Chapter 1
The year was 1776. I was living in London with my father, our housekeeper, James, and his wife, Susanna. My mother was dead, of scarlet fever. I never knew her. My father got a letter around ten years before from the King himself. He left for the colonies the next day. We were fighting against the French in the French and Indian War. The girl from next door came to stay with me since her father left for America as well. Her mother was also dead.
I heard some yelling. I didn't want the pain to come back, so, instead, I kept my eyes closed. I was lifted up, and carried into a bright light. I felt myself being put on hay, the sharp prickles scratching at my skin, and my hands tied to some sort of post, and it got dark.
Chapter 2
I remember the last time I was in London. I was in our three-story town house, the full moon as bright as a Chinese lantern during their New Year. I was in my room, the busy streets of London passing right below my open window letting the cool night air into my hot room. Two lamplighters were busy lighting the lamps. Someone came to the front door, knocking on it impatiently.
“Come on! 'hurry up! We 'haven't got all night!”one of them shouted. They were still pounding on the door when James came in.
“Young Master, it's time to go.”
“Go where?”
“On a trip with some friends of mine.” he said as he put a black cloak on my shoulders and handed me over to the impatient men. They immediately gagged me and threw me into an awaiting carriage and we drove away from all I ever knew.
When we stopped for another boy, they all left me alone. Once they were distracted, I made my escape. I got out of the carriage and headed for the nearest port. When they saw that I had gone, they all started shooting at me. When that didn't work for them, they left the other boy alone allowing him to escape, and started chasing me. As I ran by some barrels, I had an idea. I ran past and threw them all down. It stopped four of them, but the leader was still after me and gaining speed with every step. I searched in vain for another obstacle. Finding none, I rounded the corner and fell into a pit. I recognized it as a cargo storage pit for ships. Seeing that it was empty, I climbed into the barrel nearest me, found the lid, and covered my head. Inside, it was so dark that I just fell asleep.
When I woke up from my sleep, I found that the barrel I was in was being lifted up. Realizing that I could be put onto an unknown ship, bound for a harbor unknown, I tried to lift the lid off, but it would not budge. There was nothing I could do! When the cargo was loaded, I tried again, but failed. What seemed like hours later, I tried for the last time to lift it off my head, and I fell out of the barrel causing a loud crash of all kinds of crates, barrels, even some cages containing farm animals like chickens and goats. When I heard voices headed toward me, I tried to find a place to hide, but in vain. I started to crawl around, but bumped into a leg of a man, and I slowly looked up at two men. One of them had an upraised gun, the butt of it aimed at my head.
“Don't move, and we won't hurt you.” one of them said attempting to get at me slowly. When he grabbed a hold of me, I foolishly struggled trying with all my remaining strength to free myself from the man's strong grip. I was dragged up to the ship's holds, and locked in a foul smelling cell. They left me, but left the light on. In the cell, there was nothing but a table bolted to the floor, same with a chair, a small, wooden cot, and, in a corner, a hole in the floor. When I looked more closely at the hole, I realized that it was a place to go when prisoners needed to, so that they would have no chance at escaping the grasp of the guard's foul smelling hands. I walked stiffly over to the cot, and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. I didn't wake up for another two or three days.
Chapter 3
When I woke up on the ship, The Cay, there was a sick, scrawny, pale faced boy in the bunk just outside the cell door. He was reading, it seemed, from a small, worn, weather-beaten book. When the boy looked up from his reading for a brief moment, he saw that I was awake, and left the room leaving his book open. While he was gone, I glanced at the pages that it was opened to. They said,
'John 3:16: For God so loved the World that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.' at that time, I knew not what that meant, so I let it be. Just then, the door to my cell opened and the boy entered with a bowl of something hot and an older man with him. I had never laid eyes upon any man like him. He was tall and had brown skin. I later found out that his name was Sunday because he became a Christian on that day.
“Where am I?”
“On The Cay.” the boy replied trembling so hard that he nearly spilled the bowl. “You have been drafted in the British army as punishment for stowing away.”
“Wait a minute! Did you just say in the British army?”
“Yes, why?”
“Am I not just a little young for the British army? I am only twelve years old.”
“It's your own fault for stowing away on a British army ship.”
“I don't care! No-”
“YOU DO AS TOLD!” Sunday said as he slapped me hard on the cheek. He then force fed me with the hot broth and left the boy and I alone.
“Don't mind him, he's been that way since his family all perished in a small pox plague brought there by an English man.”
“What was the Englishman's name?”
“Captain William Northrup. Why? Do you know him?”
“Yes, he's my father. If you could call him that.”
“Why would you not call him that? He is your father, is he not?”
“He may have helped bring me into the world, but that is where him being a father to me ended.”
“How?”
“My housekeeper, James, and his wife, Susanna, brought me up when my father was gone on his voyages, which were very many.”
“So, you hardly saw your father?”
“Right.”
“Why did you stowaway on the ship anyway?”
“Some gang kidnapped me and I was trying to get away.”
“Oh.” the boy said sitting down on his bunk and picking up his book.
“What's that you're reading?”
“The Bible.” he said as if I was supposed to know what it was about.
“What's it about?”
“You mean to tell me that you haven't read the Bible?”
“I haven't even heard about it until today.”
“Well, let me teach you about God. Can you read?”
“Yes. I read one part of it while you were gone.”
“What part?”
“John 3:16.”
“Ah. One of my favorites. What's your name anyway?”
“William Northrup. Named for my father. Your's?”
“Charlie.”
“No last name?”
“No. I never knew my family.”
“How come?”
“Enough. Let's begin, William. Let's start in John.”
Within almost six months time, I had full understanding of God and Christianity. Charlie and I became great friends, and I soon befriended Sunday. He treated me just as though I was his own son. One night, while Charlie, Sunday and I were reading our Bibles, a call that none of us were expecting rang out.
“Storm ahead!”
With that call, we immediately got up. At this time, in one week, we would have been in the colonies.
“I need every available man on this ship up here, and I mean NOW!”
“Even the stowaway?”
“Yes, even him.”
Charlie came down to get me. I went up, and finally laid eyes on the captain, though it was just his back. When he turned around to give me orders, he nearly fainted and turned quite pale. He nodded his head, and someone standing behind me shot me in the right shoulder blade, the cold, smooth bullet penetrating my spoiled, soft skin and quickly over powered me, and the captain came up close to my face; his breath stinking of rum and stale coffee.
“Remember me lad? I'm Thomas Gage! That's right, the gang leader you thought that you lost!”
“What shall I do with him?”
“Take him below and tie him up.”
As they were dragging me away, I slipped into unfamiliar slumber.
Chapter 4
I was aware of movement, bouncing along in the heat of the day. There was a sharp, steady pain in my right shoulder and I remembered the storm; Thomas; shot. I was shot. We stopped suddenly, and I was aware of people talking.
“'ey, Doctor Jack! We got another one for you!”
“Did this one sign on, or did you take him by force?”
“What do you think?”
“I know what it feels like to be forced onto a ship you know! It still hangs over me.”
“At least Lone Whatever is still your buddy.”
“Star.”
“What?”
“Star. His name is Lone Star.”
“Just take care of 'im, and maybe you can go back to that Scotland of yours!”
I didn't open my eyes until the men left. When I did open them, I saw why the doctor would have wanted to go to Scotland. I was on a cart of hay. I moaned, and he turned to me.
“So you're awake. Did you hear that entire conversation?”
When I did not speak, he went on.
“Were you forced to join the army, or were you not?”
Instead of speaking, I backed away as far as I could.
“Look, I am only here to help. I don't bite.” When I still did not speak, he left me alone in the tent that we were in. While he was gone, I got a chance to look at my new surroundings. There were tables, chairs, charts, and instruments, so many instruments. There were glass tubes, wires, string, pliers, and water. On the far wall, I noticed some pictures of the doctor's family no doubt. Seeing those pictures reminded me that, in my home, we had no family pictures, no memorabilia. I never knew my mother, nor what she looked like. I remember helping Susanna in the kitchen one day when I was six and my father was on one of his many voyages. She had said that the walls were bare. I fell asleep soon after. I woke up hours later, moaning in pain and chills.
“I feel sick.” I said startling the doctor so much that I think that he might have jumped in the air around three hundred feet! That caused me to laugh weakly.
“Ah. So you do speak! And you have a sense of humor! Where do you feel sick?”
“Stomach.”
“Did they give you antibiotics on that ship?”
“I've no idea.”
“You have a fine accent. Where are you from?”
“London. I live with my housekeeper and his wife.”
“Mind telling your story to me?”
I said nothing.
“How old are you?” he said changing the subject.
“Thirteen. I will be fourteen in about another week.”
“That sure is a little young, but I guess once I get you fixed up, you should be capable enough for it, uh...what's your name anyway?”
“They didn't mention it?”
“No. Don't know why though.”
“William Northrup. Named for my so called father.”
“Now why was he christened with that nickname?”
“Long story.”
“Well, how's about you tell me about that long story after I patch you up?”
“How much is patching up?”
“Well, you need a shot, and then stitches and antibiotics.”
“How long will that take?”
“Few hours. You'll have to rest here for a few days, but other than that, unless you get an infection with that wound being open for so long.”
“How long did they say that I was out?”
“One week.”
“That long?”
Before he could answer, a pain shot through my arm, and I was out again.
Chapter 5
When I woke up next, the room seemed as though it was spinning around. I was aware of people trying to talk to me, but I could never discern what they were saying, or who they were. When I tried to tell them what was wrong, it always came out wrong. It always came out slurred or jumbled up. I was aware of the feeling of cold on my forehead. I was both thirsty and hungry, though I could never seem to keep anything down.
One night, when it seemed as though as I would surely die, a man came into focus. I could not recognize him, for he came from the ceiling out of nowhere. He held a large, boulder-like stone upraised in his hand as though as he was going to kill me with it.
“Repeat after me. Our Father,” he said, his voice sounding like that of Sunday's. I recited every single line of Our Lord's prayer, though he did not say them. When I finished, he said to me,
“For this, ye shall live and prosper on this Earth until another time. Ye shall always be strong and faithful to the last.” and with that, he left me alone. Then, it got dark once more.
When I woke up, the room was spinning no more, and my sight was better than it had ever been in my life. No one was in the room but me. I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder, and I might have let out a slight moan, for soon after, a door opened, and in walked a young girl and the doctor. The girl changed my bandage and left the room.
“You had me scared for a while there.” Jack said when the door closed behind the girl.
“Where are we? Last I knew, we were in a tent.”
“We are in my temporary home. My real home is in Scotland.”
“What happened?”
“It got infected. You were delirious for nearly a week. If it wasn't for me...”
“Actually, it was not only you at all that saved me. It was Him.”
“I think you are still a little delirious. Why not get some sleep now, hmm?”
“I AM NOT DELIRIOUS! DOES THIS LOOK DELIRIOUS TO YOU?! GOD WORKED THROUGH YOU TO SAVE ME! AND DON'T YOU EVER DENY THAT AGAIN!”
“Sorry. How's about we start over then? Starting with that story of your's?”
“I lived in London...”
Chapter 6
After I finished telling Jack my story, he told me his.
“Well, it all started when we headed into the meeting tipi, and then we heard some shouts from outside. It was a group of white men and they looked pretty angry. I got my tomahawk to stop them. Knowing that my intentions were of attack, they shot me in my right shoulder. Then the whole pack of them were on top of me; like a pack of starving wolves, they punched me to the ground not realizing that I was a White captive.
'Stop! Stop! Please stop.' I cried weakly in English that I had completely erased from memory. Boy, weren't they surprised when they heard English words come out of me! They stopped immediately and started to carry me off. I tried to get away from their cruel grasp, back to the safety of the only home that I remembered, but they overpowered me too easily. I was feeling dizzy and weak because of the bullet still in my shoulder. They put me down gently on a wooden sled pulled by some horses, put some blankets on top of me and tied me up so that I could not escape. Everyone left me but one.
He was speaking in a comforting tone, even though he knew I had probably forgotten most of the language. Then it got dark, and I couldn't see or hear anything that was going on around me anymore.
The next thing I knew, they were dragging me in the wooden sled, only this was much further than the village. Then we saw a light coming out of the darkness of the cold, autumn night air, and I was dropped in the middle of the frozen road after the horses were untied, spooking the wagon train horses. The gang of men ran to the woods just as fast as they could, leaving mealone on the sled. Then some men were standing over me. It got dark all over again as I was untied and carried to one of the wagons.
When I came to, I was in one of the wagons on a cot. There was another man sitting on a chair drinking coffee and reading a book near a lamp.
'Where am I?' I asked quietly in the Indian language that I had learned. The man put down his coffee and book and got up. He tried to get answers from me, but I could not understand what it was that he was saying to me. He finally understood, and over the next few weeks, he retaught me the language that I grew up with as though I was just a little five year old from some foreign country.
'You're with the doctor of William Parker.' he said.
'Is he famous?'
'Famous? Of course.'
'What made him famous?'
'Well, he's helped many marshals capture any and all wanted men. That night that we found you, he went after the ones who dropped you off. What is your name anyway? And how old are you?'
'Jack Evans. I'm sixteen moons.' I said as I tried to reach up to shake his hand somehow remembering my English name. Something held my arm down, and I found that my hands were tied to the bed sides. I asked him why I was tied up, and he told me.
'Well, Jack, that crew that dropped you off is wanted for murder and robbery from the nearby Indian Village. They tied you up while you were sleeping last night.'
'But I am not involved in anything like that! I do not even know who they were.' I said in slow English.
'Well then, why don't you just start from the beginning of how you came to be with a crew like that, headed away from the said village, with a bullet hole in your shoulder.'
'Well, it all start when my father got pneumonia and died. After everyone left after the wake, funeral, and burial were over and done with, Ma and I were cleaning up when a sharp knock came at the door. Ma left me in the dining room to answer the door. All of a sudden, I heard a scream and a gunshot.
'I went to investigate and the next thing I knew, I was face to face with an Indian who was standing over my ma's lifeless body! He tried to get me with the same gun, but I was smarter. See, we had a back door to the cabin, so I escaped that way. Unfortunately, I forgot about the unfinished well that my father started to make before he died, and when I looked back at the cabin to see how far ahead that I was, I tripped and fell into the dried up well. It was shallow well, not even close to four feet in the ground, but the bottom of it was still so hard it knocked me senseless.
'Next thing that I knew, I was on a horse that was standing near a fire. I was tied to the horses back slumped over.'
'My captor saw that I awake, and offered me something to eat. I turned him down. I regret doing so, because he hit me so hard in my face that I was out again.' I said, yawning.
'Maybe it's time you turned in for the night.' he suggested. The watchman yelled,
'1:30 in the morning and alls well!' As he was putting a blanket and cold cloth on my forehead, for the fever, he said, there were victory shouts outside.
