Legend upon the Cane Read Online Free PDF Page B

LaRouche.
     
    Back at the
village, St. Denis and Natchitos sat in an open area near the river. The sun was warm and it felt
good to sit and relax for a while. A swift breeze blew alongside
the river as they sat. Buffalo Tamer sat with them as well. “What
can I teach you today?” asked Natchitos.
    St. Denis held up his hand
to Buffalo Tamer, “Let me try and answer him.” Buffalo Tamer
nodded. St. Denis spoke slowly in the Nashitosh language, one word
at a time, “I…seek...learn...Nashitosh...way.” Natchitos
nodded.
    “ You learn fast,
my friend,” Natchitos responded. “In time, you may come to
understand our ways, but first you must learn the words and then
the purpose behind the words. The winds that blow on a prairie,
will stir up clouds to make rain in the river valley. Or they can
blow in and dry up the waters. One action can be one or the other.
One’s purpose is to prepare for the changes that the winds bring
forth.”
    Natchitos took
out a small pouch of food and opened it and offered some to St. Denis and Buffalo Tamer. Buffalo
Tamer, knowing what it was, took a piece and nodded with a thankful
smile. “Here my friend, try this. It is something I like to chew at
times like these.”
    St. Denis was intrigued. He took a piece and
put it in his mouth. A smile appeared on his face. It was bagasse,
sugar cubes cut from the stalks of cane that grew by the river. He
nodded to Natchitos in thanks, “Excellent taste!” Natchitos and
Buffalo Tamer were both in agreement.
    Natchitos sat and stared at the
waters flowing by, then finished his bagasse and spat it out. “Try
to say these words, my friend: The wind blows swiftly upon the
river today.”
    St. Denis thought
for a few moments, then said slowly,
“The…old…river…blows…crazy…today. Is that right?” Natchitos and
Buffalo Tamer both laughed at him. “Alright, alright, but no laughing though!”

Chapter 4
     
    It was night and
quiet outside the village. The
moon was full and bright over the river. The soldiers had gone back
to their camp for the night and no one was about the tribal
village, except for Natchitos. He was walking along the riverside
by the light of the moon. “Peaceful,” he thought. He
pondered all the new activity that had been happening with the
newcomers and with his own family as well. Taima was expecting
their fourth child and she had an even heavier burden to bear in
the hot summer sun. His responsibility was for her but also for the
tribe. The crops yielded little harvest this year and still the
rains were not coming. He welcomed the helpfulness of the French
but their help could only do so much. He walked along thinking of
many things.
    He entered his family hut to
see Taima and his daughter, now just over four years of age. Her
name was Talulah, for she loved to play in the shallow waters. She
sat cross-legged in front of her mother who was combing her hair
with a wooden comb. Anoki and Nito were fast asleep.
    Taima looked up when he
walked in, “You are restless this evening.” She finished combing
Talulah’s long hair. “Time for you to go to sleep, little one. Go
now.” Tallulah crossed her arms and pouted in protest. But then she
hopped up and hugged her father’s legs. “Good night, Father. Don’t
make Mother restless too,” Talulah said sweetly.
    “ Sleep well, my
little one,” Natchitos replied. He sat beside Taima on the grass
mat floor.
    “ You seem
troubled this evening, my husband. Tell me what weighs on your
mind,” Taima said. “What do you think of these white men?” She knew
the years of responsibility had taken its toll on Natchitos, but he
handled each day without complaint. She was always proud of him and
happy that the tribe could live in peace for all these years. But
the coming of the white men troubled her as well, although she
always tried to see the good in everything.
    “ I like the
Lieutenant very much,” Natchitos began. “His curiosity has
enlivened my spirit. He has his