The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard Page A

with water, and set it up straight in the basket so it wouldn’t spill.
    Tsa’ni took a lantern from the nail where it hung by the door and put some matches in his pocket.
    Elizabeth finished the note she had started writing earlier, and placed it in the middle of the long table. The three left the cabin and walked down the road toward the woods.
    Silently, Elizabeth again prayed that the girls were safe and asked God’s help in finding them.
    Morning Star, sensing that Elizabeth was praying, raised her eyes toward the sky and said her prayer in Cherokee.
    In the meantime, Uncle Ned had led the search party back into the woods. Although it was getting dark, they didn’t light their lanterns for fear the crooks would see the light. They all walked quietly. Only occasionally was there a sound of a twig breaking under someone’s foot.
    Uncle Ned stopped for a moment, pointing ahead to the left. “Near Catawba man’s house,” he muttered softly.
    â€œLet’s see if anyone is home,” John suggested.
    â€œYes, but quiet,” Uncle Ned reminded them, stealthily leading the group forward.
    The old barn came into view when they reached the clearing. The men slowly slipped around the makeshift house and peered through the open window.
    â€œNo one is home,” Dr. Woodard whispered.
    â€œI go inside,” said Uncle Wirt.
    â€œI suppose we should search every conceivable place,” John agreed. “They could have hidden Joe anywhere.”
    Uncle Wirt quietly opened the sagging door and slipped inside. The others watched through the window as the old man searched the room. He looked under everything and behind everything. There wasn’t much furniture in the old one-room barn.
    â€œWe go around,” Uncle Ned said, waving his arms to indicate searching the surrounding area.
    As the men fanned out in various directions, Uncle Ned headed straight toward the storm cellar. The old Indian heard a noise and stopped to listen. He walked a little farther. It sounded like someone crying. Uncle Ned hurried forward and found Snowball sitting there, meowing.
    He looked around quickly, then stooped and picked up the white kitten. Snowball immediately hushed and started purring. Uncle Ned examined the ribbons tied around the kitten.
    â€œSnowball, where Papoose? What you do in woods?” the old man talked to the kitten, smoothing its white fur.
    Although there wasn’t much light and the Catawbas had camouflaged the storm cellar door, Uncle Ned’s sharp eyes noticed the small hole in the ground. He stooped to look closer.
    Hovering over the hole, he once again talked to the kitten. “Snowball, hole there,” he said, setting the kitten down. He kicked at the mound of straw and found the wooden door to the storm cellar.
    Mandie’s heart beat wildly. “Someone is outside, Sallie,” she whispered.
    Sallie quickly climbed up the ladder and stood beside her friend.
    Uncle Ned stooped to move the boulder on top of the door. “Move, Snowball,” he said, giving the boulder a push.
    Instantly Mandie and Sallie recognized the voice.
    â€œUncle Ned!” Mandie cried.
    â€œGrandfather!” called Sallie.
    Uncle Ned realized who was inside. “Papooses, what you do in there?” he shouted.
    Standing up, he signalled the other men with a shrill bird whistle, then struggled to pull the cellar door open.
    Uncle John, Dr. Woodard, Uncle Wirt, and Dimar came running at his call.
    â€œPapooses in there,” Uncle Ned told them.
    â€œPapooses? Amanda and Sallie?” Uncle John asked.
    When the door finally came open, the girls were clinging to the top of the ladder. Everyone started talking at once.
    Mandie grabbed the doctor’s sleeve. “Dr. Woodard, Joe is down there. He’s sick—bad,” she said as she and Sallie climbed out.
    Dimar quickly jumped into the cellar, and Dr. Woodard made his way down the ladder.
    â€œJoe, at