He went outside to see what was going on leaving me behind in his wagon on his bed.
'We're gonna need a fast horse.' someone said amidst all of the confusion.
'Why do you need a fast horse?' someone nearby asked.
'Because someone has to get these raiders to Parker quickly.' said the first.
'Why don't we all just pull out now?'
'Because Doctor Conner has a patient that is too injured to move, that's why.'
'Now hold it, hold it! He can be moved, just so long as we travel on the main road slowly.' Doctor Conner spoke up.
'Okay then, lets move out!' the second in command, Riveter, shouted. Doctor Conner came back inside to prepare for the long trip.
'What happened?' I asked.
'Oh! I didn't think that you were still awake. Oh well, anyway, that crew that brought you here was captured. You should get some rest now. We're headed to Fort Ticonderoga, so we can have another talk in the morning.' Soon, the wagon's slow moving lulled me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When morning came, the shout went out to stop all wagons so that we could eat, rest up, and wait for the commander to get there. After a large meal of bacon, ham and eggs, Doctor Conner asked me,
'So. Mind telling me the rest of your adventure?'
'No, I don't mind. Now, where did leave off again?'
'He just knocked you out with his fist when you turned him down for a meal.'
'Oh, yeah. Thank you. Now then, as I was saying, I regret doing so because he hit me so hard in the face that I was knocked out again. When I come to, this time, I was on my back with a cold cloth on my forehead. The Indian come over to me, with food and pleaded in perfect English:
'Please eat something now. You need your strength to beat the fever that you have.' Well, I told him that I wasn't hungry. Just then, my stomach growled so loud, you'd have thought that I was a bear from a long way off. He smiled a nice, warm hearted smile at me, the first that I had seen since my pa died only weeks before, and, when my mouth opened to protest, he force-fed me. The mystery meat tasted so good, that I tried to get some more.
'No, I think that you ate enough for now. Just get some more sleep.'
'Well, the next day, he went out hunting for more meat since ours went spoiled leaving me behind tied up facing the dying camp fire from the night before and breakfast that morning. Just then, I heard something. As I took a look around me from where it was that I sat however, there was nothing that I could see except for trees, birds, grass and bushes, so I decided that it was most likely just my own imagination, so I foolishly looked away. My hair on the back of my neck stood on end when I heard the same sound again, and still didn't see anything. So, I looked away even more foolishly. Next thing I knew, I was laying on the ground, at least one hundred pounds of bear on top of me. Attacking me with teeth, claws and weight against me, there was nothing that I could do. My hands were tied behind my back; I was powerless. It started in on whipping my stomach with it's claws. The sting of blows to my stomach astonished me. I didn't even think that I would survive. I saw my captor head up to camp, and when he saw me, he ran away. After about another five minutes, I saw that he had returned. He was talking to someone that I just couldn't see in too low a voice for me to hear.
Just then, I heard a nearby gunshot; felt the weight of the grizzly come off of my stomach; I could breath once more. I looked up, and saw that it was not the same Indian, but another one. I looked around and there was a whole tribe of them. Then some darkness came over me, and I woke up a week later in a tipi, a child staring at me. It seemed as though the child had never seen a white boy before, because the eyes that were staring back at me were of curiosity, not fear. Just then, someone came in carrying a bowl of some sort. She saw that I was awake, and told the boy to go somewhere. The child left, and came back only a few minutes later with an older man. The man told the other two to leave, and he gave me something to eat. Then, I fell asleep.'
'Let's move out! Parker's back!' someone yelled. Before he could come in to see me, I was fast asleep since it was around midnight.
'Unuh.' I let out a moan as I was waking up because of the pain that was still in my shoulder. I didn't know for sure how long I slept, but I was sure that it was a long time. The doctor turned to look at me, and I asked him who the other man in the wagon was.
'This is Mr. William Parker, the one who spotted you in the road in the first place.'
'Pleased meet you. As I was saying, I fell asleep with the man staring at me. I woke up what seemed like two weeks later. When I woke up that day, the same man was staring at me, this time smiling. I looked around, and there was the Indian.
'You eat now.' the man said to me in slow English. I did as I was told this time. He gave me this bowl of hot water. I tried it, and it had no taste. I was so hungry, that I just couldn't turn him down.
'The next week, I was doing better, so I started a conversation with the now awake Indian who had captured me and brought me there in the first place.'
'So. What's your name?'
'Lone Star. What yours?'
'Jack Evans.' once we started the conversation, well, we just couldn't stop and before we knew it, it was dark outside.'
Just then, we heard shouts coming from outside and they weren't victory shouts. The doctor peaked outside and then was knocked out by Lone Star who tied and gagged him. William Parker tried to stop him, and was somehow overpowered by him and tied up as well and put him on the next cot.
I came into the wagon just as the doctor was coming to a few weeks later. I told him everything that had happened.
'The one who knocked you out was Lone Star. He came alone to rescue me not realizing that there was so many people here, but he's so big of a man that he was still able to overpower us. He untied me, tied you up, and told me that he was taking us all back to the village. Parker still hasn't woken up yet. You two are the only two of the troop that survived.' I then untied the doctor and told Lone Star to come in.
'Why come in?'
'Because the doctor's up.'
'Oh.' Lone Star said getting into the wagon. He came into the wagon, untied him, and told him where it hurt. He pointed to his wounded shoulder. The doctor told Lone Star to lie down on his stomach, and then he got the bullet out in one quick move.
'Okay. You can get up now.' Doctor Connor told him as soon as he finished.
'Thank you.' Lone Star said as he started to build up the fire, this time at a slower pace. Just then, the doctor heard a moan coming from the other cot. The doctor told me, and I told Lone Star. Lone Star put down the firewood again to take the blanket off, and unveiled Parker. William at first was really scared. He tried to back away, and I told Lone Star to get some cold water. When he left, I felt Parker's forehead. It was as hot as the hottest hot pepper in the world!
It took us a good two months before we got Parker's temperature down, and we were still on our way to the village since we were farther away from the village than when I was taken there in the first place. During this time, I told the doctor the rest of my story. “Well, after many months of these conversations, there was one day, I remember so well, when the sky was all cloudy, but there was no rain; it was so dark at twelve noon that day, that I actually thought that it was midnight for a moment.
'Well, we were getting ready for the daily meeting, and we heard shouts and whoops and screams in the cold night air. The next thing that I know, I was being beaten up with sticks by the group of bandits after having gotten shot by one of them. When I cried out in English words, they realized then that I was white, and by that time, I was already out cold.
'After having defeated the tribe, the must've carried me off and then saw you and figured that I was in good hands. Too bad they couldn't run any faster than they did that night though. Oh well. I'm safe and alive now anyway. Just a few weeks ago, I found out from Lone Star that he had also been carried off and was found by a farmer's family. They were able to get the bullet out. Once he got his strength back, before he could even say thanks, he was gone. Didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. The father actually shot him mistaking him for a thief while he was leaving. It took him just a few days to find the wagon train though, so they must be nearby.'
'I just can't wait to see them again. They're the only family I got. Hey, wait! Pull over! Parker's waking up!' And indeed he was. The fever finally broke! I still remember the first fever that I had. It was after the bear attack. Young as I was, it definitely wasn't as bad as Parker's was though.
We filled him in on what was going on, and he tried to overpower Lone Star again, but, because of the recent fever, he instead got overpowered himself again! He finally gave up and by that time, we were there. But there were no fires, no sound; there was nothing left of the village except some smoke from the fires. Everything was destroyed.
'I wonder what happened?' I said as we surveyed all the damage.
'I don't know. Maybe they went somewhere.”'Lone Star said hopefully.
'I don't think that they went somewhere except maybe the Happy Hunting Ground.' Doctor Conner said sadly as tears were coming to his eyes to see something that happened so near by one of his own kind.
We decided to bury the bodies that we could find, make camp, spend the week and then head to the fort. The doctor told Lone Star and I to go get firewood. Then Parker and Connor gathered wood for a place to stay. When we got back however, they had the frame of a lean to up. They soon told us their plan:
'We decided to build something like a lean to with deer skin to block out the cold at night.'
'That won't do! We must have a warmer, sturdier shelter.'
'You mean like a small long house?'
'Yes, but we should also have a lean to for the designated look out that night.'
'I'll take the first watch.' Lone Star volunteered in a painful voice.
'Oh no you won't! Your still hurting from that bullet that I pulled out of you on that first day, aren't you? And since I am obviously the only one who is in good shape right now, I'll take the first watch.' the doctor spoke up. 'Well, don't just stand there gawking! Let's get our supper ready.'
When we all were turning in for the night, right before I fell asleep, I heard a wolf howl and saw a small bear some distance off. I figured that the doctor must have been scared, because I heard some shouts coming from the lean to, and decided to go and investigate all the noise. I was half way to the lean to when I heard more shouts coming from the long house behind me. I turned around to see what was going on there as well, but then someone came up from behind me and put something very stinky over my nose and mouth. I tried to hold my breath, to protect from the foul odor, but whoever it was soon saw what I was doing, and I felt the butt of a rifle jam me in between my shoulder blades. I fell, but not unconscious. They soon overpowered me and dragged me over to a wagon. We headed off into the night.
Around three hours later, we were at a small area near the Atlantic Ocean. In the ocean, there was a ship called the Liberté. I was forced onto it and taken to the captain. He asked me a few questions of my life and health, and sent me below, far below after having tied and gagged me. I was then sat down on a bed of hay. Blankets were tossed on me, and the doctor, Mr. Cooper and Lone Star were dragged in. They were unconscious and tied immediately. The sailors told me to get some rest, and left the hold, which is what we were put in. I fell asleep almost immediately, though I was quite nervous about being on a ship after I had never even seen a ship in all my life. As far as I could remember anyway. When my head hit the straw pillow, I was dead to the world.
When I woke from my slumber, I was on my back looking at another Indian. She was putting something cold on my forehead, and I realized that I was sweating and rolling up and down, as though I were on a ship of some sort. My hands were tied, and I then realized that it was no Indian who was staring at me, talking to me. It was a white man. He said something to his captain about a fever. Then it got black again.
When I woke up again, I was in a different room on a bed this time. My feet were chained to the posts. I looked around, and I could just make out the unconscious forms of my companions on other bunks. Just then, the man who had been watching me earlier came over to me. He came and introduced himself as Pierre Dumont. He told me that I was on the great ship Liberté ,and it was bound for France.
'This ship is one of King Louie IXV's fleet. You are going to be serving him... once you get better that is.' he said in a French accent. When he gave me some beef broth in the late afternoon, the doctor was just starting to wake up. Pierre had to go on his duties, so I was the one who told him what was to become of us. When the others woke up a few days later, I told Lone Star while the doctor told Parker. When we all got better, we were still chained to the posts of the beds, but we got more than broth for meals. Then, one night, there were shouts on deck.
'We need you in the forecastle. Now!' Captain Claude said as he undid my chains. He brought me up to the deck, and I realized that the ship was sinking. I told the captain that there was absolutely no possible way to save the ship before she sunk.
'I know. We have to get everybody living off of this ship.' he said as he started to load the animals into the only life raft.
'What about Cooper, Lone Star and the doctor?'
'We aren't taking your friends because there is not enough room.' When he said this, I was astonished! I grew mad with hatred. I no longer wanted to be on this ship. I wasn't going anywhere without my friends. We'd been through so much together, that I just couldn't leave them here to die without giving them a chance.
'But you can't leave them here, they'll all die! And what will your king think about you murdering his new servants? I don't know him, but if I were him, I wouldn't want to have a murderous captain on one of my ships!'
'Fine. We can leave the animals in the hold. The nearest land from here is an unknown island. Inhabited by the looks of it. I'll need your help to carry your friends up from the hold though. The rest of the crew just jumped ship once they saw how big the rock was. I tried to see them, but they're gone. There's no possible way that they could've made that jump with all of those rocks at the bottom.'
We got everybody into the boats. The captain was the one who lowered the dingy, but before the dingy hit water, the main sail hit him in the back. He fell, screaming into the pitch black water. That was the last we saw of him. Then, there was a wave headed our way. The next thing that I knew, we were in the water as well. The dingy was nowhere in sight, and I found the main sail and clung to it as best I could. It was midnight, and I could not see any sign of my companions since the moon was not out, so I just swam around. Next I knew, I was walking onto the shore of a piece of land. Possibly the same land that the captain had spoken of just the night before. Then, I collapsed from swimming around in the freezing water all night long. I fell asleep once my tired head hit the soft, clay like sand. I was dead once again to the world.
When I woke up, I was on a cot in a stone house. It was a one room house and there was nobody in there but me. To my left, there was a small table, another bed, a small fireplace and two chairs. On the wall just above the fireplace was a neatly drawn map of an island. I wasn't tied to the cot, but when I tried to get up, I felt dizzy and very weak. I lay down again, and then it was dark.
When I woke up again, there was someone standing over me. He didn't look like anyone I ever wanted to know. He had long, tangled, black hair. He looked a lot like me. He was wearing ragged clothes which told me that he was living in poverty. He was a very strong man with a short beard. He was putting something cold on my forehead. When he saw that I was awake, he went to the stove and put something hot in a bowl that came from a pot hanging over the fire. He came over to me, lifted my head gently and spooned the good beef broth into my mouth. He told me that I had a very high fever, and that I was on a small island just off the coast of Scotland. I spent another week with him before I was strong enough to make conversation with him.
'My name is Alan Campbell. What's yours?' he asked me one day.
'Jack Evans.'
'Where are you from with such an accent like that?' I told him of my very long journey not missing a single detail. When I finished, I saw that he had tears in his eyes, though, when I asked him what was wrong, he didn't want to admit that he was, indeed, crying. Just then, somebody came to the door and knocked.
Alan went to the door and opened it. A little boy of about nine came in carrying firewood.
'It's only me, Grandpa! And I have some friends with me too!'
'Well, where are your friends Robert?'
'They're sleeping on the beach.'
'Robert, point out on the map where they are and keep Jack company. I'll be right back.' Alan said as he pulled a long coat on over his clothes.
'So, how do you know my grandpa?'
'He found me on a beach.'
'How did you get on the beach?' he asked as he was putting away the firewood and taking his coat off. Then I told him my story. By the time I was done, Alan returned with a handmade sled; a handmade sled with some lumps on it.
He brought them in and had Robert go and get his mother to bring some more portable cots to his cottage. When Robert returned, he brought his mother, uncle, aunt, two cousins and sister with him. His mother saw me and immediately rushed to my side, put a dry blanket on me, and put some warm broth in my mouth. I tried to stay awake longer to see who they were, but it was midnight by the time they got there and I couldn't stay up any longer.
