Chapter 8
The river
The boats came up from the rear. First the canoes were loaded. Each had packs that would have items within them that could sustain the men for a number of days. If a canoe and its load were lost in the ravage river there were other canoes that would cover that which was lost. But this was limited. Lose to many canoes and the party would be in dire needs. In this country and what possably lied ahead, a person would need the bare essitials packed in the canoes. To little to survive would mean not enough for all to survive. So the skill of paddling these boats loaded with life giving materials was assigned to the man who who knew how to take care of himself and his canoe.
Each man in the party had that qualification. A rare gift that many other venture groups had. Meriwether smiled inward knowing he had covered this well. With what he had and what the chances of losing to accidents, he figgered that he and the men would do well this year. It was the human problems that caused him to wonder now. The Indians would be watching him and he knew that some of them didn't want to see this group move into their hunting grounds. In these times a man had not only have to worry about his own skin in the elements, but what other men would make of him and his quest. Many a person's trip had been cut short by an arrow or a spear sent into his back.
The first canoes loaded were 20 feet long with a breath of three and a half feet wide. There were ten of these. Meriwether wanted to bring longer canoes but the realistic mind knew that longer ment more problems out here. Aaron Uphil and Floatfur were already packing the canoes. They would see to it that the canoes would be packed heavily yet safe enough for their paddlers. Several of the woodsmen had already found some small sapplings for poles.
Others walked the perimeter of the group looking for signs of un-wanted guests that may have their sights set on delaying the group.
Among the look outs were Sir Wallace's men. The one they call "Lurker" a big man with three hatchets hung on his body stared into the deep forest. He called to another of his parders and poined out in front of him. The two began to crouch foreward and step lightly towards their interest point. Meriwether looked about him to see if others were watching this.All seemed to be busy in their tasks.
He called to Burch Bark and Chuck, "Gentelmen, look there." he ordered lowly in his voice as not to alarm others to the sene unfolding with Lurker and the other man. Chuck and Jack looked at each other and both nodded and struck out to where the other two were now intering the forrest. "Let me know if anything is arye." spoke Meriwether. A nod from Chuck without looking back and they continued on.
Lurker had stoped and was looking at the ground when Chuck and Jack arrived next to them.
"Indians have been watching us here," as his finger pointed to bent pine needles laying on the ground. There were other signs found. Jack picked up a small piece of wood and held it up so the others could see it."Tooth pick," he whispered. A food particle was still impaled on one of the ends. Chuck's keen eyes saw that there were tracks of some ten to twelve people that had left out through the east.
Jack's musket was at the ready. Both hammers back, he stared into the east. A frown on his face told that he was in heavy consentration. RRRRRRIIIIPPPPP! "God Jack!", cried the others. "Sorry," I had to. He placed the hammers back on the stops and stood up. The others were busy backing away from him. "Better to check yer pants!" Lurker shouted as he jogged back to the group.
Just then an arrow peirced the air and hit a tree trunk in front of Lurker. Turning on their heels and hammers cocked they searched the woods from where the arrow had comr from. The shreaks were heard as Indians came running towards them. Jack droped one instantly. Chuck's shot dropped one in his tracks. Another arrow was heard to strike flesh. Jack's second shot split open a charging savage while the renegade was leaping over a log to drive his tomahawk into Jack's skull. Bad move on the Indians's part.
Chuck's knife on his side was grabbed by the handle and within his fingers he flung it in one motion to the Indian with blood in his eyes screaming at him. The knife struck fast into the man's chest.
Two Indians had grabed a branch and swung their bodies , feet first, towards Lurker. He made it look so simple. Lurker's tall heigth allowed him to jump upwards higher, and meet the two in mid air. His feet won out over the two's aimed at him. One of the hatchets, already drawn, slashed at one on the right, causing a large gash opening in his side. The Indian who now was laying on Lurker's left found the end of Lurker's swinging second axe. It was not a pertty sight.
Just as Lurker was jumping up a loud thunder of a shot from a musket roared in his ear. Sir Wallace had arrived and he promply discharged his gun into the face of another redman who had ideas on scalping Chuck.
Jack now had his long knife out and his next victim jumped onto him. A bad mistake for this redman to do.
The Indians who hadn't arrived in the melee saw what had happened to their fellow tribesmen, turned and ran. Dusting off the leaves and dead branches the men gathered closer together. Lookng for anything that would tell them about the attackers. Lurker squatted next to his fallen pardner. His wound was fatal. Sir Wallace came over and watched Lurker. Placing his hand on Lurker's shoulder he said," Sorry mate." When Wallaced turned to check on the others he witnessed Jack scalping his victims. Jack would claim two Indians at the campfires that night.Chuck searched the bodies for anything usefull. He picked up knives and some arrows, some of the guys would like the bright feathers on them for their fising appertures.
The group now were alerted by the musket fire and Meriwether came with several of the men to back up the security force that had just engaged the enemy.
"All is well major," said Sir Wallace," except for Physco, who was cut down with an arrow."
"Better get us up river now before they return with help."Meriwether commanded. They quickly buried Physco in the brush and headed back.
Back at the river's side the metal boats, three of them, had been loaded with what remaining provitions were left. The Commandor had the charge of these crafts. He had sworn by them years before. Unusual in these times but if one needed a sturdy canoe, sure in its path down river and would carry a mountain of gear, this was his first pick. Many on the trip would be impressed with their abilities to carry and remain intact over the rough waters ahead. Some grubled that they were to noisy. One man said in camp earlier that canoes were like women. "Each o' uz haz different women fer pets. But, unlike women, ya kin have a parcle o' canoes an' no one to matter." Solid advise.
Meriwether gave the order to take to the river. So the procession moved out into the waters, fighting the current with their poles.
