LIBERTY REJOICED

 

Pale Bear was lounging in front of his lodge watching his four year old son Owl’s Wing in rapt attention with his friends of the rabbit society while Running Fox (one of the elders) retold them one of the creation stories of the Cahokia. Elk Woman was grinding corn nearby with their infant daughter in a cradle close to her. Except for his eyes and beard there was no remaining resemblance to hint at his birth as an Englishman once called William Fowler. In fact he himself rarely thought about his life before becoming a Shawnee where he and Elk Woman had first met.

They were now fully accepted here in the Cahokia village after living with these people the last four years, their children knew of no other extended family since their separate births. It was a fine spring day here in the area near where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers joined flows. The sky was cloudless and it was warm with only a slight breeze stirring the air. Life was in full bloom everywhere about them.

Badger Paw walked over and asked to join Pale Bear as he sat.

“I would be honored my chief, please join me here.” Pale bear told his revered friend and leader of the Cahokia.

“It is good I wish your council in a small matter if you will?” Badger Paw requested.

“Anything my friend, please you have but to ask.” He answered “can I offer you some food or drink?”

“No I am very well, but a smoke before we talk would be appreciated.” Badger Paw answered him.

“Of course my friend, I will go inside and bring us out a pipe and something to smoke” Pale Bear answered as he rose to go retrieve the pipe and tobacco.

Once he returned outside and sat back down the two men enjoyed a leisurely smoke together for several long minutes, afterwards Pale Bear tapped out the pipe before they began to talk again.

“So what may I be of help to you my chief?” pale Bear asked.

“I have heard through a runner who came yesterday while you and some others were out hunting that a François trader is coming up river and has asked about an Englishman he wishes to know the location of,” Badger Paw related to him. “I am wondering if this might be you, he is seeking.”

“I suppose it is possible, but after so much time I doubt it has to do with anything from before my time with the Shawnee” Pale Bear answered.

“By what the runner said he could be here in a day or two I think.” Bear Paw offered. “If there is anything that comes up where you need my assistance you know you now have it without asking I hope?”

“Yes my chief I know that as you do, especially since we have joined as blood brothers two winters ago.” There is nothing I would not do for my brother Badger Paw without him asking.

“It is good then” Badger Paw said as he rose to leave.

As the sun was at its highest two days later the François trader came into the village made his greetings to Badger Paw and obtained permission to trade with the people for a few days at his leisure. He also asked of an Englishman as they had been warned. Badger Paw told him which lodge belonged to Pale Bear and Elk Woman.

After unpacking his goods at the edge of the village the trader walked to Pale Bears lodge.

“ Je Parle Francais?” He spoke first as he came close and stood near Pale Bear.

“No” Pale Bear answered rather flatly.

“Is fine I speak English very well, better than the Cahokia dialect here.” He said then continued. “I believe we met briefly a few years back, I recognize your face I think.”

“Yes I was then living with the Shawnee near the Scioto and Ohio rivers east of here” Pale Bear answered. “You have a good memory. That is probably a good trait in a trader such as yourself. What can I do for you?”

“Oh no monsieur, I do but bring you news from that same village. I have been asking for you as I stopped since leaving there.” The trader answered “My name is Jules LaClaire “The message she comes from the Shawnee hunter named Grey Hawk.”

“What did my friend Grey Hawk wish me to know after four summers have passed, that he would entrust you to tell me?” Pale Bear asked, his attention now somewhat piqued.

“He says to tell you that you were right that some English had been there now a couple of times in the last couple of summers. The first time they asked of a few different English that may have been seen before them and one they named had been under the name William. The people there looked sad when these men spoke your name and Grey Hawk told them yes, that you only they had seen. But that you had died a couple of years before in a hunting accident not long after you arrived. He said he also told them that he could only say this one time as custom did not allow anyone to speak the name of the dead. They seemed to believe this story and he thought you should know.” Jules stated completing his promise to Grey Hawk.

“Now why would Grey Hawk entrust such a piece of news to you a French trader, may I ask.” Pale Bear inquired.