When I woke the next morning, they were all still there, sleeping on the floor because all of the beds were taken. I could easily recognize Lone Star with no shirt on, warpaint still on his face, his worn out deerskin pants and his moccasins, now with holes in them. Robert's sister was the one who woke up next. She saw that I was awake and woke her mother up quietly.
'Mother, wake up.'
'Why, what is it?'
'The boy, Jack, is up. You remember, the one who fell asleep after he had your fresh broth last night. Grandpa told you his story.'
'Oh yes. Well, help me up then. I noticed last night that you don't look so well.' she said, this time addressing me.
'I don't feel so well either.'
'Well, I'll see what I can do with those clothes if you've been wearing them since the beginning of the journey that you had. But first let's get a nice healthy Scottish breakfast inside you.'
After a nice meal of eggs, bacon, ham, biscuits, fresh cow's milk and mountain greens, she had me get undressed so that she could get my measures for a brand new wardrobe of homespun clothes. After we finished that, she had me get into some old clothes that belonged to her late husband.
'In fact, you look so much like him, it almost seems as though you were... but it couldn't be. It just couldn't.'
'Couldn't what, Mother?' her daughter and son asked at the same time.
'When you were born, Suzie, you had a twin brother, also named Jack. One day, you two were playing outside. Father was at the store, and I was inside baking. All of a sudden, I heard this cry coming from outside where you two were playing. You were five years old, old enough to be playing without being watched as your father had said. Well, anyway, I heard a cry coming from outside where you two were playing. I immediately rushed outside and saw Jack being dragged away. There was nothing that I could do, and I never saw him again. I remember him so well, he was the splitting image of his father when he was that age. I know this from portraits that your father gave me of him when he was just a wee boy. I heard that Jack had been taken to a ship and America after that, but I never heard about him since then.'
'My mother once said that I had been adopted at the age of five.'
'What year was it that you were adopted?'
'I don't really know. My mother said something about 1750, and my father said 1758. One day, I had overheard them talking about me. I was only six at the time, but I definitely could understand that they illegally adopted me when I was five. They decided that they would tell me when I was twenty, but they never got the chance. I overheard them saying that I was from Scotland up near Edinburgh.'
'That's where we were living at the time.' she said gravely. She then had Suzie go home and get her portraits. When she got back, her mother looked through them all to see if she could find the right one.
'Aha!' she said when she found the right one. She handed me a colorful painting of a young boy of five, with black, short hair and a strong build for his age.
'Do you know who this is, Jack?' she asked, eager to hear my answer.
'Why, that's me! I had the same one at home. When I was ten, I asked my mother about where we were at the time of that portrait, but she wouldn't say.'
'That's not possible.'
'What's not possible, Mother?' Suzie asked.
'That little boy is Jack. It was taken the month before he was kidnapped. There were two copies. I gave him one just in case he needed it. The other one I kept with me all these years.' she said as she reached out to hug me.
'You sure that I'm him though? I mean, it has been eleven years. Shouldn't we look into this more? No offense, but I still don't remember you. I had some pictures of my biological family, but they are all still in the cabin in the colonies.'
'No they aren't.' Lone Star said. 'When I took you, I found some pictures. I took them with me. They are in my lower right pocket.' he said reaching into it. He handed the pictures to Mrs. Campbell.
'Too bad you aren't my son. Oh well. You still look familiar.'
'That is my mother right there.' I said pointing to the picture that Mrs. Campbell was holding. 'I know that they lived in Edinburgh around that time, though I don't know what my real name is or last name. I want to meet them.'
'Alan, isn't that Mrs. Stewart?'
'Why, yes it is. Didn't she die last fall?'
'No, that was her sister who died. She still lives in Edinburgh in that same house waiting for her Jack to return.'
'Could we go there tomorrow?' I asked hopefully.
'I don't see why not. We'll go in the morning, first thing.'
And so we did. I met my real mother and it sure was a tear jerking reunion. Soon after, The French and Indian war ended, and I was given the choice to go back to the colonies, but I stayed with my mother, until her death which was in 1768. I ended up marrying Suzie. She is still alive, but in a much better place than here. She died in a fire with her younger brother, Robert at their first home. They were visiting relatives. That was just in 1761. My daughter looks so very much like her.”
“Compared to yours, I've never even tasted adventure. I praise God that you were safe and that He was with you all the time during your whole ordeal and...”
“Wait, wait, hold everything. You mean to tell me that you believe in all this God stuff?”
“Yes. He created the-”
“I would like to become a Christian. Would you teach me?”
“Sure. Let's start in John.”
Chapter 7
After around a month of living with Jack and his family, I was told to go and train in order to prepare myself for the war. Training was really boring at first. I had to assist, help doctors during surgery, tend to the sick, say comforting words to the dying, give water to those who needed it and, worst of all, I had to sew my own clothing. I did this for around six years. That first day of training, after getting up before the sun and sitting down to whatever it was that we had for breakfast, we started out by getting our first uniforms. I was very excited. The uniforms were a bright red with white x's on the backs. Mine fit me alright, it was just the boots that I was wearing. They were much too big for me. Every time I tried to lift my feet up to march, they would slip completely off my feet. I tried to tell my superior officer about my dilemma, but it was a huge mistake. My superior officer was none other than Thomas Gage himself. He said that there were no more to spare, and that I would simply have to grow into them. Charlie saw, and, him having a bigger shoe size than me, gave me his. These ones were too small for him, but they fit me just right. General Gage didn't even know the difference.
Charlie and I were added as privates. That meant that anyone who was a corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major or general were our superiors regardless of the age. I was the youngest that I knew of in the whole British army which was made up of around 36,000 men! We learned how to shoot, run, march in ranks and everything else that we needed to know in the army. When we were done with Beginner Training, we had to go to Boston to complete the training. Later, I would regret ever hearing about Boston, Massachusetts.
When we got there, it was March 5, 1770. We marched onto King Street just as a fight was starting in front of the Custom house. A young wig maker's apprentice shouted some insults down to Captain Lieutenant John Goldfinch that some bills were not paid to his master. The captain lieutenant ignored these insults. The apprentice left, and returned with companions a few hours later. They continued hurling insults and the companions started to throw snowballs at Goldfinch. The sentry that was standing in front of the Custom house went inside and turned his back on a locked door near the stairs. A riot broke out between us and the civilians, and I was ordered to go and get some more musket balls and guns from our supply wagon along with Charlie. We had left the supply wagon far out of town, around two miles out. When we got back to King Street, the riot ended. There were three civilians dead and two wounded. The soldiers at the scene were charged for murder, and we were moved to a fort on Castle Island in Boston Harbor. There, we were trained further for three more years. Then, the part that I feared the most came. WAR!
Chapter 8
It all started on Boston Harbor on 16 December 1773. A group of Indians somehow got onto the ship that was landing there the next day with the tea, and dumped all the tea into the harbor wasting all our supply. There were some rumors going around the camp that they were actually colonists dressed as Indians, but they were not that smart to pull of something like that.
Two years later, war began. I just knew we would win since the colonists had no professional army or navy, and no training. They were called militiamen, and may have outnumbered us by a lot, but I figured that we would win. We were trained far more effectively. Soon, news reached General Gage that the colonists already had a commander-in-chief, General George Washington. I was hoping that someone on our side would wish to become our commander-in-chief, but no one stepped forward for that. Everywhere we went, there were militiamen there to defend their villages. They hid in the woods, and were very hard to come by. We could be seen within five miles range. The reason was the lack of uniforms on the militiamen. We had uniforms, and they had the privilege of wearing everyday clothing. One time, we were traveling from Lexington to Concord, and they were waiting for us in Lexington. They had assembled right in the town square and blocked our path. They were set in ranks just like ours and their superior and ours met. When he returned to us, he told us not to shoot. He said that the other side agreed to do the same. We made sure that everyone heard the orders, but there was still a shot. We still have no idea who did it, but it started a short battle. We overpowered them and marched on to Breed's Hill in Boston.
It was now June 17, 1775. We marched to Breed's Hill to try to capture it since it was on higher ground. In May, we made sure that we had enough men for the capture of Breed's Hill. We reached around 6,000 men plus three generals. General Howe, General Burgoyne, and General Clinton were the three that we had there. Over the course of the month, we planned and trained even harder. We were going to win that hill, and nobody would stop us. When the month ran its course, we saw the colonists march to Breed's Hill and use that as defense by building a quick fort that was about one hundred and thirty square feet with ditches and earthen walls. The walls were six feet high with a wooden platform inside just under the top of the walls so that men could fire over the tops of the walls. Off the shore, the ship, The Lively, spotted the fort and took aim with her cannons and fired only stopping the colonists for a brief moment. Loyalist Abijah Willard recognized his brother-in-law, Colonel Prescott.
"Will he fight?" asked Gage noticing Willard's expression very intently.
"As to his men, I cannot answer for them, but he would fight you until the end of time if he could." replied Willard. We started the battle and one of Prescott's men was killed and given a huge burial, after which, many a man deserted the Colonist army raising my hopes up even more that we would win this minor battle, and, eventually, the entire war.
We did win that battle, and went on to a few more battles after that. We were just marching around one day when we came across a colonist group headed our way. We immediately got into ranks and presumed to fire at the colonists, scattering them about and forced them into the woods. That was our mistake. Their clothes were able to blend into the woods whereas our uniforms were easily seen a whole mile away. When I reached the woods, I looked all around and leapt over the stone wall boundary line and looked under everything, every stone, every tree and even every piece of rubble. When I satisfied myself that I was nowhere near any of the colonists, I turned around. Unfortunately for me, it was too soon. Someone grabbed me from behind and dragged me away and tossed me into a cage on wheels. They locked the gate, and left me there. When they left, I fell asleep. I hadn't slept in over a week since Gage kept us marching night and day, and, when I eventually woke up, I had slept for an entire week.
Chapter 9
I woke up with Charlie staring at me. He filled me in on what happened. After I was captured, he watched them put me into the wagon. He tried to save me, and was captured himself by the leader. He didn't wake up until a few minutes before I did, and he didn't know where we were going. We found out soon enough. We stopped after what seemed like days, even though it was just mere minutes. Someone came back to give us food, and before we could see his face, he left us at a run.
“Something must be going on. We have to be told sometime, don't we?”
“We shall find out soon enough.” Charlie said as though he knew everything. The leader himself came to tell us what was going on rather than send a messenger boy to tell us.
“We are transporting you two to our new headquarters.”
“And where would they be? We captured all of your headquarters. There can not possibly be another one that we overlooked.”Charlie said bravely.
“Aren't you a smart one?” the leader said grabbing my friend by the shirt and dragging him off. I never saw him again. However, I was still not alone in the war. I still had God on my side.
“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our Daily Bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil. For thine is the Kingdom, Power, and Glory forever. Amen.” I prayed until the leader came with my meal, and even then, I prayed still. He joined in until I was finished. I then looked up at my captor for the first time. His face looked familiar. Seemed as though I had met him somewhere long ago. Far, far away. He recognized me instantly.
“William! It's you is it not?”
“James? Is that you?”
“Yes. I thought you were dead. That boy that was with you said nothing except that you were dead.”
“What did you do with him?”
“In good time, William. In good time. In the meantime, you can eat up. You have not eaten anything for the past few weeks it looks like. I shall be back in a bit.”
“Yes, sir.” I said as he left me alone to my now cold gruel. When he returned, I was fast asleep. I woke up to an Indian's eyes staring straight back at me. I was in a cage, a different one, in a room. This room was different than that of most. It had beds on top of each other on opposite sides of the walls. They were all surrounded with some sort of animal skin. On the floor of the building, if you could call it that, there was a small fire in the center. The cage itself was built on one of the beds. On the floor of it, it was soft and warm. The walls of the cage were built around the bed preventing me from leaving the building on my own.
“W-where a-am I-I?” I asked him stuttering, scarred stiff.
“Near Breed Hill. You in Seneca village. My name White Wolf. Your name Sleeps Like Bear In Winter.”
“If you live here, then why are you in the cage with me?” I asked realizing that he was, indeed in the cage with me.
“My tribe fight with British. Got captured.”
“Oh. How did that happen?”
“Breed Hill.”
“What? But we captured that hill.”
“During battle.”
“Oh.”
“How you get captured?”
“Long story.”
“We have all the time we need in the world.”
“Well, alright. I'll tell you.”
When I finished telling him my story, our meal came. There must have been something in it, for we fell asleep right after. When I woke up, White Wolf was not there. I never saw him again.
Chapter 10
The next person that I saw or heard from was the commander of the headquarters.
“But what are you doing against your homeland?” I asked James.
“But I am not against my homeland. This is it. I was born here and was taken to London, England.”
“Why did you never tell me? You and I used to tell everything to each other.”
“It was my secret. If your father or Susanna were to find out, I would be put in prison. You know how much they hate colonists.”
“No, actually, I do not.”
“I found out here that your father is kidnapping colonist children and selling them as slaves to Indian tribes loyal to Britain.”
“How did you find that out? He can not have told you.”
“Why, I saw him do it and almost got captured myself.”
“What will become of me?”
“Since I am the person in charge, I decide what happens to you.”
“Do you know what will happen to me yet?”
“No, not quite. But, I will tell you that if you join the colonist side, you will not get punished.”
“What do I have to do in order to do that?”
“I can handle all that. You just have to decide. I will ask for an answer by sundown.”
“What happens if I do not join?”
“You will suffer the consequences.”
Sundown came and I was ready with my answer. I did not wish to end up like my prison mate,
White Wolf. I found out that day that he was killed. When James returned at supper, I gave him my answer, and he gave me new clothes, and a new weapon. He said that I could rest there the rest of the night, and tomorrow, I was to serve under General Washington. I slept soundly that night, and met General Washington first thing in the morning. He rode in on a white horse and looked like the very hero that I had heard about from all the other camps. He rode straight to me.
“Boy, would you know where I could find James Barnaby?” he asked me getting off his horse.
“Yes sir. Right this way.” I said leading him off to the Barnaby's tent.
“Thank you. You may look after my horse, if you would be so kind.” he said stepping into the tent. I went off and put his horse away and fed it along with the other horses.
“William! Come here please!” James' voice yelled from his tent. I rushed right over. When I got there, James introduced me to the general and said that I was to look after his horse and travel with him. I was to choose any horse from the corral, saddle it, and it would be mine during the war. We would ride out in the morning.
We had been traveling for hours, and I was just a tad bit sore in the rear. General Washington and I got along just fine. I told him my story and he listened very carefully. We sat down to a meager breakfast and headed right out of camp. I knew not where we were going, and I was not expected to know. I was only expected to help the general and the horses. That was all. We arrived in our destination, wherever it was, and set up camp. I met a really nice boy when camp was set up while the general was in his first meeting. His name was Johnathan. After I told him my story, he told his.
