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Authors: Nancy Johnson
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first light, let’s get together and see what can be done to repair it. We want to cross as soon as possible.”
“We will be here to do whatever we can to assist you,” agreed Dancing Eagle.
Sunee was worried about crossing the great river. She paced back and forth beside its banks, bobbing her head, stopping now and then to stare across the great expanse of water.
“Dear Asga ya galun Lati,” she prayed, “There must be a way for us to cross this mighty river. Our parents have taught us that there is nothing you can’t do. I pray that you show Cherokee a way to cross it. Whatever he decides, I know that his wisdom will have come from you.”
Enlightened by her prayer, she turned away from the river and trotted back toward the Indian camp and the friendly noises that the people were making. As she reached the top of a small knoll, she saw Cherokee watching the children run and play with each other. Cherokee, sensing her approach, turned and watched her.
“Give me wisdom, oh Asga ya galun Latí, that I do not let this friend of mine be harmed in any way. I have asked her to come with me on my journey and she has agreed. She trusts me and it is my responsibility to protect her. Give me a sign so I will know what I should do.”
“There you are, Cherokee,” said Sunee.
“Where have you been?” asked Cherokee.
“Looking at the water,” she answered him.
“Have you given any thought as to how we can cross it?” asked Cherokee.
“No,” she said, “But I prayed and believe that my prayers will be answered.
“So did I,” answered Cherokee. “The Great Spirit will not let us down if we think out the problem carefully. We will watch and wait. We do not want to hurry into trouble.”
Early the next morning following their Thanksgiving feast, the men met as agreed. They cut down several trees, trimmed them to size and used ropes to lash them together making a flatboat. They sealed possible leaks with black pitch. It took many men to drag the flatboat away from the river to give it time to dry. It would take several days. Joseph hoped to leave by the first day of December.
The day dawned cold and clear. The men had begun to stir well before first light. They drank some hot coffee and immediately began preparations to move the flatboats into the water. Once they were sure there were no visible leaks, their wagons and teams were next. The horses were skittish and did not want to step on the insecure surface of the boat. But the Indian men, wise in the way of animals, tied blindfolds over their eyes so they could not see. Soon the first team and wagon was on its way across the river.
Cherokee and Sunee were amazed to see it floating and bobbing. As they watched, it moved further and further away from the shore. Soon the second and third wagons were loaded on the floating rafts and were on their way. It took many hours.
Late in the day more than half of them had been transported to the other side without mishap. But the days were short and it was almost nightfall. Those who had already crossed set up camp on the west side of the Mississippi River while those who were still on the east side prepared to build supper fires and rest for the night.
Cherokee and Sunee stood quietly, watching with amazement as each boat slipped farther and farther away from the shore and carried wagons and horses or oxen onto the fast moving water. They could see that the path of the boat was not straight. Sometimes it was carried far down the river no matter how hard the men worked to keep it from doing so. The horses could not see what happened on the far side when they landed.
Once no more boats were launched that day, Sunee said, “Let’s go and rest, Cherokee. We need to eat and get a drink of water.”
“Come on,” answered Cherokee. “We will go into that stand of trees on the other side of those bluffs. I think it will be warmer. We can still hearthe men when they begin again tomorrow.”
Off they went for food,
“We will be here to do whatever we can to assist you,” agreed Dancing Eagle.
Sunee was worried about crossing the great river. She paced back and forth beside its banks, bobbing her head, stopping now and then to stare across the great expanse of water.
“Dear Asga ya galun Lati,” she prayed, “There must be a way for us to cross this mighty river. Our parents have taught us that there is nothing you can’t do. I pray that you show Cherokee a way to cross it. Whatever he decides, I know that his wisdom will have come from you.”
Enlightened by her prayer, she turned away from the river and trotted back toward the Indian camp and the friendly noises that the people were making. As she reached the top of a small knoll, she saw Cherokee watching the children run and play with each other. Cherokee, sensing her approach, turned and watched her.
“Give me wisdom, oh Asga ya galun Latí, that I do not let this friend of mine be harmed in any way. I have asked her to come with me on my journey and she has agreed. She trusts me and it is my responsibility to protect her. Give me a sign so I will know what I should do.”
“There you are, Cherokee,” said Sunee.
“Where have you been?” asked Cherokee.
“Looking at the water,” she answered him.
“Have you given any thought as to how we can cross it?” asked Cherokee.
“No,” she said, “But I prayed and believe that my prayers will be answered.
“So did I,” answered Cherokee. “The Great Spirit will not let us down if we think out the problem carefully. We will watch and wait. We do not want to hurry into trouble.”
Early the next morning following their Thanksgiving feast, the men met as agreed. They cut down several trees, trimmed them to size and used ropes to lash them together making a flatboat. They sealed possible leaks with black pitch. It took many men to drag the flatboat away from the river to give it time to dry. It would take several days. Joseph hoped to leave by the first day of December.
The day dawned cold and clear. The men had begun to stir well before first light. They drank some hot coffee and immediately began preparations to move the flatboats into the water. Once they were sure there were no visible leaks, their wagons and teams were next. The horses were skittish and did not want to step on the insecure surface of the boat. But the Indian men, wise in the way of animals, tied blindfolds over their eyes so they could not see. Soon the first team and wagon was on its way across the river.
Cherokee and Sunee were amazed to see it floating and bobbing. As they watched, it moved further and further away from the shore. Soon the second and third wagons were loaded on the floating rafts and were on their way. It took many hours.
Late in the day more than half of them had been transported to the other side without mishap. But the days were short and it was almost nightfall. Those who had already crossed set up camp on the west side of the Mississippi River while those who were still on the east side prepared to build supper fires and rest for the night.
Cherokee and Sunee stood quietly, watching with amazement as each boat slipped farther and farther away from the shore and carried wagons and horses or oxen onto the fast moving water. They could see that the path of the boat was not straight. Sometimes it was carried far down the river no matter how hard the men worked to keep it from doing so. The horses could not see what happened on the far side when they landed.
Once no more boats were launched that day, Sunee said, “Let’s go and rest, Cherokee. We need to eat and get a drink of water.”
“Come on,” answered Cherokee. “We will go into that stand of trees on the other side of those bluffs. I think it will be warmer. We can still hearthe men when they begin again tomorrow.”
Off they went for food,
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