Read Online The Adventures of Cherokee by Nancy Johnson - Free Book Online
Authors: Nancy Johnson
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sensed excitement from the pioneers.
“Here we are!” shouted Joseph, as they topped the last ridge. The delicious scent of roasting meat greeted their noses. Dancing Eagle stepped out of his lodge to invite the tired travelers to circle up their wagons in a large, grassy area that would be accessible to both the village and the Mississippi River, and offer plenty of grazing for the animals. With so many people around, it was not necessary to corral them with the wagons.
“It’s good to see you again,” said the wagon master to Dancing Eagle, as they shook hands.
“You must be tired,” responded Dancing Eagle. “Will your people meet with us around our fires? We will begin our celebration tonight. A Thanksgiving feast is being prepared for tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” answered Joseph. “We have brought venison, home made bread and sweet persimmon pies to add to what you have prepared.”
“We will sit and talk while the young men build fires to roast the venison. We, too, have been busy since meeting you. Can you smell the wild pig? We also have rabbit, pheasant, duck and geese for the feast. The women have gathered wild carrots and sweet potatoes and we have much corn.”
The children, as children do the world over, met each other with smiles and friendship. Stick ball and hide and seek are universal games.
As they were playing, one of the young Indian braves said, “Look! There is a wild horse up there!”
Emily, feeling quite knowledgeable about these horses, said, “There are two of them and they saved my life.”
Looking skeptical, the children stared at Cherokee and Sunee. “Let’s go and see them,” said the young brave.
“I don’t know,” said Emily. “I’m not sure we should.”
“Come on,” he replied. “I will look after you and the others. The moon is bright and we can’t get lost.”
“Well, alright.”
And several children started walking toward the two wild horses.
Sunee was not sure at first what the children were up to, but as they continued to walk toward them, she said, “Cherokee? What should we do?”
“Wait.” he replied. “Let’s see how far they will come. Perhaps they will not come all the way. Let’s graze and watch them.”
Heads lowered to the ground, eyes facing the direction from which the children came, the two horses watched and waited.
The length of two tall trees from the horses, (about sixty feet) the young Indian brave whispered, “Let’s sit down and be quiet.” The other boys and girls did as he suggested and watched in awe as the two horses grazed closer andcloser to them.
Cherokee was curious. “Let’s go and see them,” he whispered.
“Yes,” agreed Sunee. “I see the little girl we saved. Do you think we will be safe?”
“If there is danger, we can outrun them,” answered Cherokee promptly.
As they got closer to the children, Emily stood up and held her hand out to the horses. Sunee walked directly to the child touching her nose gently to the little girl’s chest.
The other children gasped in surprise, that the small child could, indeed, touch a wild horse!
“I want to touch it!” said one. More confident now, they all stood up and moved around the two horses. “Me, too! Me, too!” they all cried.
Cherokee and Sunee were careful to stand still while the children walked in and around their feet and under their bellies, only turning their heads so they could keep watch on the movements of the small ones in order not to hurt them. Many small hands patted them, rubbed their legs andpulled their manes and tails.
Soon parents were calling them to come back for bed. Giving the horses one last pat, they waved good-bye and did as their elders bid them.
“That was pleasant, Sunee.” said Cherokee. “Perhaps serving Man would not be such a bad thing.”
“Especially if everyone was as kind as these children,” agreed Sunee.
Lonely for their own families, they turned and wandered toward the open field where the oxen
“Here we are!” shouted Joseph, as they topped the last ridge. The delicious scent of roasting meat greeted their noses. Dancing Eagle stepped out of his lodge to invite the tired travelers to circle up their wagons in a large, grassy area that would be accessible to both the village and the Mississippi River, and offer plenty of grazing for the animals. With so many people around, it was not necessary to corral them with the wagons.
“It’s good to see you again,” said the wagon master to Dancing Eagle, as they shook hands.
“You must be tired,” responded Dancing Eagle. “Will your people meet with us around our fires? We will begin our celebration tonight. A Thanksgiving feast is being prepared for tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” answered Joseph. “We have brought venison, home made bread and sweet persimmon pies to add to what you have prepared.”
“We will sit and talk while the young men build fires to roast the venison. We, too, have been busy since meeting you. Can you smell the wild pig? We also have rabbit, pheasant, duck and geese for the feast. The women have gathered wild carrots and sweet potatoes and we have much corn.”
The children, as children do the world over, met each other with smiles and friendship. Stick ball and hide and seek are universal games.
As they were playing, one of the young Indian braves said, “Look! There is a wild horse up there!”
Emily, feeling quite knowledgeable about these horses, said, “There are two of them and they saved my life.”
Looking skeptical, the children stared at Cherokee and Sunee. “Let’s go and see them,” said the young brave.
“I don’t know,” said Emily. “I’m not sure we should.”
“Come on,” he replied. “I will look after you and the others. The moon is bright and we can’t get lost.”
“Well, alright.”
And several children started walking toward the two wild horses.
Sunee was not sure at first what the children were up to, but as they continued to walk toward them, she said, “Cherokee? What should we do?”
“Wait.” he replied. “Let’s see how far they will come. Perhaps they will not come all the way. Let’s graze and watch them.”
Heads lowered to the ground, eyes facing the direction from which the children came, the two horses watched and waited.
The length of two tall trees from the horses, (about sixty feet) the young Indian brave whispered, “Let’s sit down and be quiet.” The other boys and girls did as he suggested and watched in awe as the two horses grazed closer andcloser to them.
Cherokee was curious. “Let’s go and see them,” he whispered.
“Yes,” agreed Sunee. “I see the little girl we saved. Do you think we will be safe?”
“If there is danger, we can outrun them,” answered Cherokee promptly.
As they got closer to the children, Emily stood up and held her hand out to the horses. Sunee walked directly to the child touching her nose gently to the little girl’s chest.
The other children gasped in surprise, that the small child could, indeed, touch a wild horse!
“I want to touch it!” said one. More confident now, they all stood up and moved around the two horses. “Me, too! Me, too!” they all cried.
Cherokee and Sunee were careful to stand still while the children walked in and around their feet and under their bellies, only turning their heads so they could keep watch on the movements of the small ones in order not to hurt them. Many small hands patted them, rubbed their legs andpulled their manes and tails.
Soon parents were calling them to come back for bed. Giving the horses one last pat, they waved good-bye and did as their elders bid them.
“That was pleasant, Sunee.” said Cherokee. “Perhaps serving Man would not be such a bad thing.”
“Especially if everyone was as kind as these children,” agreed Sunee.
Lonely for their own families, they turned and wandered toward the open field where the oxen
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