Chapter 11
“When I came to, I could feel that I was being dragged, tied up on some sort of sled. I tried to get up, to move around, but found that I couldn't because I was tied to the makeshift sled. I tried again, but fell back, as a sharp pain in my shoulder stopped me.
“Uh.” I let out a groan as another sharp pain overtook me, this time, in my head. Then, the sled stopped and a man came to see what was going on.
“Ah! So you're awake! Do you remember anything that happened to you last night?”
“Well, of course I do!”
“Well, then, what's your name?” he asked unsure of my answer.
“Well, it's, it's... uh...well, that's funny, I can't seem to remember.”
“We have got to get you to the village now. You must be hungry.” he said, looking through his gear. It took him a little while to find it, but he found it and pulled out homemade bread. He tore a hunk off and offered it to me, and I took it gratefully and ate ravenously.
After finishing our small meal, we started down the river and, after only a few minutes, came stumbling into the village. I fell asleep just after entering
I woke the next day to the sun shining directly in my eyes. Their was another man in the hut, stirring something in a small cooking pot over the fire. When he heard me begin to come to life again, he took a small bowlful of what he was making and brought it over to me. He slowly spooned some in my feverish mouth.
“So, you've no idea what your name is; where you were from or headed?”
“Yeah, I don't know why though.” I said after quite a lot of thought.
“Ah. Just as I figured. You must have a slight case of amnesia.”
“Amnesia? What's that?”
“It's where, if hurt, your brain's memory area gets damaged badly; then, you can't remember a thing for a time.”
“Where did you learn that?”
“From spending time with White traders. They told me of modern medicine.”
After a few weeks of living with the Senecas, I finally got better and my strength returned to me gradually. However, my memory still was not restored, so they named me Boy With No Name. One day, when I recovered from my ordeal except for my memory, Swift River, the man who saved my life, took me back to the place where it all happened.
“I remember running from somebody, but I don't know who or why. I remember slipping in the river, and my mother telling me to run. I don't remember where she lives though. I do however remember my name.”
“Well then, what is it?”
“Brother Bear.” I said.
“Well, I think that Father Bear is calling for us. He must want to meet you finally.”
“Who's Father Bear?”
“The Great Chief of all Iroquois nations.” Swift River said as we headed back to the village. We said nothing else to each other until we came to the chief's hut; Swift River knocked on the side of the door way softly.
“You may enter.” someone on the inside of the hut said in a very sickly voice.
“Well, come along then.”
“Who was that that told us to come in?”
“That, my friend, was the Great Chief.” Swift River said as he lifted the deer skin door to peer inside to the dark, smoke filled room.
“What is it that you want, Great Chief?”
“Is Boy With No Name with you, My Son?”
“Yes he is, Great Chief. Do you wish to meet him?”
“Yes. Send him in. After you do that, you can go about your business, as I wish to speak to Boy With No Name by myself.”
When Swift River left us alone, Father Bear had me sit down across from him.
“I heard that you have remembered who you were. Could you tell me, for I have lost a son; a great hunter to the whites.”
“Brother Bear; much like that of your name I might add, Great Chief.”
“And has Swift River shown you where he had saved you from sure death by drowning?”
“Yes, sir. Indeed he has.”
“You seem to have a look about you that seems strangely familiar; like that of my lost son's.”
“What happened to your son, Great Chief?”
“He fell in love with White Woman. I know not what her name is or was; he only spoke of her as White Woman. I strongly forbade him to marry her because of what White Men did to my village just sixteen years ago. If I recall, it was around twenty or so men that raided this very village; they killed my wife, three children, and one grandmother on that melancholy night. We were just in our meeting hut when...” his voice trailed off when I fell asleep.
I woke up the next day to hearing gunshots, screams and shouts coming in from outside. We went out to see what was going on, and saw a wall of smoke preventing us from seeing anything that was going on around us. We tried to shout out for help, but no one heard us. Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the commotion left; and then it went pitch black, blacker than night.
When I woke up, I found that we were in a raider's camp; our hands and feet were tied. There were so many weapons hanging on the sides of covered wagons, that I couldn't count them all. Our captors saw that we were finally aroused, and came over to us.
“So, Jonathan, been looking for you after that raid that night.”
“Who's Jonathan?” I said in a confused manner.
“Don't play dumb with me, Jonathan!”
“Brother Bear has a slight case of amnesia.” Great Chief said trying to stand up for me.
“Well, then, killing you will be all the better without you knowing what happened to your mother that night.”
“What do you mean? What about my father?”
“Well, if that's a last request from someone who's about to be killed, then I'll tell you your whole life story.” the leader of the raiders said coyly.
“When I was just a baby, my father died; I never knew him. When I was twenty, my mother met an Indian; married him within a few months, remarried despite her father's and my beckoning to not go through with it. They eloped, and I never heard from my mother until after they had a son. They named him Jonathan; and for his Indian name, Brother Bear. His father disappeared conveniently before the birth.”
Just then, a pang of remembrance came over me. From the time that I was born to that night of my mother's possible murder. Then, it came to me, my own half brother killed my mother for vengeance over what happened between him and her. Now, to finish off the family, except for himself, he was going to kill his own younger brother. Just when his hand was raised with his knife to kill me, there was a flash of light; light that was inhuman made. Then, there was silence and more blackness.
When I came to, I was alone in complete darkness. I tried to get up, but was tied at the wrists and ankles. I had absolutely no idea where I was, but could feel a pain my shoulders where the bullets that hit me were. The ropes that bound me felt like they were ablaze, and that they would start a fire pretty shortly; though it never came. I tried to call out for my companions, but not only was I gagged, my throat was also burning like that of a roaring forest fire; set ablaze by human stupidity.
I was aware that I was moving. It seemed like it was a wagon, but I was not sure. We stopped abruptly, and the crate I was in was lifted off of the floor of the wagon.
I was carried for what seemed like hours, and then just dropped there, waiting for the rightful owner of the wood crate to pick it up at the place that I was in; dropped right next to a box that looked exactly like it, from the same place. After about an hour, I was lifted again, onto another wagon.
We rode on for miles and the jolting of the wagon stopped finally. The box was carried to the door, and was left there until morning when the owner of the house would pick it up. Morning came by shortly and I had fallen unconscious again.
I awoke to the sound of the crate being torn open with a crowbar. The light suddenly poured in on me as the lid was finally pulled off. As the hay was being pulled off anxiously from my body, my stomach let out a loud growling. I remembered that I hadn't eaten since I was first captured by my half brother which was almost two weeks ago. I heard a loud scream, and saw the shadow of the crowbar on the floor in front of me, raised to strike me. I felt the jab of pain in my back that went straight to where my shoulders had been shot; still with the bullets in them. Then, it grew dark, despite the morning light that poured in threw the windows.
I woke up in a foggy mist. I passed in and out of conscious and was very delirious with hunger, but my body refused to allow anything to digest; it was unclear to anybody whether I would live or die in a world full of strangers.
About a week had passed, and my eyes finally focused on sheets that were hung around the bed that I was in. As I looked around, I saw that I was no longer in the clothes that I had on earlier, but instead had a white, silk night-gown. I tried to call out, to find out where I was, but my throat was so dry, that I wondered how exactly I had lived. Just as I was pondering on this, I heard footsteps coming toward the room that I was in, and heard the old hinges on the door as it was being opened, as though it hadn't been opened in a hundred years. The sheets were pulled back to reveal a young woman in her early thirties in a maid's outfit.
“Mr. Carter! The boy's up!” she called with great excitement. I heard someone running toward the room. The door opened again to reveal a man in his late forties dressed in a business-like suit with a walking stick and top hat. He came over to the bed, and lightly touched my forehead with the back of his hand.
“Still has a slight fever, I'm afraid, but he should pull through all right. Mind telling me your name, boy?”
“U... sure. Jonathan, or Brother Bear.”
“Mind telling me why you have two names, one of them being Indian, and how you came to be in a crate that was marked for dishes?”
“Yeah, sure.” I said and I started my story, not missing a single detail up until the day that I woke up in the bed. Then, I fell asleep after having a fine breakfast and being so weak even to talk anymore with my throat still very sore.
The next morning, I was awake at midmorning. The maid, who I learned was Mrs. Sarah Thatcher, brought up a nice big meal of eggs, bacon, ham, fresh cow milk, and some orange juice. Mr. James Carter came up later on in the day to check my temperature and see if my throat was okay.
“So, how are you feeling? Should I call you Jonathan or Brother Bear?” he added sarcastically with a slight smile on his face.
“I'm doing fine, but my throat still smarts some. And you can call me either. What town is this anyway?”
“This is Walnut Grove. What town were you in when all this happened?”
“It wasn't a town exactly, but I do know that the settlement, or homestead, was less than a mile away from the nearby town and Indian village.'
“How come you didn't live in a town?”
“My father was an Indian, while my mother was a white. They could go to neither township nor village. Sort of what happened in the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.”
“If you weren't allowed in a township, then how come you know about Romeo and Juliet?”
“The story was my mother's favorite. Every time I mentioned having envy, she would remind me of Romeo and Juliet. I learned it when I was just four years old, and I've known it by heart ever since then. Her copy of it, however, was probably destroyed in the raid.”
“Wait a minute, have you been to the sight of your homestead, as you like to call it, since that night you ran away?”
“No. I was taken away from there to the village, had amnesia there, and then was kidnapped away from there twice. I haven't actually thought about the cabin, or my parents since.”
“Well then, Jonathan, when you are feeling better, and are well enough to travel, I will take you there. You just get some rest now.” Mr. Carter said as he walked out the door. The thought of going back to where it all began raced in my mind as I drifted off to a peaceful rest.
Over the next few weeks, I got stronger and stronger and grew fond of my new home with the Carter's. Their maid was growing fond, perhaps too fond, of me.
When I was completely healed and able to travel, Mr. Carter bought carriage tickets for the next ride out to the nearest town to where I grew up.
“Hey, Jonathan! I got the tickets! We'll be leaving on Saturday!”
“Really? That soon?”
“Yup. First class. This time you won't be cooped up in a crate with a bullet in you though.”
“Good. This time, I can see the scenery. What if the men who kidnapped me work at the carriage depot and they saw me?”
“Don't even think about something like that. We're gonna have the entire police force of this town bodyguard us, so there's nothing to worry about.”
That Saturday, I was woken up by the sound of rushing around of getting everything ready for the long carriage ride ahead of us. Just then, Mr. Carter came into my room and told me to get up and get ready.
“Come on, Jonathan! I would've thought that you would be up by now!” he scolded. After seeing tears forming in my face of melancholy and bewilderment, he took it back.
“Sorry, Jonathan. I didn't mean it at all. It's just that we're all running late for the nearest town to your old homestead.”
“It's alright, Mr. Carter. I didn't mean to look as sad as I did.”
“Well, then, let's get going, shall we?” Mr. Carter said as he took me by the hand and we waltzed out the door. We stopped in town to pick up a few more passengers, and we were on our way.
The two passengers began to talk as quietly as they possibly could, I still heard them though.
“So when we gonna nab 'em, Jameson?” one of them whispered into the other's ear.
“Be quiet! You want to let the boy know that we're here for him and his companion?”
“Well, no, but...”
“I didn't think so. We'll nab 'em at the first stop. That will be in in around two days time. Just rest and relax. We'll have him when the time comes.”
The journey was a long and hard one with no stops. I was too scarred to get up during it, even though Mr. Carter tried to urge me to stretch my legs once and a while, but I refused not wanting to let the men out of my sight.
The carriage pulled up at the first stop at midnight the second night. I was fast asleep, but Mr. Carter woke me up so that we could get off and onto the next carriage. I got up gratefully and went off of the carriage to stand and stretch on the platform to wait for Mr. Carter and the sheriff to buy the tickets.
While I was waiting, however, I realized that I had let the two men out of my sight. I looked urgently for them, but could not find them. Then, I realized that I had also wandered away from Mr. Carter and the sheriff, and was mixed up in the crowd that was getting on the carriage bound for another destination! Just then, I felt a cold, hard thing jab me in the back. Then, I saw and remembered no more.
When I woke up, I was not anywhere near land, for I was on a ship. The room was very dark, and I couldn't see anything whatsoever. Then, I drifted off to sleep; dead to the world.
When I woke from my sleep, there was a bright light shining in the small room. I could make out the details of two men who were talking to each other in soft tones on the other side of the room. I could just make out what it was that they were saying.
“So, what are we gonna do now, Jameson?” one of them said.
“How am I supposed to know?! After we kidnapped him, we accidentally kidnapped his pal here, and Marshall Robert Gonzales! Why do you always think that I should know what to do?”
“Well, because you're the one who dragged us into it! He is, after all, your son!”
That last comment had made me gasp. Even though I didn't hear it myself, they suddenly turned to face me with questioning expressions on their faces. One of them got up, and headed over to my side and felt my forehead.
“Hey, Jameson! He's got a very high fever. Do you think that Louie will take him if he's this sick?”
“No, I suppose not, but we have no doctor aboard this ship, now do we?”
“Now hold on a minute!” someone called from the darkness of the hull. They all turned to look at one of the passengers who suddenly appeared out of the shadows.
“Now, who are you?” Jameson asked coolly.
“Pleased to meet you to. My name's Conner. Doctor Conner. I'm the doctor of this brig, and I overheard you talking about someone with a high fever.” the man said just as two others appeared at his sides.
“Well,” said one of them pointing at me, “you've got him.” and with that, they left the doctor to his work.
“My name's Conner, the Indian standing next to me here is Lone Star, and the soldier over there is William Parker.” the doctor introduced himself kindly as he approached me. I still didn't trust any one, however, and tried to back away and hit the wall behind me.
“Now it's alright. Don't worry. I'm not gonna hurt you. You know, this reminds me of a certain sixteen year old that we just left behind in Scotland with his long lost family, doesn't it?” he said addressing the two men this time.
“Why, yes it does. What was his name again?” the Indian said jokingly.
“Jack. Jack Evans.” William imitated with a short laugh.
“Now, while you two are talking about Jack behind his back, I'm gonna attend to this boy.” the doctor said pointing to my now unconscious body.
When I came to, I was in a different room on a bed. There were three other men in the room who were either fast asleep, or looking at me. I tried to get up, but fell back after feeling just a little too dizzy. One of them saw this and came over to me. I tried to back away, but the bed that I was on was against the wall of the room. The man came over to me and tried to calm me down.
“Don't worry, Jonathan. Those men aren't gonna hurt you any more.”
“H-how do you know my name?”
“While you were delirious, you let it slip.”
“How long have I been like this?”
“About a week. Maybe two.”
“Where am I anyway?”
“You're on the Comet bound for Scotland.”
“Scotland?”
