown up since I set up the
The settlers pressed on. The ground became rough with potholes and grass tussocks. The wagon jolted heavily. Mrs. Christians groaned.
Crydenwise played his cocked musket around. “Boys, I think we’ve been worked.”
“No shooting now,” Reverend Codman warned over his shoulder. “Steady.”
Theodosia said, “Remember, friends, sweet will be our rest in heaven when all this is finished.”
Theodosia carried Johnnie high against her bosom. His little feet dangled with each step. She walked slim and stiff and looked straight ahead.
Except for the slough directly ahead, the settlers were soon surrounded by the Indians. Whitebone and his soldiers’ lodge rode silently on the settlers’ left. Pounce and his dark, lowering savages walked mostly along on the right. Mad Bear and his renegades cut off all retreat behind them. Whitebone’s face was expressionless. Pounce was all smirks. Mad Bear frothed at the lips.
Ted asked from the wagon, “Mama, will we eat when we get to the church?”
“Yes, my darling son. All of us. After we’ve thanked the Lord for preserving us.”
Tallak’s face was ashen white. He stalked along with high steps. “By gol, if it wasn’t for that damn Mad Bear and his devils, I think we could make it.”
Silvers nodded. “They’re no good. No good to anybody. Even the Indians hate ’em.” Silvers swung his gun around menacingly to protect their rear. “You should hear some of the stories I’ve heard about ’em. Turn your stomach inside out.”
“Ya, I suppose.”
Theodosia said, “As long as the least of these have souls, we must do everything within our power to save them.”
“Souls, hell. When they’re so rotten they’ve been known to sleep with wild animals fresh killed?”
The old wagon lurched heavily. Then the reach cracked underneath. There was a sound of splintering wood.
It could not go on.
Reverend Codman turned and held up his hands.
Vikes reined in his grays. “Whoa, there, whoa. Steady now.”
It came over Joe Utterback and Crydenwise what they had to do. It was mole under or lose hair. They took one wild look around, then plunged toward the tall rushes in the center of the slough.
A half dozen of Pounce’s braves tried to head them off. They were too late. Both whites vanished.
Maggie Utterback was outraged. “That dirty skunk. That coward.” She swore. She spat after Joe. “Joe, come back here and fight like a man. Fat lot of good that knife’s gonna do me now, stuck in your belt.”
No answer. Nor was there any stirring in the green rushes to indicate where the two benedicts might be lying secret.
Mad Bear’s band rushed up close, brandishing guns, howling, yelling, dancing. Pounce’s bunch joined them. The din was unearthly. Sight of so many roaring wild Indians made the children on the wagon cry. Random shots whistled over the heads of the settlers.
Reverend Codman approached Pounce with his raised left hand. “Brother in Christ, what is this? Did you not grant us safe passage to the Good Book Tepee? Is your tongue split?”
Pounce’s heavy lips turned down at the corners.
Reverend Codman said sternly, “It seems my brother’s word has as much worth as an empty corn shuck.”
“It is the young braves who make the war.”
“Is this what my eyes see?”
“The young braves make me go to war.” Pounce rubbed his heavy belly in a circular motion. “But I will shoot up, over your heads. Do not fear.”
Mad Bear danced up, black eyes rolling, mouth foaming. He roared, “The white man must die!” He had a big yellow circle painted around his right eye. It meant he was his band’s best shot. Close up, it could be seen that his grotesque necklace was made of fingers chopped from the hands of his victims. “The white man must die!”
Reverend Codman continued to address Pounce, ignoring Mad Bear. “I have lived with you twenty winters. A whole generation has grown up since I set up the
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