“Oh he knows I am French and no friend to the English, so he had no reason to believe there would be a problem.” Jules answered.

“This does make sense and I am glad for this news it does allow me to feel somewhat more at ease.” Pale Bear told him. “I do thank you and whenever you are there again if you remember thank my friend and the people for doing this for myself and Elk Woman. Now how about you join us this evening for your meal?”

“I accept your invitation very readily Pale Bear, I am a fair cook but anytime I can eat what someone else prepares is a joy.” Jules stated with a smile.

During the evening meal both Pale Bear and Elk Woman talked leisurely about Grey Hawk’s news and any information about others back at the Shawnee village with the trader Jules. Elk Woman asked that Jules add to their request that he tell their old village of the births of their two children; Owls Wing and their daughter Spotted Fawn. He agreed gratefully but said it could be a year before he was back there.

They also talked about the expansion of the English colonies inland into the frontier. Jules told them as much as he had heard rumored, as a Frenchman he did not venture to close to the holdings of his countries adversary in this new world.

Over the next two days many of the people traded goods with the trader, even Pale Bare had sat down and negotiated with him twice but Pale Bear traded mainly for gun powder as that he could no get in quantity except when a European was here conducting trade. Pale Bear could get or make everything else he needed for his musket, it was why he used it very sparingly.

On the third day Jules left for other places to trade, he told everyone he would return but that it could be a summer or more before he was in this area again. Badger Paw told him he would be welcome since he had dealt with all fairly and respected their ways.

                                                                        ****

Captain Merriweather had led an expedition into the frontier two years before and made it as far as the junction of the Ohio and Scioto rivers. There he had found a Shawnee village and parlayed with the Chief and his more prominent hunters. One of the things he had requested of them was any information on English criminals or deserted indentured servants. Of all these the only name they said they recognized was of a William Fowler. Their story was that he had come there about two summers before but had died shortly after arriving. It was not in that expedition’s orders to attempt any treaties or trade agreements, so they had returned back to their post and reported that which they had observed and heard.

Now high command had ordered that the Captain mount another expedition into the same region and this time also survey the area before it for the establishment of a fort as extending their holdings in that direction, more settlers were continuing to start farms and such farther into that part of the frontier all the time. He had reported to his commanders that it would take him a fortnight to be ready for such an undertaking, but as soon as prepared his contingent would start off toward that objective.

                                                                   ****

Pale Bear sat in the afternoon talking to his son and the rest of the rabbit society. When Pale Bear took his turn he usually told them of the things in the direction of the rising sun rather than creation stories or other stories of the Cahokia, he sometimes continued to teach them a word of English here and there as well. He and Badger Paw had agreed it would not be a bad idea for some of the people to know enough to converse with any explorers that ventured this far. They also rather sporadically had Elk Woman and Morning Sparrow teach some of the Shawnee language to the rabbit society as well as any adults who wished the knowledge to they could converse more directly to any visitors who came into their territory from there as well. Some of the adults of the village did just that at times when they could of both the women’s classes and even those of Pale Bear.

That evening after their meal with Owl’s Wing and Spotted Fawn both fast asleep inside the lodge Pale Bear and Elk Woman sat outside and gazed at the stars silently. Eventually Pale Bear spoke breaking the silence.

“My wife I have been sitting here thinking about when we met and then started our journey here, my plan was for us to get as far from the English as we could. But our life is good here, our children have many friends and the whole tribe is now their extended family.” Pale Bear stated then continued.”I think we have found our home unless something happens and we have no other choice. What would you prefer that we do, you seem very happy here as well?”

“Pale Bear I have told you many times that I will be or go anywhere you my husband wish. Yes the little ones have many friends, they have known no other place and so do we both. This is a fine place we have as our home, but if it comes to you thinking we should leave then leave we will. “ Elk Woman answered him then leaned her head on his shoulder.

Pale Bear smiled to himself then leaned and placed a light kiss to Elk Woman’s head.