“Yup. The two men who kidnapped you came aboard the ship by way of a small boat and bribed the captain into turning the ship around. We were on our way back to America, but he took the bribe. Now that we've captured the two men, the captain won't turn around again since we're only a few days away from Scotland anyway.”
“Who was Jack Evans?”
“Oh, just a sixteen year old who had lots of adventures. You want to hear about him?”
“Sure. I got nothing else to do.”
“Well, then. When I was in America, I worked for William over there, as his company doctor for a mission. Well, one night, the horses were startled, and we couldn't get them to budge. A few minutes later, two soldiers came in carrying an unconscious white boy with a bullet in him.
“Well, I fixed him up, and he said that he had been kidnapped from his tribe. He explained later that he was a captive. A few days later, his friend, Lone Star, attacked the wagon train. He sparred me and Parker, and took us to his village. But when we got there, there was no village.
“We decided that we would do all of the burials for a little over a week. The first night though, we were all kidnapped by Frenchmen. They said that we would become servants at the palace of King Louie IXV. Well, one night, there was a storm. We were all shipwrecked on the shores of Scotland. A man found us all, and took us in. A few days later, we found out that Jack's family was right there. He stayed with them, but I guess we'll be seeing him again real soon.”
“Wait a minute. Did you say Louie?”
“Yes.”
“The two men that had me. One of them was my father. They were selling me to become a servant on a ship belonging to a Louie.”
“Some father.”
A few days later, the Comet finally arrived at Scotland, and Lone Star, Will, Mr. Conner and I all got off and headed straight for Jack's place. My current illness still made me weak, so I was placed on a stretcher. It was a long walk, and they were able to find out more about each other.
“So, Jonathan, you never knew your father, did you?” Lone Star said grunting as he carried the stretcher up a steep incline.
“Right, but I still don't know what happened to my mother, Mr. Carter or the Marshall.”
“We do.” William said a little sheepishly.
“You do? Why did you not tell me?”
“You do? Why did you not tell me?”
“They were in the hold. One of them was so ill, however, that there was nothing that I could do to save him. He died the next morning.”
“But what about the other one?”
“He was strong enough to get on one of the life rafts and leave.”
“Why didn't you tell me before?”
“We didn't realize that they were with you until it was too late.”
“Oh.” I said sadly. I hadn't been expecting one of them to die. Why did I let himself get side tracked like that? 'Next time... but there won't be a next time. I will never find the fate of her. Never.' I thought to myself as we were nearing a shady hill side with a single stone house on it. I yawned as Doctor Conner knocked on the wooden door, and I fell asleep right there.
The next morning, I was in a place that I didn't recognize at all. There were curtains separating one room from another on one side, a small fire place, a single table with a few chairs at it, a Scotland map, and a few more beds. No body else was there, and if they were, they were still asleep. Just then, the curtains from the other side of the room suddenly opened, and I saw a girl of around sixteen staring directly at me. She gasped and drew back only to return with an older woman, who, I assumed, to be her mother. The woman went straight to work preparing for the day not noticing the scarred look on my face.
“W-where i-is M-Mr. Co-Co-Conner?” I said stammering. It was then that I realized that they must've left me there and went back to America without me. 'Now I know that I'll never learn my mother's fate.' I thought to myself.
“Oh, they'll be back. The men just went to get some firewood, except Jack that is. He's still got the same fever that we found him with. Nothing seems to work.”
“Why not just build a sweat house, put him in it, take him out, dip him in ice water and then bring him back in to dry off?” I suggested forgetting that it was May where there was no ice water.
“Well, first of all, where did you get an idea like that? Second, I fell asleep before I could hear your story.”
“I guess that my story will explain everything.” I said.
When I finished the story, the men had returned with enough firewood to rebuild a Seneca village. When I saw the amount of firewood, a thought came to me.
What happened to Swift River?
I tried to figure out when last I last saw my dear friend. I remembered that he had gone for chores the night before the raid. I hadn't seen him since then. Lone Star saw that something troubled me and went over and asked me what was wrong.
“It's my friend. You know, the one who rescued me?”
“Yes Swift River. What about him?”
“I don't know what happened to him. I mean I didn't see him since the night before the village raid when he went to do his chores.”
“You really didn't see him?”
“Right,” I said racking my brain; trying to remember that fateful day, “I remember walking out of the Great Chief's hut, and there was a mask of white. I could only see Great Chief. Nobody else, then it went black, and when I woke up, it was only me and Great Chief.” I said. Lone Star left my side, and went over to Conner's side and told him.
“Well, there's nothing that we can do until we get the money for passage on the next ship out. And that won't be for another two months.” he said to me.
“But, I can't wait that long! He may need my help now! What if he's hurt or worse? I can't just lie here safely with worry for Swift River! He saved my life, and I want to save his!” I said angrily.
“Now, Jonathan...” the doctor would've said more, but a voice from behind him interrupted him.
“What's all the commotion?” a sixteen year old boy said stepping into the light from the very back of the room.
“Jonathan wants to go back to the colonies now.” the doctor tried to explain.
“Why is that, Jonathan?”
“To learn the fate of my friend, Swift River and that of my mother as well. I've waited too long already, and I'm not gonna wait any longer!”
“Well, you don't have to.”
“I don't?”
“He doesn't?”
“No. Don't you three remember that ship that Alan made me the month after he found us?”
“Oh. Completely forgot about that.” the doctor said sheepishly.
“Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let's go to America!” Jack and I said in unison. And with that, we prepared for our up coming voyage.
We packed all our things into one small box, it wasn't very much, and headed to the shore, me still so weak, I had to be put on the stretcher again; Jack too since he was still ill from the fever. The walk was so long that, when we got there, it was around midmorning the next day. When I saw the ship at first glance, I couldn't believe that it had been handmade by an old wood carver. The ship, The Odysseus, was so big, that you could house one hundred people in it if you wanted to with room to spare. The wood of the ship was that of oak. My cabin was even better than the room that Mr. Carter had for me. It consisted of a royal blue wall to wall carpet, a wrap around canopy bed with silk sheets, a small round table, a walk in closet, and my very own washroom. The walls were a light color blue. Now, I reallycouldn't believe that the ship was handmade.
I was so surprised that the cabin was actually mine that I didn't think that I would actually fall asleep that night, but once my small, pale head hit the three satin pillows, I fell into a deep sleep. A sleep I never thought that I in my entire life time could've had.
When I woke up, it was a few weeks later. Jack was in the room at the table which was in the direct center of the room. When he saw that my dark blue eyes had finally fluttered open, he headed over to the bed side.
“I thought that you would never wake up! What were the living conditions that you had?”
“The floor. On rags.”
“What about your mother?”
“She had the floor as well.”
“No, I mean, what was she like?”
“Well, she was tall, slender. Had long, straight pieces of gold for hair. Her eyes were so dark blue, that anyone could've put a real sapphire next to them, and wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Her skin was very dark. It was an amber color. I never knew her name since she had no friends to call her by her first name. Since we couldn't go into town for anything, she home schooled me. We used to read stories like Robinson Crusoe, Romeo and Juliet, Pilgrim'sProgress and Homer's:The Odyssey. She would have such a grand time reading them to me and watching me act out all the parts. I just want to know what happened to her. I'm actually a little jealous of you. You found out your mother's fate in the beginning. It didn't torture you like it does me.”
“Yes, but I actually saw it happen. Do you understand what that did to me?”
“No.”
“Well, you must be hungry. Come on then, I'll take you to the Galley.” Jack said as he held out his hand to me. I took it and off we went to the Galley. When we got on deck, however, there was land in sight.
“It's only Ireland. This is the last land that we will see before we reach America. Should we stop for supplies?” the doctor said asking Jack.
“We should, but isn't this where Jonathan's kidnappers were headed?”
“Yes. I didn't even think of that. How about one of us stays on board with Jonathan, while the other three go and get supplies?”
“Alright. Well, who's gonna stay on board?”
“I will.” Lone Star volunteered.
“Alright. We'll be back before noon. You'd better feed Jonathan though. He hasn't had anything to eat since before we boarded the ship.” Jack said as he took up his money. When they left for shore, Lone Star helped me to the Galley for a nice, big meal. After the meal of eggs, bacon, ham and orange juice, Lone Star helped me to one of the beds that was near by. Then, we both heard someone board the ship.
“You stay hear, Jonathan. I'll go and see who it is.”
“Alright.”
I heard a small fight, and then a splash right after that. I went to investigate. I got up on deck just in time to see one of the men about ready to ambush Lone Star with a chunk of wood. I picked up a small hammer nearby and knocked him out with it. Lone Star started to lift him up and over the side of the boat when I spoke up.
“No. Don't. I want to find out why he wanted to sell me.” I pleaded. “Now help me carry him to one of the beds.”
By the time he woke up, the other three had returned from town, and the ship was on her way to America again. When he did, I was right there watching him.
“Why did you want to sell me?”
“Well, you learned well. I can see where you got your looks. From your mother.”
“You didn't answer my question. Wait. How did you know my mother?”
“So I didn't. First of all, I am your father. Second, I didn't want to sell you. The moment we got to Scotland, I was going to disappear from my partner, and you and I would live together.”
“Then why did you go about it like that?”
“Well, I needed someone to help me get you, and the only one able was him.”
“Then, why didn't you just tell Ma?”
“Because of the raid of the home. I got there too late. By the time I did, you were already gone. I thought that you were dead until we came across someone trying to kill you. I had to interfere to save your life.”
“Then how come I don't believe you?”
“Because I know where your mother is.”
“I don't believe that either.”
“Fine. Believe what you want. Where is this ship bound to anyway?”
“America. Once we get there, I will turn you over to the proper authorities and I will find out what happened to the tribe and Ma.”
“I can take you there! Don't you see? I came home just as they were leaving!”
“Why were you away for most of my life anyway? Isn't a Seneca supposed to honor his family?”
“That's what I was doing. I was going under cover in a thief's gang.”
“I still don't believe you! Why would a Seneca go under cover?”
“Because I'm only half Seneca. I'm also a White you know.”
“Answer the question!”
“I'm a sheriff.”
“Prove it then!”
“I will, “ he said reaching for his waist. When he didn't find what he was looking for, he asked where it was.
“You mean this waist band?” I asked holding it up.
“Yes. Now in one of the pockets, there is a badge.” he told me while I was looking for it. When I did, I handed it to my father.
“You notice what the lettering says?”
“Yes.”
“Read it to me then.”
“'Sheriff: Little Rock.' So, it's just a name. How do I know that this is you?”
“I have no proof except that your mother knows.”
“When we get to America, I'll talk the others into letting you help. But you must promise me that there will be no tricks.”
“I promise.” he said just as a cry was let out on deck.
“PIRATES!”
Me and Little Rock headed up to the deck, and saw another ship. I could just barely make out the name, The Sunrise. I saw that they were getting ready to board the ship!
When Lone Star, Jack, Doc Conner and William saw the ship, they stood agape in surprise.
“Isn't that...” Lone Star said.
“Yes it is...” William and Jack said in unison.
“It's Pierre and the crew of the Great Musketeer.” they all said in unison.
“It is?!” I said.
“Yes, I'm afraid it is.”
Just then, the entire crew boarded the ship, which consisted of six men. Then, the fight was on!
As the pirates boarded the ship, everyone drew their swords and headed toward the advancing pirates. We all started to fence with our swords, cutlasses, and whatever was on hand. Me and my father had no swords, so we used guns, rifles, hammers, and axes.
In the middle of the fight, my weapons were thrown away by my opponent, Pierre. Pierre raised his sword, was about ready to lower it on my head, and was knocked senseless and thrown over board right in front of my scared eyes. That was when I saw all of the blood that the fight was causing on deck, so I went over to the side of the ship, and went to throw up, but instead, fell overboard into the shark infested waters. Little Rock saw this, and, having finished off his opponent, came to the rescue. By this time, the pirates were either captured and thrown overboard, or they just jumped overboard on their own.
When my eyes fluttered open again, it was not my father's face that was staring back at me, but instead, the doctor's.
“Well, didn't think that you were going to make it to America. Well, we aren't there yet, but just a few more hours, and we'll see the land.”
“Little Rock, what happened to him?”
“He died saving your life from sharks after the pirates left. There was nothing that we could do.”
“What of his body?”
“Thrown in the ocean. We didn't want to smell his decomposing body all the way to America.”
“What of the bed sheets?”
“We tied them, perhaps too loosely I'm afraid, to his body. They fell off just after it hit the water.”
“Land Ho!” Lone Star yelled from the Crow's Nest.
After we landed the ship, Jack headed back to Scotland, and the us, after saying our goodbyes to Jack, headed for the carriage to find out the fate of my mother and the rest of the tribe.
When the carriage pulled in at the last stop, I could just barely make out the cabin, still standing, with smoke coming out of the chimney in the distance.
“You can stay here if you want, but I would rather find out the fate on my own.” I said to my companions who headed to the nearest cabin to see if they could find food.
I ran most of the way, and got to the cabin within three hours. I knocked on the door. The door opened to a tall, slender, gold-haired woman. She was wearing a plain, light blue, homespun dress, with a brown stained apron tied around her waist. When she saw me, she nearly fainted with fright.
“Ma! It's me! Jonathan.” I said as we, having not seen each other for around a year, hugged each other for what seemed like hours. Mary, my mother, told me of all her worries and I told her of all my adventures when a weak knock came at the door.
When I opened it, there stood none other than Swift River with another few men. I ushered them in, and told them what happened. Swift River did the same.
“We escaped our captors just before they could've killed us. They took us much too far away from the village to just walk there, so we scavenged our way back. Everyone is well, except Great Chief. He is doing much worse in his illness than when you first met him. We have no idea what to do.”
“Have you, perchance, heard of Doctor Conner? He's a very good, kind, white doctor, and he's saved my life countless times.”
“No. We never thought of that. Is he in town?”
“Yes, why don't we all go into town to find him?”
“But son, we aren't allowed in town.”
“Who says you aren't?”
“The mayor, Mr. Carter.”
“Wait a minute, Mr. James Carter?”
“Yes, why?”
“He died of fever six months ago on a ship.”
“You sure?” came a voice from the opened door. I turned and nearly turned white. I looked like I saw a ghost, for standing right there, staring at him, was the one and only Mr. Carter.
“But, I thought that...”
“You thought wrong. Your father took the wrong man. I got lost in the crowd. We can catch up in town. All of you can. My treat.”
Chapter 12
When he had finished his story, it was time for Johnathan and I to depart with General Washington's dalmatian, Sweetlips, to walk around camp a couple of times. The next week, we headed to Valley Forge to get time in to retrain and rejuvenate. It was a bitter cold winter, and most of the army either abandoned, or died of the cold. We stayed put, and waited for the worst winter during the war to finally end. We got word that there was a Thomas Jefferson who created a new document with Ben Franklin and John Adams. This new document was called the Declaration of Independence, and I have written a copy of it right here:
The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are suffrable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Eldridge Gerry, Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott, William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris, Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross, Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean, Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton ,Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton.