The river
The boats came up from the rear. First the canoes were loaded. Each had packs that would have items within them that could sustain the men for a number of days. If a canoe and its load were lost in the ravage river there were other canoes that would cover that which was lost. But this was limited. Lose to many canoes and the party would be in dire needs. In this country and what possably lied ahead, a person would need the bare essitials packed in the canoes. To little to survive would mean not enough for all to survive. So the skill of paddling these boats loaded with life giving materials was assigned to the man who who knew how to take care of himself and his canoe.
Each man in the party had that qualification. A rare gift that many other venture groups had. Meriwether smiled inward knowing he had covered this well. With what he had and what the chances of losing to accidents, he figgered that he and the men would do well this year. It was the human problems that caused him to wonder now. The Indians would be watching him and he knew that some of them didn't want to see this group move into their hunting grounds. In these times a man had not only have to worry about his own skin in the elements, but what other men would make of him and his quest. Many a person's trip had been cut short by an arrow or a spear sent into his back.
The first canoes loaded were 20 feet long with a breath of three and a half feet wide. There were ten of these. Meriwether wanted to bring longer canoes but the realistic mind knew that longer ment more problems out here. Aaron Uphil and Floatfur were already packing the canoes. They would see to it that the canoes would be packed heavily yet safe enough for their paddlers. Several of the woodsmen had already found some small sapplings for poles.
Others walked the perimeter of the group looking for signs of un-wanted guests that may have their sights set on delaying the group.
Among the look outs were Sir Wallace's men. The one they call "Lurker" a big man with three hatchets hung on his body stared into the deep forest. He called to another of his parders and poined out in front of him. The two began to crouch foreward and step lightly towards their interest point. Meriwether looked about him to see if others were watching this.All seemed to be busy in their tasks.
He called to Burch Bark and Chuck, "Gentelmen, look there." he ordered lowly in his voice as not to alarm others to the sene unfolding with Lurker and the other man. Chuck and Jack looked at each other and both nodded and struck out to where the other two were now intering the forrest. "Let me know if anything is arye." spoke Meriwether. A nod from Chuck without looking back and they continued on.
Lurker had stoped and was looking at the ground when Chuck and Jack arrived next to them.
"Indians have been watching us here," as his finger pointed to bent pine needles laying on the ground. There were other signs found. Jack picked up a small piece of wood and held it up so the others could see it."Tooth pick," he whispered. A food particle was still impaled on one of the ends. Chuck's keen eyes saw that there were tracks of some ten to twelve people that had left out through the east.
Jack's musket was at the ready. Both hammers back, he stared into the east. A frown on his face told that he was in heavy consentration. RRRRRRIIIIPPPPP! "God Jack!", cried the others. "Sorry," I had to. He placed the hammers back on the stops and stood up. The others were busy backing away from him. "Better to check yer pants!" Lurker shouted as he jogged back to the group.
Just then an arrow peirced the air and hit a tree trunk in front of Lurker. Turning on their heels and hammers cocked they searched the woods from where the arrow had comr from. The shreaks were heard as Indians came running towards them. Jack droped one instantly. Chuck's shot dropped one in his tracks. Another arrow was heard to strike flesh. Jack's second shot split open a charging savage while the renegade was leaping over a log to drive his tomahawk into Jack's skull. Bad move on the Indians's part.
Chuck's knife on his side was grabbed by the handle and within his fingers he flung it in one motion to the Indian with blood in his eyes screaming at him. The knife struck fast into the man's chest.
Two Indians had grabed a branch and swung their bodies , feet first, towards Lurker. He made it look so simple. Lurker's tall heigth allowed him to jump upwards higher, and meet the two in mid air. His feet won out over the two's aimed at him. One of the hatchets, already drawn, slashed at one on the right, causing a large gash opening in his side. The Indian who now was laying on Lurker's left found the end of Lurker's swinging second axe. It was not a pertty sight.
Just as Lurker was jumping up a loud thunder of a shot from a musket roared in his ear. Sir Wallace had arrived and he promply discharged his gun into the face of another redman who had ideas on scalping Chuck.
Jack now had his long knife out and his next victim jumped onto him. A bad mistake for this redman to do.
The Indians who hadn't arrived in the melee saw what had happened to their fellow tribesmen, turned and ran. Dusting off the leaves and dead branches the men gathered closer together. Lookng for anything that would tell them about the attackers. Lurker squatted next to his fallen pardner. His wound was fatal. Sir Wallace came over and watched Lurker. Placing his hand on Lurker's shoulder he said," Sorry mate." When Wallaced turned to check on the others he witnessed Jack scalping his victims. Jack would claim two Indians at the campfires that night.Chuck searched the bodies for anything usefull. He picked up knives and some arrows, some of the guys would like the bright feathers on them for their fising appertures.
The group now were alerted by the musket fire and Meriwether came with several of the men to back up the security force that had just engaged the enemy.
"All is well major," said Sir Wallace," except for Physco, who was cut down with an arrow."
"Better get us up river now before they return with help."Meriwether commanded. They quickly buried Physco in the brush and headed back.
Back at the river's side the metal boats, three of them, had been loaded with what remaining provitions were left. The Commandor had the charge of these crafts. He had sworn by them years before. Unusual in these times but if one needed a sturdy canoe, sure in its path down river and would carry a mountain of gear, this was his first pick. Many on the trip would be impressed with their abilities to carry and remain intact over the rough waters ahead. Some grubled that they were to noisy. One man said in camp earlier that canoes were like women. "Each o' uz haz different women fer pets. But, unlike women, ya kin have a parcle o' canoes an' no one to matter." Solid advise.
Meriwether gave the order to take to the river. So the procession moved out into the waters, fighting the current with their poles.