Chapter 13
The short hour that I spent at Valley Forge was one that I will never forget! During that time, I had to be attended to for my leg was hurt badly. I had gotten shot on the way over after a raiding party attacked our small group. We were in the middle of the woods, riding down an unmarked trail, and all of a sudden, we heard guns being shot just ahead of us. I saw someone, the leader, I believe, and he looked very familiar. I had no time to waste, and I had my gun with me, so I started to shoot. I got ten down in only three minutes! While the others in my group were busy, I noticed the leader headed for General Washington! I had to stop him! Well, it turned out that the leader was really after me, for he shot my leg, just above the knee. I woke up slung across the back of my horse. The other militiamen would not let me walk the rest of the way. The only covering that I had to protect the open wounds were thin cloths of some sort that Jonathan found. The only doctor was in the nearest town which was six miles away. On our journey to Valley Forge, many a man left us, or died on their way or in the minor battle. When we got the temporary forts set up, General Washington had Jonathan ride into town and get the doctor there. He was gone for around a day. When the horse returned, there was another man riding him. He looked a little familiar, but before I could figure out who he was, I fell unconscious with fever and loss of blood.
When I came to, I was no longer in the fort where I fell asleep, but instead, I was in a bed in a house. There were curtains around my bed, much like that of where Jonathan said he woke up. Instead, however, I was now in Number Four, several miles away from the fort. The town was enclosed in another fort, though I knew not the name. I pulled the curtains away, and there was the girl who attended to me after I got shot and when I met Jack. She saw me, and went for the doctor. I was overjoyed to see a familiar face, for it was indeed, Jack.
“When I last saw you, you were enlisted in the British army. How in the world did you end up under George Washington's command?”
“After the Battle on Breed's Hill, I was captured by the Colonist militiamen. I decided to join their army, because it would have surely meant imprisonment. I did not want to be in prison at my age, so I decided that I would join them. How long was I asleep?”
“Well, winter is almost over, so I should say at least three months.”
“Three months? How was I fed?”
“New invention that is called the feeding tube. You open your patient's stomach by way of a very tiny hole. Then, you fill the other side with mashed food. It works every time.”
“Where did Jonathan go? He rode in to get you, but you came instead.”
“He is in the other room. I will give you ten minutes to reflect on what happened. Here is a Bible if you want it.” Jack said right before leaving me alone after slamming the door on his way out. Those ten minutes alone gave me time to think. I remembered lots of people that I met on my journey. There was Charlie, small and pale, never to see him again. Sunday, I missed him, I had not seen him since the day of the storm when I got shot. I wondered what it was that happened to him. What happened to the captain of the crew, my British outfit, I wondered all this in five of the ten minutes. Then, on the sixth minute, I wondered what exactly happened to my father. When the ten minutes were up, Jack came back.
“Well, did that help?”
“Yes. There are still two people who's fates I want to learn of.”
“Oh? Who?”
“My father and Sunday.”
“Well, that will have to be after you get well again. And also, you are going to have to wait for the war to end. It is much too dangerous for us all to go and try to find everyone's fates. And before you get angry at me, there is more. You have a visitor. Shall I show him in?”
“Well, I do not really know...”
“Why do you not know?” a familiar voice said from another room.
“Be-- Hey, wait a minute! Who said that?”
“What, do you not remember the voice of Charlie?”
“Charlie? Is that you? I thought you were dead!”
“No, I'm alive. The man that dragged me off took me in and taught me what the British were doing to us. Then, I lived and took care of his family while he was away. Then, there was a fire, and now I'm here with burns.”
“Alright, alright. I want to see him.”
“I will just go and get him for you. You just stay in bed for now.” when he returned, he wheeled a boy in by use of a wheel chair. I did not even recognize him. He had stubble of a beard, scars all over his body, muscles on his arms, and no legs and one arm.
“If either of you need anything, I'll just be in the hall right outside. Call if you need anything.”
“So, I told you what happened to me, what happened to you?”
“I was traveling with General Washington to help him with his horses, and we were on our way to the winter settlement, and there was a battle against a gang. I recognized one of them, but I just can't seem to remember him, and he shot me three times in the same leg. Did not get a chance to find out who he was though, because soon after, the battle was over, and I woke up here.”
“Wow! What day did it happen?”
“Just three weeks ago. Why?”
“That is really weird. Three weeks ago, while I was with the Carter's, I was chopping some wood, and I heard screams coming from the house. I rushed inside, and saw the cabin on fire. I was able to get the mother out, but the flames got to me, and I woke up here. But it was not before I caught sight of a gang headed away in a direction towards where a troop, lead by General Washington, was on their way into the woods.”
“That must have been my troop. The gang probably was the same one who burned down the house, they saw us, and followed us thinking that you were dead. I still know that the one who shot me was very familiar, I just can't place him. And it bothers me. Wait. I know how to figure it out. Does James still run the headquarters around here?”
“Yes. Do you want me to go get him for you?”
“Yes. He might have brought pictures of my friends and family from England when he came here.”
“I will be right back.”
A few minutes later, he was there with James. I described the man who shot me in great detail. When I had done with that, he stood up, a surprised look on his face.
“The one who shot you. He is your father.”
“My own father shot me?”
“I can't understand why he would do such a thing as that.”
“How did you find out?”
“When I first got here, I was taken by him and he told me himself. I still do not understand why he shot at you though.”
“Oh. Well, he almost cost me my life.”
“Oh my! I did not think that it would go this far between you both!”
“Wait! Does that mean that you know about all this?”
“Well, in a way, yes. He sent me out to spy, and well, it started out that way, but I changed my mind after he said that when he saw you, he would kill you. I thought that he was joking though. I was not expecting him to do something like that or go that far. We need you to be placed in the care of our general, Johnson. He will take care of you. Good friend of Jack and I. I will ask Jack when he gets back.”
“Where did he go?”
“He went out on his rounds. He should be back in a few hours, but until that time, you need your rest. Get some sleep, and when you wake up, you will be in the general's capable hands.” he said as the door closed behind him. I fell asleep soon after.
Chapter 14
Sure enough, when I woke up, I was indeed in the fort in the prisoner's house. There were men's voices in one of the rooms off to the side, the General's home, I supposed. I was alone in the house, or so I thought. I heard the voices coming closer, close enough so I could hear somewhat their conversation.
“Well, Doc, what do you think of the boy?”
“You mean the boy in the cell that was brought in yesterday?”
“What other boy is here, Doc? Of course I mean the one brought in yesterday!”
“Sorry about that. My mind is going every which way today. What with the war going on and the front getting closer. The boy should wake up any day now.”
“Well, that sure is good. When will you examine the boy again? Sometime soon I hope.”
“Well, I suppose when he wakes up. You just let me know, and I will be here when the time comes. Well, I should go attend to my patients. Bye, General.”
“You take care. I will be sure and let you know. I almost forgot. Sarah wants to have you over for supper tonight. I hope you can make it. Roast chicken and mashed potatoes. We will be eating here in case the boy wakes up.”
“What time?”
“How about seven?”
“That is fine. See you then.”
“Do you want to check on the boy before you leave?”
“Well, why not? Jack is at the office, he should be fine for now.”
“Good. I will just get the keys and unlock the door.” I heard a rattling of keys as he opened the door. When he did, he came to my cell, and unlocked that door.
“Well, I guess he is awake now, Doc.”
“He sure is. I will just get my things from the cabin across the way and examine him when I get back.”
“Jack told us what happened to you. I hope your father doesn't find you anytime soon.”
“I hope so too.”
“Well, I hope you like roast chicken, because that is what we are having for supper tonight.”
“Good. I'm starved. What fort are we at now? James mentioned that I would be at a fort, but he failed to mention the name.”
“Fort Number Four.”
“I have never heard of that fort.”
“Yes, well, it is one of the least heard about forts in the Colonies. You see, in 1744, we, the colonists, built this fort around many of the dwellings here in Number Four. The fort was besieged in 1747 by a large force of French and Indians, who were beaten off by the 31 man garrison in a three day battle. The fort was never again attacked.”
“What is it you are talking about?” Doc said arriving with his tools.
“The fort.”
“Ah. Well, you see, in 1744, we, the colonists--”
“I already explained that to him, Doc.” the general said interrupting Doc.
“Oh. Well, let me look you over, boy.” Doc said looking the general over. “Now, open your mouth.” he said to the general.
“Not me, Doc! The boy!”
“Oh, sorry. There goes my memory again.” When he was done looking me over, he left saying good day. See you both in the morning.
“A little absent-minded, is he not?” I asked the general when Doc left.
“Well, he has been the doctor here for over sixty years.”
“Sixty years? Why is he still working then?”
“Well, no one wanted to take over until now.”
“Who is taking over?”
“Jack. He won't be ready for that for another three days.”
“Oh. I wonder what happened to my father.”
General Johnson gave me a grave, serene look, and immediately changed the subject.
“I suppose that since you are awake, I should head over to my cabin. You get some rest now. See you at seven.” and with that, he put on his hat, locked my door, and left.
The next time that I saw General Johnson was the next morning. He not only came with Doc, but he also brought Jack, breakfast, and one other person I did not recognize. She looked to be around my age with long, straight black hair. Her skin was a pecan color and she was around five feet tall. She looked to be Indian, but she was wearing clothes like an Englander. Jack saw my confusion, and introduced her to me.
“This is Rebeka Free Wolf. She was adopted by Doc after a raid on her village when her chief refused to join the British. Her parents are both dead. Doc found her while he was tending to the wounded. She is your age. She knows English well enough, but does not understand most of it. Rebeka, this is the boy that your father was telling you about. We came here to have breakfast with you, William, if you don't object. You see, Rebeka did not want a young boy gone so long on a perilous journey to end up eating breakfast by himself in a fort cell.”
“Thank you all. I am grateful to you all for wanting to spend the time with me, but at the moment, I wish to eat alone.”
“On the contrary, William, if you insist on being selfish and eating by yourself, then so be it,” Doc said as he carried me back into my cell and closed and locked the door behind me. “but, it so happens that we want your company, and so will eat right outside your door, whether you like it or not.”
“Well said, Doc. Jack, if you would help me,” Johnson said as he and Jack lifted the desk and moved it to my cell door. “Thank you. Now, Rebeka, would you go and get the food? I seem to have forgotten it over by the door.”
“No, you did not! It is right over--”
“Hush up Rebeka, unless you want to end up like Jack and Doc in the boy's cell!”
“Actually, I do not mind it one little bit!”
“As you wish,” the corrupt general said as he opened the door to my cell and pushed Rebeka inside and slammed the door shut.
“General! Why are you doing this to us? You were such a good boy!” Doc asked curiously.
“Ask your girl. In the meantime, I have some things that I must do first.” he said as he closed the door to the cells behind him.
“What does he mean, Rebeka? I demand an answer! Now!” Doc said loosing his temper rapidly as though he were a rock falling from a cliff a thousand feet in the air.
“Doc, that is no way to talk to her and you know it! Now just simmer down. I will talk to her. I know the language after all.” Jack said as he took her into a corner of the cell.
“You, boy, must have been in on this all along! You were after all the one who wanted to eat alone, and you were alone with him this afternoon while I got my tools! And he even corrupted the mind of my own Rebeka! How could you? After I helped you so much in health! Why I ought t--”
“Enough! Yelling won't help us any. Even if the boy was involved, would he not have been asked to go with the general?”
“Well, I--”
“William is just tired! Would you not be after all that he has gone through? He was scarred and had too much contact with far too many corrupt people! Rebeka just told me that the general has joined a gang of men stealing and selling Colonist children.” Just then, we smelled smoke, and heard someone lifting the desk from in front of the locked cell door.
We turned our heads in bewilderment at the sound of two men trying to move the desk out of the way of the cell door. It was far too dark to determine just who they were, but they were strong, for they moved the desk out of the way in less than a minute. They found the spare keys that the “general” foolishly left behind in the desk, and unlocked the cell door. Did I mention how strong they were? Well, it did not do them any justice, for they lifted all of us in one load and carried us out of the building and into the courtyard of the fort.
When they set us all down, I turned to look back my former prison. I was grateful to the mysterious men who carried us out of there, for the prison would have been our graveyard. The graveyard was now a heap of ashes and dust; there was nothing left of it.
“We saw the general leave in a hurry and go out back. He must have been going somewhere, because he went outback and left with his horse shortly after. A few minutes after that, we smelled smoke and heard yelling coming from inside, so we came to the rescue. What was going on in there?”
When we told them what exactly happened, they almost immediately got on all of their horses and left us behind. It would be safer at the fort for us while they went after the corrupt general, possibly drunk in victory or miles away by now. As I was carried into the hospital area of the fort, I couldn't help but see someone dragging themselves into the safety of the fort. He looked oddly familiar, but I just couldn't place him. He was injured, and needed help.
“Wait! Jack! Look! Over there! There is an injured man at the door of the fort.” I said just as the door closed behind me.
“What man? I never saw anybody. When was the last time that you ate? William, William, why won't you answer me?”
“He won't because he has been poisoned. Possibly by the general.” he was right, but before I could answer him, I fainted.
Chapter 15
When I came to myself next, I knew not where I was, for it was no longer the safety of the fort. Instead, I was in some sort of camp. There was no sign of any of my friends. I tried to get up; to look around. I found that someone was sitting behind me; holding me down. I tried calling for help, but there was a stick in my mouth. Just then, a man came into view. I did not know him at all, but I was screaming in pain and agony. He spoke in hushed tones; couldn't figure out what he was saying. My head was tilted up and a clear, cool liquid was poured into my mouth. It started to burn my tongue; my throat. I tried to spit out the horrid tasting liquid; tall man choked throat so I couldn't. Fell into a restless sleep. Dreamt of life so far. Pictured my father coming for me; red eyes; gun aimed at head...
Woke up much later; sweaty, thirsty, hungry. Couldn't seam to focus eyes on anything. Felt cold cloth on my forehead. Heard someone talking in a soft voice. Couldn't understand what was being said to me. Head was tilted; same horrid smelling and tasting liquid poured in; tried yet again to spit it out. Same thing happened yet again. Just couldn't figure any of this out. Was aware of being lifted up; felt warmth of sun on face; placed in dark area where a better tasting liquid poured in. Fell into deep slumber.
Woke up some time later. Was aware of a good smell of food; heard my stomach growl. Eyes forced open; beam of light shone in; tried to close eyes again; felt needle go in arm; out in a second.
When I woke up next, it was much clearer. I felt bear fur underneath me; warmth of sun on face; smelled pot of something cooking nearby; heard voices; tried to call out; voice too weak with thirst.
“Easy, boy. Calm down. Me get some help.” a voice nearby said in broken English. Tried my hardest to open eyes; felt like they were nailed shut. Heard footsteps come from behind; head tilted up again; same liquid as before poured in mouth. Eyes opened halfway; more poured in mouth. Eyes open completely now. Eyes came into focus on a man who was bare except for leggings. Tried to back up; was just too weak. Managed to say a few words.
“Jack. Doc. Rebeka. Where? Fort.” head tilted up; water poured in mouth after some sort of food. Fell asleep instantly.
When I woke up again, my strength was back, but I still had the fever. There was no one in the wigwam that I was in, so I was able to look around. It was just as the headquarters looked like, except this time I was in a bed, not a cage, and it was much smaller. I tried to get out of the bed to look around some more, but there was still someone watching over me. He kept me held down until the two in charge of me came back.
“Where am I?” I asked, for they had not told me yet.
“Seneca village. We found you in the middle of nowhere with a bullet in your foot.”
“Was there no one with me?”
“No. How did you end up in the middle of the road?” one of them asked, possibly the leader, and I told him my entire story start to where I was now, not missing a single detail.
“Was there any fort nearby when you found me?”
“What fort do you mean?”
“Number Four.”
“No. I never heard of that fort.”
“Oh. Are you positive that there was no one with me?”
“Very. You just get rest now.” he said as he left the room with the other two. When I was by myself once more, I couldn't help but wonder what it was that happened.
'Was it all a dream? No, it couldn't have been. Was that man at the entrance of the fort really wounded, really there, or was he just meant as a distraction? Why did Jack not see him? What happened to them all?' I thought to myself as I dozed off into a restless, fitful sleep. When I woke again, I was still alone. I knew not what to do with myself, for I was still very weak and it was early morning. No one came in the room until around another hour or so. When they did, they brought another person with them. They gave me food and left. The other person stayed behind. I could not tell if they were alive or not, for they were laying on the bed across from me, and it was still too dark to distinguish if they were female or male. As the day wore on however, the light of day poured in the window and I was able to see that they were female. She was still unconscious when someone came in with my lunch and the foul smelling liquid to give to the woman.
After about a week, the woman came to, and I recognized her instantly. It was Rebeka Free Wolf! When I told her where we were, she told me what happened.
“After you fainted with the poison in you, there was a weak knock at the door. Jack went to open it, and there was no one there. He then closed the door, and the knock came again. Before he could answer the door, smoke came in, and before long, we were engulfed in a horrid smelling smoke. Someone came in to get us out, and we tried to kill him, but we were too weak with the smoke, and the next thing I know, I was in the middle of a road. Not a sign of anything human around. I fell asleep that night, and woke up here. I don't know what happened to the others though. How did you end up here?”
“When I fainted, I just woke up here. They said that they found me in the middle of the road with a bullet in my foot. I also don't know what happened to the others.”
When I was well enough to walk, I was brought to the chief of the village. There, I received a new name, William White Wolf. He let me choose my name, so I decided to honor the Indian I met in the Colonist headquarters. When that was all done, he told me to take a seat.
“Now that you have a Seneca name, you will live here. How old are you?”
“What does that matter?”
“You live here, need place to stay.”
“I don't remember my age. I have lost track since the war started.”
“How old were you then?”
“Thirteen.”
“You sixteen then. War started three years ago. You will live among the women until you know what to do in this village. Until such time, you do women's work. Men will show you how to do men's work when you eighteen moons.”
“What will happen to my friend?”
“What friend?”
“Rebeka Free Wolf. She is the one in the wigwam that I woke up in.”
“She a Seneca?”
“I don't know. Jack and Doc never—”
“Who Jack and Doc?”
“They were with me when I was poisoned at Fort Number Four. Rebeka was there as well. She also doesn't know what happened except that the fort was over taken by smoke and she woke up in the middle of the road, not a human being in sight. She woke up here after that.”
“I send for her. She your age?”
“Yes. She was found at the age of ten by Doc after a raid on her village during the French and Indian War. The chief, her father, did not wish to get involved in the war, and some Whites came and raided the village. She was the only surviver. He hand raised her.”
“I will send for her right now. You may stay.” he then told the guard at the door to bring her in. When he left to get her, I told the chief my story.
Chapter 16
By the time I had finished, Rebeka was in the wigwam waiting for the chief to address her.
“You are Rebeka?”
“Yes. How did you--”
“William White Wolf told me. You Seneca?”
“No, I am Mohawk though. My father and mother died when I was ten during a--”
“I know that as well. William White Wolf told me that as well.”
“Is there anything he did not tell about me?”
“Only what you have told me he has not, for he did not know. You are sixteen though, right?”
“Yes.”
“You live with women. You know what to do.”
“Wait. Chief?” I said before we left. “What happened to Doc and Jack?”
“I can tell you one thing. On their hunt, the men brought two men back. They still unconscious. You may go see them if you wish. Running River will show you the way.”
When we got to the place where Running River led us to, there was a horrid smell. We went inside, and saw Doc and Jack, near dead on two different beds. Rebeka went out to tell Running River to go and get some herbs from the medicine man's hut. When he returned, I helped Rebeka nurse them both back to health. When news of the healing of the two men reached the chief's ears, he appointed Rebeka and I as the two medicine men. When Doc and Jack woke up, we filled them in on what happened and where they were. When we finished with that, they told us how we got there.
“William was right about the man being in the fort entrance. He was just a distraction though, and when we brought him inside to look at his wounds, a small puff of smoke came in under the door crack. We tried to put it out, but men pushed their way in and overpowered us all. They dragged us into a wagon and around three days from the fort, dropped William in the middle of the road, and tried to shoot you. The sound of the shot scarred the horses, and he misfired and shot your foot. Another day went by, and they dropped Rebeka in the road. They dropped us in the woods nearby. I have no idea what these men wanted of us, but I am glad that it is over with.”
“That is what you think.” an unfamiliar voice said behind us. We were so fascinated in what happened, that somehow we did not hear a short raid that went on. We all turned to see who it was, and I nearly fainted yet again. It was my father! The one who shot me.
“What do you want?” I asked him bravely.
“I want just one thing from you.”
“And what is that?”
“Your life!”
“Why? What have I done to deserve this?”
“Nothing, except that you ran away from the gang that was to bring you here. You were to join me in winning against the Colonists. You did nothing of the sort, and the penalty for that is death. Though I will not kill you now. You will die at dawn, in a month, in a different place than this.”
“What will become of my friends?”
“Oh, they will die as well, eventually. You see, they will be my servants. They will waste away in the sun, and die within a year. You, on the other hand, will have a much quicker death. You are to be hung just like the Black and James along side you. There is nothing you can do about it.” before I knew it, he grabbed us all and dragged us to a wagon cage. Much like the one that I traveled in with Charlie on our way to the Colonist headquarters, except that this one had two other people in it. One of which I recognized, James. The other one I had to get a closer look at. When I did, I backed away in shock. It was Sunday!
“Sunday! How did you--”
“I would not talk to him right now if I were you, William.” James said.
“Why not?”
“He's lost all his memory. He thinks that it is the day his family died. He despises all Whites.”
“I know what to do.” I said as I got my pack from the ship that I still had with me, though I knew not how. I looked through it and found just what it was that I was looking for. Satisfied with what I found, I thumbed through it to Sunday's favorite scripture, John 3:16, and read it out loud to him. When I had finished, he commenced to thrashing around in some kind of a fit. I had the herbs still with me and had all the others in there holding him down while I quickly made the liquid out of the herbs and spices. I then forcefully got the liquid down his throat, and he fell unconscious for what seemed like an hour. During which time, the wagon started to speed up, faster and faster. We all heard something sounding like a blood-curdling scream before the wagon came to a sudden stop. The stop was for only a few seconds as we heard a fencing fight going on between two men. We heard another blood-curdling scream, and we were off again. Off the beaten path, the wagon bounced more and more. There was nothing for us to do except hold on tightly to the side of the wagon and at the same time hold Sunday down, for he was still unconscious. We finally stopped after about another hour. Sunday was awake, and it became quiet; too quiet.
Chapter 17
We were stopped for what seemed like days, but was really only a few minutes. We then heard unfamiliar voices coming from somewhere nearby.
“So, how many in this lot, then?”
“Six.”
“What are their ages?”
“I have no idea. Ranging anywhere from sixteen to ninety.”
“Well, bring them in. They are unconscious, right?”
“I made sure of going as fast as I could possibly go. They should be.”
“Well, carry them in then. I will have a talk with them when they come around. I will just be in town.”
“Yes, Michael.” the second voice said as I heard the hooves retreating. When the hooves made no more sound that I could hear, the second voice went around to the back of the wagon that we were in. When he lifted the flap, I jumped him thinking that the leader was my father. I was only expecting one person to be out there, but, someone from behind came up and quickly overpowered me and I was dragged inside and hurried to a bed. Once my head hit the pillow, I was immediately tied to the bed.
“This is just until you settle down. Now just calm down. Nobody's gonna hurt you any more.”
“Hey, Matthews, when the boy jumped us, the others got away. What will we do?”
“Forget about them. We have one of them anyway.” when I tried to struggle, he slapped me in the face. The shock of the pain did not knock me out, as I was expecting, but, rather, it calmed me down, and shortly after a warm, hearty meal, I fell into a fitful slumber.
When I woke, it was morning of the next day, and I was still tied to the bed. The men were all asleep, and the leader had not returned yet. I tried to undo my bindings, but it was too late. One of them woke up, and saw that I was trying to escape, and he tried calming me down, but I was already foolishly struggling. I must have made a lot of noise, for the other men quickly woke up. Matthews, the one who slapped me in the face the night before, was about ready to do it again when the door to the cabin opened and the leader of the group came in. It was then that I got a good look at the man. He was shorter than I had expected, yet, when he spoke, he sounded much taller than he was. He wore only blue clothing, and a feathered hat. His boots looked that of brown leather. At his waist, there was a scabbard, long and sharp. His face had a growing beard, and his hair, black, was down below his waist. When I tried to struggle again, he told all the other men to leave. When they did, he explained himself.
“Now, just settle down, settle down. I know that you must be scared after the ordeal you went through, being captured by that gang and all.”
I did not answer, and tried to back away from the man.
“Well, seeing that you can go nowhere, I will explain myself. My name is Michael. Just Michael. That gang that took you were going to harm you and your friends. Whenever I see that wagon coming, I know just what to do.”
When I still did not answer, he went on.
“Well, you can't be anymore than sixteen, can you? Where could your parents be? Do you even understand English?”
I still did not answer.
“Look, I am merely a friend. We were only rescuing you and your friends.”
I still gave no reply.
“Well, if you want to be that way, then, so be it, but you must be hungry.”
My stomach answered for me.
“I knew you would be. I have prepared you a meal, and being that you can't seem to feed yourself, I will hand feed you. If you do not wish to eat, I will force feed you. It is your choice.”
When I still did not answer, but opened my mouth, he fed me. When I was done with my meal, he went on.
“If you wish to talk, I am all ears.”
I answered not.
“Well, when you are ready to talk, I will listen. I will remain in this cabin until then, for the rest of the group is out looking for your friends.” he went on as I fell asleep.
I woke up feeling movement beneath me. It felt as though I was in a wagon, as before. Only I was the only person in there. I knew not where I was being taken, as long as it was farther away from my father and his gang I would be fine. Every minute, I noticed, we seemed to be getting faster and faster. I was not tied up as I thought I would have been, so I pulled the flap of canvas from the front of the wagon to see if the driver was actually there. He was not. I was rolling down a rocky mountain slope with no way to stop; plunging to my death.
I woke up from my nightmare screaming and in a cold sweat. Michael came to my bedside then and calmed me down. He gave me some water to drink, and I fell asleep again shortly after that.
When I woke up again, it was morning. Michael was there, as he had promised. He was asleep.
“Michael. Michael. I am up and hungry. I am ready for you to listen. Michael. Michael! Wake up!” when he finally did, I screamed in horror, for, when he looked up, it was not Michael. Instead, it was my father. He looked as though he had been through a war. One against a million men.
I woke up screaming again. I just wanted these nightmares to end. Michael was still there, but I was frightened from my nightmare. I knew not if I was in a nightmare or not, and when Michael woke up, I commenced to screaming, ready to wake up after seeing that he was really my father. I did not wake up. Michael looked up at me, and I realized that it actually was Michael. I still kept my distance. For the rest of the month, every night, I would have these horrifying nightmares, until, finally, Michael got the second in charge of the group to get a doctor to see what it was that was going on with me.
When the doctor came, he asked me questions on what the nightmares were about, things like that. After I had answered him in full detail, he gave Michael some directions.
“Untie him for one thing, that can just terrify a boy at the age he is. Second, give him this herb twice a day. The nightmares should go away within a few nights.” It was not until after he left that I realized that the doctor looked familiar. It took me a long while to finally figure out who he was. When Michael was about to give me the dosage of the herbs, I stopped him.
“Why are you stopping me from giving these herbs to you? You do want to get better, do you not?”
“Yes, but that doctor was my father. He has been trying to kill me. Those herbs, they are poisonous.”
“Why has your father been trying to kill you?”
“Long story.”
“How do you know that these herbs are poisonous?”
“My pack. There is a book on herbs that an Indian doctor made out of bark and herbs. You will see.” When he had found the herb in the book, labeled, he told me that I was right.
“You do realize that you could tell me your story, do you not?”
“Well, I guess that I could. But, on one condition.”
“What condition is that?”
“That I tell only to you. I do not trust the others quite yet.”
“Matthews! Go out again to look for the boy's friends, and do not return to me until you have found them!”
“Yes sir! Alright men, let us move out!”
“Well, it all started when...” I said when they all left.
Chapter 18
When I had finished, Michael untied me, and helped me to a chair at the table. He made me some food, and I ate while he talked.
“I have never told anyone this before, not even Matthews, but, I feel a need to tell you. Well, mine is a long story as well, but, well--”
“Well, go on then.”
“I don't know where I should start.”
“How about the very beginning?”
“Alright. I grew up in London. My father died before I was born, and I hardly knew my mother. She would go out before I got up in the day, and come home after I went to bed at night. I was raised by no one, like you, so, I raised myself. When I was nine, I left home. She did not even realize that I had gone. Well, I joined a gang in London who would buy boys to sell them to be soldiers in the Colonies. One night, we were getting one boy from a town house. We had our orders for that boy directly from his father. Well, he out smarted us. He escaped, and when we went after him, he threw down some barrels, I saw them, but I was just too slow. I slipped and fell unconscious.
“When I came to, I was in a prison cell. The constable told me that I was to be charged with kidnapping on nearly forty counts, and was to be hung in the morning. When he left for the night, I escaped by grabbing the keys from his desk. I had a cot in there, that I pulled apart, and well, used that with a rope that bound my wrists. When I escaped, I ran as fast as I possibly could. I was now a hunted man.
“I fell asleep on a ship headed out that night, not realizing it, and woke up half-way here. They decided to not punish me, and when we got here, we formed a gang of our own that stopped the gang who sold the children. When I saw you, I just knew that you had been captured, and well, here you are.” he said as someone came to the door, hurt, by the sound of it. Michael went to the door, to open it, and was knocked out in a second. The door opened to reveal, not my father and his gang, but my friends! I was so very over joyed that I tried to leap up for joy, until I saw who was behind them. My father. When I took a second glance, it was not my father, but Matthews. Before I could take a third look, I was out.
When I came to, I was in a bed, tied up as before, only it felt as though we were moving. I reminded myself that it was just a hallucination, that the cabin could not possibly be moving. But, it was, for we were no longer in the cabin, but in a wagon. There were more beds, for the others, I suspected. We stopped suddenly, like before, only this time, there was no fight that happened. Instead, someone went into the wagon and dropped a body in the cot next to mine. I moved not until after we were moving. When I did, I noticed that I recognized the body. It was Michael. I could tell not if he was alive or not, but, if he was, there was still hope for me to save him.
'If I only had my pack.' I thought to myself. I looked around the wagon, and, shortly after, found the pack. 'Well,' I thought to myself again, 'now that I found it, how will I get to it I wonder.' This I puzzled on for near an hour. I came up with nothing. Then, I had a thought. 'If only one of the others were up...' but before I could think of anything more, we stopped for what seemed like hours. During which time, I saw that the ropes binding me were too loose. I loosened my binds, but it was too late for that. My captors came for me just then, and, what with my recent illness, I was too weak to even try. They came in, and force fed me food after having tied me up, more tightly this time. I tried to spit my food out, but they choked it down. There was nothing I could do, but helplessly lay upon my prison and wait. 'Wait for what?' I asked myself over and over again. Then, a thought came to me, but I was out before I could get the thought passed my mouth.
I came to, and we were moving again. I knew not what time it was, but I knew that I was out of it for quite sometime, for Michael was up. He explained everything.
“What I fed you, was poisoned. The general store I went to was run by someone of your father's gang. Well, once you were out, they took me and tossed me out the cabin. When I came to, I could clearly see the tracks of wagon wheels leading me here. Well, before I left, I ate some of the food, forgetting that it was poisoned somehow, and, when I reached here, they easily overpowered me, and I was out like a light. I know not where we are bound, but, by the looks of things, it does not look good for you or I.”
“What about the others?”
“What others?”
“My friends. Just before I passed out, I saw Matthews with them. What happened to them?”
“I know not what you are talking about, but Matthews returned with nobody but your father and his gang.”
“But, I could have--”
“It was the poison. Rest easy. It will soon pass.” soon after, I simply fell into a deep slumber. I awoke to the sound of horses neighing. I tried to get up, but was just too weak. From the looks of things, I was in a barn and it was daylight. I was undoubtedly in a loft, on a bed of hay. Warm sunlight was pouring in, on to my skin, so I knew that it must have been late in the day. I tried to get up again, but still could not, for I was light headed, and soon fell from the loft. I heard a horse, scarred to the point of wanting to kill. I tried to move away from those deadly, flying knives on his feet, but found I could not. The pain in my arm and leg was just too terrible for me to bear. It got dark within a second.
I awoke hearing a girl screaming at the top of her lungs. Some men came in, bent over my broken body, carried me gently in. I tried to struggle, but they were just too strong; too strong. Pain; in my chest; no; all over; it was all over. It took me a moment to realize that I had said those words, rather than think them.
“It is alright, boy. You are in good hands. Just relax.” one voice said. I was carried into a house and put gently on a bed.
“Mary! Call the doctor! Quickly now!” the voice said to his daughter, I thought. Before long, the doctor was there, and he bandaged me up, said the only thing for them to do now was nothing. There was nothing that could be done.
“Pray.” I said weakly.
“What was that you said?”
“Pra--” before I could finish the word, I was out cold among strangers, in a strange, new place. If I was to die, no one could morn for me. I knew no one. I was vaguely aware of the feeling of tears streaming down my face, but there was no way for me to stop them. I heard movement nearby, cold cloth gently wiped on face; tears wiped away in an instant, but my tears would not cease.
“It is alright. You can stop your crying. There is nothing to worry about.” a voice said to me nearby. The voice went on and on comforting me. I did not stop crying until three days later, and, when I did, my eyes fluttered open. I started to get up, but someone stopped me before I could.
“You must stay down. The stitches will come out if you move. Just stay here, and I will go get the doctor.” a female voice said. I obeyed. When the doctor got there, he examined me. When he was done, he started a conversation with me.
“Well, it looks as though you will pull through this one. Now, mind telling me your name?”
“William Northrup.” I said weakly, my throat too dry for me to say much of anything.
“Mary, go out to the pump and get a bucket of water for William.”
“Yes, doctor.” When she got back, I took a good, cool, long drink of water.
“Now, Mary, go and fill up the basin with very hot water. William needs a bath desperately.”
“Yes, doctor.” While she was gone to fill the tub, the doctor asked me more questions.
“How old are you William?”
“Sixteen. I think.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I was thirteen when the war started, but I lost track.”
“Well, we will figure that out soon enough. How did you get in Mary's barn?”
“I honestly do not recall how I got in there, I was in a wagon on a bed tied up, and woke up in the loft. I stood up, and fell into the stable underneath and they carried me inside.”
“Well, you are very lucky to be alive. You were in a coma for near a week. Even more than that, you also landed in Midnight's barn.”
“What is so bad about Midnight?”
“Midnight is a black horse owned by Mary's family. No one has ever been able to tame him. He has injured or killed all those who dared try, but, oddly, he did not even try to injure you. He reared up and neighed, and that alerted Mary.”
“The basin is filled up, doctor.”
“Thank you, Mary. Go get your father, and we can help William with a bath.” The warm water that trickled over my skin felt so good, that I realized that this had been the first bath that I had since the night that I was taken from my three story London town house. I tried to remember it, but found that I could not. During my bath, I told the doctor and Mary's father my story. They told me that I was in Jamestown, in the Massachusetts colony.
After around a month, I healed up, and got all of my strength back. I went in the barn when I was well enough to thank the horse that rescued me. When he saw me enter, he seemed to be grinning from ear to ear, if that is possible for a horse to do. I went into his stall to pet him. He nudged his nose near his saddle and blanket, and I got it on, then pulled myself up, forgetting the warning the kind doctor gave me. I was a mile out when Mary saw me, on top of the most untamable horse, now the most gentle horse. She could not believe her eyes, and rushed to get her father and the doctor, who were on their rounds, and I rode along side. I got to their cart first, and the look on their faces got me laughing. Pretty soon, everyone was laughing, even the horses, it seemed.
“You can keep him if you want.” Mary's father said to me when the laughing stopped.
“Really?”
“Yes. He likes you. We can even stop in town and get a custom made saddle for the both of you, so that you both are comfortable.”
“I—I don't really know what to say except thank you.”
“Well, you are welcome. We can head out first thing in the morning.”
Well, we did go to town for the saddle, but it did not turn out as I had expected.
Chapter 19
I was woken up at the crack of dawn the next morning, had a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, and we were off to town. When we got there, it was more crowded than I could ever have imagined. There were people from every town around the area it was so crowded. We got to the blacksmith's shop, “Baker's Blacksmith's”.
“Well, Robert! Didn't expect to see you in town! And with company too!” a middle—aged man said from the doorway.
“Edwinn! How are you?”
“Fine. Just fine. Mind introducing me?”
“Oh. Forgive me. This is William Northrup. Will, this is Edwinn Baker the town's blacksmith.”
“Pleased to meet you!” I said to Edwinn. Somehow, he looked very familiar, but I did not dare mention it just in case he was apart of my father's gang.
“Well, what can I do for you?” Edwinn said showing us in.
“You know Midnight, and how no one can ride him?”
“Yeah. Gave him to you, didn't I?”
“Yes, that's the one. Well, I found someone who can!”
“Oh? Who? Anybody I know?”
“You just met him.”
“Really?”
“Yup. We came for a new saddle custom made. I am giving Midnight to Will.”
“Well, how thoughtful. If you just step in the back room with me, Will, we should find the right one for you.”
“I'll just run some errands. I won't be long.” Robert said as Edwinn ushered me into the back room. His mistake. Well, I was knocked down, and put in a wagon. Edwinn didn't even know that Midnight was right outside the door. He held him off until I could focus, and I got on Midnight, bareback, and left after tying up Edwinn. I dared not go back to Mary's home, in case Robert was apart of it, so I left town; possibly never to see Mary ever again, her long, wavy, Indian black hair. I rode off about twenty miles out of town before I looked at it one last time, and headed into the open wilderness; alone.
At first, I thought that I would be fine; thought the desert was small enough that Midnight and I would be able to handle it for a week. I was wrong. Afternoon came, and I was already out of water for the both of us. There was no town insight; no shade either. I still had no idea how I got into the barn loft at Mary's, and I was bound to not find out. All that I wanted to do was escape my father's cruel grasp and find out what my friend's fates were, and live my life with no more danger.
Little did I realize that I would find out soon enough. I was able to stay awake for around a week. As the ferocity of the afternoon wore off on the seventh day, night came on quickly. I forced myself to stay awake or at least find shelter for Midnight and I, but I could do neither of the simple tasks. One minute, I was riding Midnight, the next, I fall off and sleep before I can stop myself. When I woke up in the morning, Midnight was not there, and I was not in the same place that I fell. Instead, I was in a cabin to a fort. I was in a sort of cell, and Midnight was no where to be found. No one came in for the most part, and when they did, they mainly ignored me. When one of them realized that I was awake, they went out and, when he returned, he brought some one that I did not recognize.
“Nice to see that you are awake. You slept for almost a week.”
“Where am I?”
“You are at Fort Antes.”
“How did I get here?”
“A troop on their way over saw you laying there in the hot sun, and brought you here. Mind telling me just what happened?”
When I told him, he gave me some food, and I fell asleep once more. I woke up just the next morning, and ate a hearty breakfast. Colonel John Henry Antes told me his story while I ate my meal.
“I came here in 1772, and at that time, my home was on the edge of the Pennsylvania frontier. At the time, there was no fort, and, well, I was just a mere justice of the peace for a group living nearby called the Fair Play men. They needed the fort, not just to hold their weddings, but also from protection against the Indian attacks.
“ I was born on October 5, 1736. In 1776, I was appointed captain over around 58 militiamen, and since then, have not been a justice of the peace for the Fair Play men. I went through two battles before I headed back to my grist mill and home in 1777. I was also promoted to Lieutenant—Colonel that same year.”
“Hey, was there a black horse some where near where I was found?”
“Let me ask the one who found you. I won't be long.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” he said as he closed my cell door. He returned a few minutes later with an answer.
“A black horse you said?”
“Yes.”
“They said that they had found a black horse, but, he was laying on the ground; too weak to stand. There was nothing they could do.”
“They shot him?”
“No. They just left him. Figured the coyotes would get him and make a meal of him.”
“Do you think that we could go back just to see if he was still alive?”
“No. I am sorry though. He would be dead by now considering how weak he was. Sorry about that, kid.”
“Well, I guess that I could find me a new horse once I get out of here. When will that be, anyway?”
“Well, it is very hard to say just now, but it should be soon.”
“Why am I in here any how?”
“Stealing a horse that did not belong to you and killing that horse.”
“But, I told you that Mary's father gave him to me. I did not steal him! He was mine! And I did not mean to kill him! Where could I have run?”
“Well, we will just have to see when the judge gets here.”
“When will that be?”
“Three days. After the trial, we will see what your punishment will be.”
“Trial? For stealing a horse that was already mine?”
“Yes. As I said, I am sorry about this. Loosing a horse that was that loyal to you and getting arrested in the same week is a hard time, but, you should get through this.” and with that, he left me bewildered in my cell. I fell asleep shortly after
Chapter 20
Soon enough, the day of the trial arrived. I had not yet met the judge, but was not looking forward to it. I knew not what to say, nor did I know who would be there, or if I was defending myself. When the time of it arrived, I was ready. The door to my cell was unlocked, and I was put in chains and led away. We got out of the building, and passed by a corral for horses for the fort. As we did, I noticed a black horse. Not just any black horse, but, my black horse. He lied to me! It was Midnight! I was both overjoyed that he was alive, but very angry that I had been lied to. I was ushered into a building and told where to sit. There was not much to see in the room, just a desk at the back with a single chair behind it, and two other tables. I sat behind one table, and waited.
The building that we were in got stuffy, and very hot since it was noon. I waited for what seemed like an eternity before the trial started. The judge came in soon after, and, at first, I took no notice of the judge, but, after a short while of staring at my tormentor, I realized that the man did look vaguely familiar, but I just could not place him quite yet.
“Name of prisoner?”
“William Northrup, sir.”
“Age of prisoner?”
“Seventeen, sir.”
“Case of prisoner?”
“Horse theft and killing of the said horse.”
“That is not true!” I said trying to defend myself.
“What did he just say?”
“That it was not true.”
“Bring him to me.” the judge said calmly. One of the two soldiers who brought me into the uncomfortable building was the one who brought me to the judge.
“Let me hear why you say that it is not true.” the judge said when I got there.
“In the town that I was in before, the family that I stayed with gave me the horse, and just now, I saw the said horse in the corral; alive and standing.”
“How do we know that the horse in there is the one we are talking about?” one of the soldiers of the fort asked, possibly the one who claimed Midnight as his own.
“I am the only one that he will let ride.”
“Judge, what do you say?”
“Well, let the boy prove himself.” and with that, my chains were taken off, and we all went out to the black horse. He came right over to me, and I got on him, no problem. With the soldier who claimed to be the horse's owner, things did not go so well. He could not get to the horse for the first three minutes, and when he did, he was kicked off in an instant.
“Well, that proves that this boy was telling the truth that this was the horse, but, it does not prove that he did not steal him.” the jealous soldier said dusting himself off.
“Yes it does actually.” someone yelled from across the fort. We looked over, and saw the colonel who jailed me with Mary's father who was chained.
“This is the old owner of Midnight. He confessed that he did, indeed, give the horse to William. This boy is innocent, and is therefore, free to go.” When he said that, I was overjoyed. I got on my horse, and left for good. I knew not where I would go yet, but I knew that where ever it was, I would be safe. With God in my heart, I was safe anywhere I went. I was free from the holds of my father, free in a new country.
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